Influences of precipitation and temperature trend on maize yields

Maize yield for three decade period of the last century (1961-1990) were in Hungary for 15% higher than in Croatia (means 3.81 and 4.39 t/ha, respectively) and this trend was continued in the 1996-2007 period. However, amplitude of maize yields (differences among year (for the 1996-2007) in Hungary were higher (from 3.60 to 7.56 t/ha) than in Croatia (from 3.86 to 6.92 t/ha). Aim of this study was testing maize yield, precipitation and air-temperature variations in four Counties (Croatia: Vukovarsko-Srijemska =VSC and Virovitiţko-Podravska =VPC; Hungary: Békés = BC and Fejér =FC). Mean yield in VSC for 1996-2007 period was for 16% higher than in VPC. Yields in three less favorable years (LFY: 2000, 2003 and 2007) were considerably lower (means 5.22 and 4.41 t/ha, for VSC and VPC, respectively) than in three more favorable years (MFY: 1997, 2002 and 2005) years (means 7.50 and 7.00, respectively). Precipitation (means of two sites: Osijek and Virovitica) in 3-months period June-August was in LFY for 58% lower than in MFY (129 mm and 305 mm, respectively). At the same time, air-temperatures were for 2.0°C higher (22.7 and 20.7°C, respectively). Mean yield in BC for 1996-2007 period was for 21% higher than in FC. Yields in three LSY were considerably lower (means 3.78 and 3.79 t/ha, for BC and FC, respectively) than in three MFY (means 6.13 and 7.30 t/ha, respectively). Precipitation (means of two sites: Békéscsaba and Székesfehérvár) in 3-months period June-August was in LFY for 51% lower (115 mm and 235 mm, respectively) and air-temperatures were for 1.9°C higher (22.1 and 20.2°C, respectively) than in MFY. Precipitation and temperature trends for LFY and MFY in two sites of both countries were similar with emphasis that in Hungary they were negligible lower

The impact of malignant nipple discharge cytology (NDc) in surgical management of breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND: The role of nipple discharge cytology (NDc) in the surgical management of breast cancer patients is unclear. We aimed: (i) to evaluate the effect of malignant NDc on the surgical approach to the nipple-areola complex, and (ii) to verify the association between malignant NDc and nipple malignancy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a case series of 139 patients with NDc who underwent breast surgery. The clinical and histological findings, types of surgery with emphasis on nipple-areola complex amputation, immunohistochemical phenotypes of the carcinomas and measurements of the tumor-nipple distance were recorded. Additionally, in patients who showed HER2-positive lesions on definitive surgery, we evaluated the HER2 immunocytochemistry of the NDc smears. RESULTS: Thirty-two malignant and 107 benign/borderline NDc diagnoses were identified. All 32 malignant-NDc cases were histologically confirmed as malignant. Thirty borderline/benign-NDc cases were histologically diagnosed as malignant (sensitivity 58%). The majority of the patients with malignant NDc were treated with nipple-areola complex amputations in both the mastectomy and conservative surgery groups (P<0.001, chi251.77). Nipple involvement was strongly associated with HER2-positive ductal carcinoma in-situ (P<0.001, chi211.98). HER2 immunocytochemistry on the NDc revealed a 100% correlation with the immunocytochemistry performed on the surgical tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant NDc influenced surgical management. The association of malignant NDc with nipple involvement is highly related to ductal carcinoma in-situ with HER2 overexpression. In case of HER2 positive NDc, nipple-areola complex involvement is more likely than in HER2 negative cases

Influences of soil and fertilization with phosphorus and potassium on zinc, manganese, copper and iron status in maize

Increased rates of P and K (monoammonium phosphate and potassium chloride) were applied in four replicates on two soils in spring 2001 as follows: a) standard fertilization (kg ha −1 : 177 N + 100 P 2 O 5 + 150 K 2 O); b) a + 1500 kg P 2 O 5 ha −1 ; c) a + 1500 kg K 2 O ha −1 ; d) = b + c. Residual effects of the fertilization were tested in the next year. Maize (OsSK552 hybrid) growing on Luzani soil resulted in 15% lower yield compared to the Kobas soil (7.75 and 9.06 t ha −1 , respectively). Mean the leaf (the ear-leaf at silking) concentrations (mg kg −1 ) were 41.8 (Zn), 14.1 (Cu) and 131 (Fe), respectively. The leaf Mn was by 60% lower and the leaf Zn by 16% higher in 2002 compared to 2001. Maize grown in the Luzani trial had by 9% lower the leaf Zn, 10% lower the leaf Cu and by 37% higher the leaf Mn compared to the Kobas soil. Under the influence of P fertilization, the leaf Zn decreased by 37% compared to the control. Application of both P and K resulted in decreases of leaf Zn by 30%. However, P fertilization, alone or in combination with K, increased the leaf Mn for 111% and 72% respectively. Significant difference the leaf Cu (by 9% lower) was found under influences K fertilization only. The leaf Fe was independent on these factors