Symmetry breakdown of electron emission in extreme ultraviolet photoionization of argon.

Short wavelength free-electron lasers (FELs), providing pulses of ultrahigh photon intensity, have revolutionized spectroscopy on ionic targets. Their exceptional photon flux enables multiple photon absorptions within a single femtosecond pulse, which in turn allows for deep insights into the photoionization process itself as well as into evolving ionic states of a target. Here we employ ultraintense pulses from the FEL FERMI to spectroscopically investigate the sequential emission of electrons from gaseous, atomic argon in the neutral as well as the ionic ground state. A pronounced forward-backward symmetry breaking of the angularly resolved emission patterns with respect to the light propagation direction is experimentally observed and theoretically explained for the region of the Cooper minimum, where the asymmetry of electron emission is strongly enhanced. These findings aim to originate a better understanding of the fundamentals of photon momentum transfer in ionic matter.

Note: Soft X-ray transmission polarizer based on ferromagnetic thin films.

A transmission polarizer for producing elliptically polarized soft X-ray radiation from linearly polarized light is presented. The setup is intended for use at synchrotron and free-electron laser beamlines that do not directly offer circularly polarized light for, e.g., X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements or holographic imaging. Here, we investigate the degree of ellipticity upon transmission of linearly polarized radiation through a cobalt thin film. The experiment was performed at a photon energy resonant to the Co L3-edge, i.e., 778 eV, and the polarization of the transmitted radiation was determined using a polarization analyzer that measures the directional dependence of photo electrons emitted from a gas target. Elliptically polarized radiation can be created at any absorption edge showing the XMCD effect by using the respective magnetic element.

[CAUSES AND WAYS OF THE NECK PHLEGMON SPREADING ON MEDIASTINUM WITH A DESCENDING PURULENT MEDIASTINITIS OCCURRENCE].

Results of treatment in 2000-2016 yrs of 183 patients for the neck phlegmon were analyzed. In 60 (32.8%) of them a descending purulent mediastinitis (DPM) was diagnosed. The main causes of the DPM occurrence were tonsilogenic and odontogenous factors. Postoperative lethality in DPM have constituted 25%.

Circular dichroism measurements at an x-ray free-electron laser with polarization control.

A non-destructive diagnostic method for the characterization of circularly polarized, ultraintense, short wavelength free-electron laser (FEL) light is presented. The recently installed Delta undulator at the LCLS (Linac Coherent Light Source) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (USA) was used as showcase for this diagnostic scheme. By applying a combined two-color, multi-photon experiment with polarization control, the degree of circular polarization of the Delta undulator has been determined. Towards this goal, an oriented electronic state in the continuum was created by non-resonant ionization of the O2 1s core shell with circularly polarized FEL pulses at hν ≃ 700 eV. An also circularly polarized, highly intense UV laser pulse with hν ≃ 3.1 eV was temporally and spatially overlapped, causing the photoelectrons to redistribute into so-called sidebands that are energetically separated by the photon energy of the UV laser. By determining the circular dichroism of these redistributed electrons using angle resolving electron spectroscopy and modeling the results with the strong-field approximation, this scheme allows to unambiguously determine the absolute degree of circular polarization of any pulsed, ultraintense XUV or X-ray laser source.

[MORPHOLOGIC CHANGES OF INTRA- AND EXTRAPANCREATIC ARTERIES IN ELDERLY AND SENILE PATIENTS IN ACUTE NECROTIC PANCREATITIS].

In 38 elderly and senile patients, in whom an acute necrotic pancreatitis (ANP) was diagnosed, morphological changes in the walls of intra- and extrapancreatic arteries were studied, including dorsal pancreatic artery, big pancreatic artery (Heller) and their branches. The patients were operated, using open surgical access, on the 10 - 26-th day after admittance to hospital for purulent-septic complications of pancreonecrosis. In total 9 (24%) patients died. Changes of intra- and extrapancreatic arteries causes the essential reduction of the splanchnic blood flow intensity and necrotic changes in pancreatic parenchyma and parapancreatic cellular space.

[MINIINVASIVE AND ENDOSCOPIC METHODS OF TREATMENT OF POSTNECROTIC PANCREATIC PSEUDOCYSTS].

The results of treatment of 89 patients, suffering an acute accumulations of liquid (AAL)and postnecrotic pancreatic pseudocysts (PPP) on background of an acute necroticpancreatitis, were studied. The volume of AAL and PPP have constituted from 65 to2750 cm3. The alcohol abuse and alimentary factor--in 63 (70.7%) patients, biliary calculous disease--in 21 (23.6%), and other--in 5 (5.7%) have constituted the diseasecauses. In 33 (37%) patients miniinvasive interventions were performed, and in the rest--the endoscopic. Miniinvasive and endoscopic interventions for PPP were done in 4-8 weeks from the disease beginning.

[THE PLACE OF PANCREATICODUODENAL RESECTION IN SURGICAL TREATMENT OF COMPLICATED FORMS OF CHRONIC PANCREATITIS].

Results of surgical treatment of 120 patients, suffering complicated forms of chronic pancreatitis, were analyzed. In 5 patients pancreaticoduodenal resection in accordance to Whipple method have constituted the operation of choice. The indications for operation were: impossibility to exclude completely the malignant process inside pancreatic head; enhancement of the pancreatic head, causing duodenal, common biliary duct and the pancreatoduodenal zone vessels compression; cystic changes of pancreatic head with several episodes of hemorrhage inside the cyst and duodenum. The immediate, short-term and intermediate results of the operation were estimated as good and satisfactory.

[SURGICAL TREATMENT OF POSTOPERATIVE STRICTURE OF ANAL CHANNELL].

The results of treatment of 50 patients, suffering postoperative stricture of anal channell (SACH), who were treated in Proctology Department of Ivano-Frankivskiy Rural Clinical Hospital in 2006-2014 yrs, were analyzed. After conduction of hemorrhoidectomy in accordance to Milligan-Morgan method for chronic hemorrhoids grades III-IV a SACH have occurred in 46 (92%) patients, excision of a chronic anal fissura was performed in 3 (6%) and excision of perianal pointed condylomas--in 1 patient. In 2006-2007 yrs 11 (22%) patients were operated in accordance to approaches, which were conventional at that time (comparison group). In 2008 - 2014 yrs 39 (78%) patients were admitted to hospital (main group), in whom new approaches for diagnosis, conservative and surgical treatment were applied, 30 (76.9%) of them were operated. The proposed method on isolated roentgen contrast investigation of anal channell have permitted to determine objectively a form, diameter and grade of the anal channel stricture, and it may be applied as a screening procedure, as additional objective criterion while choosing a surgical tactic. Application of the improved operative technique for SACH have permitted to lower its occurrence rate from 45.4 to 6.7%.

Modular organization of cardiac energy metabolism: energy conversion, transfer and feedback regulation.

To meet high cellular demands, the energy metabolism of cardiac muscles is organized by precise and coordinated functioning of intracellular energetic units (ICEUs). ICEUs represent structural and functional modules integrating multiple fluxes at sites of ATP generation in mitochondria and ATP utilization by myofibrillar, sarcoplasmic reticulum and sarcolemma ion-pump ATPases. The role of ICEUs is to enhance the efficiency of vectorial intracellular energy transfer and fine tuning of oxidative ATP synthesis maintaining stable metabolite levels to adjust to intracellular energy needs through the dynamic system of compartmentalized phosphoryl transfer networks. One of the key elements in regulation of energy flux distribution and feedback communication is the selective permeability of mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) which represents a bottleneck in adenine nucleotide and other energy metabolite transfer and microcompartmentalization. Based on the experimental and theoretical (mathematical modelling) arguments, we describe regulation of mitochondrial ATP synthesis within ICEUs allowing heart workload to be linearly correlated with oxygen consumption ensuring conditions of metabolic stability, signal communication and synchronization. Particular attention was paid to the structure-function relationship in the development of ICEU, and the role of mitochondria interaction with cytoskeletal proteins, like tubulin, in the regulation of MOM permeability in response to energy metabolic signals providing regulation of mitochondrial respiration. Emphasis was given to the importance of creatine metabolism for the cardiac energy homoeostasis.

