Note: Non-invasive optical method for rapid determination of alignment degree of oriented nanofibrous layers.

This paper presents a rapid non-destructive method that provides information on the anisotropic internal structure of nanofibrous layers. A laser beam of a wavelength of 632.8 nm is directed at and passes through a nanofibrous layer prepared by electrostatic spinning. Information about the structural arrangement of nanofibers in the layer is directly visible in the form of a diffraction image formed on a projection screen or obtained from measured intensities of the laser beam passing through the sample which are determined by the dependency of the angle of the main direction of polarization of the laser beam on the axis of alignment of nanofibers in the sample. Both optical methods were verified on Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibrous layers (fiber diameter of 470 nm) with random, single-axis aligned and crossed structures. The obtained results match the results of commonly used methods which apply the analysis of electron microscope images. The presented simple method not only allows samples to be analysed much more rapidly and without damaging them but it also makes possible the analysis of much larger areas, up to several square millimetres, at the same time.

[Therapy of venous hypertension in animals with an artificial heart and long-term survival]. / K terapii zilní hypertenze u zvírat dlouhodobe prezívajících s totální náhradou srdce.

1. The authors elaborated an original concept for the interpretation of vasomotor disorders in subjects with an artificial heart. 2. This concept is based on the regeneration of nervous elements in the walls of the atria (in particular the right one) after implantation of the artificial heart and on comparison of their activity with the venous pressure which revealed the interrelationship of the two phenomena. 3. Both therapeutic methods based on this concept, the method of influencing the afferentation and efferentation of vasomotor nervous regulations leading to a reduction of the central venous pressure proved valid and effective. 4. Evaluation of the effectiveness of this therapy is based on regular assessment of the central venous pressure, on the laboratory assay of enzymes (AST, ALT, GMT and LDH), on the assessment of serum albumin and finally on the morphological and histological examination of the liver incl. assessment of the hepatic index. 5. The nervous pathogenesis is closely linked with hormonal factors. The latter are conceived as the participation of associated factors in the pathogenesis of venous hypertension in recipients with an artificial heart.