To determine whether influenza can trigger heart attacks, we investigated the impact of influenza epidemics on autopsy-proven coronary deaths. We studied weekly death due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and chronic ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in autopsies conducted in 1993 to 2000 in St Petersburg, Russia. We plotted the weekly acute respiratory disease (ARD) counts and influenza epidemics against AMI and chronic IHD deaths. There were 11 892 subjects dying of AMI and 23 000 subjects dying of chronic IHD. Median age was 75 for women and 65 for men. In every year, a peak of AMI and chronic IHD deaths were present and coincided with the influenza epidemic and peak ARD activity. A similar pattern was seen for each subgroup of men, women, subjects 50 years or older, and subjects 70 years or older. When comparing the average influenza epidemic weeks to average off-season weeks, the odds for AMI and chronic IHD death increased by 1.30 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08–1.56) and 1.10 (95% CI: 0.97–1.26), respectively. Influenza epidemics are associated with a rise in autopsy-confirmed coronary deaths. Influenza vaccination should be advocated for patients at high risk of developing cardiovascular events.

WHO recommends the inclusion of PCVs in childhood vaccination programs world-wide. Many countries including the Russian Federation are currently planning the inclusion of PCVs in their National Immunization Programs and, therefore, data on the pneumococcal serotype distribution is important to estimate the potential disease impact. Here we review eight recent epidemiological studies on the pneumococcal serotype distribution from Russia. Across all studies, serotypes 6B, 14, 19F and 23F were the most prevalent. Interestingly, serotype 3 was relatively common. Serotype 19A was prevalent among AOM, CAP and nasopharyngeal isolates and among antibiotic resistant isolates in all age groups. The differences in serotype coverage between PCV10 and PCV13 were up to 26%. Based on the current data on serotype distribution, a wide use of PCVs in Russia may lead to a significant reduction of the pneumococcal disease burden.

To study cognitive function, CSF biochemical markers of amyloidosis and neurodegeneration, cerebral metabolism using PET, cerebral volumetric changes and metabolic content of the cingular gyrus using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in patients with amnesic and neurodynamic variants of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Authors examined 369 patients with cognitive impairment of different severity. All patients underwent neuropsychological examination. To deter-mine the levels of β-amyloid and tau-protein,a lumbar puncture was performed in 125 patients and 20 controls. 18-Fluorine deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FCSRT) was performed in 77 patients. Assessment of metabolite levels by MRS and volumetric parameters by magnetic resonance morphometry was done in 92 patients. The «free and cued selective reminding test» and «trail making test» showed the best diagnostic value in the early differential diagnosis of amnesic and neurodynamic variants of MCI. A decrease in beta-amyloid-42 protein and an increase in tau-protein in CSF are early markers of neurodegenerative dementia as well as of the additional involvement of the neurodegeneration in cerebrovascular disease. Specific areas of glucose hypometabolism on preclinical stages of dementia were identified using FCSRT. Spectroscopy and morphometry based on magnetic resonance can predict neurodegeneration in the cingular cortex, frontal and temporal brain.

Pneumococcal infection remains one of the leading reasons for infant mortality from vaccine-preventable infections. Today vaccination is the most effective way to prevent diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant pneumococci. In the article, authors present current approaches to vaccinal prevention of pneumococcal diseases. The plan of action for carrying out active immunoprophylaxis of pneumococcal infection is explained in detail for both healthy children and patients from risk groups for severe pneumococcal diseases development. The published work is based on key points of the guidelines of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation on vaccinal prevention of pneumococcal infection (developed and approved by the professional association of pediatricians «The Union of Pediatricians of Russia»).