StopCOVID cohort : An observational study of 3,480 patients admitted to the Sechenov University hospital network in Moscow city for suspected COVID-19 infection

© 2020 Oxford University Press. This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Clinical Infectious Diseases following peer review. The version of record is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1535.BACKGROUND: The epidemiology, clinical course, and outcomes of COVID-19 patients in the Russian population are unknown. Information on the differences between laboratory-confirmed and clinically-diagnosed COVID-19 in real-life settings is lacking. METHODS: We extracted data from the medical records of adult patients who were consecutively admitted for suspected COVID-19 infection in Moscow, between April 8 and May 28, 2020. RESULTS: Of the 4261 patients hospitalised for suspected COVID-19, outcomes were available for 3480 patients (median age 56 years (interquartile range 45-66). The commonest comorbidities were hypertension, obesity, chronic cardiac disease and diabetes. Half of the patients (n=1728) had a positive RT-PCR while 1748 were negative on RT-PCR but had clinical symptoms and characteristic CT signs suggestive of COVID-19 infection.No significant differences in frequency of symptoms, laboratory test results and risk factors for in-hospital mortality were found between those exclusively clinically diagnosed or with positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR.In a multivariable logistic regression model the following were associated with in-hospital mortality; older age (per 1 year increase) odds ratio [OR] 1.05 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03 - 1.06); male sex (OR 1.71, 1.24 - 2.37); chronic kidney disease (OR 2.99, 1.89 - 4.64); diabetes (OR 2.1, 1.46 - 2.99); chronic cardiac disease (OR 1.78, 1.24 - 2.57) and dementia (OR 2.73, 1.34 - 5.47). CONCLUSIONS: Age, male sex, and chronic comorbidities were risk factors for in-hospital mortality. The combination of clinical features were sufficient to diagnoseCOVID-19 infection indicating that laboratory testing is not critical in real-life clinical practice.Peer reviewe

2020 Clinical practice guidelines for Pulmonary hypertension, including chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Russian Society of Cardiology (RSC)With the participation: Association of Cardiovascular Surgeons of Russia, Russian Respiratory Society, Federation of Anesthesiologists and Resuscitators, Association of Rheumatologists of Russia, National Congress of Radiation Diagnosticians

Riociguat treatment in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: Final safety data from the EXPERT registry

Objective: The soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator riociguat is approved for the treatment of adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and inoperable or persistent/recurrent chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) following Phase

Media: our past, present and future

The article considers the mechanisms of formation, maintenance and transformation of cultural memory by media. It provides an analysis of the main tools of communication and transformation of cultural information as well as the phenomenon of cultural identification in media.В статье рассматриваются механизмы формирования, поддержания и трансформации культурной памяти посредством массмедиа. Анализируются основные инструменты коммуникации и передачи культурной информации, а также феномен культурной идентификации в массмедиа

University Mathematics for Engineers: Towards Optimum Compromise between Interactive and Traditional Approaches

The article examines two ways to achieve mastery of undergraduate mathematics: face-to- face and digital learning formats. The authors have developed and tested a unique interactive computer-based learning software – few local programs to practice math online, offline or to be installed into an e-course. We focus on different standard problems, such as, finding determinants, solving differential equations, integration by parts, etc. The aim of this study was to investigate what kinds of the activities lead to good learning outcomes. To date, much of the previous research has suggested that students get the benefits of e-learning and b-learning. Yet, there is a general lack of research on outcomes compares the different ways in which students gain knowledge. The results show that the interactive math simulator is one of the effective tools for developing skills to solve standard problems of higher mathematics. There are, however, some math problems to be learn traditionally, with textbook and chalkboard

ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AT SPORT ACTIVITIES IN MIDDLE AGE AND ELDERLY SPORTSMEN

Aim. To analyze the changes of systemic arterial pressure (BP) before and after sport load, incl. the diagnosis of arterial hypertension (AH) and antihypertensive treatment, in veteran sportsmen.Material and methods. Questionnaires were applied for the main cardiovascular risk factors assessment, and BP measurement upright resting (before warming up exercises) and just after the load in 108 competitive sportsmen 40-72 y.o. In the study, the previously set diagnosis of systemic hypertension was taken in consideration and its treatment type.Results. Among all participants, 41% had increased systolic BP (SBP) and 29,6% — diastolic (DBP) at baseline. After exercises, increase of SBP was found in 41% and DBP — in 50,9%. During competition, baseline increase of SBP had 61,8% of all participants, increased DBP — 35,3%. After competition, increase of SBP was found in 67,6% sportsmen, of DBP — 41,2%. Among those with no AH diagnosis, 30,6% had SBP >139 mmHg at baseline, and 42% — after warming up. In sportsmen with already diagnosed AH, raised SBP before warming up was found in 56%, after — 60%. The tendency was even more prominent during competitions. In AH sportsmen, the characteristics of BP change at sport loads did not differ significantly by the type and regularity of antihypertension drugs intake.Conclusion. Almost a half of adult and elderly sportsmen have AH diagnosis, and of those less than a half do take regular antihypertensive therapy. Most of veteran sportsmen experience raised BP before and after sport load, including those taking regular therapy and a third of those not diagnosed with AH

Short- and long-term prognosis in patients with unstable angina and anemia

Aim. To investigate correlation between anemia and long- and short-term prognosis in patients with unstable angina. Material and methods. The study included 96 patients (34 females), aged 63.3±10.3 years, with unstable angina. All patients received conservative treatment. Individuals with severe associated pathology and hemorrhages in anamnesis were excluded from the study. Anemia was diagnosed according to WHO criteria; unstable angina class was registered. Short-term, in-hospital prognosis assessment included registering severe, recurrent angina, myocardial infarction (MI), number of ischemic episodes during 24-hour ECG monitoring before discharge. Long-term prognosis was assessed during 6 post-discharge months: death, MI, and combined endpoint (cardiac death, MI, recurrent angina) were registered. Results. Anemia was diagnosed in 38 patients (39.58 %). Angina at rest was associated with lower mean hemoglobin (Hb) level and greater anemia prevalence (46%), comparing to the group of progressing effort angina (25%). Participants with prolonged angina episodes had significantly lower Hb level (122.23±13.3 g/l) than the others (130.9±13.56 g/l). Among patients with ischemic episodes at 24-hour ECG monitoring, anemia was registered in 50%, among individuals without such episodes – in 30.4%. Recurrent unstable angina during 6 post-discharge months was associated with higher anemia prevalence: 57.6% vs 21.05% in participants with better outcome. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated negative independent influence of anemia on combined endpoint. Conclusion. Patients with anemic syndrome were characterized by severe in-hospital course of unstable angina. Anemia was associated with increased risk of MI and recurrent unstable angina in the first 6 months after discharge

The role of inflammatory theory in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation

Based on the data available in the literature, it is obvious that inflammation plays a significant role in the initiation, support and progression of AF. However, it is important that AF by itself is a factor provoking the development of inflammation in the atrial myocardium, which leads to the further progression of the disease according to the principle of “AF produces AF.” The question of the primacy of the development and correlations of process links is still not fully understood: does inflammation leads to fibrillation or does fibrillation leads to inflammation?The authors analyzed the data of the world literature and tried to describe the main concepts of the inflammatory theory of AF and the practical aspects of its application

Intima-media thickness in adolescents and young people

The study is devoted to high-definition ultrasound assessment of intima-media thickness (IMT), for identifying anatomic atherosclerosis manifestation in adolescents and young people. In total, 65patients (10 females and 46 males) were examined. Analyzing the influence of various cardiovascular risk factors on common carotid and femoral artery IMT, the authors demonstrated that these factors were associated with increased IMT, especially for common carotid artery, as early as in adolescence. IMT was significantly greater in adolescents and young people with stable hypertension, obesity, or metabolic disturbances typical for metabolic syndrome, than in healthy participants