Nutritional Habits of Hungarian Older Adults.

There are many nutritional changes that come with aging, mostly as consequences of health regression. Malnutrition and overweight often start with inadequate food consumption, followed by alterations in biochemical indices and body composition. In our study, we aimed to analyze the feeding habits and energy and nutrient intake of a Hungarian elderly population, focusing on macronutrient, water, fruit, and vegetable consumption while searching for possible nutritional factors leading to NCD and many other chronic diseases in this population. Two questionnaires were used. These were the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and one asking about nutritional habits, and a 3-day feeding diary was also filled. Subjects (n = 179, 111; females (F), 68 males (M), older than 50 years were recruited. Based on MNA results, 78 adults (43.57% of the studied population) were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, although, according to BMI categories, 69% were overweight and 7.3% were obese among M, while 42.3% were overweight among F. The average daily meal number was diverse. The amount of people consuming fruit (11.7%) and vegetables (8.93%) several times a day was extremely low (15.3% of F and 4.4% of M). Daily fruit consumption in the whole sample was 79.3%. Overall, 36.3% consumed 1 L of liquid and 0.5 L of consumption was found in 15.1% of participants. A significant gender difference was found in water consumption, with F drinking more than M (p ≤ 0.01). In our sample, 27.93% of the respondents took dietary supplements. Further analysis and research are needed to explore the specific health implications of and reasons behind these findings.

Oncological Screening of Kidney Tumors After Renal Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Among renal transplant recipients, renal cell carcinoma in the native kidneys represents the most common solid tumor. At the Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Gastroenterology of Semmelweis University annual control abdominal ultrasound examination is recommended for transplant patients. Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of the ultrasound screening program at our institute and to learn about the characteristics of shrunken kidney tumors. METHODS: Retrospectively, we processed the results of abdominal and pelvic ultrasound examinations of 1687 kidney transplant patients, which were performed at our institute between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016. RESULTS: A total of 26 tumors were detected during the abovementioned period of time, of which 18 were renal cancers. Renal cancer was significantly (P = 0.029) more common in men. Seventeen renal cancers were classified as stage I and one as stage IV disease. The mean time of dialysis was 37.73 ± 24.37 months. The mean time between kidney transplantation and tumor recognition was 7.9 ± 6.29 years. The 5-year survival was 66%; however, it should be noted that only 1 patient lost his life due to his tumor disease. The mean time between the last 2 ultrasound examinations was 27.8 ± 23.89 months. Only 57% of tumors were detected by screening. No significant differences in tumor size, stage, and survival could be detected between screened and nonscreened renal cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound examination at least every 2 years is an effective tool for the early detection of renal cell carcinoma of the shrunken kidneys.

Corrigendum: Physical Activity as a Preventive Lifestyle Intervention Acts Through Specific Exosomal miRNA Species-Evidence From Human Short- and Long-Term Pilot Studies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.658218.].

Physical Activity as a Preventive Lifestyle Intervention Acts Through Specific Exosomal miRNA Species-Evidence From Human Short- and Long-Term Pilot Studies.

Exercise initiates systemic adaptation to promote health and prevent various lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that circulating exosomes mediate some of the beneficial effects of exercise via the transfer of microRNAs between tissues. Yet to date, a comprehensive profile of the exosomal miRNA (exomiR) content released following short-term (0.5 year in this study) and long-term (25 + years in this study) regular bouts of exercise is still lacking. However, a better understanding of these miRNA species would assist in clarifying the role of regular exercise at the molecular level in the prevention of chronic diseases. In the present pilot studies we analyzed serum exomiR expression in healthy young, sedentary participants (n = 14; age: 23 ± 2 years) at baseline and following a half year-long moderate-intensity regular exercise training. We also analyzed serum exomiR expression in older, healthy trained participants (seniors, n = 11; age: 62 ± 6 years) who engaged in endurance activities for at least 25 years. Following the isolation and enrichment of serum exosomes using Total Exosome Isolation Reagent (TEI) their exomiR levels were determined using the amplification-free Nanostring platform. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the majority of exomiRs overlap for short-term (0.5 year in this study) and long-term (25 + years in this study) regular bouts of exercise. The top 12 significantly altered exomiRs (let-7a-5p; let-7g-5p; miR-130a-3p; miR-142-3p; miR-150-5p; miR-15a-5p; miR-15b-5p; miR-199a-3p; miR-199b-3p; miR-223-3p; miR-23a-3p, and miR-451a-3p) were used for further evaluation. According to KEGG pathway analysis a large portion of the exomiRs target chronic diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, and viral infections. Our results provide evidence that exosomal miRNA modulation is the molecular mechanism through which regular exercise prevents various chronic diseases. The possibility of using such exomiRs to target diseases is of great interest. While further validation is needed, our comprehensive exomiR study presents, for the first time, the disease-preventive molecular pattern of both short and long-term regular exercise.

