New recorded species of Heteraphorura Bagnall, 1948 (Collembola: Onychiuridae) from Georgia with a key to the Holarctic species

One springtail species, Heteraphorura iranica Kaprus’, Shayanmehr et Kahrarian, 2017 is recorded from the Caucasus for the first time. A key to the Holarctic species of the genus Heteraphorura Bagnall, 1948 including H. magnina (Wray, 1950) is given

Rosuvastatin microcirculatory effects in patients with dyslipidemia and arterial hypertension

Aim. To assess microcirculation (MC) dynamics during rosuvastatin therapy in patients with dyslipidemia (DL) and mild to moderate arterial hypertension (AH). Material and methods. The study included 25 patients with total cholesterol (TCH) level >5,0 mmol/l, low-density lipoprotein CH (LDL-CH) level > 3,0 mmol/l, systolic blood pressure (SBP) 140-179 mm Hg, and diastolic BP (DBP) 90-109 mm Hg. For 12 weeks, all participants received rosuvastatin, in constant dose of 10 mg/d. MC was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry. Results. Rosuvastatin beneficially influenced MC, in various pathological MC types – spastic and hyperemic, according to main MC parameters – MC and capillary blood flow reserve. Regulatory mechanisms’ changes (myogenic amplitude increase) pointed to a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance. Another positive vascular effect of rosuvastatin manifested in significant SBP and DBP reduction, by 8 and 6 mm Hg, respectively. Rosuvastain also demonstrated a substantial lipid-lowering effect. Conclusion. A new statin, rosuvastatin, demonstrated not only substantial lipid-lowering effect, but also beneficial vascular action: it improved MC and reduced BP in patients with DL and mild to moderate AH

Beta-adrenoblockers in clinical practice: is there any difference?

Modern views on various β-adrenoblockers (BB) place in clinical practice are presented. BB class is a clinically heterogeneous group. Recent criticism of BB should not disorient practitioners, who must understand which BB are mentioned. Some BB, mostly non-selective, demonstrate adverse effects and cannot be used in certain clinical situations: metabolic disturbances, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), peripheral artery atherosclerosis. At the same time, modern super-selective BB are safe and can be administered even in individuals with metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, COPD, or peripheral artery atherosclerosis

Patients’ education as a factor for arterial hypertension effective control – NOCTURNE Program

Aim. To assess effectiveness of Health School for arterial hypertension (AH) patients in NOCTURNE Program. Material and methods. An open, multi-center, prospective study was performed in 14 Russian regions, involving 140 primary health doctors and 1195 mild-to-moderate AH patients. The authors studied real-world clinical practice perspectives of total cardiovascular risk modification by pharmaceutical treatment regimen modification – administration of combined agent Noliprel®, once per day, and main risk factors (RF) control – educating patients at Health School. Total follow-up period lasted for 48 weeks. Results. In total, 66.5% of the participants had Stage II AH, 32.5% – Stage I AH; 78.3% were overweight (OW); 21.2% were smokers; 76.0% had increased stress levels; 66.3% had hypercholesterolemia (HCH). Follow-up was completed by 83.4% of the patients (n=997). During the follow-up period (mean duration 39.4±12.1 weeks), 85.1% of participants continued to take the medication. The treatment was associated with decrease in prevalence of OW (from 79.0% to 70.2%), smoking (from 21.6% to 14.6%), increased stress levels (from 81.0% to 71.0%), and HCH (from 65.9% to 49.2%). More than a half of the patients (53.9%) demonstrated decrease in total cardiovascular risk by SCORE scale. In the whole group, the total risk decreased from 2.5% to 1.3%. Conclusion. Real-world reduction of fatal cardiovascular disease total risk was confirmed. It was achieved by combination of complex therapeutic and preventive measures: optimal medication therapy regimen and nonpharmaceutical RF correction during patients’ education at Health School

Antinociceptive tolerance to NSAIDs in the anterior cingulate cortex is mediated via endogenous opioid mechanism

Abstract Background In the past decade several studies have reported that in some brain areas, particularly, in the midbrain periaqueductal gray matter, rostral ventro-medial medulla, central nucleus of amygdala, nucleus raphe magnus, and dorsal hippocampus, microinjections of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) induce antinociception with distinct development of tolerance. Given this evidence, in this study we investigated the development of tolerance to the analgesic effects of NSAIDs diclofenac, ketorolac and xefocam microinjected into the rostral part of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in rats. Methods Male Wistar experimental and control (saline) rats were implanted with a guide cannula in the ACC and tested for antinociception following microinjection of NSAIDs into the ACC in the tail-flick (TF) and hot plate (HP) tests. Repeated measures of analysis of variance with post-hoc Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison tests were used for statistical evaluations. Results Treatment with each NSAID significantly enhanced the TF and HP latencies on the first day, followed by a progressive decrease in the analgesic effect over a 4-day period, i.e., developed tolerance. Pretreatment with an opioid antagonist naloxone completely prevented the analgesic effects of the three NSAIDs in both behavioral assays. Conclusions These findings support the concept that the development of tolerance to the antinociceptive effects of NSAIDs is mediated via an endogenous opioid system possibly involving descending pain modulatory systems

Results of the multi-centre study NOCTURN-2 in patients with arterial hypertension, uncontrolled by previous pharmaceutical therapy

