[Features of the course of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction in patients with a history of COVID-19].

Aim      To study the clinical course of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in hospitalized patients after COVID-19 and to evaluate the effect of baseline characteristics of patients on the risk of complications.Material and methods  The study included 209 patients with NSTEMI; 104 of them had had COVID-19. The course of myocardial infarction (MI) was analyzed at the hospital stage, including evaluation of the incidence rate of complications (fatal outcome, recurrent MI, life-threatening arrhythmias and conduction disorders, pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, ischemic stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding).Results Mean age of patients after COVID-19 was 61.8±12.2 years vs. 69.0±13.0 in the comparison group (p<0.0001). The groups were comparable by risk factors, clinical data, and severity of coronary damage. Among those who have had СOVID-19, there were fewer patients of the GRACE high risk group (55.8 % vs. 74.3 %; p<0.05). Convalescent COVID-19 patients had higher levels of C-reactive protein and troponin I (p<0.05). The groups did not significantly differ in the incidence of unfavorable NSTEMI course (p>0.05). However, effects of individual factors (postinfarction cardiosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, decreased SpO2, red blood cell concentration, increased plasma glucose) on the risk of complications were significantly greater for patients after COVID-19 than for the control group (p<0.05).Conclusion      Patients with NSTEMI, despite differences in clinical history and laboratory data, are characterized by a similar risk of death at the hospital stage, regardless of the past COVID-19. Despite the absence of statistically significant differences in the incidence of in-hospital complications, in general, post-COVID-19 patients showed a higher risk of complicated course of NSTEMI compared to patients who had not have COVID-19. In addition, for this category of patients, new factors were identified that previously did not exert a clinically significant effect on the incidence of complications: female gender, concentration of IgG to SARS-CoV-2 ≥200.0 U/l, concentration of С-reactive protein ≥40.0 mg/l, total protein <65 g/l. These results can be used for additional stratification of risk for cardiovascular complications in patients with MI and also for development of individual protocols for evaluation and management of NSTEMI patients with a history of COVID-19.

[Algorithm of anxiety-depressive disorders detection in patients with coronary heart disease in general clinical practice].

AIM: To estimate a diagnostic algorithm for anxiodepressive disorders (ADD) in coronary patients in general therapeutic practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 163 coronary patients were examined using Seattle, Moriski and Green, Hospital questionnaires for anxiety and depression. Patients with clinical and subclinical anxiety and/or depression by Hospital testing responded to Hamilton anxiety and depression questionnaire. An analysis of clinical, anamnestic and socioeconomic parameters was made to create a multifactor model for ADD detection in coronary patients basing on the method of multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: A model of ADD dependence Z = -3.446 x [presence or absence of anxiety and/or depression in the past]-2.451 x [presence or absence of stress for a year] - 2.452 x [drinking alcohol or rejection of alcohol] + 0.071 x [the disease perception in percent from Seattle angina questionnaire]. In certain combination of responses (presence or absence of parameters) and digital result in 7 combinations the patients can be diagnosed to have ADD. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic algorithm proposed helps ADD detection in coronary patients in general therapeutic practice without participation of psychotherapists and medical psychologists.

[Myocardial metastasis of Wilms' tumor as a cause of focal electrocardiographic changes].

Nephroblastoma (Wilms' tumor) is an embryonic tumor, an adenomyosarcoma that is casuistically rarely encountered in adults. It most commonly develops in children aged 1 to 5 years. This type of malignancy does not usually spread to the myocardium. The paper presents a clinical case of Wilms' tumor in an adult female patient with a solitary metastasis in the heart.

[The deposition of tritium in form of HTO from atmosphere moisture to Hypogymnia physodes lichens during chamber experiments].

The results of the deposition of tritium oxide (HTO) from atmosphere to Hypogymnia physodes lichens during chamber experiments are presented. For lichens the content of tissue water tritium (TWT) and organically bound tritium (OBT) were measuremed. Were shown that lichens mainly absorb HTO from atmosphere during first 24 hours. The ratio TWT/HTO of chamber and the velocity of TWT to OBT conversion in lichens were determined. Was noted that the TWT to OBT conversion velocity for lichens is ten times greater than that for deposition of HTO by vascular plant leafs. There was supposed that TWT to OCT conversion in lichens is occurred through alga as well as fungus component of lichens. The intensive deposition HTO from chamber atmosphere by lichens and high velocity of HTO to OBT conversion show the availability to use lichens for determination of atmosphere pollution by HTO.

