Carotid artery stiffness in metabolic syndrome: Sex differences

Introduction: The effect of metabolic syndrome (MS) on carotid stiffness (CS) in the context of gender is under research. Objective: We examined the relationship between the MS and CS in men (M) and women (W) and investigated if the impact of cardiovascular risk factors on CS is modulated by gender. Patients and Methods: The study included 419 subjects (mean age 54.3 years): 215 (51%) with MS (109 W and 106 M) and 204 (49%) without MS (98 W and 106 M). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and CS parameters (beta stiffness index (beta), Peterson’s elastic modulus (Ep), arterial compliance (AC) and one-point pulse wave velocity (PWV-beta)) were measured with the echo-tracking (eT) system. Results: ANCOVA demonstrated that MS was associated with elevated CS indices (p = 0.003 for beta and 0.025 for PWV-beta), although further sex-specific analysis revealed that this relationship was significant only in W (p = 0.021 for beta). Age was associated with CS in both M and W, pulse pressure (PP) and body mass index turned out to be determinants of CS solely in W, while the effect of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate was more pronounced in M. MANOVA performed in subjects with MS revealed that age and diabetes mellitus type 2 were determinants of CS in both sexes, diastolic blood pressure and MAP – solely in M and systolic blood pressure, PP and waist circumference – solely in W (the relationship between the waist circumference and AC was paradoxical). Conclusion: The relationship between MS and CS is stronger in W than in M. In subjects with MS, various components of arterial pressure exert different sex-specific effects on CS – with the impact of the pulsative component of arterial pressure (PP) observed in W and the impact of the steady component (MAP) observed in M

Beech Leaves Briquettes’ and Standard Briquettes’ Combustion: Comparison of Flue Gas Composition

Biomass stoves are not only popular, widespread and important sources of heat but are also not negligible sources of pollutants. The present study had two objectives in this field of research. The first one was to determine the difference between standard wooden and beech leaves briquettes flue gas composition during similar, standard home combustion conditions. The second objective was to determine the possibility of decreasing the mass concentration of pollutants contained in the flue gas produced by standard and alternative fuel combustion, i.e. wooden briquettes and beech leaves briquettes, by an oxidation catalyst. Significantly higher mass concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx), almost 2.5 times higher, in the flue gas was observed during the beech leaves combustion. Both fuels reached the edge of actual legislation limit (European Standard Commission regulation [EU] 2015/1185) in case of mass concentration of carbon monoxide (CO). This issue was solved by a palladium-based catalyst with average degree of conversion around 82%. The catalyst also influences flue gas composition from mass concentration of propane point of view with average degree of conversion around 15%. The mass fraction of sulphur, occurring in the beech leaves briquettes, did not cause any issue to the catalyst in terms of its degree of CO conversion. Due to the test results from the beech leaves briquettes, i.e. high mass fraction of ash and high mass concentration of NOx in the flue gas, it is appropriate to use this kind of fuel as secondary fuel during the co-combustion process.This work was supported by the Doctoral grant competition VŠB TU-Ostrava, reg. no. CZ.0 2.2.69/0.0./0.0/19_073/0016945 within the Operational Programme Research, Development and Education, under project DGS/TEAM/2020-035 "Determination of oxidation catalysts characteristics during the flue gas purification"

