Effects of aerial applications of naled on nontarget insects at Parris Island, South Carolina.

Testing impacts of large-scale aerial spraying to control public health pests under realistic field conditions are needed to understand impacts on natural populations of nontarget insects. Responses of terrestrial insects to aerial applications of an organophosphate insecticide, naled, used for mosquito and biting midge control were studied on Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC. Aerial applications were made with C-130 aircraft at dusk in 2003 and in 2005. In 2003, we sampled two locations on Parris Island with Malaise traps before and after spraying, and used Before-After analyses to examine changes in terrestrial insect diversity and abundance. In 2005, we sampled insects with yellow pan traps at three locations on Parris Island and at an untreated control site. A Before-After Control-Impact analysis at each location was conducted to compare changes. In 2003, numbers of four of 12 common taxa (Dolichopodidae, Sarcophagidae, Syrphidae, Tachinidae) were lower after sprays. However, there were no significant changes in numbers of common taxa or total numbers in 2005. Shannon diversities (H') were not different in either year indicating that sprays had minimal impact on overall community biodiversity. In contrast, populations of pestiferous biting midges (Culicoides spp.) collected in CDC-style traps were reduced by 94-99% after spraying in both years; mosquito numbers declined by 88.2% in 2003 and 92.5% in 2005, after sprays.

Fasting-induced changes of neuropeptide immunoreactivity in the lateral septum of male rats.

The objective of the present study was to determine the rostrocaudal distribution and the effect of reduced food intake (60% of the average daily food intake for 1-4 weeks) on the amount of leucine-enkephalin (Leu-enk), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin (Gal) in the lateral septum of male rat brain. Using pre-embedding immunocytochemistry combined with densitometry on 60 microm serial vibratome sections we found that in control animals Leu-enk-immunoreactive elements showed an increasing density from rostral towards the medial part of the septum, then a gradual decrease towards the caudal direction. The distribution of NPY proved to be rather even along the examined sequence of sections with two smaller peaks roughly at the 1/3 and 2/3 of the rostrocaudal axis. Gal showed similar distribution but the peaks were shifted to more caudal direction. We also found that Leu-enk forms the most dense plexus followed by a moderate amount of NPY-positive axonal meshwork. Gal was present in the lowest amount along the lateral septal nuclei. The effect of reduced food intake was marked and differential in the case of the three examined peptides. During the first 2 weeks of reduced food intake NPY-immunoreactivity was upregulated as compared to the control, then it was reduced close to the control value by the 4th week. The changes in Gal immunoreactivity showed similar pattern. The average relative density of Leu-enk-immunoreactive elements immediately decreased as a result of reduced food intake for 1 week and it gradually decreased by the end of the 4th week. These results indicate that reduced food intake affects the expression of NPY, Gal and Leu-enk not only in the relevant hypothalamic neuroendocrine centres, but also in the lateral septal area.

Seasonal fluctuations of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus.

The pacemaker of the "biological clock", the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus was studied in intact male rats for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) a specific marker for astrocytes. Immunohistochemical reactions were carried out in winter (January-February) and in summer (June-July). In winter the GFAP-immunoreactivity of the SCN was found low whereas in summer it was high. Gonadectomy reduced differences. Since photic stimuli that apparently trigger the observed differences reach the SCN through identified neuronal pathways we conluded that the reaction of astrocytes is an indicator of seasonally altered neuronal function in the SCN.

Kinetic study of zinc sulphate release from lipophilic matrices prepared for the therapy of Wilson's disease.

The rate and extent of drug release from the most controlled release wax matrices are influenced by the drug loading/embedding excipient ratio of the systems. In the present study hydrophobic wax - zinc sulphate matrices with different drug loadings were prepared for the therapy of Wilson's disease. The drug release was tested by the paddle method of USP and the dissolution data were analysed. Both the dissolution rate and kinetic profile can be controlled by alteration in the quantity of embedding material. Matrices of 75% zinc sulphate loadings showed steady state diffusion-controlled matrix release with good correlation in vitro. Good absorption of zinc sulphate from the gastrointestinal tract was proven by significant elevation of serum zinc level in patients with Wilson's disease.

