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Hypertension (HTN) and osteoporosis are major age-related conditions, each of which causes significant morbidity and mortality. To date, data have been accumulated on the relationship between hypertension, markers of bone matrix formation and bone resorption. This review article discusses the relationship between hypertension and reduced bone mineral density, as well as previously unknown pathogenetic mechanisms underlying it.

Aim. To study the relationship of gut microbiota (GM) composition with clinical and paraclinical characteristics of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).Material and methods. The study included 64 patients (men, 71,9%) with CAD, 33 (men, 87,9%) with HFrEF and 38 (men, 63,2%) with various cardiovascular risk factors (control group). GM composition was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction and next- generation sequencing. To identify correlations of GM composition with clinical and paraclinical characteristics, the Spearman rank correlation coefficient (ρ) was calculated. Generalized linear models (QuasiPoisson, overdispersion) with covariates (age, body mass index) were used to compare groups by phylotype.Results. The relative abundance of Bacillota phylotypes is significantly higher in patients with CAD and HFrEF compared to controls (p

Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, heart failure (HF) still remains one of the unsolved problems of modern cardiology. The appearance and progression of HF is preceded by the development of maladaptive myocardial remodeling. In this regard, the search for new molecules for therapeutic action aimed at preventing myocardial remodeling is of undoubted interest. In this context, the galaninergic system seems to be a promising target. To date, evidence has been accumulated that activation of the galaninergic system leads to an increase in cardiomyocyte protection in the early stages after myocardial injury. It has been shown that galaninergic cascades can influence myocardial remodeling, including cell death, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and fibrosis. Various experimental models of heart damage showed that under stress conditions and the action of galanin and its derivatives, carbohydrate metabolism in cardiomyocytes improved, oxidative stress decreased due to antioxidant effect, and hyperproduction of reactive oxygen species by mitochondria decreased. Data were also obtained that galaninergic cascades prevent cardiomycyte hypertrophy by suppressing the expression of some fetal genes. This review article describes the currently studied cellular and molecular effects of galanin on the cardiovascular system, as well as data on the role of the galaninergic system in the pathogenesis of myocardial remodeling.

Aim. To study the relationship between the abundance of the genera in the gut microbiota (GM) and levels of serum biomarkers of chronic systemic inflammation and endotoxemia in patients with HFpEF.Material and methods. The composition of GM among 42 patients with HFpEF (men, 57,1%) was assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing. The median age was 67,0 years, interquartile range [64,0; 71,5] years. Correlation and multivariate regression analysis (with adjustments for sex and age) of relationships between the relative abundance of intestinal bacteria and the concentrations of serum biomarkers including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukins (IL) 1β and 6, the soluble suppressor of tumorigenicity (sST2), and the level of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was carried out.Results. According to multivariate regression analysis, the relative abundance of Haemophilus was directly related to the concentration of IL-1β (odds ratio (ОR) 32,37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2,071237,69, p=0,025), Coriobacteriaceae (unclassified) — with IL-6 (ОR 6,27, (1,42-36,74), p=0,024), Porphyromonadaceae (unclassified) — with sST2 (ОR 5,96, (1,33-34,39), p=0,028), and the relative abundance of the genera Pseudomonas (ОR 7,09, (1,45-42,39), p=0,020), Parasutterella (ОR 4,55, (1,07-22,76), p=0,047) and Clostridiaceae (unclassified) (ОR 4,85, (1,06-24,7), p=0,045) was directly associated with LPS levels.Conclusion. In patients with HFpEF, the relative abundance of some GM genera (e.g., Haemophilus, Coriobacteriaceae (unclassified), Porphyromonadaceae (unclassified), Pseudomonas, Parasutterella, Clostridiaceae (unclassified)) is statistically significantly associated with the concentration of biomarkers of chronic systemic inflammation and endotoxemia.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a reversible left ventricular dysfunction characterized by local apical hypokinesia usually triggered by a physical or emotional stress. According to the last available data TTS may represent 2% of all admissions for acute coronary syndromes. Despite the reliable prevalence, diagnosis of TTS remains difficult. The initial presentation, both clinically and electrocardiographically, is similar to an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The biomarker profile is also similar, although the peaks of troponin and creatinine kinase levels are lower, and brain natriuretic peptide levels are higher in patients with TTS compared with ST-segment elevation AMI. Modified Mayo diagnostic criteria are the most common for the diagnosis. Pathogenesis of TTS currently is not well understood. Catecholamines appear to play a central role in the pathophysiology of TTS. However, it is conceivable that some people have a genetic predisposition to stress-induced TTS. A genetic predisposition has been suggested based on the few familial TTS cases described. Despite reversible myocardial dysfunction, acute heart failure is the most common complication in the acute phase of TTS. In-hospital mortality rate is comparable to that of ST-segment elevation AMI. There are no randomized clinical trials to support specific treatment recommendations in TTS. It is believed that the tactics of managing patients with TTS hospitalized with suspicion of acute coronary syndrome should comply with the protocol of management of patients with AMI while acute coronary pathology is not excluded.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide, which is frequently present in patients with atherosclerosis or its complications (myocardial infarction, stroke). Subsequently it was revealed that NAFLD may increase cardiovascular risk independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Possible mechanisms of NAFLD-induced increasing cardiovascular risk are increased oxidative stress, subclinical inflammation, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction and deranged аdipocytokines profile. Such risk factors as arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes mellitus type 2 often coexist with NAFLD and contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in these patients. Thus, NAFLD can be considered as an additional risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. In this article we discuss in detail the NAFLD-induced mechanisms which increase the cardiovascular risk regardless of traditional risk factors.