Regulation of lymphatic capillary regeneration by interstitial flow in skin

Decreased interstitial flow (IF) in secondary lymphedema is coincident with poor physiological lymphatic regeneration. However, both the existence and direction of causality between IF and lymphangiogenesis remain unclear. This is primarily because the role of IF and its importance relative to the action of the prolymphangiogenic growth factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C (which signals primarily through its receptor VEGFR-3) are poorly understood. To clarify this, we explored the cooperative roles of VEGFR-3 and IF in a mouse model of lymphangiogenesis in regenerating skin. Specifically, a region of lymphangiogenesis was created by substituting a portion of mouse tail skin with a collagen gel within which lymphatic capillaries completely regenerate over a period of 60 days. The relative importance of IF and VEGF-C signaling were evaluated by either inhibiting VEGFR-3 signaling with antagonistic antibodies or by reducing IF. In some cases, VEGF-C signaling was then increased with exogenous protein. To clarify the role of IF, the distribution of endogenous matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and VEGF-C within the regenerating region was determined. It was found that inhibition of either VEGFR-3 or IF suppressed endogenous lymphangiogenesis. Reduction of IF was found to decrease lymphatic migration and transport of endogenous MMP and VEGF-C through the regenerating region. Therapeutic VEGF-C administration restored lymphangiogenesis following inhibition of VEGFR-3 but did not increase lymphangiogenesis following inhibition of IF. These results identify IF as an important regulator of the pro-lymphangiogenic action of VEGF-C

Nutritional status of frail elderly

Introduction: Growing population of elderly requires effective medical diagnostics and help. Criteria developed by Fried et al. are most often used for the diagnosis of the frailty syndrome. An inherent element of frailty syndrome is malnu-trition. Malnutrition results from inadequate food supply, coexistence of acute and chronic diseases. Effective nutritional interventions conducted on frail older persons can prevent them from developing the frailty syndrome. Review: The prevalence of frailty in elders is 17% moreover 42.3% are prefrail. There are many scales designed to identify frailty syndrome, but the most common is the classification of Fried et al. Malnutrition is a common state in frail elderly. Basic questionnaire, which is used to diagnose malnutrition, is MNA (Mini-Nutritional Assessment). Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) and Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) also can be used. Sarcopenia, which is defined as reduced muscle mass and strength and impaired muscle performance, significantly contribute to the development of frailty. Many studies have shown that an effective method in the preventing of sarcopenia is protein supplementation. Other beneficial lifestyle and diet changes, which can help prevent the development of frailty syndrome, are adherence to the Mediterranean diet, appro-priate intake of carotenoids, vitamin E, selenium and zinc. Another important protective factor is vitamin D levels. Low serum 25(OH)D is strongly associated with frailty. Conclusions: From a nutritional point of view adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet, sufficient intake of protein, micronutrients and vitamin D, as well as regular moderate physical activity, can be crucial in the preventing of the frailty syndrome

Variety of food intake measured with Food Intake Variety Questionnaire (FIVeQ) and nutritional status of Polish adolescents aged 13-15 years

Purpose:To demonstrate the relationship between variety of food intake described with Food Intake Variety Index and nutritional status of Polish adolescents aged 13-15 years.Materials and methods: Pattern of food consumption for 131 adolescents (52% boys, 48% girls, mean age 14.4 ± 0.9) was evaluated by using FIVeQ (Food Intake Variety Questionnaire), whose interpretation allowed to determine FIVeI (Food Intake Variety Index). According to FIVeI four levels of variety of food consumption were defined: inadequate, sufficient, good and very good. Nutritional status was examined with selected anthropometric parameters, i.e.: weight, height, thickness of the skinfolds, body circuits, BMI (Body Mass Index), AMC (Arm Muscle Circumference), WHtR (Waist-to-Height Ratio), WHR (Waist-Hip Ratio) indexes and FM (Fat Mass), %FM (Fat Mass Percentage), FFM (Fat-free Mass), taken with the FUTREX device. In addition, measurements of BP (Blood pressure) were used for assessing nutritional status.Results:Variety of food intake for majority of examined adolescents was defined as sufficient (FIVeI = 28.4 products/week). The average BMI value for both sexes was 20.4 kg/m2, and fat mass percentage was 22.4%. Analysis of percentile ranges of given anthropometric parameters and BP according to gender and level of FIVeI showed that generally their values were within the normal range (10-90 percentile), although overweight and obesity was found in 11% of the adolescents. 38% of the examined group had values of blood pressure indicating prehypertension.Conclusions:Overall nutritional status was defined as good, however variety of food consumption was inadequate and needs improvement. Alarming blood pressure values require further investigation

Impact of the oncological treatment on change in taste perception and dietary habits of children diagnosed with cancer – preliminary study

