ДИАГНОСТИКА СТЕНОЗОВ СТВОЛА ЛЕВОЙ КОРОНАРНОЙ АРТЕРИИ И ПЕРЕДНЕЙ НИСХОДЯЩЕЙ КОРОНАРНОЙ АРТЕРИИ С ПОМОЩЬЮ ТРАНСТОРАКАЛЬНОЙ ЭХОКАРДИОГРАФИИ

Purpose. To detect the potential of different qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative transthoracic Doppler signs for successful evaluation of stenotic left main coronary artery (LMCA) and left anterior descending artery (LAD).Materials and methods. 173 patients (52±10 years; 149 men) with chest pain, sinus rhythm and scheduled quantitative coronaryangiography (CAG) were evaluated at rest by non-contrast transthoracic echocardiography (TT E). LMCA and proximal (p), mid (m) and distal (d) parts of the LAD were examined. The Doppler signs of coronary stenosis >50 % were determined as follows: 1 – local Doppler aliasing with the Nyquist limit set at 60 cm/s; 2 – maximal peak diastolic velocity (Vpd) >60 cm/s; 3 – ratio of stenotic/prestenotic Vpd >2.0; 4 – stenosis >50 % according to flow continuous equation: stenosis, % = 100 × (1 – prestenotic VTId / stenotic VTId), where VTId – diastolic time velocity integral. CAG was performed within 1 week after TT E. Stenosis >50 % of diameter reduction was considered as significant.Results. Sensitivity (Sens), specificity (Sp) and diagnostic accuracy (Ac) of different Doppler stenotic signs for stenotic LMCA andLAD are presented in Table 1. Thus, TT E is a method for correct evaluation of stenotic LMCA and LAD. Quantitative ratio of stenotic to prestenotic coronary flow velocities is a more sensitive sign for detecting stenosis >50 %, than qualitative and semi-quantitative evaluation of maximal coronary flow velocity only.Цель. Оценить возможности неконтрастной трансторакальной эхокардиографии (ТТ ЭхоКГ) для качественной, полуколичественной и количественной диагностики стенозов ствола левой коронарной артерии (ЛКА) и передней нисходящей коронарной артерии (ПНА).Материалы и методы. ТТ ЭхоКГ выполнена у 173 человек (средний возраст 52±10 лет; 149 мужчин) с болью в левой половине грудной клетки, направленных в стационар для проведения коронарной ангиографии (КАГ). Исследован ствол ЛКА, проксимальный (пр/3), средний (ср/3) и дистальный (д/3) сегменты ПНА. Доплерографическими признаками стенозирования >50 % считали: 1 – локальный aliasing при использовании предела Найквиста 60 см/с; 2 – максимальную пиковую диастолическую скорость корнарного кровотока (Vpd) >60 см/с; 3 – отношение стенотическая Vpd / престенотическая Vpd >2,0; 4 – стеноз >50 % в соответствии с уравнением непрерывности потока: стеноз, % = 100 % × (1 – престенотический VTId / стенотический VTId), где VTId – интеграл скорости кровотока в диастолу. КАГ была проведена в течение 1 недели после ТТ ЭхоКГ; стенозы определяли как значимые, если уменьшение диаметра сосуда превышало 50 %.Результаты. Чувствительность (Ч), специфичность (Сп) и диагностическая точность различных доплерографических признаков для выявления стенозов ЛКА и ПНА представлены в таблице 1. Таким образом, ТТ ЭхоКГ является корректным неинвазивным методом диагностики стенозов ЛКА и ПНА. Количественное сравнение скоростей кровотока в престенотическом и стенотическом участках является более чувствительным доплеровским признаком стенозования >50 %, чем качественная и полуколичественная оценка стенозирования по максимальной скорости кровотока

Взаимосвязь органических и неорганических веществ при формировании мочевых камней

