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Objective: to assess efficacy and safety of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy.Material and methods. A multi-center retrospective observational program was applied in patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy by using vagus nerve stimulation for at least 2 years. There were enrolled 151 subjects, patient age on stimulator implantation varied from 5 to 65 years (24.4±13.1 years). Among them, subjects under 18 or at least 18 years of age comprised 58 (38.4%) and 93 (61.6%), respectively. Changes in rate and severity of major group epileptic seizures (highly disabling type) 24 months after VNS-therapy vs. baseline state as well as during 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-month follow-up were compared. There were assessed stimulator-related effects on VNS-therapy as well as patient quality of life 2 years after therapy. The dynamics of the frequency of all types of epileptic seizures was evaluated according to McHugh Outcome scale.Results. Mean epilepsy duration on stimulator implantation was 170.9±126.8 months, with maximum up to 666 months (55 years). Number of patients with dominant (disabling) seizures on implantation procedure comprised 136 (90.1%). Decline in dominant epileptic seizure rate by 50–99% was recorded in 91 patients (66.9%) 24 months after VNStherapy. Among such subjects were 41 patients (30.15%) featured with disabling seizures including 24 fully seizure free subjects (17.65%). Decreased rate of all group epileptic seizures by more than 50% (responders) was found in 52.9% cases, including subjects under 18 and adults in 63.9% and as few as 46.3% (pConclusion. Vagus nerve stimulation is an effective and safe auxiliary treatment method for therapy of pharmacoresistant epilepsy both in children and adults.

The seasonal blood pressure variability (BPV) is known to demonstrate a typical winter peak. Recently, more attention is paid to the opposite situation: the summer BP levels being higher than those in winter. This phenomenon is called inverse BPV. The present article summarizes recent data on this topic. The data of the HOMED-BP project, as well as the results of the original prospective study in 770 hypertensive patients from two Russian Federation regions (mean follow-up duration 6.4 years), were used. According to the preliminary knowledge, the prevalence of inverse BPV in hypertensive patients is relatively high (15-25%). This phenomenon is more typical for treated patients, particularly for those on combination therapy, and is associated with beta-blocker intake. Higher duration of hypertension and higher levels of some risk factors (smoking) characterize the patients with inverse BPV. According to the HOMED-BP data, patients with inverse BPV had the highest overall cardiovascular risk (hazard ratio in comparison with the reference group of “minimal” “normal” BPV was 3.07; p=0.004). In summary, inverse BPV is a potentially unfavorable BP phenotype. However, its reproducibility and prospective value deserve further investigation. The absolute magnitude of seasonal BPV in these patients, calculated using different BP measurement methods, warrants special attention.

Aim. To study the main relationships of the white coat effect (WCE) levels in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) with bronchial asthma (BA) who treated with AH and BA drugs in routine clinical practice.Material and Methods. We analyzed the prospective cohort study data of AH patients, some of them had BA without exacerbation. We have formed two groups of patients:1 - control group, patients with AH without BA, the second - with AH + BA. The study consisted of three visits (first visit, 6 months and 12 months visits) and data collection period (30.1±7.6 months of follow-up). The following procedures were performed at the first and 12 month visits: clinical blood pressure (BP) measurements (sitting and standing), 24-hour monitoring ambulatory (ABPM), spirometry, clinical and biochemical blood tests, BA control questionnaires (ACQ) and quality of life (QL) questionnaire (GWBQ), at the second visit clinical BP measurement was performed and, if necessary, the drug dose was corrected.Results. The study included 125 patients, 28 men, 97 women. The first group of AH patients without BA included 85 people, the second (AH + BA) - 40. In AH patients without BA with ischemic heart disease, arterial revascularization, regular alcohol intake and smoking we identified the association with the lower WCE levels. In AH+BA patients with diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal diseases, higher education was identified WCE decrease. In AH patients without asthma we found inverse relationships WCE levels with respiratory function parameters, the nighttime BP decrease, heart rate and the difference between standing and sitting BP levels, and correlations with the EchoCG variables (the left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) indices), with age, AH duration and body mass index (BMI). In patients with AH + BA we found inverse correlations between WCE levels and some EchoCG variables, the difference between standing and sitting BP levels, and correlations with body weight, BMI.Conclusion. Thereby, in AH patients without BA with ischemic heart disease, revascularization, regular alcohol intake, smoking we identified the association with the lower WCE levels. This patients WCE indices had inverse correlations with height, respiratory function parameters, the BP nighttime decrease, the difference between standing and sitting BP levels and direct relationships with EchoCG variables of LVH, age, AH duration and BMI. In AH + BA patients with diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, higher education we found relationships with lesser WCE manifestation. WCE levels in this group had inverse correlations with some EchoCG indicators, the standing and sitting BP difference and direct relations with weight and BMI.

