Design for a Nanoscale Single-Photon Spin Splitter for Modes with Orbital Angular Momentum

We propose using the effective spin-orbit coupling of light in Bragg-modulated cylindrical waveguides for the efficient separation of spin-up and spin-down photons emitted by a single photon emitter. Because of the spin and directional dependence of photonic stop bands in the waveguides, spin-up (-down) photon propagation in the negative (positive) direction along the waveguide axis is blocked while the same photon freely propagates in the opposite direction. Frequency shifts of photonic band structures induced by the spin-orbit coupling are verified by finite-difference time-domain numerical simulations.

[The application of ultrasound for diagnostics of middle ear pathologies]

The objective of the present work was to summarize the results of the application of ultrasound tests for differential diagnostics of various diseases and lesions affecting the middle ear. Almost 7.000 threshold and suprathreshold studies were carried out in the patients presenting with various forms of sensorineural impairment of hearing. The ultrasound investigations were conducted with the use of the EKHOTEST-02 apparatus (Giperion, Moscow). The results of determination of threshold hearing sensitivity to ultrasound and lateralization of its threshold and suprathreshold values suggest their significance for the detection of even such a minimal disturbance in the cochlear function as the phenomenon of accelerated increase in loudness and the associated enhancement of the severity of the damage to the peripheral sensory system.

Reversible optical memory for twisted photons

We report on an experiment in which orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light is mapped at the single-photon level into and out of a cold atomic ensemble. Based on the dynamic electromagnetically induced transparency protocol, the demonstrated optical memory enables the reversible mapping of Laguerre-Gaussian modes with preserved handedness of the helical phase structure. The demonstrated capability opens the possibility to the storage of qubits encoded as superpositions of OAM states and to multidimensional light matter interfacing.

[Diagnostics of endolymphatic hydrops]

The objective of the present work was to analyse the methods for diagnostics of endolymphatic hydrops associated with Miniere's disease most frequently employed in clinical practice using both the data from the world scientific literature and our own 25-30 year experience based on the observation of more than 500 patients. Camertonal studies of hearing acuity estimated from the results of air conduction measurements and relevant acoumetric curves were considered. The main methods of research are discussed including such as tonal threshold audiometry, ultrasound testing, loud sound lateralization, dehydration test, extratympanic electrocochleography, otoacoustic emission, and functional computed stabilometry. It is concluded that none of the above methods is as reliable as to yield the comprehensive information being sought. All the data obtained by the application of these techniques need to be supplemented by the medical history data, the patients' complaints, clinical signs and symptoms of the disease if the definitive diagnosis of endolymphatic hydrops is to be made.

[The retrospective clinical study of labyrinthine fistula associated with chronic suppurative otitis media and their treatment]

The objective of the present retrospective study was to estimate the efficacy of various surgical techniques employed to treat the patients presenting with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and concomitant cholesteatoma complicated by labyrinthine fistula. The authors present an overview of the literature concerning diagnostics and results of the surgical treatment of labyrinthine fistula (LF) in the patients with CSOM and concomitant cholesteatoma. The original studies included 157 patients with this condition complicated by labyrinthine fistula. The latter was diagnosed based on the data from medical histories, subjective complaints of the patients, results of otomicroscopy, the presence of fistula symptom verified by the pressure test, results of audiological and vestibulometric studies, and computed tomography (CT) of the temporal bones. Late outcomes of the surgical treatment in the patients presenting with CSOM and concomitant cholesteatoma complicated by LF. All the patients underwent sanitation surgery on the middle ear and revision of the mastoidal portion of the cavity. In 48 of them, cholesteatoma matrix on the fistula in situ was preserved (group 1), in 56 ones the removal of the matrix was followed by plastic correction of labyrinthine fistula using various autogenous tissues (group 2), in 53 patients the cholesteatoma matrix was either removed or preserved with the subsequent sealing of the semicircular canal and selective laser destruction of the labyrinth (LDL) (group 3). 79% of the patients in group 1 had no complaints of dizziness during the postoperative period. There were 78.5% and 96.5% of the patients without such complaints in groups 2 and 3 respectively. The elevation of the hearing threshold following the surgical treatment was documented in 10 (6.4%) patients; it resulted in the deafness in 5 (3%) patients.

