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This review discusses the mechanisms of heart rate and blood pressure regulation in healthy people and patients with arterial hypertension. The role of time and spectral parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) in the assessment of autonomic status of these patients, especially during orthostatic test, is described. The paper also contains the results of the studies investigating antihypertensive medications’ effects on HRV structure.

The paper focuses on the diagnostics, clinics, and treatment of functional heart diseases, which require high professionalism and interdisciplinary knowledge and skills from health professionals.

The paper is focussed on the drug release comparison for multisource indapamide medications against the original medication, Arifon retard (1,5 mg; Servier Laboratories, France). The comparative test of dissolution kinetics was performed in three media modelling physiological gastrointestinal conditions: hydrochloric acid solution, pH 1,2; acetate buffer, pH 4,3; and phosphate buffer, pH 6,8. The results of the dissolution kinetics test were compared to those from the comparative therapeutic studies of indapamide medications.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in coronary bifurcation stenosis is still regarded as technically complicated, due to the risk of lateral branch occlusion. Bifurcation stenosis is also characterised by higher intervention costs and restenosis incidence. Over the last 10 years, a range of new stenting techniques for coronary bifurcation stenosis treatment have been developed. These methods improved the rates of short-term PCI success, while drugeluting stents substantially reduced restenosis incidence. However, the limitations of existing methods make the intervention technically challenging and negatively affect long-term PCI results. This paper describes an original PCI method for bifurcation stenosis treatment, called TABAs.

The paper discussed the causes of the substantial geographical discrepancies in the rates of cardiosurgery interventions, based on the secondary analysis of international data. The impact of these differences on mortality levels is assessed. The methods for population demand assessment are reviewed, with the focus on the intervention rates across the countries and the “number needed to treat” parameter.

The paper discusses modern views on myocardial damage mechanisms in coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). The publications reviewed include those on molecular basis and pathophysiological pathways in ischemia/ reperfusion syndrome, as well as on potential cardioprotective strategies.

The paper discusses the modern state of the mitral valve prolapse (MVP) problem. Controversial and unresolved issues on terminology, diagnostics, and tactics for different MVP variants are considered on the basis of the “Heritable disorders of connective tissue” recommendations (2009) by Expert Committee, the Society of Cardiology of the Russian Federation (VNOK). The modern diagnostic criteria of MVP are discussed, as well as echocardiography-estimated MVP prevalence while using those diagnostic criteria, and the comparison of Framingham Heart Study results to the authors’ own data. The interrelation between autonomic dysfunction and MVP is assessed, and different approaches to the stratification of MVP complication risk are compared, based on the echocardiography results and clinical data. The modern methods of MVP treatment and management strategy are also described.

The paper discusses modern aspects of epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical course, diagnostics, and treatment of the patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and intact left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). CHF with intact LVEF comprises over 50% of all CHF cases, and is more prevalent in elderly women. Its leading causes include arterial hypertension (AH) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Current diagnostic problems are related to over-estimated role of LVEF reduction, which reflects substantial myocardial damage not typical for AH and DM. The limitations of classical Doppler ultrasound in diastolic dysfunction (DD) diagnostics are discussed. The combination of classical and tissue Doppler ultrasound provides a more precise estimation of systolic and diastolic LV function. This method, in combination with natriuretic peptide level measurement, is the basis for the diagnostic algorithm of CHF with intact LVEF. A new hemodynamic concept of CHF development is presented. The key clinical trials on the treatment of CHF with intact LVEF are reviewed. In conclusion, the author discusses strengths and limitations of the two concepts of CHF with intact LVEF, as a separate disease or a phenotypical manifestation (stage) of “classical” systolic CHF.

The paper reviews the modern evidence on mechanisms of action and clinical effectiveness of two cardiovascular medication classes – angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium antagonists (CA), used for the treatment of patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and coronary heart disease (CHD). ACE inhibitors and CA have complementary effects on vascular tone and endothelial function, as well as synergetic action in terms of blood pressure (BP) reduction, pleiotropic effects, organo-protection, and clinical event prevention. Therefore, these mediations can be used as combined cardiovascular therapy. Perindopril and amlodipine, both as monotherapy or combined treatment, have the largest evidence base and potential for clinical practice.

The paper is focused on erectile dysfunction (ED) as an inter-disciplinary problem. The detailed analysis of relevant clinical trials and meta-analyses is performed, demonstrating a causal relationship between ED and coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemias, and diabetes mellitus. The role of common cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors (RFs) in ED development, as well as a shared, endothelial dysfunction-related pathogenetic mechanism of CVD, is discussed. The prevalence of ED and androgen deficiency, together with their link to metabolic syndrome (MS), is presented. It is shown that ED could be regarded as CVD predictor, and that early diagnostics of the RFs common for CVD and ED can be used for risk prediction and identification of highrisk groups. Since metabolic RFs are common for CVD, ED, and androgen deficiency, further research in this area may facilitate more efficient approaches to prevention and treatment of these diseases.