Copper Uptake Efficiency and Its Distribution Within Bioenergy Grass Giant Reed.

To evaluate copper uptake and its toxicity on bioenergy grass giant reed (Arundo donax L.), experiments were carried out using two epigenetic clonal lines - American (BL) and Hungarian (20SZ) ecotypes - grown on elevated Cu concentrations up to 26.8 mg L(-1). Neither ecotype showed any noticeable foliar symptoms of Cu toxicity at concentrations tested up to 10 mg L(-1). Dry mass of plants of both ecotypes significantly increased at the highest Cu treatment compared to control. Although the BL ecotype had greater capacity to uptake Cu than 20SZ, the dry mass and shoot length of BL was higher than that of 20SZ. Values of bioconcentration and transportation factors were higher in the BL than in the 20SZ ecotype. Almost 45 % of total Cu content within the whole plant was found in the plant root of both ecotypes. This demonstrated both ecotypes can be utilized for Cu phytoremediation alongside with significant biomass production.

Dynamic MR based analysis of tumor movement in upper and mid lobe localized lung cancer.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tumor motion is a very important factor in the radiotherapy of lung cancer. Uncertainty resulting from tumor movement must be considered in 3D therapy planning especially in case of IMRT or stereotactic therapy. The aim of our dynamic MR based study was to detect tumor movements in upper and mid lobe lung tumors. PATIENT AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with newly diagnosed stage II-IV lung cancer were enrolled into the study. According to tumor localization in the right S1-S3 segments 9, in the right S4-S6 segments 2, in the left S1-S3 segments 9 and in the left S4-S6 segments 4 lesions were detected. In normal treatment position individual dynamic MR examinations were performed in axial, sagittal and coronal planes (100 slices/30 sec). For tumor motion analysis E-RAD PAC's software was used. RESULTS: Movements of the tumor under normal breathing conditions were registered in the three main directions. The mean antero-posterior deviation was 0,109 cm (range: 0,063 cm-0,204 cm), the mean medio-lateral deviation was 0,114 cm (range: 0,06 cm- 0,244 cm). The greatest deviation was measured in cranio-caudal direction (mean: 0,27 cm, range: 0,079 cm- 0,815 cm). The mean direction independent deviation was 0,18 cm (range: 0,09 cm- 0,48 cm). CONCLUSION: Dynamic MR is a sensitive and well tolerated method for tumor motion monitoring in high precision 3D therapy planning of lung cancer patients. Our results demonstrate that tumors located in the upper and mid lobes have moderate breath synchronous movements. The greatest deviation occur in cranio-caudal direction.

A novel technique with a flexible applicator for MRI-based brachytherapy of cervical cancer.

PURPOSE: To introduce a novel technique for magnetic resonance (MR)-based 3-dimensional planned high-dose rate intracervical brachytherapy (BT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 2002, 16 patients received external beam radiotherapy and BT as part of radiochemotherapy for cervical cancer. A special adjustable applicator device was designed and used for BT. The isodose distribution was calculated from MR images with the applicator in place. RESULTS: The planning target volume coverage was adequate and the radiation burden on the organs at risk was within acceptable limits. Complete regression was achieved in two patients (12.5%), and partial regression in ten (62.5%) patients. The overall response rate for the complex treatment was 93.75%. In three cases the disease was considered to be stable. CONCLUSION: The MR-compatible, flexible applicator allows safe and reproducible cervical radiotherapy with no added discomfort or hazard for the patient.

The cerebral microcirculation in ischemia and hypoxemia. The Arisztid G. B. Kovách Memorial Lecture.

The cerebral capillary circulation exhibits heterogenous perfusion and undergoes characteristic changes in the distribution of RBC flow in response to systemic physiological stimuli. Hypoxemia, hypercapnia and hypotension increase the homogeneity of capillary perfusion, which is thought to preserve or enhance transcapillary exchange. Redistribution of capillary RBC flow between nutritive capillaries and preferential channels may contribute to this response. Selective changes in capillary flow may be brought about by non-smooth muscle-based contractile or blood-borne mechanisms. Isovolemic hemodilution anemia increases RBC velocity and supply rate with no decrease in capillary hematocrit. The effect of cerebral ischemia on microvascular patency depends on the severity and time course of the insult and whether the injury is global or focal. Capillary plugging is not observed following transient forebrain ischemia in the rat cerebral cortex but may contribute to tissue injury prior to reperfusion and during prolonged and severe ischemia. In the future, a better understanding of the functional architecture of the cerebral capillary network and its significance in the adaptation to altered circulatory conditions will continue to be an important goal of research. More work will have to be done to (i) substantiate the postulated physiological regulation of cerebral capillary flow, (ii) determine the cellular mechanism of integration of flow-dependent and neuronal activity-dependent signals, and (iii) identify the principal mediators, their cellular sources and molecular targets. The final answer to these questions will in a large part depend on our ability to directly, i.e. microscopically, visualize microvascular, neuronal and molecular phenomena as they occur in the brain in a spatially and temporally distributed manner.