Background/Objectives: Body composition (BC) affects the risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and hypertension (HTN). Currently, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is considered the gold standard for assessing BC, even though it has some limitations, including immobility, ionizing radiation, and patient weight restrictions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlations of BC parameters measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with those measured by DEXA in patients with MASLD and HTN. Methods: Overall, 78 patients with MASLD and HTN underwent the following study procedures: compilation of an anamnesis, physical examination of a patient, laboratory tests, abdominal ultrasound, BIA, DEXA, and anthropometric measurements. Results: The agreement between BIA and DEXA in diagnosing reduced skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in patients with MASLD and HTN was moderate (kappa values were 0.440 and 0.404 in males and females, respectively). Significant strong direct correlations were found between fat mass (FM) and body fat percentage measured by BIA with corresponding measurements by DEXA (p < 0.001 for both). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of SMM to body weight ratios calculated using BIA data were 0.834 and 0.929 for reduced appendicular SMM determined by DEXA in males and females with MASLD and HTN, respectively. Conclusions: In conclusion, BIA is an easy-to-use and widely available tool for assessing SMM and FM in patients with MASLD and HTN, demonstrating reliable agreement with DEXA measurement results and completely free of its limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the biomedicine point of, view ageing is a natural process, characterized by a gradual decrease in the physiological integrity and adaptive abilities of the body, leading to a violation of its functions and an increase in the risk of death with age. Demographic aging of the population is a serious socio-economic problem, both in Russia and around the world. The main cellular and molecular signs of aging include genome instability, telomere shortening, epigenetic alterations, impaired proteostasis, impaired nutrient recognition, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular aging, the stem cell pool depletion and changes in intercellular interaction, extracellular matrix rigidity, as well as activation of retrotransposons and chronic inflammation. For these reasons, in modern healthcare, preventing premature aging and treating age-related diseases is becoming a priority task. This review presents modern approaches to the quantitative assessment of the aging process using aging biomarkers as functional parameters reflecting the biological organism age at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. This work also considers the actual non-drug and drug interventions allowing to slow down the development of age-associated pathological processes, allowing you to increase the quality and duration of life.

