[ABCG1 transporter gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with atherosclerosis].

Accumulation of cholesterol in arterial wall macrophages is a main hallmark of atherosclerosis. The ABCG1 transporter mediates cholesterol efflux to high density lipoproteins (HDL) and plays an important role in macrophage foam cell formation. The goal of our study was to investigate the potential role of ABCG1 in atherosclerosis development in humans. ABCG1 gene expression has been examined in leukocytes, monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages of patients with atherosclerosis and in the control group. Real time PCR and Western blotting were used to determine ABCG1 mRNA and ABCG1 protein levels. Monocyte ABCG1 mRNA level was inversely correlated with the rate of artery occlusion (r = -0.45, P = 0.016). Patients with 100% artery occlusions had decreased monocyte ABCG1 mRNA levels compared to patients who had smaller plaques and controls (P < 0.05). ABCG1 mRNA (P < 0.001) and ABCG1 protein (P < 0.05) levels in macrophages of patients with coronary artery stenosis were significantly reduced compared to the control group. No significant correlation between the ABCG1 gene expression in mononuclear cells and HDL cholesterol concentration has been found. Our study suggests that decrease in the ABCG1 gene expression in macrophages is associated with atherosclerosis.

[ABCA1 gene expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes and macrophages in patients with atherosclerosis].

ABCA1 transporter is known to play important role in the cholesterol transport from peripheral tissues. However its contribution in atherosclerosis development remains not completely understood. Using Real Time PCR, a significant reduction of ABCA1 mRNA level in leukocytes of patients with atherosclerosis was determined when compared with controls. Mean ABCA1 expression levels in leukocytes for the group of patients and for the control group are 0.57 +/- 0.28 and 0.93 +/- 0.14 (p = 0.02). At the same time we detected a significant increase of ABCA1 mRNA level in macrophages of patients when compared with controls. Mean ABCA1 expression levels in macrophages for the group of patients and for the control group are 1.32 +/- 0.10 and 0.90 +/- 0.14 (p = 0.014). In summary, we suggest that expression level of ABCA1 gene may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.

Cytotoxic effect of low-density lipoproteins.

The cytopathogenic effect of various modified lipoproteins on cultured peritoneal macrophages was studied in vitro. After minor peroxide modification lipoproteins induced apoptosis of macrophages. Immune complexes containing oxidized lipoproteins caused cell necrosis.

[Microvzor-2: a system for automated dry blood smear analysis]. / Mikrovzor-2: kompleks avtomaticheskogo analiza krovi po sukhomu mazku.

Upgraded system Microvzor-2 for investigation of blood morphology in space flight is composed of soft- and hardware for dry smear image analysis. Ground-based testing showed that it could be utilized to investigate a broad spectrum of blood parameters in space flight, including erythrocytes, hemoglobin content in erythrocytes, volumetric erythrocyte distribution, diagnostics of anisocytosis, and poikilocytosis, leukocytes and leukocyte count. Analyzed are smears prepared from a fixed volume of finger blood. The process consists of smear scanning, input of the vision field images in the spacecraft computer and ensuing automated identification and counting. Information is stored in a dedicated database. Results of analysis are displayed as forms and cell galleries.

[Cryohemosorption--a method of removal of lipoprotein-antibody immune complexes and other atherogenic substances in patients with atherosclerosis]. / Krioplazmosorbtsiia--metod udaleniia immunnykh kompleksov lipoproteid-antitelo i drugikh aterogennykh substantsii u bol'nykh aterosklerozom.

The efficacy of extracorporeal cryohemosorption was estimated in the treatment of atherosclerotic patients in terms of the autoimmune theory of the pathogenesis of this disease. There was a slight decrease in the plasma levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides, there was over 2-fold reduction in the plasma levels of fibrinogen and fibronectin. All major components of apo B-containing lipoproteins and immunoglobulin G were found as part of the cryoprecipitate. An extremely high concentration of lipid hydroperoxides in the precipitate suggest that cryoprecipitation removes not only autoimmune complexes, but highly-atherogenic peroxide-modified lipoproteins. The three-fold decrease in the levels of lipoprotein-antibody complexes resulted in lower atherogenicity of apo B-containing lipoproteins. It is suggested that the mechanism responsible for beneficial clinical action of cryohemosorption sessions is largely associated with the removal of autoimmune lipoprotein-antibody complexes and peroxide-modified apo B-containing lipoproteins than correction of lipid metabolism.

