[Biomarkers of Inflammation in Predicting the Outcomes of Heart Failure of Ischemic Etiology: the Results of Factor Analysis].

AIM: To study the prognostic significance of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and stenotic multivessel coronary atherosclerosis, with determination of the biomarker separate set that reflects subclinical inflammation and is associated with the development of cardiovascular complications during prospective observation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted that included 80 patients with CHF and ischemic heart disease who were scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) during their current hospitalization. In addition to routine clinical laboratory tests, coagulation parameters were evaluated and the following inflammatory biomarkers were determined: neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-ß1), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Also, the calculated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (N LR) was included in the analysis. Follow-up duration was at least 12 months (median 16 [13, 22] months). Statistical analysis of the data was performed with the IBM SPSS Statistics 21 software. RESULTS: The study presented results of a factor analysis of 10 inflammatory biomarkers in patients who were scheduled for CABG. One of the factors identified by the analysis included the levels of NGAL and GDF-15, N LR, and the level of fibrinogen in the blood in CHF patients with stenotic coronary atherosclerosis and was significantly associated with the death rate during prospective observation. Furthermore, this association remained significant even after adjustments for age, glomerular filtration rate, severity of heart and coronary insufficiency, and the presence of diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: In patients with CHF and stenotic coronary atherosclerosis, a set of inflammatory markers, including blood NGAL, GDF-15, N LR, and fibrinogen, can be combined into one factor reflecting subclinical inflammation. The value of this factor can be used to predict cardiovascular death in the long term after surgical myocardial revascularization.

[Assessment of the results of left ventricular reconstruction in combination of coronary atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus]. / Otsenka rezul'tatov rekonstruktsii levogo zheludochka pri sochetanii koronarnogo ateroskleroza i sakharnogo diabeta.

AIM: To study the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on changes of intracardiac haemodynamics and myocardial morphology in patients with ischaemic heart disease and a postinfarction aneurysm of the left ventricle before and after corrective operations on the heart. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 79 patients with ischaemic heart disease and a chronic aneurysm of the left ventricle (Group I - patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=27), mean age 57.5±3.9 years, average number of shunts 2.9±0.6; Group II - patients without diabetes mellitus (n=52), mean age 55,3 ±7.1 years, average number of shunts - 2.7±0.3). In the preoperative period all patients were examined taking into account the functional class of angina pectoris, with the assessment of the left ventricular ejection fraction, end-diastolic index, end-systolic index, sphericity index. All patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and surgical restoration of the normal geometry of the left ventricle according to the Menicanty technique with the target end-systolic index of 60 ml/m2, during which 39 patients from both groups were subjected to intraoperative biopsy of the left ventricular myocardium and right atrial auricle. RESULTS: The intergroup analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in age, angina pectoris class, level of arterial pressure between the groups. Neither were there statistically significant differences in the echocardiographic parameters at the preoperative stage. In the postoperative period, we detected a significant decrease in the end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes of the left ventricle in both groups, with a statistically significant increase of the left ventricular ejection fraction observed only in non-diabetic patients. One year after the operation, such patients still continued to demonstrate more favourable parameters of the systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle. A detailed analysis with determining the delta of the alterations in the parameters revealed more significant positive dynamics in the postoperative period in patients with ischaemic heart disease not associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: The obtained findings are indicative of negative dynamics of the course of chronic ischaemic heart disease aggravated by type 2 diabetes mellitus after reconstruction of the left ventricle. Macro- and microangiopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus significantly deteriorated the myocardial trophism. Subsequent bleedings draw phagocytic cells into the myocardial stroma, thus adversely affecting the further prognosis and course of the disease, since we demonstrated that the presence of inflammatory infiltrate in the myocardial stroma is a key factor of unfavourable outcomes of surgical treatment of patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy.

[Surgical Treatment of Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Current State of the Problem].

