Effects of the lercanidipine-enalapril combination vs. the corresponding monotherapies on home blood pressure in hypertension: evidence from a large database.

Objective: To compare a combination of a dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor vs. monotherapy with one or the other drug and placebo for their effects on home blood pressure (HBP).

Methods: After a 2-week placebo wash-out, patients with an elevated office blood pressure (BP) (diastolic 100-109 and systolic <180 mmHg) and HBP (diastolic ≥85 mmHg) were randomized double-blind to a 10-week treatment with placebo, lercanidipine, 10 or 20 mg daily, enalapril, 10 or 20 mg daily, or the four possible combinations.

[Heat and cardiovascular diseases: A review of epidemiological surveys].

The review summarizes epidemiologic data on the effects of heat on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Patients with heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias are most susceptible to negative heat exposure. At the same time, measures aimed at preserving the health of the population lead to a considerable reduction in losses associated with an abnormal rise in air temperature.

[Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in the treatment of patients with chronic heart failure. Positions in 2015].

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MCRA) are part of standard medical therapy for heart failure (HF). The clinical efficacy of MCRA in patients with systolic HF has been proven by randomized clinical trials. The efficacy of this drug group in patients with chronic HF with preserved left ventricular systolic function and the advent and practical introductions of safer new-generation MCRA remain to be answered.

[Impact of a cold wave on disease course, hemodynamics, carbohydrate metabolism, and blood rheological properties in cardiac patents].

Aim: To study the impact of cold waves on disease course, hemodynamics, lipid and carbohydrate metabolisms, oxidative stress, and blood rheological properties in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Subjects And Methods: 24 men and 36 women (their mean age was 62.9±9.

[Meta-analysis of clinical trials of cardiovascular effects of magnesium orotate].

Aim: To make a meta-analysis of clinical trials of magnerot (magnesium orotate) used in cardiac patients.

Subjects And Methods: The meta-analysis covered the data of 19 randomized trials including a total of 603 patients treated with magnerot (a case group) and 587 receiving placebo (a control group). The patients' mean age was 36 ± 19 years.

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.

Lowering of lipoprotein(a) level under niacin treatment is dependent on apolipoprotein(a) phenotype.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a cardiovascular risk factor; in addition to being a low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-like particle, it contains highly heterogeneous apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)]. No prior studies have evaluated extended-release (ER) niacin effect on Lp(a) level depending on apo(a) phenotype.

Methods: For this 24-week, prospective, open-label clinical trial we recruited 30 men (mean age 46.

[Experience with implantation of a fenestrated endoprosthesis to a patient with a juxtarenal aortic aneurysm].

In patients with a juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm the unaltered segment is frequently insufficient to secure adequate proximal fixation of the stent graft or is entirely absent, thus making it problematic to exclude the aneurysm from the blood flow by means of classic endoprosthetic repair. For this reason, in order to preserve the blood flow through visceral and renal arteries fenestrated endoprostheses are used as alternative minimally invasive treatment policy. Described herein is the first in the Russian Federation clinical case of using a fenestrated endovascular graft for treatment of a juxtarenal aortic aneurysm.

Mitochondrial Aging: Focus on Mitochondrial DNA Damage in Atherosclerosis - A Mini-Review.

Atherosclerosis is a complex disease which can be described as an excessive fibrofatty, proliferative, inflammatory response to damage to the artery wall involving several cell types such as smooth muscle cells, monocyte-derived macrophages, lymphocytes, dendritic cells and platelets. On the other hand, atherosclerosis is a typical age-related degenerative pathology, which is characterized by signs of cell senescence in the arterial wall including reduced cell proliferation, irreversible growth arrest and apoptosis, increased DNA damage, the presence of epigenetic modifications, shortening of telomere length and mitochondrial dysfunction. The most prominent characteristics of mitochondrial aging are their structural alterations and mitochondrial DNA damage.

Lipoprotein(a) level and apolipoprotein(a) phenotype as predictors of long-term cardiovascular outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: To evaluate the relationships of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) concentration and apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) phenotype to major adverse cardiovascular events after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in long-term follow-up.

Methods: This single-center study included 356 patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) who underwent successful CABG. At baseline, we assessed the patient's risk factor profile for atherosclerosis, Lp(a) concentration and apo(a) phenotype.

Efficacy of a new class III drug niferidil in cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation and flutter.

Aims: To study the efficacy and safety of the new class III antiarrhythmic agent niferidil for pharmacological cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFl).

Methods And Results: One hundred thirty-four adults (aged 57.8 ± 11 years, 90 males) were included with median AF duration of 3 (1.

Role of cytochrome b5 and α-tocopherol to microsomal and mitochondrial oxidation.

The existence of lipid-radical cycles in membranes as an LPO alternative has been proven. Cytochrome b5 seems to play the key role in the formation of these cycles. The functional role of lipid-radical cycles in cell metabolism, including the positive effect on microsomal and mitochondrial oxidation, is discussed.

[Histological and ultrastructural characteristics of myocardium in heart failure].

Endomyocardial biopsies performed in patients with various forms of cardiomyopathies (CMP) and chronic myocarditis in the presence of heart failure identified changes indicative of reduction of functioning cardiomyocytes (CMC) at the account of their destruction, dedifferentiation and inefficient hypertrophy". Energy apparatus of CMC was represented by large masses of destructed small mitochondria. Myofibrils were driven to periphery of CMC and appeared atrophic.

