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The process of aging is accompanied by a dynamic restructuring of the immune response, a phenomenon known as immunosenescence. Further, damage to the endothelium can be both a cause and a consequence of many diseases, especially in elderly people. The purpose of this study was to carry out immunological and biochemical profiling of elderly people with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), chronic cerebral circulation insufficiency (CCCI), prediabetes or newly diagnosed type II diabetes mellitus (DM), and subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVD). Socio-demographic, lifestyle, and cognitive data were obtained. Biochemical, hematological, and immunological analyses were carried out, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) with endothelial CD markers were assessed. The greatest number of significant deviations from conditionally healthy donors (HDs) of the same age were registered in the SIVD group, a total of 20, of which 12 were specific and six were non-specific but with maximal differences (as compared to the other three groups) from the HDs group. The non-specific deviations were for the MOCA (Montreal Cognitive Impairment Scale), the MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination) and life satisfaction self-assessment scores, a decrease of albumin levels, and ADAMTS13 (a Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with a Thrombospondin Type 1 motif, member 13) activity, and an increase of the VWF (von Willebrand factor) level. Considering the significant changes in immunological parameters (mostly Th17-like cells) and endothelial CD markers (CD144 and CD34), vascular repair was impaired to the greatest extent in the DM group. The AIS patients showed 12 significant deviations from the HD controls, including three specific to this group. These were high NEFAs (non-esterified fatty acids) and CD31 and CD147 markers of EVs. The lowest number of deviations were registered in the CCCI group, nine in total. There were significant changes from the HD controls with no specifics to this group, and just one non-specific with a maximal difference from the control parameters, which was α1-AGP (alpha 1 acid glycoprotein, orosomucoid). Besides the DM patients, impairments of vascular repair were also registered in the CCCI and AIS patients, with a complete absence of such in patients with dementia (SIVD group). On the other hand, microvascular damage seemed to be maximal in the latter group, considering the biochemical indicators VWF and ADAMTS13. In the DM patients, a maximum immune response was registered, mainly with Th17-like cells. In the CCCI group, the reaction was not as pronounced compared to other groups of patients, which may indicate the initial stages and/or compensatory nature of organic changes (remodeling). At the same time, immunological and biochemical deviations in SIVD patients indicated a persistent remodeling in microvessels, chronic inflammation, and a significant decrease in the anabolic function of the liver and other tissues. The data obtained support two interrelated assumptions. Taking into account the primary biochemical factors that trigger the pathological processes associated with vascular pathology and related diseases, the first assumption is that purine degradation in skeletal muscle may be a major factor in the production of uric acid, followed by its production by non-muscle cells, the main of which are endothelial cells. Another assumption is that therapeutic factors that increase the levels of endothelial progenitor cells may have a therapeutic effect in reducing the risk of cerebrovascular disease and related neurodegenerative diseases.

Thromboendarterectomy from the branches of the pulmonary artery is a conventionally accepted approach to treatment for pulmonary hypertension in chronic pulmonary embolism. A frequently encountered complication associated with this operation is the development in the postoperative period of the reperfusion syndrome as a potential cause of fatal respiratory failure. Taking into consideration that the reperfusion syndrome is a reversible process, waiting measures of support may save the patient's life. The present article deals with a case report concerning successive surgical management of a female patient suffering from chronic recurrent pulmonary thromboembolism accompanied by high pulmonary hypertension complicated by severe respiratory insufficiency in the early postoperative period, thus requiring long-term use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The clinical case described in the article shows that veno-venous ECMO may be employed to save patients presenting with reperfusion syndrome following thromboendarterectomy from the branches of the pulmonary artery. The method of connecting ECMO namely in the veno-venous option in this particular case was determined by fact that the patient had no cardiac insufficiency. Numerous studies conducted hitherto have also confirmed that using ECMO in the veno-venous variant is accompanied and followed by a lower incidence rate of complications as compared with that of the veno-arterial variant. The results of our case report strongly suggest that timely use of ECMO in the composition of rehabilitation measures during restoration of the compromised lungs may become an effective strategy aimed at improving survival of patients after successful thromboendarterectomy from the pulmonary artery branches.

The paper presents data on 5-year follow-up of 105 patients with neoplasms of the vocal cords. All the examinees belonged to vocal profession (actors, singers, musical students). Among the new growths of the vocal cords true or false vocal nodules occurred most frequently (84%). The second in frequency were fibromas and polyps (15%). Contact granuloma occurred only in 2 males with long smoking history. The diagnosis and treatment efficacy assessment were performed using measurement of maximal phonation time, electron laryngostroboscopy, electron glottography.