The Efficacy of Telemedicine Rehabilitation Programs In Regard Of Risk Factors Control In Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Aftercatheter Ablation.

Aim      To evaluate changes in traditional risk factors (RF) during cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs with remote support in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) after catheter ablation (CA).Material and methods  The lack of control of cardiovascular RFs is a predictor for AF recurrence after CA, development of complications, and decreased life expectancy. Telemedical CR programs may improve the control of RF and enhance the CR efficacy. This randomized controlled clinical study in three parallel groups included 135 patients aged 35 to 79 years. In groups 1 and 2, CR programs with remote support were performed, which included a single personal consulting for the disease, achieving control of all patient's RFs, and remote support during 3 months (group 1, by phone and group 2, by e-mail). Participants of group 3 received standard recommendations. Body weight, blood pressure (BP), blood lipids, smoking status, and physical activity (PA) were determined at baseline and at 12 months after CA with the IPAQ questionnaire.Results In both intervention groups at 12 months, there were positive changes in RF: body weight index decreased by 3.6 % in group 1 (р=0.01) and by 2.3 % in group 2 (р=0.002) vs. 0 in the control group; systolic BP decreased by 7.1 % (p<0.001) and 1.5 % (p=0.003) in groups 1 and 2 (vs. increases by 3.3 % in group 2); total cholesterol decreased by 9.4 % (p<0.001) and by 6.3 % (p=0.003), respectively, (vs. 0 in group 3); values of metabolic equivalents (METs) used for walking increased by 55.0 % (р=0.014), 75.0 % (р=0.001), and 1.4 % in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. No significant intergroup differences in the frequency of AF recurrence, repeated CA, and hospitalizations were found.Conclusion      CR programs with remote support provide improved control of BP, body weight, blood cholesterol, and AF in patients with AF after CA, according to the results of the one-year follow-up.

[Combined treatment of rectal cancer with moderate risk of tumor progression]. / Rezul'taty primeneniya kombinirovannogo metoda lecheniya bol'nykh rakom pryamoi kishki so srednim riskom progressirovaniya opukholevogo protsessa.

OBJECTIVE: To increase the effectiveness of combined treatment in patients with rectal cancer and moderate risk of progression based on the concept of polyradiomodification (PRM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 337 patients with rectal cancer and moderate risk of tumor progression. A short course of radiotherapy (cRT) (5x5 Gy) combined with several radiomodifiers (cRT+PRM) was performed in 147 (43.6%) patients. Other 190 (56.4%) patients underwent cRT. The following radio modifiers were used: three-time application of local microwave hyperthermia (Yacht-3 or Yacht-4 devices), two-time intrarectal delivery of a biopolymer composition with Metronidazole before the 3rd and 5th irradiation sessions and two-week oral administration of Capecitabine (Xeloda) at a daily dose of 2.0 g/m2. Surgery was performed in 4-6 weeks after radiotherapy. RESULTS: CRT+PRM program increased 5-year relapse-free survival up to 81.3% compared to 60.3% after cRT alone (p=0.0003) due to significant reduction of the incidence of cancer recurrence from 8.4% to 0.7% (p=0.0013). More effective local growth control expanded the indications for sphincter-sparing surgery. These procedures were performed in 89.1% and 70.5% of patients, respectively (p=0.00001). In the cRT+PRM group, sphincter-sparing surgery reduced incidence of cancer recurrence from 13.7% to 0.8% (p=0.0110), distant metastases - from 23.9% to 13.7% (p=0.00349). CONCLUSION: Radiomodification in neoadjuvant radiotherapy is justified in patients with moderate risk of tumor progression, improves long-term results and increases the incidence of sphincter-sparing surgery.

Efficacy of secondary prevention and rehabilitation programs with distant support in patients with atrial fibrillation after intervention procedures: impact on psychological status.

