TLC–densitometry of rosmarinic and caffeic acids in the evaluation of Lamiaceae species growing in Central Europe

A TLC-densitometric method was used for the parallel quantification of rosmarinic acid (RA) and caffeic acid (CA) in crude extracts of Salvia species (Family Lamiaceae), obtained by ultrasonic extraction with 60% methanol. The densitometric measurement was performed in fluorescent mode as it has been published earlier. The applicability of the method has been investigated mainly from the viewpoint of the starting material. Questions are discussed like, what kind of factors should be taken into account, if the drugs are to be characterized, and how the RA and CA contents of samples vary in the plants are discussed. The drugs (plant material) show great differences due to the time of harvest of time, to the organ composition of drugs, to the extraction and storage conditions of the stock-solutions prepared from them. The importance of these parameters is illustrated on Salvia species native to Hungary

Short-term storability of oil seed and walnut cake — microbiological aspect

We evaluated the microbiological safety, the short-term storability, and the macronutrients of oil seed cake (OSC) obtained from walnut (WnC), linseed (LC), and sunflower seed with hull (SC). The OSCs had 3.6–5.8% moisture content, 0.50–0.60 water activity (aw), 29.9–39.4% protein, 15.5–23.6% fat, and 36.6–48.0% dietary fibre content. The grinded OSCs could be stored in opaque plastic bags for 4 months at temperatures of 4 °C, 14 °C, and 25 °C. Total colony count of mesophilic microorganisms depending on oxygen demand and spore-forming ability, and faecal indicator microorganisms were determined during a 4-month storage term at 4 °C, 14 °C, and 25 °C using traditional culturing methods. The OSCs were free from sulphite-reducing Clostridia and coliforms, including Escherichia coli. Data were analyzed statistically by multifactor analysis of variance. Ascending order of the average contamination of the three products (log10 CFU g−1) was aerobic sporogenic bacteria (2.39), fungal count (2.51), total aerobic microbe count (3.00), anerobic sporogenic bacteria (3.75), and total anaerobic microbe count (4.23). As for the average microbial count, WnC was the least (2.73 log10 CFU g−1) and LC was the highest (3.53 log10 CFU g−1) contaminated material. Regarding the variation of microbial contamination during storage, temperature was indifferent (P=0.191), while storage time (P=0.0033) and the product type were influential (P=0.000)

How large dimension guarantees a given angle?

We study the following two problems: (1) Given $n\ge 2$ and \al, how large Hausdorff dimension can a compact set A\su\Rn have if $A$ does not contain three points that form an angle \al? (2) Given \al and \de, how large Hausdorff dimension can a %compact subset $A$ of a Euclidean space have if $A$ does not contain three points that form an angle in the \de-neighborhood of \al? An interesting phenomenon is that different angles show different behaviour in the above problems. Apart from the clearly special extreme angles 0 and $180^\circ$, the angles $60^\circ,90^\circ$ and $120^\circ$ also play special role in problem (2): the maximal dimension is smaller for these special angles than for the other angles. In problem (1) the angle $90^\circ$ seems to behave differently from other angles

Novel breads fortified through oilseed and nut cakes

The nutritive value, the microbiological safety of oilseed cake (OSC) obtained from naked pumpkin seed (PuC), sunflower seed (SC), yellow linseed (LC), and walnut (WnC), and their impact on wheat flour (WF) dough and bread sensory characteristics at 5% and 10% addition ratio were investigated. The OSCs had high protein (34–50%), fat (8–15%), total dietary fibre (23–36%) content and high energy value (383–444 kcal/100 g)). The OSC samples with a minimal exception fulfilled the requirements of feed legislation in force. An increased water absorption, dough development time, and reduced elasticity were observed probably due to the enhanced fiber and protein content. Dough stability increased with WnC, and decreased with PuC or SC addition. Enrichment provided the appearance of a brown bread for WnC, of a half-brown bread for LC. PuC gave an unusual look. The appearance of OSC fortified bread similar to daily bread, was an advantage resulting the 1st rank for 10% WnC bread and the 2nd one for 10% LC bread (P=0.05). The studied OSCs are suitable for food enrichment, however, in case of PuC and SC fortified flour blends, hydrocolloid application is recommended. Our data suggest that the newly developed fortified breads could be a valuable source for healthy nutrition

Bakteriális infekciók májátültetés után

INTRODUCTION: The authors reviewed the prevalence of postoperative infections, the results of bacterium cultures, and the incidence of multidrug resistance in their liver transplanted patients during a period between 2003 and 2012. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse risk factors and colonisations of bacterial infections. METHOD: The files of 408 patients (281 bacterium cultures) were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 408 patients 70 had a postoperative infection (17%); 58 patients (14.2%) had positive and 12 patients (2.9%) negative bacterial culture results. Cholangitis was found in 7 cases (12.1%), abdominal infection in 17 cases (29.3%), and pulmonal infection in 28 cases (48.3%). Postoperative infection was more frequent in patients with initial poor graft function, acute renal insufficiency, biliary complication, and in those with intraabdominal bleeding. The 1-, 3- and 5-year cumulative survival of patients who had infection was 70%, 56% and 56%, respectively, whereas the cumulative survival data of patients without infection was 94%, 87% and 85%, respectively (p<0.001). Multidrug resistance was found in 56% of the positive cultures, however, the one-year survival was not different in patients who had multidrug resistance positive and negative bacterial infection (both 70.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Infection control must target the management of multidrug resistance microbes through encouraging prevention, hygienic, and isolation rules, improving the operational, transfusion, and antimicrobial policy in a teamwork setting. Orv. Hetil., 2015, 156(34), 1366-1382

Tapasztalatok es motiváltság: magyar középiskolások véleménye az egészségvédő programokról.

