Vol 23, No 5 (2012)

Aging is a process of diminished functional reserves of all tissues and systems, which is associated with inflammation and thrombogenesis with further connective tissue replacement.

Pain-associated clinical syndromes are an important interdisciplinary health care problem. Complex regional pain syndromes are of particular importance. They are noted for severe pain, complex diagnosis, and multicomponent treatment.

Muscle tension in nociceptive pain syndromes is common in clinical practice and is a defensive reflex on the one hand and a pathological mechanism of pain chronification on the other.

Twenty-nine young men with obesity manifesting itself in puberty, including 15 obese men with arterial hypertension (AH) and 14 obese men without AH, were examined. The blood lipid spectrum of the patients was determined. Their hearts were examined using echocardiography. Normal left ventricular (LV) geometry was found to be somewhat more common in the absence of AH than in the presence of elevated blood pressure (BP). Concentric and eccentric LV hypertrophy was observed with equal frequency in the above groups. Regardless of their BP level, the young men with obesity had the enlarged walls of the LV without its cavity dilatation. Altered transmitral flow E and A velocities along with the enlarged left atrium suggest that there is a prerequisite for the development of diastolic dysfunction in obesity during puberty.

The paper considers today’s burning problem of excess weight. It details the history of studies of the condition, present-day views of the mechanisms of its development, the impact of overweight on human health, and the basic principles of treatment.

The paper discusses the current capacities of laboratory diagnosis and treatment of herpesvirus infection. Difficulties in the clinical diagnosis of lesions caused by herpes simplex virus are due to a number of atypical manifestations. The use of immunomodulators in their therapy should be limited; the drugs of choice are etiotropic antiviral agents.

The paper discusses how to choose rational pharmacotherapy for arterial hypertension. It considers the abilities of angiotensin II receptor blockers to reduce a cardiovascular risk and to protect organs. Publications on olmesartan that has clinically proven its efficacy and safety versus placebo and drugs from other classes are reviewed. The antihypertensive efficacy of olmesartan is combined with additional organ-protective properties, with nephroprotective ones in particular, which expands its clinical applications.

The paper discusses the experience of clinical trials of enalapril used in patients with chronic heart failure.

The effect of Panangin on electrolyte balance, a reaction of the cardiovascular system, psychological status, and quality of life (QL) was evaluated in patients with compensated arterial hypertension (AH) under hot summer conditions. The investigation enrolled 61 patients receiving therapy with antihypertensive drugs, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI); Panangin (1 tablet thrice daily) was added to the basic therapy in 31 patients; other 30 patients formed a control group. During heat, all the patients in the Panangin group tended to diminish anxiety and to significantly improve QL, which were absent in the control group. The QL increment significantly correlated with the plasma concentrations of K+ and Mg++. The use of Panangin during the hot period, which gave rise to slightly raised systolic blood pressure and decreased heart rate, could promote better QL. According to the results of the investigation, Panangin may be used to improve QL in patients with compensated AH in the period of summer heat. The drug given in prophylactic doses is safe, including when it is used in combination with ACEI and in elderly patients.

The study indicated that the efficiency of slow freezing of 5-day cultivation embryos and their vitrification was equivalent: the survival of the embryos and the effectiveness of their transfer did not differ.

The lipid profile was studied in 193 women with rheumatoid arthritis, more than half of them were found to have lipid metabolic disturbances. There was a significant correlation with the above changes for 20 of 65 examined factors, including a moderate correlation with the serum level of uric acid, maintenance and total doses of glucocorticoids, the duration of their use, patient age, and the presence of menopause.

A questionnaire survey using the GARD program in an adult population of Saint Petersburg was conducted to study respiratory symptoms depending on the smoking status of respondents. A history of chronic bronchitis in 60% of the smokers is a strong argument for smoking cessation. For the early diagnosis of an evolving abnormality, it is expedient to screen smokers particularly after 40 years of age.