Temperature dependences of magnetoimpedance of nanocrystalline Fe-based ribbons.

The influence of a magnetic field or the mechanical stresses on the impedance of the Fe73.5Si16.5B6Nb3Cu1 and Fe73.5Si13.5B9Nb3Cu1 ribbons was investigated in the (297 divided by 433) K temperature range. It is shown that impedance changes, which are observed under the application of mechanical stresses and temperature, are conditioned by the structural features and magnetic properties of the alloys. The temperature increase leads to a decrease of the saturation magnetostriction constant, an increase of the anisotropy axis dispersion and a decrease of the anisotropy effective value. It was determined that the maximum sensitivity of impedance to the mechanical stresses reaches the value of about 2%/MPa for the Fe73.5Si16.5B6Nb3Cu1 and Fe73.5Si13.5B9Nb3Cu1 samples.

[Chromatin folding in human spermatozoa. I. Dynamics of chromatin remodelling in differentiating human spermatids].

Changes in chromatin structure at different stages of differentiation of human spermatids were studied. It was shown that, in nuclei of early spermatids, chromatin is loosely packed and its structural element is an 8-nm fiber. This "elementary" fiber is predominant at the initial stages of differentiation; in the course of maturation, it is replaced by globular elements approximately 60 nm in diameter. In intermediate spermatids, these globules start to condense into fibrillar aggregates and reduce their diameter to 30-40 nm. At all stages of spermatid maturation, except the final stages, these globules are convergence centers for elementary fibers. This remodelling process is vectored and directed from the apical (acrosomal) to the basal pole of the nucleus. In mature spermatids, the elementary 8-nm fibers are almost absent and the major components are 40-nm fibrillar aggregates. The nuclei of mature spermatids are structurally identical with the nuclei of spermatozoa with the so-called "immature chromatin," which are commonly found in a low proportion in sperm samples from healthy donors and may prevail over the normal cells in spermiogenetic disorders. The cause of this differentiation blockade remains unknown. Possibly, the formation of intermolecular bonds between protamines, which are required for the final stages of chromatin condensation, is blocked in a part of spermatids. The results of this study are discussed in comparison with the known models of nucleoprotamine chromatin organization in human spermatozoa.

[Prognostic value of aortic stenosis in patients after acute coronary syndrome].

With the aim to assess prevalence of aortic stenosis (AS) and prognostic value of its detection among survivors of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) we examined 851 patients included into multicenter prospective study of risk factors of serious vascular events and death after acute coronary syndrome. The patients were enrolled into the study in stable condition on 10th day after onset of myocardial infarction (MI) or unstable angina (UA). Examination involved medical history, laboratory tests and echocardiography. Afterwards all cases of death and serious vascular events were registered. Severity of AS was specified by maximal aortic flow rate: 1st degree > 2.5, 2nd degree 3.0-4.0, 3rd degree > 4.0 m/s. AS was detected in 16 patients (1.9%). AS severity was 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree in 9, 4 and 3 patients, respectively. Patients with AS were significantly older (77.4 vs. 61.3 years, p < 0.001), more often had history of chronic heart failure (CHF) (81.3 vs. 53.2%, p = 0.021) and lowered renal function (66.7 vs. 34.0%, p < 0.041). At multifactorial analysis independent prognostic value in relation to development of serious events showed age > 75 years (OR 1,395 [1.023-1.902], p = 0.036), history of CHF (1.319 [1.015-1.713], p = 0.038), history of MI (1.692 [1.320-2.170], p < 0.001), left ventricular diastolic dimention (1.023 [1.005-1.041], p = 0.012), left atrial diameter (1.024 [1.001-1.047], p = 0.037) and presence of AS (3.211 [1.742-.,916], p < 0.001). Prevalence of preexisting AS among patients who have had MI/UA is 1.9% what is similar to data of European Heart Survey ACS-II (1.8%). Presence of AS of any severity in a survivor of ACS worsens prognosis independently of other known risk factors.

[Polymorphic markers Ala455Val of the THBD gene and Arg353Gln of the F7 gene and association with unfavorable outcomes of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with a history of acute ischemic heart disease].

