This study examines whether a relation exists between rapid atmospheric pressure fluctuations, attributed to the far infrasound frequency range (APF), and a number of emergency transport events coded as circulatory system diseases (EEC). Over an entire year, the average integral amplitudes of APF in the range of periods from 3 s to 120 s over each hour (HA) were measured. Daily dynamics of HA averaged over the year revealed a wave shape with smooth increase from night to day followed by decrease from day to night. The total daily number of EEC within the city of Kiev, Ukraine, was related to the daily mean of HA (DHA) and to the ratio of HA averaged over the day time to HA averaged over the night time (Rdn), and was checked for confounding effects of classical meteorological variables through non-parametric regression algorithms. The number of EEC were significantly higher on days with high DHA (3.72-11.07 Pa, n = 87) compared to the low DHA (0.7-3.62 Pa, n = 260, p = 0.01), as well at days with low Rdn (0.21-1.64, n = 229) compared to the high Rdn (1.65-7.2, n = 118, p = 0.03). A difference between DHA and Rdn effects on the emergency events related to different categories of circulatory diseases points to a higher sensitivity of rheumatic and cerebro-vascular diseases to DHA, and ischaemic and hypertensive diseases to Rdn. Results suggest that APF could be considered as a meteorotropic factor capable of influencing circulatory system diseases.

This study was designed to clarify whether the pars flaccida (PF) as a flexible part of the tympanic membrane is capable of reacting to pressure oscillations (PO) with amplitudes and frequencies typical for natural atmospheric pressure fluctuations in the far infrasound frequency range (APF). If so, the PF mechanical reactions to APF might be involved in the overall physiologic regulation processes, which make organisms susceptible to APF. The displacements of the PF in response to PO were measured in vitro in ears of gerbils and rabbits by means of laser Doppler vibrometry. The index of the PF reactivity (R(a)) was determined as the ratio of the amplitude of the PF oscillations (PFO) to the amplitude of the PO. All kinds of PO applied caused PFO. The amplitude of the PFO increased when the amplitude of the PO was increased. In gerbils, a decrease in R(a) with the increase in amplitude of the PO was observed. In the range of PO lowest amplitudes (4-20 Pa) R(a) proved to be 1.4 times higher than in the range of highest amplitudes (90-105 Pa). Considering that the natural APF are usually within the range of +/-20 Pa, this fact points to an important contribution of the PF to the pressure dynamics in the middle ear (ME) of gerbils. In rabbit ears, R(a) was lower and recovery from plastic deformation was slower than in gerbils. Our findings are in line with the suggestion that the PF might play an important role in respect of adaptation to natural APF.

No abstract

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is the most common cardiovascular disease worldwide, estimated at 23 million. With the increase in the growing of the elderly population, the prevalence of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, obesity, diabetes, as well as the improvement of ultrasound diagnostic methods, a further increase in the number of cases of CHF with preserved left ventricular EF. Despite the large number of studies dedicated to analyzing the features of structural and geometric remodeling of the heart, changes in the systolic and diastolic function of the ventricles in patients with CHF, this issue hasn’t been definitively resolved and needs further improvement. The aim of the work – to investigate changes in structural and geometric parameters and diastolic function of the heart in patients with CHF of ischemic origin with preserved LV EF. Materials and methods. The study was included 43 patients (men – n = 19; women – n = 24) for CHF of ischemic origin with preserved LV EF, with sinus rhythm, stage II AB, II-IV FC for NYHA (main group), and 90 patients on coronary heart disease without signs of CHF (men – n = 40 (44.5 %); women – n = 50 (55.5 %)), (comparison group). Groups of patients were comparable in age, sex, height, weight, body surface area. Doppler echocardiographic examination was performed on the device Esaote MyLab Eight (Italy). Results. In patients with CHF preserved LV EF, the indicators prevailed: the size of the LA by 25 % (P = 0.005), the long axis of the LA by 11 % (P = 0.001), the LV EDV index of the LV by 13 % (P = 0.042), the LV mass index by 16 % (P = 0.013) according to the Penn Convention and (P = 0.004) the ASE. Eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy was diagnosed in 56 % of patients. Diastolic left ventricular dysfunction was absent in 2 % of patients with CHF. In 72 % of cases, the type of “relaxation disorder” was established, and in 26 % – “pseudonormal” LV filling profile. In none of the cases was a “restrictive” LV filling profile recorded. The following indicators of left ventricular diastolic function were lower in patients with CHF: e’ of the medial fibrous ring of the mitral valve by 26 % (P = 0.0001) and e’ lateral by 21 % (P = 0.0001), and the A’ the medial fibrous ring of mitral valve by 9 % (P = 0.022), and greater ratios of velocities E/e’ medial by 41 % (P = 0.0001), and E/e’ lateral fibrous ring of the mitral valve by 28 % (P = 0.0001), mean E/e’ by 36 % (P = 0.0001), which indicates a significant increase in end-diastolic pressure in the left ventricle. Conclusions. Structural and geometric remodeling of the heart in patients with CHF with preserved LV EF was characterized by dilatation of the left atrium, a moderate increase in the LV EDV index by 13 % (P = 0.042), a 16 % increase (P = 0.013) in the LV mass index, with the formation eccentric (56 %) and concentric (18 %) LV hypertrophy. Diastolic left ventricular dysfunction was absent in 2 % of patients with CHF. Disorders of diastolic filling of the left ventricle (72 % “relaxation disorder” and 26 % “pseudonormal” type) were occurred due to an increase in end-diastolic pressure in the left ventricle (increase by 41 % (P = 0.0001) ratio E/e’ medial fibrous ring MK), in LA (increase of more than 2 times (P = 0.0001) pulmonary capillary wedge pressure), and was accompanied by the development of postcapillary pulmonary hypertension (increase by 34 % (P = 0.0001) systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery). Despite the preserved LV EF, patients with CHF had significantly lower left and right ventricular contractility (10 % MAPSE med (P = 0.031), 18 % S med (P = 0.001) and 19 % (P = 0.007) RV EF).