[The effect of blocking the reticuloendothelial system on the metabolism of low density lipoproteins in rabbits]. / Vliianie blokady retikuloéndotelial'noi sistemy na metabolizm lipoproteinov nizkoi plotnosti u krolika.

Intravenous ethyl oleate-induced blockade of the reticulo-endothelial apparatus (REA) in rabbits was found to reduce the elimination rate of both native and 125I-modified (acetylated) low lipoproteins. Lower lipoprotein catabolism is likely to result in hyperlipidemia observed in REA blockade. At the same time the latter was shown to induce the changes in low lipoproteins, which diminished their capacity to interact with fibroblasts, on the one hand, and to stimulate their macrophage uptake.

[Surgical treatment of ischemic heart disease using internal thoracic artery and partial ileal bypass]. / Khirurgicheskoe lechenie ishemicheskoi bolezni serdtsa s primeneniem vnutrennei grudnoi arterii i chastichnogo ileoshuntirovaniia.

The authors recommend complex two-stage treatment of ischemic heart disease, including a reconstructive operation on the coronary arteries and an operation for correcting the disturbed plasma lipid spectrum (partial ileal bypass). The results of operative treatment of 150 patients with the use of the internal thoracic artery were studied. The authors emphasize the advantages of this operation over one using an autovein graft. Complex operative treatment was conducted in the clinic in 60 patients with a good clinical effect. The authors also recommend operation for partial ileal bypass as an independent intervention in dyslipoproteinemia and diffuse affection of the coronary arteries.

[Properties of plasma low density lipoproteins in patients with hypertriglyceridemia and ischemic heart disease]. / Svoistva plazmennykh lipoproteinov nizkoi plotnosti u patsientov s gipertriglitseridemiei i ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa.

It has been shown that low-density plasma lipoproteins in patients with ischemic heart disease and hypertriglyceridemia are heavier in density, smaller in size, more negatively charged and more inclined to peroxide modification and aggregation than in healthy persons. The protein in the composition of such lipoproteins deviates towards the water phase, which may result in the masking of the domen, recognized by the BE-receptor and may lead to hyperlipidemia of a retaining character.

[Surgical treatment of chronic ischemic heart disease]. / Khirurgicheskoe lechenie khronicheskoi ishemicheskoi bolezni serdtsa.

The authors suggest a new complex approach to the surgical treatment of ischemic heart disease. Operation of coronary shunting for the restoration of the coronary blood flow, operation of partial ileoshunting for correction of hyperlipoproteinemia, plexotomy for removal of the vasospastic component. The sequence of the operations may vary, each one can also be undertaken independently. The operations were conducted on 315 patients. The follow-up period is up to 8 years. Patency of the mammary-coronary shunts was 93.5%, of autologous veins shunt--65%. Disappearance of the signs of coronary spasm++ and stable normalization of the lipid spectrum are noted.

[Internal thoracic artery in coronary surgery]. / Vnutrenniaia grudnaia arteriia v koronarnoi khirurgii.

The authors emphasize advantages of using the internal thoracic artery for mammary-coronary shunts in patients with ischemic heart disease. 257 operations have been performed in the clinic since 1964. Among them there were operations of mammary-coronary anastomosis (after V. I. Kolesov) and mammary-coronary shunts. Long-term results were followed-up which evidence high effectiveness of operative treatment. In 109 patients control angiographic examinations were fulfilled at different terms (up to 12 years). Patency of mammary-coronary shunts was 83.5% as compared with ACSh where it was about 63%.

[DNA synthesis in the foam cells of the vascular wall in experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits]. / Sintez DNK v penistykh kletkakh sosudistoi stenki pri éksperimental'nom ateroskleroze u krolikov.

Proliferative activity of the aortic intima cells in the course of experimental rabbit hypercholesterolemia is studied. The most intensive DNA synthesis was found in macrophages and smooth cells transforming into the foam cells as shown by electron-microscopic radioautographic analysis. DNA synthesis by damaged and dying foam cells is shown. Cytophotometric analysis showed the small proportion of foam cells in the atherosclerotic lesions to be polyploid.

[Function of the myocardium after revascularization and the patency of coronary shunts]. / Funktsiia miokarda posle ego revaskuliarizatsii i prokhodimost' koronarnykh shuntov.

