Making soil containing numerous eggs of WCR for greenhouse and laboratory experiments.

In the course of our work we often faced to the problem that WCR lays its eggs unevenly (Berger, 2008) so it is impossible to find soils under field circumstances which contains eggs in homogenous distribution and in large numbers. Owing to the inhomogeneous distribution and low number of eggs it is quite difficult to study the effectiveness of soil disinfectant and seed-dressing insecticides on larvae of WCR in pot experiments. Therefore, the aim of our studies was to gain soil samples with known quantity and distribution of eggs. According to our prevailing idea, numerous adults are placed into a relatively small place under ideal environmental conditions and a small quantity of soil is provided for them to lay eggs.

Comparative effectiveness of second generation long-acting injectable antipsychotics based on nationwide database research in Hungary.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a severe condition that affects approximately 1% of the population. Certain elements of antipsychotic treatment can only be examined in large population, thus the need for population-based real-world analyses has been increasing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hungarian National Health Fund database includes all healthcare data of the population of Hungary. All patients diagnosed with schizophrenia between 01.01.2006 and 31.12.2015 were included in the study. We analyzed all patients with newly initiated second-generation antipsychotic during the inclusion period (01.01.2012-31.12.2013). Patients were followed for 2 years. All-cause treatment discontinuation served as the primary outcome of the study. Patients with newly initiated long-acting injectable treatments were further investigated in stratified analyses based on their previous treatment. RESULTS: 106,624 patients had schizophrenia diagnosis during the study period. 12,232 patients met the inclusion criteria for newly initiating second-generation antipsychotic during the inclusion period. The proportion of patients still on treatment after 1 year for oral treatments varied between 17% (oral risperidone) and 31% (oral olanzapine) while the analogous data for long acting injectables were between 32% (risperidone long acting) and 64% (paliperidone long acting one monthly). The 2-year data were similarly in favor of long-actings. Median time to discontinuation in the oral group varied between 57 days (clozapine) and 121 days (olanzapine). The median time to discontinuation for long-actings was significantly longer: between 176 and 287 days; in case of paliperidone long acting, median was not reached during the observation period. Patients receiving long-acting treatment switched from another long-acting remained on the newly initiated treatment significantly longer than those switched from orals. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate the superiority of second generation long-acting antipsychotics with regard to rates of treatment discontinuation and periods of persistence to the assigned medication.

Long-term results of subtotal colectomy for acquired hypertrophic megacolon in eight dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term results of subtotal colectomy for acquired hypertrophic megacolon in the dog. METHODS: Eight dogs with acquired hypertrophic megacolon underwent subtotal colectomy with preservation of the ileocolic junction. Long-term follow-up was obtained by clinical records and telephone interviews with the owners. RESULTS: Eight large-breed dogs (age range: 6 to 12 years; mean age: 10.75 years) were enrolled. The use of bone meal, low levels of exercise, chronic constipation with dyschesia and tenesmus refractory to medical management were factors predisposing dogs to acquired hypertrophic megacolon. The diagnosis was confirmed in all animals by abdominal palpation, plain radiography and postoperative histopathological findings. There were no intraoperative complications. One dog died as a result of septic peritonitis. The clinical conditions (that is, resolution of obstipation and stool consistency) of the remaining seven dogs were improved at discharge; all animals returned to normal defecation in five to 10 weeks (mean: 7.3 weeks) and were alive 11 to 48 months (mean: 40.5 months) after surgery. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Predominantly bony diet and/or low levels of physical activity may predispose dogs to acquired hypertrophic megacolon. Our results emphasise the long-term effectiveness of subtotal colectomy with preservation of the ileocolic junction in this condition.

Nutrient absorbtion of weeds in maize.

