Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and the consequent acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has protean manifestations, including muscle wasting and cardiomyopathy, which contribute to its high morbidity. The pathogenesis of these myopathies remains partially understood, and may include nutritional deficiencies, biochemical abnormalities, inflammation, and other mechanisms due to viral infection and replication. Growing evidence has suggested that HIV-1-related proteins expressed by the host in response to viral infection, including Tat and gp120, may also be involved in the pathophysiology of AIDS, particularly in cells or tissues that are not directly infected with HIV-1. To explore the potentially independent effects of HIV-1-related proteins on heart and skeletal muscles, we used a transgenic rat model that expresses several HIV-1-related proteins (e.g., Tat, gp120, and Nef). Outcome measures included basic heart and skeletal muscle morphology, glutathione metabolism and oxidative stress, and gene expressions of atrogin-1, muscle ring finger protein-1 (MuRF-1) and Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGFβ1), three factors associated with muscle catabolism.

Non-coding RNAs reflect many biological processes in the human body, including athero-sclerosis. In a cardiology outpatient department cohort (N = 83), we aimed to compare the levels of circulating microRNAs in groups with vulnerable plaques (N = 22), stable plaques (N = 23) and plaque-free (N = 17) depending on coronary computed tomography angiography and to evaluate associations of microRNA levels with calculated cardiovascular risks (CVR), based on the SCORE2 (+OP), ACC/AHA, ATP-III and MESA scales. Coronary computed tomography was performed on a 640-slice computed tomography scanner. Relative plasma levels of microRNA were assessed via a real-time polymerase chain reaction. We found significant differences in miR-143-3p levels (p = 0.0046 in plaque-free vs. vulnerable plaque groups) and miR-181b-5p (p = 0.0179 in stable vs. vulnerable plaques groups). Analysis of microRNA associations with CVR did not show significant differences for SCORE2 (+OP) and ATPIII scales. MiR-126-5p and miR-150-5p levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in patients with ACC/AHA risk >10% and miR-145-5p had linear relationships with ACC/AHA score (adjusted p = 0.0164). The relative plasma level of miR-195 was higher (p < 0.05) in patients with MESA risk > 7.5% and higher (p < 0.05) in patients with zero coronary calcium index (p = 0.036). A linear relationship with coronary calcium was observed for miR-126-3p (adjusted p = 0.0484). A positive correlation with high coronary calcium levels (> 100 Agatson units) was found for miR-181-5p (p = 0.036). Analyzing the biological pathways of these microRNAs, we suggest that miR-143-3p and miR-181-5p can be potential markers of the atherosclerosis process. Other miRNAs (miR-126-3p, 126-5p, 145-5p, 150-5p, 195-5p) can be considered as potential cardiovascular risk modifiers, but it is necessary to validate our results in a large prospective trial.

Aim: To present the ARILIS study aimed at assessing the use of artificial intelligence to analyze chest computed tomography (CT) data to predict and prevent non-cancer mortality in patients with cancer. Material and methods: This cohort study will include patients with cancer diagnosed in the Arkhangelsk region (AR) within the 2019–2023 period. The COVID-19 patients with pneumonia, patients with general medical conditions, and the population of the Know Your Heart Study are planned to be enrolled as control groups. To detect and quantify the CT signs of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and bone disorders, the thoracic СT scans of all the subjects will be processed using the multi-targeted AI algorithm provided by the IRA Labs company. From the date of processing of the thoracic CT scans using the multi-targeted AI algorithm, the study subjects will be followed for new clinical diagnoses and all-cause mortality. Expected results: T he study will determine the prevalence of CT signs of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and bone disorders in patients with cancer compared with the Know Your Heart Study population sample. It will also assess the incidence of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and bone events and all-cause mortality in patients with cancer compared with control groups, explore the potential of the IRA Labs’ multi-targeted AI algorithm in the assessment and reclassification of assessed risks in patients with cancer, and provide a software product for using mtIA in healthcare practice.

Здравоохранение фокусируется, в первую очередь, на лечении и предотвращении конкретных заболеваний, в то время как качественных исследований, посвященных профилактике старения и поддержанию высокого качества жизни (или его повышению) у здоровых людей, проведено очень мало. В настоящем обзоре рассматриваются наиболее эффективные и доказательные методики интеграционной медицины, применяемые у практически здоровых людей с целью...

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate atrial contractile function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) in sinus rhythm using transthoracic echocardiography (EchoCG). Methods and results: Thirty-five patients with paroxysmal AF and arterial hypertension (mean age 62 +/- 10 years, 43% male) in sinus rhythm were enrolled in the study. The control group was composed of comparable patients with arterial hypertension without heart rhythm disturbances. EchoCG was performed during sinus rhythm according to an extended protocol, which included the ejection fraction (EF) of the left atrium (LA) and tissue Doppler measurements. Myocardial fibrosis was assessed quantitatively by videodensitometry in intraventricular and intraatrial (IAS) septa using an original image post-processing algorithm. We found a significant decrease in the left atrial contraction function during sinus rhythm in patients with AF when compared to controls. LA EF (34 +/- 14 vs. 54 +/- 17, p = 0.03) and A' velocity (0.17 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.22 +/- 0.04, p = 0.008) decreased while A/A' ratio (2.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.1, p = 0.006) increased. Peak A velocity was not affected. Videodensitometric analysis revealed a 2.3-fold increase in IAS fibrosis fraction in AF patients compared with controls (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Patients with AF in sinus rhythm have markedly depressed atrial contractile function. Videodensitometry of IAS has the potential to be used as inexpensive method of atrial fibrosis assessment in patients with AF.

The aim of study was to investigate atrial contractile function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) in sinus rhythm using transthoracic echocardiography. 35 patients with paroxysmal AF and arterial hypertension (mean age 62 ± 10 years, 43% males) were enrolled in the study. Control group was composed of comparable patients with arterial hypertension without heart rhythm disturbances. We found significant depression of atrial contraction function in patients with AF in sinus rhythm expressed as decrease in left atrium EF, A' velocity and VTI, and increase in A/A' ratio, whereas peak a velocity was not affected. Patients with AF has markedly depressed atrial contractile function in sinus rhythm, to improve measurements accuracy we propose to use A/A' ratio as LA contractile function marker minimally dependent from LV diastolic function.