Clinical Results of Dynamic Cardiomyoplasty

Thirty-five cardiomyoplasty procedures were performed in five patients with dilated and 30 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathies. Russian-made cardiomyostimulators (CMS) were implanted in these patients. Twenty-one patients underwent a one-step procedure using a left thoracotomy for cardiomyoplasty, while in 14 patients, a two-step procedure that included a mid-line sternotomy was carried out. During the average follow-up period of 9 ± 2.1 months, studies were carried out that showed in survivors improved clinical functional status and decreased heart failure symptoms. Evidence of revascularization of the ischemic myocardium from the latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) wrap was obtained by angiography and radioactive scintigraphy. In five patients, the CMS had to be removed due to complications, and in all these patients, their clinical functional status deteriorated following the cessation of cardiomyostimulation.     

Effect of Trimetazidine on Regressione of Ischemic Dysfunction of Myocardium After Coronary Bypass Surgery on Beating Heart

AIM: To study effect of trimetazidine on restoration of hibernating myocardium after myocardial revascularization on beating heart. MATERIAL: Patients with ischemic heart disease subjected to direct myocardial revascularization on beating heart: 25 patients received trimetazidine (60 mg/day) in pre and postoperative periods and 30 patients did not. METHODS: Echocardiography, veloergometry, 6 minute walk test, myocardial scintigraphy with Tl-199. RESULTS: Course (35 days) treatment with trimetazidine provided significant decrease of frequency and severity of episodes of angina, reduction of nitrate consumption, enhancement of tolerance to physical exercise, improvement of myocardial perfusion manifested as significant decrease of mean size of transient perfusion defects. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate efficacy and expediency of trimetazidine use in therapy of reversible myocardial dysfunction in patients with ischemic heart disease subjected to direct myocardial revascularization.     

Reperfusion syndrome after direct myocardial revascularization on beating heart in patients with ischemic heart disease. Possibilities of prevention with amlodipine

Possibilities of secondary prevention of reperfusion syndrome with amlodipine was assessed in 46 patients (39 with class III-IV angina after myocardial infarction and 7 with non ST elevation acute coronary syndrome). Twenty six patients received basic therapy, in 20 patients this therapy was supplemented with amlodipine (5-10 mg/day). In all patients complete direct arterial myocardial revascularization on beating heart was carried out. Methods of dynamic control included echocardiography, paired bicycle exercise tests, 6 minute walk test, myocardial scintigraphy with thallium-199. The results evidence for efficacy and feasibility of secondary prevention of reversible myocardial dysfunction with amlodipine.     

An experience of the use of stenting for recurrence of myocardial ischemia after coronary artery bypass grafting

Coronary artery stenting was carried out in 18 patients with angina recurrence 29.3+/-7.6 after coronary artery bypass grafting. Paired bicycle exercise tests, (199)Tl single photon emission tomography and graft angiography were used in evaluation of patients. Occlusions of 1 or 2 venous grafts were found in 38.9%, stenoses of both previously bypassed and native arteries in 27.8% of patients. Implantation of stents in grafts and/or native coronary arteries was associated with 2.7 fold decrease of angina frequency, 3 fold decrease of nitroglycerine consumption, 72.5% increase of exercise tolerance. The use of statins resulted in obvious lowering of total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol.     

Genetic Susceptibility to Nosocomial Pneumonia,Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Poor Outcome in Patients at Risk of Critical Illness

Genetic susceptibility may partially explain the clinical variability observed during the course of similar infections. To establish the contribution of genetic host factors in the susceptibility to critical illness, we genotyped 750 subjects (419 at high risk of critical illness) for 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the xenobiotics detoxification/oxidative stress and vascular homeostasis metabolic pathways. In the group of nosocomial pneumonia (NP; 268 patients) the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is significantly higher for the carriers of CYP1A1 rs2606345 T/T genotypes and AhR rs2066853 G/A-A/A genotypes. AGTR1 rs5186 allele C is more common among NP non-survivors. The duration of stay in intensive care units (ICU) is higher for NP patients with ABCB1 rs1045642-T allele. The cumulative effect of the risk alleles in the genes comprising two sets of genes partners (xenobiotics detoxification: CYP1A1, AhR and RAS family: ACE, AGT, AGTR1) is associated with the development of both NP and ARDS.     

Cardiomyoplasty with autological mononuclear cells of the bone marrow in patients with acute myocardial infarction

AIM: To study efficacy and safety of transplantation of bone marrow autologous mononuclear cells (BMAMC) in patients with acute myocardial infarction; to examine BMAMC distribution in the human body after intracoronary introduction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The open controlled trial investigated 26 AMI patients (16 entered the study group and 10 were controls). Cell cardiomyoplasty with BMAMC was performed by intracoronary injection of the cells after stenting the coronary artery supplying blood to the infarction zone on AMI day 7-21. BMAMC were isolated by gradient centrifugation. Distribution of mononuclear cells was studied with radionuclear indication of the cells 99m-Tc-HMPAO. All the patients were examined with Tl-199 perfusion scintigraphy of the heart 2 weeks and 6 months after the treatment, echocardiography, 24-h ECG monitoring, 6-min walk test. RESULTS: All the patients were followed up for 6 months. Two patients (one in each group) developed recurrent myocardial infarction 3 months after the first. Radionuclide investigations revealed fixation of labelled mononuclear cells in the heart both in initial hours after the treatment and 24 hours after it. As shown by myocardial scintigraphy, intracoronary administration of the cells with short-term arterial occlusion was followed by much greater number of labeled cells. By follow-up month 6, in the study group, left ventricular ejection fraction increased more: 12.7 +/- 3.2% versus 10.4 +/- 2.5% in the control group (p = 0.09); moreover, a stable defect of myocardial perfusion reduced more (by 29 +/- 24% against 20 +/- 18%, respectively, p = 0.1). Malignant arrhythmia, complications during and after bone marrow aspiration, intracoronary administration of cell suspension were not registered. CONCLUSION: Intracoronary administration of BMAMC in AMI patients is safe and provides their transfer and fixation in the myocardium. BMAMC transplantation has a positive effect on recovery of perfusion and contractile function of left ventricular myocardium in AMI patients.     

Differentiation and cytogenesis of white rat pancreas endocrinocytes influenced by long-term fasting

The structure and function of pancreatic islet cells was studied in white rats fasted for 2-6 days. The ultrastructural changes were detected in B-, A- and PP-cells; they were uniform and were most pronounced on day 6 of the experiment. These changes included degranulation of the cytoplasm, approaching of B-granules to and fusion with cell membrane, intracytoplasmic lysis of secretory material. Increased insulin secretion was accompanied by the appearance of "agranular" cells indicating high activity of cytogenesis of endocrine cells.