Diagnosis of the blood pressure (BP) phenotype is the most important indication for its ambulatory measurement because BP phenotype is associated with cardiovascular complications and death. The study of BP phenotypes is important for patients with hypertension (HT) and comorbidity, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The combination of HT with these lower airway diseases (LAD) leads to the mutual influence of pathologies creates difficulties in the drugs choice and may affect BP phenotype in HT patients.Aim. To compare in the prospective investigation various characteristics of BP phenotype in HT patients considering LAD (asthma or COPD).Material and methods. The prospective cohort study of ambulatory patients with HT (n=156) was carried out. The part of these patients had asthma or COPD (n=69). The clinical measurements and 24-hour BP monitoring, spirometry, clinical and biochemical blood tests, standard examination were performed, initially and after 12 months. BP phenotype were determined by the ratio of clinical BP and ambulatory BP considering their threshold values. Standard statistical methods and multivariate analysis were used.Results. Patients with LAD had 2 times more often prognostically unfavorable phenotypes: ineffective antihypertensive therapy (AHT) 37.3% vs 15.7% and masked AHT inefficiency 7.5% vs 4.5%; white coat HT on treatment (WCH) and effective AHT were less common(29.9% vs 42.7%; 25.5% vs 37.1%, respectively, p 148 mm Hg (b=2.733, p=0.040), LAD (b=1.015, p=0.011), serum total cholesterol (b=0.350, p=0.043), degree of nighttime diastolic BP decrease (for 13.1-18.0% b=-2.130, p=0.004; for 18.1-24.0% b=-2.509, p=0.001). The factors associated with masked AHT inefficiency in comparison to effective AHT were heart rate in orthostasis >87 beats/min(b=3,512, p=0.006) and SBP in orthostasis 141-148 mm Hg (b=3.405, p=0.004).Conclusion. The prevalence of prognostically unfavorable BP phenotypes (ineffective AHT and masked AHT inefficiency) is two times higher in HT patients with LAD. The first is associated with LAD presence, sex, and serum cholesterol; both phenotypes interrelated with hemodynamic parameters including degree of nighttime diastolic BP decrease. We found no association between AHT and LAD therapy with the BP phenotypes in this study. However, larger works in this area are required, including analysis of outcomes in long-term prospective studies.

Aim. To study the seasonal indicators of quality of life and control of bronchial asthma in hypertensive patients with bronchial asthma, observed by a cardiologist of the state outpatient institution.Material and methods. Data from a prospective cohort study of hypertensive patients, some of which had bronchial asthma without exacerbation, were analyzed. Patients who were observed by a cardiologist at a state outpatient clinic took part in the study. There were other concomitant diseases that occurred in the participants, in addition to hypertension and bronchial asthma. Two groups of patients were formed: the control group (n=85) included patients with hypertension only, the main group (n=40) included hypertension and bronchial asthma. Patients had 3 visits: initial one, and after 6 and 12 months and then data on outcomes (30.1Ѓ}7.6 months of follow-up) were collected. The first and third visits included clinical measurements of blood pressure (BP), 24-hour BP monitoring, spirometry, clinical and biochemical blood tests, a standard survey, survey with questionnaires evaluating the control of bronchial asthma (Asthma Control Questionnaire; ACQ) and the patients quality of life (General Well-Being Questionnaire; GWBQ). The second visit included clinical BP and ACQ and GWBQ questionnaires. A comparison of the average indicators from the total number of observations carried out in winter, spring, summer and autumn periods has been performed.Results. Hypertensive patients with/without bronchial asthma (n=125; 28 men, 97 women, average age 62.6Ѓ}8.8 years, duration of hypertension – 11.6Ѓ}8.6, duration of bronchial asthma – 9.3Ѓ}11.9 years) took part in the study. Outpatient BP levels throughout the study period were maintained at target values in both groups. It was shown that seasonal BP levels do not differ in the compared groups, except for winter indicators: winter daytime systolic BP levels were higher in the main group (p=0.03). Seasonal fluctuations in BP were not detected in the control group, however, they were present in the patients of the main group: winter daytime levels of diastolic BP and average daily levels of diastolic BP and systolic BP were higher than summer ones, and winter daytime systolic BP values (p1.5), in summer and autumn – partially controlled (total score ≤1.5). During the analysis of various factors associated with the combined primary endpoint (death, transient ischemic attack, angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmias, arterial revascularization), relationships with quality of life indicators were revealed: negative connections – with indicators characterizing positive psychological health, mood at visit, positive correlations – with psychological abilities.Conclusion: Seasonal fluctuations in ambulatory BP levels were not found in the control group and were found in the main group. The quality of life indicators for patients of the main group were significantly worse than in the control group for all components in all seasons. The control of asthma changed in different seasons in accordance with the ACQ total score: uncontrolled bronchial asthma occurred in winter and spring, partially controlled – in summer and autumn. Correlations of the combined primary endpoint with quality of life indicators were found after analyzing various factors.

