Sialic acid as the potential link between lipid metabolism and inflammation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

In the modern world, cardiovascular diseases have a special place among the most common causes of death. Naturally, this widespread problem cannot escape the attention of scientists and researchers. One of the main conditions preceding the development of fatal cardiovascular diseases is atherosclerosis. Despite extensive research into its pathogenesis and possible prevention and treatment strategies, many gaps remain in our understanding of this disease. For example, the concept of multiple low-density lipoprotein modifications was recently stated, in which desialylation is of special importance. Apart from this, sialic acids are known to be important contributors to processes such as endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, which in turn are major components of atherogenesis. In this review, we have collected information on sialic acid metabolism, analyzed various aspects of its implication in atherosclerosis at different stages, and provided an overview of the role of particular groups of enzymes responsible for sialic acid metabolism in the context of atherosclerosis.

Development of a Method for Isolation of Mature Cardiomyocytes from Human Heart Biopsy Specimens.

To increase the yield of living cells and their survival, studies were carried out to optimize the method for isolating cardiomyocytes from biopsy specimens excised from the right atrial appendages. It was found that creatine, blebbistatin, and taurine are necessary components of the buffer solution during cardiomyocyte isolation, and that composition of the solutions is a more important factor than their oxygenation.

Sialic acid as the potential link between lipid metabolism and inflammation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis

In the modern world, cardiovascular diseases have a special place among the most common causes of death. Naturally, this widespread problem cannot escape the attention of scientists and researchers. One of the main conditions preceding the development of fatal cardiovascular diseases is atherosclerosis. Despite extensive research into its pathogenesis and possible prevention and treatment strategies, many gaps remain in our understanding of this disease. For example, the concept of multiple low-density lipoprotein modifications was recently stated, in which desialylation is of special importance. Apart from this, sialic acids are known to be important contributors to processes such as endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, which in turn are major components of atherogenesis. In this review, we have collected information on sialic acid metabolism, analyzed various aspects of its implication in atherosclerosis at different stages, and provided an overview of the role of particular groups of enzymes responsible for sialic acid metabolism in the context of atherosclerosis.

Effects of heavy metals on sex inversion of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam., 1819 in coastal zone of the Black Sea.

Sex inversion in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis under the influence of heavy metals as one of the reasons for the shift in the sex ratio in the mussel population on the Black Sea coastal zone of Crimea were considered in the work. The present study is the first to directly show that heavy metals can cause females of the mussel M. galloprovincialis to change into males during post-spawning development of gonads. The degree of impact of heavy metals on the sex change in mussel females was different and decreased in the following sequence: Cu2+ â†’ Cd2+ â†’ Hg2+ â†’ Pb2+ â†’ Zn2+. Copper ions had the greatest effect, which caused a sex inversion in 54 % of females. The heavy metals Hg2+ and Pb2+ were also quite toxic causing mortality in 13 % and 10 % of individuals, respectively. It is possible to use M. galloprovincialis as a model organism in the study of mechanism of environmental sex reversal in bivalves.

[Surgical repair of secondary tricuspid regurgitation]. / Khirurgicheskaia korrektsiia vtorichnoi nedostatochnosti trikuspidal'nogo klapana.

Optimal surgical strategy for secondary tricuspid regurgitation is still under discussion. First of all, this is due to rare organic disease of tricuspid valve and tricuspid regurgitation is almost always classified as secondary insufficiency. Fibrous annulus enlargement of tricuspid valve is the most common cause of tricuspid regurgitation. Annular dilatation may by the result of left ventricular failure due to myocardial or valvular diseases, right ventricular enlargement, pressure or volume overload. No surgical correction of tricuspid insufficiency during cardiac surgery for other leading disease aggravates short- and long-term results. Considering the wide interest and disputes around optimal surgical strategy for tricuspid regurgitation, this review is devoted to modern methods of surgical treatment of secondary tricuspid insufficiency.

[SPECIFICS OF INHALED ILOPROST PHARMACODYNAMICS IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE LEFT VENTRICULAR SYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION].

