An electrochemical cell for 2-dimensional surface optical reflectance during anodization and cyclic voltammetry.

We have developed an electrochemical cell for in situ 2-Dimensional Surface Optical Reflectance (2D-SOR) studies during anodization and cyclic voltammetry. The 2D-SOR signal was recorded from electrodes made of polycrystalline Al, Au(111), and Pt(100) single crystals. The changes can be followed at a video rate acquisition frequency of 200 Hz and demonstrate a strong contrast between oxidizing and reducing conditions. Good correlation between the 2D-SOR signal and the anodization conditions or the cyclic voltammetry current is also observed. The power of this approach is discussed, with a focus on applications in various fields of electrochemistry. The combination of 2D-SOR with other techniques, as well as its spatial resolution and sensitivity, has also been discussed.

[Peripheral corneal cross-linking (P-CXL) for ultrathin corneas with severe keratoconus: a new technique]. / Perifericheskii krosslinking rogovichnogo kollagena (P-KRK) ul'tratonkikh rogovits v terminal'nykh stadiiakh keratokonusa: novaia tekhnika.

Corneal cross-linking (CXL) is aimed at halting the progression of keratoconus and is widely considered to be the golden standard in its treatment. It is usually contraindicated, however, in patients with corneal thickness of less than 400 µm, leaving the ophthalmic surgeon no option, but to perform transepithelial CXL (epi-on), usually regarded as less effective. We report a novel approach for ultrathin corneas with severe keratoconus - peripheral corneal cross-linking (P-CXL), in which corneal epithelium is still removed but the apex of the cornea is left untouched. Hypo-osmolar riboflavin solution is used as well. P-CXL was performed on a remarkably developed stage IV keratoconus with the thinnest pachymetry of 215 µm, Kmax of 88.1 D and astigmatism of 11.2 D. Four months after P-CXL, the thinnest pachymetry increased by 42 µm, Kmax decreased by 1.4 D, and astigmatism also decreased by 3.2 D.

[Observations on the behaviour of anti-HAV antibodies (author's transl)]. / Osservazioni sul comportamento degli anticorpi anti-HAV.

The behaviour of anti-HAV antibodies was studied in the following conditions: a) a sample group of 2645 subjects from a healthy population; b) a group of 32 subjects with previous HB-Ag negative viral hepatitis; c) 12 cases of acute virus A hepatitis; d) a group of 18 anti-HAV positive women at the end of their pregnancies the antibodies were thus also studied in the funicular blood and in the newborn babies. The results showed: a) high reactivity (78%) of the healthy population to anti-HAV's; b) the possibility of an a posteriori diagnosis of virus A hepatitis in the presence of serology, negative for B type hepatitis, and positive for the anti-HAV's but with a titre higher than 1:200; c) the possibility of a serological diagnosis of acute virus A hepatitis in the presence of serology, negative for B type hepatitis and positive for the anti-HAV's with high and progressively increasing titre; d) the possibility of anti-HAV antibodies passing from mother to foetus, and the rapid elimination of the antibodies by the newborn baby within a month of his birth.