Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mechanical Reperfusion for Patients With STEMI.

Background: The fear of contagion during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have potentially refrained patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) from accessing the emergency system, with subsequent impact on mortality.

Objectives: The ISACS-STEMI COVID-19 registry aims to estimate the true impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment and outcome of patients with STEMI treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), with identification of "at-risk" patient cohorts for failure to present or delays to treatment.

Methods: This retrospective registry was performed in European high-volume PPCI centers and assessed patients with STEMI treated with PPPCI in March/April 2019 and 2020.

Influence of Internal Thoracic Artery Harvesting on Sternal Osteoblastic Activity and Perfusion.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to assess the sternal osteoblastic activity and perfusion in the early period after a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and three-phasic dynamic scintigraphy (3PDS) with 99mTc methylene diphosphonate (MDP).

Methods: The study group consisted of 57 male patients that were 57.3 ± 6.

Genetic predisposition to the development of congenital heart diseases: Role of xenobiotic biotransformation genes.

Congenital heart diseases are one of the most common multi-factorial fetal abnormalities caused by a complex of endo- and exogenous factors. It is known that mutations in xenobiotic biotransformation genes can be associated with the pathogenesis of congenital heart diseases. In the presented research, 131 children with congenital heart diseases and 101 women having children with this pathology were included in the study group.

[The expression level of cytokine genes in the cases of native heart valves in infectious endocarditis].

The expression level of IL1B, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL12A, IL12B, IL18, IL23, IL33, CCL2, and IL1RL1 has been investigated using biopsies of native mitral, aortic, and tricuspid valves obtained during surgical correction of acquired defect from 25 patients with infectious endocarditis. Biopsies of native mitral and aortic valve cusps from 12 patients who underwent surgical correction of acquired heart disease of non-infectious etiology were used as control. We used quantitative PCR with fluorescent dye SYBR Green for determination of the cytokine gene expression level.

[Comorbidity and Gender of Patients at Risk of Hospital Mortality After Emergency Percutaneous Coronary Intervention].

Aim        To study gender aspects of comorbidity in evaluating the risk of in-hospital death for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Material and methods        The presented results are based on data of two ACS registries, the city of Sochi and RECORD-3. 986 patients were included into this analysis by two additional criteria, age <70 years and PCI.

Co-Culture of Primary Human Coronary Artery and Internal Thoracic Artery Endothelial Cells Results in Mutually Beneficial Paracrine Interactions.

Although saphenous veins (SVs) are commonly used as conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts have significantly higher long-term patency. As SVs and ITA endothelial cells (ECs) have a considerable level of heterogeneity, we suggested that synergistic paracrine interactions between CA and ITA ECs (HCAECs and HITAECs, respectively) may explain the increased resistance of ITA grafts and adjacent CAs to atherosclerosis and restenosis. In this study, we measured the gene and protein expression of the molecules responsible for endothelial homeostasis, pro-inflammatory response, and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in HCAECs co-cultured with either HITAECs or SV ECs (HSaVECs) for an ascending duration.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation in early rehabilitation of patients with postoperative complications after cardiovascular surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in early rehabilitation of patients with postoperative complications after cardiovascular surgery.

Methods: 37 patients (25 men and 12 women) aged 45 to 70 years with postoperative complications after cardiovascular surgery were included in the study. Eighteen patients underwent NMES daily since postoperative day 3 until discharge in addition to standard rehabilitation program (NMES group), and 19 patients underwent standard rehabilitation program only (non-NMES group).

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Fluorescently Labeled Borocaptate-Containing Liposomes.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), a binary cancer therapeutic modality, has moved to a new phase since development of accelerator-based neutron sources and establishment of BNCT centers in Finland and Japan. That stimulated efforts for better boron delivery agent development. As liposomes have shown effective boron delivery properties and sufficient tumor retention, fluorescent liposome labelling may serve as a rapid method to study initial ability of newly synthesized liposomes to be captured by tumor cells prior to experiments on boron accumulation and neutron irradiation.

