The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates in Hungary: an interrupted time-series analysis

BACKGROUND: From 2010 to 2019, suicide mortality fell steadily and substantially in Hungary: the declining trend remained stable, and the suicide rate decreased by more than one-third which was remarkable even from an international perspective. However, despite the declining trend, regional inequalities have always characterised the distribution of suicide mortality in Hungary. Following these favourable trends, COVID-19 appeared in Hungary on the 4(th) of March 2020 which might lead to an increase in suicides. We aimed to investigate this hypothesis in Hungary by gender, age, educational attainment, and region, as well. METHODS: To test whether the pandemic changed the declining trend of Hungarian suicide rates, the observed number of suicides during March–December 2020 (pre-vaccination period) was compared with the expected numbers (without the appearance of COVID-19). An interrupted time-series analysis was conducted by negative binomial regression using monthly data from January 2010 to February 2020 (pre-pandemic period). RESULTS: Suicide mortality increased significantly compared to the trend during the pre-pandemic period: overall (by 16.7%), among males (18.5%), in the age group 35–49 years (32.8%), and among vocational school graduates (26.1%). Additionally, significant growths in suicide rates were detected in the two regions (Central Hungary and Central Transdanubia) with the lowest COVID mortality rates (by 27.3% and 22.2%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed reversed trend in suicide mortality during the pre-vaccination period compared to the pre-pandemic period in Hungary. There were significant differences in the pattern of suicide rates by gender, age group, educational attainment, and region during the pre-vaccination period in Hungary, which might be attributed to the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings could prove useful in preventive strategies as the identification of groups at higher risk may be important for suicide prevention; however, further investigations are needed to explore the reasons. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12888-022-04322-2

Preformed defense responses in a powdery mildew-resistant Hungarian cherry pepper cultivar

A Hungarian cherry pepper (Capsicum annuum var. cerasiformé) cultivar ('Szentesi') displays resistance to pepper powdery mildew caused by Leveillula taurica. Resistance also develops in susceptible sweet pepper (C. annuum) when grafted on resistant cherry pepper cv. Szentesi rootstocks. Powdery mildew (PM) resistance is correlated with high levels of the defense regulator reactive oxygen species superoxide (O2 ') even in healthy plants. In order to further elucidate the mechanisms of preformed defense responses in cherry pepper cv. Szentesi we have monitored levels of salicylic acid (SA), a key molecule of plant defense signaling and expression of so-called pathogenesis/defense related (PR) genes in healthy pepper plants. Assays of free and bound (glycosylated) SA by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that in leaves of PM-resistant pepper levels of free SA are ca. twice as high compared to that of PM-sensitive plants. No difference occurred in levels of bound (glycosylated) SA. Expression of the CaPR-1 gene was several times higher in leaves of PM-resistant pepper than in sensitive plants as assayed by real time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-qPCR). On the other hand, high expression levels of the CaPR-2 (glucanase) gene did not entirely correlate with PM-resistance, being detectable only in PM-resistant cv. Szentesi plants but neither in PM-resistant sweet pepper cv. Totál grafted on cv. Szentesi rootstocks nor in susceptible controls (cv. Totál). It seems that graft-transmissible PMresistance of the cherry pepper cv. Szentesi is correlated not only with high levels of superoxide but also with elevated levels of free salicylic acid and enhanced expression of the defense-related CaPR-1 gene

Patterns of suicide deaths in Hungary between 1995 and 2017

Hungary has had one of the highest suicide mortality rates in the world for decades. Investigating seasonality of suicide deaths is essential as its findings could be key elements in the prevention. In our study we have analyzed the seasonal effect in suicide mortality in relation to possible risk factors in Hungary during 1995–2017. Data on the numbers of suicide deaths were obtained from a published online database. Negative binomial regression was employed to investigate the effect of possible risk factors and seasonal and annual trends in suicide rates. The seasonal effect was further investigated, adding a significant risk factor from the “initial” negative binomial regression. The suicide risk was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in men than in women (incidence rate ratio: 3.48), and it increased with age and decreased with education level. Marriage was a protective factor against suicide. Annual suicide mortality declined significantly (p < 0.001 for trend) from 36.7 (95% confidence interval: 35.5–37.9) to 16.5 (15.7–17.3) per 100,000 persons per year during the study period. Significant seasonality was found in suicide rates with a peak in late June. Similar peaks were observed at each level of each risk factor. There were differences in peaks by suicide method. The peak of non-violent suicides was in early June; suicides committed by violent methods peaked half a month later. This study suggests that there was a significant seasonal effect on suicide deaths between 1995 and 2017, which remained significant even in the presence of each risk factor. To our knowledge, this has been the first study to investigate the seasonal pattern so extensively in Hungary. Our findings confirm that the environmental effects are involved in the etiology of suicide mortality

