Childhood obesity seems to contribute to the development and progression of early atherosclerosis, particularly in combination with hypertension and dyslipidaemia. In order to prevent coronary atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular complications, it is vital to control obesity starting from childhood. Ultrasonography of the arterial wall may be used in a clinical setting to identify high-risk patients among severely obese children.

Background and Purpose-Age is the most important risk factor for ischemic stroke. Recent experiments evidenced an age-associated rarefaction of the native collateral vasculature. The purpose of this study was to assess in what way age and arteriogenesis influence cortical perfusion and recovery of hemodynamic impairment in aged and young C57/BL6 mice. Methods-After model establishment of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in the C57/BL6 strain, sustained hemodynamic impairment was induced by permanent unilateral internal carotid artery occlusion in animals aged 4 to 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 18 months. Functional and morphological outcome was assessed by laser speckle imaging before and during acetazolamide challenge on Days 0, 3, 7, and 14 and latex/carbon black angiography and immunohistochemistry on Day 21. Results-Although internal carotid artery occlusion did not result in a reduction of baseline perfusion, it led to significant hemodynamic impairment in all age groups. Furthermore, baseline perfusion in sham and cerebrovascular reactivity after internal carotid artery occlusion were significantly lower in animals aged 18 months (468±57 Flux; 20.8%±17%) compared with mice aged 4 to 6 weeks (568±120

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Ultrathin anisotropic dielectric elastomer films of triblock copolymers were fabricated, enabling highly maneuverable soft crawlers actuated by sub-kV voltage.