[Endoscopic transpapillary interventions in chronic pancreatitis].

The results of treatment of 12 patients, suffering complicated forms of chronic pancreatitis (CHP), in a General Surgery Department of Ivano-Frankivsk regional clinical hospital in 2011 - 2013 yrs, were analyzed. There were 10 (83.3%) men and 2 (16.7%) women, ageing 22-57 yrs old. Previously 6 (50%) patients were treated for an acute necrotic pancreatitis. The changes in a pancreatic duct (PD) type IV in accordance to Cambridge classification was established in 7 patients, type III--in 3, type IIa--in 2, type IIb--in 1. Virsungolitoextraction with previous pneumodilatation without stenting of PD was accomplished in 4 patients, stenting with pneumodilatation for stricture of PD--in 6, stenting for defect in PD--in 2. Good and satisfactory results were achieved in all the patients. The pain syndrome was absent in 10 (83.3%) patients, 2 (16.7%)--suffered from periodic moderate pain in epigastric region. Endoscopic interventions on the PD must be considered the first stage of surgical treatment in patients with CHP. They must be applied wider due to their reduced invasiveness than open procedures. Open operative intervention must be considered as a second stage of surgical treatment in patients with previous unfair or ineffective endoscopic treatment.

[Prognostication of acute-pancreatitis-associated pulmonary injury based on determination of cytokines levels].

The results of examination of 68 patients, admitted to hospital for an acute pancreatitis during 48 h from its occurrence, were analyzed. In all the patients the cytokines (IL-8, IL-10, TNF-alpha) content was determined in the blood, using immunoenzymal analysis. Algorithm of prognostication of an acute pancreatitis-associated pulmonary injury, basing on determination of the cytokines contents, was elaborated.

[Peculiarities of treatment of the aged and elderly patients with acute pancreatitis].

The results of treatment of 99 elderly and senile patients, suffering an acute pancreatitis in period of 2005 - 2013 yrs, were analyzed. Interstitial acute pancreatitis was diagnoses in 36 (36.3%) patients, focal pancreatic necrosis--in 32 (32.3%), total-subtotal pancreonecrosis--in 31 (31.3%). Miniinvasive interventions were performed in 40 (63.4%) patients, the open--in 24 (38%). The main indication for laparotomy conduction were purulent-septic complications, which is impossible to eliminate while miniinvasive methods application. Due to application of the staged treatment tactics with predominant application of miniinvasive methods, extracorporeal detoxication and improvement of the intensive therapy measures postoperative lethality in necrotic acute pancreatitis have had lowered from 16.7 to 10.3%.

[Thoracoscopic fenestration of pericardium during the treatment of patients, suffering exudative pericarditis].

There were examined 67 patients, treated in the Thoracic Department of Rural Ivano-Frankivsk Clinical Hospital for exudative pericarditis in 2005-2009 yrs. In 27 (40.2%) patients a fenestration of pericardium was performed, using videoassisted thoracoscopy (VATHS), and in 40 (59.8%) - a pericardium cavity puncture according to Larrey method. The results of surgical treatment were analyzed, comparative estimation of the every method efficacy was conducted. The advantages of VATHS application with pericardium fenestration in patients, suffering exudative pericarditis, were proved. Indications for the VATHS application in patients, suffering exudative pericarditis, were determined.

Systems bioenergetics of creatine kinase networks: physiological roles of creatine and phosphocreatine in regulation of cardiac cell function.