In this article we present discussion of the current state of the problem of surgical treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). The pathophysiological aspects of left ventricular remodeling in patients with ICM are also covered. A detailed characterization of methods for assessing the myocardial viability is given and their role in patients with ICM is shown. The problem of right ventricular dysfunction in ICM is discussed. Main attention is focused on the methods of surgical treatment of ICM. Limitations of the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) study are analyzed. The article is intended for cardiologists, general practitioners and cardiac surgeons.

[Functionality of mammary-coronary bypass grafts according to the data of intraoperative flowmetry]. / Funktsional'nost' mammarokoronarnykh shuntov po dannym intraoperatsionnoi floumetrii.

Improvement of surgical treatment for ischaemic heart disease is one of the main trends in modern medicine. After the operation of coronary bypass grafting, further functioning of blood flow in the grafts largely depends upon its domination over the native blood flow in the target coronary arteries. Therefore, intraoperative diagnosis of functional competence of coronary bypass grafts by means of flowmetry is currently of special importance. The purpose of this study was flowmetric quantitative assessment of the curves of blood flow through the coronary bypass grafts, depending on the degree of stenosis of the target coronary arteries. A total of 135 patients were examined during our study. We evaluated the curves of blood flow through the bypass grafts from the left internal thoracic artery to the anterior descending artery. The bypass grafts were divided into three groups: the 1st group (n=47) with moderate stenosis of the coronary arteries (from 50 to 75%); the 2nd group (n=42) with a more pronounced lesion of the target vessel (from 75 to 99%), and the 3rd group (n = 46) with occluded coronary arteries (100%). It was revealed that the flow rate (Q, ml/min) in group one was lower (17±3.1) than in group two (33±5.3) and group three (45±3.4). Also, differences were revealed in the resistance index of the grafts: it turned out to be higher in group one (5.2±1.1) and group two (4.5±0.9) as compared with group three (1.8±0.5). However, there was no between-group difference in diastolic filling of the grafts, which amounted to 58±13, 61±10 and 64±9% for groups one, two and three, respectively. By the shape of the curve, we assessed the reverse systolic peak whose presence prevailed in the grafts of group one (15 of 47; 31.9%) and group two (11 of 42; 26.2%) as compared with that in the grafts of group three (5 of 46; 10.8%). The obtained findings confirm higher frequency of the presence of competitive blood flow in the grafts used on non-occluded coronary arteries.

[Perfusion-Metabolic Myocardial Scintigraphy in Prognosis of Left Ventricular Remodeling After Complex Surgical Treatment of Ischemic Cardiomyopathy].

PURPOSE: To study capabilities of perfusion-metabolic myocardial scintigraphy for prediction of the left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling after comprehensive surgical treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICMP). METHODS: The study included ICMP patients aged 56±7 years (n=32) who underwent surgical correction of LV dysfunction (myocardial revascularization, LV reconstruction, and mitral valve restoration). Inclusion criteria were significant coronary artery disease; myocardial infarction; New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV heart failure; LV ejection fraction (EF) ≤45%; LV end-systolic index (ESI) >60 mL/m2; and LV akinesia or dyskinesia according to echocardiography. Before surgery all patients were subjected to scintigraphy with 99mTc-MIBI (to assess perfusion) and with 123I-BMIPP (to assess myocardial metabolism). Scintigraphy results were expressed as median and lower; upper quartile (Me [lQ; hQ]). The clinical status and ventricular volume indicators were evaluated before surgery, in the early post-operative period (up to 4 weeks), and in the late post-operative period (12 months). RESULTS: At 12 months after intervention patients were divided into two groups: group 1 comprised patients (n=18) with beneficial outcome of the operation that stopped LV remodeling (ESI decreased, remained unchanged, or increased by.

[Bilateral Internal Mammary Grafts With Preservation of Sternum Blood Supply].

