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Increased concentration of lipoprotein(a) is a risk factor of coronary heart disease. lipoprotein(a) consists of LDL-like and highly polymorphic apolipoprotein(a). Here we studied the effect of lipoprotein(a)-containing sera with different apolipoprotein(a) phenotypes on lipid accumulation by THP-1 monocyte-like cells. Cholesterol concentration in lysates of THP-1 cells was significantly higher after their incubation with lipoprotein(a)-containing serum samples with low-molecular-weight phenotype of apolipoprotein(a) in comparison with samples with a high-molecular-weight apolipoprotein(a) phenotype irrespective of initial cholesterol level as well as serum concentrations of apoB-100, oxidized LDL, and circulating immune complexes. The presence of the most atherogenic small dense LDL subfractions in examined sera in addition to a low-molecular-weight apolipoprotein(a) phenotype resulted in significant elevation of cholesterol accumulation by THP-1 cells. The data obtained explain greater atherogenicity of lipoprotein(a) with low-molecular-weight apolipoprotein(a) phenotype.

There was investigated the relationship of lipid metabolism, humoral immunity, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and soluble receptors for TNF-alpha with the presence, severity and prognosis of the disease in 85 patients with morphologically verified diagnosis of prostate cancer. Connection with the dynamics of change in PSA as a major predictor of the disease was observed for concentration sRI and sRII to TNF, PSA baseline, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. During follow-up the relative risk of poor prognosis increased by 3 times, and death-in 8.7 times with increasing concentrations of soluble receptors for TNF. The concentration of soluble receptors for TNF may serve as an additional predictor of the presence and clinical course of disease in patients with prostate cancer.

New chromatographic material based on tryptophil-threonil-tirosine was prepared. This sorbent effectively binds human, sheep, goat and cow immunoglobulins G. New sorbent shows high selectivity for removing immunoglobulins from blood plasma. Effective sorption capacity is 15-25 mg of immunoglobulin G per ml of matrix. Optimal method of covalent attachment ligand to polysaccharide matrix allows achieving high stability of the sorbents in terms of use and storage. This sorbent can be used in medicine and biotechnology.

Purpose: To assess effects of niacin on risk factors of atherosclerosis in men with coronary heart disease (CHD) and high lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels., Material and Methods: Sixty men (mean age 54+/-6 years) with angiographic evidence of CHD were randomized into two groups. Active group (n=30) received extended release nicotinic acid 1500 mg, control group consisted of remaining 30 patients. All patients received basic therapy with atorvastatin 10-40 mg qd. Blood samples were collected for total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), Lp(a), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PL-2), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), complex of tissue-type plasminogen activator with plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (tPA/PAI-1). Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) was measured at baseline and after 6-months therapy., Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the clinical and biochemical characteristics. During the study lipid profile data were within the target levels. In the active group median percent decrease of Lp(a) level was 23% (from 84+/-40 to 67+/-25 mg/dl after 6 weeks and up to 65+/-37 mg/dl after 6 months of treatment, p<0.01); LDL-C, TG, tPA/PAI-1, and Lp-PL-2 mass levels decreased by 25, 20, 25, and 32%, respectively; HDL-C increased by 16% (p<0.05 vs baseline, respectively). Nicotinic acid treatment produced statistically significant reduction nicotinic acid of the mean CIMT (right: 0.83+/-0.16 vs 0.77+/-0.17 mm, p<0.05; left: 0.88+/-0.21 vs 0.82+/-0.17, p<0.05). In control group no changes of CIMT or blood tests were observed., Conclusion: In men with CHD and Lp(a) excess of addition to atorvastatin results in regression of CIMT on an average of 0.06 mm in 6 months. Such rapid and significant effect on the arterial wall structure can be attributed to the complex influence of nicotinic acid on Lp(a), lipids, Lp-PL-2 and thrombogenic factors. This is the first study providing the evidence of using Lp(a) as one of therapeutic targets in patients with high Lp(a) levels for achieving beneficial effect on a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis.

Preparation and stability of a few examples of medical sorbents are described. A simple and practical technique has been developed for sorbent preparation with the low weight synthetic ligands such as amino acids, peptides or oligosaccharides. This approach to sorbent preparation enables the development of the new affine columns generation for medicine and biotechnology to be carried out with ease.

