Oncologic diseases are currently one of the leading causes of death. Modern anticancer therapy allows preserving life and social adaptation of cancer patients for many years. However, the use of anticancer drugs is limited due to their adverse and, in some cases, severe cardiotoxic effects such as coronary artery disease, toxic cardiomyopathy, chronic heart failure, arterial hypertension, and others. Heart rhythm and conduction disorders occur, on average, in 16–36% chemotherapy patients and atrial fibrillation is one of the most common arrhythmogenic manifestations of cardiotoxicity. Anthracyclines, alkylating agents, and monoclonal antibodies disrupt the ion pumps function, contribute to the excess release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, cause more rapid development of spontaneous diastolic depolarization, and ultimately provoke the occurrence of atrial fibrillation. Some chemotherapy drugs, in particular, anthracyclines, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and histone deacetylases disrupt the functioning of potassium channels, which leads to an increase in the action potential and prolongation of QT interval. Data on the effects of other classes of chemotherapy drugs on the heart conduction system are scarce and contradictory. Heart rhythm and conduction disorders caused by chemotherapy can lead to a dose reduction or discontinuation of anticancer drugs and require careful monitoring and a joint approach by doctors of several specialties in the management of these patients.

This article reviews psychosomatic correlations of essential hypertension. The role of biological, psychological, and social prerequisites for the manifestation of the disease is presented. The psychodynamic concept for the genesis of this pathology is analyzed. Special attention is given to the role of anxiety and depression as factors modulating the course of essential hypertension.

Introduction. Patients with resistant hypertension (RH) associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) and, in particular, with an unfavorable course of coronary atherosclerosis have the highest risk of cardiovascular complications. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were shown to play a role of independent predictors for the development of such complications. However, the changes in these markers and blood pressure (BP) due to renal denervation (RDN) have not been a subject of investigation in this patient group yet.
Objectives. To study changes in BP and proinflammatory markers in patients with RH and CHD after RDN and to compare the indicators depending on the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
Material and Methods. The study analyzed case histories of 35 patients with RH and CHD who underwent a full clinical, instrumental, and laboratory examination before and one year after RDN.
Results. We observed a reduction of average 24-hour blood pressure by 15 (0–21) / 7(–3–14) mmHg (p < 0.05), a decrease in TNF-α from 7.8 (6.3; 9.6) to 7.3 (6.8; 8.6) pg/mL (p = 0.044), and a downward trend of hs-CRP values from 2.4 (1.4; 6.0) to 1.8 (1.3; 3.6) mg/L (p = 0.186). Group of patients with unfavorable course of coronary atherosclerosis had higher levels of TNF-α initially (р = 0.040) and a year after RDN (р = 0.038), but no significant changes in BP were observed.
Conclusions. Obtained data suggested that the antihypertensive effect of RDN was less pronounced in patients with an unfavorable course of coronary atherosclerosis.

We found a high frequency of co-occurrence of arterial hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the therapeutic practice of 130 patients.
Objective. To investigate daily ECG monitoring results and heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with a combination of hypertension and COPD.
Material and Methods. A total of 130 patients with arterial hypertension were examined. The main group (n = 90) consisted of comorbid patients with arterial hypertension suffering of COPD, mean age of 61.3 ± 1.0 years. The comparison group (n = 40) comprised hypertensive patients without COPD, with a mean age of 59.1 ± 1.5 years. All patients received 24-hour ECG monitoring with HRV assessment.
Results. Analysis of heart rhythm abnormalities and cardiac conduction disorders allowed to detect the following arrhythmias in patients with hypertension in the presence of COPD: paired supraventricular extrasystoles, runs of supraventricular tachycardia, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, Lown grade I ventricular extrasystoles, and paired ventricular extrasystoles. The right bundle-branch block was the most frequent conduction disorder observed in patients with COPD. Temporal analysis of HRV showed that the basic daily-average parameters responsible for the overall tone of the autonomic nervous system (SDNN, SDNNi, and SDANN) and the indicators reflecting the effects of parasympathetic regulation on the heart activity (RMSSD, pNN50, and HRVTI) were attenuated in comorbid patients.
Conclusion. This study showed that patients with arterial hypertension associated with COPD were more prone to the occurrence of potentially dangerous arrhythmias. Heart rate variability in such patients was characterized by a decrease in the tone of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system and the predominance of sympathetic effects on cardiac activity.

