Characterization of blood biomarkers in prospective follow-up of patients with cardiovascular pathology in combination with type 2 diabetes mellitus after COVID-19 associated pneumonia.

The study of the characteristics and dynamics of laboratory biomarkers in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) with type 2 diabetes mellitus who underwent COVID-19-associated pneumonia is of great clinical importance for preventing the risk of adverse events. IN the study we used data from 65 patients in the present work. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 included patients with CVD: arterial hypertension (AH) in combination with coronary artery disease (CAD) without DM2 (n=45), group 2 included patients with CVD and DM2 (n=20). Patients were examined at baseline in the infectious disease hospital and 3 months after discharge. During laboratory examination of blood biosamples we evaluated parameters of general blood test; biochemical and immunologicai parameters; elastic properties of the vascular wall. The analyzed leukocyte parameters and their index coefficients - increase in NLR ratio (neutrophils/lymphocytes) and decrease in LYM/CRP ratio (lymphocytes/CRP) were more significantly changed in DM2 group. Patients in both groups had a significant excess of baseline max CRP concentrations with decrease in parameters after 3 months, but with persistent excess values in group 2. Three months after discharge patients with DM2 had levels of hs-CRP, IL-1ß and TNFa and NT-proBNP, that exceeded both the reference values and those in group 1, which reflected the presence of more pronounced vascular inflammatory potential for possible adverse events in this group of patients in post-COVID period. The method of multiple regression showed that DM2 is an independent risk factor for increased stiffness of the vascular wall. Thus, dynamic control of laboratory parameters has prognostic value in assessing the nature of the course of COVID-19 associated pneumonia in patients with CVD and DM2 developing an algorithm for personalized monitoring of patients in the post-COVID period with the aim of timely prevention of unwanted vascular complications.

Prospective analysis of laboratory blood parameters in patients with cardiovascular diseases who underwent COVID-19-associated pneumonia.

The study of the characteristics and dynamics of laboratory biomarkers in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) undergoing COVID-19-associated pneumonia may be of great clinical importance. The study included 116 patients who underwent COVID-19-associated pneumonia. The patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group included 49 patients without CVD, the second group - 67 patients with CVD. A blood sample was performed in all patients at the time of hospitalization and 3 months after discharge from the hospital. The parameters of general blood count, biochemistry, hemostasis, and biomarkers of inflammation were assessed - concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), highly sensitive CRP (hs-CRP), homocysteine and IL-6. All patients initially underwent computed tomography of the chest organs. We found that ESR, WBC (leukocytes), NLR (neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio), fibrinogen, LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), LYM/CRP ratio (lymphocytes/CRP) were parameters that significantly distinguished patients in the 1st and 2nd groups. Three months after discharge from the hospital in patients of both groups the increased indicators approached the reference values, however, some parameters such as CRP, ESR, WBC, fibrinogen remained at a higher level in group 2 compared to group 1. Correlation analysis revealed the relationship between parameters of inflammation and hemostasis in the 2nd group of patients, which confirms the presence of latent vascular inflammatory potential in this group. It was revealed that such indicators as lymphocytes, neutrophils, APTT and LDH were associated with the initial volume of lung lesion more than 50%. Increase of these parameters by 1 unit contributes to increase in the volume of lung tissue damage by 6.5%, 6.4%, 11%, and 0.6%, respectively. Thus, dynamic control of laboratory parameters has prognostic value in assessing the nature of the course of COVID-19 associated pneumonia in patients with CVD and developing an algorithm for personalized monitoring of patients in the post-COVID period with the aim of timely correction of therapy to prevent unwanted vascular complications.

Estimation of erythrocyte parameters of general blood analysis in patients with SARS-CoV-2 -associated pneumonia.