Chronic heart failure (CHF) does not lose its leading position among the problems of cardiovascular disease. Pathological cardiac remodeling combines the processes of hypertrophy and dilatation of cavities and is the main cause of heart failure progression, and consequently results in high cardiac mortality, especially in CHF patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF). Despite a substantial range of studies on the features of structural and geometric remodeling of the heart, changes in systolic and diastolic function of the ventricles in CHF patients, this issue still presents a challenge and needs to be improved. The aim of the work – to examine changes in structural and geometric parameters and diastolic function of the heart in patients with CHF of ischemic genesis with reduced LV EF. Materials and methods. The study included 79 patients (men – n = 49; women – n = 30) with CHF of ischemic origin with reduced LV EF, sinus rhythm, stage II AB, NYHA II-IV FC (the main group), and 90 patients with coronary heart disease without signs of CHF (men – n = 40, 44.5 %; women – n = 50, 55.5 %), (the comparison group). The patient groups were age-, sex-, height-, weight-, body surface area-matched. Doppler echocardiographic examination was performed on the device Esaote MyLab Eight (Italy). Results. In CHF patients with reduced LV EF, the following indicators prevailed: EDD LV by 18 % (P = 0.001), LV EDV by 45.8 % (P = 0.001), LV EDV index by 44.6 % (P = 0.001), LV ESD by 44.9 % (P = 0.001), PW by 17.7 % (P = 0.001), LV mass index by 66.6 % (P = 0.001) according to the Penn Convention, and by 62.1 % (P = 0.001) according to the ASE; 16.1 % (P = 0.010) increased RV cavity without changes in its wall thickness. In patients with CHF of ischemic origin with reduced LV EF, the main types of LV geometry were: eccentric (70 %) and concentric (24 %) LV hypertrophy. More than half of the CHF patients with reduced LV EF had significant disorders of LV diastolic filling (25 % – “restrictive” and 28 % “pseudonormal”), a 2.3 times increase (P = 0.001) in E/e’ ratio, a 35 % (P = 0.014) increase in the left atrial volume index and 32 % (P = 0.0001) – in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), increased mean and systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery by 1.5 times (P = 0.002) and 1.6 times (P = 0.0001), respectively. Conclusions. Structural and geometric remodeling of the left ventricle in patients with CHF of ischemic origin with reduced LV EF occurs due to an increase in LV myocardial mass via thickening of its walls and cavity dilatation (44.6 % (P = 0.001) increase in the LV EDV index), as well as 66.6 % (P = 0.001) increase in LV mass index with the predominance of eccentric (70 %) and concentric hypertrophy (24 %) over other types of LV geometry. Severe disorders of LV diastolic filling (25 % – “restrictive” and 28 % “pseudonormal”) are attributable to the significant increase in end-diastolic pressure in the left ventricle (2.3 times increase (P = 0.001) in E/e´) with the development of postcapillary pulmonary hypertension (1.5 times increase (P = 0.002) in the mean and 1.6 times (P = 0.0001) – in systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery).