bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical intervention in screen-detected patients versus symptomatic patients with breast cancer
Authors: Dillon MF , Hill ADK , Quinn CM , O'Doherty A , Crown J , Fleming FJ , McDermott EW , O'Higgins N
Published: August 2004

Objectives: The impact of population-based screening for breast cancer on the rate of breast-conserving surgery has not been established. We sought to evaluate whether surgical intervention in patients with screen-detected breast cancer differed from those with clinically detected tumours.

Settings: St Vincent's University Hospital and the BreastCheck Merrion Unit, part of the Irish National Breast Screening Programme, were the setting for the study.

Methods: A total of 902 patients referred for surgery to St Vincent's University Hospital over a four-year period (2000–2003) were studied. Patients with breast cancers detected during the prevalent round of screening (n=325) were compared with patients presenting with symptomatic disease (n=577). The operative procedure, nature of axillary surgery and histopathological findings were recorded in each case.

Results: There was an increase in breast-conserving therapy in the screened population compared with symptomatic cases (68% screened versus 53% symptomatic; p<0.0001), with a corresponding reduction in axillary clearance rates (65% screened versus 81% symptomatic; p<0.0001). Nodal positivity was similar following correction for size in all tumours >1 cm, regardless of method of detection. Sentinel node biopsy was successfully undertaken in 39% of tumours <2 cm (T1 tumours) in the screening population.

Conclusions: The screened population was statistically more likely to have breast-conserving therapy than the symptomatic group. Sentinel node biopsy has evolved into an acceptable alternative to axillary clearance in T1 cancers, particularly in screen-detected cases.
Screening for physical and psychological illness in the British Armed Forces: II: Barriers to screening – learning from the opinions of Service personnel
Authors: French C , Rona RJ , Jones M , Wessely S
Published: August 2004

Objective: To identify any potential barriers to the effectiveness of a military health screening programme based on the beliefs of British Service personnel.

Methods: As part of a pilot evaluation of the suitability of a new health screening questionnaire for the British Armed Forces, 73 men and women from the three Services, of various ranks and age, underwent a semi-structured interview after completing a screening questionnaire. Participants were asked about the veracity of their answers and their views regarding a screening questionnaire. Afterwards questionnaires were sent to 4496 randomly selected personnel from the three Services, which validated the main emerging themes. A constant comparative method of analysis was used to identify and categorise all ideas presented.

Results: The main barriers to health screening were lack of trust, perceived low quality of healthcare, and perceived lack of concern within the institution about work environments and home life. The central issue was 'confidence' in military health care provision. Screening was considered worthwhile, but many confided that they would not honestly answer some items in the questionnaire. Lack of trust in medical confidentiality, stigmatisation and fears that the process would jeopardise career prospects were stressed. Many Service personnel admitted to seeking medical help outside the Armed Forces.

Conclusions: Concerns raised by Service personnel may endanger the value of a screening programme and the provision of health services. Greater emphasis needs to be placed upon gaining the confidence of those targeted for health screening.
APC resistance: What have we learned since 1993? / APC-Resistenz: Was haben wir seit 1993 hinzugelernt?
Authors: Dahlbäck B.
Published: August 2004

APC resistance, defined as a poor anticoagulant
response to activated protein C (APC), was described in
February 1993 as a novel and important inherited risk
factor of thrombosis. An avalanche of research activities
was triggered that during the past eleven years has elucidated
not only the molecular mechanisms of APC resistance,
but also general pathogenetic mechanisms of
thrombosis. In 1994, factor V (FV) was identified as the
factor associated with APC resistance, and a point mutation
in the FV gene (Arg506Gln or FV Leiden) was found
to be the genetic cause of APC resistance. This mutation
eliminates one of three APC-cleavage sites in FV, which
not only results in impaired APCmediated degradation
of FVa, but surprisingly also of FVIIIa. The dual effects of
FV Leiden were explained by the discovery of a novel
property of FV, namely that FV has the potential to
express anticoagulant activity in addition to being a procoagulant
protein. As an anticoagulant, FV functions as
an APC cofactor in synergy with protein S in the regulation
of FVIIIa in the tenase complex. Studies of APC
resistance and FV Leiden performed in many laboratories
world-wide have given insights into clinical, epidemiological as well as molecular details. This review focuses on what we have learned since 1993 about the molecular mechanisms of APC resistance and the involvement of FV in the regulation of blood coagulation by the anticoagulant protein C system.
Das SARS-assoziierte Coronavirus – Die erste Pandemie des 21. Jahrhunderts / The SARS-associated coronavirus – The first pandemic of the 21st century
Authors: Berger A. , Drosten C. , Doerr H. W. , Preiser W.
Published: August 2004