The study of the features and dynamics of the erythrocyte parameters of general blood analysis in patients with cardiovascular diseases who underwent SARS-CoV-2 associated pneumonia is of great practical importance. That was a prospective study. The study included 106 patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated pneumonia. All patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group included 51 patients without CVD, the second group included 55 patients with CVD .Patients in both groups underwent laboratory examination of blood samples at the time of hospitalization and 3 months after discharge from the hospital. Parameters of the erythroid series of the general blood test were assessed. Among inflammatory biomarkers, we examined the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) and homocysteine. Initially all patients underwent computed tomography of the chest organs. Revealed what indicators of the erythroid series in the groups of patients with and without CVD had significant differences in a number of parameters: ESR; RDW-SD and RDW-CV with significant excess of parameters in group 2. Three months after discharge from the hospital, patients in both groups had a significant increase in HCT, MCV, MCH. There was detected decrease in both groups in MCHC, RDW-CV (p<0.001 for all parameters), ESR level in group 2.At baseline, CRP exceeded reference values in both groups of patients, reaching maximum values in group 2. After 3 months CRP decreased significantly only in group 1. Increased CRP was associated with elevated hs-CRP in 3 months after discharge and elevated homocysteine levels in both groups, indicating the persistence of prolonged inflammatory vascular reaction in patients after SARS-CoV-2 associated pneumonia, more pronounced in group 2 patients. RDW-CV over 13.6 and lymphocytes / CRP less than 0.6 increase the likelihood of having lung tissue damage over 50% by 9.3 and 5.9 times, respectively. Thus, the data obtained confirm that RDW-CV, the coefficient of variation of erythrocyte distribution width, associated with the parameters of inflammatory response and the lymphocytes / CRP is lung volume marker and of COVID-19 severity. Careful consideration of already known laboratory parameters allows us to expand the number of indicators influencing the risk of COVID-19 complications and enable an earlier response to a difficult situation.

Risk Factors and Hospital Outcomes of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Operated on for an acquired Valvular Heart Disease.

Aim      To determine predictors of acute kidney injury (AKI) related with surgeries for correction of acquired valvular heart disease (HD) and to evaluate the incidence of in-hospital complications in patients with postoperative AKI.Material and methods  This study included 62 patients after surgery for correction of acquired valvular HD (mean age, 61±10.9 years) with a disease duration of 11±5.3 years. NYHA functional class (FC) 1 chronic heart failure (CHF) was observed in 1.6 % of patients, FC 2 in 64.5 %, and FC 3 in 33.9 %.17.7% of patients had chronic kidney disease (CKD). Coronary lesions of ≥50 % of vascular lumen were detected in 27.4 % of patients. Surgical correction of mitral valvular disease was performed in 32 cases, aortic valvular disease in 36 cases, tricuspid valvular disease in 8 cases, and combined operations for correction of valvular disease and coronary bypass in 8 cases. Creatinine concentrations were measured according to the Jaffe method; glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated with the CKD-EPI equation. AKI was diagnosed based on KDIGO (2012) criteria.Results The AKI incidence related with surgeries for correction of valvular HD was 16.1 % (8.1 % of patients had stage 1 AKI, 3.2 % had stage 2 AKI, and 4.8 % had stage 3 AKI), and 3.2% required kidney replacement therapy. AKI was associated with the presence of CKD at baseline (р=0.044), development of hemopericardium requiring drainage (р=0.012), more pronounced coronary lesions (in the AKI group: stenoses from 50 to 70 % in 20% of patients, from 70 to 90 % in 30 % of patients, and ≥90 % in 0 %; without AKI: from 50 to 70 % in 13.4 % of patients, from 70 to 90 % in 3.8 %, and ≥90 % in 5.8 % of patients, respectively; р=0.032). Probability of postoperative AKI significantly increased with the development of hemopericardium requiring drainage. Patients with postoperative AKI compared to persons without AKI had higher mortality (20 % and 0 %; р=0.001), greater incidence of decompensated CHF (40 and 9.6 %; р=0.012) and hemopericardium requiring drainage (30 and 1.9 %; р=0.012).Conclusion      The development of postoperative AKI is associated with CKD at baseline, more pronounced coronary injury, and hemopericardium requiring drainage.

Gender characteristics of lipid profile parameters and markers of vascular inflammation in patients with stable angina pectoris in groups with presence and absence of type 2 diabetes.

