Ticks and tick-borne pathogens in South Bohemia (Czech Republic)--Spatial variability in Ixodes ricinus abundance, Borrelia burgdorferi and tick-borne encephalitis virus prevalence.

Spatial distribution of Ixodes ricinus tick host-seeking activity, as well as prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) were studied in the TBE endemic area of South Bohemia (Czech Republic). High variability in tick abundance detected in a network of 30 study sites was most closely associated with characteristics of vegetation cover. Of 11,182 tested tick samples, 12% carried DNA of spirochete from B. burgdorferi s.l. complex. B. afzelii and B. garinii prevailed among spirochete species. The presence of B. spielmanii in the region was confirmed. The median number of borrelial genome copies in positive samples reached 6.6 × 10(3) by real-time PCR. The total prevalence of TBEV in pooled samples reached 0.32% (20,057 samples tested), at least one TBEV positive tick was present in 21 out of 30 sampling sites.

Modelling the phenylalanine blood level response during treatment of phenylketonuria.

A vast body of phenylketonuria (PKU) patient monitoring data is deposited in clinical files and, after having served the actual needs, has remained there largely unused. We propose a kinetic model that will allow continued analysis of such data for further elucidation of the patient's metabolic phenotype and phenylalanine (Phe) disposal characteristics. Our PKU model of a single compartment with the input of alimentary Phe and two outputs--(1) first-order Phe conversion to tyrosine and acidic metabolites, and (2) zero-order Phe usage for net protein synthesis--has been developed with the graphics-oriented ModelMaker (then Cherwell Scientific Ltd, Oxford, UK) software package. The corresponding differential and integrated rate equations are presented to enable transfer of the model to equation-oriented simulation packages. The model offers a possible explanation for discrepancies in some genotype-phenotype data.

[Past and present of the Hungarian traumatology (author's transl)]. / A magyar traumatológia múltja és jelene.

Author presents a consise picture about the history of the Hungarian traumatology. Remembering great Hungarian surgeons who recognised the significance of accident surgery and with their works contributed to the progress in traumatology, he delineates the development of the Hungarian trauma management. The second part of this paper is dealing with the present situation of the Hungarian accident surgery and outlines tasks to be realized for further development of the well advancing Hungarian traumatology.

On the origin of the supernumerary chromosome in autosomal trisomies--with special reference to Down's syndrome. A bias in tracing nondisjunction by chromosomal and biochemical polymorphisms.

The differential staining methods for chromosomes have led to the demonstration of more chromosomal polymorphisms. Not rarely, these polymorphisms allow in autosomal trisomies the detection of parental origin of the supernumerary chromosome. In addition, the malsegregation may be ascribed to 1st or 2nd meiotic division in informative families. This approach of analyzing possible causes of trisomies is subject to a considerable bias. Trisomic phenotypes are twice as frequent for 2nd meiotic errors than for 1st meiotic errors. Also, rare chromosome variants seldom occur in matings where malsegregation in 1st meiotic division can be detected. In the present paper this bias is analyzed mathematically on the family as well as on the population level. From this mathematical analysis and from the data in the literature we conclude that Down's syndrome as a whole is caused about 5-10 times more often by a malsegregation in 1st meiotic than by an error in 2nd meiotic division. Mainly from experimental studies in rodents, causes for errors in 1st and 2nd meiotic division are becoming apparent. They are summarized in the context of the results of the present paper.

[History of traumatology in Hungary]. / Gondolatok a magyar traumatologia történetéböl

The history of the Hungarian Traumatology since the 16th century up to the present days is outlined by the author. The most important works--dealing with the treatment of the fractures and with the activity of other areas of the traumatology--are enumerated. Moreover, the factors promoting the development of the Hungarian traumatology are specified and the important surgeons active in the field of traumatology and the war operative surgery are named, who too have contributed to the development of the Hungarian traumatology. The importance of the Hungarian Institute of Traumatology--founded in 1956--is emphasized,--thus, the traumatology became an independent section of the Hungarian public health; and centrally directed and organized function of the traumatology was assured.