Our study was carried out in Hungary at Keszthely, in 2007. The effect of different cultivation methods: no-till drill, disk tillage, conventional tillage (ploughing) and five increasing N doses were studied on the weediness. The bi-factorial trial was arranged in split plot design with four replications. Crop rotation: winter wheat-winter wheat-maize-maize. The seeding of maize was 23rd of April in 2007. The weed survey was made with Balázs-Ujvárosi coenological method on the 17th of May. In the experiment were found 21 weed species. We collected all plants of every weed species by plots. The sample area was 1 m2. Furthermore five maize plants per plot were sampled on the 22nd of May. Maize was at 3-4 leaves stage. For reason of competition studies no herbicides were applied on sampling sites. The aerial parts of weeds and maize plants were collected, and the fresh and dry matter weight was measured. We analyzed in detail, the occurrence of weed species, and the biomass production of weeds in comparison with maize. The effect of different cultivation methods markedly demonstrated the weed cover, the number of perennial and annual weeds and the number of occurring weed species.

Time-dependent changes in the density and hemoglobin F content of biotin-labeled sickle cells.

Sickle red blood cells (RBC) are subject to a number of important cellular changes and selection pressures. In this study, we validated a biotin RBC label by comparison to the standard 51Cr label, and used it to study changes that occur in sickle cells as they age. Sickle RBC had a much shorter lifespan than normal RBC, but the two labels gave equivalent results for each cell type. A variable number of sickle, but not normal, RBC disappeared from the circulation during the first few hours after reinfusion. The number of biotinylated sickle reticulocytes was decreased by 50% after 24 h and 75% after 48 h, with a gradual decrease in the amount of reticulum per cell. The labeled sickle cells exhibited major density increases during the first 4-6 d after reinfusion, with smaller changes thereafter. A small population of very light, labeled sickle RBC was essentially constant in number after the first few days. Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) content was determined in isolated biotinylated sickle RBC after reinfusion, allowing an estimate of lifespan for RBC containing HbF (F cells) and non-F cells. The lifespan of sickle biotinylated RBC lacking HbF was estimated to be approximately 2 wk, whereas F cells survived 6-8 wk.

Post-transplantation morphological and functional changes in kidneys from expanded criteria donors.

Introduction Despite an increase in the number of cadaver donors and overall organ transplantations, the dramatic increase in the waiting list makes it necessary to reconsider donor criteria. The authors wanted to examine whether differences could exist in the function and/or morphology of transplanted kidneys originated from expanded criteria donors (ECDs) and ideal donors 1 and 5 years after transplantation. Methods Kidney function and histopathologic findings were analyzed and compared 1 and 5 years after transplantation in 97 patients having ECD kidneys and in 178 patients who received ideal donor kidneys (IDK). Results Serum creatinine level was significantly higher (p = 0.001) and estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly lower (p = 0.003) in patients having ECD kidneys as compared with those with IDK 5 years after transplantation. Morphological changes in the transplanted kidneys, such as tubulitis (p = 0.025) and interstitial inflammation (p = 0.002), were significantly more frequently present in patients with ECD kidneys than in those with IDK 1 year after transplantation. Conclusion Despite an absence of differences in kidney function 1 year after kidney transplantation between patients having ECD and IDK, morphological differences in the transplanted kidneys can be detected between the two groups of patients.

Mortality and the relationship of somatic comorbidities to mortality in schizophrenia. A nationwide matched-cohort study.

AIM: We conducted a matched-cohort study to assess mortality in schizophrenia and the relationship of mortality with comorbid somatic conditions and suicide attempts. METHOD: A full-population register-based prospective matched-cohort study was performed including all eligible patients with schizophrenia in Hungary between 01/01/2005 and 31/12/2013. Control subjects were individually matched to patients with schizophrenia at a 5:1 ratio. The principal outcome measure was death due to any reason. A non-parametric approach was used for descriptive statistical purposes, the Kaplan-Meier model for survival analysis, and the Cox proportional-hazards regression model for inferential statistics. RESULTS: Patients with schizophrenia (n=65,169) had substantially higher risk of all-cause mortality than the control subjects (n=325,435) (RR=2.4; P<0.0001). Comorbidities and suicide attempts were associated with significantly increased mortality in both groups. As compared to the controls, 20-year old males with schizophrenia had a shorter life expectancy by 11.5years, and females by 13.7years; the analogous numbers for 45-year old schizophrenics were 8.1 and 9.6years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A significant mortality gap - mainly associated with somatic comorbidities - was detected between patients with schizophrenia and individually matched controls. Improved medical training to address the disparity in mortality, and many other factors including lack of resources, access to and model of medical care, lifestyle, medication side effects, smoking, stigma, need for early intervention and adequate health care organization could help to better address the physical health needs of patients with schizophrenia.

