Association of extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease in a province of western Hungary with disease phenotype: Results of a 25-year follow-up study

AIM: IBD is a systemic disease associated with a large number of extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs). Our aim was to determine the prevalence of EIMs in a large IBD cohort in Veszprem Province in a 25-year follow-up study. METHODS: Eight hundred and seventy-three IBD patients were enrolled (ulcerative colitis/UC/: 619, m/f: 317/302, mean age at presentation: 38.3 years, average disease duration: 11.2 years; Crohn's disease/CD/: 254, m/f: 125/129, mean age at presentation: 32.5 years, average disease duration: 9.2 years). Intestinal, extraintestinal signs and laboratory tests were monitored regularly. Any alteration suggesting an EIMs was investigated by a specialist. RESULTS: A total of 21.3 % of patients with IBD had EIM (UC: 15.0 %, CD: 36.6 %). Age at presentation did not affect the likelihood of EIM. Prevalence of EIMs was higher in women and in CD, ocular complications and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) were more frequent in UC. In UC there was an increased tendency of EIM in patients with a more extensive disease. Joint complications were more frequent in CD (22.4 % vs UC 10.2 %, P<0.01). In UC positive family history increased the risk of joint complications (OR:3.63). In CD the frequency of type-1 peripheral arthritis was increased in patients with penetrating disease (P=0.028). PSC was present in 1.6 % in UC and 0.8 % in CD. Dermatological complications were present in 3.8 % in UC and 10.2 % in CD, the rate of ocular complications was around 3 % in both diseases. Rare complications were glomerulonephritis, autoimmune hemolytic anaemia and celiac disease. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of EIM in Hungarian IBD patients is in concordance with data from Western countries. The high number of EIM supports a role for complex follow-up in these patients

Phytophilous macrofauna assessments in an important aquatic bird area: the Kis-Balaton protection system

Seventeen macrophyte species were sampled in the area of the Kis-Balaton Protection System in order to explore the composition and the quantitative characteristics of the macrofauna that colonize them. Neither the mean densities, nor taxa richness or diversities have shown significant differences. In all the samples of invertebrate macrofauna Chironomidae and Oligochaeta were found to be dominant. Accordingly the proportion of higher taxa, composite feeders and detritus feeders dominated in most of the samples. Ordination method was used to compare qualitatively the macrofauna composition and only the submerged Ceratophyllum demersum L. seemed to have a different taxon constitution, while the other macrophytes were more or less similar in this context

Cadmium-induced turion formation of Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleiden

Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleiden (giant duckweed) is an extensively studied representative of duckweeds (Lemnoideae subfamily, Araceae). Despite its widespread application in numerous research areas and well-known capability for producing turions, the effects of various toxicants on turion production are sporadically discussed in the scientific literature. Our aim was to study the growth of S. polyrhiza under cadmium stress and to test its potential interference with turion production. Effects of cadmium were assessed in axenic cultures of a local S. polyrhiza clone in 7-days-long duckweed growth inhibition tests. Our results indicated that higher cadmium concentrations decreased the relative growth rates of cultures within 3 days and growth inhibition reached its maximum between the 3rd and 5th days with 0.080 mg l-1 IC50. Parallel with slowed frond production - by mirror image pattern - induction of turion formation was observed. The first turions protruded by the 5th day of treatments in the 0.075-0.75 mg l-1 concentration range. Such rapid onset of turion formation is indicative of an almost immediate switch between normal and turion mode of meristem function upon cadmium stress. The consideration of this mechanism in practical applications of S. polyrhiza is recommended

Cadmium-induced turion formation of Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleiden

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The Mass Ratio of the Epiphytic Periphyton of the Nyéki-Holt-Duna

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Toll-like receptor 4 and NOD2/CARD15 mutations in Hungarian patients with Crohn's disease: Phenotype-genotype correlations

AIM: To determine common NOD2/CARD15 mutations and TLR4 D299G polymorphism in Hungarian patients with CD. METHODS: A total of 527 unrelated patients with CD (male/female: 265/262, age: 37.1 (SD 7.6) years) and 200 healthy subjects were included. DNA was screened for possible NOD2/CARD15 mutations by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (confirmed by direct sequencing). TLR4 D299G was tested by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: NOD2/CARD15 mutations were found in 185 patients (35.1%) and in 33 controls (16.5%, P< 0.0001). SNP8/R702W (10.8% vs 6%, P = 0.02), SNP13/3020insC (19.4% vs 5%, P< 0.0001) and exon4 R703C (2.1% vs 0%, P = 0.02) mutations were more frequent in CD, while the frequency of SNP12/G908R was not increased. The frequency of TLR4 D299G was not different (CD: 9.9% vs controls: 12.0%). Variant NOD2/CARD15 allele was associated with an increased risk for CD (OR(het) = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.12-2.6, P = 0.0001, OR(two-risk alleles) = 25.2, 95% CI = 4.37-, P< 0.0001), early disease onset (carrier: 26.4 years vs non-carrier: 29.8 years, P = 0.0006), ileal disease (81.9% vs 69.5%, OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.29-3.08, P = 0.02, presence of NOD2/CARD15 and TLR4: 86.7% vs 64.8%), stricturing behavior (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.13-2.55, P = 0.026) and increased need for resection (OR= 1.71, 95% CI: 1.13-2.62, P = 0.01), but not with duration, extraintestinal manifestations, familial disease or smoking. TLR4 exhibited a modifier effect: age of onset in wt/TLR4 D299G carriers: 27.4 years vs NOD2mut/TLR D299G: 23 years (P = 0.06), in NOD2mut/wt: 26.7 years. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that variant NOD2/CARD15 (R702W, R703C and 3020insC) alleles are associated with earlier disease onset, ileal disease, stricturing disease behavior in Hungarian CD patients. In contrast, although the frequency of TLR4 D299G polymorphism was not different from controls, NOD2/TLR4 mutation carriers tended to present at earlier age. (C) 2005 The WJG Press and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved