022) activities were reduced in patients with a more impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Recently diagnosed treatment-naive essential hypertensives showed a relationship between the endothelial dysfunction, serum markers of inflammation and remodelling and levels of antioxidant substances. These could be potentially helpful markers of high risk in hypertensive patients. Journal of Human Hypertension

(2010) 24, 373-379; doi:10.1038/jhh.2009.91; published online 26 November 2009″
“The feasibility of using the conventional two-step procedure involving the thermal imidization of a high-molecular-weight poly(amic acid) (PAA) for the preparation of self-supporting polyimide (PI) films was studied. Synthesized Selleckchem JAK inhibitor PAA and PI were analyzed with respect to their molecular weights, chemical structures, and mechanical and thermal properties. The results showed that a high-molecular-weight PAA was successfully synthesized from 2,2-bis(3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane with 3,30,4,40-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride. The high intrinsic viscosity of PAA was 1.5 dL/g. Self-supporting PI films were successfully prepared by the thermal imidization of PAA and reached maximum tensile strength, tensile modulus, and elongation at break values of 103 MPa, 2.2 GPa, and 10.7%, respectively. The PI films were stable to 426-483

degrees C (the 5% weight loss temperature) and had a glass transition Selleck Dibutyryl-cAMP DZNeP solubility dmso at 271-283 degrees C. All these results indicate that the conventional two-step procedure involving thermal imidization is a promising method for

preparing self-supporting PI films with reasonable levels of mechanical and thermal properties. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 702-706, 2011″
“We investigate the bifurcation instabilities of swelling circular hydrogel plates programed with a space-varying cross-linking density along the radial direction. Depending on the distribution of the cross-linking density and the aspect ratio of the plate, different buckling patterns are observed. When the cross-linking density is lower at the center and increases monotonically outwards, a global buckling occurs, and the hydrogel plate forms an axisymmetric bowl-shaped container. When the cross-linking density is higher at the center and decreases monotonically outwards, edge wrinkling occurs. These wrinkles can be either localized near the edge or penetrate deep into the plate, depending on the detailed distribution of the cross-linking density. The rich post-buckling morphologies exhibited by the programed hydrogel plate provide a powerful route to fabricate smart hydrogel components, such as, self-adjusting containers and microlenses. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3565060]“
“Clinical and prognostic values of left ventricular concentric remodelling (LVCR) are based on definition of this cardiac phenotype according to outdated guidelines indications.