Phagocytic activity of neutrophils in conditions of experimental choleperitonitis

In experiments on animals with choleperitonitis were signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, "rejuvenation" ofwbc as through the mobilization of neutrophils membrane pool and due to the activation of bone marrow reserve of granulocytes in response to the development of endogenous intoxication. The analysis of the results of the study also showed that animals with choleperitonitis have the change of the neutrophils functional state, which reflected in changes of their cytochemical profile, accompanied by a decrease in total activity and functional reserve of neutrophils, inhibition of nonspecific link of the immune system, manifested by a decrease of the neutrophils number, which are able to absorb and digest microbal cells.     

Thyroid gland alterations in Perm region residents as observed by means of ultrasonography

Thyroid gland (TG) ultrosonography, performed in 2000 residents of Perm region (370 men and 1630 women aged 18 to 84 years), showed that only 1/3 of the subjects had no TG abnormalities. Despite mass iodine prophylaxis, resumed in Perm more than 6 years ago, and group iodide prophylaxis that is being actively introduced at present, the prevalence of goitre has not decreased. On the contrary, it has risen from 26.3% to 42.3% in Perm region since 90-s. Nodules were found in one out of five subjects. TG diseases were significantly more frequent in women than in men. The majority of the subjects had no complaints, and any abnormality, including TG cancer (6 cases), was found by chance. The reduction of TG size with age is not typical of Perm population, and the increase of TG volume in the elderly (both men and women) is due to TG nodules formation. Thus, preventive ultrasonography should be introduced widely in order to reveal TG abnormalities at early stages, not only among the population of iodized regions, but also in ecologically unfavourable ones. This diagnostic test must become a necessary procedure in preventive examinations of people exposed to occupational hazards.     

Comparative efficacy of carvedilol and capoten in the treatment of an uncomplicated hypertensive crisis

AIM: Efficacy and tolerability of carvedilol vs captopril were studied at 24-h monitoring of blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients with an uncompletated hypertensive crisis (HC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial included 43 patients (23 males and 20 females aged 58 +/- 4.1 years) with an uncomplicated HC (duration of hypertension 9.4 +/- 1.1 years). Twenty patients of group 1 received oral carvedilol (25 mg), 23 patients of group 2--oral captopril (25 mg). The criterion of efficacy was a 15-25% decrease of BP within 60-120 min. RESULTS: Attenuation of HC symptoms and tolerability was the same in both groups. Forty five minutes after the drug intake systolic pressure lowered by 11.1% (p = 0.039) and 10.9% (p = 0.042) in group 1 and 2, respectively; diastolic pressure--by 14.9% (p = 0.037) and 17.9% (p = 0.018), respectively. Heart rate diminished significantly only in group 1 (by 10.9%, p = 0.043) 30 min after carvedilol intake. A maximal BP fall in group 1 occurred 180 min after the drug intake: systolic by 23.5% (p = 0.0001), diastolic by 26.9% (p < 0.0001). In group 2 the BP fall was 23.3% (p < 0.0001) and 29.1% (p < 0.0001) on min 165 and 150, respectively. Systolic and diastolic pressures lowered faster in group 1. The effect of carvedilol lasted longer--372.6 +/- 19.3 min and 245.1 +/- 13.7 min, respectively, p = 0. 0001. CONCLUSION: A hypotensive effect of carvedilol and captopril in hypertensive patients with an uncomplicated HC was the same. Carvedilol produced a longer and a more stable effect.     

Trimetazidine in Complex Therapy of Acute Myocardial Infarction at the Background of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

Patients (n=52) with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and diabetes mellitus type 2 older than 18 years were distributed within first 24 hours of MI into 2 groups. In patients of group 1 (n=28) standard therapy was supplemented with trimetazidine (70 mg/day) for 30 days, patients of group 2 received only standard therapy. The following parameters were assessed: rate of recurrent MIs, inhospital mortality, dynamics of MB CR, rate of development and progression of heart failure, dynamics of brain natriuretic peptide, parameters of echocardiogram. Mortality in group 1 at the background of thrombolytic therapy (TLT) was 5.9% (n=1) what was significantly lower than in group 2 where this parameter was equal to 35.7% (n=5), p=0.006. A tendency was noted to lowering of rate of recurrent MIs (17.6 and 21.4% in groups 1 and 2, respectively). Analogous parameters did not differ significantly between subgroups of patients not treated with TLT. In group 1 significant 31% lowering of MB CK level was noted in TLT treated patients. In group 2 level of MB CK after 27-30 hours significantly increased by 30.16% compared with initial level (p=0.001). At analysis of analogous parameters in subgroups not treated with TLT significant differences were not obtained. There were no significant differences between groups according to echocardiography data, however ejection fraction in group 1 was 12.6% higher than in group 2 (p>0.05).     

