1. Arterial function is preserved in successfully treated patients with psoriasis vulgarisEva Klara Merzel Šabović, Tadeja Kraner Šumenjak, Mojca Božič Mijovski, Miodrag Janić, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction Endothelial dysfunction is an early precursor of atherosclerosis and is common in patients with psoriasis, presumably primarily due to psoriasis-related inflammation. We investigated endothelial function, arterial stiffness, and circulating markers of endothelial activation in young patients with psoriasis vulgaris of varying severity, all of whom were effectively treated achieving PASI 90. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 80 patients (54 men/26 women, 30–45 years) who were effectively treated with topical therapy, methotrexate, adalimumab, secukinumab or guselkumab, and 20 healthy controls. Endothelial dysfunction was measured by flow-mediated dilation and arterial stiffness was measured by pulse wave velocity and common carotid artery stiffness. The following circulating biomarkers of endothelial activation were measured: ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E- and P-selectin, GDF-15, and TRAIL. Results Endothelial function and arterial stiffness parameters did not differ between patients with effectively treated psoriasis and the control group. Circulating endothelial activation biomarkers did not show relevant differences between the groups of effectively treated patients or controls. Discussion Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with psoriasis, effective antipsoriatic treatment appears to slow the progression of atherosclerosis, even when there are cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking or obesity. This may suggest that antipsoriatic treatment exerts a cardioprotective effect. Conclusions Our results suggest that early and effective treatment of varying-severity psoriasis vulgaris in young patients appears to prevent arterial dysfunction related to psoriasis and consequent cardiovascular risk.
Keywords: psoriasis, young patients, endothelial function, arterial stiffness, antipsoriatic treatment
Published in DiRROS: 08.12.2025; Views: 263; Downloads: 147
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2. A fully generalised approach to modelling fire response of steel-RC composite structuresJerneja Kolšek Češarek, Miran Saje, Igor Planinc, Tomaž Hozjan, 2014, original scientific article Abstract: A three-step model for the performance-based numerical simulations of the fire response of steel–RC two-layered beam-like composite structures is presented and validated. The first step consists of the determination of the evolution of temperatures in the structure׳s surroundings. Moisture and the heat transfer through the RC layer and the conduction of heat over the steel layer are obtained in the second step. In concrete, the transfer of water vapour, dry air, and free water is discussed as well as the evaporation and liquefaction phenomena and the dehydration of concrete and its thermal and mechanical degradation. Within the framework of the third step, a geometrically and materially non-linear mechanical response of the structure is proposed accounting for interlayer slips and uplifts as well as for various material-related phenomena such as the material hardening/softening and creep. The governing equations are solved numerically. An efficient, novel strain-based finite element formulation is introduced for the mechanical analysis. Due to its generality and consideration of several different possible non-linear material, geometrical, and interlayer contact phenomena and their couplings the model can be of a use to a broader fire science community for exploring the impact of different physical parameters on the results of the addressed numerical simulations, thereby providing directions for further research. In the paper a case of such a study is also demonstrated exploring the contribution of the steel sheet and the flexibility of the interlayer connection of a standard trapezoidal steel–RC slab to its ultimate fire resistance. A reasonable contribution of the sheet is proved if the stiffness ratio between the integrated and the external tensile reinforcement of the RC plate is low provided that the contact connection is sufficiently stiff.
Keywords: Steel–RC composite structures
Fire
Slip
Uplift
Heat and moisture transfer
Contact stiffness
Published in DiRROS: 26.09.2025; Views: 343; Downloads: 154
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3. High-intensity interval exercise enhances vascular function to a greater extent than moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise : a case study reportArmin Paravlić, Simon Iskra, Gašper Turnšek, Kristina Drole, 2025, other component parts Abstract: This case study compared the acute effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on vascular and microva-scular function in a healthy male subject (age: 34 yrs; body mass index: 25.82 kg/m2). Key vascular parameters were assessed, including augmentation index (AIx), ca-rotid-femoral and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (cfPWV, baPWV), flow-mediated slowing (FMS%), and tissue saturation index (TSI) recovery slope. HIIT induced a greater reduction in baPWV (mean difference [MD]: 0.9 m/s) and a higher increase in FMS% (MD: 8%) compared to MICT, indicating more favourable changes in periphe-ral arterial stiffness and endothelial function. Additionally, the reoxygenation slope for TSI was more pronounced after HIIT, suggesting improved microvascular recove-ry. Interestingly, AIx increased following MICT (MD from baseline: 11%) but slightly decreased after HIIT (MD from baseline: −5%). These findings suggest that exercise intensity plays a critical role in determining vascular adaptations, with HIIT showing superior acute benefits
Keywords: HIIT, MICT, endothelial function, pulse-wave velocity, endothelial stiffness
Published in DiRROS: 10.09.2025; Views: 386; Downloads: 207
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4. In situ consideration of resistance of bridge girder according to EC2 with AEMAna Brunčič, Andrej Štrukelj, Maja Kreslin, Andrej Anžlin, Aljoša Šajna, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The paper presents a case study of a considerably cracked and degraded bridge in Slovenia: with the implementation of in-situ measurements under bending and shear and the use of a non-destructive acoustic emission technique. Despite the existing crack system, the latter was able to detect microstructural changes. These were characterised by low values of average frequency (AF), as well as lower values of the rise time-amplitude ratio (RA), and energy. A correlation between shear capacity and acoustic activity was observed. This promises to expand the use of AE in the process of assessing of the load-bearing capacity of existing concrete structures.
Keywords: shear resistance, shear crack, crack width, acoustic emission (AE) parameters, bridge girder, stiffness, elasticity, damage evaluation
Published in DiRROS: 28.11.2023; Views: 1322; Downloads: 777
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5. The influence of flexible sound insulation layers on the seismic performance of cross laminated timber wallsBoris Azinović, Tomaž Pazlar, Meta Kržan, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: This paper presents the results of an experimental campaign investigating the seismic behaviour of full-size cross laminated timber (CLT) wall systems with sound-insulated shear-tension angle brackets. The main aim of the study was to investigate the influence of more and less flexible soundproofing bedding under the CLT wall. The paper shows a comparison of lateral load-bearing capacity, displacement capacity, ductility and stiffness obtained from racking tests on uninsulated specimens and specimens with various types of bedding insulation and levels of vertical load. Moreover, an analytical procedure to estimate the lateral load-displacement response of CLT walls with bedding insulation is proposed. This model is verified by direct comparison to the experimentally determined lateral load-displacement backbone curves. The results show that the elastomeric bedding does not have a significant effect on the bearing capacity of the wall system tested, but it reduces the stiffness and increases the displacement capacity. Due to the large decrease in stiffness, the insulation causes an overall reduction in ductility. The analytical estimation proposed was able to capture the reduction in lateral stiffness and adequately predict the load-bearing capacity.
Keywords: CLT wall system, insulated angle bracket, elastomer sound insulation, racking tests, lateral load-bearing capacity, stiffness, open access
Published in DiRROS: 26.06.2023; Views: 1768; Downloads: 1183
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