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Enkyu Noh,1,&ast; Hyungmin Jeong,1,&ast; In-So Cho,2 Min-Seok Chang,2 Iseul Yu,2 Sunmin Park,2 Ji-Ho Lee,2 Seok Jeong Lee,2 Won-Yeon Lee,2 Suk Joong Yong,2 Sang-Ha Kim2 1Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, 26426, Korea; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, 26426, Korea&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Sang-Ha Kim, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju 26426, Korea, 20 Ilsanro, Wonju, 26426, Korea, Tel +82-33-741-0926, Fax +82-33-746-4667, Email sanghakim@yonsei.ac.krPurpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are among the most prevalent conditions that might predispose individuals to life-threatening events. We aimed to examine their associations with cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality using a large-scale population dataset from the National Health Information Database in Korea.Patients and Methods: This population-based cohort study enrolled adults aged ≥ 40 years who had undergone more than two health examinations between 2009 and 2011. They were divided into four groups based on the presence of COPD and MetS. Analysis of the outcomes and CV events or deaths was performed from 2014 to 2019. We compared CV event incidence and mortality rates using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan–Meier curves.Results: Totally, 5,101,810 individuals were included, among whom 3,738,458 (73.3%) had neither COPD nor MetS, 1,193,014 (23.4%) had only MetS, 125,976 (2.5%) had only COPD, and 44,362 (0.9%) had both. The risk of CV events was significantly higher in individuals with both COPD and MetS than in those with either COPD or MetS alone (HRs: 2.4 vs 1.6 and 1.8, respectively; all P < 0.001). Similarly, among those with both COPD and MetS, all-cause and CV mortality risks were also elevated (HRs, 2.9 and 3.0, respectively) compared to the risks in those with either COPD (HRs, 2.6 and 2.1, respectively) or MetS (HRs, 1.7 and 2.1, respectively; all P < 0.001).Conclusion: The comorbidity of MetS in patients with COPD increases the incidence of CV events and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates.Keywords: cardiovascular event, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, metabolic syndrome

The influence of residual plastic deformation on the bending deformation of a magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) beam with non-coercive superparamagnetic manganite (La0.6Ag0.2Mn1.2O3) nanoparticles induced by a transverse uniform magnetic field has been studied. It was found that the MAE bending induced by the magnetic field switching-on/switching-off is mainly cyclic elastic. Plastic deformation leads to the emergence of residual bending and hysteresis in the field dependence of the bending. It was shown that the residual bending that appears after the first magnetic field switch-on eliminates the uncertainty of the bending direction at the next magnetization. Due to the residual plastic deformation, the bending direction of the superparamagnetic MAE with nanoparticles does not change when the direction of the applied magnetic field is inverted, in contrast to the MAE with microparticles where the uncertainty of the bending direction is eliminated due to the residual magnetization of weakly coercive ferromagnetic microparticles; therefore, the bending direction changes its sign with magnetic field reversion. In the low fields, the bending value for the MAEs with superparamagnetic particles is proportional to the square of the magnetic field strength. Model estimates on the residual deformation influence on the beam bending at beam magnetization reversal were obtained.

Jae-Hwa Choi,1,&ast; Keun-Bae Jeong,1,&ast; You Hyun Park,2 Iseul Yu,1 Seok Jeong Lee,1 Myoung Kyu Lee,1 Sang-Ha Kim,1 Won-Yeon Lee,1 Suk Joong Yong,1 Ji-Ho Lee1 1Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea; 2Department of Biostatistics, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ji-Ho LeeDepartment of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, 20 Ilsan-ro, Wonju, 26426, KoreaTel +82-33-741-0926Fax +82-33-741-0928Email airwayleejh@yonsei.ac.krIntroduction: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) play an important role in lowering the risk of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, ICSs are known to increase the risk of pneumonia. Moreover, previous studies have shown that the incidence rate of pneumonia varies depending on the type of ICS. In this study, the risk of pneumonia according to the type of ICS was investigated in a population-based cohort.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using claims data of the entire population from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Patients who were newly diagnosed with COPD and prescribed fluticasone propionate or budesonide were enrolled as study subjects. Cumulative doses of ICSs were classified into categorical variables to analyze the risk of pneumonia within identical ICS doses.Results: A total of 47,473 subjects were identified and allocated as 14,518 fluticasone propionate and 14,518 budesonide users through 1:1 propensity score matching. Fluticasone propionate users were more likely to develop pneumonia than budesonide users (14.22% vs 10.66%, p< 0.0001). The incidence rate per 100,000 person-years was 2,914.77 for fluticasone propionate users and 2,102.90 for budesonide users. The hazard ratio (HR) of pneumonia in fluticasone propionate compared to budesonide was 1.34 (95% CI 1.26– 1.43, p< 0.0001). The risk of pneumonia for fluticasone propionate compared to budesonide increased with higher ICS cumulative doses: 1.06 (0.93– 1.21), 1.41 (1.19– 1.66), 1.41 (1.23– 1.63), and 1.49 (1.33– 1.66) from the lowest to highest quartiles, respectively.Conclusion: ICS types and doses need to be carefully considered during treatment with ICSs in patients with COPD.Keywords: inhaled corticosteroid, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, fluticasone propionate, budesonide