Background. Early diagnostics of masked hypertension (MH) is one of the key problems in modern cardiology due to the association of this blood pressure (BP) phenotype with doubled cardiovascular risk in comparison with normotension (NT). The current hypertension guidelines list numerous conditions, when the ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) is desirable in patients with normal office BP. However this list does not represent clearly defined, agreed and approved indications for ABPM as a diagnostic tool for MH.Aim. To develop a method of MH diagnostics for the use in routine clinical practice based on the comparing characteristics of patients with reproducible MH vs NT.Material and methods. The patients were selected from two trials that used ABPM (n=1778). The selection criteria included age 40-79 years, office BPResults. In total, 153 patients with reproducible (both winter and summer) BP phenotype were included: 127 with MH, and 26 with NT (mean age 49.1Ѓ}7.8 years, 36.1% males). In multivariate analysis, reproducible MH was associated with body mass index (β2.097; pConclusions. MH is often found in patients with normal and optimal office BP and without “hypertension” diagnosis. The method described in the article helps to detect MH with high probability and define the individual indications for ABPM. The MH phenomenon in the category of patients warrants further investigation.

In hypertensive patients, blood pressure variability (BPV) and comorbidity are associated with prognosis. However, there have been no complex prospective studies of BPV in patients with hypertension and chronic lower airway diseases (CLAD). Aim. To investigate specific features of different BPV types and their prognostic value in hypertensive patients with and without CLAD in a prospective study. Material and methods. This prospective cohort study included hypertensive patients, approximately half of whom had asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clinic blood pressure (BP) measurements, ambulatory and home BP monitoring (ABPM, HBPM), spirometry, clinical blood analysis and blood chemistry, and a standard questionnaire and physical examination were performed at baseline and 12 months later. Clinical BP measurements and HBPM were also repeated 6 months after the baseline visit. At 12 months from the last study visit, we collected the information about cardiovascular complications and deaths. Statistical methods included ANOVA and survival analysis. The BPV indices were calculated as SD for different time periods, ARV (average real variability), and VIM (variation independent of mean). The inter-group comparisons were adjusted for age and sex. The assessment of intra-visit and long-term BPV was based on clinical BP measurement. The assessment of 24-hour BPV and mid-term BPV was based on ABPM and HBPM, respectively. Results. The BPV levels, assessed by ABPM and HBPM, were higher in patients with CLAD. There were no long-term BPV differences between two groups, in according to clinical BP data. Higher levels of daytime BPV were associated with orthostatic systolic BP, baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). An increase in nighttime BPV was associated with COPD, serum creatinine, FEV1 after β2-agonist inhalation, and GFR. In the CLAD group, the cumulative survival was lower, while the total risk was higher. The following endpoint predictors were identified: supraventricular arrhythmias, SD of nighttime diastolic BP, blood leukocyte count and nocturnal BP fall (Wald Chi-Square 14.780- 4.257; p

Background Masked hypertension (MH) is associated with cardiovascular complications and poor prognosis. Characteristics of untreated patients with reproducible MH are studied insufficiently. Purpose The aim of our study was to assess characteristics of ambulatory patients with reproducible MH in comparison to patients with non-reproducible MH in two visits. Methods The patients from the ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) database (>2000 patients) were selected according to the following criteria: absence of any antihypertensive treatment (AHT), availability of clinical BP (CBP) and ABPM records at two visits with the 6 months interval, CBP Results We selected 295 patients (men 43%, mean age 49.0±7.6 years, CBP 128.4±9.4/80.5±7.2 mm Hg, body mass index 27.6±4.3 kg/m2, 24h pulse wave velocity in aorta [PWV] 10.7±1.7 m/s). MH only at one visit was found in 168 patients (56.9%). Respectively, MH at both visits was in 127 patients (43.1%). The patients with reproducible MH were characterized by the presence of: mother's (p=0.011) or father's hypertension (p=0.025), mother's ischemic heart disease (p=0.015), mother's myocardial infarction (p=0.020), father's stroke (p=0.030), higher arterial stiffness (PWV 11.0±1.7 m/s vs. 10.5±1.8 m/s, p=0.022), and systolic BP in aorta (120.0±7.5 mmHg vs. 117.8±9.4 mm Hg). Conclusions The patients with reproducible MH (without AHT) are characterized most of all by the family history of hypertension and its complications. The correlation of stable MH with arterial stiffness confirms the importance of PWV and central aortic pressure measurement in patients with CBP