Management of reflux disease in clinical praxis in hungary.

BACKGROUND: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition that affects a large proportion of the population. The majority of patients are treated in the primary care but effective management of the disease still remains a challenge for specialists as well. A recent survey - based on the case of a typical GERD patient - conducted in Germany indicated that mainly specialists adhered to the guidelines. AIM: The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey among specialists and primary care physician members of the Hungarian Society of Gastroenterology about the practical management of GERD using the same questionnaire as in the German study. METHODS: A questionnaire based on the case of a typical patient with GERD was sent out to a total of 1090 members of the society. The questions concerned general measures for avoiding reflux symptoms (dietary and life-style modifications), diagnosis of GERD and the type of treatment. Answers were compared with those in the German study. RESULTS: A total of 421 questionnaires were evaluated (38 %), which had been returned by 174 general practitioners (GP), 173 gastroenterologists (GE), 41 paediatricians, and 33 surgeons. Only 9 % (38/421) of the responders think that there is no necessity to carry out specific diagnostic approaches before starting any treatment. In 91 % of the cases (25 % always and 66 % only if symptoms persist) doctors carry out specific diagnostic tests (75 % endoscopy, 13 % 24 hours pH-metry, and 12 % X-ray). 47 % of responders start drug treatment at once while 35 % start medications only after getting the results of the requested examinations. 18 % of Hungarian doctors do start with a non-medical therapy. Almost all responders feel that it is important to advise a reduction of weight and a cessation of smoking for GERD patients. Altering specific dietary and life-style habits was considered useful by more than 85 % of our responders. Hungarian physicians were more concerned about different alcoholic drinks and spicy, fatty or bloating meals and less about sweets than their German counterparts. More than 85 % of GPs administer some kind of drug therapy as first choice. Over 65 % of GPs are using the step-down approach with proton pump inhibitors as the initial strategy and 78 %, 76 %, and 81 % of GEs, paediatricians, and surgeons, respectively, do the same. Almost one-third of GPs and paediatricians are willing to continue therapy and almost two-thirds of GPs will reduce the dose of current medical therapy if the GERD patient is responding well to the initial therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of the country, specialists are adhering more strictly to the guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of GERD than general practitioners. The majority of responders, however, ask for endoscopy prior to initiation of any medication and use the step-down approach. Despite the lack of scientific evidence, reduction of weight, cessation of smoking, dietary and life-style modifications are still part of the treatment of GERD in both Germany and Hungary.

Decreased bone density, elevated serum osteoprotegerin, and beta-cross-laps in Wilson disease.

Osteopathia has been reported in Wilson disease (WD), but bone density has not been measured; therefore, we performed bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and quantitative bone ultrasound (QUS) assessments, as well as measured the serum levels of osteocalcin (OCN), beta-cross-laps (beta-CTx's), and the recently discovered osteoprotegerin (OPG) and its ligand RANKL to investigate the underlying mechanism of osseous disorders. Serum OCN, beta-CTx, OPG, and RANKL levels were measured by ELISA in 21 WD patients and in 20 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. BMD, BMC, and QUS parameters were also determined. Osteoporosis was present in 9/21 (43%) WD patients. Abnormal QUS parameters were found in 7 (33%) of the patients. Although serum OCN levels were similar in patients and controls (29.93 +/- 24.65 mg/ml vs. 29.84 +/- 6.89 mg/ml), beta-CTx and OPG levels were significantly increased in WD compared with the healthy controls (625.4 +/- 312.3 pg/ml vs. 423.6 +/- 144.3 pg/ml and p = 0.022 and 7.2 +/- 3.4 pM vs. 3.5 +/- 1.0 pM and p < 0.001, respectively). No difference was observed in the RANKL level. There was a positive correlation between OCN and beta-CTx (r = 0.55; p = 0.01). We proved high occurrence of osteoporosis in WD. Negative bone remodeling balance is a consequence of increased bone resorption, which is indicated by elevated beta-CTx. The novel finding of elevated serum OPG may reflect a compensatory reaction to enhanced osteoclast activity, despite the normal OCN level.