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) first
occurred in southern China at the end of 2002 and has
caused more than 8000 illnesses in total with over 700
fatalities as of end of August 2003. A unique collaborative
effort, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and
uniting several laboratories from around the world,
allowed the identification of the causative agent within
only one month. It is a hitherto unknown novel coronavirus
(provisionally termed SARS-associated coronavirus
or SARS-CoV) that fulfills Kochs postulates. The virus is
easily propagated in cell culture (under suitable highsecurity
laboratory conditions) which should facilitate further
studies into its stability as well as the development
of antivirally active substances and vaccines.
Although diagnostic laboratory tests, particularly for
the detection of viral nucleic acid and virusspecific antibodies,
were quickly available, the case definition for
SARS continues to be based on clinical and epidemiological
criteria. In view of the threat of a (seasonal) recurrence
of the infection it is urgently necessary to evaluate
and to further improve the available laboratory methods.
SARS is a good example of how rapidly an infectious
disease may spread through international travel activities;
but it also demonstrates the importance of a wellcoordinated
international cooperation in such a case.
Through the use of the latest advances together with
more traditional laboratory methods and the constant
exchange of (interim) results, patient samples and reagents,
an unprecedented collaborative effort soon
achieved a breakthrough. This should provide encouragement
in the struggle against other novel infectious
agents.
Testicular tumor markers: Corner-stones in the management of malignant
germ cell tumors / Hoden-Tumor-marker: Eckpfeiler in der Behandlung maligner Keimzelltumoren
Authors: Albrecht W. , Santis M. De , Dossenbach-Glaninger A.
Published: August 2004

Management of testicular tumor patients without marker
assessment is unacceptable in these days. Markers are
included in the TNM scheme since 1997 in form of the S
classification. The combination of AFP, hCG, LDH and
PLAP shows high specificity and sensitivity, in contrast
to most tumor markers in other malignancies.

While preoperative markers are usually available, it is
less common to monitor the immediate postoperative
course. Still there are patients with the first control of
tumor markers four weeks after surgery. In patients
showing normal markers after four weeks, one may have
missed a prolonged marker decline, such overlooking
remaining tumor tissue which could have been treated
more easily if detected in time, and not as late as metastases
can be identified by imaging alone. If markers have
not normalized after four weeks, there is a substantial
delay in starting adjuvant treatment with a probable
decreased chance for cure of the disease.

Furthermore, tumor markers are important for classifying
the risk of primary metastatic disease as well as for
evaluation of response to chemotherapy. Marker normalization
is a prerequisite for successful post-chemotherapy
surgery. During follow-up, rising markers are able
to identify relapsing tumors at an earlier stage than imaging
techniques alone.
Gesamt-Genom-Microarray-Analyse und Target-Validierung mittels qPCR / Whole genome microarray analysis and target validation by using qPCR
Authors: Klein H.-G. , Gorinevski D. , Hörmann J. , Marschall C. , Mayer K. , Vanetti M.
Published: August 2004