Digital UV/VIS imaging: A rapid PAT tool for crushing strength, drug content and particle size distribution determination in tablets.

The Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and the Quality-by-Design (QbD) approaches can efficiently facilitate the shift to the desired continuous manufacturing and real time release testing (RTRT). By this, it is vital to develop new, in-line analytical methods which fulfil the pharmaceutical requirements. The fast-developing digital imaging-based machine vision systems can provide revolutionary solutions not just in the automotive industry but in the pharmaceutical technology, as well. This study aimed to explore the capabilities of UV/VIS-based machine vision in tablet inspection as a PAT tool for the determination of compression force and crushing strength, drug content and drug distribution in tablets using meloxicam a yellow model drug. In the case of determining the compression force and crushing strength, the application of multivariate wavelet texture analysis (MWTA) based models provided relatively low prediction errors. To predict the drug content of meloxicam tablets CIELAB or RGB colorspace based algorithms were successfully developed and validated. UV/VIS imaging was also used to map the particle size distribution and spatial distribution of meloxicam, the results were compared to chemical maps obtained by Raman microscopy. Digital imaging combined with multivariate data analysis might be a valuable, high throughput, in-line PAT tool for automated inspection of pharmaceutical tablets.

Ultra-orthodoxy and selective voluntarism: How did the Orbán regime react to the first wave of the pandemic?

Viktor Orbán's regime in Hungary is a prime example of authoritarian populism in a relatively developed country that has been part of the European Union since 2004. The paper argues that in response to the pandemic, the Orbán government pursued a set of selectively voluntarist policies that have been informed by an ultra-orthodox, state-centered worldview that sought to minimize the regime's democratic accountability and to reduce the counter-mobilization ability of the opposition. These policies had been associated with comparatively low infection and death rates in the first wave of the pandemic, hence enabling high approval ratings for the government despite generating considerable human and economic costs. In light of rising infection and death rates from September 2020, however, it is yet to be seen whether the COVID-19 crisis, in balance, will reinforce or undermine popular support to the regime.

Artificial Neural Network Correlation and Biostatistics Evaluation of Physiological and Molecular Parameters in Healthy Young Individuals Performing Regular Exercise.

Studies support that regular physical activity (PA) decelerates senescence-related decline of physiological and molecular parameters in the elderly. We have addressed the other end of this spectrum: healthy and young, inactive individuals participated in a 6-month long personal trainer-guided lifestyle program. We have measured physiological and molecular parameters (differentiating high- and low responders) and their correlation with PA (sedentary status). Cluster analysis helped to distinguish individuals with high- or low PA and differentiate high- and low-responders of each parameter. The assessed cardiovascular parameters (heart rate, blood pressure, 6-min walking distance, relative VO2max), body composition parameters (body fat and muscle mass percentage) metabolic parameters (glucose, insulin, HDL, LDL), immune parameters (cortisol, CRP, lymphocyte counts, hTREC) all showed improvement. Artificial neural network analysis (ANN) showed correlation efficiencies of physiological and molecular parameters using a concept-free approach. ANN analysis appointed PA as the mastermind of molecular level changes. Besides sedentary status, insulin and hTREC showed significant segregation. Biostatistics evaluation also supported the schism of participants for their sedentary status, insulin concentration and hTREC copy number. In the future ANN and biostatistics, may predict individual responses to regular exercise. Our program reveals that high responder individuals of certain parameters may be low responders of others. Our data show that moderate regular PA is essential to counteract senescence in young and healthy individuals, despite individual differences in responsiveness. Such PA may not seem important in the everyday life of young and healthy adults, but shall become the base for healthy aging.

