Cardiovascular Effects of Metformin

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most important independent risk factors for the development, progression and mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The world communities are faced with the question of developing the optimal management tactics for such comorbidity patients. Thus, the prescribed drug should not only have an adequate hypoglycemic effect, but also have a number of cardioprotective properties, be safe in patients with CVD, and possibly even improve the prognosis and reduce mortality rates. This review is devoted to a representative of the biguanide class - metformin, which is one of the earliest and most effective antihyperglycemic drugs, both as monotherapy and in combination with other antihyperglycemic drugs and insulin; while the evidence base for its cardiovascular profile is only gaining momentum. Thus, the purpose of this review is to highlight the cardiovascular effects of metformin in the context of recent research

Collaborative Environment as a Means of Forming Success of a Future Teacher of Elementary Classes in Project Activity

Objective: The purpose of the study is to determine whether future elementary school teachers are successful in project activities and whether a properly organised collaborative environment affects the outcome of project activities. Background: In conditions when a person is the most important value and main capital of a society, the goal and product of the educational system should be human intelligence and personality. Therefore, for domestic education today, the issue of raising the status of the teaching profession and the modernisation of teacher education has become serious. The article reveals the problem of the successful formation of a future primary school teacher in project activities through a collaborative environment. The authors define the concepts of "project activity", "the success of the future primary school teacher in project activity", "projec", "collaborative environment". Method: The methodology for organising a collaborative environment in project activities is determined. The study involved two groups; the sample was 107 pupils. Results: A programme for diagnosing the successful formation of a future primary school teacher in project activities is presented. Criteria, indicators (motivational, cognitive, activity) and levels of success formation of the future primary school teacher in project activities (intuitive, reproductive, creative) are defined. Conclusion: As part of the study, the authors determined that a collaborative environment is an effective means of success for a future primary school teacher in design. A collaborative environment was defined as the collaboration of a teacher and pupils in solving a problem, completing a task, or creating a product

Identification of latent disorders of carbohydrate metabolism in conjunction with neurohormonal status in hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure of ischemic etiology

Aim. To reveal latent disorders of carbohydrate metabolism (CHM) in conjunction with neurohormonal status in hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of ischemic etiology.Material and methods. We analyzed 174 patients with NYHA class II-IV CHF of ischemic etiology who received the same standard CHF therapy (P-adrenergic blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics), did not have disorders of CHM and never took hypoglycemic agent. We conducted oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and general clinical examination. The levels of brain natriuretic peptide, aldosterone and insulin was determined by enzyme immunoassay. Insulin resistance (IR) is assessed using the HOMA-IR index.Results. Among 174 hospitalized patients with NYHA class II-IV CHF of ischemic etiology disorders of CHM was detected in 52,3% of patients: 33,9% of those had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 1,7% — impaired fasting glucose (IFG), 16,7% — newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), in 47,7% of the patients disorders of CHM was not found. In all patients with CHF, along with elevated levels of brain natriuretic peptide and aldosterone, insulin levels were also increased. IR elevated with the increase in the severity of disorders of CHM (in the group without disorders of CHM — 10,78 (8,9-12,2), IGT — 14,6 (11,2-18,2), newly diagnosed type 2 DM — 18,6 (15,19-26,7). Also the concentration of aldosterone was higher in the group with DM, compared with the ITG group (p2-3<0,01).Conclusion. The presence and progression of IR in patients with CHF of ischemic etiology in conjunction with neurohormonal status emphasizes the importance of timely detection of latent CHM disorders with its future management

Hypertensive disorders in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy: insights from the ESC EORP PPCM Registry

Aims: Hypertensive disorders occur in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). How often hypertensive disorders co-exist, and to what extent they impact outcomes, is less clear. We describe differences in phenotype and outcomes in women with PPCM with and without hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Methods: The European Society of Cardiology PPCM Registry enrolled women with PPCM from 2012-2018. Three groups were examined: 1) women without hypertension (‘PPCM-noHTN’); 2) women with hypertension but without pre-eclampsia (‘PPCM-HTN’); 3) women with pre-eclampsia (‘PPCM-PE’). Maternal (6-month) and neonatal outcomes were compared. Results: Of 735 women included, 452 (61.5%) had PPCM-noHTN, 99 (13.5%) had PPCM-HTN and 184 (25.0%) had PPCM-PE. Compared to women with PPCM-noHTN, women with PPCM-PE had more severe symptoms (NYHA IV in 44.4% and 29.9%, p<0.001), more frequent signs of heart failure (pulmonary rales in 70.7% and 55.4%, p=0.002), higher baseline LVEF (32.7% and 30.7%, p=0.005) and smaller left ventricular end diastolic diameter (57.4mm [±6.7] and 59.8mm [±8.1], p<0.001). There were no differences in the frequencies of death from any cause, re-hospitalization for any cause, stroke, or thromboembolic events. Compared to women with PPCM-noHTN, women with PPCM-PE had a greater likelihood of left ventricular recovery (LVEF≥50%) (adjusted OR 2.08 95% CI 1.21-3.57) and an adverse neonatal outcome (composite of termination, miscarriage, low birth weight or neonatal death) (adjusted OR 2.84 95% CI 1.66-4.87). Conclusion: Differences exist in phenotype, recovery of cardiac function and neonatal outcomes according to hypertensive status in women with PPCM