Phase-matched high-order harmonic generation in pre-ionized noble gases.

One of the main difficulties of efficiently generating high-order harmonics in long neutral-gas targets is to reach the phase-matching conditions. The issue is that the medium cannot be sufficiently ionized by the driving laser due to plasma defocusing. We propose a method to improve the phase-matching by pre-ionizing the gas using a weak capillary discharge. We have demonstrated this mechanism, for the first time, in absorption-limited XUV generation by an 800 nm femtosecond laser in argon and krypton. The ability to control phase-mismatch is confirmed by an analytical model and numerical simulations of the entire generation process. Our method allows to increase the efficiency of the harmonic generation significantly, paving the way towards photon-hungry applications of these compact short-wavelength sources.

[Opportunistic fungal infections of ent organs. Part 2]. / Opportunisticheskie mikozy LOR-organov. Chast' 2.

The review of literature summarized information about main fungal pathogens and theirs proportions in infections affecting the ENT areas. Different nosological forms of fungal diseases of upper respiratory tract and ear were considered, and listed the main clinical manifestations. Microbiological diagnosis of mycoses affecting the ENT organs is based on microscopic, mycological, immunological and molecular-genetic studies. The review paid particular attention to the treatment of fungal infections of the areas. It presented the classification of modern antifungal drugs, and described regimens and duration of treatment depending on fungus type, disease severity and other patient's condition. It was noted that success of therapy of fungal infections affecting upper respiratory tract and ear now provided by using of complex antimycotics, immunotropic agents, antihistamines and probiotics. The emergence of resistant strains of micromycetes was observed as the main reason for decreased effectiveness of antifungal agents. Prospective solution of this problem were indicated by way of using of biologically active plant compounds, nanoantiseptics, metal ions, enzymes and photodynamic therapy. The review suggested relevance of increasing rates of fungal morbidity affecting the ENT areas, the necessity of early diagnosis, the search of new antifungal agents and compounds with fungicidal activity and theirs introduction into clinical practice.

Petawatt Laser Guiding and Electron Beam Acceleration to 8 GeV in a Laser-Heated Capillary Discharge Waveguide.

Guiding of relativistically intense laser pulses with peak power of 0.85 PW over 15 diffraction lengths was demonstrated by increasing the focusing strength of a capillary discharge waveguide using laser inverse bremsstrahlung heating. This allowed for the production of electron beams with quasimonoenergetic peaks up to 7.8 GeV, double the energy that was previously demonstrated. Charge was 5 pC at 7.8 GeV and up to 62 pC in 6 GeV peaks, and typical beam divergence was 0.2 mrad.

[COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF ANTI-FUNGAL EFFECT OF EVGENOL EMULSION IN POLYSORBAT-80 ON REFERENCE STRAIN OF CANDIDA ALBICANS ATCC 885-653].

The aim of this research was a comprehensive study of the polysorbate - 80 emulsified eugenol effect on the culture of Candida albicans ATCC 885-653 by determining of minimal mycostatic, mycocidal concentrations and indexes of fungi reproduction intensity in postmycostatic eugenol concentrations. Minimal mycostatic and mycocidal concentrations was determined by sequentialmakrodilution of eugenol emulsion in Sabouraud liquid medium with next transferringthe tubes' contents on the solid Sabouraud medium. The amount of colony forming units /ml of Candida albicans ATCC 885-653 was determined by the sector method. The high antifungal activity of the eugenol emulsion in polysorbate-80 for the Candida albicans ATCC 885-653 culture has been proven. However, postmicostatic concentrations of eugenol led to increasing the number of colony-forming units per 1ml 10 times compared with control, it can promoteincreasingthe colonization potential offungi in this range of concentrations.

[Opportunistic mycoses of ENT organs. Part 1]. / Opportunisticheskie mikozy LOR-organov. Soobshchenie 1.