Aim. To study the effectiveness of combined therapy (Noliprel, Noliprel forte) and patients’ education, as a complex approach to maximal reduction of total cardiovascular risk. Material and methods. This multi-centre, randomized study, involving 350 therapeutists from 47 Russian cities, included 1050 patients with arterial hypertension (AH), uncontrolled by the previous pharmaceutical therapy. The antihypertensive therapy, AHT (Noliprel, Noliprel forte) was combined with patients’ education in the Health School, aimed at correction of such risk factors (RFs) as dyslipidemia, smoking, and overweight. The control group did not receive any educational intervention. Results. The long-term therapy with Noliprel/Noliprel forte demonstrated high effectiveness and safety of the medication. The prevalence of adequate blood pressure control and treatment response was so high (92,6%) that patients’ education did not increase this parameter. However, in the main group, total risk reduction was larger than in controls, mostly due to decreased smoking prevalence. Conclusion. The study demonstrated high effectiveness and safety of Noliprel/Noliprel forte therapy. Combination of modern AHT and patients’ education resulted in larger reduction of total cardiovascular risk, comparing to pharmaceutical AHT only

Integrating modern antihypertensive therapy and patient education in real-world clinical practice: maximal reduction of total cardiovascular risk. NOCTURNE-2 Study

This multi-centre, randomised study included 47 Russian cities, 350 internists, and 1050 patients with uncontrolled treated arterial hypertension (AH). The study aimed at multiple risk factor correction, to reduce total cardiovascular risk level, assessed by the SCORE scale. Antihypertensive therapy was combined with educating education in Health Schools, targeting such risk factors as dyslipidemia, smoking, and overweight or obesity. The control group did not receive any educational intervention. For the first time, the electronic SCORE version was used in a clinical trial as a motivational tool to reduce total cardiovascular risk. The potential effectiveness of this instrument in clinical settings was evaluated

A STUDY OF MOXONIDINE’S METABOLIC EFFECTS IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AND NIDDM

Metabolic effects of moxsonidine (cynt) were examined in 15 patients with mild and moderate arterial hypertension (blood-pressure within 140-179/90-109 mm Hg, according to recommendations of WHO and WOH ,1999) combining with compensated diabetes of type II. After 3 month of treatment with the drug (titration of dosage from 0,2 mg to 0,6 mg) significant lowering of insuline and glucose levels in blood happened; level tests were performed two hours after standard breakfast (an equivalent of the tolerance test to glucose). Average level of glucose was 9,28±0,62 mM/l before treatment and 8,44±0,51 mM/l after treatment (p<0,04). Indicated results show an improvement of tissue sensitivity to insuline as there is need in less insuline in need after treatment with cynt for maintenance of lowered as before treatment level of glucose. Besides, growth of cholesterol content in lipoproteids of high density occured as the result of cynt treatment of patients. A conclusion about favourable metabolic effects of cint and advisability of its usage as antihypertension drug for patients with AG and diabetes of type II was drawn

Comparative effectiveness of fixed combinations of various ramipril and hydrochlorothiazide doses

Aim. To assess effectiveness and tolerability of combined antihypertensive therapy with various doses of an ACE inhibitor ramipril and hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) in patients with Stage 1-2 arterial hypertension (AH). Material and methods. In 3 clinical centres of Moscow City, 70 patients (50 % men, 50 % women; mean age 59±13,5 years) were randomised into 2 groups: Group I (n=27), receiving ramipril (5 mg) and HCT (25 mg); and Group II (n=32), receiving ramipril (10 mg) and HCT (12,5 mg). After 4 weeks of therapy, patients not achieving target blood pressure (BP) levels were administered ramipril in the dose of 10 mg and HCT in the dose of 25 mg. Therefore, the further 16-week follow-up was focused on 3 groups: Group I (n=18), receiving ramipril 5 mg and HCT 25 mg; Group II (n=19), receiving ramipril 10 mg and HCT 12,5 mg; and Group III (n=22), receiving ramipril 10 mg and HCT 25 mg. Treatment effectiveness was assessed by clinical BP levels after 4, 12 and 20 weeks. At baseline and in the end of the study, 24-hour BP monitoring (BPM), blood and urine biochemical assays were performed. Results. After 20 weeks of the therapy, clinical BP levels were reduced by -18,9±8,2/-10,8±7,5 mm Hg in patients receiving ramipril 5 mg and HCT 25 mg (p<0,001). In participants receiving ramipril 10 mg and HCT 12,5 mg, clinical BP levels decreased by -20,3±9,7/-11,6±6,0 mm Hg (p<0,001). The therapy with ramipril 10 mg and HCT 25 mg was associated with a reduction in clinical BP by -23,4±9,8/-10,6±7,8 mm Hg (p<0,001). According to 24-hour BPM data after 20 weeks of the treatment, mean circadian BP levels were reduced by -9,9±7,9/- 5,9±7,0 mm Hg (p<0,01) in Group I, by -15,8±13,2/-9,5±6,8 mm Hg (p<0,001) in Group II, and by -20,6±14,7/- 10,8±10,8 mm Hg (p<0,001) in Group III, respectively. Conclusion. In total, 92 % of the patients achieved target BP levels: 100 % in Group I, 100 % in Group II, and 86 % in Group III. Good and excellent therapy tolerability was observed in 96 %. Among patients with microalbuminuria at baseline, 41 % demonstrated its normalisation