[The influence of diet therapy and regular physical trainings on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) secretion by monocytes among obese patients with coronary heart disease].

Chronic systemic inflammation is one of the leading pathogenetic pathways for the development of atherosclerosis in obese patients. In this regard, it seems promising to evaluate the effect of the diet and physical exertion on the proinflammatory activity of monocytes. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effect of the diet and regular physical trainings on the secretion of monocyte chemotactic factor 1 (MCP-1) by monocytes in obese patients with coronary artery disease. Material and methods. 27 obese participants (body mass index >30 kg/m2) with a confirmed diagnosis of coronary heart disease were recruited. All participants were prescribed with 12 weeks of a specialized diet with a restriction of simple carbohydrates and salt, a 500-kcal daily energy deficit, and with inclusion of cruciferous (200 g per day), seasonal dark berries (70 g per day) and green tea (200 ml per day). The regular assisted physical trainings were also administered. The body composition, blood biochemical parameters and MCP-1 secretion rates in the primary culture of monocytes isolated from blood samples via the immunomagnetic separation method were assessed before and after the intervention. Results. As a result, after the 12-weeks intervention the reliable body weight loss (-4.0%), waist circumference (-4.2%), visceral fat (-5.4%), total cholesterol (-9.8%), LDL-cholesterol (-16.6%) and triglycerides (-26.0%), an improvement in the results of the 6-minute walk test (+10.33%) was achieved, as well as an LPS-stimulated monocytes secretion of MCP-1 decreased by 2.8 times (p=0.005). Conclusion. Overall, the results suggest that diet and regular physical activity in patients with obesity and coronary heart disease may decrease the functional "proinflammatory" activity of monocytes.

[Viral meningoencephalitis with damage to the right temporal lobe with a favorable outcome]. / Virusnyi meningoentsefalit s porazheniem pravoi visochnoi doli s blagopriyatnym iskhodom.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the most commonly identified cause of infectious meningoencephalitis in Western countries. Previous studies showed that neurological defects can form during HSV meningoencephalitis, ranging from symptomatic epilepsy to mental and movement disorders. The recovery of Cognitive Mental Functions (CMF) in a patient who survived HSV meningoencephalitis was evaluated. The results were compared with MRI and EEG data. A follow-up observation of the patient was carried out for more than 1 year. During the observation period, the patient showed improvement of CMF, while MRI scans showed no observable improvement. Current neuropsychological methods give enough information for the assessment of CMF in patients after neurological infections and are essential for evaluating new treatment methods and monitoring of possible deterioration or relapse.

Phytoestrogen-Rich Natural Preparation for Treatment of Climacteric Syndrome and Atherosclerosis Prevention in Perimenopausal Women.

The present study evaluated the risks and benefits of phytoestrogen treatment in healthy perimenopausal women in relation to the dynamics of climacteric syndrome and progression of atherosclerosis. Study participants were treated with placebo or phytoestrogen-rich natural preparation Karinat based on grape (Vitis vinifera) seeds, green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves, hop (Hunulus lupulus) cone powder and garlic (Allium sativum) powder. The dynamics of climacteric syndrome was evaluated by Kupperman Index and Utian Quality of Life Scale. Atherosclerosis progression was evaluated by measuring carotid intima-media thickness. Significant changes of climacteric syndrome's severity in both Karinat and placebo groups (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001) were obtained after 24 months of follow-up. Detailed analysis of Kupperman Index suggested that Karinat possessed a significant effect on nervousness (p = 0.010), weakness (p = 0.020) and formication (p = 0.010). A significant improvement of medical (p = 0.070) and emotional (p = 0.060) components of Kupperman Index and Utian Quality of Life Scale was also observed in Karinat group. However, difference in carotid intima-media thickness between the two groups was not statistically significant at follow-up. A slight positive effect of phytoestrogens on climacteric syndrome manifestations was demonstrated in this study. Karinat can be used for alleviation of climacteric syndrome and cardiovascular disease prevention in perimenopausal women. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[Conventional and novel cardiovascular risk factors and predisposition to the development of atherosclerosis].

This population-based cross-sectional study included 472 apparently healthy study participants with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including 300 patients with hypercholesterolemia. To assess the susceptibility to the development of atherosclerosis, an ultrasonic evaluation of common carotid arteries was used. It has been confirmed that there exists the geographical gradient of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and it has been shown that this gradient is highly correlated th the known gradient of cardiovascular mortality. It was found that the combination of conventional cardiovascular risk factors can help explaining only 21% variability of cIMT, the marker of generalized atherosclerosis. It was found that a predisposition to atherosclerosis, as measured by a pathological increase in cIMT, should be due to the interaction not only conventional cardiovascular risk factors, but also to genetic and environmental factors.

[Study of intima-medial thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries as an indicator of natural atherosclerosis progress in Moscow population].

A cross-sectional study of intima-medial thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries in men and women in different age groups was performed as well as a prospective study of the dynamics of carotid IMT changes. It was shown that at the ages 40-70 years IMT is higher in men then in women, but at age after 70 such difference disappears due to acceleration of atherosclerosis progression in women, which starts after 58. Atherosclerosis progresses at uneven rate, both in men and women, and there are age periods characterized with different rate of IMT progression. In women, the most active progression of atherosclerosis starts 8 years later than in men, and is associated with the onset of late menopausal period.

[Variability of intima-media thickness of the common carotid arteries in Moscow city population without clinical symptoms of atherosclerosis].

AIM: To determine borderline values of intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries (CCA) in Moscow citizens without clinical symptoms of atherosclerosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 885 (277 males and 608 females) Moscow citizens aged 20-79 years free of clinical symptoms of atherosclerosis participated in population-based epidemiological trial. CCA IMT was measured at ultrasonic scanning of the carotid arteries in high-resolution regimen. RESULTS: The trial provided data on variability of CCA IMT borderline values in different age groups of adult Moscow metaethnic population without clinical symptoms of atherosclerosis with gender reference. Quartile distribution of CCA IMT values enabled primary evaluation of predisposition of the population studied to atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: This pilot study is the first to give Russian data on variability of population borderline values of CCA IMT obtained in the study of a representative sample. Russian data give additional material to European geographic gradiet CCA IMT and allow more accurate ultrasonographic identification of predisposition to atherosclerosis in persons with silent disease.