Functional cyclophilin D moderates platelet adhesion, but enhances the lytic resistance of fibrin.

In the course of thrombosis, platelets are exposed to a variety of activating stimuli classified as 'strong' (e.g. thrombin and collagen) or 'mild' (e.g. ADP). In response, activated platelets adhere to injured vasculature, aggregate, and stabilise the three-dimensional fibrin scaffold of the expanding thrombus. Since 'strong' stimuli also induce opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) in platelets, the MPTP-enhancer Cyclophilin D (CypD) has been suggested as a critical pharmacological target to influence thrombosis. However, it is poorly understood what role CypD plays in the platelet response to 'mild' stimuli which act independently of MPTP. Furthermore, it is unknown how CypD influences platelet-driven clot stabilisation against enzymatic breakdown (fibrinolysis). Here we show that treatment of human platelets with Cyclosporine A (a cyclophilin-inhibitor) boosts ADP-induced adhesion and aggregation, while genetic ablation of CypD in murine platelets enhances adhesion but not aggregation. We also report that platelets lacking CypD preserve their integrity in a fibrin environment, and lose their ability to render clots resistant against fibrinolysis. Our results indicate that CypD has opposing haemostatic roles depending on the stimulus and stage of platelet activation, warranting a careful design of any antithrombotic strategy targeting CypD.

DNA, histones and neutrophil extracellular traps exert anti-fibrinolytic effects in a plasma environment.

In response to various inflammatory stimuli, neutrophils secrete neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), web-like meshworks of DNA, histones and granular components forming supplementary scaffolds in venous and arterial thrombi. Isolated DNA and histones are known to promote thrombus formation and render fibrin clots more resistant to mechanical forces and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA)-induced enzymatic digestion. The present study extends our earlier observations to a physiologically more relevant environment including plasma clots and NET-forming neutrophils. A range of techniques was employed including imaging (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser microscopy, and photoscanning of macroscopic lysis fronts), clot permeability measurements, turbidimetric lysis and enzyme inactivation assays. Addition of DNA and histones increased the median fibre diameter of plasma clots formed with 16 nM thrombin from 108 to 121 and 119 nm, respectively, and decreased their permeability constant from 6.4 to 3.1 and 3.7×10(-9) cm(2). Histones effectively protected thrombin from antithrombin-induced inactivation, while DNA inhibited plasminogen activation on the surface of plasma clots and their plasmin-induced resolution by 20 and 40 %, respectively. DNA and histones, as well as NETs secreted by phorbol-myristate-acetate-activated neutrophils, slowed down the tPA-driven lysis of plasma clots and the latter effect could be reversed by the addition of DNase (streptodornase). SEM images taken after complete digestion of fibrin in NET-containing plasma clots evidenced retained NET scaffold that was absent in DNase-treated clots. Our results show that DNA and histones alter the fibrin architecture in plasma clots, while NETs contribute to a decreased lytic susceptibility that can be overcome by DNase.

Usability of HL7 and SNOMED CT standards in Java Persistence API environment.

Due to the need for an efficient way of communication between the different stakeholders of healthcare (e.g. doctors, pharmacists, hospitals, patients etc.), the possibility of integrating different healthcare systems occurs. However, during the integration process several problems of heterogeneity might come up, which can turn integration into a difficult task. These problems motivated the development of healthcare information standards. The main goal of the HL7 family of standards is the standardization of communication between clinical systems and the unification of clinical document formats on the structural level. The SNOMED CT standard aims the unification of the healthcare terminology, thus the development of a standard on lexical level. The goal of this article is to introduce the usability of these two standards in Java Persistence API (JPA) environment, and to examine how standard-based system components can be efficiently generated. First, we shortly introduce the structure of the standards, their advantages and disadvantages. Then, we present an architecture design method, which can help to eliminate the possible structural drawbacks of the standards, and makes code generating tools applicable for the automatic production of certain system components.