Objective. To evaluate the results of surgical correction of Ebstein anomaly by cone reconstruction in the early and late postoperative periods of observation.
Material and Methods. The study included 35 patients with Ebstein anomaly aged 18 years and younger. The average age of patients was 5.5 [2; 10] years; weight was 23.4 [12.5; 27.5] kg; and height was 112.7 [90; 137] cm. All patients underwent surgical treatment for Ebstein anomaly by cone reconstruction, including four cases (11.4%) requiring the creation of a bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis. The echocardiographic parameters of the heart were studied in the preoperative, early postoperative, and long-term observation periods. The main emphasis was on the evaluation of tricuspid valve (TV) function indicators, including TV regurgitation degree, pressure gradient, Z-score, and size of the valve ring expressed as percentages of reference stature-weight values. The electrocardiographic records of patients were evaluated to analyze cardiac rhythm disturbances. The maximum period of observation was eight years.
Results. The indexed sizes of the right atrium and right ventricle significantly decreased and the left ventricular end-diastolic index and stroke volume increased in the early postoperative period. In the long-term period of observation, there was an increase in the fibrous ring of TV (p < 0.05), whereas the tricuspid pressure gradient and regurgitation did not change over time. Atrioventricular conduction disorders were not detected among patients in the early postoperative period. The bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis was created in the presence of the following conditions: the TV mean pressure gradient was more than 8 mmHg; the pressure gradient between the right and left atriums was above 1.5.

Aim. To assess the immediate results of mitral valve prosthetics with the MedEng-BIO biological valve based on 19 clinical observations.
Material and Methods. The implantation of the MedEng-BIO biological valve prosthesis to the mitral position was performed in 19 patients at the Cardiology Research Institute of Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Science (Tomsk, Russia) between February 2017 and January 2019. The average age of patients was 68.7 ± 5.4 years. The NYHA functional class was 2.61 ± 0.50. The average peak preoperative gradient was 18.3 ± 5.9 mmHg; the mean gradient was 7.1 ± 3.3 mmHg. All the patients underwent echocardiography to study the mitral valve, the left ventricular function, the left atrial (LA) size, and the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) preoperatively and before the discharge (14 days after the surgery on average).
Results. There were no statistically significant changes in the left ventricular function; the decreases in the LA sizes and the RVSP are shown in Table 2. The effective opening areas of the MedEng-BIO valves of the sizes 27, 29, and 31 were 3.2, 2.7, and 2.06 cm2, respectively.
Conclusions. The first experience of using the MedEng-BIO biological mitral valve prostheses demonstrated satisfactory clinical outcomes with the simplification of the implantation procedure and a possible decrease in the risk of postoperative complications in repeated interventions. However, more cases and more extended observations are needed to draw final and statistically significant conclusions on the effect and feasibility of this surgical procedure.

