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Background: Czech Republic belongs to countries with worldwide highest alcohol per capita intake. Although mild intake of alcohol may exhibit protective effects, its abuse is associated with true deleterious consequences for the whole organism. The aim of our study was to assess relation between alcohol intake and several metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors., Methods and Results: In the group of clinically healthy men (n=102, mean age 39.1 +/- 10.8 years) complete clinical examination, biochemical work-up and weekly dietary profile assessment were performed. Data were compared using standard statistical tests and linear regression analyses. Participants were divided into 4 groups according to the regular weekly alcohol intake (group 0: <70 g; group 1: 70-210 g: group 2: 211-420 g; group 3: >420 g alcohol/week). We found close relation between alcohol intake and several risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome such as WHR, BMI, total caloric intake, blood pressure, serum lipids, or iron metabolites and markers of oxidative stress (AGEs, AOPP)., Conclusions: This study proves an important relationship between alcohol intake and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases or metabolic syndrome. Subjects abusing alcohol thus seem not to be only at higher risk for alcohol-mediated liver damage, but also for the cardiovascular and common metabolic diseases.

An increase in the availability of the active ingredient from silicone matrices can be achieved by using sodium chloride as the filler. An addition of sodium chloride also influences the mechanical properties of silicone systems. The temperature dependence of real Young's model E' of addition silicone systems with sodium chloride was measured. With increasing NaCl concentration in the silicone system, the values of Young's module E are increased. The increase is also influenced by the particle size of NaCl. The values of the module are moderately increased also with increasing temperature, which corresponds to the kinetic theory of caoutchouc elasticity. A significant increase in E takes place at NaCl concentrations higher than 20%. With a 50% NaCl content in the system, E is increased approximately 3.5 times in comparison with an unfilled sample. Various theories of elastic behaviour of composites can be employed for the description of the effect of the filler on the mechanical properties of silicone systems under small deformations. The effect of chloride is best described by the relation proposed by Nielsen. The value of the constant A in Nielsen's relation, dependent on the shape of the filler particles and Poisson's constant of the unfilled matrix, decreases with increasing particle size. With a change in particle size, a certain change in particle shape takes place. Hydrodynamic theory provides good results for sodium chloride particle size of 102.5 microns, but for particle sizes of 20 microns and 60 microns it is less successful than Nielsen's relation.

The present paper examines the strength behaviour of addition silicone systems composed of Lukopren A 6200 and three inorganic fillers (Skron SF 600, Cab-O-Sil LM 150, sodium chloride) in different concentrations and particle sizes. The tensile strength sigma (MPa) and the relative lengthening of samples on rupture epsilon (%) were measured. With increasing concentration of the filler in the system relative lengthening of matrices is decreased. This trend corresponds with the theoretical hypotheses and it is understandable also with regard to the fact that the filler, in comparison with silicone rubber, possesses very low ductility. An addition of Sikron increases tensile strength of samples. Dependence of tensile strength on the amount of Sikron in the system is linear. This behaviour is typical of fibrous composites and the composites with high adhesion between the filler and matrix. Concentrations of Cab-O-Sil up to 5% did not exert an effect on tensile strength. An important increase in strength was shown only by the systems containing 10% of Cab-O-Sil. Experimental dependence of tensile strength on the amount of Cab-O-Sil in the system can be described by the equation for composites with Hookean behaviour till destruction. The effect of sodium chloride on tensile strength is more complicated. In the systems with NaCl particles of 20 microns, strength is not practically changed up to a content of 40% of NaCl in the system. In larger size fractions, tensile strength is decreased, and with a change in particle size, shape is probably changed as well.