Application of algal biomass for enhanced acclimatization of orchids

Algae produce plant growth regulators (PGRs), similar to higher plants. To study this feature, freeze-dried and ultrasonicated algal biomass was applied to support the development of certain orchids. An in vitro and an ex vitro experiment were carried out. In case of Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum, the nutrition medium was supplemented with the biomass of five algal strains at a concentration of 0.5 gL-1 in the in vitro experiment. This treatment enhanced the development of plants, but different strains depending on orchid species proved to be efficient. In Oncidium cultures different concentrations of MACC-612 were applied as a supplementation of nutrition media. Results showed, that higher concentrations (0.5 – 1 gL-1) evolved a salutary effect on the plant growth. In the ex vitro experiment orchids were grown on algal free media under sterile conditions. After that they were potted into the greenhouse and treated eleven times with different concentrations of algal suspension. After three months of acclimatization the lower concentrations (0.1 – 0.2 gL-1) of algal biomass applied in the cultures of Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum and Oncidium exerted a positive effect

Natural substances in tissue culture media of higher plants

Plant cell and tissue cultures are characterized by the use of isolated parts of plant obtained from an intact plant body and kept on, or in a suitable nutrient medium. This nutrient medium functions as replacement for the cells, tissue, or conductive elements originally neighbouring the explant. The exact conditions required to initiate and sustain plant cells in culture, or to regenerate intact plants from cultured cells, are different for each plant species. The empirical approach has shown that three factors, namely explant choice, medium composition, and control of the physical environment are important in successful cultures. When the completely defined plant culture media did not give the desired results, employing natural substances have beneficial effects on in vitro plant cell and tissue cultures. The composition of different culture media and the effects of natural compounds, including the supernatant and freeze-dried biomass of well-growing algal strains of Mosonmagyaróvár Algal Culture Collection (MACC), are presented in this short review

A szívritmuszavarok és a myocardiális repolarizáció mechanizmusainak vizsgálata; antiaritmiás és proaritmiás gyógyszerhatások elemzése = Study of the mechanism of cardiac arrhythmias and repolarization, antiarrhythmic and proarrhythmic drug action

A kardiovaszkuláris betegségek és azon belül is az életet veszélyeztető kamrai és pitvari aritmiák a fő halálozási okok közé tartoznak a fejlett ipari országokban, de Magyarországon is. Ezzel összhangban, a jelen kutatási projekt is a különböző életet veszélyeztető aritmiák megelőzésének a lehetőségét, és a különböző gyógyszerek antiaritmiás és proaritmiás hatásainak a kutatását tűzte ki célul. Vizsgálataink során megállapítottuk, hogy kísérletes diabetes mellitusban mind kutyán, mind nyúlon az IKs áram és következményesen a repolarizációs rezerv csökkenése következik be amely emberben vélhetően hozzájárulhat e betegségben észlelt hirtelen szívhalál kockázat növekedéséhez. Molekuláris biológiai vizsgálatokban sikerült feltérképeznünk az emberi szívizom különféle ioncsatornáinak denzitását is. A proaritmiás gyógyszerhatások elemzésére újszerű módszert dolgoztunk ki, amelynek gyógyszerbiztonsági klinikai jelentősége és hasznosulása várható. A projekt teljesítése során további új ismereteket szereztünk a Na+/Ca2+ cseremechanizmus (NCX) repolarizációban betöltött szerepét illetően. In vivo kutya kísérletekben vizsgáltuk a peroxynitrit és gap junction csatornák szerepét az ischaemiás prekondicionálásban. Ezek az eredmények várhatóan hozzájárulnak egyrészt a szívizomzat élettani, kórélettani (aritmia mechanizmusok) ismereteinek a gyarapításában, másrészt új és biztonságos antiaritmiás terápiák kifejlesztéséhez. | Cardiovascular diseases, including life threatening ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, are the leading causes of mortality in industrialized countries and also in Hungary. In harmony with this, the major goal of the project was to investigate the mechanisms involved in cardiac repolarization and in antiarrhythmic and proarrhythmic drug actions. Representing important findings during the project, we established that in experimental diabetes mellitus the IKs potassium current is down-regulated resulting in the attenuation of repolarization reserve which may contribute to the increased proarrhythmic risk of diabetic patients. Using molecular biological methods we have analyzed the transmembrane ion channel densities of the human heart. To assess proarrhyhtmic drug side effects we developed a novel method which can be expected to contribute to better prediction of proarrhythmic risk in both preclinical and clinical safety pharmacology investigations. During the project, we have gained further insights regarding the role of NCX in the cardiac repolarization process. In in vivo studies we have investigated the possible role of peroxynitrite and gap junctions in ischaemic preconditioning. These results can be expected to help to better understand the physiology and pathophysiology of cardiac muscle, and arrhythmias, and should significantly contribute to the development of safer and more effective antiarrhythmic treatment modalities

