Features of the cytokine profile in adolescents with microvascular complications of type 1 diabetes mellitus

Despite advances of modern medical science, the consequences associated with management of complications in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) in children and adolescents represent a serious problem. Common development of microvascular diabetic complications (retinopathy, neuropathy, kidney damage) still remains a sufficient obstacle for achieving high quality of life and social adaptation in the young patients, thus promoting studies of immune mechanisms involved in genesis of microvasculature damage under the conditions of dysmetabolic abnormalities associated with DM1. Our goal was to assess the role of altered cytokine balance in blood serum in development of microangiopathies in adolescents with DM1.140 adolescent patients with type 1 diabetes aged 14-18 years were examined being divided in 2 groups: group I included the patients with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of > 9.0% (n = 65), and group II which included adolescents with HbA1C level of ≤ 9.0% (n = 75). Each group was divided into subgroups: Ia (n = 50) and IIa (n = 38) included adolescents with diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy or neuropathy, whereas groups Ib (n = 15) and IIb (n = 37) were without microvascular complications. The control group consisted of 36 adolescents with normal body weight, without carbohydrate metabolic disorders, and family history of diabetes mellitus. Determination of TNFα, IL-1β, VCAM-1, fractalkine levels in blood serum was performed by enzyme immunoassay using test systems “RayBiotech” (USA), “BIOSCIENCE” (USA).Development of microangiopathies in adolescents with different glycemic control is associated with increased serum concentration of the factors involved in neoangiogenesis and vascular wall remodeling, i.e., TNFα, IL-1β, VCAM-1, compared with control group (p < 0.05), and a statistically significant decrease in fractalkine level in adolescent patients with either complicated, or uncomplicated DM1. The study allowed us to suggest that occurrence of microvascular complications in adolescents with DM1 is associated with impaired immune response tending for altered cytokine balance towards Th1 type, enhanced intercellular interactions, imbalance of bioregulatory molecules, contributing to development of inflammatory immunoregulatory state. The revealed patterns of laboratory markers, along with assessment of metabolic indices, will enable personalized approaches to early diagnostics of microvascular complications in adolescents with DM1 and prevent their further progression

Main factors of adherence to new oral anticoagulants and its dynamics in outpatients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: results of the ANTEY study

Aim. To assess adherence to new oral anticoagulants (NOAC) or warfarin therapy and to study the factors influencing adherence in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) patients on different stages of treatment within the prospective outpatient registry of patients with cardiovascular diseases.Material and methods. The study included 201 patients with nonvalvular AF (males, 118 (58,7%)) from the outpatient registry PROFILE). Mean age was 71,1 ±8,7 years. Study protocol consisted of the inclusion visit (V0), 6-month follow-up visit (V1) and phone contact 1 year after V0 (PC). In V0, all patients were prescribed one of the NOACs. At V1 doctors could recommend warfarin or another NOAC to patients, who have refused taking prescribed NOAC. Medical adherence was determined using the of the National society of evidence-based pharmacotherapy (NSEPh) adherence scale. NSEPh adherence scale allows to grade patients’ adherence to treatment into 4 categories: 1) completely adherent, 2) partially adherent, 3) completely non-adherent, 4) partially non-adherent. Dichotomous grading into adherent (completely adherent) and non-adherent (rest of patients) was also used.Results. Out of 201 included patients, 200 came to V1 (1 patient died). PC was successful in 197 patients (3 patients died). According to NSEPh adherence scale, 155 (77,5%) patients at V1 were completely adherent, 5 (2,5%) — partially adherent, 7 (3,5%) — partially non-adherent, 33 (16,5%) — completely non-adherent. By the PC, 158 (80,2%) patients were completely adherent to the OAC therapy, 6 (3,0%) — partially adherent, 28 (14,2%) — partially non-adherent, 15 (7,6%) — completely non-adherent. At all stages of treatment, the following factors of good adherence remained significant: never-smoking, prior NOAC use, negative history of any treatment-related adverse effects (AEs). Patients with comorbidities and a history of bleeding during OAC therapy were more likely to discontinue initial scheme and violate treatment regimen (p<0,05). Symptomatic course of AF increased adherence by 2,4 times (р=0,02). According to the questionnaire, the leading reasons for refusing NOAC therapy were the high cost of drugs, the fear of AE and doubts about the need for treatment. The main factors leading to discontinuation of NOAC/OAC treatment were bleeding and the cancellation (often unreasonable) of these medications by other doctors.Conclusion. The results of ANTEY study confirm that factors influencing adherence to NOAC may vary during different phases of treatment. The main reasons that prevent NOAC therapy initiation are the high cost of these drugs, fear of AE and doubts about the need for such treatment. Significant factors of discontinuation were AEs and cancellation of NOAC therapy by doctors from other medical institutions. Factors that positively affect both initiation and long-term use of the drug are never-smoking, prior NOAC use, negative history of any treatment-related AEs

Herd Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among the Population in Saint-Petersburg during the COVID-19 Epidemic

The first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in St. Petersburg on March 2, 2020; the period of increase in the incidence lasted for 10 weeks, the maximum rates were recorded in mid-May, and subsequently there was a statistically significant decrease in the incidence.Objective: to determine the level and structure of community immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among the population of St. Petersburg during the period of intensive spread of COVID-19.Materials and methods. Selection of volunteers for the study was carried out through interviewing and randomization. The exclusion criterion was active COVID-19 infection at the time of the survey. 2713 people aged 1 to 70 years and above were  examined for the presence of specific antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Antibodies were detected by enzyme immunoassay.Results and discussion. Studies have shown that in St. Petersburg, in the active phase of COVID-19 epidemic, there was a moderate seroprevalence to SARS-CoV-2, which amounted to 26 %, against the background of a high frequency (84.5 %) of asymptomatic infection in seropositive individuals who did not have a history of COVID-19 disease, positive PCR result and ARI symptoms on the day of examination. The maximum indicators of herd immunity were established in children 1–6 years old (31.1 %), 7–13 years old (37.7 %) and people over 70 years old (30.4 %). Differences in the level of seroprevalence in the age groups of 18–49 years are statistically significant. The highest level of seroprevalence was found among the unemployed (29.7 %), healthcare workers (27.1 %), education sector (26.4 %) and business sector personnel (25 %). In convalescents, COVID-19 antibodies are produced in 75 % of cases. In individuals with positive result of PCR analysis carried out earlier, antibodies are detected in 70 % of the cases. The results of the study of herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 are essential to forecast the development of the epidemiological situation, as well as to plan measures for specific and non-specific prevention of COVID-19