Clinicopathological changes and effect of imidocarb therapy in dogs experimentally infected with Babesia canis.

In this study one spleen-intact dog (A) and two splenectomised dogs (BSE, CSE) were infected with Babesia canis. All animals developed an acute disease characterised by fever, haemoglobinuria and anaemia, the latter being more severe in the splenectomised dogs. Fever and parasitised red blood cells were detected for three days after imidocarb treatment in the splenectomised animals. Haematological abnormalities included regenerative anaemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia (due to neutropenia and lymphopenia) in the acute phase, soon followed by leukocytosis, neutrophilia and left shift a few days later. Acute hepatopathy was detected in all dogs with elevated ALT activity, which was more seriously altered in the splenectomised dogs. Diffuse changes in liver structure and hepatomegaly were seen by ultrasonography. Liver biopsy and histology revealed acute, non-purulent hepatitis in the splenectomised dogs. Both splenectomised dogs were successfully cured after collection of 400 ml highly parasitised blood, proving that large-amount antigen production is possible with rescuing the experimental animals. Whole blood transfusion, imidocarb and supportive care with infusions, antipyretics, glucocorticoids and diuretics were applied. The spleen-intact dog clinically recovered after receiving supportive treatment, with no imidocarb therapy. Microbial infections developed in both splenectomised animals (BSE: haemobartonellosis, CSE: osteomyelitis caused by Escherichia coli), probably as a consequence of immunosuppression after splenectomy and glucocorticoid therapy.

Nerve stretch injury induced pain pattern and changes in sensory ganglia in a clinically relevant model of limb-lengthening in rabbits.

We used a model of tibial lengthening in rabbits to study the postoperative pain pattern during limb-lengthening and morphological changes in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), including alteration of substance P (SP) expression. Four groups of animals (naive; OG: osteotomized only group; SDG/FDG: slow/fast distraction groups, with 1 mm/3 mm lengthening a day, respectively) were used. Signs of increasing postoperative pain were detected until the 10(th) postoperative day in OG/SDG/FDG, then they decreased in OG but remained higher in SDG/FDG until the distraction finished, suggesting that the pain response is based mainly on surgical trauma until the 10(th) day, while the lengthening extended its duration and increased its intensity. The only morphological change observed in the DRGs was the presence of large vacuoles in some large neurons of OG/SDG/FDG. Cell size analysis of the S1 DRGs showed no cell loss in any of the three groups; a significant increase in the number of SP-positive large DRG cells in the OG; and a significant decrease in the number of SP-immunoreactive small DRG neurons in the SDG/FDG. Faster and larger distraction resulted in more severe signs of pain sensation, and further reduced the number of SP-positive small cells, compared to slow distraction.

Spontaneous perseverative turning in rats with radiation-induced hippocampal damage.

This study found a new behavioral correlate of lesions specific to the dentate granule cell layer of the hippocampus: spontaneous perseverative turning. Irradiation of a portion of the neonatal rat cerebral hemispheres produced hypoplasia of the granule cell layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus while sparing the rest of the brain. Radiation-induced damage to the hippocampal formation caused rats placed in bowls to spontaneously turn in long, slow bouts without reversals. Irradiated subjects also exhibited other behaviors characteristic of hippocampal damage (e.g., perseveration in spontaneous exploration of the arms of a T-maze, retarded acquisition of a passive avoidance task, and increased horizontal locomotion). These data extend previously reported behavioral correlates of fascia dentata lesions and suggest the usefulness of a bout analysis of spontaneous bowl turning as a measure of nondiscrete-trial spontaneous alternation and a sensitive additional indicator of radiation-induced hippocampal damage.

Neural grafts attenuate behavioral deficits produced by early radiation-induced hypoplasia of fascia dentata granule cells.

