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- Author or Editor: P. Kovács x
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Abstract
A frequently used method in determining the radium concentration of water is the radon emanation method. When radon gas is transferred to the Lucas-cell usually CaCl2 is used to remove the water traces. When we measured the background of the system using ultra clear distilled water the results were astonishing. The detailed investigation has shown that the unwanted radon originated from the CaCl2, contained about 1000 Bq/kg of 226Ra. Depending on the time interval between two measurement, the radon deriving from the CaCl2 disturbed the measurements.
Abstract
Purpose
We aimed to assess the etiological role of apoptotic genes Bcl-2 and Bax in the background of major obstetric and gynaecological diseases.
Methods
Placental tissue samples were collected from 101 pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction and 104 pregnancies with premature birth with 140 controll samples from term, eutrophic newborns. In addition, gene expression assessment of the genes Bax and Bcl-2 was performed in 101 uterine leiomyoma tissue samples at our disposal with 110 control cases. Gene expression levels were assessed by PCR method.
Results
The expression of the Bcl-2 gene was decreased in placental samples with intrauterine growth restriction. Significant overexpression of the proapoptotic Bax gene was detected in samples from premature infants. Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 gene expression was found to be significantly increased in fibroid tissues.
Conclusion
Apoptosis plays a crucial role in the development of the most common OB/GYN conditions. Decrease in the placental expression of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 may upset the balance of programmed cell death.
Abstract
Introduction
Left ventricular (LV) twist is considered an essential part of LV function due to oppositely directed LV basal and apical rotations. Several factors could play a role in determining LV rotational mechanics in normal circumstances. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between LV rotational mechanics and mitral annular (MA) size and function in healthy subjects.
Methods
The study comprised 118 healthy adult volunteers (mean age: 31.5 ± 11.8 years, 50 males). All subjects had undergone complete two-dimensional (2D) Doppler echocardiography and three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) at the same time by the same echocardiography equipment.
Results
The normal mean LV apical and basal rotations proved to be 9.57 ± 3.33 and −3.75 ± 1.98°, respectively. LV apical rotation correlated with end-systolic MA diameter, area, perimeter, fractional area change, and fractional shortening, but did not correlate with any end-diastolic mitral annular morphologic parameters. The logistic regression model identified MA fractional area change as an independent predictor of ≤6° left ventricular apical rotation (P < 0.003).
Conclusions
Correlations could be detected between apical LV rotation and end-systolic MA size and function, suggesting relationships between MA dimensions and function and LV rotational mechanics.
Abstract
The radiation dose of workers and patients resulting from inhaling radon and through the consumption of spring waters was examined in the hospital near the Héviz lake in Hungary. The radiation dose originating from radon was 2.15–3.95 mSv·y−1 concerning workers at the spa. The radiation dose originating from radon in the case of those regularly taking a bath was an average of 0.75 mSv·y−1. Due to the limited duration of treatments a bound effective dose of maximum 100 µSv·y−1 may originate from radon and inhaling radon, while a maximum of 1.4 µSv·y−1 may originate from ingestion of 222Rn, 226Ra, 234U and 238U radionuclides.
Abstract
Radon can accumulate in underground areas such as show caves. Repairmen and tourist guides working in such caves may thus be exposed to significant radiation doses. Therefore, it is necessary to measure the radon concentration to estimate the exact radiation dose caused by radon. Considering that the radon concentration in caves usually shows significant seasonal fluctuations, the monthly change of radon concentration was studied for 1 year in nine show caves opened to the public in Hungary. Despite the fact that all of the caves were formed in karst rocks, the annual average radon concentration levels were rather different between each other (541–8287 Bq m−3). The significant monthly fluctuation of the radon concentration indicates that the annual average radon concentration in caves can only be accurately obtained by year-long measurements.
A bacterium capable to grow on sulfanilic acid as sole carbon, nitrogen and sulfur source has been isolated. A unique feature of this strain is that it contains the full set of enzymes necessary for the biodegradation of sulfanilic acid. Taxonomical analysis identified our isolate as Sphingomonas subarctica SA1 sp. The biodegradation pathway of sulfanilic acid was investigated at the molecular level. Screening the substrate specificity of the strain disclosed its capacity to degrade six analogous aromatic compounds including p -aminobenzoic acid. Moreover, the strain was successfully used for removal of oil contaminations. S. subarctica SA1 seemed to use distinct enzyme cascades for decomposition of these molecules, since alternative enzymes were induced in cells grown on various substrates. However, the protein patterns appearing upon induction by sulfanilic acid and sulfocatechol were very similar to each other indicating common pathways for the degradation of these substrates. Cells grown on sulfanilic acid could convert p -aminobenzoic acid to some extent and vice versa. Two types of ring cleaving dioxygenases were detected in the cells grown on various substrates: one preferred protocatechol, while the other had higher activity with sulfocatechol. This latter enzyme, named as sulfocatechol dioxygenase was partially purified and characterized.