In modern pharmaceutical research, microarrays for the
analysis of differential gene expression are some of the
most valuable tools for the characterization of novel
compounds and their biological activity. Moreover, basic
clinical research in medicine has benefited tremendously
from this rapid development leading to the discovery of
new pathophysiological concepts for numerous diseases
and to an increased significance for molecular genetic
approaches by the characterization of molecular signatures
(synonymous for gene expression profile, gene profiling,
expression profiling) of diseases or diseased
tissues. Extensive data already exist particularly in oncology,
where gene profiling has been brought into patient
care. For the clinical application of innovative diagnostic
procedures, the quest for disease prognosis as well as
optimized therapies usually have the highest priority. Particularly
in this field, gene expression profiling could help
to improve and supplement phenotypic diagnostics and
classical laboratory analytics. It is foreseeable that the
analysis of a limited number of diagnostically relevant targets
and their quantitative measurement by real-time
PCR, a reliable technique for this kind of analyses, would
suffice. For the identification of diagnostically relevant
targets, the research community currently has access to
a number of whole-genome arrays or topic-specific
arrays, which provide information about the up- or down-regulation
of transcripts. These techniques are primarily
based upon hybridization of mRNA or cDNA to capture
probes and the semi-quantitative measurement of the
signal intensity. This article demonstrates the workflow
required when setting up a gene expression laboratory
for routine analytics in biomedical research and
diagnostics.
The history, advantages and limitations of point-of-care testing for blood glucose / Geschichte, Vorteile und Grenzen des Point-of-Care-Testing im Bereich der Blutzuckerkontrolle
Authors: Nichols J.H.
Published: August 2004

Glucose testing has evolved from primitive urine tasting
and chemical tests to sophisticated enzymatic and biosensor
technologies with computerized data recording
capabilities. Glucose monitoring will become more
important in the future, as the incidence of diabetes
increases. Current meters allow for the rapid analysis of
small amounts of blood in a variety of healthcare settings,
but suffer from the instability and common interferences
of their enzyme-based technologies. Although
the performance of glucose meters is not yet as accurate
as laboratory methods, glucose meters provide a reasonable
estimate to base insulin management and trend
glucose control. Glucose self-management delays the
onset of diabetic complications and intensive monitoring
of surgical inpatients improves patient outcome. Future
research promises to develop less invasive and more
continuous monitoring methods. While there is currently
no cure for diabetes, the advent of glucose meters and
monitoring technologies has provided new insights into
the nature of the disease and made diabetes a more
manageable disorder.
Online-Qualitätssicherung patientennaher Sofortdiagnostik (Point-of-Care-Testing) unter Nutzung des Kommunikations-Systems des Krankenhauses / Online quality assurance of point-of-care testing by using the hospital information system
Authors: Messner B. , Frick G. , Blobner M. , Albrecht K. , Schade T. , Luppa P. B.
Published: August 2004

The new guidelines of the German Bundesärztekammer
for quality assurance of quantitative laboratory analyses
(RiliBÄK), enacted on 01.01.2002, also have impacts on
point-of-care testing (POCT) in clinical settings. The University
Hospital Klinikum rechts der Isar has realized an
online-quality assurance scheme of all decentralized
POCT by using the hospital information system. All blood
gas and glucose POC systems were successively linked
to the core laboratory. There, all internal quality assurance
data are validated and documented by the use of
two central servers with appropriate software tools. The
quality control records are maintained electronically for
five years. The supervising POC manager also responds
to out-of-control situations by giving hints to the testing
personnel for remedial action. Additionally, online-transmitted
individual patient test results are transformed into
cumulative reports and re-transferred to the clinics by the
same network. External quality control is solely performed
by the core laboratory. Our new online-quality
assurance scheme already led to a more economic use
of POCT.
The laboratory responsibility in stopping the allergic march / Die Rolle des Labors beim Unterbrechen des allergischen Marsches
Authors: Menheere P. P. C. A.
Published: August 2004

