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Design of free space polymeric optics for communications is presented. Selection of polymers is accomplished on base of their measured transmission spectra, refractive and dispersive properties. The proposed telescopic system of the transmitter consists of a doublet objective composed of styrenic and acrylic materials and an eye-piece made of carbonate and acrylic polymers to minimise the spherical aberrations. The receiver optics is more precise and is realised as a high aperture Cassegrain objective to collect as much as possible of the incoming light and to couple it to the optical fiber.

Aim. To study the state of the cytokine response in children with atopic bronchial asthma during pharmacological correction with vitamin D. Methods. 63 children aged 3-17 years with atopic bronchial asthma of varying severity were examined. As a control group, 10 practically healthy children of the same age who had no history of allergic manifestations and no hereditary complications, were examined. The patients were divided into two groups matched by age: group 1 included 33 patients with mild (n=20) and moderate (n=13) bronchial asthma who received only basic anti-inflammatory therapy according to the severity of asthma; group 2 included 30 children with mild (n=18) and moderate (n=12) bronchial asthma who received basic anti-inflammatory therapy with vitamin D containing Tridrop [3 drops (1500 IU) per day for 1 month]. Patients were assessed for interleukin-2, -13 and -17 in the blood serum using a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before and after treatment. Results. The results obtained made it possible to clarify the changes in the cytokine spectrum in patients with atopic bronchial asthma in the course of the disease and the effect of pharmacological correction with vitamin D on it. The mean level of interleukin-2 in group 1 remained practically unchanged, the value of this cytokine was 2.77±1.51 pg/ml (p >0.05). In group 2, the mean interleukin-2 level increased to 5.07±1.02 pg/ml (p 0.05). Conclusion. Pharmacological correction with vitamin D on the background of basic anti-inflammatory therapy promotes the positive dynamics of the level of cytokines during the treatment of atopic bronchial asthma, which is related to the ability of vitamin D to regulate the function of Th2 and, as a result, to reduce the synthesis of interleukin-13 and -17, which participate in the pathogenesis of allergies and play an important protective role in bronchial asthma.

Temperature dependence of refractive and dispersive parameters of principal and some trade-marks of optical polymers has been studied. Refractive indices have been measured at several spectral lines in visible range at different temperatures between 0 and 50 °C. Thermo-optic coefficients have been determined and compared. We used the single-oscillator model of Wemple and DiDomenico to calculate oscillator energy and dispersion energy. These two quantities are related to the structure, charge distribution and chemical bonding of the material. Correlation to the dispersion properties of polymers is established. Variations of the two oscillator parameters with temperature are studied.

80 children aged from 2 to 14 years,72 boys and 8 girls, 44 with moderate and 36 with severe form of atopic bronchial asthma were investigated. Substance P, neurokinin A and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were defined in blood plasma. In comparison with the control group, children suffering from bronchial asthma showed statistically significant (p0,001) increase of substance P and neurokinin A and decrease of VIP. Analogous changes were observed by comparison of data received from children with moderate and severe asthma. Received data indicate the participation of neuropeptides in pathogenesis of bronchial asthma in children.