[Brain natriuretic peptide in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. Prognostic significance].

AIM: To study changes in the level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) to assess prognostic value of this marker and validity of its use as a criterion of therapy effects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial enrolled 217 patients (102 males and 15 females, mean age 63.96 +/- 0.73 years) admitted to hospital on MI day 1. Plasmic level of BNP (Nt-proBNP) was measured 1, 7, 21 days, 8 weeks and 6 months after MI. RESULTS: The severity of chronic cardiac failure (CCF) correlated with peptide content in the blood: it was by 46.6% higher in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) functional class (FC) IV than in those with CHF FC I (p = 0.047), in FC III by 27.5% higher (p = 0.003) and in FCII--by 13.1% (p = 0.485). Initially high levels of BNP correlated with early development of CHF (R2 = 0.9058), with hospital lethality (in the deceased--1040.0 +/- 65.8 fmol/ml, in the survivors--461.4 +/- 26.2 fmol/ml, r = 0.35, p < 0.001) and overall lethality. A more pronounced decrease in the peptide level was seen in patients after 3 week intake of beta-adrenoblocker esmolol than in those who did not take it (by 125.2 vs 74.1 fmol/ml, respectively, p < 0.05). By BNP level, efficacy of perindopril vs captopris was studied (group 1 and group 2, respectively), in patients with ejection fraction under 40%. Initially, BNP levels were elevated and did not differ among the groups. On MI week 8 there was a decrease in the level of BNP by 25.4% (p = 0.004), 19.1% (p = 0.06) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Six months after MI patients of group 1 had normal levels of BNP (up to 269.6 +/- 18.3 fmol/l). CONCLUSION: Measurements of BNP levels are useful for prediction of poor prognosis in MI patients and evaluating efficacy of the treatment.

[Trimetazidine in complex therapy of acute myocardial infarction at the background of diabetes mellitus type 2.].

Patients (n=52) with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and diabetes mellitus type 2 older than 18 years were distributed within first 24 hours of MI into 2 groups. In patients of group 1 (n=28) standard therapy was supplemented with trimetazidine (70 mg/day) for 30 days, patients of group 2 received only standard therapy. The following parameters were assessed: rate of recurrent MIs, inhospital mortality, dynamics of MB CR, rate of development and progression of heart failure, dynamics of brain natriuretic peptide, parameters of echocardiogram. Mortality in group 1 at the background of thrombolytic therapy (TLT) was 5.9% (n=1) what was significantly lower than in group 2 where this parameter was equal to 35.7% (n=5), p=0.006. A tendency was noted to lowering of rate of recurrent MIs (17.6 and 21.4% in groups 1 and 2, respectively). Analogous parameters did not differ significantly between subgroups of patients not treated with TLT. In group 1 significant 31% lowering of MB CK level was noted in TLT treated patients. In group 2 level of MB CK after 27-30 hours significantly increased by 30.16% compared with initial level (p=0.001). At analysis of analogous parameters in subgroups not treated with TLT significant differences were not obtained. There were no significant differences between groups according to echocardiography data, however ejection fraction in group 1 was 12.6% higher than in group 2 (p>0.05).

On monitoring anthropogenic airborne uranium concentrations and (235)U/(238)U isotopic ratio by Lichen - bio-indicator technique.