Introduction. In recent years, there has been a continuous increase in the number of endovascular interventions performed on the coronary arteries. Contrast-induced acute kidney injury is one of the main complications in patients who undergo coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The filtration function of kidneys is usually evaluated by the level of endogenous creatinine or using calculation formulas also based on the concentration of creatinine. Plasma biomarkers, one of which is cystatin C, are the most promising for early detection of acute kidney injury.
Purpose. (1) To evaluate the effectiveness of the prevention of contrast-induced kidney injury in patients administered with a loading dose of statins before endovascular intervention; (2) to study the prospects for early diagnosis of kidney injury using a new biomarker, cystatin C.
Material and Methods. Patients with coronary artery disease, confirmed by еру hemodynamically significant stenosis of coronary arteries and clinically manifested angina pectoris, were selected. Before the endovascular intervention, patients were administered with loading doses of statins (group 1 received atorvastatin; group 2 received rosuvastatin). All patients underwent the following studies: general clinical examination; serial biochemical blood tests for creatinine, urea, uric acid, potassium, c-reactive protein, and cystatin C; and glomerular filtration rate assessment.
Results. A decrease in renal function with a glomerular filtration rate of less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 on day 5 was observed in 12 patients (34.3%) of group 1 and 9 patients (27.3%) of group 2. The blood study of cystatin C level allowed establishing an early diagnosis of contrast-induced acute kidney injury 12 and 24 h after endovascular intervention.
Conclusions. A new biomarker, cystatin C, is a reliable indicator of kidney function. The anti-inflammatory effect, evaluated based on the high sensitivity c-reactive protein, was significantly more pronounced in coronary artery disease patients undergoing planned endovascular intervention and receiving loading doses of rosuvastatin compared to atorvastatin.

Aim. A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted to identify the factors determining the survival of patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) who were on the waiting list for liver transplantation.
Material and Methods. A total of 112 patients were examined including 28 individuals who died within six months of followup. The mean score of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) was 26.4 ± 3.72 (16–36) among the deceased.
Results. Compared to survivors, the deceased patients with end-stage liver diseases had higher incidences of complex heart rhythm disorders. These conditions include runs of supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia, episodes of ventricular trigeminy, a higher number of supraventricular extrasystoles, and the changes in QTc interval duration and QTc interval dispersion. The study showed that compared to the liver transplant recipients that survived, the casualties showed some common characteristics such as lower values of tricuspid valve annular plane systolic excursion; increased values of right heart size, inferior vena cava diameter, peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity, and systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery; decreased ratio of transtricuspid flow velocity in the early diastole to flow velocity in the right atrial systole phase; and higher values of troponin I [0.60 (0.14–1.00) ng/mL vs. 0.24 (0.095–0.465) ng/mL, p = 0.024] and NTproBNP [125.0 (74.0–187.5) pg/mL vs. 82.0 (25.0–125.0) pg/mL, p = 0.011].
Conclusions. Heart rate, troponin I level, and NTproBNP value were identified as additional factors determining the risk of adverse outcomes in liver failure patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation. The study resulted in the development of an informative and efficient mathematical model allowing for assessment of sudden death risk in liver failure patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation.

Background. Diabetic patients with resistant hypertension (RHT) are characterized by a high rate of annual decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (up to 14 mL/min/1.73 m2). The distal approach to sympathetic renal denervation (RD) reduces blood pressure (BP) to a greater extent compared with standard RD. However, the long-term effect of distal RD on the renal function remains unknown.
Aim. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term safety and nephroprotective efficacy profile of distal RD compared to conventional intervention in RHT patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) during a three-year follow-up. 
Material and Methods. Twenty seven patients (eight men) with true RHT and T2DM were included in a single-arm prospective interventional study (number NCT01499810 at ClinicalTrials.gov) (mean age of 61.6 ± 7.3 years; mean office (systolic/diastolic) BP of 171.8 ± 21.9/87.7 ± 17.7 mmHg; mean eGFR of 72.1 ± 19.9 mL/min/1.73 m²; and glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c) of 6.3 ± 1.1%). Patients were randomized into two comparable groups of distant (n = 13) and standard RD (n = 14). Office BP, ABPM, renal Doppler ultrasound, renal function (eGFR (CKD-EPI) and 24-hour urinary albumin excretion (UAE)), and kidney MRI were assessed at baseline and annually during a three-year follow-up. Nineteen patients completed a 36-month follow-up (8 patients were treated by distal RD and 11 patients received the conventional procedure).
Results. The change in eGFR during three-year follow-up was insignificant in group of distal RD (-5.3 ± 0.4 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.63) and was comparable with the corresponding value in conventional RD group (–6.7 ± 4.2 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.3), (p = 0.7 for intergroup comparison) despite a more powerful decrease in 24-h systolic BP in the distal RD group relative to that in conventional RD group (–25.3 ± 15.3 vs. 4.4 ± 22 mmHg, p = 0.04). The degrees of annual decline in GFR did not differ between the distal RD group and conventional RD group (p = 0.9) and were –2.7 ± 2.4 mL/min/1.73 m2/year and –2.7 ± 4.0 mL/min/1.73 m2/year, respectively. No significant changes in renal blood flow, albuminuria, MRI-based kidney size, and the number of patients with albuminuria and renal dysfunction were found during the study.
Conclusions. Distal RDN in diabetic patients with RHT had a three-year safety profile and nephroprotective efficacy similar to those when the standard method was used despite a more significant reduction of blood pressure. Both modes of RD are likely to slow the progression of renal dysfunction in these patients.

