Lung Transplantation in Hungary From Cardiac Surgeons' Perspective.

Thoracic organ transplantation made a fresh start in Hungary with the first double lung transplant in December 2015. This major leap in Hungarian transplantation was preceded by almost 10 years of preparation, new infrastructure development, and structural changes not only at the organizational level but in human resources as well. In the following years, until recently, altogether 47 lung transplants were performed on 24 men and 23 women. The underlying pathologies were as follows: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 25; cystic fibrosis, 11; idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 7; as well as other diseases, including bronchiectasis, eosinophilic granuloma, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and primary pulmonary hypertension in 4 cases. The youngest recipient was 13 and the oldest was 65 years old. Overall survival rates at 30 days and at 1 year were 96% and 82%, respectively. No patients were lost in the cystic fibrosis and other diseases group, whereas the 1-year survival rates of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis groups were 73% and 71%, respectively. The results show the robustness and viability of the program, although there is still opportunity for further improvement. In this short paper, we summarize the fields of possible further cooperation of thoracic and cardiac teams as well as future challenges facing the new Hungarian lung transplant program.

Activity of exogenous tyrosol in combination with caspofungin and micafungin against Candida parapsilosis sessile cells.

AIMS: Fungal quorum-sensing molecules may have an inhibitory effect as adjuvant against Candida biofilms. Therefore, in vitro activity of caspofungin and micafungin was evaluated against Candida parapsilosis biofilms in the presence of tyrosol. METHODS AND RESULTS: Interactions were assessed using fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) determination, metabolic activity-based time-kill experiments and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tyrosol caused 1-16-fold and 2-32-fold decrease in median caspofungin and micafungin MICs respectively. Based on FICI, synergy was observed in isolates 27001 and 17820 with caspofungin and 27001 with micafungin. In time-kill experiments, the metabolic activity reduction was higher for micafungin compared to caspofungin at 24 h especially when used in 64 and 256 mg l-1 concentrations. In the case of micafungin, the 256 mg l-1  + 1 mmol l-1 combination caused significantly higher decrease in metabolic activity compared to the corresponding concentration alone (256 mg l-1 ) at 24 h (P < 0·05). SEM confirmed the higher killing effect of tested echinocandins with tyrosol. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable metabolic activity reduction and cell damage was detected for combinations especially in the case of micafungin. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our findings support the development of new alternative therapeutic strategies against C. parapsilosis biofilms.

Identification and chemical characterization of particulate matter from wave soldering processes at a printed circuit board manufacturing company.

In this case study, the elemental composition and mass size distribution of indoor aerosol particles were determined in a working environment where soldering of printed circuit boards (PCB) took place. Single particle analysis using ion and electron microscopy was carried out to obtain more detailed and reliable data about the origin of these particles. As a result, outdoor and indoor aerosol sources such as wave soldering, fluxing processes, workers' activity, mineral dust, biomass burning, fertilizing and other anthropogenic sources could be separated. With the help of scanning electron microscopy, characteristic particle types were identified. On the basis of the mass size distribution data, a stochastic lung deposition model was used to calculate the total and regional deposition efficiencies of the different types of particles within the human respiratory system. The information presented in this study aims to give insights into the detailed characteristics and the health impact of aerosol particles in a working environment where different kinds of soldering activity take place.

Measurement of periapical pressure created by occlusal loading.

AIM: To develop an in vitro model in which the pressure in the periapical tissues can be measured during loading. METHODOLOGY: Extracted human maxillary central incisors were embedded in resin blocks that had physical characteristics similar to those of bone and periodontal ligament. Each tooth was loaded with 20, 40, 50, 60, 75, 85, 100, 200, 300 and 450 N vertical forces from the incisal edge of the crown on three consecutive occasions. A minute resistor embedded in the periapical space was used to detect apical pressure changes during occlusal loading. The ratio of apical pressure changes (DeltaP) to the loading force changes (DeltaF) was calculated. RESULTS: The periapical pressure detected was in direct proportion to the loading force. The mean value of DeltaP/DeltaF was 5.994 kPa N-1 (SD = 2.04). CONCLUSIONS: Direct proportionality was found between the coronal loading and the apical hydrostatic pressure. The DeltaP/DeltaF ratio determined in this study makes it easier to estimate the apical hydrostatic pressure values during occlusal loading of single-rooted teeth. In this study, the apical pressure generated under occlusal loading was the same magnitude as that estimated with the finite element method.

Comparative microstructural study of the diffusion zone between NiCr alloy and different dental ceramics.

Our knowledge on the bonding mechanisms between the metal and ceramic parts of dental systems is very limited. This work tested the hypothesis that the details of the interface processes can be described in the framework of a chemical diffusion model. The development of interfacial phases was investigated by cross-sectional analytical transmission electron microscopy between a NiCr (Wiron 99) alloy and three different dental ceramics (Carat, Vita VMK 95, and Vision). All systems were investigated at normal firing conditions (suggested by the manufacturer) and at increased firing times as well. The conclusions are based on the results that the formation of a nanocrystalline Cr(2)O(3) layer and amorphous silicon oxide inclusions were detected in the early stage of the firing process in all investigated systems, and that, in the case of Carat and Vision ceramics, formation of complex NiCr and NiCrTi oxides was also observed at longer annealing times.

Silver Nanoparticles by PAMAM-Assisted Photochemical Reduction of Ag(+).

The photochemical synthesis of Ag(0) nanoparticles in the presence of amino- and carboxylate-terminated PAMAM dendrimers is reported. The formation of Ag(0) nanoparticles was followed spectrophotometrically and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). According to TEM investigations Ag(0) nanoparticles with the average size of about 7 nm in diameter were produced. Based on the present investigation a possible mechanism for the Ag(0) nanoparticles formation is proposed. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.