[Calcification and atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries].

Calcification is a very common phenomenon in the coronary arteries, which is part of the atherosclerotic process, and the degree of calcification can predict clinical outcomes in patients at high risk of coronary events. Both the degree of calcification and the patterns of its distribution are of prognostic importance, but the relationship of coronary artery calcification with atherosclerotic plaque instability is extremely complex and not fully understood. This article is devoted to the study of calcification markers and their influence on the development of atherosclerotic foci.

[Detection of kidney dysfunction potential biomarkers with hypertension in the persons of 25-45 years].

AIM: To assess the significance of symmetrical dimethylarginine (SDMA), uromodulin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RSB-4), transforming growth factorb1 (TGF-b1), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) as kidney dysfunction potential biomarkers persons with hypertension in persons 2545 years old. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 147 people. Hypertension was recorded with blood pressure (BP)140/90 mm Hg, renal dysfunction with GFRCKD-EPI90 ml/min/1.73 cm2. Four groups were formed: 1 individuals with hypertension and GFR90 ml/min/1.73 cm2; 2 with hypertension and GFR90 ml/min/1.73 cm2; 3 with BP140/90 mm Hg and GFR90 ml/min/1.73 cm2; 4 with BP140/90 mm Hg and GFR90 ml/min/1.73 cm2. The groups were comparable by gender, age, and number of respondents. Creatinine, SDMA, uromodulin, RSB-4, TGF-b1, PAI-1 levels were examined in all individuals in the serum. RESULTS: The maximum values of SDMA were determined in the 1st and 3rd groups (1.30 and 1.36 mol/l). In the 1st group, an association was found between SDMA and GFR (r=-0.324;p=0.048). In the 1st group, the minimum values of uromodulin were recorded, in the 4th group the maximum values (164.86 and 188.90 ng/ml; at the same timeр=0.921). The level of RSB-4 was the highest in the 1st group, the lowest in the 4th group (88.64 and 80.05 g/ml;p=0.011). The association of RSB-4 with SDMA in the 3rd group (r=0.400;p=0.017), the 4th group (r=0.403;p=0.018) was detected. The level of TGF-b1 was 1.5 times higher in the 1st group than in the 3rd (23.16 and 15.99 g/ml;p=0.026), the association of TGF-b1 with GFR in the 1st group had the opposite direction (r=-0.452;p=0.005). The study of similar indicators of PAI-1 did not reveal its relationship with renal dysfunction in hypertension. CONCLUSION: The results of the study made it possible to consider SDMA, RSB-4, TGF-b1 as potential biomarkers of renal dysfunction in hypertension in persons 2545 years old.

[Changes of Content of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Tissue Expression in Various Types of Atherosclerotic Plaques].

AIM: to investigate diagnostically significant for atherosclerotic plaques (ASP) of various types parameters of activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-9) in homogenates, as well as tissue expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and collagen type IV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included in this study 54 men with coronary atherosclerosis without acute coronary syndrome who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery with endarterectomy. In the obtained samples we determined levels of MMP-3, MMP-7, and MMP-9 (by enzyme immunoassay), as well as tissue expression of antibodies to MMP-2, MMP-9 and collagen type IV. RESULTS: In unstable plaques we observed increased activity of MMP-7 and MMP-9, significant increase of tissue expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and decreased expression of type IV collagen. Of three types of unstable ASP the highest tissue expression of MMP-9 was found in plaques of lipid type compared with plaques of necrotic and inflammatory-erosive types. Expression of type IV collagen predominated in plaques of necrotic type. CONCLUSION: The data obtained allows us to speak about tissue expression of collagen as the marker of fibrous cap stability; the presence of metalloproteinases in necrotic detritus, collagen fibers, and cellular elements can characterize an ASP as unstable or being in the transitional structural state. The immunohistochemical method helps to detect structural elements that characterize instability in various types of ASP.