[COVID-19 and features of cardiovascular involvement].

The article provides an overview of current information on the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and organ-specific lesions developing in this disease. The data on inflammation and its biochemical markers, on the features of coagulopathy, endothelial damage and microthrombosis are presented in detail. Particular attention is paid to the role of receptors for angiotensin converting enzyme type 2 and transmembrane serine protease type 2 in the development of organ-specific lesions in COVID-19. The pathogenesis of damage to the cardiovascular system is considered in detail with the presentation of data from foreign literature on changes in the myocardium and the author's results of transthoracic echocardiographic examination in patients who have undergone COVID-19.

[Relationship between the structure-functional state of the heart and brain natriuretic peptide level in patients with arterial hypertension].

We studied relationship between structure-functional parameters of left and right cardiac chambers and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level in 118 patients with arterial hypertension (AH) (35 men, 83 women) and 17 healthy volunteers. Methods comprised 24-hour arterial pressure monitoring (APM), two-dimensional echocardiography (echoCG), Doppler echoCG, and tissue echoCG of mitral and tricuspid atrioventricular annuli, treadmill test, 6-min walk test, and measurement of NT-proBNP level in blood plasma. In patients with AH blood plasma NT-proBNP level was significantly higher than in a group of healthy persons of similar age. Elevation of this biochemical marker was accompanied by significant change of characteristics of remodeling of left and right parts of the heart, abnormalities of left ventricular diastolic function according to transmitral blood flow, disturbances of left ventricular diastolic and systolic function according to tissue Doplerography data. Comparative analysis of structure-functional parameters of the heart and NT-proBNP level in patients with AH allowed to reveal more significant changes of parameters of diastolic and systolic remodeling, local and global diastolic and systolic left ventricular function in patients with NT-proBNP levels more than 306 mol/ml. Factors determining NT-proBNP level in patients with AH were age, free right ventricular wall thickness, and body mass index.

[Renin inhibitors--new direction in the treatment of arterial hypertension].

The paper covers current problems in the treatment of arterial hypertension. Renin is an important and promising therapeutic target. The direct renin inhibitor aliskiren (Rasilez) is a promising current effective antihypertensive agent that has cardio- and nephroprotective effects. The paper considers a number of clinical studies that have proven the antihypertensive effect of aliskiren and revealed its benefits versus other drugs recommended for blood pressure lowering. It is assumed that this agent may be used in combinations with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, thiazide or thiazide-like diuretics, and calcium antagonists. Moreover, aliskiren neutralizes the effect of feedback in the compensatory increase in the activity of plasma renin.

[Efficacy of shock-wave therapy in the treatment of chronic ischemic heart failure].

INTRODUCTION: Shock-wave therapy (SWT) has proved its efficacy and safety in a number of studies in stable effort angina. METHODS: Twenty-four patients (20 men, 4 women; mean age 63.3 +/- 6.1 years) with chronic heart failure (CHF) of ischemic origin (>6 months after AMI) and left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) <40% received SWT in addition to their stable treatment. SWT was performed in 9 sessions with 100 shocks per spot in viable segments detected by low dose dobutamine stress echocardiography. Patients were examined at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after SWT. Troponin T level was measured after each week of treatment. RESULTS: Class of CHF significantly decrease from 2.2 +/- 0.8 to 1.7 +/- 0.7 at 3 and at 6 months after SWT (p<0.01). Six-minute walk test improved from 414 +/- 141 to 509 +/- 141 and 538 +/- 116 m (p<0.01) at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Significant augmentation of LVEF at rest was noted at 3 and 6 months after SWT (from 32.2 +/- 6.0 to 34.8 +/- 9.6 and 37.7 +/- 9.5, respectively p=0.03). Troponin T was negative in all cases. Significant increase of LV longitudinal deformation was registered at 6 months (from -8.84 +/- 0.38 to -9.72 +/- -0.44%, p<0.01) what evidenced for improvement of LV contractility. The latter was a result of restored hibernating segments function (longitudinal deformation of these segments rose from initial -7.52 +/- -0.5 to -9.18 +/- 0.53 and -9.63 +/- 0.59% at 3 and 6 months after SWT, respectively, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CHF SWT caused significant clinical improvement as well as increases in LV EF and distance walked during 6-min walk test. These results justify conduct of a placebo controlled study.