Lichens are widely used to assess the atmospheric pollution by heavy metals and radionuclides. However, few studies are available in publications on using lichens to qualitatively assess the atmospheric pollution levels. The paper presents research results applying epiphytic lichens as bio-monitors of quantitative atmospheric contamination with uranium. The observations were conducted during 2.5 years in the natural environment. Two experimental sites were used: one in the vicinity of a uranium contamination source, the other one - at a sufficient distance away to represent the background conditions. Air and lichens were sampled at both sites monthly. Epiphytic lichens Hypogimnia physodes were used as bio-indicators. Lichen samples were taken from various trees at about 1.5m from the ground. Air was sampled with filters at sampling stations. The uranium content in lichen and air samples as well as isotopic mass ratios (235)U/(238)U were measured by mass-spectrometer technique after uranium pre-extraction. Measured content of uranium were 1.45 mgkg(-1) in lichen at 2.09 E-04 microgm(-3) in air and 0.106 mgkg(-1) in lichen at 1.13 E-05 microgm(-3) in air. The relationship of the uranium content in atmosphere and that in lichens was determined, C(AIR)=exp(1.1 x C(LICHEN)-12). The possibility of separate identification of natural and man-made uranium in lichens was demonstrated in principle.

[The use of esmolol in patients with myocardial infarction complicated with acute left ventricular failure].

Forty patients with acute Q-wave myocardial infarction and Killip class I-II heart failure were randomized to treatment with esmolol (n=22) or just to standard therapy (n=18) and followed up for 30 days. Esmolol treated patients had significantly lower in-hospital mortality (p<0.02), less frequently had postinfarction angina (p<0.05) and heart failure progression (p<0.01) and demonstrated significant decrease of brain natriuretic peptide level (by 25%, p<0.05). Incidence of heart rhythm disturbances and values of parameters of echocardiogram were similar in both groups.

Upward movement of tritium from contaminated groundwaters: a numerical analysis.

This paper describes a research-oriented modelling exercise that addresses the problem of assessing the movement of tritium from a contaminated perched aquifer to the land surface. Participants were provided with information on water table depth, soil characteristics, hourly meteorological and evapotranspiration data. They were asked to predict the upward migration of tritium through the unsaturated soil into the atmosphere. Eight different numerical models were used to calculate the movement of tritium. The modelling results agree within a factor of two, if very small time and space increments are used. The agreement is not so good when the near-surface soil becomes dry. The modelling of the alternate upward and downward transport of tritium close to the ground surface generally requires rather complex models and detailed input because tritium concentration varies sharply over short distances and is very sensitive to many interactive factors including rainfall amount, evapotranspiration rate, rooting depth and water table position.

[Effect of local superficial cooling of the rat cerebral cortex on unit activity of neurons--hypothetical sources of corticofugal signals]. / Vliianie lokal'nogo poverkhnostnogo okhlazhdeniia kory mozga krysy na impul'snuiu aktivnost' neironov--predpolagaemykh istochnikov kortikofugal'nykh vliianii.

Unit activity and primary responses (PR) in the cortex area SI and evoked potentials (EP) in the striatum of the rat's brain were recorded during electrocutaneous stimulation of the contralateral forepaw. The cortex in the area of sensory representation of the stimulated extremity was cooled superficially, which promoted an increase of the PR amplitude in the cooling zone. Such cooling facilitated EP to the same stimulus in the striatum. The facilitation was accompanied by changes in time parameters of the neuronal responses in the 5th and 6th layers of the cortex: the latency and spike responses increased, a rhythmic organization of the responses either appeared or (if it was presented before cooling) became more intensive and period of the rhythm got longer. An increase in the spike number and amplitude of PR evoked by cooling in response to applied stimulus was not so high as an increase in the EP amplitude in the striatum and did not completely coincide with it in time. The data obtained permitted suggesting that the effect of corticofugal signals on the sensory reaction in the striatum was rather due to their time organization then to intensity.

[Differences in the corticofugal facilitating effect on evoked potentials in the neostriatum of rats and monkeys]. / Razlichiia v oblegchaiushchem kortikofugal'nom vliianii na vyzvannye potentsialy v neostriatume mozga krys i obez'ian.

Identical facilitation of the primary response to peripheral stimuli in rats and monkeys has been induced by local superficial cooling of the cortex in the somatosensory area S1. Higher facilitation of the evoked potentials was observed in the neostriatum of rats. Correlation of the evoked potentials with primary responses was more significant with respect to temporal than amplitude parameters. In monkeys, "cool" facilitation of the cortical primary response did not result in facilitation of the evoked potential in the neostriatum. Temporal correlation between the primary response and the evoked potential was less significant, whereas correlation in the amplitude was absent. The data obtained indicate the existence of differences in functional organization of corticofugal influences upon the neostriatum in rodents and primates.

