[Melatonin in the combined treatment of cardiovascular diseases].

The aim of the work was to assess effectiveness of melatonin monotherapy (MT) and combined treatment (CT) in aged patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and coronary heart disease (CHD). A group of 170 patients (mean age 64 years) included 61 ones with CHD and 100 with AH. ECG, AP, and echoCG monitoring was performed before and 21 days after treatment along with clinical examination and evaluation of oxidative and antioxidative activities in erythrocytes. Treatment efficiency was compared in the study and randomized control groups. The data obtained suggest antihypertensive action of MT. CT with melatonin and antihypertensive drugs had better outcome than standard therapy in control groups. Inclusion of melatonin in CT of CHD produced marked anti-ischemic and anti-anginal effects and normalized oxidant/antioxidant balance. It is concluded that melatonin should be an important component of MT and CT of cardiovascular diseases.

[Pharmacodynamics of nonessential amino acids in elderly patients with post-infarction cardiac sclerosis]. / Farmakodinamika zamenimykh aminokislot u pozhil'nykh bol'nykh postinfarktnym kardiosklerozom.

We studied pharmacodynamics of an amino acids complex (AAC) in 60 elderly patients (a mean age 71.6 years) with ischemic heart disease, postinfarction cardiosclerosis (PIC), circulatory insufficiency stage I-II. The patients were randomized into 3 groups, 20 persons each. Group 1 received standard therapy (ST) and placebo, group 2--ST + AAC (one tablet of 70 mg 3 times a day), group 3--ST + AAC sublingually in the same dose. Clinical symptoms, results of ECG Holter monitoring and echocardiography were assessed before the treatment and on treatment day 18. Positive effects of AAC used in combination with ST in relation to clinical symptoms, myocardial contractility and ischemia. No differences in efficacy were observed with oral and sublingual AAC administration.

[Efficacy of emoxypine in combined therapy for elderly patients with postinfarct cardiosclerosis and heart failure]. / Effektivnost' emoksipina v kompleksnoi terapii pozhilykh bol'nykh posinfarktnym kardiosklerozom i serdechnoi nedostatochnost'iu.

Forty-four patients with coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, prior myocardial infarction, and NYHA Functional Class II-IV heart failure were examined. Group 1 patients received emoxypine during combined therapy (CT). Group 2 patients took CT alone (a control group). The results of the study suggest that emoxypine significantly improves the clinical symptomatology and shows marked antianginal and antiischemic effects. As compared with the control group, Group 1 shows a more significant hemodynamic improvement. Moreover, the inclusion of emoxypine into CT for elderly patients with prior myocardial infarction produces a normalizing effect on oxidative stress. By taking into account the foregoing, it should be stated that it is expedient to include emoxypine into CT for this category of patients.

[The pharmacological effect of betapressin in hypertension]. / Farmakologicheskii éffekt betapressina pri gipertonicheskoi bolezni.

The work analyses the results of treating 20 hypertensive patients with (stage I-II) with betapressin. The drug is shown to be active in causing a significant decrease of systolic and mean arterial pressure. Its hypotensive effect is associated with essential decrease of peripheral vascular resistance. This circumstance, as well as acceleration of the heart rhythm, leads to increase of the cardiac output. Betapressin is recommended for monotherapy of patients suffering from stages I-II hypertension with eu- and hypokinetic types of hemodynamics.

[Time-related effect of betapressin+ in patients with essential hypertension stage II]. / Vremiazavisimyi effekt betapressina u bol'nykh gipertonicheskoi bolezn'iu II stadii.

Time-related effect of betapressin (penbutolol) has been studied in 24 patients with essential hypertension stage II. The drug was given in the morning, afternoon and evening in a dose 40 mg. Control group consisted of 20 patients with essential hypertension stage II on betapressin at a mean daily dose 108.4 +/- 6.25 mg. Pre- and posttreatment hemodynamic parameters were registered at tetrapolar chest rheography. Arterial pressure was measured according to N.S. Korotkov. In the study group the parameters were taken 6 times a day each 4 hours before and after the treatment course. The course lasted for 20 days on the average in both groups. The study discovered time-related effect of betapressin; negative chronotropic effect in the morning and evening, negative inotropic effect in the day time. The hypotensive effect varied with the day hour being the highest in the single administration.