Radionuclide assessment of pulmonary hemodynamics was performed in 45 children with congenital heart valve pathology and increased pulmonary blood flow. Radionuclide angiopulmonography was performed at rest and during acute pharmacological tests, before and after valve surgery. Basal and enalapril-stimulated plasma concentrations of stable NO metabolites (nitrite and nitrate anions) were measured. Radionuclide bolus speed dynamics after vasodilatator (niphedipine, enalapril) administration demonstrated pulmonary circulation reserve. Plasma levels of NO metabolites were used in erectile dysfunction verification.

In 46 patients with acute Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI), some parameters of cell immunity (interleukins (II) 1, 6, 10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, serum neopterin); C-reactive protein level; virus agents (Herpex simplex, Cytomegalovirus, Chlamydia pneumoniae) - PCR reaction; IgM and IgG levels were assessed. Cell immune dysbalance -pro-inflammatory factor activation (II 6, FNO, serum neopterin) - was observed. Most patients had persistent virus infection - mostly, by Herpes simplex. This immune dysbalance, unrelated to myocardial damage, was more severe in complicated MI clinical course (recurrent angina, congestive heart failure, paroxysmal arrhythmias).

To identify the most informative characteristics of myocardial reserve (MR) inpatients with myocardial infarction (MI), the authors compared clinical symptoms of heart failure (HF), systolic and diastolic myocardial function, and left ventricular (LV) remodeling parameters. Data from 220 patients demonstrated that low LV ejection fraction was a significant predictor only for high HF functional class (FC). Diastolic dysfunction (DD) was typical for all HFFC, and restrictive type of heart filling was associated with HF FC III-IV. Concentric LV hypertrophy, as well as DD, was observed in all HF FC. Prevalence of eccentric hypertrophy significantly increased from 5,1% in FC 1to 98,7% in FC IV. This characterizes the latter process as most typical for MR decrease in MI patients. The authors propose a new gradation for MR decline, and discuss correlations among HF FC, DD, myocardial contractility, and myocardial remodeling.

The aim of the study was to investigate lipid profile, lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), and apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB) levels in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. In total, 575 patients aged 66,56±12,51 years (302 males aged 65,21±2,1 years and 273 females aged 67.57±10.85 years) with CHD diagnosis, verified by anamnesis, complaints, physical and instrumental examination, as well as 86 individuals aged 55,47±1,47 years (46 males aged 54,41±1,26 years and 40 females aged 56,53±12,04 years) without cardiovascular disease (control group), were examined. Apo(B) and Lp(a) (mg/dl) levels were substantially higher in CHD patients, and high-density Lp (HDL) levels - significantly lower in CHD patients, comparing to the control group. CHD patients demonstrated lipid profile inter-correlations: between cholesterol (CH) and Lp(a), CH and apoB, CH and triglycerides (TG), TG and apoB, low-density LP (LDL) and apoB, LDL and Lp(a). High predictive value of Lp(a) level over 27 mg/dl and apoB level over 128 mg/dl as CHD risk factors was demonstrated.

Hypocaloric diet and individually tailored physical activity in patients with arterial hypertension and metabolic syndrome normalized lipid profile, intravascular platelet activity, and decreased peroxidation intensity. These positive effects were maximal at Week 24, but still didn't reach control parameters. To correct metabolic disturbances and intravascular platelet activity in AH patients with impaired glucose tolerance, non-pharmaceutical therapy should be combined with pharmaceutical treatment.

Activity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and sympatho-adrenal systems (RAAS, SAS) in arterial hypertension combined with hypo- or hyperthyrosis was investigated. RAAS activity was decreased in hypothyrosis, and increased in hyperthyrosis; SAS activity was enhanced both in hypo- and hyperthyrosis. These data correlate with the results of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, and previous studies' results. The authors conclude that RAAS and SAS might play a role in AH pathogenesis among patients with hypo- or hyperthyrosis.

Hemic hypoxia influence on lipid profile and vasodilating endothelial function in iron-deficiency anemias was studied in 35 patients. Blood lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, blood antioxidant potential, and vasodilating endothelial function were assessed. Anemia, regardless of its etiology, was characterized by antiatherogenic lipid profile dynamics, antioxidant stress, and endothelial dysfunction development, that could be regarded as severe vascular dysfunction predictor. Anemic syndrome severity plays an important role in the development of metabolic dysbalance and endothelial dysfunction.

In material from 1086 patients who underwent heart valve disease surgery, traditional hystologic assessment, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer analysis, with calculation of mean Ag granule number per endotheliocyte and fibroblast nucleus; immuno-hystochemical assay with monoclone antibodies to Enteroviruses, vimentin, desmin, SMA, SMA, Ki-67-, bcl-2-antigens; print-smear cytology; and valve PCR were performed. Enterovirus replication was observed in endotheliocytes, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells in all cases of active rheumatism. Endothelial dysfunction was associated with Enterovirus infection.

In 51 patients, immune status was assessed before and after coronary aortic bypass graft (CABG) surgery. All participants were divided into two groups: Group I - without any post-surgery complications (n=23; 45,5%); Group II - with post-surgery infectious and inflammatory pathology (n=28, 54,5%). Cardiosurgery patients had immunocompetent cell distribution pathology, which reflected immunity status abnormalities. Functional cell activity was decreased, humoral immunity was disturbed. In patients with septic complications, these disturbances were observed before CABG, and after the intervention they were even more severe. Immune disturbances in cardiosurgery patients play an important part in post-operative complications' pathogenesis, and ask for active risk factor screening, as well as for preventive immunotropic therapy.

The study included 38 patients with essential arterial hypertension (EAH), Stage I-II, and 10 healthy individuals (control group). Microcirculation was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry (IDF), endothelin-1 concentration - by immunoenzyme assay. In EAH patients, microcirculation was heterogeneous, with the prevalence of pathological static type. Enalapril was an effective and safe antihypertensive medication, beneficial for microcirculation system. Serum endothelin-1 concentration correlated with systolic blood pressure (BP), as well as with IDF endothelial activity.

ECG quantitative analysis, performed in 601 patients (263 participants with primary left ventricular (LV) pathology due to arterial hypertension (AH) with or without coronary heart disease (CHD); 250 individuals with primary right ventricular (RV) pathology due to bronchial obstruction; control group – healthy people), gave an opportunity to assess LV and RV function separately, and to identify ventricular dissociation and hyperfunction, developing before myocardial remodeling, at preclinical stage of heart failure (HF). New methods for diagnosing latent, preclinical stages of LV and RV HF were developed.

Despite modern pharmacology's advances in developing new medication forms, some patients still are therapy-resistant. This review is devoted to beta-adrenoreceptor status, function, and modification during beta-adrenoblocker treatment in patients with arterial hypertension and chronic heart failure. Possible causes of beta-blocker resistance are described, including receptor-medication interaction, and beta-adrenoreceptor polymorphism.