Epidemiology of syphilis in Hungary between 1952 and 1996.

Trends in morbidity from syphilis in Hungary between 1952 and 1996 were analysed. The incidence of syphilis/100,000 inhabitants declined rapidly owing to the public health and therapeutic measures of the early 1950s (1952: total=73.6, early infections=60.2; 1962: total=13.7, early infections=8.7). After a temporary, slight increase until 1973 the number of reported syphilis cases declined continuously between 1978 and 1989 (1989: total=0.9, early infections=0.84). In 1994 a marked increase occurred when compared with 1993 (1993: total=early: 1.4. 1994: total=2.3, early infections=2.2). Incidence trends were statistically analysed using Chi-square test and linear regression. Chi-square analysis showed that the changes in the incidence of total and early syphilis are significant (P<0.00001) comparing the time intervals 1952-1962 with 1962-1966 and 1975-1979 with 1988-1992. The same trends were found using the linear regression test, except for the time interval of 1960-1973.

Analytical studies on the hydrolysis of Chinoin-102 and Chinoin-127, candidate compounds for stability studies.

The isolation and structural elucidation of some products of hydrolytic studies with two drugs, Chinoin-102 and Chinoin-127, are described. CH-127 is 1,6(ax)-dimethyl-4-oxo-1,6,7,8,9,9a-hexahydro-4H-pyrido-[1,2-a]-pyrimidine-3-carboxamide. CH-102 is 8,9-dimethoxy-3-imino-5,6-dihydro-3H-thiazolo-[4,3-a]-isoquinoline-1-carbonitrile. Degradation of the active compounds was studied by hydrolysing them in acidic, neutral and alkaline media. The isolated degradation products were identified by MS and IR techniques. The products identified were: for CH-127, 1,6-dimethyl-4-oxo-1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-pyrido-[1,2-a]-pyrimidin-3-carboxamide; for CH-102, acid amide and acid derivatives. For the selective determination of the drugs and their degradation products, UV spectrophotometric and densitometric methods were applied.

[HIV seropositivity in promiscuous heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual men and patients voluntarily reporting for screening in Hungary between 1 January 1986 and 31 December 1989]. / HIV fertözöttség promiszkuáló heteroszexuálisok, homo/biszexuális férfiak és szürésre önként jelentkezök között Magyarországon 1986. január 1. és 1989. december 31. között.

The cumulative seroprevalence was 5.21% among the homo/bisexual men in the four years. As well as in Budapest, we experienced the increase of seroprevalence in the country, too, after a decrease in 1988. The cumulative seroprevalence was 0.44% with men and 0.04% with women in the group of the voluntary reporters in the mentioned period. The same indexes were 0.07% for men and 0.019% for women in the group of the STD patients. Seroprevalence with men increased significantly in the last year. Hungary belongs to the low-incidence area among the European countries, even though the group of homosexuals can be considered moderately infected, seroprevalence is increasing in Budapest as well as in the country and heterosexuals are also affected.

[In vitro interaction of selegiline, riboflavin and light. Sensitized photodegradation of drugs. I]. / Szelegilin, riboflavin és fény in vitro kölcsönhatása. Fotoszenzibilizált gyógyszerbomlások. I.

Selegiline (Deprenyl, Jumex, Movergan etc.) is primarily used in the therapy of Parkinson's disease due to its neuroprotective, antidepressive and oxidative stress-preventing activities. Its prime effect is based upon the inhibition of the monoamine oxidase enzyme (MAO-B). The cofactor of this flavoenzyme is riboflavin (vitamin B2). Riboflavin, on the other hand, is an effective photosensitizer, with the capacity to promote the photodegradation of molecules (drugs, biological systems) which are otherwise stable against daylight. It has been studied whether this property of riboflavin is expressed against selegiline as well. This experiments proved that in the presence of riboflavin, both daylight and the light of daylight-lamps are sufficient to significantly decompose selegiline. The major decomposition product is methamphetamine.