Intestinal parasites in Przewalski's horses (Equus ferus przewalskii): a field survey at the Hortobágy National Park, Hungary.

The Pentezug Wildhorse Reserve, located in the Hortobágy National Park, Hungary, has one of the biggest ex situ populations of Przewalski's horses and aims to preserve its landscape and to study this subspecies. Between September and November 2018, 79 faecal samples were collected from Przewalski's horses. The McMaster, Willis flotation, natural sedimentation and coproculture methods were applied to all the samples. Results showed an average level of 1287 eggs per gram (EPG), which is a high faecal egg-shedding level. All the samples were positive for strongyle-type eggs (100%). There were no statistical differences regarding the EPG values between different harems of the population. The same happened when considering sexes, ages, lactating status or when bachelors are compared with harem members. Cyathostominae were dominant, when compared to Strongylinae and Tricostrongylidae, and 15 different morphological infective third-stage larvae types and/or species belonging to the order Strongylida were identified. The subfamily Cyathostominae was prevalent in 100% of the horses. Strongylus vulgaris was the most prevalent strongylin (40.5%). Additionally, 27.8% were positive for Parascaris sp. and 2.5% showed Oxyuris equi in their faeces. This study revealed that there is a higher prevalence of Triodontophorus serratus and Poteriostomum spp. in juveniles. Horses with S. vulgaris showed lower levels of EPG. This was the first study involving this population, showing 100% prevalence of intestinal parasites.

Peri-infarct flow transients predict outcome in rat focal brain ischemia.

Spreading depolarizations are accompanied by transient changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF). In a post hoc analysis of previously studied control rats we analyzed CBF time courses after middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat in order to test whether intra-ischemic flow, reperfusion, and different parameters of peri-infarct flow transients (PIFTs) (amplitude, number) can predict outcome. Sprague-Dawley rats anesthetized with either halothane (n=23) or isoflurane (n=32) underwent 90-min filament occlusion of the middle cerebral artery followed by 72 h of reperfusion. The infarct size was determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Relative CBF changes were monitored by laser Doppler flowmetry at 4-5 mm lateral, and 1-2mm posterior to Bregma. An additional filament occlusion study (n=12) was performed to validate that PIFTs were coupled to direct current shifts of spreading depolarization. The PIFT-direct current shift study revealed that every PIFT was associated with a negative direct current shift typical of spreading depolarization. Post-hoc analysis showed that the number of PIFTs, especially with the combination of intra-ischemic level of flow, can predict the development of cortical infarcts. These findings show that PIFTs can serve as an early biomarker in predicting outcome in preclinical animal studies.

Some aspects of complementarity in the immune system. A bird's eye view.

The burden of this paper is the suggestion that the defence capacity of the immune system is rather limited. It cannot stand in readiness to deal with a practically endless diversity and abundance of microbes. In contrast to conventional thinking the current model proposes: (1) The core idea that cells of the immune system are basically and constantly interconnected with host cells (e.g., through TCR-MHC interactions) and that foreign antigens (peptides) may tend to obstruct such interactions. Peptides presented during a viral infection typically decrease complementarity between the structures that are the products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes (or other genes related to it) and T cells. The altered MHC profile exposes infected cells to a polyclonal immune attack from other T cells such that tissue destruction occurs in an allograft rejection-like fashion. This may explain why a substantial portion of T cell numbers is activated when only a small number of specific T cells is 'obstructed' from functioning by the presence of nonself peptides. (2) Phagocytes 'see' targets even in a non-immune host because complement distribution associated with polyreactive natural antibodies magnifies sensitization differences between pathogens and host cells. (3) There is only a probability that hypermutation will successfully change the genome in some B cell clones to produce high affinity antibodies that prevent the re-infection of the host by the same pathogen, but cannot conquer primary infections. (4) The history of the development of the immune responses suggests that during prolonged interaction between host and microbes in our natural habitat, carried on over many generations, the adaptive antibody population may facilitate the evolution of the natural antibody repertoire. The model predicts that microbes, which are not a part of the local environment, may invade the organism without significant resistance. The model is discussed in various interactions for survival in the context of infection and tumorigenicity.

Comparison of anticonvulsive and acute neuroprotective activity of three 2,3-benzodiazepine compounds, GYKI 52466, GYKI 53405, and GYKI 53655.

