[Review of International Clinical Trials in the Field of Cardiology Reported in 2016].

We present in this article the review of 6 scientific Hot Line sessions of the 2016 European Congress of Cardiology devoted to novel approaches to treatment of heart failure, strategies of prevention of complications of cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, imaging methods of investigation, and stenting in coronary heart disease.

[Comparative Evaluation of -blockers and If-Channel Inhibitor in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction].

Treatment of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction remains largely empirical, as none of the methods of therapy improves the prognosis of patients. In a prospective randomized study on 126 patients with CHF and LV ejection fraction more or equal 50% we compared effectiveness of long-term treatment with bisoprolol (n=62) and ivabradine (n=64). Assessment of clinical status, exercise tolerance (ET), quality of life, blood level of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor, and parameters of echocardiography was performed at baseline and after 12 months of therapy. Unlike bisoprolol ivabradine, significantly improved exercise tolerance, quality of life, and reduced level of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor. Improvement of echocardiographic indices of active relaxation and compliance of the left ventricle was also observed. Key words: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; ivabradine; bisoprolol; left ventricle diastolic dysfunction.

[Congress of European Society of Cardiology (London, 2015): Results of Most Important Clinical Trials].

Report on all six Hot Line sessions of the European Society of Cardiology Congress, 2015, is presented. These sessions were doted to studies in acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation/cardiac electrical pacing, diabetes/pharmacotherapy, arterial hypertension, heart failure, and coronary artery disease.

[COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF NEW ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS AND WARFARIN IN PATIENTS WITH AGE-SPECIFIC NON-VALVULAR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION].

This study was designed to compare effectiveness and safety of warfarin, direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran, Xa factor inhibitors rivaroxaban and apixaban used to prevent stroke in 280 elderly patients in patients with age-specific non-valvular atrial fibrillation. The treatment of patients aged 65-74 and 75-80 yearsfor 2 years with dab itragan (110 mg b.i.d), apixaban (5 mg b. i. d), and rivaroxaban (20 mg once daily) prevented stroke as effectively as warfarin therapy but less frequently caused severe intracranial hemorrhage. It is concluded that these new anticoagulants can be used as alternative medication for antithrombotic therapy of elderly patients with age-specific non-valvular atrialfibrillation.

[EVALUATION OF THE REGULATORY-ADAPTIVE STATUS FOR PROGNOSTICATION IN SYSTOLIC CHRONIC HEART FAILURE].

We studied a new approach to prognostication in systolic chronic heart failure (CHF) based on the quantitative evaluation of the regulatory-adaptive status (RAS) in 100 patients with FC III CHF and compromised LV systolic function associated with hypertensive disease and/or ischemic heart disease. The patients managed by combined therapy (quinapril, torasemid, spironolactone) were randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 included 56 patients (57.5 ± 21.7 yr) treated with metoprolol succinate (59.1 ± 12.1 mg/d), group 2 contained 44 patients (57.5 ± 21.4 yr) treated with ivabradine (12.1 ± 4.6 mg/d). A test of cardio-respiratory synchronism for quantitative RAS evaluation, echocardiography, treadmill exercise, determination of N-terminal precursor of brain natriuretic peptide in blood plasma, and 6 min walk test were performed before and 6 months after the onset of the study. A 12 month follow up study with controlled pharmacotherapy was carried out to analyse cardiovascular complications. The clinical efficiency of pharmacotherapy was found to be identical in both groups. The frequency of hospitalization for the treatment of CHF, ischemic stroke, and myocardial infarction as well as the number of deaths from cardiovascular disorders were not significantly different. Cardiovascular complications occurred more frequently in patients with initially low or inadequate RAS associated with an enhanced risk of sudden cardiac death. These data are comparable with results of conventional diagnostic tests and reflect independent significance of RAS evaluation for prognostication of the outcome of systolic CHE

[Comparison of Novel Oral Anticoagulants and Warfarin in Elderly Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation].

We compared efficacy and safety of warfarin with those of direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran, factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban and apixaban used for stroke prevention in 280 patients aged 65-80 years with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Treatment for two years with dabigatran (110 mg twice daily), apixaban (5 mg twice daily) or rivaroxaban (20 mg/day) prevented strokes no less successfully than warfarin, but more rarely caused severe intracranial hemorrhages. When selecting antithrombotic therapy in geriatric patients with non-valvular AF new oral anticoagulants may be regarded as an acceptable alternative to warfarin.

[ADVANCE-ON Trial: How to Achieve Maximum Reduction of Mortality in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes].

Of 10 261 patients with type 2 diabetes who survived to the end of a randomized ADVANCE trial 83% were included in the ADVANCE-ON project for observation for 6 years. The difference in the level of blood pressure which had been achieved during 4.5 years of within trial treatment with fixed perindopril/indapamide combination quickly vanished but significant decrease of total and cardiovascular mortality in the group of patients treated with this combination for 4.5 years was sustained during 6 years of post-trial follow-up. The results can be related to gradually weakening protective effect of perindopril/indapamide combination on cardiovascular system, and are indicative of the expedience of long-term use of this antihypertensive therapy for maximal lowering of mortality of patients with diabetes.

[Congress of the European Society of Cardiology (Barcelona, 2014): Results of Most Important Clinical Studies].

This brief report on the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2014 contains detailed reflection of results of international studies presented at 5 Hot Line scientific sessions.

[Safety and efficacy of various modalities of antiplatelet prophylaxis of ischemic stroke in elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation].

We compared the efficacy and safety of warfarin, dabigartan, and clopidogrel used to prevent tromboembolism in 210 elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation depending on the age. In patients aged 65--74 yr treatment with dabigartan (110 mg twice daily) for 6 months was associated with ischemic stroke as frequently as warfarin therapy but less frequently than with severe hemorrhages (4.4 vs. 27.7%, p < 0.05). Clopidogrel prevented stroke as effectively as warfarin and dabigartan and was equally safe. There were no differences in the frequency of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications in 75-80 year-old patients given the three medications. It is concluded that dabigartan and clopidorgel may be regarded as a good alternative to warfarin for anti-platelet treatment of 65-74 year-old patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Zeeman slowing of thulium atoms.

We demonstrate laser slowing of a hot thulium atomic beam using the nearly closed cycling transition 4f(13)6s(2)((2)F(o))(J=7/2)<-->4f(12)((3)H(5))5d(3/2)6s(2)(J=9/2) at 410.6 nm. Atoms are decelerated to velocities around 25 m/s by a 40 cm Zeeman slower. The flux of slowed atoms is evaluated as 10(7) s(-1)cm(-2). The experiment explicitly indicates the possibility of trapping Tm atoms in a magneto-optical trap.

Optical detection of nonradiating alkali atoms in solid helium.

We have detected by optical means nonfluorescing 85Rb and 87Rb atoms implanted in a body centered cubic 4He crystal. In contrast to cesium the resonance fluorescence of rubidium is strongly quenched by the helium matrix, and the weak resonance absorption of the two Rb isotopes was detected using a double resonance technique. From a comparative study of the (optically detected) magnetic resonance spectra of 85Rb, 87Rb, and 133Cs we infer their effective g(F) factors and conclude that they are not perturbed by the He matrix at a level of 2 x 10(-4). We show further that optical pumping of Rb proceeds via depopulation, whereas for Cs it proceeds via repopulation.