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Aim: To study the effect of oxidative stress and telomere length in the chromosomes of blood leukocytes in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) on the development of cardiovascular complications., Materials and Methods: In 119 patients with CHD, the level of oxidatively modified low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) in blood plasma and the length of telomeres in nuclear blood cells were determined during the examination. After 5 years, a telephone survey of patients (or their relatives) was conducted to obtain data on the presence of cardiovascular complications. Telomere length was determined using quantitative real-time PCR, and the level of ox-LDL was determined by immunochemical method., Results: It was found that reducing the length of telomeres in patients with CHD increases the risk of subsequent development of cardiovascular complications. A strong negative correlation was found between the level of ox-LDL and telomere length in the group of examined CHD patients who had cardiovascular complications after 5 years., Conclusion: CHD patients with short telomere length and high levels of ox-LDL have an increased risk of cardiovascular complications during 5 years.

Aim: To investigate the plasma concentrations of cytokines and vasoactive molecules in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in the presence of hypertension in relation to the angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor level reflecting the degree of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibition., Subjects and Methods: 72 patients with NYHA functional class (FC) II-III angina pectoris and 40 healthy persons at the age of 47-65 years were examined in a controlled cohort study. Enzyme immunoassay was employed to determine the serum concentrations of interleukins (IL) (IL-2, IL-12, IL-17A, and IL-24), the vasoactive molecules of bradykinin, serotonin, ACE, angiotensin-II (AT-II), NO, and endothelin-1 (ET-1), and plasma renin activity. In addition, the plasma level of the tetrapeptide N-acetyl-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro was used as a marker for ACE inhibition., Results: The patients with CHD occurring in the presence of hypertension compared with the apparently healthy individuals displayed decreased ET-1 and NO production along with elevated levels of serotonin, AT-II, as well as IL-17A and IL-12. The found changes were accompanied by reduced renin activity. Thus, the individuals with low ACE inhibitor levels showed more pronounced production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17A, as well as high plasma concentrations of ACE and NO. The high ACE inhibitor level that reflects patient adherence to appropriate antihypertensive therapy is associated with the reduced production of IL-2 and with the minimum serum levels of ACE, AT-II, and NO, being characterized by the high production of IL-12 and serotonin at the same time., Conclusion: In patients with CHD and hypertension, the high plasma enzyme inhibitor concentration that reflects the activity of appropriate antihypertensive therapy, by contributing to the strengthening of the mechanisms of relaxation of blood vessels, is associated with the risk for proinflammatory activation of whole blood cells and platelets. The mean ACE inhibitor levels that reflect moderate RAAS suppression and are characterized by a relatively low proinflammatory activation of mononuclear cells may be more preferable than the maximum ones, from the point of view of slowing the progression of the subclinical inflammatory process of the vascular wall and preventing possible CHD exacerbations. This determines the feasibility of estimating the plasma level of an ACE inhibitor to control the depth of inhibition of RAAS activity.

Fibrosis is one of the main components in the progression of most cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease, by causing structural changes in the myocardium and vascular wall. The quantitative and qualitative characteristics of fibrosis of the myocardium are responsible for decreasing its elastic properties, developing diastolic dysfunction, impairing myocardial contractility, developing systolic dysfunction and cardiac arrhythmias, and worsening coronary blood flow in patients with heart failure of different etiologies. The important aspect of studying fibrosis is not only its interpretation as a model of the typical pathological process, but also its consideration as a systemic lesion of various organs and tissues. At the same time, the identification of myocardial fibrosis biomarkers that are available for their determination in circulating blood is of particular interest. Since there was evidence for the role of fibrosis in developing dysfunction of various organs and ensuring the systematicity of most diseases, especially at their development stages, the process of fibrosis came to be regarded as a promising therapeutic target. It is relevant to further investigate myocardial fibrosis, which is aimed at increasing the efficiency of its diagnosis and predicting its course and pathogenetically sound therapy.

Aim: To comparatively analyze the clinical efficiency of eradiation therapy (ET) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) concurrent with gastroduodenal pathology (GDP)., Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted in three steps. In Step 1, 1588 patients with chronic CHD were examined. In Step 2, the characteristics of the course of CHD concurrent with Helicobacter pylori-associated GDP in 147 patients with these conditions compared to the same number of CHD patients without GDP. In Step 3, the impact of a GDP treatment option on the efficiency of treatment was investigated in the patients with CHD. Group 1 received ET + basic therapy (BT); Group 2 used antisecretory therapy + BT; Group 3 consisted of CHD patients without concomitant GDP who received BT only. The time course of changes in clinical and quality-of-life (QOL) indicators was assessed., Results: The patients with CHD concurrent with GDP have a more severe course of the disease as manifested by deterioration in clinical status and QOL. After ET, anginal attack rates were decreased by 62.6% in Group 1, by 30.7% in Group 2 (during antisecretory therapy), and by 29.5% in Group 3. The level of physical QOL increased by 23.7% in Group 1, which was not observed in Groups 2 and 3., Conclusion: Inclusion of ET in an algorithm for treating CHD patients with GDP promotes the angina stability and normalizes QOL in the patients.