Ultrastructural Pathology of Atherosclerosis, Calcific Aortic Valve Disease, and Bioprosthetic Heart Valve Degeneration: Commonalities and Differences.

Atherosclerosis, calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), and bioprosthetic heart valve degeneration (alternatively termed structural valve deterioration, SVD) represent three diseases affecting distinct components of the circulatory system and their substitutes, yet sharing multiple risk factors and commonly leading to the extraskeletal calcification. Whereas the histopathology of the mentioned disorders is well-described, their ultrastructural pathology is largely obscure due to the lack of appropriate investigation techniques. Employing an original method for sample preparation and the electron microscopy visualisation of calcified cardiovascular tissues, here we revisited the ultrastructural features of lipid retention, macrophage infiltration, intraplaque/intraleaflet haemorrhage, and calcification which are common or unique for the indicated types of cardiovascular disease.

Association of type D personality and level of coronary artery calcification.

Objective: To evaluate the association of the type D personality and the level of coronary arteries calcification in population-based sample.

Methods: 1595 residents aged 25 to 64 years were recruited in a observational cross-sectional study in the period from 2012 to 2013. In addition to the ESSE-RF study protocol, we assessed the presence of a Type D personality and quantified coronary artery calcium (CAC) using multispiral computed tomography.

[Possibilities of application of cardio-ankle vascular index in patients with cerebrovascular diseases].

This publication focuses on the feasibility of using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in patients with cerebrovascular diseases. The authors consider the pathological conditions and risk factors of stroke associated with increased arterial stiffness, methods for its assessment, the advantages of using CAVI, the experience of using CAVI in patients with cardiovascular diseases, in particular, in neurological patients. The complexity of the application of CAVI in the Russian population, promising directions for determining the index in neurology as well as the importance of CAVI borderline indicators are shown.

Biocompatible Nanocomposites Based on Poly(styrene--isobutylene--styrene) and Carbon Nanotubes for Biomedical Application.

In this study, we incorporated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into poly(styrene--isobutylene--styrene) (SIBS) to investigate the physical characteristics of the resulting nanocomposite and its cytotoxicity to endothelial cells. CNTs were dispersed in chloroform using sonication following the addition of a SIBS solution at different ratios. The resultant nanocomposite films were analyzed by X-ray microtomography, optical and scanning electron microscopy; tensile strength was examined by uniaxial tension testing; hydrophobicity was evaluated using a sessile drop technique; for cytotoxicity analysis, human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured on SIBS-CNTs for 3 days.

Degeneration of Bioprosthetic Heart Valves: Update 2020.

The implantation of bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) is increasingly becoming the treatment of choice in patients requiring heart valve replacement surgery. Unlike mechanical heart valves, BHVs are less thrombogenic and exhibit superior hemodynamic properties. However, BHVs are prone to structural valve degeneration (SVD), an unavoidable condition limiting graft durability.

Backscattered Scanning Electron Microscopy Approach for Assessment of Microvessels under Conditions of Normal Microanatomy and Pathological Neovascularization.

We evaluated the efficiency of an original method for studying of the microvascular bed under conditions of normal microanatomy and pathological neovascularization. The blood vessels, tissues surrounding the stent in the pulmonary artery and subcutaneously implanted titanium nickelide plate, atherosclerotic plaque, and vascular stent with restenosis were examined. The specimens were fixed in formalin and stained in OsO, embedded into fresh epoxy resin, grinded, polished, and counterstained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate.

Biodegradable Patches for Arterial Reconstruction Modified with RGD Peptides: Results of an Experimental Study.

Modification by Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptides is a promising approach to improve the biocompatibility of biodegradable vascular patches for arteriotomy. In this study, we evaluated the performance of vascular patches electrospun using a blend of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyhydroxybutyrate/valerate (PHBV) and additionally modified with RGDK, AhRGD, and c[RGDFK] peptides using 1,6-hexamethylenediamine or 4,7,10-trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine (TTDDA) linkers. We examined mechanical properties and hemocompatibility of resulting patches before implanting them in rat abdominal aortas to assess their performance in vivo.