The polymorphic markers Ala455Val of the THBD gene and Arg353Gln of the F7 gene were tested for association with the frequency of unfavorable outcomes in patients with a history of acute ischemic heart disease. The study involved 1145 patients hospitalized in cardiology clinics of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Chelyabinsk, Perm, Stavropol, and Rostov-on-Don because of acute ischemic heart disease. The patients were followed up for up to 62.5 months. None of the markers displayed a significant association with the time to an endpoint. The patients were then grouped by sex. In females, the frequency of unfavorable outcomes (fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction and fatal or nonfatal stroke) was higher in carriers of allele Val of the Ala344Val polymorphic marker of the THBD gene and carriers of genotype Arg/Arg of the Arg353Gln polymorphic marker of the F7 gene, but the difference was not statistically significant. Such an increase in frequency was not observed in males. To study the combined effect of the polymorphic markers of the THBD and F7 genes, the course of ischemic heart disease was compared for two female subgroups. One included carriers of allele Val of the Ala344Val polymorphic marker of the THBD gene and genotype Arg/Arg of the Arg353Gln polymorphic marker of the F7 gene; the other subgroup included carriers ofgenotype Ala/Ala of the Ala455Val polymorphic marker of the THBD gene and allele Gln of the Arg353Gln polymorphic marker of the F7 gene. The frequency of unfavorable outcomes in the first subgroup was higher than in the second one. The time to an endpoin was 40.5 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 33.5-47.6) in the first subgroup and 51.6 months (95% CI 45.0-58.1) in the second subgroup (chi2 = 4.15, P = 0.042). The results made it possible to assume that the F7 and THBD genes play an important role in genetic predisposition to unfavorable outcomes in patients with a history of acute ischemic heart disease.

[Gene IL6 G(-174)C and gene IL10 G(-1082)A polymorphisms are associated with unfavourable outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome].

We investigated the association of gene IL6 G(-174)C polymorphism and gene IL10 G(-1082)A polymorphism with coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Russian population. A total of 1145 patients with CAD diagnose on the basis of clinical studies in cardiological hospitals of Moscow, St -Petersburg, Kazan, Chelyabinsk, Perm, Stavropol and Rostov-on-Don. Supervision term was 9.10 +/- 5.03 months (the maximum term 18 months). In case of gene IL10 G(-1082)A polymorphism we determined that patients with CAD diagnose and A alleles gene IL10 had unfavorable outcome more often than patients with homozygous G alleles. Survival time from end point from carrier genotype GA and AA is 11.68 +/- 0.67 months against 12.69 +/- 0.65 months from carrier phenotype GG gene IL10 (chi2 = 4.13, p = 0.042). The group studied do not differ significantly with respect to the distributions of gene IL6 G(-174)C alleles and genotypes. However in case combined group studies of gene IL10 G(-1082)A polymorphism and IL6 G(-174)C polymorphism we determined that patients with CAD diagnose and carrier genotype GG gene IL6 and genotype GA and AA gene IL10 had unfavorable outcome more often (survival time 11.01 +/- 1.24 months) than patients with genotype CC and CG gene IL6 and genotype GG gene IL10 (survival time 13.28 +/- 0.83 months) chi2 = 10.23, p = 0.017. The obtained data allows assuming the important role of the IL6 and IL10 genes which are responsible for functioning of inflammation system, in the accelerated formation of failures at the patients who had a coronary syndrome.

[Polymorphic markers G(-455)A of gene FGB and C(-1654)T of gene PROC and genetic predisposition to unfavorable outcomes patients undergoing acute coronary syndrome].

We investigated the association of polymorphisms of genes FGB G(-455)A and PROCC(-1654)T with coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Russian population. A total of 1145 patients with CAD diagnose on the basis of clinical studies in cardiological hospitals of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Chelyabinsk, Perm, Stavropol and Rostov-on-Don. Supervision term was 1.14 +/- +/- 0.33 years (the maximum term 3.2 years). The group studied do not differ significantly with respect to the distributions of G(-455)A alleles and genotypes. However in case of gene PROC C(-1654)T polymorphism we determined that patients with CAD diagnose and Talleles of PROC gene had unfavorable outcome more often than patients with homozygous C alleles. Survival time from end point from carrier phenotype TT and CTis 2.19 +/- 0.18 r. years against 2.46 +/- 0.16 from carrier phenotype CCgene PROC. The obtained data allows to assume the important role of the genes which are responsible for functioning of system of a hemostasis, in the accelerated formation of failures at the patients who had a coronary syndrome.