DNA probes for studying streptothricin resistance evolution in enteric bacteria.

Probes for the detection of streptothricin resistance genes have been derived from recombinant plasmids. These include the streptothricin resistance gene probe sat 1/2 derived from Tn 1826 and specific for both the sat-1 determinant of Tn 1825 and the sat-2 determinant of Tn 1826, and the probe sat D derived from and specific for the sat-1 determinant of transposon Tn 1825. A third streptothricin resistance gene probe, sat 3, represents the streptothricin resistance determinant sat-3 of the IncQ R plasmid pIE639. Hybridization studies did not reveal any sequence homology between sat-3 and the transposon-localized sat-1 and sat-2 determinants. Moreover, non of the different sat-determinants isolated from plasmids of gram negative bacteria hybridized with the analogous resistance determinant of Streptomyces noursei, which had been cloned and named nat by Krügel et al. (Gene, 1988, 62, 209-214). The sat 1/2 probe in combination with the sat D probe proved to be suitable for the identification and the differentiation of sat-1 and sat-2 determinants in different genetic environments. Streptothricin resistance genes related to those present on transposons Tn 1825 and Tn 1826 have been detected by hybridization with the probe sat 1/2 on plasmids isolated a long time ago before the application of streptothricins. The sat-3 determinant appears to be exclusively associated with the IncQ plasmid pIE639.

[Biotinylated DNA probe for detection of streptotricin acetylation genes]. / Biotinilirovannyi DNK-zond dlia obnaruzheniia genov atsetilirovaniia streptotritsina.

The biotin-labelled DNA probe for identification of functioning and silent genes for streptotricin acetylation has been constructed. The probe is homologous to sat1 gene of the movable genetic element Tn1825. The simplified modification of the hybridization technique using the biotin-labelled DNA probe is described.

[Localization of insertion into E. coli chromosome of Tn7-like transposons controlling resistance to trimethoprim and streptothricin]. / Lokalizatsiia vnedreniia v khromosomu E. coli Tn7-podobnykh transpozonov, kontroliruiushchikh ustoichivost' k trimetoprimu i streptotritsinu.

To localize the insertion sites for Tn7-like transposons Tn1824, Tn1825 and Tn1826 the EcoRI-cleaved fragments of E. coli recA+ and recA- strains chromosome carrying the transposons were hybridized. It was shown that transposition of Tn7-like elements takes place in the strictly defined region of E. coli chromosome, like it had been previously described for transposon Tn7.

[Characteristics of transposition of Tn7-like elements determining resistance to trimethoprim and streptomycin]. / Kharakteristika transpozitsii Tn7-podobnykh élementov, opredeliaiushchikh ustoichivost' k trimetoprimu i streptotritsinu.

The transposing elements Tn7, Tn1824, controlling the resistance to trimethoprim and Tn1925, Tn1826, carrying the streptothricin resistance genes were classified as a new transposon family on the basis of their physical structure. The comparative genetic analysis of the frequency, specificity and insertion orientation in different replicons, obtained in independent research systems in this study, demonstrated the identity of transposition characteristics of the transposons. The latter makes it possible to classify them as an independent transposon family. The peculiar feature of the Tn7-like elements family is their RecA-dependent transposition into the chromosome of Escherichia coli stimulated by bacteriophage Plkc transduction of the transposons.

[The effect of mutations in recB and recC genes on the precise excision of Tn5 from pNM1 plasmid genome]. / Vliianie mutatsii v genakh recB i recC na tochnoe iskliuchenie Tn5 iz genoma plazmidy pNM1.

The affect of mutations in chromosomal genes determining the realization of RecBC and RecF pathways of recombination in E. coli K12 on the frequency of transposon Tn5 precise excision from the genome of the conjugative plasmid pNM1 has been demonstrated. The pNM1 plasmid is a derivative of R100.1 and differs from the latter in the presence of Tn5 inactivating the tet gene of transposon Tn10.