We have prospectively collected data from 43 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery and received bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft. Left ITA was harvested on full length from ostium to bifurcation. Right ITA harvesting included mobilization of only its proximal stump (5-6 cm long), that allowed its distal segment to remain intact. Proximal stump of right ITA was lengthened by radial artery or large subcutaneous vein grafts in order to reach various parts of coronary vascular bed. After comparative intraoperative manometry of ante- and retrograde pressures in right ITA patients were divided into two groups. In group 1patients (n=28) difference between ante- and retrograde systolic pressure (112.5+/-17.4 and 92.4+/-19.6 mm Hg, respectively) was <30%; in group 2 patients (n=15) difference between ante- and retrograde pressure (110.2+/-14.1 and 68.9+/-12.3 mm Hg, respectively) was more or equal 30%. Lower limb and carotid (arteries stenotic lesions (stenosis >60-70%) were more frequent in group 2 (n=8; 18.6%) than in group 1 (n=4; 9%). However postoperative ultrasound study detected no significant differences between two groups in systolic retrograde blood flow velocity in intact portion of right ITA (29.8+/-8.7 and 23.1+/-8.0 cm/s, respectively, p>0.05). Absence of sternal wound healing complications confirmed efficacy of sternal retrograde blood supply through lower and upper epigastric arteries. Patency rate of composite grafts according to angiography (n=19) performed in 3+/-0.8 years after surgery was high (94.7%). Our data confirm high functionality of bilateral ITA grafts with preservation of sternal supply.

[Interrelation of Electrophysiological and Perfusion Changes in Patients With Left Ventricular Aneurysm].

The study was aimed at identification of relations between perfusion and electrophysiological changes in left ventricular (LV) myocardium in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) with postinfarction LV aneurysm and ventricular tachycardia. The study enrolled 23 patients with the aforementioned disease. Preoperatively, apart from standard clinical examination of cardiosurgical patients, intracardiac electrophysiological study and perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography of myocardium with 99mTc-Technetril were performed. The patients were subjected to coronary artery bypass grafting and left ventricular reconstruction. Assessment of the outcomes showed that electrophysiological condition of left ventricle was dependent on myocardial perfusion. Electrophysologically normal myocardium with electric potential >1.5 mV, transient zone (0.5-1.5 mV) and zones with the potential <0.5 mV differed significantly by the percentage of perfusion: 61, 45, and 35%, respectively. Zones of delayed conduction and those of double potential were located mostly in transient zone of electrical potential conduction with the current amplitude of 0.5-1.5 mV and myocardial perfusion from 35 to 61%. Double potential zone was formed in the area of myocardium with better perfusion (perfusion defect of 55% with preserved metabolism) as opposed to the zone of delayed conduction, where perfusion defect was 40% with low level of metabolic activity. The obtained data has proven the presence of correlation between electrophysiology and perfusion of myocardium. This provides an opportunity to identify electrically unstable myocardial zones with the help of specific computer tomography of myocardium.

[Dynamic single-photon emission computed tomography as a method of identification of multivessel coronary artery disease].

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the informative value of dynamic tomoscintigraphy in detection of multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Material and Methods: Patients with multivessel CAD (n= 16) and healthy volunteers (n= 9) underwent dynamic cardiac single photon emission computed tomography with 99mТс-MIBI at rest and during pharmacological stress-test. Processing of acquired results involved the formation of regions of interest from the cavity and the myocardium of the left ventricle used to create activity-time curves. Coronary flow reserve index was defined as a quotient of two ratios of the mean counts from the myocardial region to the integral activity in the left ventricular cavity for the studies performed during pharmacological stress test and at rest. Results: The mean values of coronary flow reserve index were 1.86 (1.59; 2.2) in group of healthy volunteers and 1.39 (1.12; 1.69) in patients with multivessel CAD. When the value of this index was less than 1.77, the method allowed for detection of three-vessel CAD with the sensitivity and specificity rates of 81.8% and 66.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Performing the standard myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in combination with the method of coronary flow reserve index assessment allows for enhancement of the diagnostic value of scintigraphic approach in the evaluation of coronary circulation disturbances in multivessel CAD.