Aim. To estimate the importance of polymorbidity factor in the development of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent computed tomography (CT) coronarography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Material and Methods. We carried out the retrospective analysis of clinical cases of patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent CT coronarography and PCI in N. S. Karpovich Emergency Hospital of Krasnoyarsk city in 2015. The sample consisted of 33 patients with a clinical verified diagnosis of contrast-induced nephropathy. We used the “R” and “G*Power” software for the statistical analysis of our data. Nonparametric methods of data analyses, such as analysis of variance of repeated measures and Mann-Whitney U-test were used. We also used the two-factor analysis of variance after logarithmic
data transformation. Data are presented as median and 25% and 75% quartiles.
Results. Among 33 sampled patients with diagnosed contrast-induced nephropathy, 15 patients were females and 13 patients were males. The mean age was 70.9 ± 11.5 years. We divided this sample into polymorbidity and non-polymorbidity groups. The mean creatinine level in polymorbidity patients was 127 μmol/L (95; 179). Non-polymorbidity patients had a creatinine level of 130 μmol/L (91; 179). We did not detect any significant impact of polymorbidity factor on the temporal changes in the creatinine level (p > 0.05) in patients with contrast-induced nephropathy. Paired comparison based on both logarithmic transformation data using T-test and non-transformed values using Mann – Whitney U test did not show any significant differences between the creatinine levels in polymorbidity and non-polymorbidity patients. The absence of a strong correlation between creatinine levels and polymorbidity at chosen time intervals in the presence of significantly increasing creatinine values may be explained by the influence of other factors. In our case, we attribute an impact of contrast medium on kidney filtration. Their high variability explains the asymmetric distribution of creatinine values both in the entire sample and in the subgroups. The polymorbidity factor should not require special attention in regard to patients with acute myocardial infarction who need emergency CT coronarography and life-saving PCI.
Conclusion. The polymorbidity factor did not significantly affect the development of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing CT coronarography and PCI.