Aim: To investigate the clinical effectiveness of pioglitazone in the combination treatment of patients with asthma concurrent with coronary heart disease (CHD)., Subjects and Methods: Fifty patients aged 40-75 years with asthma concurrent with CHD were examined. External respiratory function (ERF), electrocardiograms, blood pressure (BP), and anthropometric measurements were assessed in all the patients. Blood and urine laboratory values and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations were estimated; endothelial function was determined measuring endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation (EDVD and EIVD). The patients were randomized into a comparison group receiving only standard therapy and a study group taking pioglitazone as part of combination therapy for 3 months., Results: At the randomization stage prior to pioglitazone combination therapy, the patient groups did not statistically significantly differ in basic clinical and anamnestic data. Three-month standard therapy resulted in stabilization of ERF and endothelial function. During the treatment, there were increases in the frequency of asthma symptoms and the duration of angina attacks, however, there was a decline in hs-CRP levels (p<0.001). Incorporation of pioglitazone into the standard treatment regimen of patients with asthma concurrent with CHD improved clinical disease control, decreased the degree of bronchial obstruction and the frequency of angina pain and asthma attacks using nitroglycerin and salbutamol, lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure, improved EDVD (increases in the maximum linear velocity of blood flow after a test for reactive hyperemia (RH), index of reactivity (IR), and A% brachial artery (BA) diameter) and EIVD (increases in IR and A% BA diameter), and reduced systemic inflammation from hs-CRP values (p<0.001) and hypercholesterolemia from total cholesterol levels (p<0.02)., Conclusion: The incorporation of pioglitazone in the combination therapy of patients with asthma concurrent with CHD improves the clinical course of the diseases and increases their control, reduces systemic inflammation, and improves endothelial functional activity.

Aim: To identify risk factors (RFs), to evaluate the impact of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction on the development of asthma concurrent with coronary heart disease (CHD), and to determine the degree of control of the disease., Subjects and Methods: The clinical trial included 50 asthmatics aged 40-75 years with CHD. All the patients underwent external respiratory function (ERF) test, ECG, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements, and bicycle ergometry. Their medical and allergy history data were collected and RFs and basic therapy were assessed. Laboratory blood and urine values and endothelial function were estimated determining the brachial artery diameter and the time-averaged maximal linear velocity (TAMX) of blood flow in endothelium-dependent and endothelium independent vasodilation (VDV and VIDV)., Results: The development of asthma in the presence of CHD was found to be associated with RFs, such as female gender (66%), hereditary asthma (40%) and CHD (76%), hypertension (86%), obesity (42%), smoking (7%), occupational exposures (20%), and dyslipidemia. Laboratory tests in the asthmatic patients with CHD revealed a positive C-reactive protein reaction (CRP) in 16 (32%) patients and increased serum cholesterol levels. Reactive hyperemia and nitroglycerin tests in the patients with asthma concurrent with CHD showed that the BA diameter was significantly increased up to 4.27 +/- 0.3 and 4.54 +/- 0.03 mm, respectively, as compared to the baseline values (p < 0.01). Most patients were observed to have marked and frequent symptoms of the disease, frequent asthma exacerbations, and impaired ERF and to need "rescue" bronchodilators., Conclusion: RFs, such as female gender, family history, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia play an important role in the development of asthma concurrent with CHD. Impaired TAMX, VDV, and VIDV, hypercholesterolemia and higher CRP levels were detected. Basic therapy in the patients with asthma concurrent with CHD was not optimal or rather effective since disease control was not achieved in 70% of the patients.

