[Mechanisms for the Development of Blood Pressure Variability and the Potential of Antihypertensive Drugs in Their Correction].

Blood pressure variability (BPV) is the fluctuations of blood pressure over a certain period of time under the influence of various factors. The issue of increased BPV is of particular clinical importance due to high predictive value of this parameter as a risk factor for fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal events. It is proved that in the BPV increasing, the key role is played by impairments in arterial baroreflexes, which, in turn, are mediated by increased vascular stiffness, impact of angiotensin II and the sympathetic nervous system, endothelial dysfunction, nitric oxide deficiency and aging, including the vascular aging. Antihypertensive drugs that targeting largest amount of pathophysiological mechanisms in BPV increasing have a most advantages in correcting excessive pressure fluctuations. In this regard such drugs are perindopril and amlodipine, which can eliminate almost the entire spectrum of increased BPV causes and, therefore, optimally reduce the cardiovascular risk.

[Activation of ganglioside GM3 biosynthesis in human blood mononuclear cells in atherosclerosis].

Using blood monocytes and lymphocytes from atherosclerotic patients and healthy subjects we have investigated activity of GM3 synthase, cellular levels of ganglioside GM3 and its role in monocyte adhesion to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The results showed that activity of GM3 synthase and cellular levels of ganglioside GM3 in blood mononuclear cells from atherosclerotic patients were several-fold higher than those from healthy subjects. In monocytes the activity of GM3 synthase was one an order of magnitude higher than in lymphocytes from both groups studied; this suggests the major contribution of monocytes to enhanced biosynthesis and levels of GM3 in mononuclear cells in atherosclerosis. Enrichment of monocytes from healthy subjects with ganglioside GM3 by incubation in medium containing this ganglioside increased adherence of these monocytes to HUVEC up to the values typical for monocytes from atherosclerotic patients. In addition, an increase in CD1 1b integrin expression was observed that was comparable to that seen in lipopolysaccharide-activated monocytes. It is suggested that in atherosclerosis the enhanced cellular levels of GM3 in monocytes and lymphocytes may be an important element of cell activation that facilitates their adhesion to endothelial cells and penetration into intima.

[Antioxidant status and restenosis after stenting of coronary arteries].

AIM: To investigate possibility of effect of antioxidant status on severity of restenosis of coronary arteries after transluminal coronary angioplasty with stenting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Men with ischemic heart disease and coronary angiography performed in 6 months after coronary artery stenting with bare stents were included in this study. Coronary angiograms were subjected to quantitative computer analysis. Samples of venous blood were obtained before control angiography. We assessed duration of lag phase of copper induced free radical oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL), and measured level of lipoperoxides in LDL, content of malone dialdehyde (MDA) in LDL, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GP), and erythrocyte catalase. RESULTS: We revealed positive correlations of lag phase duration and activity of GP with minimal artery diameter 6 months after stenting (r=0.41, p < 0.002 and r=0.24, p < 0.05, respectively), of lipoperoxide level in LDL and MDA content in LDL with degree of stenosis (r=0.32, p < 0.009, and r=0.37, p < 0002, respectively). We also found negative correlations between lag phase duration and GP activity with degree of restenosis (r= - 0.38, p < 0.04, and r= - 0.39, p < 0.001, respectively), level of lipoperoxides in LDL and MDA content in LDL with artery minimal diameter (r= - 0.33, p < 0.007, and r=0.32, p < 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study confirms possibility of influence of antioxidant status on degree of coronary artery restenosis in patients after coronary artery stenting.