The effect of arsenic (As) contamination on domestic vegetables

Elemental arsenic and arsenic compounds are classified as "toxic" and "dangerous for the environment" in the European Union under directive 67/548/EEC. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recognizes arsenic and arsenic compounds as group 1 carcinogens, and the EU lists arsenic trioxide, arsenic pentoxide and arsenate salts as category 1 carcinogens. Arsenic is easily absorbed by vegetables from irrigation water. The accumulation of arsenic in vegetables could pose a serious risk on the quality of vegetables and human health. The two forms of inorganic arsenic, arsenate/As(V) and arsenite/As(III), are easily taken up by plant root cells (e.g. carrot, parsley, kohlrabi). Once in the cell, As(V) can be readily converted to As(III), the more toxic form of arsenic. In the present research we have determined the level of arsenic contamination in two of the economically most important vegetables grown in Hungary (sweet pepper; tomato) and the irrigation water in an arsenic contaminated area. In order to eliminate arsenic, decontamination was achieved by use of a Japanese-developed special cerium filter

The effect of arsenic (As) contamination on domestic vegetables

Elemental arsenic and arsenic compounds are classified as "toxic" and "dangerous for the environment" in the European Union under directive 67/548/EEC. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recognizes arsenic and arsenic compounds as group 1 carcinogens, and the EU lists arsenic trioxide, arsenic pentoxide and arsenate salts as category 1 carcinogens. Arsenic is easily absorbed by vegetables from irrigation water. The accumulation of arsenic in vegetables could pose a serious risk on the quality of vegetables and human health. The two forms of inorganic arsenic, arsenate/As(V) and arsenite/As(III), are easily taken up by plant root cells (e.g. carrot, parsley, kohlrabi). Once in the cell, As(V) can be readily converted to As(III), the more toxic form of arsenic. In the present research we have determined the level of arsenic contamination in two of the economically most important vegetables grown in Hungary (sweet pepper; tomato) and the irrigation water in an arsenic contaminated area. In order to eliminate arsenic, decontamination was achieved by use of a Japanese-developed special cerium filter

Enhancement of a new method in cereal breeding programmes

Homozygous doubled haploid (DH) plants and lines can be used in cereal breeding programmes. Methods based on androgenesis induction are a common way to produce homogenous basic material for variety development and genetic research purposes. Anther culture is a simple and rapid method for DH production in case of major cereal crops like barley and wheat. Oat is known as recalcitrant species for tissue culture response specially anther and microspore culture. Its low frequency DH production limits extensive application in breeding. Our aim was to start developing an improved protocol to generate acceptable number of DH lines for breeding. Many factors (low induction rate, essential manpower needed, plant regeneration problems and genotype dependence) hinder the development and application of the methods of in vitro androgenesis. Understanding of topic “in vitro response” and “plantlet regeneration frequency” are crucial factors in cereal science, too. Our aimed results of oat (Avena sativa L.) will open new genetic solutions in plant science, plant physiology and cell- and tissue culture of cereals and in the development of new varieties

The master role of polarized NIS expression in regulating iodine metabolism in the human body

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how polarized sodium iodide symporter (NIS) expression may regulate iodide metabolism in vivo. Materials and methods: Polarized NIS expression was analyzed in tissues that accumulate iodide by the use of immunohistochemistry and polyclonal antibody against the C-terminal end of human NIS (hNIS). Results: Iodide absorption in the human intestine occurs via NIS expressed in the apical membrane. Iodide is secreted into the lumen of the stomach and salivary glands via NIS expressed in the basolateral membrane and then circulates back from the small intestine to the bloodstream via NIS expressed in the apical membrane. Conclusion: Polarized NIS expression in the human body regulates intestinal-bloodstream recirculation of iodide, perhaps prolonging the availability of iodide in the bloodstream. This leads to more efficient iodide trapping by the thyroid gland. Understanding the regulation and manipulating gastrointestinal iodide recirculation could increase radioiodine availability during theranostic NIS applications

