PLASMA MICRORNA-133А LEVEL IN PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION.

The aim of research was to investigate the plasma microRNA (miR-133а) level in patients with essential arterial hypertension (EAH). A total of 45 patients with EAH 2-3 degrees aged 52.14 ± 8.25 years and 21 healthy individuals (control group) with comparable age and sex distributions. The following frequency of risk factors was revealed among the examined patients: overweight (53%), dyslipidaemia (73%), pre-diabetes (13%), asymptomatic hyperuricemia (29%); hypertension-mediated organ damage: increased arterial stiffness (27%), left ventricular hypertrophy (55%), atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid artery (40%), microalbuminuria (15%), moderate stage of chronic kidney disease (22%) and cardiovascular diseases: stable ischemic heart disease (11%) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction of NYHA functional class I (18%). The plasma miR-133a level was determined by polymerase chain reaction using "CFX96 Touch" detection system (BioRad) and "TaqMan microRNA Assay" and "TaqMan® Universal PCR Master Mix" reagents (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA). It has been established that in patients with EAH the plasma level of miR-133a was significantly lower than in practically healthy individuals (0,182 [0,102; 0,301] ), vs (0,382 [0,198; 0,474]), p <0.05). It has also been revealed a significant decrease in the level of miR-133a in the blood plasma in patients with such organs damage as LVH (0,133 [0,099;0,184]) in comparison with patients without LVH (0,238 [0,155; 0,410]), p <0.05) and also significantly lower than in healthy subjects in the control group (0,382 [0,198; 0,474]), p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the plasma levels of miR-133a in the group of patients with EAH, depending on the presence of risk factors, other organ damage and cardiovascular diseases. The findings suggest the significant role of reducing of plasma levels of miR-133a in the pathogenesis of hypertension itself and in pathological remodeling of the heart.

Impaired immune phenotype of circulating endothelial-derived microparticles in patients with metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: Type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a leading contributor to cardiovascular mortality worldwide. This study was conducted to investigate the pattern of circulating EMPs in T2DM patients in comparison with MetS subjects. METHODS: The study retrospectively included 101 patients (54 subjects with T2DM and 47 patients with MetS) and 35 healthy volunteers. All the patients gave written informed consent for participation in the study. Biomarkers were measured at baseline of the study. RESULTS: There is a significant difference between healthy subjects and patients regarding CD31+/annexin V+ EMPs to CD62E+ EMPs ratio, which reflects impaired phenotype of EMPs. Therefore, CD31+/annexin V+ EMPs to CD62E+ EMPs ratio was found to be higher in the T2DM patients compared to MetS patients. Using multivariate linear regression analyses, independent impact of T2DM (r = 0.40, P = 0.003), OPG (r = 0.37, P = 0.001), hs-CRP (r = 0.347, P = 0.001), and adiponectin (r = 0.33, P = 0.001) on increased CD31+/annexin V+ to CD62E+ ratio of EMPs was determined. Using C-statistics, we found that inflammatory biomarkers (hs-C-reactive protein, osteoprotegerin and adiponectin) added to the base model (T2DM) improved the relative IDI by 12.6 % for increased CD31+/annexin V+ EMPs to CD62E+ EMPs ratio. CONCLUSION: We found that patients with T2DM and MetS may be distinguished by predominantly appearing phenotypes of circulating EMPs associated with pro-inflammatory cytokine overproduction. Elevated CD31+/annexin V+ EMPs to CD62E+ EMPs ratio is an indicator of impaired immune phenotype of EMPs, which allows determining the pattern of EMPs in dysmetabolic disorder patients.

[Content of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with chronic ischemic heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction].