Lymphodepleting preconditioning is generally required prior to adoptive T cell therapy (ACT). Here the authors show in a preclinical melanoma model that anti-CD4 treatment as a post-conditioning regimen enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of ACT by promoting the expansion of IL-18Rαhi CD8+ T cells.

Background. An infected wound of the abdominal wall after mesh hernia repair is related to mesh infection, because mesh is situated at the bottom of the wound and granulation tissue doesn’t cover it. Infected mesh wounds have traditionally been treated by surgically removing the mesh which causes prolonged hospitalizations and hernia recurrence. Objective of the study is to increase the efficiency of treatment of wounds infection after mesh heria repair. Маterials and methods. We analyzed the results of wound infection treatment in 72 patients. 37 patients (group I) were treated according to the developed algorithm (ultrasound cavitation, VAC-therapy and decamethoxine solution), 35 (group II) were treated according to the traditional one (ultrasound cavitation, VAC-therapy and chlorhexidine digluconate solution). Results. The number of microbial colonies (CFU) in the wound decreased to lg (2.33 ± 0.51) CFU/ml and lg (1.35 ± 0.49) CFU/ml in group I against lg (4.01 ± 0) CFU/ml and lg (2.93 ± 0.56) CFU/ml in group II. (p < 0.01) The results of morphological examination of the wound edges confirmed more efficient growth of connective tissue in patients of group I (mesh was completely covered with granulation tissue) which improved wound healing. While in group II, mesh explantation was performed in 5 (14.3 %) patients (granulation tissue hasn’t covered mesh completely). The duration of wound healing in patients of group I was 16 ± 1.05 days, compared with 21 ± 1.2 days in group II (p < 0.01). We achieved better results through the use of the developed algorithm in group I, in particular the combination of ultrasound cavitation, VAC therapy and decametoxine solution, which has not only antimicrobial action, but also promotes connective tissue repair in the wound. Conclusion. Developed algorithm for wounds infection treatment after alloplasty, which includes ultrasound cavitation, VAC-therapy and decamethoxine solution, improves treatment outcomes, reduced wound healing time to 16 ± 1.05 days in patients of the main group against 21 ± 1.2 in comparison group, and excludes the possibility of mesh explantation in the main group against 14.3 % in the comparison group.

Aims. To compare glucose - lowering and weight reduction capacity of bypass operations (gastric bypass (GB), biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) vs GLP-1 agonist liraglutide 3.0 mg (models of maximum incretin effect) for 6 months. Materials and methods. 46 patients with type 2 diabetes and long history (≥10 years) of obesity were divided into 2 groups: surgery - group (n=23) and liraglutide - group (n=23), where liraglutide 3.0 mg in dose - escalation manner was added to baseline glucose - lowering therapy. Anthropometric parameters, HbA1c and insulin resistance (IR) by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (M-value) were measured before and 16 weeks after the intervention. With the stabilization of glycemia (≤6.5 mmol/l at fasting state, ≤8 mmol/l postprandial) the initial glucose - lowering therapy was canceled. Results and discussion. Both surgery and liraglutide 3.0 mg provided target HbA1c in 16 weeks. Bypass operations led to elimination of glucose - lowering therapy in 82.6% patients due to a more significant weight reduction and decrease in IR. In liraglutide - group previous glucose - lowering therapy was cancelled in 78.3% patients, mainly receiving baseline mono - and two - component therapy. The most significant difference between interventions was achieved in BMI (-8.9 kg in surgery group vs -3.8 kg in liraglutide group, p

