[Markers of inflammation with decreased functionality in the cognitive and psychological domains of individual vitality in middle-aged and elderly patients with metabolic syndrome.]

Metabolic syndrome is a group of disorders that are closely related to both the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, and generally leading to the phenomenon of premature aging of the body. Excessive accumulation of adipose tissue contributes to the development of chronic immune inflammation and oxidative stress, which are both precursors to various disorders, such as insulin resistance, arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia, but also trigger inflammatory processes in patients. An increasing number of studies support the importance of chronic immune inflammation in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, as pro-inflammatory markers such as TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and growth of vascular endothelium. Among a wide range of cytokines, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 is considered one of the most important chemokines, which activates monocytes and other immune cells actively involved in inflammation. Another important point of chronic immune inflammation is its impact on the mental health of patients with metabolic syndrome. Increased levels of anxiety and depression are associated with levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines produced by adipose tissue, which ultimately has an adverse effect on the cognitive status of patients.

[The effect of etiopathogenetic therapy of COVID-19 on the severity of the disease: results of a multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial].

AIM: The search for etiopathogenetic agents to prevent the development of severe and extremely severe COVID-19 remains relevant. A placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the antibody-based biological drug (Raphamin). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 785 outpatients 18-75 y.o. with laboratory confirmed mild COVID-19 were included within 24 hours from the disease onset. 771 patients were randomized to the group Raphamin (n=382) and the Placebo group (n=389). The study drug/placebo was prescribed for 5 days. The rate of progression to a more severe degree of COVID-19 by day 28 as well as the time to sustained clinical recovery and the frequency of hospitalization were evaluated. Safety was assessed taking into account adverse events, vital signs and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: The number of cases of progression to a more severe degree of COVID-19 in participants receiving Raphamin was 59 (15.5%) [52 (14.6%)] versus placebo - 89 (22.9%) [85 (23.7%)], ITT and [PP] analysis data are presented. The odds ratio between groups was OR=0.6157 [OR=0.5494], 95% confidence interval 0.4276-0.8866 [0.3750-0.8048], which meant a reduction in the chance of progression to a more severe degree by 38.4% [45.1%] or 1.48 [1.62] times; p=0.0088 [p=0.0019]. The time to sustained recovery in the Raphamin group was 4.5±2.4 [4.6±2.4] days, versus placebo - 5.8±4.7 [6.0±4.8] days; p=0.0025 [p=0.0036]. No adverse events with a certain relationship were registered. CONCLUSION: Raphamin reduces the risk of progression to a more severe degree of the COVID-19 and significantly shortens the duration of clinical symptoms.

[Non-specific prevention of COVID-19 during vaccination against a new coronavirus infection: results of a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial].

BACKGROUND: A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT) of the phase III efficacy and safety of Ergoferon® for the non-specific prevention of COVID-19 during vaccination against a new coronavirus infection was conducted (permission of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation №559 dated 22.09.2021; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05069649). AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the use of Ergoferon for the non-specific prevention of COVID-19 during vaccination against a new coronavirus infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2021 to April 2022, 1,057 patients aged 18 to 92 years who received component I of the "Gam-COVID-Vac" vaccine were included. After screening, 1,050 patients were randomized into 2 groups: 526 people received Ergoferon according to the prophylactic scheme - 1 tablet per administration 2 times a day for 3 weeks, the drug is not allowed during the meal and should be kept in the mouth without swallowing, until completely dissolved; 524 patients received a placebo according to the Ergoferon® scheme. The total duration of participation in the study was 5 weeks + 3 days. The primary endpoint is the number of RT-PCR - confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of the presence of symptoms during participation in the study. An additional criterion of effectiveness is the proportion of those hospitalized with COVID-19. The safety assessment included consideration of the presence and nature of adverse events (AEs), their severity, relationship with the drug intake, and outcome. Statistical data processing was carried out using SAS 9.4 with the calculation of the exact Fisher test, χ2 test, Cochrane-Mantel-Hensel test, Wilcoxon test and other parameters. RESULTS: The ITT (Intention-to-treat) and PP [Per Protocol] efficacy analysis included data from 1,050 [970] patients: 526 [489] people - Ergoferon® group and 524 [481] people - Placebo group. The primary endpoint - the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections was 3 times less compared to placebo - 7 (1.43%) vs 22 (4.57%), respectively (p=0.0046; [p=0.0041]). Taking Ergoferon® reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection by more than 3 times in vaccinated patients during 5 weeks of the vaccination and post-vaccination periods (p=0.0046 [p=0.0041]). Of the COVID-19 patients in the Ergoferon® group (1.33%) nobody was hospitalized. According to the Post hoc analysis, Ergoferon® reduces the risk of COVID-19 disease by 4 times in the period between the components I and II of the "Gam-COVID-Vac" vaccine (p=0.0066 [p=0.006]). The frequency of AEs in both groups did not differ. There were no registered AEs associated with the drug with a reliable degree. There was a high level of patient compliance and good tolerability. CONCLUSION: Ergoferon is an effective and safe drug for the prevention of COVID-19 in people vaccinated against a new coronavirus infection.