[Fasciotomy as a method of surgical preparation of a conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting].

The study included a total of 59 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with the use of the radial artery (RA). Group One consisted of 28 patients who while preparing the conduit were subjected to longitudinal dissection of the fascial compartment (fasciotomy) of the RA. Group Two comprised 31 patients not undergoing fasciotomy. In Group One patients prior to fasciotomy, 2 segments were cut off from each RA and incubated in a hypo osmotic solution either in the fascial compartment (n=28) or after fasciotomy (n=28) followed by morphometric analysis. Therapeutic results in all patients were studied averagely 3.3 ± 0.8 years after surgery. 32 patients underwent control coronary bypass angiography averagely 2.5 ± 0.54 years after the operation. The morphometric analysis of the RA segments in conditions of simulated oedema revealed that a more pronounced decrease in the RA lumen (by 49.7%) was observed in the segments kept in the fascial compartment as compared with the segments after fasciotomy (1.08 ± 0.12 mm and 2.21 ± 0.09 mm, respectively, p=0.0129). In the remote period after the operation (mean 3.3 ± 0.8 years) Group One patients were found to have fewer cases of renewal and increase of the angina class (n=3; 10.7%) than Group Two patients (n=7; 22.5%; p=0.0289). There were no cases of secondary myocardial infarction in Group One patients, whereas in Group Two there were 2 (6.5%) cases of myocardial infarction in the postoperative period. Based on the findings of coronary bypass angiography, patency of the RA in Group 1 was higher than in Group 2 (91.6 and 78.6%, respectively; p=0.0371). The obtained results are suggestive that fasciotomy of the RA during surgical preparation of the conduit is appropriate, thus decreasing the risk of blood flow reduction via the arterial bypass graft and improving the outcomes of autoarterial coronary bypass grafting.

[Policy of using the right internal thoracic artery "in situ" for coronary artery bypass grafting].

The authors analysed the outcomes in a total of 73 patients subjected to coronary artery bypass grafting with the use of the "in situ" the right internal thoracic artery. Of these, 14 patients endured bypass grafting with assessment of the conformity of the length of the "in situ" right ITA as a conduit for the distal third of the right coronary artery (RCA). 16 patients underwent grafting of the RITA "in situ" with the RCA by passing through the pleural cavity. The remaining 43 patients were subjected to bilateral mammary composite bypass grafting using the radial artery (RA). A total of 22 segments of the RA were subjected to a comparative morphometric examination depending on the method of exposure. We additionally analysed 56 cases of utilizing the RA with the use of the pharmacological protocol of preventing spasm. The results were regarded statistically significant if p<0.05. We used the non-parametric criterion of Mann-Whitney. The obtained results showed that the right ITA "in situ" may be used for bypass grafting of the RCA system, excluding the risk of graft tension, if the perpendicular from the 6th intercostal space crosses the sharp edge of the heart 1.5-2 cm distal to the medial point, with the minimum number of complications after 1.5±0.3 years (7.1%). When the above-mentioned perpendicular is located proximal to the middle point of the sharp edge of the heart it is possible to use the right ITA "in situ" for the RCA system thanks to passing the conduit through the right pleural cavity under the anterior segment of the upper lobe and the medial segment of the middle lobe of the right lung with no complications after 1 year. The method of composite bypass grafting by means of the proximal segment of the right ITA "in situ" and the RA makes it possible to effectively revascularize any portions of the coronary bed (latency 94.7% after 3.0±0.8 years), to avoid manipulations on the aorta, and to save the bed of the right ITA in the middle and distal third of the sternum with no postoperative complications. It was revealed that in the conditions of decreased osmotic pressure the increase in the thickness of the vascular wall is more pronounced in the skeletonized segments of the RA (1.38±0.05 mm) as compared with the segments surrounded by connective and fatty tissue (1.09±0.04 mm). The pharmacological protocol for prevention of radial artery spasm used in 56 patients resulted in a small number of complications observed after 3.0±0.8 years (myocardial infarctions - 1.75%, angina pectoris relapse - 7%). Hence, the developed methods of using the right ITA "in situ" widen possibilities of bilateral mammary bypass grafting, excluding the existing problems of routine use of the both ITAs "in situ".