Aim. To study relationships of reduced renal function with hypertension and other cardiometabolic risk factors in persons aged 25-45 years. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional population study of one of the typical district of Novosibirsk (Russia) was performed during 2013-2016 years. The study included 468 men and 606 women aged 25-45 years. Blood pressure (BP), waist circumference (WC), blood lipids, glucose, creatinine were measured. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated with the formula CKD-EPI. Hypertension was registered if blood pressure (BP) was ≥140/90 mm Hg, reduced kidney function - at GFR

Background. For many decades of the twentieth century, radiation therapy has played a leading role in the treatment of patients with lymphoproliferative diseases, which are highly susceptible to ionizing radiation by neoplasms. But due to the effective development of chemotherapy, the discovery and rapid introduction of targeted drugs into practice, the role of radiation treatment in various types of lymphomas becomes less defined in many clinical situations. Primary mediastinal (thymic) B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) belongs to the primary extranodal tumors and originate from a thymic medullary B cell. The disease has specific morphoimmunological and genetic characteristics that allows it to be identified from the others similar in manifestations lymphoproliferative diseases. The standard of treatment for PMBCL is immunochemotherapy with subsequent irradiation of a residual tumor in the mediastinum. Currently, the benefits of one chemotherapy regimen over the other ones have not been shown in controlled studies. Aim. To study the modern approaches to the chemoradiotherapy in PMBCL patients with an attempt to "individualize" them depending on various prognostic factors. Methods. The study conducted a thorough analysis of the treatment results of 131 patients with PMBCL who were treated in the N.N.Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology from 2005 to 2017. More than half of the patients were women (58%), the median age was 30 years. At different historical periods, the treatment of PMBCL was applied according to different chemotherapy regimens: MACOP-B+R - 55 (42%), R-CHOP - 40 (30.5%), R-DA-EPOCH - 36 (27.5%); 99 patients received radiation therapy. Results. The efficacy of treatment in the whole group of PMBCL patients was high: remission was achieved in 87% of patients, 3-year progression-free survival was 78%, and overall survival was 88%. With a median follow-up of 37 months, 17 (13%) of 131 patients had a relapse or progression of the disease within 13 months from the start of treatment; no late relapses were detected. Treatment of this group was ineffective: the 12-month overall survival did not exceed 37%. In the group of 99 patients with immunochemoradiotherapy, high rates of 3-year overall survival and progression-free survival (with a median of 37 months) were achieved - 91% and 88%, respectively. It has been shown that intensive immunochemotherapy regimens (R-MACOP-B, R-EPOCH) do not differ in efficacy and have statistically significant advantages over the standard R-CHOP regimen. Positron emission tomography (PET) is an important prognostic tool in the treatment of patients with PMBCL: 3-year progression-free survival in the PET-negative group was 92% compared with 26% in the PET-positive group. The frequency of radiation damage to the lungs during conventional and 3D conformal radiation therapy was analyzed. Conclusion. The algorithm of optimal treatment for PMBCL patients was determined based on clinical factors, the drug treatment program, the degree of regression of the tumor and its metabolic activity, volume and method of irradiation.

A magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) consisting of single-domain La0.6Ag0.2Mn1.2O3 nanoparticles with a Curie temperature close to room temperature (TC = 308 K) in a silicone matrix has been prepared and comprehensively studied. It has been found that MAE particles are magnetized superparamagnetically with a low coercivity below 10 Oe at room temperature and above. The influence of magnetic anisotropy on the appearance of torque is justified. A coupling between magnetization and magnetoelasticity has also been established. The mechanisms of the appearance of magnetoelasticity, including the effect of MAE rearrangement and MAE compression by magnetized particles, have been revealed. It has been found that the magnetoelastic properties of MAE have critical features near TC. The magnetoelastic properties of MAE disappear at T > TC and are restored at T