[Specific features of cholelithiasis in patients with chronic opisthorchosis].

The study involved 105 patients with grades II-III cholelithiasis (CL) including 53 ones having concomitant chronic opisthorchosis. Clinical, laboratory, and instrumental analyses were made to obtain parameters of hepatopancreatobiliary and gastrointestinal dysfunction. The clinical course of CL was characterized by statistically significant predominance of clinically apparent, as opposed to latent, forms of CL with concomitant opisthorchosis as early as the initial stages of cholecystolithiasis accompanied by a high frequency of biliary-type pain and biliary dyspepsia at a relatively low rate of intestinal dyspepsia and pancreatogenic pain. The significantly lower occurrence of trigger diseases in patients with opisthorchosis revealed in this study accounts for the importance of this chronic disease as a self-consistent factor promoting the development and progress of cholecystolithiasis due to marked inflammatory, cholestatic, and structural changes in the biliary duct system. High frequency of inflammatory and cholestatic manifestations at the onset of CL and early stages of episthorchosis suggests the possibility to improve clinico-laboratory characteristics of CL by managing the concomitant pathology.

[Prognostic value of structural-functional and electrical remodeling of myocardium in aged and elderly men with coronary heart disease].

This study had the purpose to assess relative risk of cardiovascular death in aged and elderly men with coronary heart disease depending on electrical and functional remodeling of myocardium. It included 526 patients aged 18-92 years, with 167 ones of mean age 75.4 years. The control group comprised 113 healthy men 18-65 years of age. General clinical examination was supplemented by measurements of heart electrical activity and ventricular activation rate (VAR), detection of myocardial electrical remodeling stages, parameters of repolarization and their dispersion, assessment of structural and functional state of myocardium from the results of two-dimensional echocardioscopy. The clinical course of disease and its fatal outcomes were monitored for 10 days. The risk of death from all cardiovascular events significantly increased as a result of decreased ejection fraction, increased mass of left ventricle (LV), dilation of its cavity, excentric myocardial remodeling, and reduced VAR. An independent predictor of cardiovascular death was increased dispersion of intervals dQtend > 60 ms, dJTapex > 60 ms. Cardiovascular mortality positively correlated with the terminal stage of electrical remodeling, dispersion of interval QT > 60 ms, LV mass, its index, LV end systolic and diastolic size, and ecccentric LV remodeling. Results of logistic regression analysis indicate that functional class of circulatory insufficiency, increased heterogeneity of repolarization (QT end interval), progress of electrical remodeling of myocardium and LV cavity dilatation are high risk factors that can be used to predict cardiovascular events in elderly men with coronary heart disease. Prospective 10 year-long follow up of such patients showed that progressive circulatory insufficiency, terminal stage of electrical remodeling of myocardium, dilatation of LV cavity, and dispersion of repolarization interval QT end are the major factors that significantly influence the risk of cardiovascular death.

[Comparative assessment of bile and blood cholesterol, pigment, and protein metabolic parameters in patients with cholelithiasis in the presence and absence of opisthorchiasis].

AIM: to study the regularities of lithogenesis in patients with cholelithiasis (CL) and opisthorchiasis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients with CL and opisthorchiasis were examined. Comparison groups comprised 32 with CL without opisthorchiasis and 14 patients with opisthorchiasis without CL. All the patients underwent a comprehensive examination involving laboratory and ultrasound studies. RESULTS: Opisthorchis invasion leads to increases in vesicular and hepatic bile cholesterol saturation and bile albumin levels due to intrahepatic ductal cholestasis, to a rise in bile unconjugated bilirubin concentration, which is caused by the activation of proliferative inflammation in the bile ducts and by the increased deposits of bilirubin complexes resulting from higher bile globulin levels. CONCLUSION: In opisthorchiasis, bile lithogenic factors mostly activate in the development of CH in patients with significant manifestations of cholestasis, angiocholitis with the most preserved concentration function of the gallbladder.