PURPOSE: To assess content of various subpopulations of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) with CD45-CD34+, CD14+CD309+ and CD14+CD309+Tie2+ phenotypes in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of ischemic origin with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included into the study 126 patients (54 men) aged 48-62 years with angiographically confirmed ischemic heart disease (IHD) and 25 healthy volunteers. Eighty two (65%) patients had NYHA class I-II CHF. Phenotyping of populations of mononuclear cells was performed by flow cytometry with the use of fluorochrome-labeled monoclonal antibodies. Circulating EPC were determined as CD45-CD34+. For identification of subpopulations of EPC coexpressing CD14 antigen we determined CD309(VEGFR2) and Tie2 antigens. RESULTS: In the group of patients with IHD level of circulating proatherogenic mononuclear cells of CD14+CD309+ and CD14+CD309+Tie2+ phenotype depended more on the presence of CHF and number of risk factors of cardiovascular complications (CVC) but not on severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis. Most important independent predictors of lowering of circulating EPC with CD14+CD309+Tie2+ phenotype were CHF (odds ratio [OR] 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12 to 1.88, p = 0.004), type 2 diabetes (OR 1.21, 95% Cl 1.10 to 1.40; p = 0.008), NT-proBNP > 154 rg/ml (OR 1.13, 95% Cl 1.04 to 1.18, p = 0.003), hyperlipidemia (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.23, p = 0.005), and presence of ± 3 traditional cardiovascular risk factors (OR 1.31, 95% CL 1.12 to 1.49, p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Negative impact of factors of risk of CVC relative to manifestation of ischemic CHF might by mediated by deficit of nonhemopoetic circulating EPC, mobilization of which from peripheral tissues if reduced at early stages of formation of myocardial dysfunction.

Remote helicopter-borne detector for searching of methane leaks.

Measurements of the content of various molecular impurities in the ambient air using helicopter- and aircraft-borne systems represent an extremely urgent challenge. In this respect, of special interest are the devices that that provide leakage monitoring in gas lines in order to prevent emergencies. In the paper results of the tunable diode laser-based instrument development and testing are presented.

UF6 enrichment measurements using TDLS techniques.

The objective of this work was investigation of possibility of tunable diode laser spectroscopy (TDLS) technique application for gaseous uranium hexafluoride (UF6) isotope measurement. Spectra of uranium hexafluoride gas mixture were investigated using two different Fourier Transform Spectrometers Vector 22 and Bruker 66v. Observed spectral features were identified and model spectra of different gas mixture components were developed. Optimal spectral range for measurements was determined near maximum of UF6 combination band nu1+nu3. Laboratory prototype of multi-channel instrument under consideration based on tunable diode lasers was built and algorithms were developed to measure gaseous UF6 isotopic ratios. Diode laser used operated at the wavelengths near lambda=7.68 microm. It was placed in a liquid nitrogen cooled cryostat. Three instrument channels were used for laser frequency calibration and spectra recording. Instrument was tested in measurements of real UF6 gas mixtures. Measurement accuracy was analyzed and error sources were identified. The root-mean-square random error in the 235U isotopic content is characterized by a spread of about 0.27% for quick measurements (at times less than 1 min) and 1% for periods of more than an hour. It was estimated that the measurement accuracy could be improved by at least an order of magnitude by minimizing the error sources.

[About the improvement of communication system and information transmission in medical service control in airborne division].

Frequent changes in tactical, rear and medical situations cause the medical service officials of airborne division (ABD) to obtain and transmit the data characterizing the medical service forces and means for a lot of times. It decreases the effectiveness of the control process. Equipping of ABD medical service staff with programming-and-technical systems (PTS), development of algorithm of official interaction, creation of report forms and selection of materials necessary for PTS database input will contribute to the effectiveness of ABD medical service control.

[Efficacy of various epidural analgesia regimens after lung surgery].

A prospective study included 90 adult patients undergoing thoracic surgery. After placing an epidural catheter at the Th4-Th5 level, all the patients were randomized in 3 groups. Twenty-nine patients received controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with fentanyl, 2 microg/ml, in 0.2% bupivacaine solution (Group 1). In other groups, these analgesics were given either as bolus infections (Group 2; n = 30) or as a continuous epidural infusion of fentanyl, 2 microg/ml, in 0.2% bupivacane solution (Group 3; n = 27). Pain scores and the incidence of adverse effects were assessed within the first 24 hours after surgery. The data were compared using the Student's t-test and x2 test with Bonferroni correction; p < 0.017 was regarded as statistically significant. The VAS scores in coating were significantly lower in Group 1 than in Groups 2 and 3. The need for epidural opioids for adequate analgesia within the first 24 hours after surgery was significantly less in Group 1 than in Groups 2 and 3. There were no excessive sedation episodes in all the groups. In Group 2, the incidence of nausea was 20%. These adverse reactions were not found during PCEA and continuous infusion (p < 0.017). Opioid-induced pruritus was mostly (23%) observed in Group 2. Thoracic PCEA with fentanyl-bupivacaine solution provided adequate postoperative analgesia after thoracotomy and reduced the need for opioids. In addition, PCEA reduced the incidence of adverse reactions of opioids.