Objective - to explore influence of valsartan monotherapy use and its use in combination with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) on pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and central arterial pressure (CAP) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) of 1-2 grades in international VICTORY clinical trial. Materials and methods. The international multicenter prospective randomized clinical study VICTORY that lasted for 16 weeks included patients with 1-2 grades AH. In patients who previously received antihypertensive therapy a 7 days washout period was carried out. All patients started their therapy with 80 mg valsartan (Valsacor®, KRKA, Slovenia); in Russia the starter dose of Valsacor®, KRKA was 160 mg in previously treated patients that did not influence the study results. If after 4 weeks of treatment BP was more than 140/90 mm hg (more than 130/80 mm hg in high risk patients or in diabetes mellitus patients) the dose of valsartan was increased to 160 mg (320 mg in Russia) or diuretic in fixed combination with valsartan was added (160 mg valsartan/12.5 mg HCTZ): Valsacor® H 160 (KRKA, Slovenia). If target BP after 8 weeks of treatment was not reached valsartan dose was increased to 320 mg or fixed combination of valsartan and diuretic (160 mg/12.5 mg) was used. If target BP after 12 weeks of treatment was not reached - valsartan and diuretic 320 mg/12.5 mg were used. PWV and CAP (SphygmoCor®, AtCorMedical) were assessed at baseline and after 16 weeks of treatment. The primary endpoints were assessment of the impact of studied medications on aortic stiffness, aortic augmentation index and comparison of absolute medians of reached central and peripheral BP reduction with baseline value. Results. Of 365 patients included in the study 74 were included in PWV and CAP study subgroup. Valsartan and its combination with HCTZ were effective in CBP reduction. The mean absolute reduction of central systolic and diastolic BP after 16 weeks of treatment was 19.7±12.9 mm hg and 13.9±8.5 mm hg, respectively (р

Engineered T cells with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) are emerging as an effective cancer therapy. Here the authors show that CAR T cells recognizing self-MHC can be ‘tuned’ ex vivo via CAR downregulation and CAR T cell death to generate a CAR T pool specifically targeting tumor cells with high MHC expression.

Aim. To reveal possible associations between metabolic syndrome (MS) and reduced lung function. Subjects and methods. In 2013—016, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 908 Novosibirsk dwellers, which included spirometry to evaluate external respiratory function (ERF). For the detection of MS, the investigators used the 2009 All-Russian Research Society of Cardiologists criteria: waist circumference (WC) > 80 cm for women and >94 cm for men in combination with two of the following criteria: blood pressure (BP) ≥130/85 mm Hg, triglycerides (TG) ≥1.7 mmol/l, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol

Aim. To reveal the features of microcirculatory parameters in compensated and decompensated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Subjects and methods. A total of 196 patients with T2DM were examined and divided into 2 groups: 1) 52 patients (40.4% of men) aged 52.8±8.7 years with compensated T2DM (glycated hemoglobin (HbA1с), 6.3±0.5%); 2) 68 patients (38.2% of men) aged 52.8±8.1 years with decompensated T2DM (HbA1с, 9.4±1.7%). Both patient groups had concomitant hypertension (its prevalence, degree, stage of hypertension were comparable). A control group consisted of 76 volunteers (40.8% of men) aged 52.2±8.7 years with normal carbohydrate metabolism and without signs of cardiovascular disease (HbA1с, 5.3±0.49%). Capillary blood flow in the finger nail-fold area was investigated in all the participants. A digital optical capillaroscope with image-processing software was used to obtain quantitative blood microcirculatory parameters. The diameters of arterial and venous capillary segments were measured, by calculating the remodeling rate. The degree of capillary tortuosity, network density, and polymorphism and the size of the perivascular zone (PZ) were estimated. Blood rheological properties and capillary blood flow velocity were also investigated. Results. The decompensated T2DM group compared to the compensated T2DM group was found to have a narrowing of the arterial capillary segment diameter (8.4±2.0 µm; p=0.009) and an increase in remodeling rates (1.47±0.22; p=0.000). The tendency of the PZ size to be larger in patients with decompensated T2DM compared to those with compensated T2DM (p=0.080) and the increase in this indicator compared to the control group (p=0.001) reflect the presence of edema syndrome in Group 2, as laboratory confirmed by a statistically significantly elevated sodium level (p=0.000; p=0.006). The enlarged venous capillary segment demonstrates involvement of the venous component in microcirculatory disorders in T2DM. The reduction in the density of the capillary network and the increase in capillary tortuosity and polymorphism, which were also observed in the patients of both groups versus the control group, are referred to as disorders that are characteristic of T2DM. Conclusion. In decompensated T2DM, capillary bed structural and functional changes are found as a narrowing of the arterial capillary segment, an increase in the rate of remodeling, and enlargement of the PZ. Digital capillaroscopy opens up new possibilities for assessing the magnitude of changes in the microcirculatory system in DM and can simultaneously evaluate the efficiency of treatment, by monitoring the status of the microvasculature.