Macro- and microscopic structural features of human urolyths have been studied to reveal the relation between organic and inorganic components and the role of the latter in the process of urolyth formation and growth. The combined study of the shape, color, surface, mineral and organic composition, and internal structure and zoning of 788 urolyths has been performed. Crystallomorphological, polarization-optical, X-ray-diffraction, electron-microscopic, chemical, neutron-activation, and computer technologies of study of the urolyth structure have been used. It has been found that macroscopic characteristics of uroluths (color, shape, surface, and size) did not reflect the chemical composition of urolyths. In the structure of abundance of urolyths in Tomskand the Tomsk Region, oxalates (58%) and urolyths of complex mineral composition (29%)  prevail. It has been found that an urolyth is an organomineral aggregate having the internal structure formed by a rhythm of alternation of organic and inorganic layers and the character of arrangement of individual mineral crystals, and the internal structure is independent of the chemical composition of the urolyth and  uniform in urolyths of different chemical composition. The most part of urolyths has a mixed (44%) or druzy (35%) type of crystal arrangement and the  combined (45%) or grainy (31%) rhythm of alternation of organic and inorganic components.Исследованы макро- и микроскопические структурные особенности мочевых камней человека с выявлением взаимосвязи органической и неорганической составляющих и роли последней в процессе формирования и роста камня. Выполнено комплексное исследование формы, цвета, характера поверхности, минерального и органического составов, а также внутренней структуры и зональности 788 мочевых камней. Использованы кристалломорфологические, поляризационно-оптические, рентгеноструктурные, электронно-микроскопические, химические, нейтронно-активационные, а также компьютерные технологии изучения строения уролитов. Установлено, что макроскопические признаки камня (цвет, форма, характер поверхности и размеры) не отражают его химического состава. В структуре распределения мочевых камней в г. Томске и Томской области преобладают оксалаты (58%) и камни сложного минерального состава (29%). Выявлено, что мочевой камень является органоминеральным агрегатом, имеющим внутреннюю структуру, сформированную ритмом чередования слоев веществ органического и неорганического строения и характером расположения отдельных кристаллов минералов, при этом внутренняя структура не зависит от химического состава камня и однотипна у камней разного химического состава. Большая часть мочевых камней имеет смешанный (44%) или друзовидный (35%) тип расположения кристаллов и комбинированный (45%) или зернистый (31%) ритм чередования органических и неорганических составляющих

IMMUNOREGULATORY IMBALANCE AND FUNCTIONAL STATE OF THE HEART IN THE PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE 2

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is one of the most important non-infectious diseases in the modern world, being an important risk factor of cardiovascular disorders. Changes in left ventricular myocardial diastolic function are observed in diabetic patients independently from other comorbidities. Etiology of the heart failure during diabetes mellitus type 2 is multifactorial, exhibiting cellular,  molecular and metabolic aspects. However, its pathophysiological mechanisms are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate numbers of inflammatory T lymphocytes, i.e., T helper type 1 (Th1) and T helper type 17 (Th17) cells, and FoxP3+T regulatory lymphocytes, depending on the functional state of the heart assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography in patients with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2. A total of twenty-five patients with a combination of arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2, and 14 patients with arterial hypertension without carbohydrate disturbances were recruited to a cross-ectional case-control study. All the patients underwent echocardiography with transthoracic access at the M-mode, B-mode and Doppler mode of imaging. We evaluated numbers of Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes by intracellular production of IL-17 and IFNγ by CD4+ lymphocytes, respectively. The numbers of FoxP3+T regulatory lymphocytes were estimated by expression of CD25 and FoxP3 transcription factor. A flow cytometry approach was used in both cases. We revealed some correlations between the numbers of Th17 lymphocytes, FoxP3+T regulatory lymphocytes and functional parameters of myocardium in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, which were absent in patientswithout carbohydrate impairments. The numbers of FoxP3+T egulatory lymphocytes, Treg/Th17 lymphocyte ratio, and mean fluorescence intensity of IL-17 for Th17 cells was lower in patients with diabetes mellitus and diastolic dysfunction compared to the patients with diabetes free of diastolic dysfunction. Association of diastolic dysfunction with diabetes mellitus type 2 was accompanied by increase of IFNγ+Th1 lymphocyte numbers and concentrations of IL-10, IFNγ and TNFα in serum as compared to the patients with diastolic dysfunction in the absence of carbohydrate metabolism disturbances. The diabetic patients with diastolic dysfunction were characterized by hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, higher index of insulin resistance, increase of waist circumference and visceral adiposity index when compared to the patients with diastolic dysfunction without diabetes. Visceral obesity and decrease of insulin sensitivity may be regarded as pathogenetically significant factors for the development of immune regulatory imbalance and diastolic dysfunction in the patients with diabetes mellitus type 2

Association of impaired myocardial flow reserve with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease

Aim. To reveal the association between disorders of myocardial blood flow and reserve, according to dynamic single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).Material and methods. The study included patients with suspected stable nonobstructive (<50%) CAD. Based on the survey data, anamnesis, out- and in-patient medical records, we analyzed main CVD risk factors. All patients underwent dynamic myocardial SPECT and analysis of blood lipid profile in vitro. Depending on myocardial flow reserve (MFR), two groups were formed: 1. With reduced MFR <2,0 (rMFR); 2. With normal MFR ≥2,0 (nMFR).Results. The study included 47 patients divided into 2 following groups: the rMFR group consisted of 24 patients (15 men, age 56,3±9,1 years), the nMFR group — 23 patients (13 men, age 58,4±10,7 years). There was no significant difference in prevalence of CVD risk factors in groups. However, dyslipidemia was detected more often in rMFR patients (p=0,053): 58% vs 30%, respectively. In patients with rMFR, there were significantly higher levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Correlation analysis revealed significant negative inverse relationships between MFR values with TC (ρ=-0,36, p=0,01) and LDL-C (ρ=-0,38, p=0,009). According to univariate logistic regression, significant predictors of reduced MFR were TC (odds ratio (OR), 2,32; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1,17-4,59; p=0,01) and LDL-C (OR, 2,16; 95% CI, 1,04-4,51; p=0,04). According to a stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis, only TC was an independent predictor of a decrease in MFR (OR, 2,32; 95% CI, 1,17-4,59; p=0,02).Conclusion. MFR, determined by dynamic SPECT, is associated with TC and LDL-C levels. TC level is an independent predictor of a decrease in MFR

