[Patent foramen ovale as the cause of recurrent embolic strokes. Case report].

А clinical case of a young patient with recurrent ischemic strokes is presented. The problems of diagnostic embolic strokes are discussed. We set out the algorithm for identifying patients, in whom patent foramen ovale is the most probable cause of embolic stroke.

Monomeric form of C-reactive protein in the assessment of the residual inflammatory cardiovascular risk in patients with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.

Aim      To study the relationship between monomeric C-reactive protein (mCRP) and the progression of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis in patients with a moderate risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as assessed with the SCORE model.Material and methods  The study included 80 men and women aged 53.1±5.

The monomeric C-reactive protein level is associated with the increase in carotid plaque number in patients with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.

The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) assay measures the level of the pentameric form of CRP in blood. Currently, there are no available assays measuring the level of the monomeric form of CRP (mCRP), produced at sites of local inflammation. We developed an assay measuring the mCRP level in blood plasma with functional beads for flow cytometry.

Endovascular repair of the aorti arch.

Aim: The study was aimed at assessing the in-hospital results of aortic arch endoprosthetic repair using different variants of endovascular supraaortic debranching.

Patients And Methods: The analysis included 27 patients subjected within the framework of aortic arch endoprosthetic repair to various types of supraaortic endobranching, including the technique of parallel prostheses and implantation of fenestrated stent grafts. We analysed the clinical and morphological status of patients prior to operation, peculiarities of the intervention (type of debranching and Ishimaru's classification zones in which the reconstruction was performed) and in-hospital results of treatment.

Factors of Progression and Occurrence of Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Aim      To determine in a prospective study factors of progressive atherosclerotic lesion of blood vessels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Material and methods  This prospective study included 124 patients with RA and suspected ischemic heart disease (IHD) and 30 patients with IHD (comparison group) aged 58 [52; 63] years. On enrollment to the study and at 3 years of follow-up, all patients underwent clinical and instrumental examination according to European and Russian guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of stable IHD (2013), including coronography as indicated.

A Randomized Trial Comparing Short versus Prolonged Hemostasis with Rescue Recanalization by Ipsilateral Ulnar Artery Compression: Impact on Radial Artery Occlusion-The RESCUE-RAO Trial.

Background: Despite the enormous benefits of radial access, this route is associated with a risk of radial artery occlusion (RAO).

Objective: We compared the incidence of RAO in patients undergoing transradial coronary angiography and intervention after short versus prolonged hemostasis protocol. Also we assessed the efficacy of rescue 1-hour ipsilateral ulnar artery compression if RAO was observed after hemostasis.

The severity of internal carotid artery stenosis is associated with the circulating Th17 level.

Aim: Immune and inflammatory reactions contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis. The walls of the different arteries and segments of the arteries have heterogeneous haemodynamic and histological features. We aimed to explore the relationship between the circulating T-cell subsets and the abundance of carotid atherosclerosis in different segments of carotid arteries.

[Not Available].

Purpose: to compare rates of access site complications at early (after 4 hours) and traditional (after 24 hours) removal of a compression bandage after diagnostic transradial (TR) coronary angiography (CA) in patients not receiving anticoagulants.

Materials And Methods: We included into this study 392 patients (mean age 63±8.7 years, 62.

[Dynamics of asymptomatic atherosclerosis of carotid arteries depending on the achieved level of cholesterol in moderate-risk patients].

The study was aimed at assessing the dynamics of asymptomatic atherosclerosis of carotid arteries (CA) depending upon the achieved level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) in patients with moderate total risk by the SCORE scale. We followed up a total of eighty-two 40-to-65-year-old patients with the LDLC level above 2.6 mmol/l, being at moderate total risk by the SCORE scale and having symptom-free atherosclerosis of the extracranial portion of brachiocephalic arteries (up to 50% narrowing of their lumen) as diagnosed by duplex scanning.

[Carotid Plaque Instability in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome as Assessed by Ultrasound Duplex Scanning].

Aim: to study carotid plaques structure in patients with acute coronary syndrome by ultrasound duplex scanning.

Materials And Methods: We included in this study143 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) aged 32-83 years and 28 patients with documented coronary heart disease (CHD) aged 46-83 years. Duplex scanning of carotid arteries was carried out with Philips iU22 ultrasound system and L9-3 linear array transducer.

[Subpopulation Composition of CD4+ T-lymphocytes as Factor Contributing to the Progression of Atherosclerosis of Carotid Arteries].

Aim: to assess prognostic significance of blood content of regulatory and effector T-lymphocytes for progression of atherosclerosis (AS) of carotid arteries.

Material And Methods: We enrolled in this study 33 men with various severity of carotid AS. Carotid artery duplex scan was done at admission and in 1 year after enrollment.

Specific Lipoprotein(a) apheresis attenuates progression of carotid intima-media thickness in coronary heart disease patients with high lipoprotein(a) levels.

Background: To date, there have been no studies evaluating the effect of isolated lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) lowering therapy on carotid atherosclerosis progression.

Methods: We enrolled 30 patients who had coronary heart disease (CHD) verified by angiography, Lp(a) level ≥50 mg/dL, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level ≤2.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) on chronic statin therapy.

[Structural and functional status of arteries in young and middle-aged men with ischemic heart disease].