The study of the parameters of the lipid profile and markers of the inflammatory reaction of the vascular wall in patients with stable angina pectoris in the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is of great importance for revealing the gender characteristics of the pathophysiological mechanisms of the development and course of diseases, developing secondary prevention of complications and determining the prognosis. 194 patients with stable angina pectoris (SA), single-vessel coronary artery disease, mean age 60.3 ± 7.8 years were examined. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 - patients with SA without diabetes 2 (n = 152), group 2 - with SA and diabetes 2 (n = 42). In each group, subgroups of men and women are distinguished. The study of biomarkers was carried out upon admission to the hospital on the background of therapy, taken on an outpatient basis. The study included a complex of parameters of the lipid spectrum, markers of the inflammatory response, endothelial dysfunction, and carbohydrate metabolism parameters. A comparative analysis of biomarkers revealed an excess of reference values of atherogenic lipid fractions in both groups of patients, regardless of patient gender. Moreover, in the first group of patients, in the subgroup of women, a significant excess of the level of TC, PL (a), and ApoA-1 was registered compared with the subgroup of men. In the second group, there were no significant differences in parameters between the male and female subgroups. Evaluation of the parameters of the inflammatory reaction revealed in the subgroup of women with T2DM a steady tendency to exceed the level of hs-CRP, TNF-α, homocysteine compared with both men and women in the SA group without T2DM. The logistic regression revealed the main biochemical markers that affect the aggravation of the course of IHD in women with T2DM: this is a uric acid level of more than 380 mmol / l - OS 11.5 (95% CI 1.71-77.69), TNF-α more 8 pg / ml - OR 7.5 (95% CI 1.07-52.46) and an increase in TG - OR 3.33 (95% CI 1.073-10.335). Thus, women of the 2nd group with the presence of T2DM are characterized by the highest level of atherogenic fractions of lipids, markers of vascular inflammation, glucose and HbA1c, which may indicate the greatest potential for the development of atherothrombotic complications in this subgroup of patients.

[The role of therapeutic exercises in blood pressure correction, vascular wall stiffness and disorders of bone and mineral metabolism in postmenopausal hypertensive patients]. / Rol' lechebnoi fizkul'tury v korrektsii parametrov sutochnogo monitorirovaniya arterial'nogo davleniya, rigidnosti sosudistoi stenki i narusheniya mineral'nogo obmena kostnoi tkani u patsientok s arterial'noi gipertoniei v postmenopauze.

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of therapeutic exercises (TE) in the correction of blood pressure, stiffness of the vascular wall and disorders of bone mineral metabolism in postmenopausal hypertensive patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 78 patients (mean age was 53.32±7.61 years). All patients are divided into 3 groups. The first control group is 20 women without arterial hypertension and menopause. The second group consisted of 27 patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and post-menopause who were not undergone the TE complex and the 3rd group - 31 women with AH and post-menopause who were undergone TE complex. Patients of all groups were examined in dynamics: at the starting point of the study and 12 months later, out-patient monitoring of blood pressure; sphygmography; densitometry and test for blood serum biochemistry parameters, including sex hormones, vitamin D. RESULTS: In the course of the study, blood pressure, vascular wall stiffness and disorder of bone mineral density were revealed significantly higher in the group 3 with significantly reduced levels of sex hormones. Multidirectional correlation relationships between the studied parameters are revealed. Treatment combined with therapeutic exercises led to permanent improvement tendency in studied parameters like blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, metabolic disorders and T-criterion. CONCLUSION: The result of the study indicates that the exercise therapy complex used in the form of regular classes, according to the scheme proposed by the exercise therapy doctor, can be recommended for implementation in clinical practice with the aim of comprehensively affecting the patient's body and developing personalized treatment tactics for postmenopausal women with hypertension.

[The role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension.]

In recent years, accumulated numerous data on the pathogenetic links of the formation of arterial hypertension. A number of studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency, associated with age, changes in sex hormonal status, increased tone of the reninangiotensin-aldosterone system, endothelial dysfunction, and calcium metabolism, can be one of the mechanisms of development and progression of arterial hypertension. The purpose of the review was to summarize the results of the original domestic and foreign studies, prospective observations and meta-analyzes on the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and arterial hypertension.

[Nonspecific parameters of the immune inflammatory response as a link in the pathogenesis of remodeling of the vascular wall and destruction of bone tissue in women with arterial hypertension in postmenopausal women.]

