Stimulated coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) resonances originate from double-slit interference of two-photon Stokes pathways

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) uses vibrational resonances to study nuclear wavepacket motions and is widely used in cell imaging and other applications. The resonances usually lie on top of a parametric component that involves no change in the molecular state and creates an undesirable background which reduces the sensitivity of the technique. Here, by examining the process from the perspective of the molecule, rather than the field, we are able to separate the two components and recast each resonance as a modulus square of a transition amplitude which contains an interference between two Stokes pathways, each involving a different pair of field modes. We further propose that dissipative signals obtained by measuring the total absorption of all field modes in a convenient collinear pulse geometry can eliminate the parametric component and retain the purely resonant contributions. Specific vibrational resonances may then be readily detected using pulse shapers through derivatives with respect to pulse parameters.     

Some parameters of the use of alcohol by israeli youth and its relationship to their involvement with cannabis and tobacco

This is the third report of an epidemiological study dealing with drugs, cigarettes, and now alcohol, amongst secondary school students in Israel. In the present report we describe general trends of alcohol use, draw socioeconomic profiles of alcohol drinkers, and investigate the relationship with cannabis use and cigarette smoking. Drinking patterns of the research population were studied during the 30 days prior to the administration of a questionnaire in order to devise a scale of their quantity of drinking in relation to a time sequence. Measures were also constructed for the drinking patterns of the family and friends of the research population. One of the overall conclusions is that a higher alcohol consumption is indicated amongst youngsters with a profile of delinquency, involvement with youth activities, personal problems and low parental control.     

Endometrial ablation using hysteroscopic instillation of hot saline solution into the uterus

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of endometrial ablation by hysteroscopic instillation of hot saline using the Hydro-Therm-Ablator (HTA) system. METHODS: A total of 14 patients with menorrhagia, underwent the HTA procedure under general anethesia. Follow up of 9-18 months is reported. Three patients had undergone tubal ligation years before the procedure and one underwent it immediately after HTA at the same session. RESULTS: One procedure was cancelled due to technical problems, and roller-ball ablation was performed. There were no procedure related complications. A total of 11 patients reported significant reduction in bleeding, or amenorrhea, 9-18 months after the HTA procedure. One patient, although eumenorrheic after the ablation, considered the procedure a failure and requested hysterectomy. One patient with menorrhagia 3 months after the procedure, had a second HTA ablation and is now amenorrheic. CONCLUSIONS: This series of patients who underwent HTA ablation had successful reduction of menorrhagia to oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea.     

Scorpion sting-induced pulmonary edema. Scintigraphic evidence of cardiac dysfunction

We report two cases of pulmonary edema due to scorpion sting. Radionuclide ventriculography (MUGA scan) showed localized cardiac dysfunction. The cardiac injury induced by the scorpion venom persisted for a prolonged period.     

Folate Levels in Patients Hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease 2019

We aimed to investigate the prevalence of decreased folate levels in patients hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and evaluate their outcome and the prognostic signifi-cance associated with its different levels. In this retrospective cohort study, data were obtained from the electronic medical records at the Sheba Medical Center. Folic acid levels were available in 333 out of 1020 consecutive patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection hospitalized from January 2020 to November 2020. Thirty-eight (11.4%) of the 333 patients comprising the present study population had low folate levels. No significant difference was found in the incidence of acute kidney injury, hypoxemia, invasive ventilation, length of hospital stay, and mortality be-tween patients with decreased and normal-range folate levels. When sub-dividing the study population according to quartiles of folate levels, similar findings were observed. In conclusion, decreased serum folate levels are common among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, but there was no association between serum folate levels and clinical outcomes. Due to the important role of folate in cell metabolism and the potential pathologic impact when deficient, a follow-up of folate levels or possible supplementation should be encouraged in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Fur-ther studies are required to assess the prevalence and consequences of folate deficiency in COVID-19 patients.