In recent years, the process of the programmed cell death has gained much interest because it has important pathophysiological consequences contributing to the deletion of unwanted cells in the vessel wall, loss of pulmonary smooth muscle cells and therefore in reversing the pulmonary pressure. For the reason that most patients with pulmonary hypertension present with limited reversibility with vasodilators, antiremodeling approach for treatment appears to be feasible. Induction or enhancement of vascular smooth muscle cells apoptosis may be targeted to develop novel therapeutic approaches for pulmonary vascular remodeling in patients with pulmonary hypertension. This review summarizes the current mechanisms, investigate the roles and provide novel insights into the potential therapeutic value of apoptosis in the pulmonary artery remodeling of pulmonary hypertension.

This minimally invasive technique proves to be safe and less traumatic and presents optimistic early outcomes for patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation. It might find wider application if more ablation lesions could be enrolled for long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation.

Objective. Estimation of mechanical function of the left atrium in patients, suffering an ischemic mitral regurgitation, using technology of the vector analysis of the endocardium movement speed. Materials and methods. Into prospective cohort of non-randomized investigation 107 patients ageing (56 ± 7.5) yrs old, 96 (89.7%) of them are men, were included. There were following criteria of selection: the Degrees I-III of ischemic mitral regurgitation by echocardiographic data, angiographically revealed an ischemic heart disease, demanding surgical revascularization, the sinus rhythm with the heart rate frequency from 60 to 89 in 1 minute, the improved echocardiographic visualization of the left atrium endocardium. Results. The indices of mechanical function of the left atrium are lowering in proportion to degree of severity of the ischemic mitral regurgitation. Longitudinal deformity and speed of the left atrium deformity reflects connection with the ischemic mitral regurgitation more, than conventional indices, applied for estimation of the left atrium geometry. The data obtained witnesses thet comparable ultrastructural changes in atrium, occurring in chronic volume overload of mitral regurgitation from Degree II and higher. The changes and velocity of the atriums deformity may be associated with severity of regurgitation. Conclusion. Significance of the left atrium mechanical function is associated with the ischemic mitral regurgitation and depends on mechanical remodeling of the left atrium. Studying of dynamics of the left atrium mechanical function in patients with mitral regurgitation may appear perspective and beneficial while doing estimation of its hemodynamical significance and choice of surgical approach as additional intervention on a mitral valve.

The congenital stenosis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare anomaly causing numerous clinical manifestations, depending on the variant of drainage patterns or collaterals. This case presents a ϐive-year-old Azerbaijani male, who suffered with massive ascites and a leg edema for three months. IVC stenosis was detected on echocardiography, due to a high velocity ϐlow and visualisation of a focal narrowing between the IVC oriϐice and the proximal end of the hepatic vein entry. The IVC stenosis was conϐirmed by computed tomography. Surgical dilatation of the IVC using xeno-pericardial patchplasty was performed under the cardiopulmonary bypass. This successful surgical correction of IVC stenosis is the only case ever reported in Azerbaijan. Key words: surgical repair, congenital stenosis, inferior vena cava, computed tomography , IVC stenosis