Recently, they increasingly began to pay attention to the role of a nonspecific immune-inflammatory vascular response as a link in general pathogenetic mechanisms with a change in the elastic properties of arteries and phenomena of destructive bone changes, which at the subclinical level is of great importance for the prevention of the development of socially significant diseases. A total of 104 patients were examined (mean age 57.45 years), which were divided into three groups. The first group included 39 healthy women, the second group included 30 patients with hypertension and osteopenia, and the third group included 35 women with hypertension and osteoporosis. The analysis of markers of the immune inflammatory response, endothelial dysfunction, hormonal and mineral-vitamin status parameters was conducted against the background of the study of parameters of daily monitoring of arterial pressure, study of parameters of vascular wall stiffness and densitometry to clarify the predictors of cardiovascular and degenerative bone changes in postmenopausal women. A significant increase in the concentration of HF-CRP, the level of homocystemine, IL-8, parathyroid hormone, against the background of a significant decrease in the level of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, with a persistent tendency to increase in total cholesterol, atherogenic lipid fractions, myeloperoxidase, endothelin-1 and decrease was recorded calcitonin, total and ionized calcium, with a significantly minimal value of vitamin D in the 3rd group of patients. The risks of development and progression of bone destructive changes were calculated using the logistic regression method for the group of AH with osteopenia and osteoporosis. Thus, for patients with hypertension and osteopenia, a significantly significant parameter associated with the risk of developing osteoporosis was an indicator of the velocity of the pulse wave, an increase in the level of which exceeds 12.05 m/s is associated with an increased risk of developing osteoporosis by 3.8 times. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory parameters, IL-6 and 8, TNF-α, HB-SRB, parathyroid hormone and reduced levels of progesterone and IL10, took the most active part in aggravating the degree of available bone tissue destruction. Timely specialized multidirectional study of biochemical and instrumental parameters (in particular, the study of the speed of the pulse wave and densitometry) can be the basis for the development of personalized prevention and treatment tactics for women in order to prevent socially dangerous cardiovascular and bone complications.

[Prospective analysis of lipid profile parameters and markers of vascular inflammatory response with prognosis of undesirable coronary events in patients with coronary heart disease after angioplasty with stenting.]

The study of the causes of the development of vascular coronary complications after angioplasty with stenting using the evaluation of biochemical parameters in the dynamic observation of patients with IHD with significant coronary stenosis determines the relevance of the study. To analyze the parameters of lipid spectrum and markers of vascular inflammatory reaction in patients with IHD, in groups with stable angina and episode of unstable angina after angioplasty with stenting, to trace the dynamics of biochemical parameters and to reveal the predictors of undesirable coronary events. Patients with IHD with significant coronary stenosis of the arteries (SCS, n = 95) after coronary angiography at the point of maximum increase in the level of markers of the inflammatory reaction (3 months after angioplasty) are divided into 2 groups - patients with persistent stable angina pectoris (SA, n = 77) until the end of the study and patients with developed postvascularization episode of unstable angina (UA, n = 18). The dynamics of observation of biochemical parameters recorded the absence of normalization of the atherogenic spectrum of the lipid profile and the prolonged nature of the vascular inflammatory response to the end point of observation after angioplasty.The method of binary logistic regression revealed that in the general group of patients with IHD, an increase in the level of low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 1 mmol / L significantly increases the probability of significant coronary stenosis in men and raises the risk of UA after angioplasty by 7.38 times. It was found that patients with UA at the initial stage have a significantly higher risk of coronary blood flow instability in the post-vascularization period due to an elevated level of homocysteine. A set of biochemical markers for predicting the significance of coronary stenosis and development of undesirable vascular coronary events after angioplasty in patients with IHD has been identified: male sex, elevated LDL cholesterol and hyperhomocysteinemia.

[Analysis of 24-hour blood pressure profile, heart rate variability and carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients among native and nonnative population living in Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district].