Aim: To evaluate the degree of carotid artery (CA) atherosclerotic lesion and lipid metabolic disturbances in patients with hypertension and in those with hypertension concurrent with coronary heart disease (CHD) in the indigenous and non-indigenous population living in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomic District., Subjects and Methods: Two hundred men and women aged 21 to 55 years (mean age 48.2 ± 0.7 years), who resided in the Far North, were examined. The patients were divided into 4 gender-and age-matched groups of 50 persons in each: 1) natives; 2) newcomers with hypertension only; 3) natives with CHD and hypertension; 4) non-natives with the above conditions. To study CA involvement, all the patients underwent duplex scanning of the brachiocephalic arteries at the extracranial level and blood lipid analysis in an outpatient setting (Salekhard)., Results: In all the patients, common CA intima-media thickness was significantly greater than the upper limit of the normal range defined in the Guidelines, this indicator proved to be highest in the groups of indigenous people (p<0.001). The latter with CHD and hypertension more commonly tended to have atherosclerotic lesion in the left CA (p=0.06) than the non-indigenous people whereas the number of stenosis in other CAs was similar. In the natives versus the newcomers with CHD and hypertension, the atherogenic blood lipid composition was due to the higher levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins. In the non- indigenous patients with CHD and hypertension, the atherogenicity of the blood lipid composition was characterized by the higher levels of triglycerides (p=0.04) and very low-density lipoproteins (p=0.02) with the lower concentrations of high-density lipoproteins as compared to those in the natives with CHD and hypertension.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed-dose combination of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor lisinopril 10 mg and the calcium antagonist amlodipine 5 mg (ekvator) in conjunction with rosuvastatin (mertenil)., Subjects and Methods: The investigation enrolled 50 patients (mean age 57.9 years) with essential hypertension. All the patients received the fixed-dose antihypertensive combination. Stable Functional Class I or II exertional angina was in 46% of the patients. The remaining 54% were found to have brachiocephalic atherosclerosis. All the patients had dyslipidemia and were given rosuvastatin., Results: The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) initially reached 164.26 mm Hg. During the whole follow-up, the reduction in mean SBP generally accounted for 22.6% (p = 0.000). At the study inclusion, the mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) reached 99.38 mm Hg. The total decline in mean DBP was 19.3% (p = 0.000). The mean level of total cholesterol (TC) decreased significantly by 32.1% (p = 0.000); that of triglycerides (TG) also fell significantly by 31.8% (p = 0.04); that of high-density lipoproteins increased insignificantly by 11.1% (p = 0.599); that of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) dropped significantly by 47.5% (p = 0.000)., Conclusion: Being safe, the fixed-dose lisinopril and amlodipine combination is effective in lowering blood pressure in patients with hypertensive disease (HD) concurrent with coronary heart disease (CHD) or atherosclerotic changes in the carotid artery. The use of rosuvastatin in patients with HD concurrent with CHD during 2 months causes positive changes in the blood lipid composition as a significant reduction in the-levels of (TC), LDL, and TG.

Aim: To study the spread of a number of indicators of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and the pattern of their relationship to their functional state and muscle mass., Subjects and Methods: Twenty patients with chronic forms of CHD were examined. Vascular wall stiffness was judged from pulse wave velocity (PWV) along elastic-type vessels, by calculating the carotid-femoral index (CFI). Endothelial function was estimated by endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) in a reactive hyperemia test. Ultrasound scanning of the common carotid artery was used to estimate intima-media thickness. All the patients underwent bicycle ergometry; their exercise tolerance (ET) was determined by the amount of consumed oxygen when the metabolic equivalent (MET) was calculated; the percentages of active cell mass (ACM%) and lean mass (LM%) of total body weight were determined; the levels of total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were estimated. A control group comprised 20 matched persons without CHD., Results: A prognostically unfavorable increase of >12 m/sec in CFI was revealed in 20% of the patients with CHD and in 10% of the controls; endothelial vasomotor dysfunction (EDV < 10%) in 65 and 50%; a more than 0.9-mm increase in 55 and 15%, respectively. A low ET was stated in the majority of patients with abnormal vascular stiffness and endothelial vasomotor dysfunction. The CHD patients with a low ET were found to have significant correlations of CFI with ACM% and LM%, EDV and ACM% and LM%, CFI and EDV. The control patients with a low ET also showed correlations of EDV and ACM% and LM%. There was a correlation of ACM% and LM% with MET in both groups., Conclusion: EDV and PWV reflect a more decrease in physical activity and dysadapted functional status than in the degree of subclinical atherosclerosis.

The review is devoted to exercise tests (ET) potential in patients with different forms of coronary heart disease (CHD) exacerbation and suspected unstable angina. It is well known that unstable angina untreated pharmacologically is a contraindication for ET. Of interest in clinical practice is diagnosis, risk assessment and treatment policy in patients with chest pain. The main focus is on ET conduction in unstable angina suspects with low and intermediate risk, on safety and validity of ET conduction in these patients.

Aim: To investigate the effects of ivabradine in combination with perindopril on cerebral blood flow and endothelial functional activity., Subjects and Methods: Sixty-four patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and arterial hypertension (AH) were examined. Group 1 (n = 38) patients took ivabradine in combination with perindopril and Group 2 (n = 26) received metoprolol. At baseline and 8 weeks after therapy, 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring and electrocardiography were done, cerebral blood flow was estimated by Doppler ultrasound, reactive hyperemia and nitroglycerin tests were performed, and plasma nitrite levels were determined., Results: With a comparable decrease in BP and heart rate in the internal carotid artery basin in both groups over time, there was a fall in peak systolic blood flow velocity; Group 1 showed a reduction in pulsatility index (PI) and systolic/diastolic ratio (ISP). After 8 weeks, there was an increase in endothelium-independent vasodilation and baseline blood flow velocity in the brachial artery in Group 1 and a rise in endothelium-dependent vasodilation in Group 2; in both groups, reactive hyperemia were higher in the brachial artery basin. No changes in nitrite levels were recorded during therapy. There was an inverse correlation between PG and PI in Group 1 and between PG and ISP in Group 2., Conclusion: By unidirectionally affecting the vasomotor function of the endothelium, ivabradine in combination with perindopril versus metoprolol has a more favorable effect on circulatory resistance and blood flow velocity in the brachiocephalic arteries of patients with CHD and AH.