Comparison of VHS video recording system with apple Macintosh-based image analysis and modified CODA-3 systems in equine motion analysis.

A VHS video--computer-based image analysis combination is described as a low sampling rate motion analysis system. Video recordings were taken indoor without any artificial illumination at 25 fps sampling rate. The horse studied was running on a high-speed treadmill and observed at 1.6, 4 and 7 m/s velocities at walk, trot and canter, respectively. Left forelimb and hindlimb were recorded separately from lateral view. For comparison, parallel CODA-3 recordings were taken at the same time from the same position. Joint angles were expressed and compared in angle-time diagrams. Sampling of both systems has been synchronised by a timer device at +/- 1/300 s error level. Results obtained with the two different recording systems were comparable in all joints measured with the exception of the fetlock. Inaccuracies in fetlock recordings are thought to be eliminated by measuring at controlled illumination. As a conclusion, the VHS-Macintosh setup appears to be promising as a simplified system for gait analysis.

Localization of hepatitis C virus RNA on human erythrocytes by RT in situ PCR technique.

BACKGROUND: Our previous results showed that hepatitis C virus (HCV) is detectable on erythrocytes by RT in situ PCR. The aims of the present study were to compare the sensitivity of this erythrocyte in situ PCR to routine serum solution phase HCV PCR as well as to obtain more data about the binding and cellular localization of HCV in the erythrocyte. METHODS: 105 previously HCV-infected patients and 20 control individuals were studied using RT in situ PCR on erythrocytes and solution phase RT-PCR from serum samples. Binding of HCV to erythrocytes was studied by in vitro inoculation. RT in situ PCR results were evaluated by fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: From 105 HCV cases, 78 gave positive, while 5-and all control cases-gave negative results by both PCR techniques. In 21 cases, only the in situ technique provided positive results, while in only I case did the solution phase method provide positive results. During in vitro inoculation, an early HCV-erythrocyte binding was detected followed by virus internalization. CONCLUSIONS: Erythrocyte-in situ PCR was found to show higher sensitivity for the detection of HCV compared to the generally applied serum PCR method. In vitro studies suggested a specific binding of HCV to erythrocyte and showed the virus to be capable of internalization.

[Repeat vascular surgeries on lower limbs]. / Az alsó végtagok veróér mútéteinek redo operációi.

The authors present the results of 85 redo operations, which were performed in the 3rd Surgical Department of Semmelweis University and the Surgical Department of St. Borbála Hospital in Tatabánya. The period under survey lasted for five years from 01 January 1996 to 31 December 2000. 783 vascular reconstruction were performed in authors' departments during this period. The authors call attention to the fact that they consider the possibility of redo operations at the planning of the first operation, therefore it is recommended to make only the necessary operation and provide the opportunity for further operations. In their material ten percent of the reconstructive vascular operations were redo operations.

Treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a presumed autoimmune disease of the liver, which predominantly affects middle age women. Most patients are diagnosed when asymptomatic. The disease is characterised by chronic, granulomatous inflammation of the small bile ducts, which leads to progressive ductopenia, cholestasis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and eventual liver failure. All PBC patients with abnormal liver biochemistry should be considered for therapy. Ursodeoxycholic acid (URSO) treatment reduces intracellular hydrophobic bile acid levels and thereby may have a cytoprotective effect on cell membranes. URSO may also act as an immunomodulating agent. Multicenter randomised controlled trials proved that the treatment is associated with a marked improvement in serum biochemical markers of cholestasis, i.e. bilirubin, ALP, GGT, including fall in serum cholesterol levels. Treatment does not seem to benefit the symptoms of fatigue, pruritus, and osteoporosis. UDCA has been shown when given in a dose of 15 mg/kg daily for up to 4 years to prolong the time to liver transplantation or death. Immunosuppressive therapy: based on the immunological abnormalities, several immunosuppressive drugs have been tested. Neither azathioprine nor cyclosporine was found in large enough trials to show beneficial effect on survival. D-penicillamine, cholchicin, methotrexát, prednisolone were found without significant long-term benefit. Combination therapy with URSO and budenoside appears to add some benefit to URSO monotherapy, but further studies are needed. Liver transplantation. The most crucial question is the timing. Serum bilirubin, Mayo risk score and some other factors such as uncontrollable pruritus and severe osteoporosis influence the decision. Recurrence of PBC in allograft is rare, the progress is slow, and is no reason for not recommending transplantation. Symptomatic treatment of pruritus, sicca syndrome and preventive treatment of osteoporosis, neuropathy and fat soluble vitamin deficiency is also important.