Aim: to improve the results of treatment of patients with locally advancesd pancreatic cancer. Matherials and methods. From February 2015 till June 2017 there was performed 6 irreversible electroporations of unresectable pancreatic cancers, one of which was combined with palliative gastropanreatoduodenectomy. The median tumor size was 41.7 mm (range from 22 to 65 mm). The median quantity of treated areas was 2.3 (1-5). Perioperative treatment was routinely used. Results. Two patients had complications. One died on the 21st day from the pancreonecrosis with parapancreatic abscesses. Autopsy showed there was no evidence of tumor cells in the site of electroporation performed. In the other case there were revealed several foci of destruction around the area of electroporation which required sanation under the endoscopic US-guidance. In different periods of observation (1-, 3-, 4 and 12 month) four patients were alive without sign of progression. One patient died in 13 month from progression. Conclusion: irreversible electroporation - is one of the effective local treatment methods for the patiemts with unresectable nonmetastatic pancreatic cancer. To increase treatment results it is recommended to combine electroporation with chemoor radiotherapy.

Objective: to study the features of the chemiluminescent state and the activity of NAD (P) -depen- dent dehydrogenases in neutrophilic granulocytes of blood in patients with different sensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid (ACA) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Materials and methods: The study included 53 patients with ACS. Evaluation of resistance or sensitivity to ASA was performed in vitro by incubating platelet-rich plasma with adenosine diphosphate and ASA to determine the level of aggregation. The state of respiratory explosion of neutrophils was investigated by the method of chemiluminescence. The activity of enzymes in neutrophils was studied by the bioluminescent method.Results of the study: In patients with ACS-resistant ACS, the rate of synthesis of primary and secondary active forms of oxygen was reduced, and the index of luminol-dependent activation of neutrophils was reduced. The intensity of substrate stimulation of glycolysis and oxidation of glucose by the pentose phosphate pathway is increased.Conclusion: With resistance to ASA in patients with ACS, there are abnormalities in the metabolism and functional activity of neutrophils, which is of interest in studying the intercellular relationships of thrombus formation.

Objective. The VICTORY study aimed to evaluate effectiveness and safety of monotherapy with valsartan (Valsacor®) and its fixed combination with hydrochlorothiazide (Valsacor® H) in clinical practice in patients with stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension. Materials and methods. In the prospective, randomized, open-label, international multicentre study involved 356 patients with grade 1 and grade 2 hypertension from 5 countries, including 130 patients from Russia. In Russia the study was conducted in 7 cities, in 8 clinical centers. The patients, who were receiving antihypertensive therapy at the moment of screening, underwent a 7 days wash-out period. The starter dose of valsartan (Valsacor®, KRKA, Slovenia) was 80 mg (except for Russia where 160 mg of Valsacor® were given at the first visit, what did not influence the study results). After 4 weeks of treatment in case of blood pressure (BP) >140/90 or 130/80 mm Hg the dose was increased to 160 mg (in Russia - to 320 mg) or combined therapy with Valsacor® H (KRKA, Slovenia) was prescribed. In 4 weeks the dose of valsartan was increased to 320 or 160/12.5 mg in case of previous dose insufficiency. If target BP levels were not reached in the next 4 weeks, the dose was increased to 320/12.5 mg. The primary endpoints included evaluation of antihypertensive effect of valsartan and its fixed combination with hydrochlorothiazide on BP levels; evaluation of the drugs’ influence on aortal stiffness; comparison of absolute average means of achieved decrease in central and peripheral BP compared with baseline; evaluation of the impact on aortic augmentation index. The secondary endpoints included comparison of primary endpoints when using mono and combined therapy; evaluation and comparison of the effect on erectile function in men by questionnaires at baseline and after 16 weeks of treatment; evaluation of adverse events frequency. Results. Data on 365 patients - 196 (54.0%) female and 169 (46.0%) male aged 54.6±12.0 years were analyzed. Mean initial value of systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were 156.6±8.9 and 95.6±6.0 mm Hg, respectively and 130.1±8.2 and 80.9±5.8 mm Hg, respectively after 16 weeks of treatment. The mean absolute decrease of SBP and DBP was 26.6±10.4 and 14.8±7.6 mm Hg. The decrease of SBP and DBP was statistically significant in all treatment periods (p