Localized X-irradiation of the mitotic cells in the neonatal rat hippocampus produces a discrete hypoplasia of the fascia dentata granule cell layer. This brain damage inhibits the acquisition of a passive avoidance task, and stimulates spontaneous perseverative turning (without reversals) in a plastic hemisphere apparatus. Here we report how transplantation of fetal brain tissue can attenuate these radiation-induced behavioral deficits. The partially shielded cerebral hemispheres of neonatal rats received fractionated exposures to 13 Gray (Gy) of X-rays during the first 16 days post partum. This procedure depleted 90% of the hippocampal granule cells while sparing other brain areas. Control animals were sham irradiated. Baseline behavioral tests were conducted when subjects reached an average age of 147 +/- 4 days. We recorded behavioral parameters known to be sensitive to hippocampal damage: (1) passive avoidance performance, and (2) perseverative spontaneous turning without reversals. Irradiated subjects later (average age = 182 +/- 4 days) received intracerebral transplants of either fetal (E20-21) neurons/neuronal precursors from the fascia dentata or cerebral cortex (control grafts). Additional controls (both irradiated and sham-irradiated) experienced sham surgical procedures or received no surgical manipulation. Two post-surgical behavioral retests were accomplished when rats were 265 +/- 5 and 351 +/- 6 days old. Rats were then sacrificed and brains were treated histologically to assess radiation-induced brain damage, graft survivability and graft locus. Both hippocampal and cerebral cortex grafts generally facilitated performance on the passive avoidance task. This effect was most prominent during the first post-surgical test. Hippocampal transplants (especially those found to reside in the damaged hippocampus) also significantly attenuated perseverative spontaneous rotation at the time of the final post-surgical test series. Cortex grafts found within the damaged hippocampus did not ameliorate perseverative movements, while cortex grafts located outside the hippocampus significantly reduced this behavioral deficiency. These data suggest that selected behavioral deficits may be attenuated by transplanting fetal neural tissue long after early radiation-induced brain damage. The success of these procedures depends on a number of factors including: (1) the behaviors chosen for analysis, (2) the time after transplantation that behavioral tests are conducted, and (3) the source and final location of the donor neural tissue.

Early neural grafts transiently reduce the behavioral effects of radiation-induced fascia dentata granule cell hypoplasia.

X-irradiation of the neonatal rat hippocampus produces a selective hypoplasia of fascia dentata granule cells, locomotor hyperactivity, perseverative movements and deficits in passive avoidance. We previously reported that transplantation of fetal hippocampal tissue into the adult (age = 182 +/- 4 days) brain produced a partial recovery of these behavioral deficits. Since graft/host interconnections are more prominent when transplants are conducted soon after radiation-induced hippocampal damage, in this study we transplanted hippocampal or cerebral cortex neurons when host rats were 33 +/- 5 days of age (i.e. only 16 days after radiogenic brain damage). Behavioral evaluations were conducted 80 and 182 days after transplantation or surgical control procedures. In the first test series only, selective components of locomotion (e.g. stereotypy and total distance traveled) and perseverative turning (e.g. mean bout length and turning speed topography) were normalized by the hippocampal grafts. Radiation-induced changes in passive avoidance were less prominent in these studies than in past experiments. Still, transplantation of hippocampal tissue improved performance on this learning task as well. Cerebral cortex grafts did not produce reliable improvements in most behavioral measures. These data suggest that hippocampal grafts placed soon after X-ray induced fascia dentata hypoplasia reduce a broad range of behavioral deficits. However, these benefits are transient and, for the most part, depend on the use of transplant tissues homologous with those damaged.

Serial injections of MK 801 (Dizocilpine) in neonatal rats reduce behavioral deficits associated with X-ray-induced hippocampal granule cell hypoplasia.