The present literature review summarizes information about the diseases of the upper respiratory tract and the ears caused by opportunistic fungi. The factors responsible for the increased frequency of opportunistic infections, among which mycosis is the leading one, are given. The exogenous and endogenous risk factors are described. The main pathogens of opportunistic mycotic infections of the ENT-organs are listed. Special attention is given to the mechanism underlying the development of anti-colonial immunity of the upper respiratory tract and the ears and the formation of the antifungal immunity of the macroorganism as a whole. The data on the pathogenetic factors of mycelial and yeast-like micromycetes are presented. The main variants of the pathogenetic mechanisms, such as adhesion, invasive growth, and penetration, behind the formation of the mycotic lesions are considered. These biological properties of the fungi contribute to their ability to cause a wide range of pathological changes - from the superficial lesions of the skin and mucous membranes of the ENT organs to the deep invasive processes. The protective cellular and humoral immune reactions of a macroorganism that develop in response to the introduction of a pathogenic fungus are described. The review lists the main nosological forms of mycosis known to affect the ENT-organs with special reference to the leading role of the yeast-like fungi belonging to the genus Candida in the development of mycotic lesions of these biotopes (64.65%). The most pathogenic species, Candida albicans, prevails in the structure of the yeast-like fungi biome whereas the leading role in the development of mycosis of the ENT organs by micromycetes of mold belongs to the species Aspergillus niger.

Active Plasma Lensing for Relativistic Laser-Plasma-Accelerated Electron Beams.

Compact, tunable, radially symmetric focusing of electrons is critical to laser-plasma accelerator (LPA) applications. Experiments are presented demonstrating the use of a discharge-capillary active plasma lens to focus 100-MeV-level LPA beams. The lens can provide tunable field gradients in excess of 3000 T/m, enabling cm-scale focal lengths for GeV-level beam energies and allowing LPA-based electron beams and light sources to maintain their compact footprint. For a range of lens strengths, excellent agreement with simulation was obtained.

[FULLERENE C60 INHIBITED FREE RADICAL AND DESTRUCTIVE PROCESSES IN CONNECTIVE TISSUE DURING ADJUVANT ARTHRITIS IN RATS].

The effects of fullerene C60 (FC60) on the level of free radical and destruction processes were studied in rats with experimental adjuvant arthritis (AA). It was shown the protective effect of FC60 during AA. The effect was accompanied by an increase of the antioxidant enzymes activity, superoxide dismutase in the liver (15.96 ± 0.38 µmol/kg x s) and in the kidneys (5.36 ± 0.27 µmol/kg x s) and catalase in the kidneys (9.56 ± 0.78 µmol/kg x s) and in the heart (2.26 ± 0.41 µmol/kg x s) in comparison to control group (43.83± 5.69%; 54.55 ± 6.18%; 11.68 ± 0.52 µmol/kg x s; 3.43 ± 0.47 µmol/kg x s; 4.77 ± 0.5 µmol/kg x s; 0.98 ± 0.12 µmol/kg x s accordingly). It was shown a protective effect of FC60 during AA directed on the depression of the destructive processes in connective tissue that was expressed through the reduction of the total collagenolitic activity level in cartilage (10.05 ± 0.06 µmol/g/min) and bone (11.21 ± 0.04 µmol/g/min) tissues, free hydroxyproline contents (1.54 ± 0.04 µg/ml) and alkaline phasphatase activity (1.24 ± 0,14 µmol/l x sec) in comparison to control group (11.91 ± 0.49 µmol/g/min; 13.19 ± 0.15 µmol/g/min; 2.25 ± 0.07 µg/ ml; 2.19 ± 0.24 µmol/l x sec accordingly). Taken together, these results accentuate the perspective of future investigations of action FC60 during rheumatoid arthritis as a feasible therapeutic agent.

Histoenzymological characteristics of the heart conduction system: comparative study with left or right ventricle afterload.