Meningeal allografts of the 6-day-old rat pineal: a model for a pineal deprived of intracerebral innervation.

Pineals from 6-day-old rats were transplanted into an incised bed of the parietal cortex of adult rats, of which 29 survived 4-5 weeks after transplantation. The pinealocytes and capillaries in the grafts were comparable in structure to those in the control. Grafts were demarcated from the host cortical tissue by a double, meninx plus gland-capsule sheath through which no nerve ingrowth was seen into the graft from the host brain. On the other hand, sympathetic nerves originating from the cervical ganglia reached the grafted pineal along the perivascular spaces of blood vessels, as is the case in situ. On this basis. the present meningeal graft is thought to be a model of the pineal gland surviving without its intracerebral neural control.

Serum dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV, CD26) activity in chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: DPP IV is a cell surface ectoenzyme widely distributed in the human body. It has been implicated in T-cell activation, hepatocyte-extracellular-matrix interactions and fibroblast proliferation. Furthermore, upregulated CD26 expression has been found on the surface of human hepatoma cells transfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) c-DNA. We examined the serum DPP IV activity in a large number of patients with chronic HCV infection in a cross-sectional study. We also investigated whether the activity differs from that in controls and depends upon the response to interferon (IFN) therapy. METHODS: Serum DPP IV activity was measured by microplate-based (Multiskan-Plus-MKII, Labsystem) kinetic assay in 144 patients with chronic HCV infection. Seventy-four out of 144 patients (46 non-responders, 28 responders) were formerly treated with interferon. Sixty healthy blood donors served as controls. Gly-Pro-PNA (Bachem, Torrance, USA) was used as substrate. Results are expressed in nmol/ml/min (U/l). Shapiro-Wilk's test, Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman rank order correlation were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Serum DPP IV activity was significantly higher (mean = 20.89 [s 9.6]) in patients with chronic HCV infection than in healthy controls (12.39 [2.76, P < 10(-5)]). The enzyme activities significantly differed in naive HCV-positive patients (22.2 [9.89, P < 10(-5)]) and non-responders (23.28 [9.57, P < 10(-5)]) from that in the healthy controls and also from that in responders (13.69 [4.21]). Correlation was found between DPP IV activity and AST (r = 0.44, P < 10(-5)), ALT (r = 0.44, P < 10(-5)), GGT (r = 0.41, P < 10(-5)) levels. CONCLUSION: Serum DPP IV activity seems to be an indicator of HCV induced liver injury. The activity may reflect the efficacy of interferon therapy.

Hepatocyte proliferation and cell cycle phase fractions in chronic viral hepatitis C by image analysis method.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic hepatitis is characterized by necrosis of liver cells, accompanied by an inflammatory reaction and compensatory cell proliferation. The interaction of the core and non-structural proteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with several cellular factors suggests that cell proliferation may be influenced by HCV. The aim of this study was to investigate hepatocyte proliferation and DNA ploidy patterns in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C (CH-C) compared with chronic non-viral hepatitis (CH-N), using a TV image analysis method. METHODS: The DNA index (DI) and cell phase fractions (G1, S, G2) were measured by means of digital picture analysis method on nuclear suspensions of Feulgen stained hepatocytes. Cells were taken from the liver biopsy specimens of 71 patients with CH-C and 24 patients with CH-N. Twenty-six normal liver samples were used as controls. RESULTS: Significantly higher G1 (94 +/- 4) and lower S (3.56 +/- 3.16) phase fractions were measured in CH-C compared with CH-N (G1, 90 +/- 6; S, 6.4 +/- 5.99). The DI of moderate (1.12 +/- 0.05) and severe (1.12 +/- 0.05) CH-C showed near-aneuploid DNA content, while diploidy (DI < 1.10) was detected in cases of CH-N. CONCLUSION: The higher G1 and lower S cell cycle phase fractions in CH-C reflect decreased hepatocyte proliferation compared with CH-N. The near-aneuploid DNA content of the HCV-infected liver samples may be a sign of increased genetic instability, which may contribute to the carcinogenic potential of HCV.