Nowadays, it is generally accepted that allergic disease
of childhood develops into serious health problems in
adults. Allergy starts with mild forms of atopic dermatitis,
poorly differentiated gastrointestinal disease or recurrent
wheezing, mostly caused by food allergens. Later in
childhood the importance of food allergens diminishes,
but the inhalant allergens become more important and
are responsible for bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis or
conjunctivitis. Finally, in adulthood, allergic asthma is the
cause of irreversible changes of pulmonary tissue, reducing
lung capacity and function. This progressive development
of allergic disease in children causing minor (or
sometimes even major) discomfort into irreversible
changes of lung or skin tissue with consequently compromised
functionality, is called the allergic march. Early
recognition and correct intervention can modify this process.
All allergic patients may benefit from different kinds
of therapy that are available nowadays. It is important,
that the consulted physician is aware of the relation
between possible future healthcare problems and actual
allergic disease. Since allergy is of increasing complexity,
the physician is not able anymore to survey the complete
discipline. During the diagnostic phase, the physician
asks without exception for laboratory confirmation of the
allergy and for determination of the involved allergens.
Clinical chemists trained in allergy are seeing much more
demands for diagnosis of allergy. Furthermore, they are
aware of cross reactions and seasonal changes of exposure.
The clinical chemist should interpret the results and
he should advise the physician by proposing therapies
that might stop or even avoid progressive development.
The use of expert systems is beneficial in providing a tool
to combine the patient's information and history and the
results of allergy testing into a report of results containing
an interpretation and advice about possible therapies.
Close cooperation between the physician and the clinical
chemist is necessary to stop the allergic march.
A Basis for Anomalous Band Patterns Encountered During DNA STR Profiling
Authors: Clayton TM , Guest JL , Urquhart AJ , Gill PD
Published: August 2004

Since 1995 the Forensic Science Service (FSS) has carried out DNA profiling of reference samples for the UK National DNA Database (1) and in forensic casework using two multiplex STR profiling systems (2,3). During this period, profiles with anomalous banding patterns, although comparatively rare, have been encountered regularly. The FSS has collected instances of triallelic patterns and aberrant diallelic patterns. A systematic examination of these patterns has provided insight into their underlying genetic cause. The triallelic patterns could be classified into two types based on the relative intensities of their component alleles. In the Type 1 pattern the alleles were of uneven intensity, whereas in the Type 2 pattern, all three alleles were of even intensity. Evidence is presented that the more frequent Type 1 pattern is the result of somatic mutation at a heterozygous locus, and the Type 2 pattern is the result of a localized chromosomal rearrangement at a heterozygous locus. Directly from the Type 1 pattern, it was possible to deduce the size difference between the progenitor and mutated allele. All mutational changes were found to be multiples of four nucleotides, suggesting the loss or addition of one or more tetrameric repeat units. Aberrant diallelic patterns were identified by analysts due to an unexpectedly large difference in intensity between alleles at a heterozygous locus. While some of these diallelic patterns are likely caused by the same genetic phenomena described above occurring at a homozygous locus, others are demonstrated to be caused by a mutation in the primer binding sequence, leading to a reduction in amplification efficiency of one allele. It is concluded that based on a visual inspection of a profile, it is possible to infer a likely genetic basis directly from the triallelic pattern. By contrast, the aberrant diallelic patterns can be due to any one of a number of possible genetic effects.
A Novel Method for Extraction and Analysis of Gunpowder Residues on Double-Side Adhesive Coated Stubs
Authors: Zeichner A , Eldar B
Published: August 2004

A study was conducted to develop an efficient method for extraction and analysis of gunpowder (propellant) residues from double-side adhesive coated stubs, which are used for sampling suspects or their clothing for gunshot (primer) residues (GSR). Conductive and non-conductive double-side adhesives were examined, and the analysis was carried out by gas chromatography/thermal energy analyzer (GC/TEA) and ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). The optimal procedure for the extraction, as was developed in the present study, employs two stages: (1) extraction of the stubs with a mixture of 80% v/v aqueous solution of 0.1% w/v of sodium azide and 20% v/v of ethanol employing sonication at 80?C for 15 min. and (2) residues from the obtained extract were further extracted with methylene chloride. The methylene chloride phase was concentrated by evaporation prior to analysis. Extraction efficiencies of 30–90% for nitroglycerine (NG) and for 2,4-dinitro toluene (2,4-DNT) were found. No significant interferences in the analysis were observed from the adhesives or skin. Interferences were observed in the analysis by the GC/TEA of the samples collected from hair. The method enables analysis of propellant residues on a double-side adhesive coated stub after it was examined for primer residues by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X–ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX). Thus, the probative value of the evidence may be increased.
Potential of cinosulfuron and CGA152005 seed treatment for control of Striga hermonthica in upland rice
Authors: Adagba M. A. , Lagoke T. O. , Singh B. N. ,   et al.
Published: August 2004