GYKI 52466 [1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-methyl-7,8-methylenedioxy-5H-2,3-benzodiazepine], a non-competitive AMPA [alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate] and kainate receptor antagonist and its two analogues, GYKI 53405 [1-(4-aminophenyl)-3-acetyl-4-methyl-3,4-dihydro-7,8-methylenedioxy-5H-2,3-benzodiazepine] and GYKI 53655 [1-(4-aminophenyl)-3-methylcarbamyl-4-methyl-3,4-dihydro-7,8-methylenedioxy-5H-2,3-benzodiazepine] were investigated in two seizure models and in MgCl2 induced global cerebral ischaemia, as an acute neuroprotective model. The ED(50) values of GYKI 52466 for suppression of the tonic and clonic phases of sound-induced seizures were 3.6 and 4.3 mg/kg, respectively. The corresponding data for GYKI 53405 were 1.1 and 3.1 mg/kg, while ED(50) values of GYKI 53655 were 1.3 and 2.0 mg/kg, respectively. The inhibition of seizure evoked by maximal electroshock was also found to be remarkable: the ED(50) values of GYKI 52466 and its two analogues were 6.9, 2.6, and 2.2 mg/kg, respectively. All compounds prolonged the survival times in MgCl2 induced global cerebral ischaemia test in a dose-dependent fashion, with PD(50) (dose of 50% prolongation) values of 24.1, 8.3, and 8.2 mg/kg intraperitoneal, respectively. In audiogenic seizure model the duration of anticonvulsant action of 10 mg/kg GYKI 52466 and 5 mg/kg GYKI 53405, GYKI 53655 were examined, too. The effect of GYKI 52466 decreased to 50% after 2 h, while the analogues showed more than 80% seizure suppression 3 h after treatment. After 6 h the effect of GYKI 53655 decreased to zero, while the effect of GYKI 52466, remained on the 50% level.

Effect of fumaric acid, its dimethylester, and topical antipsoriatic drugs on epidermal differentiation in the mouse tail model.

Fumaric acid, fumaric acid dimethylester, and the dithranol derivative C4-lactone were studied in the mouse tail test to evaluate their effects on epidermal cell differentiation compared with other topical antipsoriatic drugs, such as betamethasone, calcipotriol, and dithranol. Mouse tails were treated for 2 weeks and longitudinal histological sections prepared of the tail skin. The length of the orthokeratotic regions (stratum granulosum) was measured on 10 sequential scales per tail and expressed as percentage of the full length of the scale. In addition, epidermal thickness was measured and the efficacy of the various compounds evaluated. In comparison to 2% salicylic acid ointment, all tested compounds except fumaric acid significantly (p < or = 0.05) increased the proportion of the orthokeratotic region. C4-lactone and calcipotriol were less effective than dithranol, fumaric acid dimethylester only moderately influenced cell differentiation, and betamethasone showed the least potent effect. Dithranol was the most potent substance inducing orthokeratosis without increasing epidermal thickness.

Ketone compound smelling ability: study in Hungarian twins.

On the basis of their earlier experiments the authors assumed that the ability to recognize the smell of two ketone compounds, acetone and methylethylketone (MEK), might be determined genetically. In the present work of smelling test was performed in adult Hungarian twins, 61 like sexed DZ pairs and 87 MZ pairs. No connection was found between twin zygosity and intra-pair concordance for MEK, while in the case of acetone smelling some connection may exist. A highly significant correlation was found between the smelling ability to acetone and MEK. Females seemed to be better smellers than males. Comparing the taste perception for PTC to the smell perception for acetone the supposition of a possible genetic linkage between the two traits, put forward by other authors, could not definitely be confirmed.

[1st isolation of the Wright(a) erythrocyte antigen from Soviet blood donors]. / A Wright(a) vörösvérsejtantigén elso kimutatása szovjet véradóknál.

Since the immunizing effect of rare erythrocytic antigens it is necessary to emphysize, that the same recipient should not get repeatedly erythrocyte-transfusion from the same donor.

Distribution of HB antigen carriers in the population of Budapest according to age, sex, subtypes and occupation.

The authors investigated serum samples of 5000 inhabitants (age 0 to 85 years) in a crowded industrial area, by means of the counterimmunoelectrophoretic method. They evaluate their results in relation of age, sex and occupation and presented literary data about the subtypes of the carriers in Budapest. They compared them with data of Hungarian and several other authors respectively. Some possible reasons of the differences are discussed and the importance of the non-parental transmission is emphasized.

Distribution of HB antigen carriers in the population of Budapest aged 0 to 85 years.

The authors investigated serum samples of 5,000 inhabitants aged 0-85 years in a crowded industrial area, by means of the counterimmunoelectrophoretic method. They evaluate their results in relation to age, sex and occupation. They compare them with data of Hungarian and several other authors. Some possible reasons of the differences are discussed and the importance of non-parenteral transmission is emphasized.