A prospective study of supine versus prone positioning and whole-body thermoplastic mask fixation for craniospinal radiotherapy in adult patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate neuroaxis irradiation for adults in the supine position using head body thermoplastic mask fixation, from the aspects of dose distribution, patient comfort and set-up accuracy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Nine of the 12 adult patients were positioned for craniospinal axis irradiation in both prone and supine positions. After mask fixation and planning CTs in both positions, a questionnaire relating to the comfort was completed. The doses to the target and to the organs at risk of the 3D conformal plans in the supine and prone positions were compared. Portal images of all 12 patients irradiated in the supine position were evaluated, the van Herk formulas being used to calculate the systemic and random errors. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the prone and supine positions target coverage, the dose homogeneity and the dose to the organs at risk. The supine position was considered more comfortable by the patients (scores of 2.8 versus 4.29), with a vector random error of 3.27mm, and a systematic error of 0.32mm. The largest random set-up error was observed in the lateral direction: 4.83mm. CONCLUSIONS: The more comfortable supine position is recommended for craniospinal irradiation in adult patients. Whole-body thermoplastic mask immobilization provides excellent repositioning accuracy

Identifying Patient Access Barriers for Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Inhibitor Treatments in Rheumatoid Arthritis in Five Central Eastern European Countries

Introduction: Although there is a significant utilization gap of biologic medicines in the EU, many studies estimate equity in patient access to biopharmaceuticals only based on their availability on the national list of reimbursed medicines. Hidden access barriers may facilitate financial sustainability of pharmaceuticals in less affluent EU countries; however, they have rarely been documented in scientific publications. Our objective was to explore these access barriers for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in five Central and Eastern European countries. Methods: A detailed interview guide was developed based on multi-stakeholder workshops and a targeted literature review. In each participant country 3-3-3-3 interviews with payers, rheumatologists, patients/patient representatives, and industry representatives were conducted. Responses were aggregated at a country level and validated by primary investigators in each country. Results: Limited number of RA centers and consequently significant travelling time and cost for patients in distant geographical areas, uneven budget allocation among centers, limited capacity of nurses, narrowed patient population in national financial protocols compared to international clinical guidelines in initiating or continuing biologics, high administrative burden in prescribing biologics and limited health literacy of patients were the most relevant barriers to timely patient access in at least three participant countries. Conclusion: Assessing only the availability of TNF alpha inhibitors on the national list of reimbursed medicines provides limited information about real-world patient access to these medicines. Revealing hidden access barriers may contribute to initiate policy actions which could reduce inequity in patient access

Activation of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase by Myocardial Ischemia and Coronary Reperfusion in Human Circulating Leukocytes

Reactive free radical and oxidant production leads to DNA damage during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. Consequent overactivation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) promotes cellular energy deficit and necrosis. We hypothesized that PARP is activated in circulating leukocytes in patients with myocardial infarction and reperfusion during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In 15 patients with ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction, before and after primary PCI and 24 and 96 h later, we determined serum hydrogen peroxide concentrations, plasma levels of the oxidative DNA adduct 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG), tyrosine nitration, PARP activation, and translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) in circulating leukocytes. Plasma 8OHdG levels and leukocyte tyrosine nitration were rapidly increased by PCI. Similarly, poly(ADP-ribose) content of the leukocytes increased in cells isolated just after PCI, indicating immediate PARP activation triggered by reperfusion of the myocardium. In contrast, serum hydrogen peroxide concentrations and the translocation of AIF gradually increased over time and were most pronounced at 96 h. Reperfusion-related oxidative/nitrosative stress triggers DNA damage, which leads to PARP activation in circulating leukocytes. Translocation of AIF and lipid peroxidation occurs at a later stage. These results represent the first direct demonstration of PARP activation in human myocardial infarction. Future work is required to test whether pharmacological inhibition of PARP may offer myocardial protection during primary PCI