[Diagnosis of labyrinthine fistula in patients suffering from otitis media purulenta chronica with cholesteatoma: informative value of different methods]

Informative content of different methods of labyrinthine fistulas (LF) diagnosis was assessed in 118 patients suffering from otitis media purulenta chronica (OMPC) with cholesteatoma which ran for 20 years and longer in 82.2% patients, 83.9% had fistula symptom. Unilateral hypoacusis was diagnosed in 68 (57.6%), bilateral--in 50 (42.4%) patients. Severity of vestibular disorders correlated positively with LF size and duration of the disease. Advanced LF was detected in 65 (55.1%) patients, multiple--in 7 (5.9%). Computed tomography of the temporal bone detected LF in all 29 OMPC examinees including "silent" fistulas. Thus, the disease history, clinically manifest fistula symptom and CT of the temporal bone are most informative for diagnosis of LF in OMPC with cholesteatoma.

[Treatment of patients with subjective noise in the ears]

Subjective noise in the ears arises in affection of different systems of a human body (cardiovascular, endocrine, CNS, etc.), but this noise may be also one of the earliest symptoms of different diseases of the ear accompanied, as a rule, with conductive or neurosensory hypoacusis. Phonometry is an indirect psychophysical method of measurement of subjective noise in the ear, and is one of the methods of differential diagnosis of this noise. Current methods of suppression of subjective noise in the ears in chronic neurosensory hypoacusis are sketched. A placebo effect was also achieved.

[A course of early Meniere's disease]

Clinical manifestations are described and examination data are provided for 120 patients with Meniere's disease (MD) running for one year and less (mean 5.2 months). The patients' age varied from 15 to 66 years (mean 39.8 years). Unilateral MD was diagnosed in 95% patients, cochlear MD - in 58.3%, classic one - in the rest patients. Minor or moderate hypoacusis was found in 85% examinees. Mean 18.6 dB bone-air interval at low frequency was detected in 75% patients. Vestibular reflex was reduced insignificantly in 52.5% patients, 45% patients had hypofunction of the third-fourth degree. Early MD was also characterized by ascending or horizontal audiometric curve, positive dehydration test in 85% cases, the acoustic reflex due to accelerated sound intensification in 95% cases, 100% speech intelligibility.

[Laser destruction of labyrinthine receptors as a treatment for benign paroxysmal postural vertigo and otolith symptoms]

Outcomes of surgical laser treatment are presented for 15 patients with resistant to conservative therapy benign paroxysmal postural vertigo (BPPV) and otolith-related disorders. Nine patients with Meniere's disease with BPPV (n=3) and otoliths (in all the patients) were exposed to laser impulses on the bony wall of the horizontal semicircular canal. The impulse was directed in the lumen of the canal in 6 patients with BPPV and otolith symptoms. In Meniere's patients vertigo stopped, hearing was at the preoperative level. Neither threy had BPPV nor otolith problems. The same results were obtained in 6 patients with the other diseases. Vestibular excitability of all surgically treated patients decreased to the fifth degree.

[Efficacy of conventional methods of treating otitis media purulenta chronica in patients with cholesteatoma and fistula of the labyrinth]

Efficacy of two routine surgical methods was compared in patients with otitis media purulenta chronica having cholesteatoma and fistula. Twenty five patients were operated on the middle ear with preservation of cholesteatoma matrix fragment on fistula of the labyrinth (FL). Forty five patients were operated with plastic reconstruction of the fistula with autotissues. The acoustic and vestibular functions were studied before and after the operation, 3 years later using roentgenography of the temporal bones and high performance computed tomography of the temporal bones. As the results of surgery in both groups of patients were similar, both techniques can be applied in detection of FL at operation. It is shown that in unaffected acoustic and vestibular functions in conditions of active inflammation in the middle ear, it is advisable while operating on the middle ear to preserve matrix of cholesteatoma on FL of any location.

[Laser destruction of the labyrinth in Meniere's disease: rationale and results]

The authors suggest that Meniere's disease may arise as a psychovegetative syndrome with impairment of labyrinthine homeostasis. It is thought valid to distruct the cupular receptor of the horizontal bony semicircular canal by means of impulse neodymium laser radiation brought to the ampullare bone wall via quartz light guide. Short- and long-term effects of such laser treatment are available. This technique of laser destruction is symptomatic, aimed at relief of severe episodes of vertigo.