[ADP-Induced Recalcified Blood Clotting Time as a Marker of Rethrombosis Risk and Effectiveness of Antiplatelet Therapy in Acute Coronary Syndrome].

PURPOSE: to assess the possibility of the use of ADP induced blood-clotting time measurement in clinical practice prognostication of the course of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and assessment of effectiveness of antiplatelet therapy (APT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled in the study 163 male patients admitted to the coronary unit for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 38 male practically healthy volunteers (PHV). ADP induced blood-clotting time (ADP BCT) was measured as time (sec) between addition of ADP (10 µcmol) to recalcificated sample of citrate blood and clot formation. In healthy volunteers ADP BCT was determined before and 45 minutes after oral administration of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 250 mg). Risk of cardiovascular death was calculated using the GRACE score. Platelet function tests were performed by optical aggregometry. Follow-up period for patients with ACS was 24 months. The primary end point (PEP) was the composite of cardiovascular death and rehospitalization. RESULTS: In ACS patients ADP BCT was significantly lower than in PHV: 134.8 (109.9; 161.3) vs 85.7 (60.5; 108.7) sec, p=0.015. In PHV ASA increased ADP BCT - 103.2 (95.1; 130.7) vs 133.1 (102.8; 154.3) sec, p=0.041. ADP BCT correlated with age in both PHV and patients (R= -0.431, p.

[Masked Arterial Hypertension in Employed Adult Women: Aspects of Screening and Prognostication].

Masked (M) hypertension (H) remains an unsolved problem of cardiology. Gender aspects of MH require further pathogenetic deciphering and clinical interpretation. We used breathe-hold test and 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring for detection of MH in 275 female middle- aged employees. MH Prevalence of MH was 7.7%. Special clinical and pathogenetic characteristics of MH in studied sample were as follows: high sensitivity of mean hemodynamic BP; body mass index increase, tendency to elevation of fasting glycaemia and lowering of glomerular filtration rate, more frequent presence of dyslipidemia in comparison with normotensive patients, absence of association with levels of anxiety and depression. Ten year risk of fatal cardiovascular events in women with MH was comparable with that among female patients with overt hypertension (0.76 vs 0.68 %). Received data became a basis for elaboration of screening programs of early detection and prevention of H.

Neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity in the cat claustrum: A light- and electron-microscopic investigation.

The claustrum is a telencephalic nucleus located ventrolateral to the basal ganglia in the mammalian brain. It has an extensive reciprocal connectivity with most if not all of the cerebral cortex, in particular, primary sensory areas. However, despite renewed and growing interest amongst investigators, there remains a paucity of data concerning its peptidergic profile. The aim of the present study was to examine the presence, morphology, distribution and ultrastructure of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive (NPY-ir) neurons and fibers in the claustrum of the cat. Ten adult healthy cats from both sexes were used. All animals received human and ethical treatment in accordance with the Principles of Laboratory Animal Care. Subjects were irreversibly anesthetized and transcardially perfused with fixative solution containing glutaraldehyde and paraformaldehyde. Brains were promptly removed, postfixed and sectioned. Slices were incubated with polyclonal anti-NPY antibodies according to the standard avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method adopted by our Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology. NPY-ir neurons and fibers were found to be diffusely distributed throughout the claustrum, with no obvious topographic or functional patterning other than larger numbers in its central/broadest part (stereotaxic planes A12-A16). Neurons were generally classified by diameter into three sizes: small (under 17 µm), medium (17-25 µm) and large (over 25 µm). Staining density is varied with some neurons appearing darker than others. At the electron-microscopic level NPY immunoproduct was observed within neurons, dendrites and terminal boutons, each differing relative to their ultrastructural attributes. Two types of NPY-ir synaptic boutons were found. Lastly, it is of interest to note that gender-specific differences were not observed.

Parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in the human claustrum.

The morphology and distribution of parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons (PV-ir) were studied in the human claustrum. PV-ir neurons were observed throughout the claustrum, with the highest numbers noted in the central (broadest) portion as compared with the dorsal and ventral aspects. Reaction product was evident in the neuronal perikarya, dendritic processes, and spines. In the majority of these labeled neurons, the cytoplasm was devoid of lipofuscin pigment. Cell bodies varied widely in both shape and size, ranging from oval and small, to multipolar and large. PV-ir neurons were classified into two groups, primarily based on dendritic morphology: spiny neurons with long and straight dendrites, and aspiny neurons with thin and curving dendritic processes. PV-ir fibers were seen throughout the neuropil, with many immuno-positive puncta noted.

[Plasma dehydratation self-organization in patients with coronary heart].

The functional morphology of biological fluids is a basically new branch of science, which is based on the study of a result of phase change processes in the substrate under study. The paper shows the specific features of plasma spatial organization in patients with chronic and acute coronary heart disease (CHD). The findings may be used as an additional criterion for the differential diagnosis of the above forms of CHD and open up a new line in the diagnosis and risk stratification in CHD patients.

