Regression of target organ damage in children and adolescents with primary hypertension

We assessed the effects of 12 months of non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapy on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure, regression of target organ damage (TOD) and metabolic abnormalities in 86 children (14.1 ± 2.4 years) with primary hypertension. Twenty-four hour systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) decreased (130 ± 8 vs 126 ± 8, 73 ± 7 vs 70 ± 7, p = 0.0001 and 0.004 respectively). Body mass index (BMI) did not change, but waist-to-hip (0.85 ± 0.07 vs 0.83 ± 0.05, p = 0.01) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR; 0.49 ± 0.07 vs 0.48 ± 0.05, p = 0.008) decreased. Left ventricular mass index (LVMi; 38.5 ± 10.7 vs 35.2 ± 7.5 g/m2.7, p = 0.0001), prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (46.5% vs 31.4%; p = 0.0001), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT; 0.44 ± 0.05 vs 0.42 ± 0.04 mm, p = 0.0001), wall cross sectional area (WCSA; 7.5 ± 1.3 vs 6.9 ± 1.2 mm2, p = 0.002), hsCRP (1.1 ± 1.0 vs 0.7 ± 0.7 mg/l, p = 0.002), and LDL-cholesterol (115 ± 33 vs 107 ± 26 mg/dl, p = 0.001) decreased. Patients who had lowered BP had a lower cIMT at the second examination (0.41 ± 0.04 vs 0.43 ± 0.04 mm, p = 0.04) and lower initial hsCRP values (0.9 ± 0.7 vs 1.5 ± 1.3 mg/l, p = 0.04) in comparison to non-responders. Regression analysis revealed that the main predictor of LVMi decrease was a decrease in abdominal fat expressed as a decrease in waist circumference (WC) (R2 = 0.280, β = 0.558, p = 0.005), for WCSA-SDS a decrease in WC (R2 = 0.332, β = 0.611, p = 0.009) and for a cIMT-SDS decrease the main predictor was a decrease in hsCRP concentrations (R2 = 0.137, β = 0.412, p = 0.03). Standard antihypertensive treatment lowered BP and led to regression of TOD in hypertensive children. Lean body mass increase and decrease in abdominal obesity correlated with TOD regression

Change in left ventricular geometry during antihypertensive treatment in children with primary hypertension

The pattern of the left ventricle (LV) has important significance in adults with hypertension. The aim of the present study was to analyze changes and determinants of LV geometry after 1 year of antihypertensive treatment in children with primary hypertension (PH) in relation to metabolic abnormalities and anthropometrical parameters. In 86 children (14.1 ± 2.4 years) with newly diagnosed PH, LV geometry and biochemical parameters before and after 12 months of standard antihypertensive therapy were assessed. At baseline, normal LV geometry (NG) was found in 42 (48.9%), concentric remodeling (CR) in 4 (4.6%), concentric hypertrophy (CH) in 8 (9.3%), and eccentric hypertrophy (EH) in 32 (37.2%) patients. The prevalence of NG in patients with severe hypertension was significantly lower than in patients with ambulatory hypertension. There were no differences in dipping status in relation to LV geometry. Patients with CH and EH were more viscerally obese than patients with NG. Patients with CH had higher diastolic blood pressure in comparison with EH patients (p < 0.05). The main predictor of relative wall thickness (RWT) was the triglycerides to high density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio (R2 = 0.319, β = 0.246, p = 0.004). Patients received 12 months of antihypertensive treatment, either lifestyle modification only (n = 37) or lifestyle modification plus antihypertensive medications (n = 49) if severe ambulatory hypertension or target organ damage were present. After 12 months of treatment the prevalence of EH (37.2% vs 18.6%, p = 0.003) decreased but prevalence of CH did not change. Patients in whom RWT decreased also decreased waist circumference and TG/HDL; the main predictor of RWT decrease was a decrease of the TG/HDL ratio (β = 0.496, R2 = 0.329, p = 0.002). In adolescents with PH, LV geometry is related to central obesity and insulin resistance. Decrease of abdominal obesity and insulin resistance are the most important predictors of normalization of LV geometry, however CH has lower potential to normalize LV geometry