Aim      To evaluate the effectivity of secondary prevention/rehabilitation programs with remote support for the psychological condition of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) following interventional procedures (radiofrequency catheter ablation and cryoablation).Material and methods  This prospective, controlled, randomized clinical study was performed in three parallel groups. Each group consisted of 45 patients with AF after interventional procedures. In groups 1 and 2, secondary prevention/rehabilitation programs with remote support were performed, including a single individual in-hospital counseling (on risk factors of AF and their control and on major aspects of the disease, treatment and prevention of complications) and three months of remote support (by phone in group 1 and by e-mail in group 2). Patients of group 3 (control group) received standard recommendations at discharge from the hospital. The psychological status was evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the PHQ-9 questionnaire, the Spielberg-Hanin scale for reactive and personal anxiety, and the visual analogue scale for stress assessment. The follow-up duration was 12 months.Results At the end of the follow-up period, the proportion of patients with anxiety symptoms considerably decreased in both intervention groups (р<0.001 for each group) and was significantly less than in the control group (р<0.001 for both comparisons). Also, in intervention group 1, the proportion of patients with clinically pronounced anxiety symptoms was significantly decreased. For 12 months of follow-up, the severity of depressive symptoms significantly decreased in all three groups. However, in both intervention groups, this decrease was significantly greater than in the control group (р<0.001 for group 1 and р=0.020 for group 2). In both intervention groups at 12 months, the stress level was significantly reduced whereas in the control group, it remained practically unchanged. The greatest (50% on average) decrease in the stress level was observed in intervention group 2.Conclusion      Secondary prevention and rehabilitation programs with remote support during a 12-month follow-up resulted in improvement of the psychological status in patients with AF after interventional procedures.

[New treatments and technologies in cardiac rehabilitation programs]. / Novye podkhody i tekhnologii v programmakh kardioreabilitatsii.

The article presents a review of literature data reflecting the relevance and modern views on the effectiveness and expediency of using various options for rehabilitation programs for cardiovascular diseases. The issues of the history of the development of cardiac rehabilitation both abroad and in Russia are consecrated. The article also presents alternative models for conducting cardiac rehabilitation, in particular, using remote and telemedicine technologies. The widespread use of smartphones and high-speed Internet access contributed to the further introduction and use of telemedicine technologies in cardiac rehabilitation. The article discusses the possibilities of telerehabilitation of cardiological patients and shows its comparable effectiveness with traditional cardiac rehabilitation.

[Surgical treatment of low anterior resection syndrome]. / Khirurgicheskaya reabilitatsii bol'nykh s sindromom nizkoi perednei rezektsii.

OBJECTIVE: To compare functional outcomes of various rectal reconstruction after total mesorectal excision. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective randomized trial included 90 patients with mid-to-low rectal carcinoma who underwent total mesorectal excision. RESULTS: There were 22 patients after J-pouch surgery, 30 patients with side-to-end anastomoses and 38 patients with end-to-end anastomoses. Eight patients (26.6%) required conversion of J-P to E-E (7 patients) and S-E (1) anastomosis for technical reasons. Postoperative morbidity was similar (13.6, 16.7 and 34.2% in J-P, S-E and E-E groups, respectively, p=0.705). Sensory threshold, earliest and constant defecation urge and maximal tolerable volume were higher for J-P surgery within 3-6-12 months after surgery. Stool frequency was significantly lower after J-P surgery compared to S-E and E-E anastomoses within 3-6-12 months. Wexner scores were 3, 5, 6 after 6 months (p<0.05) and 0, 1, 1 after 12 months for J-P, S-E and E-E, respectively (p>0.05). Evacuation dysfunction was observed in 59.1% with J-P, 33.3% with S-E and 21.1% with E-E anastomoses in 6 months after stoma closure. CONCLUSION: J-pouch reconstruction demonstrates higher neorectal volume that ensures reduced stool frequency up to 12 months after stoma closure. However, technical challenges of J-pouch surgery and evacuation dysfunction restrain application of this procedure in clinical practice.