OBJECTIVE: To study special characteristics of the course of arterial hypertension (AH) among native and nonnative population of Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 100 residents of Far North with AH (men and women aged 21-55, mean age 44.08 ± 1.15 years). All patients were divided into 2 equal groups by 50 subjects: group I consisted of representatives of native and group II--nonnative population. Examination was carried out in outpatient clinic in Salekhard and included 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), registration of heart rate variability, duplex scanning of brachiocephalic arteries, and assessment of blood lipid profile. The groups were matched by age, gender and disease duration. RESULTS: Analysis of heart rate variability detected significant degree of strain of regulatory systems in most patients of both groups. According to results of ABPM "non-dipper" patients prevailed in group I compared to group II (p = 0.01). Common carotid artery intima-media complex was significantly greater compared to normal value in all patients; it was thicker in group I (p < 0.03), but number of carotid artery stenoses was similar in both groups. No dyslipoproteinemia was detected. CONCLUSION: Compared with group of representatives of nonnative (adopted) population group of native subjects with AH was characterized by greater carotid intima media thickness and prevalence of "non-dipper" patients.

[Comparative characteristics of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with hypertension concurrent with chronic coronary heart disease among the indigenous and non-indigenous population of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomic District].

AIM: To evaluate the degree of carotid artery (CA) atherosclerotic lesion and lipid metabolic disturbances in patients with hypertension and in those with hypertension concurrent with coronary heart disease (CHD) in the indigenous and non-indigenous population living in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomic District. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two hundred men and women aged 21 to 55 years (mean age 48.2 ± 0.7 years), who resided in the Far North, were examined. The patients were divided into 4 gender-and age-matched groups of 50 persons in each: 1) natives; 2) newcomers with hypertension only; 3) natives with CHD and hypertension; 4) non-natives with the above conditions. To study CA involvement, all the patients underwent duplex scanning of the brachiocephalic arteries at the extracranial level and blood lipid analysis in an outpatient setting (Salekhard). RESULTS: In all the patients, common CA intima-media thickness was significantly greater than the upper limit of the normal range defined in the Guidelines, this indicator proved to be highest in the groups of indigenous people (p<0.001). The latter with CHD and hypertension more commonly tended to have atherosclerotic lesion in the left CA (p=0.06) than the non-indigenous people whereas the number of stenosis in other CAs was similar. In the natives versus the newcomers with CHD and hypertension, the atherogenic blood lipid composition was due to the higher levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins. In the non- indigenous patients with CHD and hypertension, the atherogenicity of the blood lipid composition was characterized by the higher levels of triglycerides (p=0.04) and very low-density lipoproteins (p=0.02) with the lower concentrations of high-density lipoproteins as compared to those in the natives with CHD and hypertension.

[Comparative characteristics of 24-hour blood pressure profile and heart rate variability in indigenous and non-indigenous patients with chronic coronary heart disease and hypertension from the Yamal-Nenets Autonomic District].

AIM: To investigate the specific features of a 24-hour blood pressure (BP) profile and heart rate variability (HRV) in the indigenous peoples (Nenets, Khanty, Selcups, and Komis) and newcomers with chronic coronary heart disease (CHD) and hypertension, who lived in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomic District. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two hundred male and females patients aged 21 to 55 years (mean age 48.2 +/- 0.7 years) with chronic CHD and hypertension, who resided in the Far North, were examined. All the patients were divided into 4 groups: (1) 50 aboriginal patients with hypertension only; (2) 50 newcomers with hypertension only; 3) 50 natives with chronic CHD and hypertension; (4) 50 non-natives with the above conditions. The groups were matched for gender, age, and the duration of hypertension and CHD. To study the nature of changes in the 24-hour BP profile, all the patients underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and HRV examination. RESULTS: The HRV analysis revealed that all the groups had increases in sympathetic autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity (88% in Group 1; 96% in Group 2; 94% in Group 3, and 92% in Group 4) and decreases in parasympathetic ANS activity (76% in Group 1; 74% in Group 2; 78% in Group 3; and 72% in Group 4), which was suggestive of neurocardiopathy. Analyzing the data of 24-hour ABPM showed that among the natives, there were more patients with increased systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) variability and higher nocturnal SBP time index (TI). These groups also showed a preponderance of patients with abnormal 24-hour BP profiles as compared to the groups of newcomers (p = 0.034). Among the latter, there were more patients with higher SBP and DBP variability and increased daytime DBP TI and also more patients with a normal nocturnal BP reduction (p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: The group of indigenous populations displayed a predominance of non-dippers and night-pickers and higher nocturnal SBP and DBP whereas the group of non-indigenous ones exhibited a preponderance of dippers and higher daytime SBP and DBP variability.

