The objective of our study was to identify blood pressure (BP) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) changes during orthostatic loading, using a new the head-up tilt test (HUTT), which incorporates the usage of a standardized hydrostatic column height. Methods: 40 healthy subjects 20–32 years performed HUTT, which was standardized to a height of the hydrostatic column at 133 cm. Exposure time was 10 min in each of 3 positions: horizontal supine 1, HUTT, and horizontal supine 2. The individual tilt up angle made it possible to set the standard value of the hydrostatic column. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded beat to beat using “Task Force Monitor 3040 i”, pulse-wave velocity (PWV) was measured with a sphygmograph–sphygmomanometer VaSera VS1500N. Results: Orthostatic loading caused a significant increase in heart rate (HR) and a decrease in stroke volume (SV) (p < 0.05) but no significant reductions in cardiac output, changes in total vascular resistance (TVR), or BP. An analysis of personalized data on systolic blood pressure (SBP) changes in tilt up position as compared to horizontal position (ΔSBP) revealed non-significant changes in this index in 48% of subjects (orthostatic normotension group), in 32% there was a significant decrease in it (orthostatic hypotension group) and in 20% there was a significant increase in it (orthostatic hypertension group). These orthostatic changes were not accompanied by any clinical symptoms and/or syncope. During HUTT, all subjects had in the PWV a significant increase of approximately 27% (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The new test protocol involving HUTT standardized to a height of hydrostatic column at 133 cm causes typical hemodynamics responses during orthostatic loading. Individual analysis of the subjects revealed subclinical orthostatic disorders (OSD) in up to 52% of the test persons. During HUTT, all test subjects showed a significant increase in PWV. The new innovative HUTT protocol can be applied in multi-center studies in healthy subjects to detect preclinical forms of orthostatic disorders under standard gravity load conditions.

Background/Objectives: Vascular aging can be assessed by arterial stiffness measured through pulse wave velocity (PWV). Increased PWV predicts arterial hypertension, cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Detection of early signs of vascular aging remains an unmet problem. To search for the most sensitive markers for the early increase in vascular stiffness in a healthy population. Methods: One-hundred and twenty healthy subjects were divided in three equal age groups: 45 years. Head-up tilt test (HUTT) protocol was applied, providing a standardized hydrostatic column height. PWV at the brachial–ankle artery site (baPWV) was measured using a multichannel sphygmomanometer ABI System 100 PWV in three positions: in the baseline horizontal (supine) position—baPWVb; during the head tilt-up with an individual angle of inclination—baPWVt; and when returning to supine. Results: The most sensitive marker of early stiffness increase in a healthy population is the relative orthostatic increase in baPWV, ΔbaPWV/baPWVb, where ΔbaPWV = baPWVt − baPWVb. The significance of differences in this parameter between the young and elderly groups reached p = 0.000075 and p = 0.000006, respectively. Conclusions: The proposed index ΔbaPWV/baPWVb can be considered as a promising sensitive early biomarker of vascular aging and as a potential effective indicator in cardiovascular prevention. A longitudinal cohort study is needed to confirm this assumption.

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance (IR) is the root cause of most age-related diseases (ARD), the major challenge for today’s health systems. Therefore, adequate understanding of the mechanisms underlying IR is essential to build effective ARD prevention.OBJECTIVE: Analyze the existing models of IR causation and progression in order to justify the most effective ARD prevention strategy.METHODS: Search and analysis of publications on IR and hyperinsulinemia (HI) from databases elibrary.ru, PubMed, and Google Scholar.RESULTS: Two models of IR development are analyzed along with the relationship between IR, HI, and obesity. The prevailing model considers obesity (imbalance of caloric intake and energy expenditure) as the main factor in the development of IR; HI is seen as a consequence of IR, mostly insignificant for the outcomes of IR. The model contradicts many experimental and clinical findings. The strategy to combat ARDs that follows from the model (hypocaloric diet and pharmacotherapy of IR) has proven mostly ineffective.The alternative model (IR as a consequence of HI, and obesity as one of IR manifestations) is more consistent with the pool of experimental and clinical data. It more precisely predicts ARD development and allows more adequate correction of adverse lifestyle factors. It corresponds to a different strategy for combating ARD: emphasis on low-carb diet and longer fasting window combined with consideration of other factors of IR.CONCLUSION: If the prevailing model of IR development is revised, this should open up opportunities for more effective early prevention of a wide range of chronic diseases in which the role of IR is significant.

According to the World Health Organization, injuries take first place among the causes of death among the population under 40 years of age. In the Russian Federation, in 2019, death from external causes, including injuries, was in third place in all deaths. Among the causes of disability first place. Mortality from severe traumatic brain injury is over 70%. The most common cause of disability and mortality is head injuries. Annually, 1.5 million people die from traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the world, and 2.4 million are disabled. According to the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution National Institute of Public Health named after N.A. Semashko, the annual damage from the head injury is estimated at 500 billion rubles. This is a serious socio-economic and state problem requiring complex and multidisciplinary intervention.

Analysis of sleep patterns in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness attracts attention from the perspective of the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease as well as the treatment. Yet, the very existence of normal sleep in patients in a vegetative or minimally conscious state is still a matter of debate. This paper presents a retrospective analysis of overnight polysomnographic records of 40 patients with chronic disorders of consciousness aimed at the possibility of establishing the connection between the degree of impaired consciousness and the presence and organization of polysomnographic graphical elements, associated with stages of sleep in normal individuals. Specialized software based on expert system artificial intelligence was developed to calculate indices and parameters that characterize sleep. It was shown that a remarkably low percentage of patients have a rhythmic change in sleep patterns, what indicates the prevalence of violations of the Sleep–Wake cycle in a vegetative state and minimally conscious state. Sleep spindles were not found in records, however, the absence can originate from the limitations of polysomnographic method applied to patients with severe brain damage. A positive correlation between the rhythmic change of sleep patterns, better outcome and CRS-R scores was confirmed.

Clinical orthostatic hypotension (OH) and hypertension (OHT) are risk factors for arterial hypertension (AH) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and are associated with increased vascular stiffness. Preclinical OH and OHT are poorly understood. The main objective was to investigate preclinical orthostatic abnormalities and their association with increased vascular stiffness in different age groups of adults. A specially designed head-up tilt test standardized for hydrostatic column height was used to detect them. Three age groups of clinically healthy subjects were examined. In the group of young adults up to 30 years old, a significant predominance of orthostatic normotension (ONT) and an insignificant number of subjects with preclinical OH and OHT were found. In the age group over 45 years, compared to the group under 30 years, there was a twofold decrease in the proportion of individuals with ONT and a significant increase with preclinical OH and OHT. In all age groups, there was a significant orthostatic increase in vascular stiffness (as measured by the brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), which was recovered to the baseline level when returning to the supine position. Overall, subjects with preclinical OH and OHT had significantly higher baPWV values compared to those with ONT (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively), with all subjects having vascular stiffness values within normal age-related values.