Aim: To identify the factors most substantially influencing the quality of life (QL) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) associated with metabolic syndrome (MS), by using the principal component method., Subjects and Methods: One hundred and two male patients (mean age 48.6 +/- 1.02 years) with CHD associated with MS, who had experienced large-focal myocardial infarction not earlier than 6 months before, were examined. Estimation of QL (EORTC QLQ CORE 30) and emotional-personal sphere (brief multifactorial personality questionnaire test and Spielberg's trait anxiety inventory) was made along with the complete clinical, laboratory, and instrumental examination accepted in specialized clinical practice of cardiology., Results: A factor analysis of the variables obtained after a thorough examination of the patients could identify 4 common QL determinants, such as postinfarction cardiac remodeling, neurotization, obesity, and the degree of heart and coronary failure., Conclusion: MS in patients with CHD appreciably determines the total score of physical, emotional, and social well-being. In the cluster of MS components, obesity is a major factor that influences QL in patients who have sustained myocardial infarction.

Aim: To study some particularly inadequately studied mechanisms for the development of coronary artery calcification (CAC), which are unassociated with calcified atheromatous masses of atherosclerotic plaques., Subjects and Methods: . Endarterectomized coronary artery (CA) segments obtained during aortocoronary bypass surgery were pathomorphologically studied in 150 patients aged 49-72 years with coronary heart disease (CHD). CAC was found in 92% of cases. Two types of CAC were identified: one of them was associated with calcified atheromatous masses of atherosclerotic plaques; the other was related to necroses in the fibrous plaque parts. The atheromatous masses exhibited calcareous deposits as fine-grained masses of small extent. In chronic CHD, morphological signs of instability of atherosclerotic plaques were observed in 23.3% of cases, these being associated with lamellar CAC in two thirds., Conclusion: Calcification in the necrotic area of fibrous parts of stenotic plaques is typical of chronic CHD and is frequently attended by the development of large-focal calcareous deposits generally as laminas (lamellar calcification). Impaired transmural perfusion of plasma is noted to be involved in the development of necroses in stenotic CA atherosclerotic plaques.

Local polyclinic therapists' long experience in timely identifying, treating and rehabilitating patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) is analyzed. A local therapist's attention is given to diferent course types--the clinical manifestations of CHD. The principles of continuity in the work of a therapist and a hospital: possibilities of extrahospital treatment are denoted; indications for hospitalization are specified. Rehabilitative measures include psychotherapy sessions in addition to drug, dietary, and exercise therapies. Continuity in the work of a therapeutic unit and a sociomedical expert commission contributes to the elaboration of clearer criteria for determining the degree of working capacity loss.

Aim: To select optimal methods of coronary heart disease (CHD) diagnosis in patients with different CHD probability using cost-effect analysis., Material and Methods: The trial included 102 patients admitted to hospital because of suspected CHD. The initial CHD probability was determined according to G.A. Diamond table. CHD diagnosis was made with application of Holter ECG monitoring (88 patients), treadmill test (67 patients), dobutamine stress echocardiography (echo-CG, 31 patients), stress single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT, 30 patients), multislice computed tomography (MSCT) with contrast study of coronary arteries (14 patients). Non-invasive tests were followed by coronaroangiography. The cost-effect method was used for analysis of the above methods cost efficacy., Results: MSCT specificity was 96%, specificity of the other methods - 70-75%. SPECT was most sensitive (96%), Holter ECG monitoring was the least sensitive (49%). Efficacy of all the diagnostic tests was maximal in moderate probability of CHD. In spite of its moderate specificity and sensitivity, treadmill test was the cheapest and, therefore, most cost effective in all the groups. Specification of CHD probability by 1% required 17.4 roubles in low risk groups, 9.4 and 24.7 roubles in moderate and high risk, respectively., Conclusion: CHD diagnosis should be started with treadmill test.

Aim: To examine effects of programmed external contrapulsation (ECP) on the clinico-functional status, quality of life (QOL) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), stable angina of FC II-IV resistant to medication., Material and Methods: Eighteen patients with CHD, stable angina of FC III-IV (2 females and 16 males, mean age 63.6 +/- 7.4 years) have completed a course of ECP including 35 one-hour procedures 5-6 times a week for 7 weeks. Ten patients had cardiac failure (NYHA FC II-III). Before and after ECP course the patients were examined using QOL assessment by Minnesota questionnaire, complex echo-cardiography, bicycle exercise test, perfusion myocardial scintigraphy with 99m-Tc-4,2-methoxy-isobutilisonitril, 24-h Holter ECG monitoring, enzyme immunoassay for plasma natriuretic propeptides., Results: Significant subjective QOL improvement (p < 0.01) was noticed by all the patients. Anginal attacks and nitrates doses reduced at least 2-fold. Exercise tolerance rose significantly (p < 0.01), bicycle exercise test was positive in 5 patients, the rest stopped the test after achievement of submaximal heart rate (HR) and fatigue. Most of the patients exhibited improvement of myocardial perfusion. Patients with abnormal myocardial contractility showed a moderate trend (p < 0.03) to an increase in left ventricular ejection fraction. By 24-h ECG, mean HR diminished significantly (p < 0.02)., Conclusion: ECP is highly effective and safe in combined therapy of CHD, stable angina resistant to drug therapy, in impossibility of myocardial revascularization, including patients with cardiac failure. This manifests in a significant abatement of angina, lower doses of nitrates, improvement of exercise tolerance, quality of life, myocardial perfusion and hemodynamic indices.