[Results of duplex scanning of brachiocephalic arteries and estimation of the lipid spectrum in coronary heart disease and arterial hypertension in indigenous and alien population of Yamalo-Nenetsky Autonomous District].

The work aimed at studying atherosclerotic lesions in brachiocephalic arteries and lipid spectrum in coronary heart disease (CHD) and arterial hypertension (AH) in indigenous and alien population of Yamalo-Nenetsky Autonomous District. It included 200 patients with CHD and AH (men and women aged 21-55 years, mean 48.2 +/- 07 yr). They were allocated to indigenous and alien groups (100 persons each). The patients matched for age and sex were examined by duplex scanning based at an outpatient facility (Salekhard). The indigenous population showed more pronounced thickening of the intima-media complex (IMC) of the common carotid artery (p = 0.001) and more frequent lesions of the main head arteries with stenosis of different severity (especially in internal carotid arteries). Total cholesterol, LDLP and atherogenicity index were similar in both groups and higher than normal. Indigenous subjects had less atherogenic structure of the lipid spectrum due to lower TG and VLDLP but higher HDLP levels.

[Cerebral blood flow and endothelial functional activity in patients with coronary heart disease and arterial hypertension during therapy with ivabradine in combination with perindopril].

AIM: To investigate the effects of ivabradine in combination with perindopril on cerebral blood flow and endothelial functional activity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-four patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and arterial hypertension (AH) were examined. Group 1 (n = 38) patients took ivabradine in combination with perindopril and Group 2 (n = 26) received metoprolol. At baseline and 8 weeks after therapy, 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring and electrocardiography were done, cerebral blood flow was estimated by Doppler ultrasound, reactive hyperemia and nitroglycerin tests were performed, and plasma nitrite levels were determined. RESULTS: With a comparable decrease in BP and heart rate in the internal carotid artery basin in both groups over time, there was a fall in peak systolic blood flow velocity; Group 1 showed a reduction in pulsatility index (PI) and systolic/diastolic ratio (ISP). After 8 weeks, there was an increase in endothelium-independent vasodilation and baseline blood flow velocity in the brachial artery in Group 1 and a rise in endothelium-dependent vasodilation in Group 2; in both groups, reactive hyperemia were higher in the brachial artery basin. No changes in nitrite levels were recorded during therapy. There was an inverse correlation between PG and PI in Group 1 and between PG and ISP in Group 2. CONCLUSION: By unidirectionally affecting the vasomotor function of the endothelium, ivabradine in combination with perindopril versus metoprolol has a more favorable effect on circulatory resistance and blood flow velocity in the brachiocephalic arteries of patients with CHD and AH.

[Structural and functional changes in the heart and 24-hour arterial pressure profile in patients with arterial hypertension in the Far North].

This comparative analysis of structural and functional changes in the heart is based on the results of 24 hour monitoring arterial pressure (MAP) in 393 men aged 20-59 years. Group 1 comprised 220 patients with arterial hypertension (AH) working on a rotating schedule in the Far North. They showed signs of hyper-reactivity of sympathetic component of the vegetative nervous system manifest as the high mean daily heart rate and variability of AP. Significant difference between MAP and office AP values reflected psychoemotional stress reaction during AP measurement. Daily AP rhythm in patients with grade I and II AH was described by a flat AP curve and hemodynamic load at night. The group with grade II AH included a large number of "night peakers" and subjects with inverted daily AP rhythm as a manifestation of external desynchronosis with night-time hypersympathicotonia. Differently directed daily changes of systolic and diastolic AP suggested internal desynchronosis of AP rhythm coupled to a significant increase of left ventricular myocardial mass (LVMM) and LVMM index in the absence of difference between LVDF. Patients with AH showed no correlation between LVMM, LVDF, and MAP values. It is concluded that hyperactivity, desynchronosis, and systemic dysregulation along with hemodynamic loading may play a key role in the development of structural and functional changes in the heart of AH patients during adaptation to extreme conditions of the Far North.

[Structural-functional properties of the vascular wall in hypertensive patients with coronary heart disease: effects of felodipin and perindopril].