The article analyzes the contractive function of the myocardium in 149 patients after operation of a single aortocoronary shunt (25 patients), mammaro-coronary shunts with mechanical anastomosis (109 patients) and with manual distal anastomosis (15 patients). Patency of the aorto-coronary shunts was 72%, mammaro-coronary shunts with direct distal anastomosis - 83.5%, with the end-to-side anastomosis - 88.8%. The myocardium function was improved in patients with patent shunts. In patients with incompetent shunts further deterioration of the contractive function of the left ventricle myocardium was noted. It was pointed out that the development of myocardium infarction in the zone of the coronary artery operated upon is not always accounted for by a shunt thrombosis.

Accumulation of cholesteryl esters in macrophages incubated with human lipoprotein-antibody autoimmune complex.

The interaction of mouse peritoneal and human pericardial macrophages with lipoprotein (LP)-antibody (Ab) immune complex isolated from the serum of ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients has been studied. It is shown that the Ab of the autoimmune complex belongs to IgG class, and the antigen is the LP with d less than 1.063 g/ml. Incubation of mouse peritoneal macrophages with such complex led to the activation of [14C]oleic acid incorporation into cholesteryl esters by 2.5-2.8-fold, in comparison with the experiments where macrophages were incubated with free apoprotein (apo) B-containing LP isolated from the same serum. Incubation of human pericardial macrophages with autologous LP-Ab immune complex led to the transformation of macrophages into foam cells. These data lead to the conclusion that formation of LP-Ab autoimmune complexes may play an important role in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions of the arteries.

[New approaches to the surgical treatment of coronary arteriosclerosis]. / Novye podkhody k khirurgicheskomu lecheniiu ateroskleroza koronarnykh arterii.

A new combined approach to surgical treatment of coronary heart disease is recommended: direct myocardial revascularization (mammary-coronary and aorto-coronary bypass) to recover coronary flow; partial ileo-shunting to control hyperlipoproteinemia, and Arnulf's plexectomy (heart denervation) to eliminate vasospastic component. The sequence of operations can be altered depending on the diagnostic findings. Each operation can be performed independently or in combination with others. Operations were performed in 315 patients. The follow-up covered up to 8 years. Long-term patency of mammary-coronary shunts was 93.5%, and that of autovenous shunts was 65%. Lipid composition showed a stable normalization and signs of coronary spasm disappeared.

[Surgery of the heart conduction system in Leningrad: experience with 3000 operations]. / Khirurgiia provodiashchikh putei serdtsa v Leningrade: opyt 3000 operatsii.

The authors make an analysis of the experience with 3239 operations for different disturbances of heart rate. Recommendations are given for different kinds of electro-stimulation.

[Use of myocardial electric stimulation for the treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders]. / Primenenie operatsii miokardial'noi élektrokardiostimuliatsii dlia lecheniia narushenii ritma serdtsa.

Under study were 3 kinds of national sutureless myocardial electrodes compared with sutured electrodes. Sutureless electrodes were simply and reliably implanted into the ventricles and right auricle of the heart, they had better biophysical properties than sutured electrodes. The application of sutureless electrodes and special elevator of the breast bone allows to decrease the duration and traumatism of operations of myocardial electrocardiostimulation, lethality can be reduced to 1%, the amount of hospital complications to 5%.

Lipoprotein-antibody immune complexes. Their catabolism and role in foam cell formation.

Immune complexes consisting of human [125I]LDL or [125I]VLDL and anti-apo B IgG were prepared in vitro. After intravenous administration of these complexes or free LDL to normal rabbits the elimination rate for complexes was 2-3-fold higher than for free lipoproteins. The liver/spleen radioactivity ratio after administration of immune complexes was 34% less than after administration of free lipoproteins. Investigations carried out on the cell cultures have shown that during 4-h incubation the uptake of [125I]LDL-anti-apo B IgG complex by human lung fibroblasts was lower than uptake of free [125I]LDL, whereas mouse peritoneal macrophages took up immune complex more actively than free LDL. During 3 days of incubation of macrophages with LDL-anti-apo B IgG the transformation of macrophages into foam cells was observed. This process was accompanied by almost a 60-fold increase of cholesteryl ester content in the cell. It is suggested that excessive uptake of lipoprotein-antibody complexes by macrophages leading to formation of foam cells may play an important role in atherogenesis.