[Clinical and vascular effects of ACE inhibitor enalapril in combination with thiaside-like diuretic indapamide in hypertensive outpatients. Results of the multicenter trial POEMA].

AIM: To evaluate efficacy and safety of a 6-month treatment of 237 patients with arterial hypertension (AH) of degree 1-3 with ACE inhibitor enalapril (mean dose 21.9 +/- 9.0 mg/day), 49.4% of which received adjuvant indapamide (2.5 mg/day), to study effects of this therapy on rigidity of the major arteries by dynamics of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and US rigidity index beta (RIB). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included only patients with initially elevated PWV which was detected in 266 (53%) of 501 examinees. RESULTS: Lowering of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) was 16.8 and 14.0% to treatment month 3 and, in addition, 1.6 and 1. 7% to month 6, respectively (p < 0.001). Target BP (< or = 140/90 mm Hg) was achieved in 82.7% patients. During the trial 3 (1.2%) patients withdrew because of severe cough. Slowdown of PWV measured by brachiomalleolar (PWVbm) and carotid-femoral (PWVcf) methods was equal in the course of the trial and made up 2.45 and 6.1% to treatment month 3 (p < or = 0.05 for both) and additional 3.25 and 7.4% to month 6 (p < 0.001 for both), respectively. High PWV normalized completely in 42.6% patients. After 6 months of the trial US RIB decreased by 30.5% (p < or = 0.001). The correlation analysis detected a significant correlation between SAP fall and PWV decrease only during the first 3 months of therapy (r = 0.402, p = 0.005). In month 3-6 the correlation became insignificant (r = 0.28, p = 0.055). CONCLUSION: Combination of enalapril and indapamide is effective and safe in outpatients with arterial hypertension of the first-third degree and baseline high rigidity of the vascular wall. This treatment reduces PWV and rigidity of the major arteries associated with BP lowering (in the treatment month 1-3) and a vasoprotective effect of the drugs.

[Recurrent myocardial infarctions: specific changes in biomarkers and in myocardial remodeling (case-control study)].

Basing on a case-control study (n=81) with the use of standard methods of myocardial infarction verification, examination of hemogram, troponin T, C-reactive protein, echocardiography data it was established that markers of myocardial infarction (troponin T level) and inflammation (C reactive protein level, lymphopenia) during recurrent infarctions are less pronounced than during first infarctions. Remodeling in recurrent infarctions had the following specific characteristics: increase of left ventricular end diastolic dimension, myocardial mass index, diastolic dysfunction and stroke volume with unchanged ejection fraction.

[Clinical genetic determinants of carbohydrate metabolism disturbances in patients with hypertension and excessive weight].

AIM: To elucidate associations of polymorphic markers of PPAR, PPARG2, IRS1, IRS2 genes with disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism in patients with hypertension and excessive weight. MATERIAL: Patients (n=145, 53 men and 92 women, age 40-75 years) with untreated stage 1 hypertension (systolic BP 140-159 and diastolic BP <100 mm Hg) and excessive weight or obesity (body mass index >27 kg/m(2)) were divided into 2 groups: with (group 1, n=124) and without (group II, n=21) disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism. Group I comprised patients with insulin resistance, abnormal fasting blood glucose or glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes. Results of oral glucose tolerance test were normal in 25 and abnormal in 99 of these patients. RESULTS: Carriers of Pro allele compared with carriers of Ala allele of PPARG2 gene had higher frequency of insulin resistance. No association was found between insulin resistance and alleles and genotypes of PPAR, IRS1, and IRS2 genes. There was an association between diastolic BP and polymorphic markers Pro12Ala of PPARG2 gene and C24313G of PPARA gene. Carriers of C allele of PPARA gene and Ala allele of PPARG2 gene had higher diastolic BP. No association was found between systolic BP and alleles and genotypes of polymorphic markers of PPARG2 and PPARA genes.

[Dependence of nitric oxide level in blood on the degree of damage in coronary vessels in women younger than 55 years with ischemic heart disease]. / Uroven' oksida azota v krovi v zavisimosti ot stepeni porazeniia koronarnogo rusla u zhenshchin molozhe 55 let s ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa.