[Importance of 3D conformal percutan and brachytherapy treatment planning based on CT and MRI examinations in treatment of oral cavity tumors] / A CT- és MRT-vizsgálatokon alapuló háromdimenziós besugárzás jelentôsége szájüregi daganatoknál.

AIM: The importance of 3D conformal percutan and brachytherapy treatment planning based on CT and MRI examinations in treatment of oral cavity tumors. Introducing of the planning procedure and the selection aspects. METHOD: We present the treatment planning based on CT and MRI slices of an oral cavity tumor. The percutan or interstitial boost follow the percutan irradiation of the involved regions and lymph nodes, regarding to the target volume and the critical organs. RESULT: Our ADAC 3D planning system gives us the possibility to add the first line and the boost treatment plans, to determine and compare the dose distribution within the planned target volume and the radiation load of the critical organs. CONCLUSION: The comparative 3D radiation planning system allows higher local dose escalation required for the effective radiation treatment of oral cavity tumors with maximal protection of the surrounding healthy tissues.

The endemic treponematoses: not yet eradicated.

The endemic treponematoses which comprise yaws, endemic syphilis (bejel) and pinta constitute a group of potentially disabling and disfiguring infections which primarily afflict children in tropical and subtropical areas. Foci where these diseases are now endemic have a patchy distribution and are typically confined to underprivileged communities living in remote rural areas, with little or no access to health services and removed from the mainstream of socioeconomic development. A drastic decline in the prevalence of these infections was brought about by the implementation of mass treatment campaigns with penicillin under the technical guidance of WHO and with material support from UNICEF in the 1950s and 1960s. These worldwide campaigns against the endemic treponematoses halted disease transmission in many areas and held the promise of complete eradication if intensive surveillance could be continued for some time with the increasing involvement of the basic health services. National campaigns were so successful that relatively low priority was given to the preparation of the rural health services for this new task. The failure of many countries to integrate active control measures into the functions of the rural health services led to the gradual build-up and extension of treponemal reservoirs and the resurgence of foci of increased disease transmission particularly in communities where standards of hygiene and health care had remained low. In a number of former endemic foci only low-level transmission persisted; in a few areas disease prevalence increased dramatically to reach pre-campaign levels. The lack of technical and financial resources limited the success of renewed national control activities in the most affected areas. Today, with waning interest in these diseases confined to remote, and thus silent, population groups, and a decreasing ability of health staff to identify cases, data collected by countries need to be supplemented by information from other sources in order to arrive at a more valid assessment of the situation concerning the endemic treponematoses. Central and West Africa are most severely affected by the resurgence of the endemic treponematoses. In recent years a number of countries (e.g. Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Mali) have launched renewed control efforts, often combining yaws or endemic syphilis control with other public health programmes. In Central Africa itinerant pygmy groups are still highly affected by yaws and are an important source of infection for the sedentary population with which they come into contact. In Chad, Sudan and Ethiopia, there is some evidence of persistent foci of endemic treponematoses; the epidemiological situation in Southern Africa is not well established.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The control of endemic treponematoses.

In the 1950s and 1960s, following a decision by the Second World Health Assembly in 1949, mass treatment campaigns against the endemic treponematoses were undertaken with the support of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund. The control policy was based on recognition of the importance of screening at least 90% of the target population; of conducting periodic resurveys and treating missed, new, and imported cases; of treating the entire treponemal reservoir (including latent cases and contacts); and of using adequate dosages of long-acting penicillin (minimal dosages were recommended). Later, policies on the extent of contact treatment at different levels of endemicity were established. During these mass campaigns, approximately 50 million clinical and latent cases and contacts were treated; prevalence of endemic treponematoses was reduced dramatically. The major reasons for resurgence of yaws and endemic syphilis in some areas are discussed. One important factor has been the failure of many countries to integrate active control measures into local health services after the mass campaigns. Yaws and pinta are continuing to decline to very low levels in the Americas. In West Africa, especially, incidence of yaws and endemic syphilis have returned to high levels. Few significant endemic areas remain in Asia except in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

[Laboratory methods used for the screening and the control of sexually transmitted diseases (author's transl)]. / Methodes de laboratoire utilisables pour le dépistage et la surveillance des maladies à transmission sexuelle.

The most currently used methods by laboratories for the screening of sexually transmitted diseases were reviewed by the authors and their comparative reliability and sensitiivity examined. The authors endeavoured to give guidance to physicians and bacteriologists in the choice of available techniques as regards collection sites, transport of specimens, choice of transport media, serological tests for syphilis screening and diagnostic methods for urethritis or non-gonococcal vaginitis.