MK 801 (NMDA antagonist) has been shown to protect newborns from hypoxia-induced brain damage. Here, we determined if (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydroxy-5h-dibenzo (a,d)cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK 801) could attenuate behavioral deficits associated with early radiation-induced hypoplasia of fascia dentata granule cells. We pretreated neonatal rats (n = 20) with MK 801 (0, 0.1, or 0.2 mg/kg, IP) before each of eight fractionated, head-only doses of X-rays (13 Gy total) administered during the first 16 days postpartum. Other rats (n = 18) received the same drug treatments but were sham irradiated. At age 16 months, water-escape latencies to a submerged platform were measured in a water maze. Irradiated rats with hippocampal damage exhibited impaired learning (longer latencies to find the platform) than did sham-irradiated subjects. Moderate doses of MK 801 (0.1 mg/kg) facilitated the learning of the water maze by irradiated subjects but did not enhance the number of their fascia dentata granule cells. Higher doses (0.2 mg/kg) of MK 801 provided no behavioral benefits. In fact, this dose significantly impaired the learning of the water maze by sham-irradiated rats and potentiated the granule cell hypoplasia observed in irradiated subjects. Thus, early MK 801 treatment produces dose-dependent behavioral protection for rats with radiation-induced hippocampal damage. Future studies may reveal the neurophysiological and neuroanatomic substrates of this behavioral recovery.

Effects of essential fatty acid deficiency on the induction of liver microsomal membranes by phenobarbital: an ultrastructural and biochemical investigation.

The essential fatty acids, particularly arachidonic, are important components of intracellular membrane systems. Their absence during dietary manipulation has been postulated to cause alterations in both composition and function of membranes and associated enzyme systems. In the current investigation, the effect of essential fatty acid deficiency on the induction of hepatic microsomal membranes my phenobarbital was studied. Control rats were fed a standard chow diet and either injected daily for 4 days with phenobarbital or with a placebo. Experimental animals were given an essential fatty acid-deficient (EFAD) diet and similarly injected with either phenobarbital or placebo. Following the above regimens, liver tissue was obtained for electron microscopy and biochemical membrane analysis. Control animals given phenobarbital displayed a marked proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in comparison to placebo controls. In contrast, EFAD rats did not exhibit an endoplasmic reticulum response to phenobarbital injection and appeared to recover from the drug administration injection more slowly than control animals. The alterations in fatty acid composition characteristic of an EFAD diet were observed in the microsomal membranes of the deficient animals. The concentrations of palmitic, palmitoleic, oleic, and 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acids were significantly increased above that found in control animals. Concentrations of linoleic and arachidonic acids were reduced. Phenobarbital administration significantly increased the concentrations of palmitic, linoleic, and arachidonic acids in microsomal fractions of chow-fed animals but not in EFAD animals. Conversely, eicosatrienoic acid concentrations increased in phenobarbital-treated EFAD animals but not in chow-fed, drug-injected rats. The triene/tetraene ratio reflected these alterations. Essential fatty acid deficiency causes biochemical alterations of the hepatic microsomal membranes which are exaggerated by the administration of phenobarbital. These compositional changes appear to alter the functional ability of the membranes to proliferate in response to phenobarbital and, thereby, inhibit the efficaceous metabolism of this drug.

Progressive behavioral changes during the maturation of rats with early radiation-induced hypoplasia of fascia dentata granule cells.

Localized exposure of the neonatal rat brain to X-rays produces neuronal hypoplasia specific to the granule cell layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. This brain damage causes locomotor hyperactivity, slowed acquisition of passive avoidance tasks and long bouts of spontaneous turning (without reversals) in a bowl apparatus. Here we report how these behavioral deficits change as a function of subject aging and behavioral test replications. Portions of the neonatal rat cerebral hemispheres were X-irradiated in order to selectively damage the granule cells of the dentate gyrus. The brains of experimental animals received a fractionated dose of X rays (13 Gy total) over postnatal days 1 to 16 and control animals were sham-irradiated. Rats between the ages of 71-462 days were tested 3 separate times on each of the following 3 behavioral tests: 1) spontaneous locomotion, 2) passive avoidance acquisition, and 3) spontaneous circling in a large plastic hemisphere. Rats with radiation-induced damage to the fascia dentata exhibited long bouts of slow turns without reversals. Once they began, irradiated subjects perseverated in turning to an extent significantly greater than sham-irradiated control subjects. This irradiation effect was significant during all test series. Moreover, in time, spontaneous perseverative turning was significantly potentiated in rats with hippocampal damage but increased only slightly in controls. Early radiation exposure produced locomotor hyperactivity in young rats. While activity levels of controls remained fairly stable throughout the course of the experiment, the hyperactivity of the irradiated animals decreased significantly as they matured.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Longitudinal study on oral health of dental students at Paris VII University.