Purpose: Chemotherapy, which is widely used in cancer treatment in children, may cause various side effects, including impaired taste perception, thus the main aim of the presented study was a subjective assessment of changes in taste perception and dietary habits among children undergoing oncological treatment. Materials and methods: In the present study, 41 hospitalized children were examined (mean age 11.0 ± 5.1 years). Anthropometric measurements were made, and diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Results: For 85.4% of the patients, the current treatment was chemotherapy. The average Body Mass Index value was 17.8 kg/m2 . 68.3% of children declared a change in taste preferences preferred tastes were spicy (39.3%) and sour (35.7%). Determination of the way of eating showed a significant reduction in the consumption of bread, milk and dairy products, poultry, meat, fish, potatoes, vegetables, and a particularly pronounced decrease in the frequency of sweets consumption. Conclusions: Oncological treatment changes the subjective taste perception of children in favor of intense flavors, and the process of oncological treatment, especially the use of chemotherapy, affects the way of eatin

Early Cardiac Rehabilitation Improves Carotid Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Myocardial Infarction

Bogus&lstrok;awa O&lstrok;pi&nacute;ska,1 Rafa&lstrok; Wyderka,1,2 Maria &Lstrok;oboz-Rudnicka,1 Barbara Brzezi&nacute;ska,1 Krystyna &Lstrok;oboz-Grudzie&nacute;,1 Joanna Jaroch1,2 1Department of Cardiology, T Marciniak Lower Silesian Specialist Hospital, Emergency Medicine Center, Wroc&lstrok;aw, Poland; 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Science and Technology, Wroc&lstrok;aw, PolandCorrespondence: Bogus&lstrok;awa O&lstrok;pi&nacute;ska, Department of Cardiology, T Marciniak Lower Silesian Specialist Hospital, Emergency Medicine Center, Ul. Genera&lstrok;a Augusta Fieldorfa 2, Wroc&lstrok;aw, 54-049, Poland, Email [email protected]: Little is known about the effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on carotid arterial stiffness (CAS) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI).Patients and Methods: Rehabilitation group (B) included 90 patients with MI subjected to CR, control group (K) consisted of 30 patients with MI not participating in CR, and healthy group comprised 38 persons without cardiovascular risk factors. CAS was determined using echo-tracking before and after CR.Results: At baseline, patients with MI (B+K) presented with significantly higher mean values of CAS parameters: beta-stiffness index (7.1 vs 6.4, p = 0.004), Peterson’s elastic modulus (96 kPa vs 77 kPa, p < 0.001) and PWV-beta (6.1 m/s vs 5.2 m/s, p < 0.001) than healthy persons. Age (beta: r = 0.242, p = 0.008; EP: r = 0.250, p = 0.006; PWV-beta: r = 0.224, p = 0.014) and blood pressure: SBP (EP: r = 0.388, PWV-beta: r = 0.360), DBP (AC: r = 0.225) and PP (PWV-beta: r = 0.221) correlated positively with the initial parameters of CAS. Beta-stiffness index (Rho=− 0.26, p = 0.04) and PWV-beta (Rho = 0.29, p = 0.03) correlated inversely with peak exercise capacity expressed in METs. After CR, mean values of beta-stiffness index (6.2 vs 7.1, p = 0.016), EP (78 kPa vs 101 kPa, p = 0.001) and PWV-beta (5.4 m/s vs 6.2 m/s, p = 0.001) in group B were significantly lower than in group K. In group B, CAS parameters decreased significantly after CR. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the likelihood of an improvement in CAS after CR was significantly higher in patients with baseline systolic blood pressure < 120 mm Hg (OR = 2.74, p = 0.009) and left ventricular ejection fraction < 43% (OR = 5.05, p = 0.005).Conclusion: In patients with MI, CR exerted a beneficial effect on CAS parameters. The improvement in CAS was predicted by lower SBP and LVEF at baseline.Keywords: carotid arterial stiffness, managed care after myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, echo-trackin