Objective. To evaluate endothelial function in pregnant women with chronic hypertension and abdominal obesity.
Material and Methods. We studied 30 pregnant women with chronic hypertension and abdominal obesity (group I), 28 pregnant women with chronic hypertension and normal body mass index (group IIa), 27 pregnant women with abdominal obesity without chronic hypertension (group IIb), and 33 pregnant women without chronic hypertension and abdominal obesity (control group). We performed reactive hyperemia tests, assessed the serum levels of endothelin-1 and homocysteine, and analyzed the outcomes of pregnancy and delivery.
Results. The values of endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDVD) in pregnant women of groups I, IIa, and IIb were comparable and were 6.7 (3.2–9.1)%, 7.0 (3.9–11.4)%, and 7.2 (4.4–10.8)%, respectively. Significant differences were found in EDVD values between the groups mentioned above and the control group, where the EDVD value was 12.5 (10.5–13.9)%, p < 0.05. The endothelin-1 concentration in group I was 14.0 (10.3–17.5) pg/mL, which significantly exceeded the corresponding values in group IIa (p < 0.05) and the control group (p < 0.05). The endothelin-1 level in patients with abdominal obesity was twice higher than the corresponding value in the control group (p < 0.05). Significant differences were observed between patients with chronic hypertension (groups I and IIa) and control group (p < 0.05). The level of homocysteine in control group [6.1 (3.9; 8.0) µmol/L] significantly differed from the corresponding values in group I [9.3 (7.8; 10.5) µmol/L, p < 0.05], group IIa [7.8 (6.8; 9.8) µmol/L, p < 0.05], and group IIb [7.8 (6.8; 9.8) µmol/L, p < 0.05].
Conclusions.This study showed the presence of endothelial dysfunction in pregnant women with chronic arterial hypertension and abdominal obesity. This observation was confirmed by the lower values of EDVD, higher frequency of attenuated and paradoxical responses to the reactive hyperemia test, and the elevated serum levels of homocysteine and endothelin-1 in this category of patients. The endothelial dysfunction contributed to the development of pregnancy complications and adverse outcomes of pregnancy compared with the control group and women who had isolated manifestations of chronic
hypertension and abdominal obesity.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the state of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction for an extended period after heart transplantation using the parameters of the functional geometry of the left ventricle.
Material and Methods. The study included 31 patients after orthotopic heart transplantation with a follow-up period of up to nine years. We used linear discriminant analysis to build a classification model based on either the standard echocardiographic parameters of LV systolic function or parameters of LV functional geometry indexes aimed at the potential prediction of acute rejection and progression of chronic heart failure.
Results. The linear discriminant analysis model based on parameters of LV functional geometry showed a high predictive value to diagnose acute rejection and development of heart failure in heart transplant patients.
Conclusion. Linear discriminant analysis classification model based on the LV functional geometry data showed high accuracy in predicting allograft rejection and development of heart failure in heart transplant patients.

Introduction. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Well-known cardiovascular risk scales underestimate the possibility of the onset of cardiovascular complications and do not take into account the peculiarities of inflammatory rheumatic diseases. To improve risk stratification and timely prevention, it is necessary to study the risk factors associated with damage to the cardiovascular system in AS.
Objective. To study the risk factors associated with carotid atherosclerotic lesions in ankylosing spondylitis.
Material and Methods. The study included 32 male patients with AS who underwent a general clinical examination. In these patients, traditional factors of cardiovascular risk were identified; the activity and functional status of the disease were determined. To identify atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid arteries, Doppler ultrasound was used to measure carotid intima-media thickness and to identify atherosclerotic plaques.
Results. The carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in the group was 0.9 mm [0.7; 1.2]; the median age was 38.2 years [32.0; 43.5]. With the application of age and sex norms, an increase in CIMT was observed in 80.6% of patients. The correlation analysis of the structure of traditional risk factors demonstrated the significant associations of CIMT with age (r = 0.609, р < 0.0001), body mass index (r = 0.439, p = 0.013), glucose level (r = 0.528, p = 0.002), triglycerides (r = 0.458, p = 0.010), and total cholesterol (r = 0.398, p = 0.027). High rates of smoking (6 out of 16 against 14 out of 16, χ2 = 7.888, p = 0.009) and arterial hypertension (4 out of 16 against 10 out of 16, χ2 = 7.630, p = 0.009) were found mostly in the group with increased CIMT. No significant differences and relationships of CIMT with disease activity indicators and antirheumatic therapy were revealed. Significant relationships were found between the atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid arteries in patients with AS with the duration of the disease (r = 0.370, p = 0.041) and functional status assessed using the BASFI index (r = 0.507,
p = 0.004).
Conclusions. The study revealed a high prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors among patients with AS, as well as the significant associations of the duration of the disease and the degree of functional impairment with the formation of carotid atherosclerotic lesions. The results of the study suggest that a more thorough assessment of CVD risk, as well as the use of additional objective criteria, are necessary for patients with AS.