Aim: To elucidate whether endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDVD) is a method of early diagnosis of endothelial dysfunction or is a sign of established morphological changes in the vascular wall., Material and Methods: Endothelialfunction was studied in 44 males with essential hypertension (EH) (mean age 46.9 +/- 0.9 years), in 52 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) (mean age 50.0 +/- 0.9 years) after mammary-coronary and aortocoronary bypass operation with use of radial artery (RA), and in 28 healthy males (mean age 44.2 +/- 1.2 years). Intraoperative RA biopsy results for patients with ischemic heart disease after coronary artery bypass grafting with RA as an arterial graft were analysed., Results: Patients with CHD showed thicker complex intima-media (TIM) of the common carotid arteries compared to control and hypertensive patients free of CHD clinical symptoms. This is associated with lowering of EDVD in RA and, therefore, suggests systemic occurrence of endothelial dysfunction. The histological study of RA has found hyperplasia of the internal vascular intima of 1.1 +/- 0.2 degree in 97% of CHD patients. Combination of CHD with hypertension showed thicker intima, higher index of intima thickness and RA narrowing percentage vs such parameters in CHD free of hypertension., Conclusion: Impaired EDVD in the test with reactive hyperemia is due to morphological changes in the radial artery, its intima. The degree of changes in endothelial vascular reactions in RA is closely related to severity of systemic atherosclerosis. In CHD, RA has a marked intimal hyperplasia which leads to vasospasticity and may result in development of stenosis in its use as a graft for myocardial revascularization. One of the basic factors influencing the degree of intimal hyperplasia of the radial artery is severity of arterial hypertension.

Aim: To study a course of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with depressive disorders., Material and Methods: The trial included 77 CHD patients aged 39 to 68 years (mean age 54.9 +/- 0.9 years), 40 (51.9%) of them had myocardial infarction. All the examinees had effort angina of functional class II-IV by criteria of the Canadian Cardiology Association. All the patients have undergone standard clinical examination, stress tests, coronaroangiography (n = 30), assessment of the degree of vegetative dystonia and quality of life. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the depression degree., Results: CHD patients with manifest depression vs those with subclinical depression had a higher level of personality and reactive anxiety. They had neurotic and psychopathological personality alterations associated with more pronounced vegetative disorders. These patients suffered from more severe coronary atherosclerosis, more hospitalizations for the previous year, more myocardial infarctions, lower physical activity and quality of life., Conclusion: CHD patients with manifest depression have lower physical performance and quality of life though this is not confirmed at exercise tests.

Aim: To study pathological significance of circulating thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin in mechanisms of impairment of intrarenal hemodynamics and renal function due to contrast media (CM) in risk group patients and to study protective effects of calcium antagonists in CM nephrotoxicity., Materials and Methods: To study plasmic concentrations of TxA2 and prostacyclin, we used radioimmunoassay to measure plasmic TxB2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1a in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (group 1), systemic atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (group 2). The control group consisted of 23 healthy subjects. Diatrizoate (verografin), a high-osmolar CM, was used (40-60 and 250-400 cc in groups 1 and 2, respectively)., Results: Plasma TxB2 and serum creatinine concentrations were significantly elevated in group 1 after CM infusion compared to the preinfusion period and healthy controls. Plasma 6-keto-prostaglandin F1a in group 1 before CM infusion was lower than in controls after CM infusion. The data in group 2 were similar to those for group 1. Administration of nifedipine before and after introduction of CM prevented a rise in serum creatinine and had beneficial effects on TxA2 and prostacyclin synthesis., Conclusion: Ionic CM have a renal vasoconstrictive effects mediated by imbalance between vasoconstrictor TxA2 and vasodilator prostacyclin and may be nephrotoxic in risk group patients. The protective effects of calcium antagonists promote normalization of calcium dependent TxA22 and prostacyclin synthesis.