Effect of Daily Rhythms of Cortisol Secretion on the Rate of Aging in Men.

The phenomenon of human aging is the result of a complex interaction among several factors in which the immune system plays a key role. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid secreted by the adrenal gland and has a specific secretion pattern. The current study aimed at identifying the cause and pathogenesis of premature aging using biological markers. This study was performed based on the results of clinical and instrumental examinations on 91 middle-aged men aged 45-59 years. VaseraVS-1500 sphygmomanometer based on standard methods was used to measure biological age. The relationship between biological age and circadian rhythms of cortisol secretion was calculated to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms of aging development. The recorded data showed that the violation of the circadian rhythms of cortisol secretion characterized by a consistently high level of the hormone throughout the day was typical among individuals with accelerated types of aging. Based on the obtained data, a formula for determining the biological age of the studied groups of patients was prepared by considering the circadian rhythm of cortisol secretion, which can be an additional tool for early detection of aging in men.

[Metabolic risk factors in elderly patients depending on the presence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.]

The article discusses the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) and metabolic disorders (lipid and carbohydrate metabolism) in elderly patients. The aim of the work is to determine the associations of components of metabolic syndrome and OSA in elderly people. The study included 132 elderly patients (average age 65±3 years), of which 60 (45,5%) women and 72 (54,5%) men. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome had 69 people, without OSA - 63 people. Depending on the presence of obesity and OSA, four groups were formed: the 1st - 30 people without OSA and without Obesity (OSA-/Ob-); the 2nd - 33 people without OSA, but with Ob (OSA-/Ob+); the 3rd - 34 people with OSA, but without OJ (OSA+/Ob-); the 4th - 35 people with OSA and with Obesity (OSA+/Ob+). It was found that patients of group 4 had significantly higher anthropometric indicators, more pronounced disorders of lipid metabolism (an increase in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, leptin and a decrease in HDL cholesterol), carbohydrate metabolism (an increase in blood insulin and the НOMA-IR index) compared with groups 1-3.

[The role of inflammation in the development of post-stroke depression in elderly patients.]

The aim of the study was to study the role of cytokines, the ratio of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the development of post-stroke depression in elderly patients. The study included 110 patients with acute ischemic stroke, including 60 middle-aged people (52±5 years) and 50 elderly people (66±4 years). The control group consisted of 20 middle-aged people without a history of stroke. After 3 months of follow-up, post-stroke depression (PSD) developed in the elderly in 28 patients (56%), in the middle age in 26 patients (43,3%). Patients with ischemic stroke in the elderly who developed PSD were significantly older (7,9%, p<0,05), more often had arterial hypertension (12,4%, p<0,05), the level of glucose was 16,1% higher (p<0,05), triglycerides by 14% (p<0,05), LDL-C by 12,8% (p<0,05). In middle age, patients with post-stroke depression had a body mass index higher by 8,1% (p<0,05), a glucose level by 9,6% (p<0,05), triglycerides by 10,9% (p<0,05), LDL-C by 9,7% (p<0,05) than patients without PSD. Elderly patients with ischemic stroke and PSD had higher levels of cytokines - IL-1ß was 35,4% higher (p<0,01), TNF-α by 27% (p<0,01), INF-γ by 18% (p<0,01) than in patients without PSD. In elderly patients with PSD, the ratio of neutrophils and lymphocytes (N/L) is 46% (p<0,001) higher than in patients without PSD. In the elderly, in the presence of PSD, the N/L ratio was 50% (p<0,001) higher than in the same middle-aged group. Thus, in elderly patients with ischemic stroke, the level of inflammatory markers may have a prognostic value in the development of post-stroke depression.