Prospective zones of unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian shale formations of the East European Craton marginal zone in Poland

The paper presents the latest state of knowledge on the vertical and lateral ranges and characteristics of prospective zones (PZ) within the Lower Paleozoic unconventional hydrocarbon systems in the Baltic-Podlasie-Lublin Basin (Poland). The PZ were identified within the prospective formations based on rigorously determined criteria with the application of stratigraphic, sedimentological, mineralogical, petrographic, geochemical, petrophysical, and geomechanical studies, and interpretations of borehole logs. Archival geological data and information acquired from boreholes drilled recently in concession areas have also been applied in the interpretations. Following these criteria, four prospective zones have been distinguished. The deposits encompass partly or almost completely the Piaśnica, Sasino, and Jantar formations and the lower part of the Pelplin Formation. The characteristic feature of the Lower Paleozoic deposits at the East European Craton (EEC) margin in Poland is the diachronous appearance of the Sasino and Jantar black shale formations from west to east. The Baltic area is most prospective for the occurrence of unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs in shale formations, specifically the Łeba Elevation, where all 4 prospective zones have been distinguished. The occurrence of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons is expected in all zones. Due to the very high TOC content and geochemical characteristics, the Piaśnica Formation within PZ1 is the main petroleum source rock in the Polish part of the Baltic Basin. PZ2 (partly corresponding to the Sasino Formation) present in a large part of the Baltic Basin, is the next important prospective unit, despite not being uniform. PZ3 within the Jantar Formation was distinguished only on a limited area of the Łeba Elevation. Due to the low content of organic matter, the Lublin area is characterized by the lowest hydrocarbon potential. However, low values of that parameter are compensated by a greater thickness and lateral range of PZ4, partly corresponding to the Pelplin Formation. Comparison with other areas within the Lower Paleozoic Baltic Basin reveals the occurrence of shale deposits that may constitute a potential source of hydrocarbons, and that demonstrate diachronism. Towards the east and south-east, ever younger deposits possess the potential for hydrocarbon accumulations. In Poland, in the western part of EEC, these are: the Furongian and the Lower Tremadocian Piaśnica Formation, the Sandbian and Katian Sasino Formation and the Lower/Middle Llandovery (Rhuddanian and Aeronian) Jantar Formation. In the central part of the Baltic Basin (Lithuania), these are the Upper Ordovician and Aeronian shale successions. In the southeastern part of the basin (Ukraine), the Ludlow strata are considered to be the most promising in terms of the potential unconventional hydrocarbons accumulations

Protein intake in infancy and carotid intima media thickness at 5 years - a secondary analysis from a randomized trial

Background: Nutrition in childhood has an influence on the cardiovascular function later on in life. European Childhood Obesity Project is a multicenter, randomized clinical intervention trial examining the effect of early protein intake on later health outcomes, particularly adiposity and related disorders. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of nutritional intervention - different protein intake in infancy on carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) at 5 years. The association of cardiovascular risk factors with cIMT was also assessed. Methods: Healthy term formula-fed infants in five European countries were enrolled either to the higher (HP) or to the lower (LP) protein group. Observational group consisted of breastfed infants. Plasma insulin, glucose, lipid profile, IGF-1, apolipoprotein A1 and B were measured as well as anthropometric parameters of parents and a child, blood pressure and physical activity. Results: No difference in cIMT between HP and LP group was observed. Insulin, HOMA-IR index and total IGF-1 were positively associated with cIMT but after adjustment for confounders only an inverse association between ApoA1 and positive between ApoB/ApoA1 and cIMT were significant. Conclusion: High versus low protein intake in infancy does not influence cIMT at 5 years. cIMT in healthy children at 5 years is associated with their apolipoprotein profile.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Shrinkage and mechanical properties of drying oil paints