Objective. To provide in vitro and in vivo experimental evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of treatment for multidrugresistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) with an innovative drug thiosonide.
Material and Methods. The study was performed using M. tuberculosis cultures sensitive to therapy and resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin. A series of experiments using C57Bl/6 mice infected with M. tuberculosis resistant to polychemotherapy (PCT) was performed. The efficacy of treatment of experimental drug-resistant tuberculosis using standard mono- and polychemotherapy regimens with and without drug thiosonide was evaluated.
Results. The study demonstrated in vitro anti-tuberculosis activity of thiosonide including the activity against M. tuberculosis strains resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin. The ability of thiosonide to increase the survival rate of mice infected with MDRTB compared with survival in the presence of traditional chemotherapy was shown. The calculated index of the effectiveness of therapy with the use of anti-tuberculosis drug thiosonide revealed its ability to improve the treatment of experimental MDR-TB. An increase in the mass of experimental animals was observed in the case of therapy with thiosonide, which
indicates good drug tolerability.
Conclusions. Thiosonide, added to the experimental MDR-TB polychemotherapy regimen, increased the treatment efficiency while reducing the number and severity of side effects of pharmacotherapy. This fact makes it possible to consider thiosonide as a promising drug for MDR-TB treatment.

Introduction. The strict control of glycemia does not always lead to positive effects associated with a decrease in cardiovascular complications. Moreover, the combined development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and coronary heart disease (CHD) makes it challenging to control glycemic levels adequately. 
Objective. To study the relationship between glycemia and functional myocardial parameters in patients with coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Material and Methods. The study included patients with a diagnosis of chronic coronary artery disease associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We studied the echocardiography-based structural and functional parameters of the heart and the contractile properties of the myocardium in patients ex vivo depending on the level of glycated hemoglobin (НbА1с). The ex vivo studies were performed on  trabeculae isolated from the right atrial appendage obtained during coronary artery bypass surgery. The contractile function of trabeculae was assessed based on an extrasystolic effect and a resting effect (post-rest reaction).
Results. Patients were divided into two groups according to the HbA1c level: group 1 included patients with HbA1c less than 8%; group 2 comprised patients with HbA1c more than 8%. The main clinical baseline parameters were similar between the groups. The ejection fraction (EF) was higher, whereas the thickness of the left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW) was lower in patients of group 1 compared to the corresponding parameters of group 2. The ex vivo study of myocardial contractility showed that extrasystolic contractions occurred at earlier extrasystolic intervals in patients of group 2, suggesting higher excitability of the cardiomyocyte membranes. At the same time, post-extrasystolic contractions of trabeculae in patients of group 2 had significant potentiation. The amplitude of post-rest trabeculae contractions was potentiated at short rest periods in patients of both groups. However, post-rest contractions significantly increased with an increase in the duration of rest periods only in group 2. Post-rest inotropic response in patients of group 1 did not have any potentiation after long rest periods.
Conclusions. The results of this study based on the contractility of isolated trabeculae showed that the increased HbA1c levels are better indicators of the myocardial functional state.