Aim: The study of efficacy of rehabilitation and clinical-instrumental characteristics of coronary failure in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) of high functional classes and moderate dyslipoproteinemia early (1.6 months) and late (1 and 3 years) after coronary by-pass operation., Materials and Methods: The examination covered 119 males with IHD (mean age 51.8 +/- 6.9 years) 1.6 months and 3 years after coronary by-pass operation. Lipid spectrum of blood plasma, frequency of anginal attacks, 24-h nitroglycerin requirement, results of bicycle exercise and loading myocardial scintigraphy were assessed. The patients were divided into two groups. In 82 patients of group 1 total cholesterol ranged within 3 years after the surgery from 5.2 to 6.5 mmol/l, 37 patients of group 2 had no lipid disorders., Results: Within 12 months after direct myocardial revascularization, the groups had similar clinical-instrumental characteristics. 3 years after the operation, patients of group 1 exhibited a rise in anginal attacks frequency, nitroglycerin requirement, size of unstable perfusion defects by 84.6, 88.8 and 26.4%, respectively. Exercise tolerance diminished by 18.7%., Conclusion: Moderate defects in lipid metabolism influence progression of coronary failure. This becomes especially pronounced within 3 years after coronary by-pass operation.

Stress echocardiography (duplex regimen echocardiography combined with transesophageal pacing) was performed outpatiently in 64 subjects. Among them there were patients with verified angina of effort and ischemic heart disease suspects. The test reached diagnostic criteria in 85% of the examinees. Significant signs of coronary insufficiency were recorded in 12% of patients with doubtful evidence obtained at bicycle ergometry. This method is proposed as an alternative (in addition to stress ECG tests) variant of outpatient diagnosis of coronary insufficiency in doubtful cases and to assess coronary reserve in patients with verified ischemic heart disease.

Whether 24-h ECG monitoring (ECGM) may be used in detection of multiple arterial obstructions in anginal patients and to compare diagnostic efficacy of ECGM and bicycle exercise (BE) in prediction of 2 or 3 lesions was investigated in 137 patients subjected to ECGM and selective coronarography. 117 of them did bicycle exercise. The number of episodes of painful and painless myocardial ischemia in ECGM was related with the extension and depth of the coronary flow obstruction. The overall index of myocardial ischemia has been estimated warranting higher probability of detection of subjects with obstruction in 1 or more coronary arteries. Sensitivity and prediction value of ECGM was similar to those of BE, but the latter was more specific.

70 IHD patients underwent ambulatory Holter ECG monitoring two times. Out of 357 episodes of transitory ischemia registered in the course of exercise and presenting primarily as ST depression the proportion of silent episodes reached 75.6%. The number of episodes, their duration and mean value of ST depression were significantly greater in subjects 1 year after myocardial infarction. These patients more frequently developed ventricular arrhythmia and had ejection fraction below 50%. The findings evidence a significant clinical value of silent myocardial ischemia. It may serve a predictor of repeated acute coronary accidents in postmyocardial infarction patients.

To determine clinical and angiographic predictors of restenosis after successful PTCA, we analysed the data on 63 patients (68 stenoses) who had undergone repeat coronary angiography during the first eight months after successful PTCA. The overall restenosis rate was 42.6%. Four clinical and angiographic factors were associated with high risk of restenosis. Residual stenosis > or = 25% was the strongest predictor of restenosis (p = 0.002). Among other factors presence of unstable angina, complicated lesion morphology and absence of intimal dissection had equal value of significance (p = 0.02 in all the cases).

Of 20 patients with antiphospholipid syndrome 6 were found clinically and upon special tests to have signs of ischemic heart disease. All the 6 had shifts in lipid spectrum of plasma. It is important to study coronary pathology in antiphospholipid syndrome to elucidate mechanisms underlying thrombosis and vascular atherosclerosis in human diseases.

Ninety patients with angiographically confirmed diagnosis of coronary heart disease were examined. The ECG exercise test and Holter ECG monitoring were carried out. Silent ischemia (SI) was revealed in 40 patients (44.4%). According to the data of examinations, the patients with SI episodes were clinically graver than those without SI. In the SI group, 60% of the patients had prognostic criteria of a clinically high coronarographic risk, namely stenosis of the trunk of the left coronary artery, dangerous localisation of one or more arteries in "incomplete" myocardial infarction, and significant sclerosis of three main coronary arteries. Practically all the patients were at high risk for SI episodes. The probability of a high risk increases if SI is associated with such factors as the total ischemic burden of more than 30 minutes and ST depression magnitude equal to 1.5 mm in the ECG exercise test or 3 mm in Holter ECG monitoring.

The analysis of 3-year follow-up and treatment of 33 and 113 hypertensive subjects without and with coronary insufficiency, respectively, suggested the conclusion on an independent role of left ventricular hypertrophy as a risk factor of cardiac complications in hypertensive patients either with or without coronary insufficiency. A high risk of cardial complications can be expected in hypertensive patients without coronary insufficiency, but with systolic pressure above 200 mm Hg, thickness of the left ventricular posterior wall more than 1.3 cm, % delta S under 40. In the presence of coronary insufficiency hypertensive subjects have a high risk of the complications in case of stroke output over 50 ml, sigma max over 340 10(3) din/cm2, left ventricular myocardial mass over 220 g, history of myocardial infarction. No significant correlation was found between arterial pressure reduction due to antihypertensive treatment and development of cardial complications.