[Social stress as a risk factor for ischemic heart disease].

AIM: To study dynamics of ischemic heart disease in exposure of the population of an industrial city to social-economic stress. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Official annual records of Saratov city Health Administration for 1989-1998. In public health evaluation, cardiovascular morbidity is the index rapidly reacting to social-economic changes. Descrete data of myocardial infarction and angina prevalence for the analysed time were approximated by polynomes of high degree. As a result, the first and second derivatives--speed and acceleration--were obtained. RESULTS: A rise in MI morbidity reflected a rise in social tension. The disturbance of the population system of an industrial center (in conditions of a social stress) is accompanied by marked deformation of the profile of cardiovascular diseases in the industrial region: the growth of MI prevalence is associated with lowering of angina pectoris morbidity. CONCLUSION: A rise in MI incidence rate is proposed as an indicator of social-economic stability or instability. Instability of IHD morbidity in the population allows consideration of social stress as its risk factor.

[Effect of high concentrations of glucose on physiological parameters of platelets in patients with ischemic heart disease.]. / Vliianie gliukozy vysokikh kontsentratsii na fiziologicheskie parametry éritrotsitov bol'nykh ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa.

Analysis of functional state of the erythrocyte system was carried out in 45 patients with stable class II and III angina including those with concomitant non insulin dependent diabetes and in 15 practically healthy subjects. The analysis was made in the process of upsetting the balance of the erythrocyte system by incubation with high concentrations of glucose in vitro. Functional state of erythrocytes was assessed by construction of fragments of a phase portrait on a plane representing relationship between dimensions of erythrocytes, glucose concentration and rate of the above mentioned process.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor improves diabetic parameters and hepatic steatosis and increases basal metabolic rate in db/db mice.

Obesity plays a central role in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. We therefore examined the effects of a modified form of ciliary neurotrophic factor [Axokine, which is hereafter referred to as ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF)Ax15], which uses a leptin-like mechanism to reduce body weight, in the db/db murine model of type 2 diabetes. In previous studies, weight loss produced by CNTF treatment could largely be attributed to its effects on food intake. In contrast, CNTFAx15 treatment of db/db mice caused significantly greater weight loss and marked improvements in diabetic parameters (e.g., levels of glucose, insulin, triglyceride, cholesterol, and nonesterified free fatty acids) than could be accounted for by reduced caloric intake alone. These beneficial effects, above and beyond those seen in animals controlled for either food restriction or body weight, correlated with the ability of CNTFAx15 to increase metabolic rate and energy expenditure and reduce hepatic steatosis while enhancing hepatic responsiveness to insulin. The hepatic effects were linked to rapid alterations in hepatic gene expression, most notably reduced expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1, a rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of complex lipids that is also markedly suppressed by leptin in ob/ob mice. These observations further link the mechanisms of CNTF and leptin action, and they suggest important, beneficial effects for CNTF in diabetes that may be distinct from its ability to decrease food intake; instead, these effects may be more related to its influence on energy expenditure and hepatic gene expression.

Family-based association studies support a sexually dimorphic effect of COMT and MAOA on genetic susceptibility to obsessive-compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common and severe psychiatric illness that affects 1-3% of the population and presents a well-established co-morbidity with major depressive disorder (MDD). Twin and family studies have suggested a genetic component in the etiology of OCD, although the mode of inheritance is unknown. Pharmacotherapy of the disease implicates both serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways. Previously, guided by the 22q11 microdeletion-related psychiatric phenotype, we provided evidence for a sexually dimorphic association between OCD and the gene for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). In this report, we use 110 nuclear OCD families to analyze the inheritance of variants of COMT and monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA), another gene modulating monoamine metabolism. METHODS: A sample of 110 nuclear OCD families was collected, and lifetime diagnoses were ascertained using the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS). DNA was genotyped for functional variants of the COMT and MAO genes, and allele inheritance was examined using the Transmission Disequilibrium Test (TDT) and Haplotype-based Haplotype Relative Risk (HHRR) test. RESULTS: We provide evidence supporting the previously reported sexually dimorphic association between low COMT enzymatic activity and OCD. We also provide evidence for a similar sexually dimorphic association between OCD and an allele of the MAOA gene, previously linked to high MAO-A enzymatic activity. In agreement with the well-established action of MAO-A inhibitors as antidepressants, this association is particularly marked among male OCD probands with co-morbid MDD, who represent more than 50% of our male OCD sample. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis indicates that variants of two genes modulating monoamine metabolism contribute significantly to OCD susceptibility. Most importantly, an unexpected sexually dimorphic pattern of genetic susceptibility to OCD is revealed and suggests the possibility that profound gender differences in genetic predisposition may exist not only for other OCD susceptibility genes, but for an array of other psychiatric disorders as well.