Transthoracic echocardiography for imaging of the different coronary artery segments: a feasibility study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) may be used for direct inspection of various parts of the main coronary arteries for detection of coronary stenoses and occlusions. We aimed to assess the feasibility of TTE to visualise the complete segments of the left main (LM), left descending (LAD), circumflex (Cx) and right (RCA) coronary arteries.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred and eleven patients scheduled for diagnostic coronary angiography because of chest pain or acute coronary syndrome had a TTE study to map the passage of the main coronary arteries. LAD, Cx and RCA were each divided into proximal, middle and distal segments. If any part of the individual segment of a coronary artery with antegrade blood flow was not visualised, the segment was labeled as not satisfactorily seen.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Complete imaging of the LM was achieved in 98% of the patients. With antegrade directed coronary artery flow, the proximal, middle and distal segments of LAD were completely seen in 96%, 95% and 91% of patients, respectively. Adding the completely seen segments with antegrade coronary flow and segments with retrograde coronary flow, the proximal, middle and distal segments of LAD were adequately visualised in 96%, 96% and 93% of patients, respectively. With antegrade directed coronary artery flow, the proximal, middle and distal segments of Cx were completely seen in 88%, 61% and 3% and in RCA in 40%, 28% and 54% of patients. Retrograde coronary artery flow was correctly identified as verified by coronary angiography in seven coronary segments, mainly in the posterior descending artery (labeled as the distal segment of RCA) and distal LAD.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>TTE is a feasible method for complete demonstration of coronary flow in the LM, the proximal Cx and the different segments of LAD, but less suitable for the RCA and mid and distal segments of the Cx. (ClinicalTrials.gov number NTC00281346.)</p

Гендерные аспекты развития уролитиаза у пациентов с метаболическим синдромом

The review summarizes and analyzes the results of domestic and major foreign studies of recent years concerning gender characteristics of the epidemiology and development mechanisms of metabolic syndrome and urolithiasis as an associated disease. A deep understanding of gender aspects in the pathogenesis of these pathologies can form the basis for development of high-quality diagnostic algorithms and pathogenetically grounded approaches to treatment. В обзоре обобщены и проанализированы результаты отечественных и крупных зарубежных исследований последних лет, касающиеся гендерных особенностей эпидемиологии и механизмов развития метаболического синдрома и мочекаменной болезни как ассоциированного с ним заболевания. Глубокое понимание гендерных аспектов в патогенезе данных патологических процессов может лечь в основу разработки качественных диагностических алгоритмов и патогенетически обоснованных подходов к лечению.

Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with obesity and prevalent heart failure: a prespecified analysis of the SELECT trial

Background: Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in people with overweight or obesity, but the effects of this drug on outcomes in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure are unknown. We report a prespecified analysis of the effect of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2·4 mg on ischaemic and heart failure cardiovascular outcomes. We aimed to investigate if semaglutide was beneficial in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with a history of heart failure compared with placebo; if there was a difference in outcome in patients designated as having heart failure with preserved ejection fraction compared with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; and if the efficacy and safety of semaglutide in patients with heart failure was related to baseline characteristics or subtype of heart failure. Methods: The SELECT trial was a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled, event-driven phase 3 trial in 41 countries. Adults aged 45 years and older, with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater and established cardiovascular disease were eligible for the study. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) with a block size of four using an interactive web response system in a double-blind manner to escalating doses of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide over 16 weeks to a target dose of 2·4 mg, or placebo. In a prespecified analysis, we examined the effect of semaglutide compared with placebo in patients with and without a history of heart failure at enrolment, subclassified as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, or unclassified heart failure. Endpoints comprised MACE (a composite of non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, and cardiovascular death); a composite heart failure outcome (cardiovascular death or hospitalisation or urgent hospital visit for heart failure); cardiovascular death; and all-cause death. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03574597. Findings: Between Oct 31, 2018, and March 31, 2021, 17 604 patients with a mean age of 61·6 years (SD 8·9) and a mean BMI of 33·4 kg/m2 (5·0) were randomly assigned to receive semaglutide (8803 [50·0%] patients) or placebo (8801 [50·0%] patients). 4286 (24·3%) of 17 604 patients had a history of investigator-defined heart failure at enrolment: 2273 (53·0%) of 4286 patients had heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, 1347 (31·4%) had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, and 666 (15·5%) had unclassified heart failure. Baseline characteristics were similar between patients with and without heart failure. Patients with heart failure had a higher incidence of clinical events. Semaglutide improved all outcome measures in patients with heart failure at random assignment compared with those without heart failure (hazard ratio [HR] 0·72, 95% CI 0·60-0·87 for MACE; 0·79, 0·64-0·98 for the heart failure composite endpoint; 0·76, 0·59-0·97 for cardiovascular death; and 0·81, 0·66-1·00 for all-cause death; all pinteraction&gt;0·19). Treatment with semaglutide resulted in improved outcomes in both the heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HR 0·65, 95% CI 0·49-0·87 for MACE; 0·79, 0·58-1·08 for the composite heart failure endpoint) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction groups (0·69, 0·51-0·91 for MACE; 0·75, 0·52-1·07 for the composite heart failure endpoint), although patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction had higher absolute event rates than those with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. For MACE and the heart failure composite, there were no significant differences in benefits across baseline age, sex, BMI, New York Heart Association status, and diuretic use. Serious adverse events were less frequent with semaglutide versus placebo, regardless of heart failure subtype. Interpretation: In patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diease and overweight or obesity, treatment with semaglutide 2·4 mg reduced MACE and composite heart failure endpoints compared with placebo in those with and without clinical heart failure, regardless of heart failure subtype. Our findings could facilitate prescribing and result in improved clinical outcomes for this patient group. Funding: Novo Nordisk

Quality control of B-lines analysis in stress Echo 2020

Background The effectiveness trial “Stress echo (SE) 2020” evaluates novel applications of SE in and beyond coronary artery disease. The core protocol also includes 4-site simplified scan of B-lines by lung ultrasound, useful to assess pulmonary congestion. Purpose To provide web-based upstream quality control and harmonization of B-lines reading criteria. Methods 60 readers (all previously accredited for regional wall motion, 53 B-lines naive) from 52 centers of 16 countries of SE 2020 network read a set of 20 lung ultrasound video-clips selected by the Pisa lab serving as reference standard, after taking an obligatory web-based learning 2-h module ( http://se2020.altervista.org ). Each test clip was scored for B-lines from 0 (black lung, A-lines, no B-lines) to 10 (white lung, coalescing B-lines). The diagnostic gold standard was the concordant assessment of two experienced readers of the Pisa lab. The answer of the reader was considered correct if concordant with reference standard reading ±1 (for instance, reference standard reading of 5 B-lines; correct answer 4, 5, or 6). The a priori determined pass threshold was 18/20 (≥ 90%) with R value (intra-class correlation coefficient) between reference standard and recruiting center) > 0.90. Inter-observer agreement was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficient statistics. Results All 60 readers were successfully accredited: 26 (43%) on first, 24 (40%) on second, and 10 (17%) on third attempt. The average diagnostic accuracy of the 60 accredited readers was 95%, with R value of 0.95 compared to reference standard reading. The 53 B-lines naive scored similarly to the 7 B-lines expert on first attempt (90 versus 95%, p = NS). Compared to the step-1 of quality control for regional wall motion abnormalities, the mean reading time per attempt was shorter (17 ± 3 vs 29 ± 12 min, p < .01), the first attempt success rate was higher (43 vs 28%, p < 0.01), and the drop-out of readers smaller (0 vs 28%, p < .01). Conclusions Web-based learning is highly effective for teaching and harmonizing B-lines reading. Echocardiographers without previous experience with B-lines learn quickly.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Relation of organic and inorganic substances in formation of urolyths

Macro- and microscopic structural features of human urolyths have been studied to reveal the relation between organic and inorganic components and the role of the latter in the process of urolyth formation and growth. The combined study of the shape, color, surface, mineral and organic composition, and internal structure and zoning of 788 urolyths has been performed. Crystallomorphological, polarization-optical, X-ray-diffraction, electron-microscopic, chemical, neutron-activation, and computer technologies of study of the urolyth structure have been used. It has been found that macroscopic characteristics of uroluths (color, shape, surface, and size) did not reflect the chemical composition of urolyths. In the structure of abundance of urolyths in Tomskand the Tomsk Region, oxalates (58%) and urolyths of complex mineral composition (29%)  prevail. It has been found that an urolyth is an organomineral aggregate having the internal structure formed by a rhythm of alternation of organic and inorganic layers and the character of arrangement of individual mineral crystals, and the internal structure is independent of the chemical composition of the urolyth and  uniform in urolyths of different chemical composition. The most part of urolyths has a mixed (44%) or druzy (35%) type of crystal arrangement and the  combined (45%) or grainy (31%) rhythm of alternation of organic and inorganic components