Histoenzymological changes, indicating inhibition of the main metabolic processes, were found in the conduction cardiomyocytes of the left ventricle and ventricular septum in experimental stenosis of the aorta. The histoenzymological changes in the conduction system of both ventricles and ventricular septum were similar in experimental stenosis of the pulmonary artery and indicated primarily activation of glycolysis. The histoenzymological profile of conduction cardiomyocytes differed little in cases when the increase of the pressure load was complicated or not complicated by the development of heart failure, particularly in pulmonary artery stenosis. The histoenzymological changes in the conduction system in response to increased afterload differed significantly from those in the contractile myocardium and correlated with the level of cellular functional activity and sensitivity to the regulatory and alterative exposure. These data attest to minor role of metabolic shifts in conduction cell injuries with increasing afterload, primarily, of the right ventricle.

[The anti-inflammatory effect of fullerene C60 on adjuvant arthritis in rats].

The anti-inflammatory properties of non-modified fullerene C60 (FC60) by adjuvant arthritis in Wistar rats have been studied. It was shown that the intraperitoneal introduction of FC60 (50 ng) reveals an anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective actions in the phase of systemic manifestation of adjuvant arthritis. The effect was carried out by limitation of inflammation of damaged limb, normalization of body weight, the decrease in body temperature. Introduction of FC60 promote the reduction of leukocyte level, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, concentrations of sialic acids and the ceruloplasmin levels, processes degeneration of cartilaginous tissues of the joint of rats. It has been concluded that the therapeutic effectiveness of non-modified FC60 in experimental adjuvant arthritis is comparable with the action of water-soluble forms of fullerenes. The results substantiate the future investigations of non-modified FC60 for design of therapeutic agents for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in clinics.

[Effect of fullerene C60 on free-radical induced lipid peroxidation processes in bronchial asthma].

Lipids peroxidative oxidation as well as antioxidative enzymes superoxidedismutase and catalase activity state at the mice sensibilization with ovalbumine, its correction with fulleren FC60 as well as by its forms (FC60-OVA, mFC60 mFC60-OVA) modified and conjugated with ovalbumines have been studied. It has been demonstrated that the mice sensibilization with ovalbumin leads to the tissues peroxidative lipid oxidation processes enforcement as well as lowering antioxidative enzymes activity in lungs and spleen. Used different rulleren forms expressed antioxidative effect and modifying effect to antioxidative protection enzymes at a given pathology. The influence of fulleren FC 60 and its modified form (1,2-methanofulleren-C60)61-carbolacid was the mostly effective. The data recieved testify to the prospects of the fullerens further investigation as the potential medicines.

[Fullerene C60 exhibits immunomodulatory activity during adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats].

The effect of fullerene C60 (FC60) on the immune processes during experimental adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) in rats has been studied. The results indicate the inhibitory action of FN60 during AA on cellular splenocyte proliferation, neutrophil phagocytic and oxygen-stimulatory activities in the NBT test, and humoral immune mechanisms involved in the production of antinuclear antibodies, formation of circulating immune complexes, and restoration of morphological structure of spleen. Taken together, these results allow FC60 to be considered as a new potential pharmacological agent that can realize its effects mainly through anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity.

[The condition of lipid peroxidation in mice and the effect of fullerene C60 during immune response].

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of fullerene C60 on lipid peroxidation (POL) and antioxidant protection during the induction of the immune response to heteroantigen. Balb/c mice were immunized intraperitoneal (i.p.) with sheep erythrocytes for the primary immunization. Water dispersion of fullerene C60 was injected i.p. once at the dose 50 ng to mice on first, third and sixth days after immunization. During immune response, the increment ofmalonic dialdehide (MDA) was enhanced in liver, kidneys and heart tissues. Fullerene C60 induced POL during the latent phase of immune response, but inhibited this process during progression of immune response. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in liver and spleen tissues were induced after injection of fullerene C60 to intact mice. After immunization, high level of activity of antioxidant enzymes and low level of organs mass factor were determined. Injection of fullerene C60 reduced the activities of SOD and catalase in spleen tissues. The results of our study indicate that fullerene C60 can display positive effect on POL processes and antioxidant enzymes activity which is probably due to membrane's stabilization action or the ability of fullerene C60 to bind free radicals independently.

