Weight gain and obesity as its consequence are one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases and increased mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the parameters of the cardiovascular system and the autonomic nervous system in young individuals with different body weight. Materials and methods. This study involved 92 men and women aged from 18 to 25 years. We measured the anthropometric indicators including height, body weight, waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-hip ratio; calculated the body mass index and the percentage of body fat. According to the mass index values, the participants were divided into two groups: a control group involving 23 men and 23 women, and a group with overweight individuals (23 men and 23 women). The following cardiovascular parameters were determined: heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. We evaluated the energy potential of the cardiovascular system using the Robinson index, calculating pulse pressure, determining endurance coefficient. The assessment of the autonomic nervous system was based on using the Cerdo index. The findings obtained were then processed statistically. A comparative assessment has revealed a significant increase in the values of cardiovascular parameters among overweight young people. We have found out mainly positive correlations between anthropometric and cardiovascular system indicators, and the autonomic nervous system. The individuals of both groups showed an increase in endurance coefficient, which indicates a decrease in the level of physical performance. Overweight men demonstrated a growth in the Robinson index, which indicates the development of a deficiency in the functional capabilities of the cardiovascular system that, in the absence of a lifestyle change, may result in cardiovascular diseases.

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Statins have been used in clinical practice for more than a quarter of a century. Over this period, their positions in various clinical guidelines have significantly strengthened. First, this group of drugs was used exclusively for the treatment of patients with a pronounced increase in the levels of atherogenic lipoproteins, but over time, the indications for their prescription have expanded considerably as well as the tactics of their use. The aim of our work is to determine the effect of statin therapy on hepatic tissue fibrosis in patients with steatohepatosis. We examined 87 patients (43 women and 44 men) with non-alcoholic steatohepatosis and liver fibrosis. The average age of the patient was 46.2 ± 4.6 years. The studies were carried out at the scientific and practical centre of the Department of Family Medicine and Therapy, Poltava State Medical University, and the Rheumatology Centre, Poltava Region Clinical Hospital. The severity of liver fibrosis was established based on 2D shear wave elastometry by transcutaneous shear wave approach in SWE mode using a convex transducer tuned to 3.5 MHz on an Ultima PA Expert ultrasound scanner (Radmir, Ukraine). The level of "stiffness" of the liver parenchyma by SWE was measured in kPa. The study included patients with liver fibrosis F2-F3 according to METAVIR. All patients received statin therapy during the study: 22 patients received rosuvastatin at a daily dose of 20 mg, 21 patients received atorvastatin at a daily dose of 20 mg, 22 patients received simvastatin at a daily dose of 20 mg, and 22 patients received lovastatin in a daily dose of 20 mg. In addition to a decrease in the level of low density lipoproteins, total cholesterol, triglycerides, systemic and long-term use of statins under the adequate treatment of steatohepatosis has led to a decrease in the severity of fibrotization of the hepatic parenchyma that is confirmed by both shear wave elastometry data and the scale data. At the same time, the difference between the indicators after the therapy in the groups of patients receiving rosuvastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin and lovastatin showed no signs of reliability that may indicate a positive effect of inhibition of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase on the progression of fibrotic changes. The use of statins in the integrated therapy of patients with steatohepatitis, in addition to normalizing the plasma lipid profile, can reduce the fibrotic changes in the liver parenchyma. It should be noted that there is no advantage to any of the medicines we investigated. Moreover, the statins used did not produce hepatotoxic effects.

No abstract

Overweight and obesity lead to the formation of a pro-inflammatory phenotype of the adipose tissue macrophages, but it is not known how exactly the balance of STAT1 and STAT6 transcription factors is implemented in the peripheral blood monocytes and how this affects the further polarization process in overweight. The article examines the level and ratio of expression of the STAT1 and STAT6 transcription factors in the polarization of the peripheral blood monocytes depending on the body weight. The study enrolled 20 women and men aged from 18 to 25 years. In terms of BMI, the subjects were divided into the following groups: individuals with normal body weight (BMI 18.50-24.99 kg/m2), represented by 5 women and 5 men; overweight individuals (BMI 25.00-29.99 kg/m2), including 5 men and 5 women. Using standard methods peripheral blood monocytes stimulated by LPS and γIFN, IL-4 was isolated and incubated for 3 and 7 days. PCR method was used to determine the expression level of the stat1 and stat6 genes in incubated cells. The concentration of IL-6 and TGFβ1 was measured in the supernatant on the 7th day of incubation, and TGFβ1 and hs-CRP in the serum of the subjects. The obtained results revealed a significant increase in the level of IL-6 in the supernatant of macrophages stimulated by LPS and γIFN in overweight individuals. The level of hs-CRP in the serum was also significantly higher in overweight individuals. It has been shown that under the conditions of overweight development, there is a significant increase in the level of expression of stat1 and stat6 genes in cells stimulated by IL-4. The obtained data indicate the presence of a preconditioning state of the peripheral blood monocytes with activation of signaling networks mainly in macrophages stimulated by the M2 phenotype under conditions of increased nutrients intake.