[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.

[Surfactant proteins A and D: role in the pathogenesis of community-acquired pneumonia and possible predictive perspectives].

Community-acquired pneumonia is one of the most common infectious diseases and remains one of the leading causes of death in this group of diseases. Studies of community-acquired pneumonia are extremely relevant for modern clinical practice. One of the important role in the pathogenesis of bacterial, viral, fungal invasion in the system of a human lung system belongs to the pulmonary surfactant, in particular, its proteins SP-A and SP-D. This article reviews the well-known mechanisms of important biological properties of immunomodulatory activity of the proteins SP-A and SP-D in response to microbial infection in the lungs. The mechanisms of participation of surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D in the cascade of reactions that lead to severe life-threatening complications in community-acquired pneumonia are considered. The use of serum levels of surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D can help finding new diagnostic and prognostic approaches in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

[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.

Balance of Fatty Acids and Their Correlations with Parameters of Lipid Metabolism and Markers of Inflammation in Men with Coronary Atherosclerosis.

We studied the balance of fatty acids and their correlation with parameters of lipid metabolism and inflammation markers in men with coronary atherosclerosis. In the blood of patients and healthy men, the content of myristic (C14:0), pentadecanoic (C15:0), palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), arachidic (C20:0) and docosanic (C22:0), TNFα, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, C-reactive protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LPO intensity were measured. In patients with coronary atherosclerosis, increased concentrations of saturated fatty acids, triglycerides, LPO products, IL-6, IL-8, and C-reactive protein were found. Correlation analysis revealed multiple correlations between the studied fatty acids, correlation of C16:0, C18:0, and C20:0 with inflammation markers, C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0 with triglyceride level, C16:0, C18:0, and C20:0 with cholesterol. The contents of C14:0, C15:0, C16:0, and C18:0 correlated with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis. Lipid metabolism disturbances in coronary atherosclerosis were accompanied by changes in not only lipid spectrum and inflammation markers, but also fatty acids balance.

Study of cholesterol-lowering effect and safety of simvaglisin on rabbit model of hypercholesterolemia.

Using rabbit model of experimental hypercholesterolemia we showed that the hypocholesterolemic effect of simvaglisin, a complex preparation containing simvastatin and glycyrrhizic acid, in doses corresponding to 40, 66.5, and 100 mg/kg/day simvastatin is equal to the hypocholesterolemic effect of 200 mg/kg/day simvastatin alone. The total blood cholesterol decreased by 39, 36, 47, and 38% (p < 0.05), respectively, after 20-day course of the preparation. Myotoxicity of simvaglisin evaluated by serum creatine phosphokinase was lower than that of simvastatin. After 30-day treatment, this parameter was lower by 26, 24, and 29% (p < 0.05) than the corresponding parameter for simvastatin.