As many as 38 patients with the clinical and angiographic signs of "critical" stenosing of one coronary artery were examined. All the patients underwent coronary angiography and transvenous multiphase left ventriculography. The authors defined a complex of fairly early, "preclinical" signs of myocardial ischemia, pertaining to the energetic effectiveness of the cardiocycle, diastolic function of the left ventricle and indices of the local movement of chamber walls. It is important that these signs are recordable in minimal, clinically undetectable myocardial ischemia characterized by the lack of anginous pain, no changes in the ECG, and when the two-picture analysis, commonly used in clinical practice, provides normal results.

The authors suggest a new criterion for differential diagnosis according to the mapping of 35 ECG leads (PECG-35) in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) and coronary heart disease (CHD). Analysis was made of 12 and 35 ECG leads in 120 patients. There were 60 cases of DCMP and 60 cases of CHD. According to the ECG-12 data the signs of focal cicatricial myocardial lesions were detectable in 34 cases of DCMP. According to echocardiography, the end diastolic size exceeded 5.9 cm in 23 CHD patients. The diagnostic algorithm was devised to distribute the patients into two groups. The algorithm consists in the following: 1) the sum of the areas of R waves is calculated in leads 6, 7, 13, 4, 20, 21 (+/- aR6-7I-IV parameter); 2) the sum of the areas of S waves is calculated in leads 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 (sigma aS1-3V-VI parameter); 3) the parameter sigma aR6-7I-IV + sigma aS1-3V-VI is computed; 4) if sigma aR6-7I-IV + sigma aS1-3V-VI greater than 0.55 mB/s, the patient is diagnosed to have DCMP, if aR + aS less than 0.55 mB/s, the patient is diagnosed to have CHD. The sensitivity of the algorithm offered is 70-82%, with the specificity being 80%.

The diagnostic importance of transesophageal pacing of the atria (TPA) in revealing coronary heart disease was determined by means of comparing the pacing data with the clinical picture of the disease and coronarography readings in 231 patients. It is shown that the sensitivity of TPA in CHD diagnosis is equal to 80%, specificity to 70%, the predicting value of the positive result amounts to 86%, of the negative result to 59%. The greatest diagnostic importance belongs to the positive result of TRA in patients with typical angina pectoris and to the negative result in patients with cardialgia. The sensitivity and predicting value of TRA do not significantly differ from the corresponding indicators of bicycle ergometry. However, TPA is less specific.

The incidence of angina pectoris was investigated and the treadmill test was carried out to assess the presence of myocardial ischemia and heart pump function in 238 patients suffering from mitral and aortal heart disease. Comparison with the coronarography readings has demonstrated that the diagnostic value of the painful syndrome in the health status and anamnesis does not exceed 24%. The appearance of an angina pectoris attack in combination with ischemic alterations on the ECG raised the diagnostic value up to 50%. The authors have distinguished a symptom-complex including the development of angina pectoris, appearance of the ischemic signs on the ECG with the integrity of heart pump function, increasing the diagnostic value of the test up to 83-100%. The integrity or insufficiency of heart pump function were shown to allow differentiation between atherosclerotic and relative coronary insufficiency. The conclusion is drawn about the necessity of carrying out the treadmill test according to the program in patients suffering from heart disease with suspected coronary insufficiency.

The aim of the study was to assess the sympathoadrenal activity at the time of silent ischemia event in hypertensive patients. In 15 hospitalized hypertensive patients having silent ischemia event during Holter ECG monitoring while walking, blood samples for catecholamines were taken at the time of silent ischemia event, pointed with alarm by the real time ECG "Q Med" monitor (USA). Control blood samples were taken under the same conditions without ST-segment depression. Plasma noradrenaline (NA) during silent ischemia was significantly higher than the control level without ischemia (458 +/- 71 ng/l vs 717 +/- 95 ng/l) (p less than 0.01). The changes in plasma NA correlated with left ventricular mass assessed by echocardiography (r = 0.70, p less than 0.01). The role of sympathoadrenal hyperactivity in the genesis of silent myocardial ischemia in patients with essential hypertension is discussed.

To estimate the rate of changes in low-amplitude elements of the ECG (P wave greater than or equal to 120 ms, distance between its bifurcate peaks greater than 30 ms, P of the terminal index greater than 1.5 microV/s, corrected according to Bazett's formula, PQ interval greater than 200.0 ms, T-U segment displaced downwards from the isoline, negative, biphasic U wave), the additionally enhanced ECGs (1 mV = 50 mm) were recorded in 137 patients suffering from type I diabetes mellitus (DM) without the clinical signs of heart damage (CSHD), in 35 patients with type II DM, in 83 with diabetic myocardiodystrophy (DMD) associated with type I DM and 115 in association with type II DM, in 19 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in the presence of type I DM, and in 83 patients suffering from CHD and type II DM. It has been established that changes in low-amplitude elements of the ECG may occur in 55-60% of patients suffering from DM without CSHD, 79-80% of patients with DMD, and in 90-100% of patients with CHD in the presence of DM versus 18.2% in the control group of normals (110 test subjects). In most cases, the changes in the atrial complex of the ECG are not coupled with those seen in the TU-U complex in patients suffering from DM without CSHD and DMD and may be coupled in patients suffering from CHD and DM. The increasing rate of the changes in the P complex together with those in TU-U was ascertained in patients suffering from DM without CSHD, DMD, CHD in the presence of both type I and type II DM. The DM type did not exert any appreciable effect on the characteristics or the rate of changes in low-amplitude elements of the ECG.