[Age-associated features of the development of fibrosis and inflamaging in patients with arterial hypertension and ischemic stroke.]

The article deals with the development of fibrosis and immune inflammation in patients with arterial hypertension and acute ischemic stroke in old age. The aim of the study was to study age-associated features of the concentration of fibrosis markers (metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1, their ratio MMP-9/TIMP-1), immune inflammation (TNF-α, IL-1ß, INF-γ) in patients with arterial hypertension and ischemic stroke (AI). The study included 86 patients with arterial hypertension (AH) of the 2nd degree, of which 42 were middle-aged (53±5 years) and 44 elderly (66±5 years). The control group consisted of 22 elderly patients with AH without a history of AI. The criteria for inclusion in the study are patients with hypertension who were admitted to the hospital in the acute period of the first cerebral stroke. It was found that in elderly patients with hypertension with AI, the indicators of inflamaging and fibrosis markers were significantly higher than in middle-aged people. The level of IL-1ß was 31,7% higher (p<0,01), TNF-α by 55,7% (p<0,001), INF-γ by 36,6% (p<0,01), the level of MMP-9 was 46,4% higher (p<0,01), TIMP-1 by 21,2% (p<0,01), MMP-9/TIMP-1 by 19,6% (p<0,01) in the elderly compared to middle-aged patients with hypertension and acute AI. Thus, it was found that patients with arterial hypertension and ischemic stroke have violations of the processes of inflamaging, synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix, especially pronounced in old age.

[The risk groups of infection with hepatitis С virus in conditionally healthy population of the Belgorod oblast].

The purpose of study was to establish risk group on hepatitis C in conditionally healthy population of the Belgorod oblast. Total 2025 conditionally healthy inhabitants aged between 1 and 99 were surveyed and serum samples from them were tested. There were eight age groups: 1-14 years (12.3%), 15-19 years (13.1%), 20-29 years (12.7%), 30-39 years (12.8%), 40-49 years (12.8%), 50-59 years (11.8%), 60-69 years (8.6%) and over 70 years of age (15.7%). Overall, 44.6% of the examined persons were male. 41.3% (ranging from 6.5 to 72.1%) of respondents reported surgery in their anamnesis, 5.1% (ranging from 0.8 to 12.6%) had blood/blood products transfusion, 10.3% (ranging from 1.7 to 57.9%) ear/nose piercing and 2.96% (ranging from 0.8 to 6.6%) tattoos. There were no people who injected drugs. The piercing was significantly higher in age groups 15-19 years and 20-29 years than other age groups (p-value<0.05). The tattoos were significantly higher in group of 70 years and older than in age groups 15-19 years, 30-39 years and 40-49 years (p-value<0.05). Anti-HCV antibodies were detected using third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ("IFA-ANTI-HCV", Nizhny Novgorod). The HCV RNA was tested with RT-PCR. The Anti-HCV was detected in 22 persons (1.1%), 77.3% out of them were older than 53 year and they were born prior to 1965. The Anti-HCV were significantly higher for the people over 70 years of age than in the age groups of 1-14 years, 15-19 years, 30-39 years and 40-49 years (p-value<0.05). The 2.65% of the examined persons were older 53 years had anti-HCV. Only 0.36% of anti-HCV were found in the young age groups of the examined persons who were born after 1965, the percentage was significantly lower than in older age groups (p-value<0.05). The 16 people had RNA-HCV and 87.5% persons were born in or before 1965. There was one person with genotype 3a (age group 30-39 years), 15 persons with genotype 1b (fourteen out of them were older 53 years and one person was in the age group 20-29 years. The study established that risk age group are inhabitants born before 1965 in Belgorod region. It can be taken into account in regional hepatitis С screening programs.