AIM: To estimate content of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites in women under 55 years with reference to affection of coronary vessels as shown by coronaroangiography (CAG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case-control study included 32 women under 55 years of age with verified coronary heart disease (CHD) and matched controls. The blood of the examinees was tested for NO metabolites--nitrites and nitrates--according to N. E. Emchenko technique. RESULTS: Subnormal levels of nitrites and nitrates were found both in angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, in unaffected coronary vessels as well. In atherosclerotic coronary vessels NO metabolites' concentrations were the lowest. A significant negative correlation was found between the magnitude of nitrates reduction and the number of atherosclerosis-affected coronary vessels. CONCLUSION: Women under 55 years of age suffering from IHD (any type of coronary affection) had significantly lowered blood levels of NO metabolites compared to healthy women.

[The role of an overall coronary bed affection in heart remodeling in patients with stenocardia and arterial hypertension]. / Rol' summarnogo porazheniia koronarnogo rusla v remodelirovanii serdtsa u bol'nykh stenokardiei, sochetaiushcheisia s arterial'noi gipertoniei.

AIM: To study a possible role of coronary circulation condition in remodeling heart in ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients with hypertension or without it. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examination (veloergometry, echo-CG and Doppler echocardiography, selective coronaroangiography and left ventriculography) covered 45 hypertensive men with angina of effort functional class III and 69 normotensive patients. Mean age of the patients was 51.8 +/- 1.2 years, duration of the angina 3 to 10 years. RESULTS: Correlation analysis of the data on hypertensive examinees discovered a direct correlation between proportional overall lesion of the coronary arteries, myocardial mass index and left ventricular (LV) index of systolic sphericity, between the sphericity index and myocardial mass index. An inverse correlation--with LV ejection fraction. CONCLUSION: In anginal patients, coronary circulation is an independent factor influencing LV remodeling. With progression of coronary failure remodeling intensifies. In patients with angina arterial hypertension contributes to the same degree to an increase in the personage of overall affection of the coronary bed, LV systolic sphericity index and index of its myocardial mass, forms an integral, global risk of heart remodelling and, later, heart failure.

[Coronary artery function and myocardial perfusion in patients with ischemic heart disease isolated and in combination with arterial hypertension]. / Sostoianie koronarnykh arterii i perfuzii miokarda u bol'nykh izolirovannoi i sochetannoi s arterial'noi gipertoniei ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa.

AIM: To characterize coronary arteries and myocardial perfusion in isolated ischemic heart disease (IHD) and IHD combined with blood hypertension (BH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 patients with isolated IHD and 25 patients with combined IHD have undergone coronarography, scintigraphy of the myocardium with Tc-99m, echocardiography. RESULTS: In the combined IHD, overall involvement of the heart arteries appeared less than in isolated IHD (33.40 +/- 7.07% versus 41.40 +/- 8.9%). In the combined IHD and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) overall involvement of the heart arteries was less while occurrence of perfusion disorders higher than in the absence of LVH (35.98 +/- 4.73% vs 47.21 +/- 5.91%, and 33.7 vs 25.0%, respectively). Defects in the myocardial perfusion both in right and left coronary artery, isolated and combined IHD were of the same type location. CONCLUSION: Disturbed myocardial perfusion is an essential factor in the onset of coronary insufficiency.

[Lipid peroxidation processes in chronic bronchitis]. / Sostoianie protsessov perekisnogo okisleniia lipidov pri khronicheskom bronkhite.

AIM: Comparison of the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products in condensate of the exhaled air (CEA) and in the biopsy samples from the inflammation focus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extraction spectrophotometry was used to measure LPO products in CEA and biopsies from 30 males aged 30-60 years suffering from chronic bronchitis and 30 healthy controls of the same age. RESULTS: There was activation of local accumulation of isopropanol-soluble LPO products in the bronchopulmonary system accompanied by lowered content of lipoperoxides and high antioxidant activity in CEA. CONCLUSION: Chronic bronchitis is characterized by multidirectional shifts in LPO in the inflammation focus and CEA.