Aim of the study was to determine whether structural and functional status of arteries differ between young and middle-aged men with ischemic heart disease (IHD). A total of 78 men aged 28 to 50 years were recruited in this study: 49 with angiographically proven obstructive atherosclerosis of coronary arteries, 29 without clinical manifestations of IHD (control group). Those with arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus or marked hypercholesterolemia (LDL cholesterol more or equal 4.

[Comparative characteristics of the possibilities of imaging techniques (magnetic resonance imaging and 3D ultrasound study) in the qualitative estimation of atherosclerotic plaque volume].

Objective: To estimate the possibilities of using three-dimensional ultrasound study (3D USS) in the diagnosis of the sizes and structure of an atherosclerotic plaque (ASP).

Material And Methods: The data obtained by examination of 20 heterogeneous ASPs in the carotid artery wall, by applying 3D USS and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were compared. Intra- and interoperator reproducibilities were assessed by the Bland-Altman method; the volume of each plague was measured by two (contour and ellipse) methods.

[The biological reaction of inflammation, methylglyoxal of blood plasma, functional and structural alterations in elastic type arteries at the early stage of hypertension disease].

The article deals with studying of the relationship between biologic reaction of inflammation with glycosylation reaction and content of methylglyoxal in blood serum. The positive correlation between pulse wave velocity and content of methylglyoxal, C-reactive protein in intercellular medium and malleolar brachial index value was established. This data matches the experimental results concerning involvement of biological reaction of inflammation into structural changes of elastic type arteries under hypertension disease, formation of arteries' rigidity and increase of pulse wave velocity.

[Nonspecific inflammation and structural changes in the arteries of hypertensive males at high and moderate risk for cardiovascular events].

Aim: To study relationships between nonspecific inflammation (NI) of the arterial wall and its structural changes in Stages I-II hypertensive disease (HD) males at moderate and high risks of cardiovascular events (CVE).

Subjects And Methods: Sixty hypertensive males aged 30 to 65 years (mean age 44 +/- 2 years), including 35 patients with grade 1 arterial hypertension (AH) and 25 with grade 2 AH at moderate and high risks of CVE, were examined. The concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and methylglyoxal (MG) were measured.

Carotid atherosclerosis, endothelial disfunction, and arterial stiffness in young and middle-aged men with coronary artery disease.

Background. To assess structural and functional status of the arteries in young and middle-aged men with recently developed CAD. Methods and Results.

[Pleiotropic effects of nicotinic acid therapy in men with coronary heart disease and elevated lipoprotein(a) levels].

Purpose: To assess effects of niacin on risk factors of atherosclerosis in men with coronary heart disease (CHD) and high lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels.

Material And Methods: Sixty men (mean age 54+/-6 years) with angiographic evidence of CHD were randomized into two groups. Active group (n=30) received extended release nicotinic acid 1500 mg, control group consisted of remaining 30 patients.

[Circulating endothelial progenitor cells and vascular endothelial dysfunction].

Endothelial progenitor cells (EOCs) play a key role in reendothelization of injured blood vessels and in endogenous neovascularization of ischemic tissues. In the presented article, the mechanisms of endothelial function impairment and the role of EPCs in their correction are discussed. The objective of our study was to investigate the number of CD34+ cells in patients with different forms of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and association of this parameter with endothelial dysfunction.

[The study of peculiarities of immunotropic action of statins in chronic heart failure of various etiology].

Aim: To study features of statin therapy in patients with heart failure (HF) of different etiology on immune system.

Material And Methods: The basic markers of immune activation in 43 patients with chronic heart disease (CHD) and HF in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I to IV were studied. Mine age was 48 +/- 8 years (from 33 to 64 years).

[Randomized FARVATER study. Part 2. Effect of atorvastatin on endothelial function, distensibility and stiffness of vascular wall].

Aim: To elucidate effect of two doses of atorvastatin (10 and 20 mg/day) on endothelial function, distensibility and stiffness of vascular wall.

Material And Methods: Patients (n=50) with documented ischemic heart disease and hyperlipidemia were randomized to 10 or 20 mg/day of atorvastatin (Atoris, KRKA). Endothelial function and common carotid artery wall distensibility and stiffness were assessed at baseline and after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment.

[Randomized FARVATER Study. Part 1. Effect of 10 and 20 mg/day atorvastatin on levels of lipids, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen in patients with ischemic heart disease and hyperlipidemia].

Main aim of the clinical study FARVATER was comparison of effects of 10 and 20 mg/day of atorvastatin on levels of lipids, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (F), and structural-functional state of vascular wall in patients with documented and primary hyperlipidemia (HLP). Fifty patients (mean age 60.8 years) with documented ischemic heart disease and HLP were randomized to continuous administration of 10 and 20 mg/day atorvastatin for 24 weeks.

[Long-term orthostatic and bicycle ergometry exercise tests in differential diagnosis of syncopal conditions of unclear origin].

Aim: To study efficiency of bicycle exercise test and long-term orthostatic test in differential diagnosis of syncopes.

Material And Methods: The study included 113 patients suffering from recurrent syncopes of unclear origin. Twelve healthy volunteers were selected for assessment of the tests specificity.

[Successful midodrin treatment for vasovagal syncopes accompanied by asystole].

Vasovagal syncopes (WS) are fainting fits whose manifestations are systemic vasodilation and bradycardia. The development of WS is frequently accompanied by short-term cardiac arrest. Recent data show that implantation of a cardiac pacemaker fails to prevent the development of fainting fits in these patients.