A mikroklíma és a növényzet hatása réti talaj redoxiviszonyainak és kémhatásának térbeli mintázatára és időbeli dinamikájára

Egyre nagyobb az igény a folyamatok valós környezetben való lejátszódásának megismerésére, mivel egyre több az olyan tapasztalat, hogy a laboratóriumban pontosan meghatározott összefüggések esetenként teljesen használhatatlanok lehetnek egy valós rendszerben. Jó példa erre a talaj és annak jellemzői, hiszen a talaj a négy nagy földi szféra (geoszféra, atmoszféra, hidroszféra, bioszféra) közös megnyilvánulási helye létrejöttében, működésében pedig szinte egyenrangúan fontos mindegyik összetevő. Ugyanakkor a pedoszféra az emberi lét egyik létfontosságú közege is, hiszen a rajta növő növényzet nem csak a mi, hanem az általunk tartott állatok élelemforrása is. Működését megismerni tehát igen fontos

A vas és a mangán oldhatóságának vizsgálata réti és láptalajban

A tájat alkotó legkisebb homogén területi egységek (ökotópok) talajai között a talajfizikai és talajkémiai paraméterek is jelentősen eltérhetnek egymástól kis távolságon is. E területi különbözőségek nem állandóak, a téli időszakban nem észlelhetőek, a vegetációs időszakban markánsabbak. Ez a közlemény egy síkvidéki vizes élőhely példáján mutatja be a redox viszonyok növényzet által meghatározott területi különbözőségeit, és ezek hatását a talajoldat vas- és mangántartalmára. Jelentős évszakos ingadozást csak a talajoldat redox viszonyai mutattak, ez a növénytakaró vastagságával (ami pl. kaszálás hatására is változhat) és a domináns faj(ok)kal , míg napszakosan a párolgás mértékével állt összefüggésben. A redoxpotenciál (Eh) csökkenésével az oldott vas és mangán koncentrációja is emelkedett, ám más és más Eh-tartományban

Opposite trends in incidence of breast cancer in young and old female cohorts in Hungary and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic: a nationwide study between 2011–2020

BackgroundThis nationwide study examined breast cancer (BC) incidence and mortality rates in Hungary between 2011–2019, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the incidence and mortality rates in 2020 using the databases of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and Central Statistical Office (CSO) of Hungary.MethodsOur nationwide, retrospective study included patients who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer (International Codes of Diseases ICD)-10 C50) between Jan 1, 2011 and Dec 31, 2020. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates (ASRs) were calculated using European Standard Populations (ESP).Results7,729 to 8,233 new breast cancer cases were recorded in the NHIF database annually, and 3,550 to 4,909 all-cause deaths occurred within BC population per year during 2011-2019 period, while 2,096 to 2,223 breast cancer cause-specific death was recorded (CSO). Age-standardized incidence rates varied between 116.73 and 106.16/100,000 PYs, showing a mean annual change of -0.7% (95% CI: -1.21%–0.16%) and a total change of -5.41% (95% CI: -9.24 to -1.32). Age-standardized mortality rates varied between 26.65–24.97/100,000 PYs (mean annual change: -0.58%; 95% CI: -1.31–0.27%; p=0.101; total change: -5.98%; 95% CI: -13.36–2.66). Age-specific incidence rates significantly decreased between 2011 and 2019 in women aged 50–59, 60–69, 80–89, and ≥90 years (-8.22%, -14.28%, -9.14%, and -36.22%, respectively), while it increased in young females by 30.02% (95%CI 17,01%- 51,97%) during the same period. From 2019 to 2020 (in first COVID-19 pandemic year), breast cancer incidence nominally decreased by 12% (incidence rate ratio [RR]: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.69–1.13; 2020 vs. 2019), all-cause mortality nominally increased by 6% (RR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.79–1.43) among breast cancer patients, and cause-specific mortality did not change (RR: 1.00; 95%CI: 0.86–1.15).ConclusionThe incidence of breast cancer significantly decreased in older age groups (≥50 years), oppositely increased among young females between 2011 and 2019, while cause-specific mortality in breast cancer patients showed a non-significant decrease. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a nominal, but not statistically significant, 12% decrease in breast cancer incidence, with no significant increase in cause-specific breast cancer mortality observed during 2020

Statistical physics of vaccination

Historically, infectious diseases caused considerable damage to human societies, and they continue to do so today. To help reduce their impact, mathematical models of disease transmission have been studied to help understand disease dynamics and inform prevention strategies. Vaccination–one of the most important preventive measures of modern times–is of great interest both theoretically and empirically. And in contrast to traditional approaches, recent research increasingly explores the pivotal implications of individual behavior and heterogeneous contact patterns in populations. Our report reviews the developmental arc of theoretical epidemiology with emphasis on vaccination, as it led from classical models assuming homogeneously mixing (mean-field) populations and ignoring human behavior, to recent models that account for behavioral feedback and/or population spatial/social structure. Many of the methods used originated in statistical physics, such as lattice and network models, and their associated analytical frameworks. Similarly, the feedback loop between vaccinating behavior and disease propagation forms a coupled nonlinear system with analogs in physics. We also review the new paradigm of digital epidemiology, wherein sources of digital data such as online social media are mined for high-resolution information on epidemiologically relevant individual behavior. Armed with the tools and concepts of statistical physics, and further assisted by new sources of digital data, models that capture nonlinear interactions between behavior and disease dynamics offer a novel way of modeling real-world phenomena, and can help improve health outcomes. We conclude the review by discussing open problems in the field and promising directions for future research

Immunosuppressive Therapy of Antibody-Mediated aHUS and TTP

The recent classification of pediatric thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA) takes into consideration mechanisms of disease for guidance to targeted therapies. We present our experience with seven patients with antibody mediated atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Five children had aHUS with antibodies against complement factor H (CFH-ab) and two with TTP with antibodies against metalloproteinase ADAMTS13. In the aHUS cases diagnosed and treated before the eculizumab era, CFH-ab was detected using the ELISA assay. Mutational analysis of selected complement genes was performed. TTP was diagnosed if, in addition to microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, ischemic organ involvement and severe deficiency in ADAMTS13 activity were present. Treatment protocol consisted of plasma exchanges (PE) and steroid pulses, followed by the combination of cyclophosphamide and rituximab to achieve long-term immunosuppression. Four patients with CFH-ab and the TTP patients with ADAMTS13 antibodies came into sustained remission. After a median follow-up of 11.7 (range 7.7–12.9) years without maintenance therapy, no disease recurrence was observed; nevertheless, six patients, two had hypertension and two had proteinuria as a late consequence. One patient, with late diagnosis of CFH-ab and additional genetic risk factors who was treated only with PE and plasma substitution, reached end-stage renal disease and was later successfully transplanted using eculizumab prophylaxis. In the cases of antibody-mediated TMAs, PE and early immunosuppressive treatment may result in sustained remission with preserved kidney function. Further data are needed to establish optimal treatment of anti-FH antibody-associated HUS