Aim. To study of the impact of shock-wave therapy (SWT) on the functional status of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Subjects and methods. Thirty-four CHD patients (including 33 men) with left ventricular (LV) asynergic segments, as evidenced by echocardiography (EchoCG), were examined. Their mean age was 60.1±1.76 years. All the patients received a SWT cycle according to the standard scheme. The patient examination protocol involved EchoCG, dobutamine EchoCG, treadmill exercise EchoCG, and tissue Doppler EchoCG, which were performed at baseline, immediately and one month after the end of a SWT cycle. Results. Following a SWT cycle, all the patients were noted to have a significant decrease in mean angina pectoris and heart failure functional classes and in the frequency of daily intake of nitrates. EchoCG showed that at baseline the LV ejection fraction (EF) was 51.1±1.02%; end- diastolic volume index, 71.5±3.6 ml/m2; end-systolic volume index, 34.4±2.2 ml/m2. According to exercise EchoCG, the tolerance threshold was 6.4±0.1 Меts (Bruce protocol); the total exercise time of 5.05±0.23 min was achieved in an average of 75.2±1.32%. Immediately and one month after a SWT cycle, there was an increment in EF from 51.1±1.02 to 55±0.8 and 57±1.7%, respectively; a substantial increase in the tolerance threshold to 8.17±0.24 and 9.45±0.34 Меts, as compared to the baseline values. The exercise time increased up to 6.41±0.17 and 7.7±0.29 min immediately and one month after SWT, respectively. The increment in EF in response to exercise was 8.54±2.12, 14±1.5, and 16±1.2% at baseline, immediately and one month after SWT, respectively. Moreover, myocardial relaxation and diastolic function improved. Conclusion. Shock-wave therapy in patients with CHD is accompanied by their improved functional status, which is manifested by increased tolerance threshold and exercise duration, a rise in rest and exercise LV EF, better relaxation of LV, and its diminished stiffness.

Aim. To investigate the prevalence of impaired external respiration function (ERF) in young Novosibirsk dwellers. Subjects and methods. A cross-sectional population-based survey in one of the typical districts of Novosibirsk was conducted at the Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine in 2013—2015. ERF was examined by spirometry in accordance with the guidelines. The best indicators of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC ratio were selected and three reproducible attempts were made to evaluate ERF. Spirometry was carried out in 787 respondents (358 males and 429 females) for the entire period. The results were interpreted according to the guidelines of the European Respiratory Society, the American Thoracic Society, and the Russian Respiratory Society. Results. The prevalence of a FEV1/FVC of

The ambiguity of the term “talk show” in the practice and theory of television journalism, difficulties in defining television programs like “talk shows” require to discover the essential format`s characteristics by which we could easily find out the broadcast of this type. The article analyzes the definitions of the concept in Russian and foreign dictionaries and also in the scientific literature.The author investigates contentious issues in the definition of the term and essential characteristics of talk show: identification the genre of the conversation which takes place in the studio; the role of a live studio audience in talk; the border of the format. Besides, the term “talk show” is correlated to such categories as “format” and “genre”. The author raises the question about the correctness of the understanding of “talk shows” like the current genre of TV journalism. Finally, on systematizes distinctive characteristics of talk shows, highlighted by different researchers, and offers the list of essential characteristics of the broadcast of this type.

This article is focuses on evolution of Iranian political influence in Persian Gulf countries. It examines theological and political aspects of such influence and its consequences for the region. The author analyses origins of the transnational Shia movements such as “Harakat ar-Risala” and “ad-Dawa” linked with traditional Shia institutions at Najaf and Kerbela, and its ambiguous relationships with post-revolution Iranian elite. In the same way, not all of Shias of Persian Gulf was “fascinated” by “Islamic revolution” in Iran and became admirers of R. Khomeini’s conception of “vilayat-e-faqih”. In addition, the author traces history of local political Shia movements, that are, in fact, more influential on domestic politics of Gulf countries that mythical “Iran’s hand”.

This article focuses on evolution of Iranian religious political thought of the second half of the 20th century. The author uses philosophic notions of “minimalist” and “maximalist” approach to the role of religion in social and political processes with the aim to classify different ideological conceptions that were born at that time and exist nowadays.