Sexual dimorphism of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity in the rat interpeduncular nucleus.

The intensity of immunostaining for the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is outstandingly high in the interpeduncular nucleus. This nucleus was compared in males and females for its GFAP immunoreaction. Immunohistochemistry was carried out on free floating vibratome slices and evaluated by surface densitometry. While in males the reactions were similar, females showed individual variations. Since the interpeduncular nucleus is a hormonally inactive brain area where gonadal hormones do not induce plastic synaptic changes, it is concluded that concerning this astroglial marker a sexual dimorphism exists also outside the "endocrine brain".

Expression of decorin, transforming growth factor-beta 1, tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase 1 and 2, and type IV collagenases in chronic hepatitis.

Decorin is a small extracellular matrix proteoglycan. It binds and modulates transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 action, the major stimulator of fibrogenesis. Its role in the pathogenesis of human liver cirrhosis is unknown. Therefore, we studied the relationship of the 2 proteins in normal human liver and in 43 chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis specimens. To understand the mechanism that maintains matrix deposition in stage IV hepatitis, we studied expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2, as well as the activities of type IV collagenases. Gene expression was analyzed on messenger RNA and protein level by morphologic and biochemical approaches. Decorin proved to be an early marker of fibrogenesis, and its deposition increased parallel to that of TGF-beta 1 and to inflammatory activity. Liver fibrosis progressed despite high temporospatial expression of decorin with TGF-beta 1. Neither decorin nor TGF-beta 1 protein deposition increased further in cirrhosis with low inflammatory activity, suggesting that impaired extracellular matrix catabolism rather than active production plays a role in this stage. This possibility was supported by high message levels of metalloproteinase inhibitors, no 72-kd collagenase activities, and low 92-kd collagenase activities.

[Follow-up study of bone mineral density in postmenopausal patients with primary biliary cirrhosis]. / A csont ásványianyag-tartalmának utánkövetéses vizsgálata postmenopausás primer biliaris cirrhosisos nóbetegekben.

Osteopenia is a common complication in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). In this follow-up study the authors investigated the metabolic bone disease in postmenopausal PBC patients. 17 Ca and vitamin D supplemented, postmenopausal female patients with PBC (stage II-IV, age: 41-84, mean: 52, each AMA M2 positive, without ascites) were followed-up for an average of 6.3 years. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured yearly by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (XR26, Norland) in lumbar spine (L2-4), femoral neck (FN), and radius BMC by single photon absorptiometry. Urinary pyridinoline/creatinine (Pyr/c) and deoxypyridinoline/creatinine ratio (D-Pyr/c) by HPLC, 25-OH-D3 level and standard liver function tests were monitored in all patients. At the beginning the BMD was decreased in 7 out of 17 patients (T-score < -2.5). The mean BMD was 0.885 SD +/- 0.26 g/cm2 in L2-4, 0.725 +/- 0.16 g/cm2 in FN and the BMC 0.703 +/- 0.14 g/cm in the radius. During follow-up the rate of annual bone loss was increased in patients with osteoporosis at the start of this study. There was a correlation between the urinary Pyr/c and D-pyr/c values and the annual rate of bone loss in patients with PBC (r: -0.79; p < 0.01). In patients with severe osteoporosis at the time of the diagnosis of PBC a more pronounced progression of bone loss was observed during the follow-up period.