Relationship of Nutritional Status and Spirometric Parameters in Children with Bronchial Asthma.

The potential mechanisms of bronchial asthma (BA) negative modification under the influence of obesity are currently being actively studied. However, at present, the effect of nutritional status on bronchial obstruction in children with BA cannot be considered established. In this regard, the purpose of this work was to study the relationship of spirometric parameters reflecting bronchial patency with nutritional status in children with asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 54 patients with BA at the age of 8 to 17 years, 33 boys and 21 girls with different nutritional status. Assessment of nutritional status was carried out with the calculation of body mass index (BMI), relative body mass index (RBMI), and determination of body fat (% BF). Spirogram parameters were evaluated, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, maximum expiratory flow at the point of 25% loop flow-volume (MEF 25). RESULTS: Among the children examined, taking into account the BMI Z-score, 9.3% (5/54) had low body weight (group 1), 33% (18/54) had normal body weight (group 2), 31.5% (17/54) overweight (group 3), 25.9% (14/54) obesity (group 4). As the body weight increased, a statistically significant decrease in the FEV1/FVC ratio was observed, amounting to 84.6 [79.3; 90.0], 79.4 [76.6; 82.2], 74.6 [71.7; 77.5], 70.2 [67.0; 73.4]%, respectively, p=0.003; as well as a decrease in MEF 25 (% pred.), which amounted, respectively, to 95.6 [76.1; 115.2], 81.7 [71.4; 92.0], 56.3 [45.7; 66.9], and 48.4 [36.7; 60.1]%, p=0.003. A statistically significant negative relationship was found between indicators of nutritional status, including BMI, RBMI, % BF, and spirometry parameters reflecting bronchial patency, including FEV1/FVC ratio and MEF 25 (% pred.); all p<0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obesity in children with BA, estimated both by calculated methods with determination of BMI and RBMI and direct determination of body fat content, are accompanied by a statistically significant decrease in bronchial patency.

[THRESHOLD VALUES OF MAIN PARAMETERS OF THE BLOOD PRESSURE DIURNAL PROFILE IN MEN WITH ISOLATED CLINICAL ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION LIVING BEYOND THE ARCTIC CIRCLE].

The purpose was to calculate thresholds of diurnal blood pressure parameters (BP) in men with isolated clinical hypertension (ICH) living beyond the Arctic circle, and selection of those parameters that will be particularly informative for differential diagnostics of ICH and essential hypertension (EH) in this contingent. Fifty male subjects were distributed in the ICH group (n = 25) and normotensive group with one and more cardiovascular risk factors (n = 25). No drug therapy was provided during diurnal BP monitoring (DBPM). ICH was diagnosed in the event of increased office BP, normal DBPM values and self-monitoring of BP (BPSM). ROC-analysis was applied to calculate thresholds of the BP diurnal profile for men with ICH and identify the most useful ones. Specifically, these include the following thresholds: average daily systolic BP (SBP) (> 122 mm Hg), average daytime SBP (> 127 mm Hg) and average nighttime SBP (> 108 mmHg), and SBP time indices over 24 hrs. (> 16.7%) and daytime (> 14.4 %). The range of scatter of these values allows differential diagnostics of both ICH and EH which is important for health expertise of male dwellers in the region. Early ICH detection in men with high cardiovascular risks and prescription of anti-hypertension therapy will reduce the probability of ICH progression to stable hypertension, prevent damage to target-organs and mitigate the total cardiovascular risk.

[Hemodynamics variation in hypertensive pilots of polar transport aviation on different flight phases].

The purpose was to study in-flight blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in polar transport aviation pilots afflicted with essential hypertension. A total of 30 pilots were distributed into 2 groups: hypertensive pilots and those who, though generally healthy were, because of some conditions and lifestyle, predisposed to the cardiovascular risk (CVR). The examination included establishment of personal CVR factors, electrocardiography, bicycle ergometry, echocardiography, off-duty 24-hour BP and HR monitoring, and in-flight BP and HR monitoring. Maximum BP and HR values were higher in hypertensive pilots as compared with the control group. In the first group, maximum systolic BP (sBP) on the rise measured 202 mm Hg vs. 179 mm Hg in the control group. The highest HR on the rise was also registered in the first group (164 beats/min vs. 127 beats/min in the control). At landing, maximum sBP and HR made up 253 and 163 mm Hg, 150 and 141 beats/min values in groups first and second, respectively. To summarize, in the harsh weather conditions of Far North hypertensive pilots experience particularly heavy hemodynamic stresses during flight and, consequently, must be allowed to fly only if their hypertension is under control.

[Coronary calcinosis. State-of-the-art].

Atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease are the main causes of disablement and mortality in most developed countries. Clinical studies showed the relationship between coronary calcinosis and atherosclerotic lesions, the calcinosis area accounting for roughly 1/5 of the atherosclerotic plaque area. Calcinosis is quantitatively characterized by the calcium score determined by multispiral and electron-beam computed tomography. High calcium score suggests an increased risk of cardiovascular complications. Their treatment awaits further assessment since a number of studies revealed differential effect of various medicines on coronary calcification.

[24-hr monitoring arterial pressure in outpatients with cardiovascular risk factors in the Far North].

AIM: To study peculiar features of daily AP rhythm and profile in men with cardiovascular risk factors residing in the Far North. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 115 servicemen divided into 3 groups (hypertensive disease (HD), hypertonic type neurocirculatory asthenia (NCA) and risk factor of cardiovascular diseases other than AH). HD was diagnosed based on multiple AP measurements and 24-hr monitoring. RESULTS: HD was associated with elevated mean AP, load indices and AP variability All patients had pathological type of morning dynamics. Normal daily rhythm of systolic AP (SAP) was documented in 66.1% of the patients with HD and in 68% with cardiovascular risk factors without AH. Normal daily rhythm ofdiastolic AP (DAP) was recorded in 63.5% of the patients with HD and in 72% with cardiovascular risk factors without AH. In group 2, normal daily rhythms of SAP and DAP were found in 44 and 56% of the cases respectively. CONCLUSION: Men residing in the Far North under conditions of anomalous photoperiod need medicamentous correction of AP regardless of AH type. Ambulatory BP monitoring should be preferred for the assessment of the efficacy of antihypertensive therapy.

[Characteristic of fatty acid metabolism in patients with CHD with affected and unaffected coronary arteries].

Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is coronary heart disease (CHD) in the absence of or with minimal atherosclerotic changes in coronary arteries. This condition has a more favourable prognosis than classical angina but is associated with relatively poor quality of life. None of the many hypothesis of angina pathogenesis in CSX patients explains it exhaustively. We undertook to consider minor atherosclerotic changes in patients with CSX based on modem concepts of atherogenesis implying its relation to the level and metabolism of lipid fatty acids. Comparative analysis of their composition in blood and saliva provided material for the characteristic of CHD patients with intact and affected coronary arteries.

[A quick method for estimation of fractal dimensions of macromolecular coils of biopolymers in solutions]. / Ekspress-metod otsenki fraktal'noi razmernosti makromolekuliarnykh klubkov biopolimerov v rastvore.

The viscometric measurements were used to assess the fractal dimensions of macromolecular coils in solutions. The relationships between the fractal dimensions and other hydrodynamic properties were determined. These data were used to determine the parameters of the Mark-Houwink equation.