Objective. To study the frequency distribution of genotypes and alleles of polymorphic loci of folate cycle genes (MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298G, MTR A2756G, MTRR A66G) in patients with gout and to evaluate their association with the risk of the disease.
Material and Methods. 80 patients (69 men and 11 women) with gout were examined. The diagnosis of gout was made according to the classification criteria ACR/EULAR, 2015. DNA isolated from white blood cells of whole peripheral blood was the material used in the genetic analyses. All patients were genotyped to detect polymorphisms of the MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298G, MTR A2756G, MTRR A66G gene loci. Statistical data processing was performed using the software package Statistiсa 10.0.
Results. Genetic polymorphisms of the MTHFR C677T and MTR A2756G genes are involved in the development of gout in individuals of Russian ethnicity in the population of the Trans-Baikal Territory. Minor T allele (χ2 = 4.65, p = 0.03, OR = 1.83, CI95% = 1.05–3.17) and the T/T genotype (χ2 = 6.5, p = 0.01, OR = 5.94, CI95% = 1.3–27.00) of the C677T locus of the MTHFR gene, minor G allele (χ2 = 6.46, p = 0.01, OR = 2.38, CI95% = 1.2–4.69) and the A/G genotype of the MTR A2756G gene (χ2 = 5.78, p = 0.01, OR = 2.66, CI95% = 1.18–5.98 ) were identified as alleles and genotypes having increased risk for developing gout. While the C allele (χ2 = 4.65, p = 0.03, OR = 0.55, CI95% = 0.31–0.94) of the MTHFR C677T gene, and allele A (χ2 = 6.46, p = 0.01, OR = 0.42, CI95% = 0.21–0.83) and genotype A/A (χ2 = 7.58, p = 0.006, OR = 0.33, CI95% = 0.15–0.74) of the A2756G locus of the MTR gene were determined as genotypes and alleles having a protective effect.
Conclusion. Significant differences were found in the frequency distribution of genotypes and alleles of the MTHFR C677T and MTR A2756G genes in gout patients compared with the control group. The presence of minor T allele and the T/T genotype of MTHFR C677T gene, the minor G allele and the A/G genotype of MTR A2756G gene was associated with an increased risk of gout. In contrast, the carriage of the C allele of MTHFR C677T gene, allele A and the genotype A/A of MTR A2756G gene had a potentially protective effect.

Aim. To investigate anti-ischemic and antiarrhythmic activity of Dibornol in conditions of multiple transitory ischemia of myocardium from in vivo experiments with rats.
Material and Methods. The experiment was performed on male Wistar rats with a model of myocardial ischemia caused by 5-time 3-minute occlusions of the left coronary artery, followed by 15-minute reperfusion periods. Rats of the experimental group received Dibornol 10 mg/kg intragastrically once for 4 days; control animals received an equivalent volume of 1% starch mucus. On the ECG, the magnitudes of the ST segment elevation were determined for minutes 1, 2, and 3 of each episode of ischemia and for minutes 5, 10, and 15 of reperfusion; the nature and duration of ventricular arrhythmias were determined as well.
Results. In the control group, the ST segment was elevated during all five episodes of ischemia. During reperfusion periods, a decrease in the elevation of the ST segment was detected, but no normalization occurred. Ischemic and reperfusionrelated ventricular arrhythmias were observed in the rats of the control group. Mortality in the control group reached 67% (6 animals out of 9). In the experimental group, in animals receiving Dibornol at a dose of 10 mg/kg, the occlusion of the left coronary artery was associated only with a slight elevation of the ST segment and its rapid recovery during reperfusion. Magnitudes of the ST segment elevation were significantly lower than the corresponding control values during all the episodes of ischemia. During reperfusion periods, the differences with the control group were more significant during the first to fourth periods and at minute 15 of the fifth reperfusion period. The death rate in the experimental group (1 animal out of 9) was significantly lower relative to the corresponding value in the control group.
Conclusion. The course preventive use of Dibornol in multiple myocardial ischemia/reperfusion had significant anti-ischemic and antiarrhythmic effects during reperfusion periods and significantly increased the survival rate in animal models.