Background. Seasonal variability of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality emphasizes the need for the development of new preventive approaches. One of them could be early diagnostics of the unfavorable blood pressure (BP) phenotypes.Aim. To evaluate markers of the masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUH) phenotype in winter and summer in ambulatory treated hypertensive patients.Material and methods. We selected patients from the database (n=477; Ivanovo and Saratov residents) according to the following criteria: regular antihypertensive treatment (AHT), clinical BP

Background. The seasonal variability of blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality motivates researchers to search for the new approaches of the antihypertensive treatment (AHT) efficacy assessment, including the analysis of interrelation between clinic and ambulatory BP, i.e. BP phenotypes.Aim. To evaluate the prevalence of BP phenotypes in treated hypertensive outpatients both in winter and summer.Material and methods. Hypertensive patients under regular AHT with available data of clinic BP and 24-hour BP monitoring both in winter and summer seasons (n=477) were selected from a outpatient database with clinic BP 60%) in this region. In contrast, the cohort of relatively older patients with longer hypertension history examined in a relatively warmer region revealed significantly higher rate of masked uncontrolled hypertension in summer (50.2%) while prevalence of all other phenotypes – in winter.

Aim. To study the rate and characters of masked arterial hypertension (HT) and masked ineffectiveness of HT treatment in industrial workers within annual preventive examination.Material and methods. Workers (n=185) with normal office blood pressure (BP) Results. The rate of masked HT among workers with normal office BP was 10.8%, and masked HT among treated subjects was 34.6%. Workers with masked HT, in contrast to the normotensive workers according to the office BP and ABPM measurements, had a higher left ventricular mass index (in males 129.0±21.2 vs. 109.5±28.8 g/m2, respectively, in women 105.2±43.2 vs. 82.4±25.3 g/m2, respectively, pConclusion. Masked HT and masked HT in treated subjects (masked ineffectiveness of HT treatment) can occur in almost a half of industrial workers with normal office BP. Ambulatory BP measurement methods, especially ABPM, as well as standard risk factors detection are necessary for early revealing of HT phenotypes during preventive examination.

The aim of this work was to study morpho-functional myocardial characteristics in patients with masked arterial hypertension (AH) and white coat hypertension (WCH) given antihypertensive therapy (AHT) and without it. This cross-sectional cohort study included employees of a large industrial enterprise who annually underwent routine medical examination supplemented by 24 hr AP monitoring and echocardiography carried out at specified time of the working day. The participants of the study were divided into 6 groups based on the relationship between clinical AP and mean AP during work. Group I comprised 20 (7%) subjects with normal AP, group 2--20 (7%) with masked AH, group 3--40 (14%) with WCH, group 4--81 (28.3%) with optimal A HT effect, group 5--64 (22.4%) with unmanifest inefficiency of AHT, group 6--40 (14%) with WCH during AHT. Criteria for masked AH and unmanifest AHT inefficiency were clinical AP below 140 and 90 mm Hg in combination with mean AP during work 135 and/or 85 mm Hg and higher. Echocardiography was performed in a standard positions in M- and B-modes as well as in three Doppler regimes. One-factor ANOVA was used to analyze differences between the groups and Pearson's Chi-square test to determine the relationship between categorical variables. 206 (72%) of the 286 employees of the large industrial enterprise had a diagnosis of AH. It was shown that ambulatory AP values obtained by 24 hr monitoring better characterized the patient's condition than clinical AP since they correlated with the frequency of disorders in the target organs and the risk of cardiovascular complications in patients with AH. Patients with masked AH more frequently developed left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction than those having normal clinical and ambulatory AP. The mean width of the left ventricle wall and left ventricular isovolumic relaxation time (therefore, the degree of LV hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction) in the patients with unmanifest inefficiency of AHT were greater than in those with optimal AHT effect. The occurrence of WCH was comparable in the two groups. These data were used to determine intensity of preventive AHT at the workplace with a view to improving medical and occupational prognosis.