[Quantitative analysis of individual groups of microorganisms, extracted from atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries in patients depending upon ASP299GLY polymorphism of TLR4 gene].

The estimation data of contamination by separate groups of microorganisms and dependence of the microbial content level upon TLR4 gene 896A/G polymorphism in 20 samples of atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries has been presented. The presence of TLR4 gene polymorphic allele G in the individual genotype determines the increased contamination of atherosclerotic plaque tissues by the representatives of the following genera: Lactobacillus sp., Enterobacterium sp., Sneathia sp./Leptotrihia sp./Fusobacterium sp., Mobiluncus sp./Corynebacterium sp., Peptostreptococcus sp. The emergence of new correlation pairs with participation of Lachnobacterium sp./Corynebacterium sp. among the carriers of G allele has been revealed via the intragroup correlation analysis. The obtained results confirm the possible involvement of the represented groups of microorganisms in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the role of the TLR4 gene polymorphic variant G in the increased microbial contamination of the coronary arteries tissues.

[Role of several periodontopathogenic microorganisms and tlr4 gene Asp299Gly polymorphism in atherosclerosis pathogenesis].

AIM: Establishment of presence of periodonto-pathogenic microorganisms in atherosclerosis plaque and surrounding tissues, and possible relation of development of atherosclerosis and TLR4 gene Asp299Gly polymorphism in ischemic heart disease patients (IHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples of coronary vessels obtained during autopsy of 31 individuals deceased from IHD and 5 individuals deceased due to reasons not related with IHD were studied. PCR was used to determine DNA of the microorganisms. TLR4 gene polymorphic segment was amplified by using specific primers. RESULTS: Analysis of coronary vessel atherosclerotic plaques revealed presence of the studied periodontopathogenic microorganisms in 83.9% of cases. The most frequently detected were Porphyromonas gingivalis (64.5%), Treponema denticola (41.9%), Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (32.3%), less frequently--Bacteroides forsythus and Prevotella intermedia (12.9% and 6.5% respectively). In 51.6% of cases 2 or more microorganisms were detected. Only in 11.1% ofcoronary artery samples, with plaques containing microorganisms, the microorganisms were detected in undamaged tissues. Patients deceased from IHD had TLR4 gene 299Gly allele significantly more frequently. CONCLUSION: The studied periodontopathogenic microorganisms can play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic injury of coronary arteries in IHD. The presence of TLR4 gene allele 299Gly significantly contributes to these processes.

[Relationship of TLR2 and TLR4 gene polymorphism with a penchant for individual urogenital infections].

We investigated the population prevalence of polymorphisms of Arg753Gln TLR2gene, and Asp299Gly, Thr399Ile TLR4 genes among people living in the Poltava region, as well as data communication polymorphisms with the presence of diseases caused by urogenital infections. The group of population control was a random sample of residents of the Poltava region (n = 299). The group of patients with urogenital diseases included 156 people. Genotyping of these groups TLR2 Arg753Gln polymorphism and the gene TLR4 Asp299Gly, Thr399Ile was performed using PCR and subsequent restriction analysis. Statistically significant association of allele A ofgene TLR2 (p = 0.0018) and allele G of gene TLR4 (p = 0.085) with the presence of urogenital diseases was confirmed.

[Effect of fullerene C60 on functional activity of phagocytic cells].

The effect of aqueous dispersion of fullerene C60 (FC60) on the functional activity of cells involved in the phagocytosis reactions was studied. FC60 (0.01 microM/l and 0.1 microM/l) produced mainly negative effects on the activity ofnonspecific immunity cells by inhibiting the myeloperoxidase enzymatic activity, decreased the level of induced chemiluminescence, and suppressed the expression of molecules CD54 involved in the adhesion. The only exception was a slight stimulating effect on the NBT test. The results indicate the FC60 influences various stages and mechanisms of phagocytosis.