In order to analyse the effects of temperature (9–22 °C) and light intensity (170–576 μmol m −2 s −1 ) on plant development two barley varieties with contrasting seasonal growth habits were included in a series of experiments consisting of controlled environment tests. The effect of constant (18 °C) and daily fluctuating (18/16 °C) temperature with a long photoperiod was also examined in a set of barley varieties including winter, facultative and spring barleys. Dicktoo with facultative growth habit was more sensitive to unfavourable conditions than Kompolti korai with winter growth habit; the flowering of Dicktoo was significantly delayed by sub-and supra-optimal temperatures and low light intensity accompanied by higher or fluctuating temperatures. The optimal temperature at flowering was also significantly lower for Dicktoo than for Kompolti korai (16.0 °C vs. 21.0 °C, respectively). Plant development was the fastest when there was no fluctuating environmental factor in the growing conditions and was significantly delayed with application of photo cycle. The addition of thermo cycle to photo cycle had an even stronger delaying effect. Facultative barleys were the most sensitive, followed by winter barleys, while spring barleys the least sensitive to the introduction of thermo cycle.
The effects of PEG 6000-induced osmotic stress (−0.976 MPa) on the root growth of young plants, and the changes in abscisic acid (ABA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NO contents were investigated in the root tips of a drought-tolerant and a drought-sensitive wheat cultivar (Triticum aestivum L. cvs. MV Emese and GK Élet, respectively). The root length of cv. MV Emese was more effectively reduced than that of GK Élet by osmotic stress. Concomitantly, the ABA content of the 15-mm apical zone of the roots remained at the control level in GK Élet cultivar, but in MV Emese it decreased significantly after the early phase of the experiment, indicating that the accumulation of ABA is necessary for the maintenance of root growth under osmotic stress. The extent of ROS accumulation relative to the respective control was more pronounced in the elongation zone of roots in MV Emese in the later stages of the experiment, while NO concentrations increased significantly early after PEG exposure, suggesting that high concentrations of ROS and NO were unfavourable for root expansion. In contrast, in cv. Élet, the high NO content in the elongation zone declined to the control level under osmotic stress within 4 days. The changes in root growth due to osmotic stress did not exhibit a correlation with the drought tolerance of the genotypes defined on the basis of the crop yield.
Abstract
Purpose
Falls in older age are the result of the interaction of several modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors. Risk factors for falls may vary in frequency not only in different economic and cultural contexts but also in different forms of care services among the older population. The aim of the present cross-sectional descriptive observational study was to assess the prevalence of risk factors for falls among older ambulant patients on a chronic inpatient ward in Hungary.
Material/Methods
Data associated with risk factors for falls, such as age, sex, chronic physical and mental illness, acute illness, incontinence, history of falls, balance and gait disorder, and visual impairment, were collected from 82 participants. The frequency of these risk factors in our sample was compared with their prevalence in the elderly population living at home — based on data available in the literature and statistical databases — using chi-square tests.
Results
Our results show that the prevalence of hypertension, cerebrovascular events, dementia and diabetes are significantly higher in the elderly population in chronic inpatient care than in the elderly population living at home. There is also a significantly higher prevalence of balance disorders and the use of sedatives/sleeping pills/neuroleptics in the studied population. Cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and Parkinson's disease are equally prevalent in both populations.
Conclusions
In the case of many of the patients admitted to chronic inpatient care, there is a real chance that their physical condition will improve or stabilise to the point where they can return to their own homes or be moved to a nursing home. This kind of rehabilitation approach to chronic inpatient care would require many more qualified nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and social workers than are currently available.
Semen of an infertile Dutch White (Saanenthal) goat buck was examined. Light and electron microscopic examinations showed aberrations of the sperm tails resembling the so-called Dag or Dag-like defects described in several cattle breeds. Ejaculated semen showed that virtually all of the cells had strongly coiled or broken tails, or fractured midpieces. Ultrastructural investigations by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed uneven distribution of the mitochondria in the midpiece. Coiled tails were encapsulated by a common membrane, and dislocated axial fibres and different membranous structures were also present. The ultrastructural characteristics of the defective sperm tails, the missing parts of the axial fibre bundle and the misalignment of the mitochondria indicate that this first case reported in goat is similar to the Dag-like defect in cattle.