[Influence of intensive hypolipidemic therapy on blood concentration of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 in patients with ischemic heart disease].

Aim: To assess the impact of combined treatment with simvastatin and ezetimibe or treatment with simvastatin only on lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Methods: One hundred patients with angiographically documented coronary atherosclerosis took part in the investigation. Lp-PLA2 mass and cholesterol fractions were determined at baseline and after 6 months of treatment.

Myosin-activating protein kinases are possible regulators of nonmuscle myosin in developing human heart.

We studied the localization of myosin-activating protein kinases in cardiomyocytes obtained from fetal human heart at 8-9 weeks gestation. It was found that at this developmental stage, smooth muscle/nonmuscle myosin light chain kinase (MLCK, 108 kDa) and its high-molecular weight isoform (MLCK, 210 kDa), skeletal MLCK and death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) are co-localized with nonmuscle myosin IIB in the premyofibrils. The data obtained suggest that cardiac nonmuscle myosin at 8-9 weeks gestation may serve as the substrate of the studied myosin-activating protein kinases that are likely to cooperatively regulate the formation of myofibrils.

Experience in early rehabilitation of patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Unlabelled: A strategy of rapid in-hospital postoperative rehabilitation is currently a priority trend in managing the patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Objective: To investigate the baseline characteristics and peculiarities of perioperative treatment of patients with a short period ofin-hospital rehabilitation.

Materials And Methods: We studied a total of 690 patients who had endured CABG operations according to the conventional technique performed over the period from January 2007 to August 2008.

Aneurysm of aortocoronary bypass graft: two clinical case reports.

The article deals with the description of two clinical case reports of a rare complication following operations of aortocoronary bypass grafting, i. e., aneurysms of aortocoronary bypass grafts.

Oxidative stress in patients with chronic heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Parameters of oxidative stress were studied in patients with chronic heart failure and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Chronic heart failure was accompanied by severe oxidative stress, while in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus the signs of oxidative stress were less pronounced. The intensity of free radical oxidation in patients with chronic heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus was not higher compared to patients with chronic heart failure.

Atrial appendage transcriptional profile in patients with atrial fibrillation with structural heart diseases.

During the last few years DNA microarray studies of gene expression changes in human atrial tissues from patients with and without atrial fibrillation (AF) have been performed. For this purpose, tissue samples are usually collected from AF patients undergoing open heart surgery. These investigations have limitations associated with the unavoidable heterogeneity of compared groups which is due to the presence of various structural changes accompanying different sets of underlying heart diseases in both groups.

[Dynamics of Fatty Acid binding protein and pro-brain natriuretic Peptide levels in patients with ischemic heart disease at the background of stress test and balloon coronary angioplasty.].

Dynamics of fatty acid binding protein (FABP) and pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) levels was studied in patients with ischemic heart disease at rest, during transitory myocardial ischemia, and before and after balloon angioplasty. Forty patients were included: 25 patients with stable angina comprised the study group and 15 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) comprised control group. No significant elevation of FABP was revealed after myocardial revascularization, a tendency was noted to elevation of FABP after transitory ischemia.

[Effect of Type 2 Diabetes on Results of Endovascular Treatment of Ischemic Heart Disease With Drug Covered Stents (Results of 1 Year Follow-up).].

Aim of the study was to determine the impact of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) on clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) undergoing coronary revascularisation. The study enrolled 99 diabetic patients with de novo lesions in native coronary arteries. Medically treated DM was present in 61 patients (62%), 7 (7%) of whom required insulin.

Kinetics of fatty acid oxidation in low density lipoproteins evaluated by registration of the oxidizer consumption and reaction product yield.

Oxidation of arachidonic acid by ROS in vitro can be evaluated by the formation of reaction products (conjugated dienes); this is preceded by a lag period caused by the action of antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and ascorbic acid). In case of ozone titration the oxidizer is consumed even during the lag period, when conjugated dienes are not yet forming. Comparison of the oxidation rate constants for antioxidants, arachidonic and oleic monoenic fatty acids suggests that during the lag period Cu(2+)-initiated forms of O(2) oxidize primarily oleic acid, whose reaction rate constant is much higher than those of antioxidants.

Erythrocyte membrane fluidity and haemoglobin haemoporphyrin conformation: features revealed in patients with heart failure.

This study examined the possible involvement of abnormal erythrocyte oxygen (O(2)) transport in the pathogenesis of heart failure. Haemoglobin (Hb) haemoporphyrin conformation was assessed by Raman spectroscopy (RS) of blood samples, whereas membrane fluidity was estimated at depths of 0.6-0.

Kinetic parameters of oxidation of individual fatty acids with ozone.

Using an original automated analyzer of double bonds we determined the rate constants for oxidation of saturated and unsaturated mono- and dienoic fatty acids (in vivo substrates for beta-oxidation in the mitochondria) by the ozone titration method. The rate constant for O(3) oxidation is maximum for oleic monoenoic acid, lower for dienoic linoleic, and very low for saturated palmitic acid. The rate constant for oxidation of oleic fatty acid, which by one order of magnitude surpasses that for oxidation of essential arachidonic acid, indicates that oleic acid is a leading in vivo acceptor of active O(2) species.