This survey was conducted on young dental students, with the aim of evaluating the influence of scientific information dispensed during their studies on their own oral state and on their behavior towards it. Therefore, various parameters were considered at the very beginning of their university studies and at the end of their studies. A questionnaire was used to collect information on the socioeconomic origin and oral hygiene habits of the students. In order to assess actual improvement in oral health standardized clinical examinations were utilized. The comparison of parameters measured at the beginning and at the end of the clinical studies of the students revealed that the OHI-S and the GI scores had decreased highly significantly (P less than 0.01), and that the DMFT score had increased significantly (P less than 0.01). The increase in the DMFT score was mainly due to a high number of fillings. The answers to the questionnaire were indicative of a favorable modification in hygiene habits. At the end of their clinical studies the students were on an average more aware of their oral health, the quality and the duration of their toothbrushing had improved, and they more often sought early treatment and preventive care than at the beginning of their studies.

A computer program for calculation of doses and prices of injectable medications based on body weight or body surface area.

A computer program (CalcAnesth) was developed with Visual Basic for the purpose of calculating the doses and prices of injectable medications on the basis of body weight or body surface area. The drug names, concentrations, and prices are loaded from a drug database. This database is a simple text file, that the user can easily create or modify. The animal names and body weights can be loaded from a similar database. After typing the dose and the units into the user interface, the results will be automatically displayed. The program is able to open and save anesthetic protocols, and export or print the results. This CalcAnesth program can be useful in clinical veterinary anesthesiology and research. The rationale for dosing on the basis of body surface area is also discussed in this article.

Elaboration of a complex GIS application in a catchment area.

Rearrangement of land resources after political changes has not yet been finished in Hungary. It is almost impossible to collect information necessary for planning activities on outer areas of settlements. The data are distributed among various organizations and can be found in diverse forms or there are no available data at all. However water quality protection has become legally ordered concerning municipal activities around Lake Balaton which is considered as the most important recreation area and tourist target in Hungary and is also affected by a number of factors providing sources of environmental conflicts. Settlements in a catchment area (Tetves Creek) on the southern shoreline of Lake Balaton in Central Hungary tendered a complex project for collecting sources of authentic data of the Hungarian rural areas along with systematizing and saving these data in a uniform GIS. An application using Autodesk MapGuide Program for Internet realization was developed. The implemented web-based system can be used in Internet and Intranet environments.

Endoscopy and autopsy follow-up of biodegradable oesophageal anastomoses in dogs.

The biofragmentable Anastomosis Ring (BAR) is a mechanical device composed of absorbable material and creates an inverting, atraumatic compressive anastomosis with no foreign material at the anastomotic site after healing. The aim of the present experimental study was to assess the safety of oesophagoscopy in early days after oesophageal anastomoses performed with the BAR and to follow-up the healing of BAR anastomoses by in vivo endoscopy and autopsy examination. Thirty mongrel dogs divided into subgroups according to the time-points of endoscopy and autopsy (4th, 7th, 14th, 28th day) were used. There was no significant difference in the healing of anastomoses performed under or above the tracheal bifurcation. Pleural adhesions helped to cover and seal small subclinical leaks. The mortality was 13.3% (4 dogs) and the overall leakage rate 14.3%. We looked for bleeding, haematoma, erosion, ulceration and granulation tissue in the anastomosis. Due to the high mechanical strength of these anastomoses, oesophagoscopy was a safe, easy and feasible method for follow-up BAR intrathoracic anastomoses, with no significant difference between the number of lesions found with endoscopy as compared to the autopsy data. The overall sensitivity of oesophagoscopy to discover mucosal lesions was 73.1%. Endoscopy had no complications, therefore it is a useful method of follow-up and may help predict the normal or compromised healing of oesophageal anastomoses.