Experimental mate-removal increases the stress response of female house sparrows: the effects of offspring value?

Vertebrates secrete elevated levels of glucocorticoids in response to various stressors, which mobilize energetic reserves but concurrently interfere with reproduction. In accordance with life-history theory, recent evidence suggests that the corticosterone response to stress is modulated according to the value of the brood. Since brood value is positively related to parental care, the stress response modulation may be either the consequence of offspring value (e.g. large broods have high fitness potential - the brood value hypothesis) or the consequence of parental workload (e.g. large broods are energetically demanding for the parents - the workload hypothesis). In this experiment, we aimed at experimentally separating the effects of brood value and workload and to confront the latter two hypotheses. To do so, we captured the male parents from breeding pairs of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and took them in captivity for 48 h. During the absence of males, mate-removed females made more food deliveries than controls (increased workload) but were unable to fully compensate the lack of their mate, thus their chicks were in worse condition (reduced brood value) than control chicks. After the experimental period, mate-removed females responded more strongly to the standardized stressor than controls. In both groups, the corticosterone response to stress was negatively related to the nestlings' mass gain. These results provide experimental support for the brood value hypothesis, i.e. that individuals may actively modulate their stress response (either down- or upwards) with respect to the value of their current reproduction.

[Current problems in the quality control of pharmaceutical preparations manufactured in pharmacies III. Investigation of theophilline containing suppositories]. / Magisztrális gyógyszerkészítmények minoségellenorzésének aktuális kérdései III. Teofillin tartalmú kúpok vizsgálata.

In the present part of our series of papers a study on theophilline containing suppositories prepared in pharmacies is described. From the possible methods for assay of theophilline two nonaqueous titrations are compared. In first, theophilline is measured as a very weak base in a mixture of glacial acetic acid and acetic anhydride with perchloric acid using Sudan-III indicator, in second, the compound is measured as medium strong acid in dimethylformamide solvent with sodium-hydroxide titrant using phenolphtalein indicator. These methods were validated and the first was found more appropriate for regulatory control. We investigated suppositories prepared in our laboratory and in different pharmacies. The study revealed the poor quality of the preparations due to the difficulties in the technology and the importance of the applied vehicle. A guideline for the good preparation practice and an alternative technology are proposed.

Reproduction and modulation of the stress response: an experimental test in the house sparrow.

The stress response is highly variable among individuals, but the causes of this variation remain largely unknown. In response to stressors, vertebrates secrete elevated levels of glucocorticoids which enhance survival, but concurrently interfere with reproduction. We tested the hypothesis that individuals flexibly modulate their stress response with respect to the reproductive value of their brood in free-living house sparrows (Passer domesticus). We experimentally increased or decreased clutch size during the nestling period and found that parents tending enlarged clutches responded less strongly to a stressor than those tending reduced clutches. In addition, we examined whether individuals responded less strongly to a stressor as the breeding season progressed and future reproductive opportunities declined. We found that the stress response decreased with breeding date during the birds' first breeding attempt, but it remained constant during their second breeding attempt. Within-individual variability in the stress response was related to the brood size manipulations the birds received in their two consecutive breeding attempts. These results provide the first experimental support for the hypothesis that individuals actively modulate their stress response with respect to the value of current reproduction.

[Example for a new alternative application of NIR spectroscopy in the parallel determination of active ingredients and an excipient in powders and tablets]. / Példa a NIR spektroszkópia alternatív alkalmazhatóságára: porkeverékek es tabletták komponenseinek egyideju meghatározása.

Near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy was used to determine paracetamol, caffeine and lactose based excipient content of powders for direct compression and in intact tablet formulations as well. The nominal concentrations of the active moiety was different in each sample set, and calibration was carried out by multiple linear regression calculations from the reflectance spectral data. The results obtained with NIR spectroscopy were comparable with those obtained with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) used as reference method. The non-destructive NIR method applied is thus suitable for the alternative quantitative determination of paracetamol, caffeine and additionally the excipient in intact tablets and have the advantage over HPLC of being rapid and can be simply carried out without sample preparation and without the use of any reagent.