Preformed defense responses in a powdery mildew-resistant Hungarian cherry pepper cultivar

A Hungarian cherry pepper (Capsicum annuum var. cerasiformé) cultivar ('Szentesi') displays resistance to pepper powdery mildew caused by Leveillula taurica. Resistance also develops in susceptible sweet pepper (C. annuum) when grafted on resistant cherry pepper cv. Szentesi rootstocks. Powdery mildew (PM) resistance is correlated with high levels of the defense regulator reactive oxygen species superoxide (O2 ') even in healthy plants. In order to further elucidate the mechanisms of preformed defense responses in cherry pepper cv. Szentesi we have monitored levels of salicylic acid (SA), a key molecule of plant defense signaling and expression of so-called pathogenesis/defense related (PR) genes in healthy pepper plants. Assays of free and bound (glycosylated) SA by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that in leaves of PM-resistant pepper levels of free SA are ca. twice as high compared to that of PM-sensitive plants. No difference occurred in levels of bound (glycosylated) SA. Expression of the CaPR-1 gene was several times higher in leaves of PM-resistant pepper than in sensitive plants as assayed by real time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-qPCR). On the other hand, high expression levels of the CaPR-2 (glucanase) gene did not entirely correlate with PM-resistance, being detectable only in PM-resistant cv. Szentesi plants but neither in PM-resistant sweet pepper cv. Totál grafted on cv. Szentesi rootstocks nor in susceptible controls (cv. Totál). It seems that graft-transmissible PMresistance of the cherry pepper cv. Szentesi is correlated not only with high levels of superoxide but also with elevated levels of free salicylic acid and enhanced expression of the defense-related CaPR-1 gene

The effect of arsenic (As) contamination on domestic vegetables

Elemental arsenic and arsenic compounds are classified as "toxic" and "dangerous for the environment" in the European Union under directive 67/548/EEC. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recognizes arsenic and arsenic compounds as group 1 carcinogens, and the EU lists arsenic trioxide, arsenic pentoxide and arsenate salts as category 1 carcinogens. Arsenic is easily absorbed by vegetables from irrigation water. The accumulation of arsenic in vegetables could pose a serious risk on the quality of vegetables and human health. The two forms of inorganic arsenic, arsenate/As(V) and arsenite/As(III), are easily taken up by plant root cells (e.g. carrot, parsley, kohlrabi). Once in the cell, As(V) can be readily converted to As(III), the more toxic form of arsenic. In the present research we have determined the level of arsenic contamination in two of the economically most important vegetables grown in Hungary (sweet pepper; tomato) and the irrigation water in an arsenic contaminated area. In order to eliminate arsenic, decontamination was achieved by use of a Japanese-developed special cerium filter

Döntéseink nyomában : a lezárás iránti igény és a munkamemória kapcsolata

Társas megismerésünk motivált jellege mellett kapacitásában is korlátozott. Mind a megismerési hajlandóságon (Webster és Kruglanski, 1994) mind a megismerésre fordítható kognitív kapacitáson (Barrett, Tugade és Engle, 2004) belül egyéni különbségek mutathatók ki. Kutatásunkban arra kerestük a választ, hogy a megismerési motiváció, a nyílt/zárt gondolkodás és a kapacitásbeli készségek egymással kapcsolatban állnak-e, és ha igen, milyen természetű ez a kapcsolat. Vizsgálatunkban a Lezárási Igény Kérdőív (Webster és Kruglanski, 1994) általunk magyarra fordított változatát, valamint az egyes munkamemória-alrendszerek kapacitását mérő teszteket alkalmaztuk. Eredményeink alátámasztják feltételezésünket, miszerint akik jobb munkamemória-kapacitással bírnak, motiváltabbak lehetnek az új, alternatív, egymásnak olykor ellentmondó információk feldolgozására. Social cognition can be described both as motivated and restricted-to-capacity activity by the perceiver. Individual differences can be pointed out between people not only in their ability to manage the actually available information but also in their motivation towards making their judgements based on even a wide range of this information. The aim of our study was to investigate whether individual differences in cognitive capacity were related to individual differences in motivation towards staying attentive and open-minded rather than freezing on information-processing and closing the mind. Participants' Need for Closure (Webster & Kruglanski, 1994) and Working Memory (Baddeley, 2000, 2001) were measured. Results show a significant negative relationship between verbal Working Memory Capacity and the score on the Need for Closure Scale