Adequate description of the deterioration of structures and their elements is very important for the effective use of bridge management systems. In the course of operating the Moscow Bridge Management System, deterioration processes have been studied using the results of standard inspections of 1,059 facilities containing over 500,000 standard elements. The analysis shows that for structural standard elements, deterioration of strength properties virtually does not occur or is of accidental character. In most cases, deterioration is attributable primarily to the wear of materials, which depends to a large degree on the quality of their manufacturing and protection. Also, lifespan prediction for a set of standard elements should take into account their mutual effects on each other. The methodological sequence of adjustment of deterioration models for different standard elements, initially adopted on the basis of experts' judgments, is suggested.
Aim. To study the effectiveness of a direct renin inhibitor, aliskiren, in patients with menopausal metabolic syndrome (MMS), and to assess aliskiren effects on blood pressure (BP), carbohydrate and lipid metabolism parameters, microalbuminuria, and arterial stiffness. Material and methods. The study included 23 women with MMS, to whom aliskiren monotherapy (150-300 mg/d) was administered. At baseline and in the end of the study, anthropometry, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism parameters assessment, 24-hour BP monitoring, and arterial stiffness assessment by volume sphygmography were performed. Results. By the end of the study, most parameters of circadian BP profile significantly decreased. Target levels of systolic and diastolic BP were achieved in 80 % of the patients. There was a significant reduction in postprandial glucose levels. According to the volume sphygmography results, a decrease in arterial stiffness was accompanied by a significant reduction in pulse wave velocity and augmentation index, with normalization of the former parameter. Conclusion. Aliskiren therapy demonstrated not only high antihypertensive effectiveness in MMS patients, but also a reduction in postprandial glucose levels and arterial stiffness.
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