Fermi-Pasta-Ulam auto recurrence in the description of the electrical activity of the heart.

The authors proposed and mathematically described model of a new type of the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam recurrence (the FPU auto recurrence) and hypothesized an adequate description of the heart's electrical dynamics within the observed phenomenon. The dynamics of the FPU auto recurrence making appropriate electrical dynamics of the normal functioning of the heart in the form of an electrocardiogram (ECG) was obtained by a computer model study. The model solutions in the form of the FPU auto recurrence - ECG Fourier spectrum were evaluated for resistance to external disturbances in the form of random effects, as well as periodic perturbation at a frequency close to the heart beating rate of about 1Hz. In addition, in order to simulate the dynamics of myocardial infarction model, studied the effect of the surface area of the myocardium on the stability and shape of the auto recurrence - ECG spectrum. It has been found that the intense external disturbing periodic impacts at a frequency of about 1Hz lead to a sharp disturbance spectrum shape FPU auto recurrence - ECG structure. In addition, the decrease in the surface of the myocardium by 50% in the model led to the destruction of structures of the auto recurrence - ECG, which corresponds to the state of atrial myocardium. Research models have revealed a hypothetical basis of coronary heart disease in the form of increasing the energy of high-frequency harmonics spectrum of the auto recurrence by reducing the energy of low-frequency harmonic spectrum of the auto recurrence, which ultimately leads to a sharp decrease in myocardial contractility. In order to test the hypothesis has been studied more than 20,000 ECGs both healthy people and patients with cardiovascular disease. As a result of these studies, it was found that the dynamics of the electrical activity of normal functioning of the heart can be interpreted by the display of the detected by authors the FPU auto recurrence, and coronary heart disease is a violation of the energy ratio between the low and high frequency harmonics of the FPU auto recurrence Fourier spectrum equal to the ECG spectrum. Thus, the hypothesis has been confirmed.

Symptomatic myocardial infarction without chest pain: prevalence and clinical course.

Symptomatic myocardial infarction without chest pain was identified in 26 of 102 patients (25.5%) admitted to the hospital with acute myocardial infarction. As a group, these patients had a significantly lesser prevalence of a history of angina (P less than 0.05) and cigarette smoking (P less than 0.01). Their mean age was 69.1 years compared with 58.7 years for patients with chest pain (P less than 0.001). The group had a significantly greater median delay between the onset of symptoms and (1) arrival at the hospital (P less than 0.05), (2) examination by a physician in the emergency room (P less than 0.05), (3) diagnosis of possible myocardial infarction (P less than 0.001), and (4) transfer from the emergency room to the intensive care unit (P less than 0.001). They had significantly higher admission values for mean heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and white blood cell count and more frequent in-hospital complications of pneumonia (P less than 0.001) and cardiogenic shock (P less than 0.05). Mortality in the group was 50% compared with 18% in the group with chest pain (P less than 0.05). Discriminant function analysis identified an at-risk population with 80% reliability.

Sonographic diagnosis of partial hydatidiform mole.

We undertook a study to determine whether partial hydatidiform mole could be distinguished from other cases of first-trimester missed abortion using ultrasound. Scans from 22 cases of pathologically proved partial hydatidiform mole and 33 cases of first-trimester missed abortion were independently reviewed by three radiologists, each unaware of the final pathologic diagnosis. Using a standard data form, each radiologist recorded the dimensions, shape, and contents of the gestational sac, the sonographic appearance of the decidual reaction/placenta and myometrium, and the presence or absence of adnexal cysts. The following two criteria were found to be significantly associated (P less than .05) with the diagnosis of partial mole: 1) ratio of transverse to anteroposterior dimension of the gestational sac greater than 1.5, and 2) cystic changes, irregularity, or increased echogenicity in the decidual reaction/placenta or myometrium. There was high interobserver correlation for both criteria, as measured by the kappa statistic. In 50% of the cases, either both or neither of these criteria were met. When both criteria were met, the frequency of partial mole was 87%; when neither criterion was met, the frequency of missed abortion was 90%. These results indicate that ultrasound can be of value in predicting a high likelihood of partial mole prior to curettage.

