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COVID-19 manifestation is associated with a strong immune system activation leading to inflammation and subsequently affecting the cardiovascular system. The objective of the study was to reveal possible interconnection between prolongated inflammation and the development or exacerbation of long-term cardiovascular complications after COVID-19. We investigated correlations between humoral and cellular immune system markers together with markers of cardiovascular inflammation/dysfunction during COVID-19 onset and subsequent recovery. We analyzed 22 hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 within three timepoints (acute, 1 and 6 months after COVID-19) in order to track the impact of COVID-19 on the long-term decline of the cardiovascular system fitness and eventual development of CVDs. Among the cytokines dysregulated during COVID-19 changes, we showed significant correlations of IL-18 as a key driver of several pathophysiological changes with markers of cardiovascular inflammation/dysfunction. Our findings established novel immune-related markers, which can be used for the stratification of patients at high risk of CVDs for further therapy.

Abstract A series of scientific methods (X-ray analyses, optical and electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and thermal analyses) was used to research the ceramic bodies and glazes of forty vessels from Renaissance Prague. The set of Early Modern Age archaeological glazed ceramics contained tableware, kitchenware and technical ceramics. The main aim was to characterise ceramic materials and glazes used over two centuries. Attention was also paid to the identification of defects and corrosion products of the glazes. The research was conducted with an emphasis on the context of the original use of the ceramic artefacts and the environment of the waste pits from which they were excavated. The archaeological finds include three technical ceramic vessels (a rectifier, a bowl and a jar), which together could have formed a distillation apparatus. Since these vessels represent a rare finding, they were subjected to a detailed investigation. Based on the similarity of ceramic bodies and glazes, it was proved that the three technical ceramic vessels were made in the same workshop and were parts of one distillation apparatus. The results of the performed analyses determined that the studied vessels were manufactured from raw materials with a high content of a plastic component and that the raw materials did not change significantly during the period from the 15th to 18th centuries. The firing temperature of most of the vessels did not exceed 1000 °C. It was proved that all the glazes were medium- or high-lead content glazes and were coloured with ionic pigments.

This study is an overview of the professional interest in archaeology of the modern age in the Czech Republic. Increased interest in the archaeology of the Modern period came after the year 2000. The number of published Early Modern pottery assemblages has increased significantly over the past decade. Recent years have seen a change in the publication strategy of Modern period assemblages. As such, the large Modern period find inventory is forcing archaeology to make a critical selection of assemblages which will subsequently be the subject of detailed processing and evaluation. The most important selection criteria include the complexity of the find situation, the possibility of placing it into the social context or the actual expansion of knowledge of period material culture.

V archivu Archeologického ústavu AV ČR Praha, v. v. i., na pracovišti Pražský hrad jsou uloženy pracovní deníky, které detailně popisují zpracování keramických nálezů pocházejících z archeologických výzkumů realizovaných na Pražském hradě v letech 1925–1955. Při odborném studiu konkrétních nálezů ošetřených v minulosti lze s jejich pomocí názorně dokumentovat rozvoj keramické restaurátorské a konzervátorské profese a porovnat rozdílné přístupy k ochraně sbírkotvorných uměleckořemeslných předmětů. Početné keramické soubory dovolují srovnat konzervačně-restaurátorské zákroky prováděné v minulosti a v současnosti. S úspěšně provedenými restaurátorskými zákroky je v současnosti neodmyslitelně spojena mezioborová spolupráce. Nezbytnou součástí kvalitně provedené restaurátorské práce je respektování etických kodexů restaurátora, které jednoznačně definují způsoby a rozsah restaurátorských zásahů.

This study is based on archaeological sources: a group of cesspits from houses along the north and west sides of the 3rd courtyard of the Prague Castle. A combination of historical plans, written and archaeological sources makes it possible to date all of the studied cesspits with a high degree of accuracy. The find assemblages are to be dated to different decades of the second half of the 15th and the first half of the 18th century. Analyses of the cesspits indicate a differentiated social milieu. Church dignitaries created lavish assemblages. Individual luxury items appeared in the milieu which we associate with the imperial court and several of its officials. Also represented is a cesspit from a common environment (owned by a blacksmith). Whether the higher proportional representation of pans, bowls, and bottles indicates the operation of an inn in Vikářská Street, we do not know.