This study aimed to describe sonographic features of rectus femoris muscle (RFM) in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) and their correlation with body composition parameters and muscle strength. A total of 67 patients with MASLD underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), bioimpedance analysis (BIA), muscle strength measurement (grip strength [GS] and chair stand test [CST]), and ultrasound (US) investigation of the RFM in the dominant thigh using a 4 to 18 MHz linear probe. MASLD patients exhibited increased RFM echogenicity, possibly due to fatty infiltration. We confirmed that the greater the subcutaneous fat thickness, the smaller was the muscle mass (p < 0.001), and the lower was the muscle strength (p < 0.001 for GS and p = 0.002 for CST). On the contrary, the greater the anteroposterior diameter (APD) of RFM, the higher was the muscle mass (p < 0.001), and the greater was the muscle strength (p < 0.001 for GS and p = 0.007 for CST). In addition, APD of the RFM and stiffness of RFM exhibited direct correlation with bone mineral density values of the lumbar spine (p = 0.005 for both GS and CST). We concluded that US investigation of the RFM in the dominant thigh can be helpful in identifying MASLD patients at a high risk of musculoskeletal disorders given repeated point-of-care clinical evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To continue progress in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, there is a need to improve the overall understanding of the processes that contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Exploring the role of gut microbiota in various heart diseases is a topic of great interest since it is not so easy to find such reliable connections despite the fact that microbiota undoubtedly affect all body systems. The present study was conducted to investigate the composition of gut microbiota in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and heart failure syndromes with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved EF (HFpEF), and to compare these results with the microbiota of individuals without those diseases (control group). Fecal microbiota were evaluated by three methods: living organisms were determined using bacterial cultures, total DNA taxonomic composition was estimated by next generation sequencing (NGS) of 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4) and quantitative assessment of several taxa was performed using qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction). Regarding the bacterial culture method, all disease groups demonstrated a decrease in abundance of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis in comparison to the control group. The HFrEF group was characterized by an increased abundance of Streptococcus sanguinus and Streptococcus parasanguinis. NGS analysis was conducted at the family level. No significant differences between patient’s groups were observed in alpha-diversity indices (Shannon, Faith, Pielou, Chao1, Simpson, and Strong) with the exception of the Faith index for the HFrEF and control groups. Erysipelotrichaceae were significantly increased in all three groups; Streptococcaceae and Lactobacillaceae were significantly increased in ASCVD and HFrEF groups. These observations were indirectly confirmed with the culture method: two species of Streptococcus were significantly increased in the HFrEF group and Lactobacillus plantarum was significantly increased in the ASCVD group. The latter observation was also confirmed with qPCR of Lactobacillus sp. Acidaminococcaceae and Odoribacteraceae were significantly decreased in the ASCVD and HFrEF groups. Participants from the HFpEF group showed the least difference compared to the control group in all three study methods. The patterns found expand the knowledge base on possible correlations of gut microbiota with cardiovascular diseases. The similarities and differences in conclusions obtained by the three methods of this study demonstrate the need for a comprehensive approach to the analysis of microbiota.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the major public health concern worldwide. Over the last two decades, a considerable amount of literature has been published on gut microbiota (GMB) composition and its metabolites, involved in the pathophysiology of CVDs, including arterial hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and congestive heart failure. Although many types of medicines are available to treat CVD, new therapeutic tools are needed to improve clinical outcomes. A challenge that often arises in the researchers’ community is how to manipulate the GMB to manage cardiovascular risk factors. Therapeutic strategies designed to manipulate GMB composition and/or its metabolites include dietary approaches, prebiotics/probiotics supplementation, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). In this review, we have focused on three main cardiovascular pathologies (arterial hypertension, atrial fibrillation and heart failure) due to their shared common pathophysiological pathways and structural changes in myocardium, such as inflammation, hypertrophy, fibrosis, and myocardial remodeling. The main aims of the review are: (1) to summarize current knowledge on the key pathophysiologic links between GMB and CVDs, and (2) discuss the results of the studies on GMB modulation for the prevention and treatment of selected CVDs.

Maintenance of active longevity, preservation of physical activity, and prevention of decreased mobility associated with injury or age of patients are among the most urgent tasks for modern healthcare. The suppression of pathological processes and activation of defense systems at the cellular and organismal levels are the main routes for solving these problems. Several initial anti-aging therapy approaches are detoxification, rheocorrection, and immunocorrection. In these areas, methods of extracorporeal hemocorrection, in particular, therapeutic plasmapheresis, are effective. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hardware plasmapheresis with albumin compensation by assessing the dynamics of circulating age-related biomarker levels in randomly selected patients. Twenty human subjects of both sexes aged 40–55 years with an increase in one or more aging-related biomarkers participated in this study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups with ten people each. Patients from Group 1 underwent therapeutic plasmapheresis with albumin replacement (four procedures with a 2-day interval). Patients from Group 2 were offered plasmapheresis treatment with saline replacement. The levels of aging-related biomarkers were determined in the blood of patients before and 30 days after starting treatment. Preliminary data showed that plasmapheresis with albumin replacement in randomly selected male and female patients was accompanied by normalization of the selected aging biomarkers. Thirty days after the start of the plasmapheresis treatment, a decrease in both biological and phenotypic age was determined. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of nutritional factors on aging biomarkers with and without plasmapheresis treatment. Based on the obtained results, recommendations will be made on the use of plasmapheresis in preventive and sports medicine. The use of this method will help reduce the biological age of patients and, as a result, reduce the risks of developing age-related diseases and disabilities and contribute to prolonging life and improving its quality.

The effect of strontium substitution in the structure of the complex oxide Gd2SrFe2O7 on the production of light olefins by CO hydrogenation was investigated. Perovskite-type oxides Gd2−xSr1+xFe2O7 (x = 0; 0.1; 0.2; 0.3; 0.4) were synthesized by sol–gel technology and characterized by XRD, Mössbauer spectroscopy, BET specific area, acidity testing, and SEM. The experimental data revealed a correlation between the state of iron atoms, acidity, and catalytic performance. It was found that with an increase in the content of Sr2+ in the perovskite phase, the basicity of the surface and the oxygen diffusion rate increased. This contributed to the CO dissociative adsorption, formation of active carbon, and its further interaction with atomic hydrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]