[MicroRNA and obesity. A modern view of the problem (review of literature).].

The incidence of obesity is steadily increasing worldwide, reaching the epidemic. Obesity is associated with cardiometabolic diseases through the complex interactions between genetics and epigenetics predisposition, the environment, diet, and lifestyle. However, the molecular mechanisms and factors influencing these processes are not fully known.

Native Bovine Hydroxyapatite Powder, Demineralised Bone Matrix Powder, and Purified Bone Collagen Membranes Are Efficient in Repair of Critical-Sized Rat Calvarial Defects.

Here we evaluated the efficacy of bone repair using various native bovine biomaterials (refined hydroxyapatite (HA), demineralised bone matrix (DBM), and purified bone collagen (COLL)) as compared with commercially available bone mineral and bone autografts. We employed a conventional critical-sized (8 mm diameter) rat calvarial defect model (6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, = 72 in total). The artificial defect was repaired using HA, DBM, COLL, commercially available bone mineral powder, bone calvarial autograft, or remained unfilled ( = 12 animals per group).

[Progression of precerebral atherosclerosis and predictors of ischemic complications in cardiac patients].

Objective: To identify predictors of progression of precerebral atherosclerosis in long-term period after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Material And Methods: There were 97 procedures of carotid endarterectomy in patients after previous coronary artery bypass grafting for the period from 2006 to 2017. Inclusion criteria were previous CABG, no significant (over 60%) stenosis of internal carotid arteries at discharge after CABG.

[Dynamics of Parameters of Transmitral Blood Flow and Markers of Myocardial Fibrosis in Patients with Myocardial Infarction].

Aim      To study possible correlations between echocardiography (EchoCG) indexes and markers of myocardial fibrosis, procollagen I C-terminal propeptide (PICP) and procollagen III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) during one year following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Material and methods  120 patients with STEMI were evaluated. EchoCG was used to assess dimensions and volumes of heart chambers, left ventricular (LV) systolic function, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), and indexes of LV diastolic function (Em, early diastolic lateral mitral annular velocity; e', peak early diastolic septal mitral annular velocity; E / e', ratio of peak early diastolic transmitral inflow velocity and mitral annular velocity  -, Е / А, ratio of peak early and late transmitral inflow velocities; DT, deceleration time of LV early diastolic filling).

[Effect of empagliflosin on renal filtration in patients with coronary heart disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention].

Aim To evaluate the effect of empagliflozin on glycemia and renal filtration function in patients with stable ischemic heart disease (IHD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Materials and methods This study included 40 patients with stable IHD and DM2 (age, 63 (58; 65) years; DM2 duration, 7 (4; 15) years) who had indications for an elective PCI. At baseline in the total sample, the level of glycated hemoglobin was 7.

[Features of clinical, functional and hemodynamics profile, medical treatment and prognosis evaluation in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension according to the Russian registry].

Aim: to perform the complex analysis of clinical, functional, hemodynamics profile in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) compared to the idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) group at the time of diagnosis verification according to the Russian registry, and to evaluate the features of medical therapy and it's influence on prognosis in these patients.

Materials And Methods: In the retrospective study 193 patients with IPAH and 130 patients with inoperable CTEPH older than 18 years were included. All included patients were the participants of Russian registry (www.

[Exercise training and erectile dysfunction in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting].

Aim: to estimate the effects of exercise training on erectile function after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Materials And Methods: 114 men with stable coronary artery disease undergoing on - pump coronary artery bypass grafting were examined. Patients with ED were randomized into two groups comparable in the main demographic, clinical and baseline parameters: a group of patients undergoing supervised exercise trainings at the outpatient rehabilitation center (n=53) and a group of patients without any exercise trainings at the outpatient hospital (n=61).