[Comparative efficacy of a combination of undenatured type II collagen, Boswellic acids, methylsulfonylmethane, vitamins C and D3 and a combination of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride in the treatment of primary osteoarthritis of the knee joint].

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of Artneo (AN) in comparison with a combination of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate (GC) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint (KJ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 70 patients with stages I-III of primary knee OA were randomized into 2 groups. Participants in the 1st (n=35) took AN 1 caps/day, in the 2nd (n=35) GC according to the standard regimen. After 7, 30, 90, 180 days, the Lequesne index (severity of OA), pain when moving according to VAS, WOMAC score were assessed, after 1, 3, 6 months - quality of life SF-36 and morning stiffness, after 6 months - MRI with T2 mapping, laboratory safety indicators. RESULTS: Over the course of 6 months of use, an improvement in the WOMAC index and a decrease in pain were observed without intergroup differences, and a greater decrease in stiffness in the AN group. After 3 months, the severity of OA decreased from moderate to mild in the AN group and was significantly lower compared to the GC group; quality of life (physical component of SF-36) was higher in the AN group. After 6 months, there was an improvement in cartilage ultrastructure (T2 relaxation time) in both groups and a more pronounced reduction of the synovitis area (MRI) in the AN group (2.95 and 1.37 times in the AN and GC group, respectively). There were no clinically significant adverse reactions observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: The use of AN in patients with stage I-III primary knee OA was not inferior in efficacy to the combination of GC. Further studies with greater statistical power (sample size) and follow-up period are warranted including in real clinical practice.

[Evaluation of coronary bed function by positron emission tomography using 13N-ammonium during cold stimulation].

The purpose of the present investigation was to study the time course of changes in myocardial blood flow (MBF) in response to cold stimulation. Thirty-eight patients having risk factors of cardiovascular complications were examined. The time course of MBF changes was estimated by positron emission tomography (PET) using 13N-ammonium at rest and during a cold test (CT). Endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery was determined from the results of a reactive hyperemia test, by applying ultrasound duplex scanning. No significant MBF increase in response to the cold test was an indicator of coronary arterial endothelial dysfunction at cardiac 13N-ammonium PET. Agreement of the results of brachial arterial ultrasonography during reactive hyperemia and cardiac 13N-ammonium PET in the presence of the cold test suggests that endothelial dysfunction is generalized. Cardiovascular risk factors, such as left ventricular hypertrophy, smoking, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, substantially affect coronary arterial function. Left ventricular hypertrophy is an independent factor that influences the amount of the coronary reserve and, in combination with endothelial dysfunction, worsens coronary microcirculation.

[Evaluation of coronary bed function by positron emission tomography using 13N-ammonium during cold stimulation].

The present investigation was to study the time course of changes in myocardial blood flow (MBF) in response to cold stimulation. Thirty-eight patients having risk factors of cardiovascular complications were examined. The time course of MBF changes was estimated by positron emission tomography (PET) using 13N-ammonium at rest and during a cold test (CT). Endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery was determined from the results of a reactive hyperemia test, by applying ultrasonic duplex scanning. No significant MBF increase in response to the cold test was an indicator of coronary arterial endothelial dysfunction at cardiac 13N-ammonium PET. Agreement of the results of brachial arterial ultrasonography during reactive hyperemia and cardiac 13N-ammonium PET in the presence of the cold test suggests that endothelial dysfunction is generalized. Cardiovascular risk factors, such as left ventricular hypertrophy, smoking, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, substantially affect coronary arterial function. Left ventricular hypertrophy is an independent factor that influences the size of the coronary reserve and, in combination with endothelial dysfunction, worsens coronary microcirculation.

[Current methods of noninvasive imaging of coronary arteries in the diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis].

The lecture contains: presentation of possibilities of ultrasound and tomographic methods of investigation in visualization of major coronary arteries; consideration in a comparative aspect of main advantages, disadvantages and limitations of these methods in diagnostics of coronary atherosclerosis; analysis of indications for application and perspectives of their use in everyday clinical practice in patients with a diagnosis of possible or verified ischemic heart disease.

[Computed tomography in the diagnosis of postoperative changes of paranasal sinuses]. / Kompíuternaia tomografiia v diagnostike posleoperatsionnykh izmenenii v okolonosovykh pazukhakh.

Basing on the evidence obtained at examinations of 37 patients within 15-year follow-up after surgery on the maxillary and ethmoidal sinuses, the authors analyse potentialities and techniques of computed tomography in diagnosis of the developments in operated on paranasal sinuses. CT demonstrated advantages in examination of paranasal sinus walls and soft tissue alterations in them.

[Roentgenological diagnosis of acute lesions of the lungs with disorders of blood circulation and vascular permeability]. / Rentgenodiagnostika ostrykh porazhenii legkikh s narusheniem krovoobrashcheniia i sosudistoi pronitsaemosti.

To specify differential and diagnostic criteria of hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic pulmonary edema, canine experimental simulation (15 trials) of different types of abnormal hemodynamic and lung capillary permeability parameters was carried out. The X-ray pictures of 71 patients with and acute diffuse lesion of the pulmonary vascular channel (including 51 with adult respiratory distress and 20 with hemodynamic pulmonary edema) was analysed. The findings substantiated the possibility of making a differential diagnosis of pulmonary edema of various genesis. Symptom complexes, typical of predominantly higher permeability of the lung capillaries and hemodynamic disturbance, were formulated.