[EN] Understanding how the evolving molecular composition of an oil paint layer on its transition to an aged solid film affects its dimensional change and mechanical properties is fundamental to the assessment of material durability and more broadly risk of degradation of oil paintings. Tensile properties-modulus of elasticity and strain at break-as well as cumulative shrinkage were determined for a selection of oil paints from Mecklenburg¿s Paint Reference Collection now after approximately 30 years of drying. The oil paints were found to get stiffer and more brittle with diminishing plastic deformation and increasingly elastic behaviour. For some paints, the increases in stiffness and decreases in the strain at break were dramatic during the late stage of drying. The observations modify the current physical model of paintings in which the mismatch in the response of glue-based ground layer and unrestrained wood or canvas support to variations in relative humidity (RH) has been identified as the worst-case condition for the fracturing of the entire pictorial layer. This study demonstrated that some paints were more brittle than the glue-based ground layer and as a consequence more vulnerable to cracking. The shrinkage of paints due to molecular relocation and/or evaporation of organic medium as they dry and age was measured. This shrinkage can exceed their strain at break and lead to fracturing of the oil paint layer if it is restrained by a dimensionally stable substrate. Consequently, after long-term drying, the cumulative shrinkage can cause oil paints to crack even in absence of fluctuations in RH or temperature. An example of cracking developed in an oil paint layer on the top of an undamaged ground layer in a historic panel painting was made evident by the X-ray microtomography.This work was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 814624 and the statutory research fund of the Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences. Lukasz Bratasz's work was financed by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, project Polish Returns [Grant PPN/PPO/2018/1/00004/U/00001].Janas, A.; Mecklenburg, M.; Fuster-López, L.; Kozlowski, R.; Kékicheff, P.; Favier, D.; Andersen, CK.... (2022). Shrinkage and mechanical properties of drying oil paints. Heritage Science. 10(1):1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00814-211010

Mechanical properties and moisture-related dimensional change of canvas paintings¿canvas and glue sizing.

[EN] Understanding canvas paintings as physical systems is fundamental to develop evidence-based environmental specifications for museums. A number of tests were carried out to determine mechanical properties of canvas, canvas sized with animal glue and animal glue-based ground layer (gesso) as a function of relative humidity (RH). The mechanical properties of the canvas samples tested exhibited an anisotropy dependent on the measurement direction, being the stiffness corresponding to the weft direction greater than the warp and diagonal ones. Sizing the canvas with a layer of animal glue significantly increased its modulus of elasticity while the anisotropy of mechanical properties was kept in the composite material. The application of an animal glue-based ground layer on sized canvas increased the elasticity modulus of the system by another order of magnitude (similar to 2 GPa) whereas the anisotropy of the material disappeared. The measurements were carried out in a wide range of RH from 30 to 90%. An increase in RH caused a decrease in the material stiffness. Cracking of the gesso layer, which is often responsible for the formation of cracks in paintings, was observed at strains of the order of a few thousandths. Swelling of glue sizing dominated the moisture-induced swelling of the composite material in the less stiff warp direction, completely overriding the shrinkage of the untreated canvas. In contrast, the swelling of the composite material in the stiffer weft direction was much smaller than for pure glue alone, being clearly affected by the textile.This work was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 814624 and the statutory research fund of the Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences. Lukasz Bratasz's work was financed by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, project Polish Returns [Grant PPN/PPO/2018/1/00004/U/00001]Janas, A.; Fuster-López, L.; Andersen, CK.; Vicente-Escuder, Á.; Kozlowski, R.; Poznanska, K.; Gajda, A.... (2022). Mechanical properties and moisture-related dimensional change of canvas paintings¿canvas and glue sizing. Heritage Science. 10(1):1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00794-311010