Stress echocardiography for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction detection in patients with non-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study

Aim To assess whether the simultaneous performance of exercise stress echocardiography and cardio-pulmonary testing (ESE-CPET) may facilitate the timely diagnosis of subclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients with non-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), preserved left ventricular systolic function, and exertional dyspnea or exercise intolerance. Methods This cross-sectional study, conducted between May 2017 and April 2018, involved 104 non-severe COPD patients with exertional dyspnea and preserved ejection fraction who underwent echocardiography before CPET and 1-2 minutes after peak exercise. Based on the peak E/e’ ratio, patients were divided into the group with stressinduced LVDD – E/e’>15 and the group without stress-induced LVDD. We assessed the association between LVDD and the following CPET variables: minute ventilation, peak oxygen uptake (VO2), ventilatory efficiency, heart rate reserve, and blood pressure.Results During ESE-CPET, stress-induced LVDD occurred in 67/104 patients (64%). These patients had lower work load, peak VO2, O2 pulse, and minute ventilation (VE), and higher VE/VCO2 slope than patients without stress-induced LVDD (35.18 ± 10.4 vs 37.01 ± 11.11, P < 0.05). None of the CPET variables correlated with E/e’. Conclusion Combined ESE-CPET may distinguish masked LVDD in patients with non-severe COPD with exertional dyspnea and preserved left ventricular systolic function. None of the CPET variables was a predictor for subclinical LVDD

The Role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Antithrombin III In The Pathogenesis of the Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an iatrogenic complication of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). Its pathogenesis is not clarified yet. In the recent years a number of studies focused on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and antihtrombin III (AT III) indicators. VEGF is homodimeric, heparin-binding glycoprotein, stimulating vascular permeability. Antithrombin III is protease inhibitor of activated clotting factors. This study aimed at examining the VEGF-A165 and AT III indicators with two OHSS patients. Two methods were used for the determination of the indicators of VEGF-A165 and AT III: ELISA for VEGF and chromogenic assay for ATT III. Kits of R/D Systems and American Diagnostica Inc. were used to estimate VEGF and AT III indicators in serum and plasma. There were higher indicators of VEGF-A165 (180pg/ml) and reduction of AT III indicators (48%) in the patient with a severe form of OHSS than in the control group while these indicators were normal in the patient with a moderate form of OHSS. Our results confirmed some published data concerning the importance of VEGF and AT III in the genesis of OHSS. This study should include a larger group of patients in order tofollow-up statistically and authentically the variations of the indicators of both factors and their importance for OHSS

Rogue waters

In this essay we give an overview on the problem of rogue or freak wave formation in the ocean. The matter of the phenomenon is a sporadic occurrence of unexpectedly high waves on the sea surface. These waves cause serious danger for sailing and sea use. A number of huge wave accidents resulted in damages, ship losses and people injuries and deaths are known. Now marine researchers do believe that these waves belong to a specific kind of sea waves, not taken into account by conventional models for sea wind waves. This paper addresses to the nature of the rogue wave problem from the general viewpoint based on the wave process ideas. We start introducing some primitive elements of sea wave physics with the purpose to pave the way for the further discussion. We discuss linear physical mechanisms which are responsible for high wave formation, at first. Then, we proceed with description of different sea conditions, starting from the open deep sea, and approaching the sea cost. Nonlinear effects which are able to cause rogue waves are emphasised. In conclusion we briefly discuss the generality of the physical mechanisms suggested for the rogue wave explanation; they are valid for rogue wave phenomena in other media such as solid matters, superconductors, plasmas and nonlinear opticsComment: will be published in Contemporary Physic

Nemertean taxonomy- Implementing changes in the higher ranks, dismissing Anopla and Enopla

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Markers for Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Microvascular Disease – Is there a Difference?

Introduction: The clinical significance of inflammation (and markers such as resistin, hsCRP) and oxidative stress (e.g. 8-isoprostanes) for microvascular disease (MVD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) is still elusive

Registration of Atmospheric-Electric Effects from Volcanic Clouds on the Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia)

The paper is devoted to the description of observations over atmospheric and electric effects from volcanic eruptions on Kamchatka peninsula (Russia) and perspectives of their development. To collect information about atmospheric-electric effects accompanying the eruptions of Kamchatka volcanoes, three sensor networks and a VLF radio direction finding station are used. The World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) provides information on high-current lightning discharges that occur during the development of an eruptive cloud (EC). Variations in the electric field of the atmosphere (AEF E z ), during the passage of EC, were obtained by a network of electric field mills at the sites for volcanic activity observations. Seismic detector network was used to make precision reference to the eruptions. Based on the data obtained, a description is given of the dynamics of eruptions of the most active volcanoes in Kamchatka and the Northern Kuril Islands (Shiveluch, Bezymianny, Ebeko). The paper presents a simulation of the response of the atmospheric electric field, which showed that the approximation by the field of distributed charges makes it possible to estimate the volume charges of EC. The fact of a multi-stage volcanic thunderstorm is confirmed. The first stage is associated with the formation of an eruptive column, and the second with the emergence, development and transfer of EC. Registration of electrical and electromagnetic processes in eruptive clouds can be one of the components of complex observations of volcanic eruptions in order to assess the ash hazard for air transport