Physiological role of creatine (Cr) became first evident in the experiments of Belitzer and Tsybakova in 1939, who showed that oxygen consumption in a well-washed skeletal muscle homogenate increases strongly in the presence of creatine and with this results in phosphocreatine (PCr) production with PCr/O(2) ratio of about 5-6. This was the beginning of quantitative analysis in bioenergetics. It was also observed in many physiological experiments that the contractile force changes in parallel with the alteration in the PCr content. On the other hand, it was shown that when heart function is governed by Frank-Starling law, work performance and oxygen consumption rate increase in parallel without any changes in PCr and ATP tissue contents (metabolic homeostasis). Studies of cellular mechanisms of all these important phenomena helped in shaping new approach to bioenergetics, Molecular System Bioenergetics, a part of Systems Biology. This approach takes into consideration intracellular interactions that lead to novel mechanisms of regulation of energy fluxes. In particular, interactions between mitochondria and cytoskeleton resulting in selective restriction of permeability of outer mitochondrial membrane anion channel (VDAC) for adenine nucleotides and thus their recycling in mitochondria coupled to effective synthesis of PCr by mitochondrial creatine kinase, MtCK. Therefore, Cr concentration and the PCr/Cr ratio became important kinetic parameters in the regulation of respiration and energy fluxes in muscle cells. Decrease in the intracellular contents of Cr and PCr results in a hypodynamic state of muscle and muscle pathology. Many experimental studies have revealed that PCr may play two important roles in the regulation of muscle energetics: first by maintaining local ATP pools via compartmentalized creatine kinase reactions, and secondly by stabilizing cellular membranes due to electrostatic interactions with phospholipids. The second mechanism decreases the production of lysophosphoglycerides in hypoxic heart, protects the cardiac cells sarcolemma against ischemic damage, decreases the frequency of arrhythmias and increases the post-ischemic recovery of contractile function. PCr is used as a pharmacological product Neoton in cardiac surgery as one of the components of cardioplegic solutions for protection of the heart against intraoperational injury and injected intravenously in acute myocardial ischemic conditions for improving the hemodynamic response and clinical conditions of patients with heart failure.

[Surgical treatment of sacrococcygeal epithelial fistula and dermoid cysts].

The results of surgical treatment of 246 patients in Department of Proctology of Ivano-Frankivsk regional clinical hospital in 2000-2008 yrs were analyzed. There were 232 men and 14 women ageing 18-46 years old. There were admitted to the hospital 38 (15.4%) patients for coccygeal epithelial fistula (CEF) abscess and 6 (2.9%)--for atypical localization of CEF. In 12 (5.8%) patients dermoid cyst of sacrum region was diagnosed. Radical excision of all CEF with suturing of the cutaneous--subcutaneous layers edges to the yellow ligaments edges or periosteum of cristae sacralis medianae in the wound bottom was performed in 76 (84.6%) patients. In 32 (15.4%) patients, after radical excision of CEF, the operation was concluded by mildly approximating interrupted suturing with the wound tamponade, using the gauze band. In 12 (4.9%) patients the radical excision of dermoid cyst with suturing of the skin edges and subcutaneous layer to the wound bottom was made. The abscess revision and restricted necrectomy was performed, the wound was managed, using open method, in 38 (15.4%) patients, suffering CEF abscess. Radical operative intervention was performed in 2 - 4 months. The disease recurrence had occurred in 3 (1.28%) patients due to performance of insufficiently radical excision of ECF.

[Mini-invasive methods in the treatment of abdominal sepsis caused by abdominal cavity abscess].

In 2002-2008 yrs 85 patients were treated for abdominal cavity abscess (ACA). Hepatic abscess was revealed in 41 (33.6%) patients, subhepatic one--in 14 (16.5%), right-sided subdiaphragmatic--in 12 (14.1%), left-sided--in 18 (21.2%). In 42 (49.4%) patients abdominal sepsis was diagnosed, of them in 25 (29.4%)--severe one, in 18 (21.2%)--polyorganic insufficiency syndrome. For ACA in 67 (78.8%) patients the puncture--drainage interventions under ultrasonographic guidance were performed and in 18 (21.2%)--laparotomy. Miniinvasive interventions application in 48 (56.5%) patients had permitted to remove the sepsis signs already on the third--fifth day. In 19 (22.4%) patients in severe sepsis veno--venous hemodyafiltration was used for extracorporeal detoxication performance. Twelve (14.1%) patients died.

Association of CD2 with fibrinogen in human plasma: depletion of the soluble E-receptor in blood clotting.

