Comparison of human hepatoma HepaRG cells with human and rat hepatocytes in uptake transport assays in order to predict drug induced hepatotoxicity

Human hepatocytes are the gold standard for toxicological studies but they have several drawbacks, like scarce availability, high inter-individual variability, a short lifetime, which limits their applicability. The aim of our investigations was to determine, whether HepaRG cells could replace human hepatocytes in uptake experiments for toxicity studies. HepaRG is a hepatoma cell line with most hepatic functions, including a considerable expression of uptake transporters in contrast to other hepatic immortalized cell lines. We compared the effect of cholestatic drugs (bosentan, cyclosporinA, troglitazone,) and bromosulfophthalein on the uptake of taurocholate and estrone-3-sulfate in human and rat hepatocytes and HepaRG cells. The substrate uptake was significantly slower in HepaRG cells than in human hepatocytes, still, in the presence of drugs we observed a concentration dependent decrease in uptake. In all cell types, the culture time had a significant impact not only on the uptake process but on the inhibitory effect of drugs too. The most significant drug effect was measured at 4 h after seeding. Our report is among the first concerning interactions of the uptake transporters in the HepaRG, at the functional level. Results of the present study clearly show that concerning the inhibition of taurocholate uptake by cholestatic drugs, HepaRG cells are closer to human hepatocytes than rat hepatocytes. In conclusion, we demonstrated that HepaRG cells provide a suitable tool for hepatic uptake studies

Optimal simple monetary policy rules and welfare in a DSGE Model for Hungary

We explore the properties of welfare-maximizing monetary policy in a medium-scale DSGE model for Hungary. In order to make our results operational from a policymaker’s perspective, we approximate the optimal policy rule with a set of simple rules reacting only to observable variables. Our results suggest that “science of monetary policy” that is found robust in simple models, holds in this medium-scaled setting as well. That is, the welfare-maximizing policy that aims to eliminate distortions associated with nominal rigidities can be approximated by a simple inflation targeting rule. Adding exchange rate into the feedback rule only marginally improves the stabilization properties of the policy rule. However, a rule reacting to wage inflation can be significantly welfare-improving. These results may suggest that in our medium-sized model the distortions associated with sticky wage setting have at least as important welfare implications as those related to the price stickiness in product markets.monetary policy, central banking, policy design

Impact of nutrient level and seed density on the yield of some winter wheat varieties

The effects of four different nutrient levels (60 kg ha-1 N, 0 kg ha-1 P2O5, 0 kg ha-1 K2O; 90 kg ha-1 N, 30 kg ha-1 P2O5, 30 kg ha-1 K2O; 120 kg ha-1 N, 60 kg ha-1 P2O5, 60 kg ha-1 K2O; 150 kg ha-1 N, 60 kg ha-1 P2O5, 60 kg ha-1 K2O), as well as three different seeding rates (300, 500 and 700 seeds m-2) on different winter wheat breeds have been investigated in this publication. The research was established in one growing season (2017/2018), with 5 winter wheat varieties (GK Arató, GK Bagó, Cellule, Lithium, GK Petur), in 4 repeats, on 10 square meter random layout plots in the research farm of the Department of Field Crops Research of National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre, in Szeged-Öthalom. We determined the yield and evaluated our results with analysis of variance according to the different nutrient levels and seeding rates. Increasing the seed density, the yield of winter wheat increased too, in a decreasing rate. Increased nutrient inputs resulted in higher yields. The reaction to the fertilizers was very different among the varieties, we could show different yield order at different nutrient levels and seed density. Our results proved that the use of different varieties and agrotechnical elements cause a big difference in yield, which also determines the economic efficiency of the farm