Knowledge of HIV serostatus and risk behaviour among injecting drug users in Estonia.

We used the findings from two, cross-sectional studies of HIV serostatus and risk behaviours to assess the effects of knowledge of HIV serostatus and risk behaviours (relating to sex and injection drug use) among injecting drug users (IDUs). Respondent-driven sampling was used simultaneously at two sites in Estonia (the capital Tallinn, and the second-largest city of Ida-Virumaa County, Kohtla-Jarve). The research tool was an interviewer-administered survey. Biological samples were collected for HIV testing. Participants were categorised into three groups based on HIV testing results and self-report on HIV serostatus: HIV-negative (n=133); HIV-positive unaware of their serostatus (n=75); and HIV-positive aware of their serostatus (n=168). In total, 65% of the participants tested positive for HIV. Of those 69% were aware of their positive serostatus. HIV-positive IDUs aware of their serostatus exhibited more risk behaviours than their HIV-positive counterparts unaware of their serostatus or HIV-negative IDUs. Effective prevention of HIV among IDUs should therefore, include programmes to reduce high-risk sexual and drug use behaviours at the public health scale and enhanced prevention efforts focusing on HIV-infected individuals.

Chronotropic and inotropic components of cardiac reflexes in cats.

The relationship between chronotropic and inotropic components of cardiac reflexes were studied in cats using intravenous blood injections, occlusion of the abdominal aorta, pressing on eyeballs (Aschner maneuver), and occlusion of the carotid arteries. Inotropic reactions were characterized by the contractility index DPxHR/MSAP. Different reflexes were shown to be characterized by different ratio of chronotropic and inotropic components, in addition, heart rate and contractility were often altered in opposite directions.

Pathomorphology of myocardial circulation: comparative study in increased left or right ventricle afterload.

Comparative study of pathomorphology of myocardial circulation under conditions of increased afterload of the left or right ventricles showed similar changes. All compartments of the coronary bed were plethoric, capillary blood stasis and perivascular edema, more pronounced in arterial vessels, were detected in both cases. These changes equally involved both ventricles and the ventricular septum. Significant differences consisted in local increase in the density of functioning capillaries. The increase was the maximum in hemodynamically overloaded ventricle and ventricular septum, presumably due to increase of their contractile activity. The density of functioning capillaries in the intact (vs. pressure overloaded) ventricle also increased, but to a lesser degree, which could be due to systemic neurohumoral effects. If increased afterload was complicated by the development of heart failure, circulatory disorders in the myocardium progressed. Significant increase in the density of functioning capillaries in all cardiac compartments indicated decreased vascular tone and exhaustion of coronary reserve. This was paralleled by a sharp arterial plethora in case of increased afterload of the left ventricle and sharp blood stasis in the microcirculatory bed in case of increased right ventricle afterload. Reduction of effective perfusion pressure in the presence of coronary dystonia can cause coronary insufficiency and myocardial ischemia in case of increased right ventricle afterload.

Chronotropic and dromotropic components of cardiac reflexes in the cat.

The relationship between dromotropic and chronotropic components of various cardiac reflexes was studied in cats. Intravenous infusion of blood was mainly accompanied by unidirectional negative chronotropic and dromotropic effects, but the dynamics of these effects was different. Clumping of the carotid arteries in most animals induced unidirectional negative chronotropic and dromotropic effects. Their dynamics was also different and differed from that observed during intravenous blood infusion. Pulsatile increase in blood pressure in the carotid artery was accompanied by a unidirectional negative effect in the majority of animals. The opposite chronotropic and dromotropic effects with similar temporal dynamics were revealed in 1/3 animals. The ratio of positive and negative effects was similar during clumping of the abdominal aorta (1/3 unidirectional, 1/3 opposite, and 1/3 isolated chronotropic and dromotropic effects). Aschner test was characterized by the prevalence of isolated chronotropic effect (negative effect in the majority of animals; positive effect in 1/3 animals). Hence, different cardiac reflexes are characterized by different ratio between chronotropic and dromotropic components.