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Aim. To study the levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in patients with obstructive and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), to identify possible differences for diagnosing the degree of coronary obstruction.Material and methods. The observational study included two groups of patients: with non-obstructive (main group, coronary artery stenosis

Aim. To study the levels of fibrosis markers in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and various types of coronary artery (CA) lesions (obstructive and non-obstructive), to identify possible differences for diagnosing the types of coronary obstruction.Material and methods. The observational study included three groups of patients: with non-obstructive (main group, coronary artery stenosis 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in TGF-β1 levels depending on the type of left ventricular remodeling (p=0.139). The maximum level of MMP-9 was in the group with obstructive coronary disease and significantly differed from the main group (p

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a syndrome associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Little progress has been in the treatment of this condition since its introduction some 30 years ago. It's accepted that HFpEF is heterogeneous in many ways, ethologically and phenotypically. The underlying mechanisms of the syndrome are not clear. Recently, it has been shown that the diagnostic criteria for HFpEF lacks sensitivity and specificity. Novel treatment approaches, which were developed based on current HFpEF pathophysiological concepts, did not show either clinical or prognostic benefit for patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need to revise current diagnostic approaches and to further investigate the underlying mechanisms. Recently, two novel diagnostic score systems were proposed: H2PEF and HFA-PEFF. Recently, a number of phase II and III randomized control trials have been completed. Here, the authors discuss the potential novel diagnostic approaches to HFpEF and treatment perspectives.

At present, telemetry and relay protection devices, which are located directly on the protected element of the electric power system or inside it, are increasingly used in the electric power industry. To supply them requires an autonomous source of low power, which has a stabilized DC voltage. Existing devices are unreliable, expensive to manufacture and operate. In contrast to the well-known power supply devices, it is proposed to use Autonomous power sources to provide constant current for relay protection and diagnostics devices, which receive energy directly from the network by means of current or voltage transformers, as well as by means of an induction Converter located in the end zone of the electric machine. To implement this, the schemes of power supply and calculation of the parameters of Autonomous power sources have been designed.

Possibilities and prospects for the clinical use of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP), which has long established itself throughout the world, are discussed in the article. Historical background, as well as the development stages of EECP for the treatment of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic heart failure (CHF) are considered. The mechanism of action of the EECP and the main hemodynamic, neurohumoral and tissue effects that justify its use are presented. The effect of EECP on endothelial function and coronary reserve, disorders of which occurs in the majority of cardiovascular diseases, is considered separately. Treatment of patients with CHD, including complicated by CHF, are the most studied indications for EECP using in medical practice. The evidence base for treatment of patients with these disorders by EECP is presented in the article. Prospects for the EECP application in other areas of medicine are also presented.

Data on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACMP) are presented. Special aspects of clinical manifestations as well as management of these patients are considered. Psychotropic therapy aimed at reduction in motivation to alcohol consumption in patients with ACMP is discussed separately.

Alcohol abuse and particularly extension of alcohol consumption in alcohol diseas increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmias development and aggravates existing arrhythmias. Patients do not always receive the necessary specific treatment due to lack of detection of the ethanol genesis of these arrhythmias. Management of patients with alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence, including its cardiac complications among other cardiac arrhythmias should use both antiarrhythmic and anti-alcohol drugs and antidepressants. Such issues as diagnosis and management of patients with alcohol-induced cardiac arrhythmias are presented.

Aim. To investigate effects of an ACE inhibitor, cilazapril, on daily blood pressure (BP) profile, cardiac morphofunctional parameters, lung function (LF) and quality of life (QoL) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) combined with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Material and methods. We observed 30 individuals with AH (13 males, 17 females; mean age 60.31±7.71 years). Stage I AH was diagnosed in 1 patient (3.3%), Stage II AH – in 24 (80%), Stage III AH – in 5 (16.7%). Mild COPD was observed in 16 participants (53.3%), moderate COPD – in 11 (36.7%), severe COPD – in 3 (10%). All participants underwent 24-hour BP monitoring, echocargiography (EchoCG), LF assessment at baseline and after 4 weeks of cilazapril treatment (2.5 mg/d). Results. Four-week cilazapril treatment in patients with AH and COPD demonstrated an antihypertensive effect in 78.6% of cases, normalized circadian BP rhythms, facilitated decrease of left and right atrial sizes (-7.4% and - 6%, respectively), left and right ventricular end-diastolic volumes (-2.8% and –8.1%, respectively), left ventricular myocardial mass (LVMM) and LVMM index (LVMMI), mean pulmonary artery pressure (-9.2%). Cilazapril treatment was associated with positive dynamics in spirography parameters (67% of cases): FEV1 increased by 11.4%. Conclusion. In patients with AH and COPD, ACE inhibitor cilazapril demonstrated high antihypertensive activity, safety, and beneficial effects on LF and QoL.

Complex promotions used by retailers introduce to the consumers several rules that must be satisfied in order to get some benefits and usually refer to multiple products (e.g. “buy two, get one free”). Rules of complex promotions can be quite sophisticated and complicated themselves. Since diversity of complex promotions limited only by marketers’ imagination we can observe broad variety of promotions’ rules and representa¬tions of those rules in retailers’ commercials. Such diversification makes no good for fellow scientist who’s trying to sort all type of promotions into the neatly organized classification. Although we can simple add every single set of rules offered by retailers as a separate form of sales promotion it seems not to be the best way of dealing with such a problem. The better way is to realize that mechanisms underlying that variety of promotions are basically the same, namely changes in demand or quantity demanded. Those two concepts alone provide powerful insight into classification of complex promotions and allow us to comprehend the variety of promotions offered by marketers nowadays.