A simple procedure for morphometric analysis of processes and growth cones of neurons in culture using parameters derived from the contour and convex hull of the object.

Morphometric estimation of neuronal processes is currently laborious and time-consuming, since the individual processes (axons and dendrites) have to be traced manually. In order to facilitate the measurement of cellular processes, we have tested a series of parameters derived from the contour and the convex hull of an object and estimated to which extent they reflect process length and number. The parameters included the area, perimeter and form factor of the object and convex hull, their ratios as well as object length, breadth, width, length/width and spreading index. Some new parameters derived from the contour and convex hull of the object, were also computed: process index (the number of areas contained within the convex hull outside the object contour), process domain (the total area contained within the convex hull outside the object contour), their ratio and the square root of the process domain (SR process domain). In total, 18 parameters were estimated. Populations of motoneurons, growth cones of cerebellar granule cells and N2a neuroblastoma cells were utilized due to their diversity in morphological features. The processes of each object were drawn by hand to establish the actual length and number. Total process length per object correlated strongly with object perimeter, process domain and SR process domain. The number of processes per object correlated well with perimeter ratio, process index and form factor, whereas object length, convex hull perimeter and spreading index correlated acceptably with the average process length. Using these parameters for the evaluation of neurite outgrowth in developing of hippocampal neurons in vitro, variables such as object perimeter, process domain and SR process domain were found to be very well suited for estimation of the total length of neurites. We conclude that based on the contour and convex hull of an object it is possible to calculate a series of parameters which may substitute direct measurements of process length.

A simple procedure for quantification of neurite outgrowth based on stereological principles.

The molecular mechanisms controlling formation and remodelling of neuronal extensions are of considerable interest for the understanding of neuronal development and plasticity. Determination of neurite outgrowth in cell culture is a widely used approach to investigate these phenomena. This is generally done by a time consuming tracing of individual neurites and their branches. We have used stereological principles to determine the length of neurites. The total neuritic length per cell was estimated by counting the number of intersections between neurites and test lines of an unbiased counting frame superimposed on images of cell cultures obtained by conventional computer-assisted microscopy. The absolute length, L, of neurites per cell was subsequently estimated from the number of neurite intersections, I, per cell by means of the equation L=(pid/2)I describing the relationship between the number of neurite intersections and the vertical distance, d, between the test lines used. When measuring neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells and primary hippocampal neurons, data obtained by counting neuritic intersections correlated statistically significantly with data obtained using a conventional tracing technique. However, information was acquired more efficiently using the stereological approach. Thus, using the described set-up, the stereological procedure was approximately five times less time consuming than the conventional method based on neurite tracing. The study shows that stereological estimation of neuritic length provides a precise and efficient method for the study of neurite outgrowth in cultures of primary neurons and cell lines.

Isotopic diversity as an unexplored mind-matter dimension.

The existence of several stable isotopes for most chemical elements is a well known and widely used fact of chemistry. Nevertheless, despite all the attention given to the stable and radioactive isotopes of individual elements, there have been very few, if any, attempts to look at isotopicity as a single phenomenon in its own right. Some possible links between isotopicity and various structural and functional levels of organization of the material and informational realm are put forward in this article, which presents isotopicity as an independent and informationally active level of spontaneous pattern formation and self-organization, giving a flexible link between morphogenetic potentialia and the microscopic operational level of physico-chemical processing. A dynamical parallel is drawn between Anderson localization induced by an isotopic disorder and holographic mental processing interpretable as self-focusing of mental patterns and spontaneous creativity.

Isotopical positional correlations as a possible model for Benveniste experiments.

I suggest a hypothetic explanation of recently found 'memory effect' in water (water 'remembers' the presence of some biologically active molecules even when they are diluted to levels less then one molecule per total volume). My explanation is based on isotopic diversity water, namely that some positional correlations of stable isotope (H, D, 16O, 17O and 18O) might work as 'templates' of the originally dissolved molecules. These isotopic correlations are equivalent to the choice of a particular isotopic pattern out of the highly degenerate manyfold of potentially available patterns. This pattern is further reproduced at each next dilution level by some sort of 'locking-in' mechanism. Among possible physical candidates for such locking-in action is the polaronic self-stabilization in non-linear media.

On the possible physical foundations of health related effects of crystals.

I propose a possible physical mechanism to account for widely claimed health related effects of crystals. The hypothesis relates the mechanism of such action to the isotropic diversity of crystals which leads to an enormous information storage capacity of crystal lattices. Sublattices of particular isotopes form an interactive network similar to simulated neural networks based on spin glass models.

[Ankylosis of the stapes by post-inflammatory osteogenesis (or syndrome of Coyle Shea Jr). Report of two cases (author's transl)]. / Ankylose de l'étrier par processus ostéogénique post-inflammatoire (ou syndrome de Coyle Shea Junior). A propos de deux observations.

Ankylosis of the stapes by post-inflammatory osteogenesis (syndrome of Coyle Shea Jr) is a pathologic entity still not well known, often confounded with otosclerosis. If surgical treatment is the same as for otosclerosis (stopedectomy, platinectomy, veinous graft and piston), the prognosis is not the same and a great carefulness is necessary, as well in operatory indications as in operatory procedure itself.

[Rhinoseptoplasty in patients from the Maison de Nanterre. Indications, technics and results]. / Rhinoseptoplastie chez les patients de la Maison de Nanterre. indications, techniques et résultats.

There are many indications of rhinoseptoplasty for patients of ENT department in the hospital of the "Maison de Nanterre". Must frequently we have to manage sequellae of nasal traumatisms (consequences of fights or falls). Aesthetic rhinoplasties are less frequent: nasal deformities from ethnic or familial origin. The operatory technic used is very classic: septoplasty as the first step, then rhinoplasty by extra mucosal way, with paramedial and lateral osteotomies allowing rebuilding of nasal osseous pyramid. Results as well on anatomic and functional point of view as on psychologic consequences are arguments to be interventionist.

[Auricular consequences of lightning (author's transl)]. / Conséquences auriculaires d'un coup de foudre.

Auricular accidents provoqued by lightning and induced by telephone are extremely rare. The authors of this paper relate the case of a young lady suffering from an inflammation of the external auditive canal and of an irritation of the tympanic membrane with an perception's hypacusis of 30 db. A physiological explanation is proposed and two factors come into account:--The acoustic traumatism induced by the thunder;--The burn produced by the electrical current.

[Concentrations of antibiotics (josamycin, trioleandomycin and amoxicillin) in the secretions of the ear, sinus and adenoids]. / Etude des concentrations d'antibiotiques (josamycine, trioléandomycine et amoxicilline) dans les sécrétions d'oreille, de sinus et dans les végétations adénoïdes.

This was a comparative study of antibiotics in the pus of otitis and from the sinuses as well as in the adenoids. Three antibiotics were chosen: Trioleandomycin, Josamycin, Amoxicillin. The study protocol was strict. Results obtained were as follows: high concentrations of macrolids in discharge of otitis and the sinuses as well as in the adenoids. Concentrations were higher than serum concentrations. By contrast, in the case of amoxicillin tissue concentrations were lower than the serum concentration. This leads to the conclusion that there is good penetration of infectious ENT sites by macrolids.

A search for narrow band signals with SERENDIP II: a progress report.

Commensal programs for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), carried out concurrently with conventional radio astronomical observing programs, can be an attractive and cost-effective means of exploring the large multidimensional search space intrinsic to this effort. Our automated commensal system, SERENDIP II, is a high resolution 131,072 channel spectrometer. It searches for 0.49 Hz signals in sequential 64,700 Hz bands of the IF signal from a radio telescope being used for an astronomical observation. Upon detection of a narrow band signal with power above a preset threshold, the frequency, power, time, and telescope direction are recorded for later study. The system has been tested at the Hat Creek Radio Astronomy Observatory 85 ft telescope and the NASA-JPL Deep Space Station (DSS 14) 64 m telescope. It is currently collecting data at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory 300 ft telescope.