Biomarkers in predicting mortality from cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure and an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator

Aim. To study the role of blood biomarkers in predicting death from cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) within one year after cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation.Material and methods. This one-center observation study included 384 HFrEF patients (men, 84%, NYHA class III – 74%, NYHA class IV – 7%), who underwent prospective observation for 1 year after ICD implantation. The study of the original panel of modern biomarkers (blood electrolytes, C-reactive protein, creatinine, soluble growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (sST2), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), galectin-3), allowing to evaluate HF pathogenesis was conducted. Based on the blood creatinine concentration, the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula was used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).Results. In a one-year observation, the primary endpoint was recorded in 35 patients (11%). Single-factor logistic regression showed 3 biomarkers with the greatest predictive potential (p<0,01), related to the occurrence of the investigated endpoint. The concentration of potassium and NT-proBNP, the GFR (CKD-EPI) was included in the multi-factor predictive model with diagnostic efficiency of 68% (sensitivity of 60%, specificity 71%). It was shown that the cardiovascular death risk increased by 2,64 (OR=2,64; 95% CI: 1,28-5,46; p=0,007) at GFR <60 ml/min/1,73 m2 and increased by 3,32 (OR=3,32; 95% CI: 1,26-8,73; p=0,012) at NT-proBNP >2000 pg/ml.Conclusion. The study of blood biomarkers is promising and in demand for the prediction of adverse outcomes of HF. According to the data obtained, the factors «GFR <60 ml/min/1,73 m2» and «NT-proBNP >2000 pg/ml» may be relevant for one-year mortality prediction

Alpha taxonomy of the Russian Permian procolophonoids

European Russia has been the source of many procolophonoid taxa from both the Permian and Triassic, and a Permian or− igin for the procolophonoid family Procolophonidae has been based on the Russian taxon Microphon exiguus. Recently, this taxon was reclassified as a seymouriamorph and, in its place, the taxa Nyctiphruretus, Suchonosaurus, and Kinelia from the Middle and Upper Permian of Russia were suggested as “procolophons”, using evolutionary−systematic classifi− cation methods. In recent phylogenies, however, Nyctiphruretus has been recovered as a non–procolophonoid para− reptile, whereas Kinelia and Suchonosaurus have never been included in a phylogenetic study. Re−examination indicates that Suchonosaurus is a member of the procolophonoid subfamily Procolophonidae based on the shape of the maxillary bone and the external naris, the laterally visible maxillary depression, and the number and type of maxillary teeth. Kinelia, on the other hand, is excluded from the Procolophonoidea because of its subpleurodont dental attachment and lack of any procolophonoid features. Thus, Suchonosaurus is the only confirmed Permian procolophonid from the Permian of Rus− sia. Additionally, re−examination of the holotype of Microphon exiguus confirms that it is identical to the seymouria− morph specimens recently included in the genus Microphon and that it lacks procolophonoid features. The earliest un− equivocal record of the subfamily Procolophonidae is confirmed from the Late Permian of Russia, making Russia the only region where, with certainty, both Permian and Triassic procolophonids have been discovered