PURPOSE: To determine the specifics of inhaled iloprost effect on pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 47 vasore- activity tests (VRT) with 20 micrograms inhaled iloprost (Ventavis, Bayer) were performed in 39 candidates on heart transplantation. All patients had heart failure III-IV NYHA and PH with pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) more than 2.5 Wood units. Hemodynamic parameters were evaluated at baseline and 15 minutes after inhalation of iloprost. RESULTS: Iloprost significant decreased PAPmean: from 36.8 ± 8.5 mm Hg to 29.9 ± 9.4 mm Hg (p < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in PVR:from 4.5 1.6 Wood units to 3 ± 1 Wood units (p < 0.001). PVR dropped more than 20% in 34 cases (72.3%). Iloprost inhalation caused significant changes in systemic hemodynamic. There were decrease in sys- temic vascular resistance (SVR)from 1820 ± 527 dynes·sec·cm(-5) to 1423 ± 427 dynes·sec·cm(-5) (p < 0.001), increase in stroke volume index (SVI) from 26.1 ± 8.7 ml/m2 to 30.5 ± 9.5 ml/m2 (p < 0.001) and decrease in PCWP from 20.6 ± 5.9 mm Hg to 18.4 ± 6.6 mm Hg. (p = 0.016). We found significant negative correlation between systemic effects of iloprost and initial cardiac index (r = -0.63). CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled iloprost caused significant changes in systemic hemodynamic when was used in patients with severe LV systolic dysfunction. Favorable changes in the left ventricle preload and after- load naturally increased its performance and decreased PCWP.

[Nasal respiratory function in acute trauma as shown by anterior active rhinomanometry].

Anterior active rhinomanometry (AARM) was used for objective investigation of nasal respiration in patients with nasal bone fractures. Twenty one patients with nasal septum deformation have undergone reconstructive septorhinoplasty in acute trauma, 33 patients -- standard nasal bone reposition. AARM proved its efficacy as a simple and convenient method of nasal obstruction assessment in acute trauma and can be successfully applied for determination of therapeutic policy and control of surgical intervention. Most patients with nasal bone fracture had preoperative low total volume flow and elevated nasal resistance. Nasal septum curvature and deformation of external nose structures are of importance in development of the pathology. One-stage reconstruction of the nasal septum and pyramid in acute trauma brings about significantly better long-term functional results compared to conventional closed nasal bone reposition.

[The epidemiological and clinicoimmunological aspects of the outburst of trichinosis in the Krymsky District of the Krasnodar Territory].

The present paper presents the epidemiological and clinicoimmunological aspects of the outburst of trichinosis in the Krymsky District of the Krasnodar Territory in January 2001. Six hundred and forty-eight persons ate infested wild boar meat, 119 (74.8%) fell ill with moderate and severe trichinosis. The authors provide the results of 3.5-year immunological studies of the patients with trichinosis and convalescents, infection-risk and healthy individuals; those of autopsies of the corpses of those who died from accidental causes unassociated with trichinosis, as well as examinations of domestic, synanthropic, and wild animals. The findings indicate that there is a focus of trichinosis with the low level of endemia in the Krymsky District of the Krasnodar Territory.

[Current approaches to estimating the sizes of the thyroid in neonates and infants from ultrasonographic data]. / Sovremennye podkhody k otsenke razmerov shchitovidnoi zhelezy u novorozhdennykh i detei rannego vozrasta po dannym ul'trazvukovogo issledovaniia.

The thyroid was ultrasonographically studied in 384 pre-term babies aged 4-8 days of life. The sizes of thyroid lobes were determined; the echogenicity of the thyroid was compared with that of the parotid salivary gland. The infants were born by apparently healthy mothers and females with iodine deficiency. An original procedure for neonatal ultrasound study was developed. Data statistical processing yielded a formula of the individual standard of a thyroid volume, which allows neonatal goiter and thyroid hypoplasia to be established at early stages of life.

Role of the autonomic nervous system in the development of cardiac arrhythmias in cats with acute myocardial ischemia receiving thyroliberin.

The role of the autonomic nervous system in the development of ischemic cardiac arrhythmias was studied in acute experiments on cats receiving thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Bilateral vagotomy attenuated, while bilateral transection of cardiac branches of the stellate ganglia completely abolished the antiarrhythmic effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

Effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on activity of bulbar cardiovascular neurons.

Acute experiments on narcotized cats showed that intravenous injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (20 microg/kg) inhibited discharge activity of most afferent neurons and interneurons in the bulbar cardiovascular center.

Effect of TRH on the development of ischemic cardiac arrhythmias in cats.

Acute experiments on cats showed that intravenous injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone prevented blood pressure drop and produced a pronounced antiarrhythmic effect.

Effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on the development of cardiac arrhythmias during stimulation of sensorimotor cortex in cats.

Preliminary intravenous injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone in a dose of 20 g/kg to cats with developing myocardial ischemia during stimulation of the cerebrocortical sensorimotor zone had a pronounced antiarrhythmic effect.