Two fragments corresponding to the 125-133 and 206-218 sequences of a molecule of the beta(1) adrenoreceptor (autoantibodies to this protein are often found in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy) were synthesized by the solid phase method with the use of Fmoc technology. Two new conformational antigens were prepared by directed (regioselective) and undirected (spontaneous) formation of intramolecular and intermolecular disulfide bridges between the corresponding cysteine residues of the synthesized peptides. One of these antigens consisted of a mixture of disulfide isomers, and another antigen was an isomer with a natural arrangement of S-S bridges. Immunosorbents were obtained by immobilization of the synthesizes antigens on the bromocyanogenactivated sepharose and applied to the removal of autoantibodies in a beta(1)-adrenoreceptor from the blood plasma of patients. We demonstrated that the sorbents on the basis of the conformational antigens were more effective in comparison with those containing linear peptide precursors.

Aim: To determine distribution of different atherosclerosis risk factors and their correlation with severity of coronary arteries (CA) affection in young men., Material and Methods: A total of 235 males aged 28-45 years were examined with coronarography which detected more than 50% narrowing in one or several major CA in 200 patients (the study group with coronary artery disease), 35 males without coronary stenosis served control. Atherosclerosis risk factors, serum lipids, lipoprotein(a), fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed., Results: Smoking and hyperlipidemia (HLE) were registered in the study group more frequently. The level of lipoprotein(a) above 30 mg/dl was recorded in 98 (49%) and 7 (20%) patients of the study and control group, respectively (p = 0.001). As shown by a correlation analysis, the number of affected CA was associated with smoking (r = 0.2; p < 0.001), HLE (r = 0.23; p < 0.001), concentration of total cholesterol (r = 0.23; p < 0.0.001), lipoprotein (a) (r = 0.26; p < 0.001) and CRP (r = 0.26; p < 0.05). The level of lipoprotein(a) in patients with myocardial infarction and occluded artery was significantly higher than in patients without myocardial infarction and non-occlusive CA affection., Conclusion: The presence and severity of coronary atherosclerosis in young men with coronary artery disease are associated with smoking, HLE and high concentration of lipoprotein (a).

Aim: To clarify correlations between an elevated concentration of apolipoprotein B100 (apoB) in blood plasma and risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS); to study apoB level in hypertensive patients and its correlation with ischemic heart disease (IHD) risk in these patients., Material and Methods: Lipid serum spectrum (cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), lipoprotein a (Lpa) and apoB was studied in 456 patients with ACS by NYHA criteria, 119 patients with chronic IHD and 86 patients free of cardiovascular diseases (controls). All 575 patients with IHD were divided into those with and without hypertension (426 and 149 patients, respectively)., Results: Lpa was significantly higher in patients with ACS; apoB was higher in ACS and chronic IHD patients. ApoB was higher in IHD normotensive patients than in controls and higher in IHD hypertensive patients than in IHD normotensive patients and in the control group. Lpa in IHD hypertensive patients was significantly higher (p < 0.045) than in the controls as well as TG (p < 0.05). By the other parameters the groups did not differ., Conclusion: The blood plasma level of apoB higher than 130 mg/dl is an independent and significant risk factor of ACS in IHD patients especially at the age under 60. The level of apoB over 115 mg/dl is a significant risk factor of IHD. The significance of this lipid factor rises in concomitant hypertension.

Aim: To evaluate the levels of apolipoprotein B (apo-B) and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in Russians and the Kirghiz with primary hyperlipidemia (PHL)., Material and Methods: Lipid spectrum of the blood (LDLP and HDLP cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides), apo-B, CHD risk factors were studied in 60 Russian and 75 Kirghis patients with PHL aged 28 to 67 years (mean age 50.0 +/- 7.59 years, 56 females and 79 males)., Results: In Russians a mean level of LDLP cholesterol and apo-B was significantly higher than in Kirghiz patients (3.95 +/- 1.29 mmol/l vs 3.51 +/- 1.17 mmol/l, p = 0.042; 173.3 +/- 57.3 mg/dl vs 145.5 +/- 49.3 mg/dl, p = 0.003, respectively). CHD in both ethnic groups occurred with similar rates. The multifactorial regression analysis shows that an apo-B concentration can serve an independent risk factor associated with CHD in the Kirghiz population (beta = 0.25, p = 0.03) while in Russians living in Kirghizia this factor is a low content of HDLP cholesterol (beta = -0.25, p = 0.05).

The value of different methods of P. aeruginosa identification in mineral water has been studied and compared. Natural studies indicate great contamination of balneological technical systems with P. aeruginosa.