[In vitro study of the radial artery vasodilatory reactions].

The aim of the study was to investigate comparative contractility of isolated radial artery segments (n = 50). Phosphodiesterase inhibitor (papaverine) was used in 15 segments; dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist (adalat) was used in 12 segments; calmodulin inhibitor (aminazine) was used in 13 segments; and "nitromixture" (5 mg verapamil hydrochloride, 2.5 mg nitroglycerine, 500-UN heparin, and 300 mL isosmotic Krebs solution) was used in 10 segments. Effect of hyposmotic solution for the morphometric properties of radial artery was analyzed in 22 arterial segments. The data didn't show statistical differences between drugs: "nitromixture" decreased tone by 100 ± 2% (n = 10), papaverine by 100 ± 11% (n = 15), adalat by 95 ± 6.1% (n = 12) and aminazine by 92 ± 11.3% (n = 13) (p > 0.05). The most effective drug in duration was adalat (n = 12, 90 ± 6.5 minutes) versus "nitromixture" (n = 10, 60 ± 9.3 minutes), papaverine (n = 15, 60 ± 4.3 minutes) and aminazine (n = 13, 50 ± 3.2 minutes) (p < 0.05).

Cell-free collagen-based scaffolds used for making blood vessels in cardiovascular surgery.

The present article deals with the technology of obtaining decellularized cell-free collagen-based scaffolds from arterial vessels and surgical assessment of the possibility of experimentally implanting them into the blood system of laboratory animals for experimental purposes. The study was performed on arterial vessels (n=60) and fragments of the human internal thoracic artery (n=20). Described herein is a method of obtaining a connective-tissue matrix of a blood vessel by means of vessel's perfusion for 2-3 hours with detergent solutions. Cell-free collagen-based conduits were implanted to a total of ten dogs. After the operation, the blood flow remained functional. The anastomoses established turned out to be leak-proof and the acellular vessels were able to withstand the haemodynamic load of the arterial blood flow.

Economical technology of creation of cell-free matrix of animal and human arterial vessels.

We present a technology of creation of blood vessel connective tissue framework by 2-3-h vessel perfusion with detergents. The technology ensures effective removal of vascular cells without damaging collagen and elastic fibers. The connective tissue frameworks prepared by this method can the used for restoring blood flow in various vascular pathologies. The presented approach attenuates the damaging effect of treatment on the vascular framework due to maximum simplification and shortening of the duration of treatment and is universal for human and animal vessels.

[New aspects of using dihydropyridine calcium antagonists during coronary bypass surgery].

AIM: To study the contractile properties of the human radial artery (RA) and to provide a comparative clinical assessment of the results of autoarterial coronary bypass surgery (AACBS) using calcium antagonists (CA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human RA smooth muscle samples (n = 49) taken at AACBS were experimentally studied. Mechanography was used to record the contractile responses of isolated smooth muscle samples to the contractile properties of a RA segment exposed to the liquid vasodilators nifedipine, papaverine, and sodium nitroprusside. The study enrolled 106 patients who had undergone surgical revascularization applying 2 autoarteries or more. Dihydropyridine CAs, such as adulat, norvask, and felodip, were administered by the developed protocol. RESULTS: Adalat experimentally showed a pronounced dose-dependence of vasodilation and long-term aftereffects, which allows the CA to be regarded as the most attractive agent for the intraoperative preparation of an autoarterial shunt. CONCLUSION: The systemic use of a dihydropyridine CA in a clinical trial could reduce the incidence of early autoarterial conduit dysfunction and improve prognosis in the patients.