Purpose. To estimate relationships of the atherosclerotic alterations in the walls of common carotid arteries (CCA) with the left ventricular (LV) remodeling and office blood pressure (BP) in men working on a rotational basis in the Far North.
Material and Methods. The study was performed at the premises of the Healthcare Unit of Gazprom Dobycha Yamburg OOO (68° N) in 2010–2012. A total of 424 men aged 30–59 years were randomly selected among people (n = 1708) who worked on a rotational basis in the Yamburg settlement (68° N) and passed a preventive medical examination. Patients were assigned to two groups according to BP level: group 1 included 294 men with hypertension stage 1–2 (BP > 140/90 mmHg); group 2 included 130 men with BP < 140/90 mmHg. The groups did not differ in regard to age, the total duration of employment in the Far North, and the length of rotational shiftwork. The following procedures were performed: ultrasound examination of CCA with a calculation of intima-media complex thickness (IMCT) and detection of the presence (or absence) of the atherosclerotic plaques (ASP) with stenosis grading using North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) method; echocardiography with calculation of LV myocardial mass (LVMM), LVMM index, and LV geometric model. 
Results. IMCT and the frequency of ASP detection in CCA were weakly associated with the level of office BP. Analysis of the regression models in individuals with normal and elevated BP also revealed weak associations of the values of IMCT and LVMM, LVMM index, LV wall thickness, and LV diastolic volume explaining only 10% and 8% of changes in this parameter. Hypothesis about the relationships between the frequencies of ASP detection and LV remodeling types was not confirmed. However, the frequency of ASP detection was significantly associated with LV concentric remodeling type in normotensive patients of group 2.
Conclusion. Atherosclerotic alterations in the carotid artery and cardiac remodeling did not progress simultaneously and were weakly associated with office BP in men working on a rotational basis in the Far North. The frequency of detection of ASP in CCA was significantly associated with the concentric type of LV remodeling only in men with normal office BP, which certainly requires more detailed study in follow-up works.

Objective. To study the prevalence of abdominal obesity (AO) and metabolic syndrome (MS) components among young adults in the city of Novosibirsk.
Material and Methods. A cross-sectional study of the young population of Novosibirsk was performed in 2013–2017. A representative sample comprised 1,512 people aged 25–44 years. The study included 1,449 people (45.6% men) based on the presence of all criteria required to perform the analysis according to the goal. The following age groups were assigned for the study: group 1 comprised 25–34-year-old individuals; group 2 included 35–44-year-olds. According to the recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of MS (RSC, 2009), AO was detected when participants had a waist circumference greater than 94/80 cm in men/women; hypertriglyceridemia (hyper-TG) when triglycerides (TG) were ≥ 1.7 mmol/L; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) hypercholesterolemia (hyper-LDL) when LDL cholesterol was > 3.0 mmol/L; highdensity lipoprotein (LDL) hypocholesterolemia (hypo-HDL) when HDL cholesterol was < 1.0/1.2 mmol/L in men/women; hypertension (AH130/85) when blood pressure (BP) was ≥ 130/85 mmHg; and fasting hyperglycemia (hyper-Gl) when fasting plasma glucose was ≥ 6.1 mmol/L.
Results. The prevalence rates of AO were 43.0% in men and 42.0% in women (p = 0.679); AН130/85 rates were 48.6% in men and 20.9% in women (p < 0.0001); hyper-TG rates were 24.5% in men and 9.9% in women (p < 0.0001); hypo-HDL rates were 20.0% in men and 24.7% in women (p = 0.033); hyper-LDL rates were 60.3% in men and 50.3% in women (p = 0.0002); and hyper-Gl rates were 32.4% in men and 15.7% in women (p < 0.0001). An increase in age was associated with a significant increase in the frequencies of AO, AH130/85, hyper-LDL, and hyper-Gl in both men and women (age group 2 relative to group 1). A tendency to an increase in hyper-TG was observed in women. In terms of prevalence, men had the highest prevalence rate of hyper-LDL followed by AH130/85 (the second-highest rate) and AO (the third-highest rate). Women had the highest prevalence rate of hyper-LDL, followed by AO (the second-highest rate). According to the results of univariate analysis, AO was associated with all components of MS in both men and women. The frequency of MS (RSC, 2009) was 32.0% in men and 22.2% in women (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions. Data obtained demonstrate the prognostically unfavorable situation in regard to cardiovascular pathology among young adults of Novosibirsk (especially among men), which requires prompt action to timely detect and correct the modifiable risk factors of this nosological entity.