Asymmetry of the amplitude-time properties of directed saccades in monkeys depending on the complexity of the spatial scheme of visual stimulation

Three Macaca rhesus monkeys were used for studies of the performance of visually evoked saccades in single-step changes in the position of a stimulus using standard schemes for presentation of GAP-OVERLAP stimuli. Two spatial schemes were used: presentation of stimuli along the horizontal meridian (one-dimensional) and presentation of stimuli within a rectangular area of the visual field (two-dimensional). Asymmetrical foci of short-and long-latency saccades were found in the visual field. Dispersion factor analysis demonstrated that the dimensionality factor (one-dimensional versus two-dimensional stimulation schemes) had greater effects on the latent period of saccades than the lateralization factor (presentation on the left or right sides of the gaze point). The precision of the performance of visually evoked saccades decreased with increases in its eccentricity in both spatial stimulation schemes. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Vysshei Nervnoi Deyatel’nosti imeni I. P. Pavlova, Vol. 55, No. 5, pp. 639–646, September–October, 2005.     

Heart Rate Variability and Its Ability to Detect Worsening Suicidality in Adolescents: A Pilot Trial of Wearable Technology

ObjectiveSuicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in adolescence, and acute pediatric mental health emergency department (ED) visits have doubled in the past decade. The objective of this study was to evaluate physiologic parameters relationship to suicide severity. MethodsThis was a prospective, observational study from April 2018 thru November 2019 in a tertiary care pediatric emergency department (ED) and inpatient pediatric psychiatric unit enrolling acutely suicidal adolescent patients. Patients wore a wrist device that used photoplethysmography for 7 days during their acute hospitalization to measure heart rate variability (HRV). During that time, Columbia Suicide Severity Scores (CSSRS) were assessed at 3 time points. ResultsThere was complete device data and follow-up for 51 patients. There was an increase in the high frequency (HF) component of HRV in patients that had a 25% or greater decrease in their CSSRS (mean difference 11.89 ms/HZ; p-value 0.005). Patients with a CSSRS≥15 on day of enrollment had a lower, although not statistically significant, HF component (mean difference -8.34 ms/HZ; p-value 0.071). ConclusionWe found an inverse correlation between parasympathetic activity measured through the HF component and suicidality in an acutely suicidal population of adolescents. Wearable technology may have the ability to improve outpatient monitoring for earlier detection and intervention.     

Appropriate and inappropriate electrical therapies delivered by an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: effect on intracardiac electrogram

Intracardiac EGM After ICD Therapies. Introduction: Local injury current (LIC) seen after induced ventricular fibrillation rescue implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) shock predicts heart failure progression. We sought to determine the frequency of LIC after spontaneous events in patients receiving ICD therapies. Methods and Results: Near‐field (NF) right ventricular (RV) EGM during 10 seconds after delivered ICD therapy was compared with baseline EGM in 420 events that occurred in 134 patients (mean age 60.8 ± 14.8, 106 [79%] male). The magnitude of elevated or depressed potential immediately after the major fast EGM deflection was defined as LIC, and its ratio to the peak‐to‐peak EGM amplitude was defined as relative LIC. LIC of at least 1 mV or relative LIC of at least 15% was considered significant. LIC was observed in 121 events (28.8%) and was detected more frequently after appropriate (43 [60.6%] events) and inappropriate (56 [64.4%] events) ICD shocks, as compared with appropriate (8 [9.2%] events) and inappropriate (3 [4.7%] events) antitachycardia pacing (ATP) or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (11 [9.9%] events) [ANOVA P < 0.0001]. Type of ICD therapy (ICD shock vs ATP) was the most significant predictor of LIC (ATP β coefficient ?0.81; 95%CI–1.19 to 0.44); P < 0.0001), along with cycle length of tachycardia (β coefficient –0.0117; 95%CI –0.0167 to –0.0068, P < 0.00001) and shock energy (β coefficient 0.024; 95%CI 0.003–0.045, P = 0.025). Conclusion: Appropriate and inappropriate ICD shocks are frequently characterized by the development of LIC in patients with structural heart disease. Type of electrical ICD therapy, shock energy and cycle length of ventricular arrhythmia are important determinants of LIC. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 554‐560 May 2011)