The soluble E-receptor (SER) of lymphocytes that is related to CD2 was detected in human plasma and serum using immunoelectrophoresis with sheep antiserum. All plasma samples (n=18) demonstrated reactivity with antiserum, whereas the reactivity of the corresponding sera remained low or undetectable. The depletion of SER in clotting is associated with fibrinogen, as shown by crossed-affinity immunoelectrophoresis with antisera to plasma proteins. The SER-associated fibrinogen was purified and analysed by the SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. A band close to 66 kDa was detected with monoclonal antibodies to CD2. The association of CD2 and other soluble receptors with fibrinogen via domains is suggested. It is recommended that the fresh plasma, not serum, should be used to study circulating receptors because coagulation may appreciably diminish their physiological level in blood samples.

Influence of heating on the activity of xanthine oxidase in tumor cells subjected to the phototoxic action of hematoporphyrin derivative.

The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of the stimulatory effect of heat stress on generation of superoxide radical (O2-*) in tumors subjected to photodynamic therapy (PDT) with hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD). For this purpose, the effect of heating on the activity of xanthine oxidase (XOD) in tumor cells upon their photosensitization with HPD was examined; this enzyme is participated in purine catabolism and has the ability to generate O2-*, a precursor of H2O2 and very cytotoxic hydroxyl radical. The study was carried out on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells, which were loaded with HPD in a serum-free medium and then irradiated with red light (lambda max = 630 nm) at 3 different temperatures (30, 37 and 44 degrees C). In the cells, the activity of XOD was assayed fluorometrically, using pterine as the substrate, whereas the production of O2-* by the nitro blue tetrazolium method. It was found that increasing of the temperature from 30 to 44 degrees C strongly (by approximately 2.5-fold) enhanced the generation of O2-* in EAC cells that correlated well with an increase in the rate of their photosensitized killing. Experiments showed that the intensification of O2-* formation could be mediated by the stimulatory effects of heating on the activity of XOD; namely, the 12 min treatment of EAC cells by HPD-PDT at a control (30 degrees C) temperature caused an about 2-fold growth in the activity of XOD, whereas the same light exposure at 44 degrees C led already to a 2.7-fold increase in the activity of this enzyme. However, incubation of EAC cells in the dark even at a hyperthermic (44 degrees C) temperature had no effect on their XOD activity. Thus, our findings strongly suggest that upon PDT with HPD the mild hyperthermia (approximately 44 degrees C) produced by photoirradiation might enhance the PDT-induced oxidative stress and, as a result, its tumoricidal effect via a rise in the activity of XOD. Besides, the obtained results suggest that severe hyperthermia (> 45 degrees C) could induce, contrary to mild hyperthermia, a reduction in the efficiency of HPD-PDT; we found that in EAC cells the raising temperature of an environment from 30 to 44 degrees C induced more than 2-fold increase in the activity of XOD, whereas further heating from 44 to 60 degrees C led to inactivation of this enzyme.

The isolation and characterization of human natural alphaGal-specific IgG antibodies applicable to the detection of alphaGal-glycosphingolipids.

The Galalpha1-3Galbeta (alphaGal) hapten is xenogeneic for humans; natural anti-alphaGal antibodies are present in human serum. To study the possible abnormal expression of the alphaGal in humans and the pathophysiological role of antibodies, the method of affinity purification of human anti-alphaGal IgG was developed. The specificity of antibodies was evaluated using polyacrylamide (PAA)-based glycoconjugates in direct and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The purified antibodies exhibited alphaGal-restricted specificity. The IC50 value for alphaGal-PAA was equal to 4 x 10(-8) M. In a competitive assay, the Galalpha1-3(Fucalpha1-2)Galbeta-PAA (trisaccharide of blood group B) was found to be one hundred times less active inhibitor than alphaGal-PAA. The multivalent alphaGal-PAA was 1100 times more potent an inhibitor than the monovalent spacered alphaGal-saccharide. The antibodies did not show any reactivity to the negatively charged antigens (DNA, human tumor-derived mucins). At a concentration of 2 microg/mL, the antibodies agglutinated rabbit erythrocytes but not hare erythrocytes. The high reactivity of antibodies to the alphaGal-glycosphingolipids of rabbit erythrocytes and the pig kidney was shown by a modified sensitive method of thin-layer chromatography with immunodetection.