INTRODUCTION: Health-related attitudes can be encouraged most effectively at young ages. Young generations would require more interactive methods in programs engaged in health promotion. AIM: The aim of the authors was to get an insight into the attitudes, experience and motivation of youngsters in connection with health promotion programs and the community service work. METHOD: The questionnaires were filled in by high school students studying in Budapest and in the countryside (N = 898). RESULTS: 44.4% of the students did not have lessons or extracurricular activities dealing with health promotion. Concerning health promotion programs, youngsters in Budapest had more positive experience, while female students showed a more adoptive attitude. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that in one of the most susceptible life stages, many youngsters either do not participate in programs dealing with health promotion, or participate in programs that are within the framework of school subjects or extracurricular activities building on traditional teaching methods. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(2), 65-69

Examination of the role of Mycoplasma bovis in bovine pneumonia and a mathematical model for its evaluation

The authors screened 34 large cattle herds for the presence of Mycoplasma bovis infection by examining slaughtered cattle for macroscopic lung lesions, by culturing M. bovis from lung lesions and at the same time by testing sera for the presence of antibodies against M. bovis. Among the 595 cattle examined, 33.9% had pneumonic lesions, mycoplasmas were isolated from 59.9% of pneumonic lung samples, and 10.9% of sera from those animals contained antibodies to M.bovis. In 25.2% of the cases M. bovis was isolated from lungs with no macroscopic lesions. The proportion of seropositive herds was 64.7%. The average seropositivity rate of individuals was 11.3% but in certain herds it exceeded 50%. A probability model was developed for examining the relationship among the occurrence of pneumonia, the isolation of M. bovis from the lungs and the presence of M. bovis specific antibodies in sera

Angiostrongylosis-related restrictive pneumopathy assessed by arterial blood gas analysis in a dog

Pulmonary angiostrongylosis was diagnosed by the Baermann method and larval identification from faecal and bronchoalveolar lavage samples in a five-month- old male mongrel dog with dyspnoea and cough. Arterial blood gas analysis indicated arterial hypoxaemia and restrictive pneumopathy. In addition to the palliative treatment, fenbendazole was administered (50 mg/kg/24 h per os) for 14 days. The respiratory signs subsided within a short time clinically, but serial arterial blood gas analysis demonstrated an ongoing ventilation disorder. Repeated haematology, thoracic radiography, bronchoscopy and blood gas analysis were performed to follow the course of the disease. The most severe eosinophilia was detected after the beginning of the anthelmintic therapy, and the arterial pO2 level was permanently low. Arterial blood gas analysis provided the most adequate information about the course of the pneumopathy and it greatly facilitated the patient’s medical management

Harnessing the biodiversity value of Central and Eastern European farmland

A large proportion of European biodiversity today depends on habitat provided by low-intensity farming practices, yet this resource is declining as European agriculture intensifies. Within the European Union, particularly the central and eastern new member states have retained relatively large areas of species-rich farmland, but despite increased investment in nature conservation here in recent years, farmland biodiversity trends appear to be worsening. Although the high biodiversity value of Central and Eastern European farmland has long been reported, the amount of research in the international literature focused on farmland biodiversity in this region remains comparatively tiny, and measures within the EU Common Agricultural Policy are relatively poorly adapted to support it. In this opinion study, we argue that, 10years after the accession of the first eastern EU new member states, the continued under-representation of the low-intensity farmland in Central and Eastern Europe in the international literature and EU policy is impeding the development of sound, evidence-based conservation interventions. The biodiversity benefits for Europe of existing low-intensity farmland, particularly in the central and eastern states, should be harnessed before they are lost. Instead of waiting for species-rich farmland to further decline, targeted research and monitoring to create locally appropriate conservation strategies for these habitats is needed now.Peer reviewe

Inhibition of the Nuclear Import of Cubitus Interruptus by Roadkill in the Presence of Strong Hedgehog Signal

Hedgehog (Hh) signalling plays an important role in various developmental processes by activating the Cubitus interruptus (Ci)/Glioblastoma (Gli) family of transcription factors. In the process of proper pattern formation, Ci activity is regulated by multiple mechanisms, including processing, trafficking, and degradation. However, it remains elusive how Ci distinctly recognizes the strong and moderate Hh signals. Roadkill (Rdx) induces Ci degradation in the anterior region of the Drosophila wing disc. Here, we report that Rdx inhibited Ci activity by two different mechanisms. In the region abutting the anterior/posterior boundary, which receives strong Hh signal, Rdx inhibited the nuclear import of Ci by releasing importin α3 from Ci. In this region, Rdx negatively regulated the expression of transcription factor Knot/Collier. In farther anterior regions receiving moderate levels of Hh signal, Rdx induced Ci degradation, as reported previously. Thus, two different mechanisms by which Rdx negatively regulates Ci may play an important role in the fine-tuning of Hh responses