[Comparative trial of efficacy of trimethasidine MB and 3-(2,2,2-trimethylhydrasine) propionate dihydrate in chronic heart failure].

AIM: To study efficacy of the myocardial cytoprotector trimethasidine MB and metabolic drug 3-(2,2,2-trimethylhydrasine) propionate dihydrate (3-TMHP) in the treatment of chronic cardiac failure (CCF). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients with CCF after myocardial infarction (> 6 months) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) <40% were randomized into 3 groups: group 1 (n=28) received basic therapy plus trimethasidine in a daily dose 70 mg; group 2 (n=25)--basic therapy plus 3-TMHP in a daily dose 1000 mg; control group (n=12) received basic therapy with ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and diuretics. Before and after 6-month treatment all the patients have undergone stress echocardiography with dobutamine. Perfusion and myocardial metabolism were determined in 34 patients with single photon emission computed tomography of the myocardium (SPECT) with 99m-Tc-technetril and positron-emission tomography of the myocardium (PET) with F-18-fluorodesoxyglucose. RESULTS: Groups 1 and 2 significantly reduced functional class of CCF and prolonged the distance of a 6-min walk. Significant improvement of life quality was observed only in the treatment with trimethasidine. According to PET, treatment with trimethasidine MB and 3-TMHP has an anti-ischemic action manifesting with a significant attenuation of glucose hypermetabolism in the ischemic segment to normal values. However, significant improvement of systolic thickening in hybernated segments by SPECT as well as a significant rise of LV EF were recorded only in the treatment with trimethasidine MB. Stress echocardiography with dobutamine had high specificity (85.7%) but low sensitivity (50.4%) in detection of hybernated myocardium. CONCLUSION: Trimethasidine MB (preductal MB) has advantages over 3-TMHP, so it is preferable in ischemic CHF.

[Possibilities of myocardial cytoprotection in complex treatment of patients with chronic heart failure].

Efficacy of metabolic therapy with trimetazidine MR and 3-(2,2,2-trimethylhydrazyn) propionatodihydratum (3-TMHP) was compared in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of ischemic genesis. Clinico-functional examination included dobutamine stress echocardiography single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) with 99mTc-technetril, and positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-Fluoro-2-deoxyglucose. Clinical course of CHF improved during therapy with both trimetazidine MR, and 3-TMHP. According to PET data therapy with trimetazidine MR and 3-TMHP exerted antiischemic action which appeared as significant diminishment of glucose hypermetabolism in ischemic segments down to normal values. However significant improvement of regional systolic thickening in hibernating segments according to SPECT data, significant increase of left ventricular ejection fraction at rest and peak load according to data of stress-echocardiography took place only during therapy with trimetazidine.

[Receptor regulation of the platelet activity]. / Retseptornaia regukliatsiia aktivnosti trombotsitov.

Classification of thrombocyte receptors is given, their functions are discussed, and their endogenous and exogenous ligands are considered as potential targets for antithrombotic drugs.

[The effect of the tempi of rehabilitation on the psychological status and quality of life in myocardial infarct patients]. / Vliianie tempov reabilitatsii na psikhologicheskii status i kachestvo zhizni bol'nykh infarktom miokarda.

104 patients 3 to 12 months after myocardial infarction were evaluated psychologically and by quality of life. Faster hospital rehabilitation contributed to better quality of life than in patients on conventional rehabilitation. The absence of sanatorium rehabilitation was associated with anxiety, hypochondria, depression registered 12 months after MI onset and thus with lowering of life quality.