A study was made of painless myocardial ischemia in the early postinfarction period (day 14) in order to define its influence on the clinical course and immediate prognosis. 25 patients aged 32 to 60 years with acute primary myocardial infarction were examined. 17 patients had large-focal and 8 small-focal infarction. The patients received diurnal ECG monitoring and physical exercise test on a treadmill. An overwhelming majority of the patients manifested myocardial ischemia not correlating with the rate of angina pectoris attacks. In the patients with small-focal infarction, angina pectoris occurred more frequently and was longer. It has been discovered that the total diurnal duration of transitory myocardial ischemia in the early postinfarction period is a more informative indicator of the immediate prognosis as compared to physical exercise tolerance.

The hemagglutination test was used to measure the content of myoglobin (MG) in the blood serum in 92 patients suffering from coronary heart disease (myocardial infarction, unstable and stable angina pectoris). The content of MG turned out a safe indicator attesting to acute myocardial infarction. In complications and spreading of necrosis, the MG level was returning to normal slowly. In patients with angina pectoris, the MG level did not on the average differ from control. However, in patients with unstable angina pectoris, there was an increase of the MG content after long-term attacks and in the development of small-focal necroses in the myocardium.

As many as 40 men suffering from essential hypertension (EH) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP) were examined. All the patients exercised on a treadmill according to the Cornell protocol taking into consideration the ST/HR slope and the ST/HR index, underwent echocardiography with measurements of the left ventricular mass (LVM), and coronary ventriculography. Coronary insufficiency was revealed in all the patients. Of these, 11 patients suffered from it due to associated EH and coronary heart disease (CHD), 31 had relative coronary insufficiency in the presence of associated EH and LVH phenomena with no stenosis of coronary vessels, and 7 patients showed up relative coronary insufficiency in the presence of HCMP. The ST/HR slope and the ST/HR index correlated well with the LVM and the asymmetry index of the left ventricle but in patients with associated relative coronary insufficiency and EH. In patients with associated EH and CHD, the ST-dependent parameters correlated well neither with the degree of atherosclerosis spreading nor with the LVM. This may indicate that both factors influence the gravity of coronary insufficiency at a time. In case a patient suffering from associated EH and coronary insufficiency phenomena has the ST/HR slope greater than or equal to greater than or equal to 4.5 microV/stroke/min and/or the ST/HR index greater than or equal to greater than or equal to 2.5 microV/stroke/min, it is more likely that myocardial ischemia is provoked by concomitant atherosclerosis of coronary arteries (sensitivity 28%, specificity 71%).

The daily Holter ECG monitoring and echocardiography were conducted in 61 men aged on the average 50.5...1.2 years with a diagnosis of stage II essential hypertension. 55.7% of the patients manifested episodes of painless depression of the ST segment. Such parameters as the patients' age, duration and intensity of arterial hypertension, the painful syndrome pattern did not afford revealing persons at high risk for instability of the ST segment of the ECG. Only initial disorders of the repolarization phase of the ECG at rest, so-called ECG with the signs of left ventricle hypertrophy with "strain" were in this respect of prognostic importance. 2/3 of the patients with the left ventricle mass exceeding 200 g manifested episodes of "silent" depression of the ST segment, with those episodes being encountered more frequently in left ventricle hypertrophy with an asymmetry index greater than or equal to 1.5.

The results of the maximal rate of heart ventricle activation (HVA) determined according to the ECG readings and its first derivative were compared in 38 patients suffering from coronary disease (CD) with the coronarography data. 54 healthy men without the clinical and bicycle ergometry signs of CD were examined as control. In patients with angina pectoris, postinfarction cardiosclerosis and acute myocardial infarction, there was a significant decrease of HVA. As the rate of the degree of coronary artery stenosis increased, there was a progressive reduction of the rate of HVA.

To determine the diagnostic significance of x-ray criteria for assessing heart function in patients with postinfarction cardiosclerosis, the coronary-ventricular and electrocardiographic findings were compared with x-ray data in patients of 2 age groups. Group I was made up of patients aged 22 to 39 years, group II of patients aged 60 to 69 years. An attempt was made to base the use of the x-ray method during follow-up of patients suffering from coronary disease. With lesions of the coronary arteries being the same, the functional alterations in the left ventricle were more pronounced in younger patients than in elderly ones. The presence of a sufficiently close correlation between the end systolic volume and the relative heart volume makes it possible to employ this x-ray indicator as a noninvasive criterion for assessing left ventricular function during follow-up of patients with coronary disease.