Single-walled carbon nanotubes as a photo-thermo-acoustic cancer theranostic agent: theory and proof of the concept experiment.

Theranostics is the emerging field of medicine that uniquely combines diagnostic techniques and active agents to diagnose and treat medical conditions simultaneously or sequentially. Finding a theranostic agent capable to cure the affected cells and being safe for the healthy ones is the key for successful treatment. Here, we demonstrate that agglomerated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are promising theranostic agent that enables photo-activated 'cold' destruction of the cancer cells keeping their environment alive. The absorption of picosecond pulses by SWCNT agglomerates results in the mechanical (due to photoacoustic effect) rather than photothermal cancer cell destruction, which was visualized by micro-Raman and ultrafast near-infrared CARS. The developed theoretical model allows us to distinguish photothermal, photoacoustic, and photothermoacoustic regimes of the cancer cell destruction, and also to optimize SWCNT-based theranostics recipe.

Formation of self-trapping waveguides in bulk PMMA media doped with Phenanthrenequinone.

Experimental and theoretical investigations of light self-trapping waveguides in a bulk polymeric medium based on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) with photosensitive phenanthrenequinone (PQ)-molecules are examined. Self-channeling was generated for the first time in this nonlinear bulk PQ-PMMA media with a thickness up to several millimeters and 0.1 mol. % PQ-concentration. The experimental formation of volume waveguide structures with a length of 2 - 3 cm at different laser wavelengths (405 nm, 488 nm, and 514.5 nm) was demonstrated. The calculations based on a model for the laser beam propagation in the bulk PQ-PMMA medium with competitive nonlinearities are in a good agreement with the experiments.

[The modulating effect of the horn extract from the saiga of different age on the organothypic lymphoid tissue culture].

The horn extracts from the saiga of different age were used to investigate its effect on organotypic tissue culture of explants from the rat spleen. From 4 to 10 amino acids were detected in the different extract fractions. The horn extracts from the young saiga, at the effective concentration 1 ng/ml, showed stimulating effect in spleen tissue cultures as compared to the control explants. No effect of extracts from the old saiga was observed in tissue culture. Possibly, a stimulation of the cellular proliferation is due to the great amino acid content in saiga horn; however this phenomenon is decreased by the aging.

Frequency up-conversion of coherent images by intracavity nondegenerate four-wave mixing.

This work presents theoretical and experimental studies of the processes of light field transformations upon frequency-nondegenerate fourwave mixing (NFWM) in a nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI). The principal aims are the development of a theory for intracavity four-wave mixing in complex molecular media in conditions of scattering from dynamic gratings and resonator feedback; determination of a mechanism of light field transformations in dynamic holograms, and also by nonlinear interferometers; working out and introduction of novel nonlinear-optical methods to control the characteristics of light beams. High diffraction efficiency (up to 13.5%) with simultaneous infrared-to-visible frequency conversion of coherent images has been experimentally obtained by intracavity NFWM.

[The effect of a preparation from the horns of the saiga antelope on the goal-directed drinking behavior of rats]. / Vliianie preparata iz rogov antilopy saigi na tselenapravlennoe pit'evoe povedenie krys.

Saitarin (an extract from the horns of antelope Saiga) depresses complex instrumental drinking behavior of rats and induced specific changes in the structure of goal-directed behavioral acts. Such changes are to a certain extent suppressed by naloxone. The obtained evidence suggest that the effects of saitarin are caused by its predominant influence on the processes of reinforcement in the course of realization by animals of the learned behavioral acts.

Comparative hemolysis tests of rotary blood pumps.

At present, hemolysis is one of the most important characteristics used to evaluate rotary blood pumps. However, the conditions of testing procedures in various research centers differ considerably. We proposed to conduct the experiments under conditions similar to those from clinical applications of arterial pumps in extracorporeal perfusion. Proceeding from these considerations, the following parameters of Hemolysis (H) testing were adopted: output, 6 L/min; difference of pressure, 300 mm Hg; initial hematocrit, 30 mg%; and initial hemolysis (PHbo) < 5 mg%. The channel pump IBP80 designed on the basis of the BP80 was tested using fresh human blood. The experimental results indicate that the H level due to the use of the IBP80 is 2-3 times less than H for the BP80. H dependence on the difference of pressure in the range between 200 and 300 mm Hg was noted for the BP80, which can be accounted for by the transition of the laminar conditions of flow to turbulence. According to the results of the hydrodynamic efficiency evaluation, the IBP80 is twice as efficient as the BP80.

[Axial micro-pump system of assisted circulation]. / Sistema vspomogatelnogo krovoobrashcheniia s osevym mikronasosom.

An assisted circulation system having a HART-02 axial-flow micropump has been developed. The diameter of the micropump is 7 mm and its length is 20 mm, which allows it to be introduced into the ascending aorta through a peripheral artery. The system has a good biocompatibility, a low hemolysis and its productivity is as much as 3.5 liter/min.

[Schemes for implanting shovel pumps for assisted circulation]. / Skhemy implantatsii lopatochnykh nasosov dlia ispomogatel'nogo krovoobrashcheniia.

The authors propose a design of an axial shovel pump for extracorporeal circulation. They show how to introduce it into various cardiovascular segments and make a comparative assessment of its efficacy in relation to the type and severity of heart failure, surgical access, and treatment policy.