AIM: To study endothelial function and vascular elasticity in hypertensive patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and approaches to correction of the impairments with felodipin and perindopril. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial included 34 hypertensive patients with CHD and 17 controls free of cardiovascular diseases. The above cardiovascular patients were randomized into two groups: 15 patients of group 1 received felodipin, 19 patients of group 2 were given perindopril. If the target blood pressure was not achieved after 4 weeks of treatment, 12.5 mg hydrochlorotiazide was added. 24-h monitoring of blood pressure, reactive hyperemia and nitroglycerin tests were made initially and after 8-week treatment. Also, calculations were made of pulse wave velocity (PWV) on the carotid-femoral and carotid-radial segments (Ve and Vm), of elastic modulus for arteries of the elastic and muscular types (Ee and Em). RESULTS: Baseline endothelium-dependent and non-endothelium-dependent vasodilations (EDVD and NEDVD) in cardiovascular patients were lower than in the controls while Ve and Ee were higher. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse blood pressure (PBP), stress SBP and EDVD correlated. The treatment led to reduction of mean circadian, diurnal and nocturnal SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), PBP, Ve and Ee, to elevation of EDVD. CONCLUSION: EDVD in hypertensive patients with CHD is related with SBP and PBP. Felopidin had both an antihypertensive and vasoprotective effects due to improved endothelial function and better elasticity of the major arteries comparable to effects of perindopril.

[Blood lipid spectrum in hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects living in the Khanty-Mansiysk region].

AIM: To evaluate basic parameters of lipid metabolism in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) stage I and II and normotensive subjects living in the far North of the Russian Federation (Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomic Region, Nyagan). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Lipid spectrum was studied in 70 males and females with AH stage I and II, 280 normotensive males and females matched for sex, age, time of residence in the North. RESULTS: Sex-related differences by concentrations of blood lipids become less pronounced with progression of AH while a concentration of atherogenic lipid fractions in AH patients rises. High prevalence of dyslipidemia, primarily hypercholesterolemia, in hypertensive and normotensive subjects is a prognostic factor of coronary atherosclerosis. Paired correlations indirectly confirm the effect of climatic factors on blood lipids. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to correct lipid spectrum and risk factors in hypertensive and normotensive subjects as a prophylactic measure.

[The influence of "dry" bi-carbonate baths on the circadian profile of arterial pressure in patients who suffered acute myocardial infarction].

The objective of this study was to evaluate effect of "dry" bi-carbonate baths (DBB) on the circadian profile of arterial pressure (AP) in patients who suffered acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Diurnal AP profiles were analysed in all patients after AMI. The patients comprising group 1 were treated with the use of DBB while the remaining ones received a sham treatment. 24 hour AP monitoring was performed before and after therapy. The study revealed a reduction in the frequency of hypotensive diastolic values at the daytime and in the duration of night-time hypertensive episodes under the influence of therapy with the use of DBB. Variability of systolic AP throughout 24 hours and of diastolic AP at daytime also decreased. Generally speaking, patients with elevated AP showed a more pronounced effect of DBB on the night AP profile. It is concluded that therapy with the use of DBB after AMI has beneficial effect on the clinical state of the patients and reduces the risk of cardiovascular complications.

[Cardiac rhythm variability during active orthostatic test in patients with arterial hypertension].

The aim of the study was to evaluate cardiac rhythm variability (CRV) during active orthostatic test (AOT) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) living in Tyumen near-Ob region. Fifty-two patients with AH and 32 practically healthy persons were examined. Under outpatient conditions in the city of Pyt-Yakh, 5-min CRV recording was performed by standard technique in the supine position and during AOT, and temporary and spectral parameters were evaluated. In both groups, parameters of the temporary analysis of CRV during AOT differed significantly. The values of optimal variability in AH patients displayed significant deviations, while the deviations in the control group were moderate. Analysis of spectral parameters of CRV during AOT revealed an increase in the values of total spectrum power of CRV in both groups. The values of optimal CRV parameters evidenced the presence of disbalance in the vegetative regulation of cardiac rhythm in the subjects. The results of temporary analysis found a lowered activity of parasympathetic vegetative regulation, while spectral analysis revealed an increased sympathetic influence on cardiac rhythm. The values of the index of regulatory system tension during AOT suggest that in both groups the adaptive abilities of the mechanisms of vegetative regulation of cardiac rhythm were preserved.