Field trials were conducted in the dry and wet seasons of 1998 at Samaru (11°11' N, 07° 38' E, 686 m above sea level) in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria, to investigate the potential of cinosulfuron and CGA152005 seed treatments on the reaction of upland rice varieties to Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. Seven varieties of upland rice formed the main plots treatments while four levels each of cinosulfuron at 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g/l and CGA152005 at 0.008, 0.016, 0.032 and 0.064 g/l, as well as two no herbicide treatments of dry sowing and distilled water-soaked planting were assigned to the subplots. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design and replicated three times. The resistant varieties FARO 40 and WAB 56-50 did not support Striga emergence and also produced grain yields which were the maximum, or comparable to the maximum. FARO 11, a susceptible variety, produced high grain yields in spite of support for early, high Striga emergence. In spite of delayed emergence of Striga on FARO 38 and FARO 48, these varieties, as well as FARO 46 and FARO 45, supported high Striga emergence, exhibited high crop reaction scores to Striga and produced low grain yields. The seed treatment of upland rice varieties with cinosulfuron at 0.2 to 0.6 g/l and CGA152005 at 0.032 and 0.064 g/l significantly delayed Striga emergence compared with the lower rates. After seed treatment with cinosulfuron at 0.6 g/l, the susceptible rice variety FARO 38 and the resistant variety WAB 56-50 produced rice grain yields comparable to the maximum obtained with FARO 40 given seed treatment with CGA 152005 at 0.064 g/l. The significant interactions of varieties of upland rice and herbicide seed treatments on the number of days to first Striga emergence, Striga shoot count and crop reaction to Striga confirm the differential influence of various concentrations of the herbicide seed treatments on the virulence of Striga hermonthica on varieties of upland rice.
High in vitro shoot proliferation in the apple cultivar Jonagold induced by benzyladenine analogues
Authors: Magyar-Tábori K. , Dobránszki J. , Jámbor-Benczúr E.
Published: August 2004

Thein vitroshoot multiplication of apple cv. Jonagold was tested on media containing benzyladenine, benzyladenine riboside or meta-topolin in different concentrations (from 0.0 to 5.0 mg l-1). The optimal concentration for the best multiplication varied according to the type of cytokinin. The highest multiplication rate (on average 6.9 and 5.9 new shoots per explant) was achieved using 5.0 mg l-1meta-topolin or 2.0 mg l-1benzyladenine riboside. The longest shoots were formed on media containing benzyladenine riboside at a concentration of 0.5 mg l-1. The length of newly developed shoots was strongly suppressed by high concentrations of different cytokinins, but the suppression effect of a high concentration of meta-topolin on shoot length was less than that of benzyladenine or benzyladenine riboside. In this study meta-topolin and benzyladenine riboside proved to be effective cytokinins to induce adequate shoot proliferation, while benzyladenine was the least active cytokinin
Evaluation of boron fertilizers for a sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) - green gram (Vigna radiata L) cropping sequence in Inceptisols
Authors: Renukadevi A. , Savithri P. , Andi K.
Published: August 2004

Field experiments were conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar, Tamil Nadu, India during 1999 to 2000 in Inceptisols to evaluate boron fertilizers (borax, boric acid, Agribor) and to assess the effect of the mode and level of B application on the total B uptake and yield of sunflower and green gram. The experimental field was found to be deficient in available B (0.35 mg kg-1). Sunflower was raised as the main crop. Different B levels (0.5, 1.0, 1.5and 2.0 kg B ha-1)as soil application and two levels of foliar spray (0.2% and 0.3%) were compared with the control. The treatments were superimposed on the recommended dose of NPK. After harvestingthe main crop of sunflower, the residual effect of B was studied by raising green gram on the same field. The results revealed that the application of all the levels of B resulted in a significant increase in the B uptake and yield of sunflower as compared to the control. The highest yield was recorded for the soil application of B at a rate of 2.0 kg ha-1. The yield increase of sunflower was 3.6 to 15.8% and 7.2 to 18.9% over the control for seed and stalk, respectively. The green gram grain yield increased by 4.2 to 13.5% after the application of 1.0 and 2.0 kg B ha-1 to the main crop. No residual effect was observed for the lowest level of B application (0.5 kg ha-1). Agribor is equally as effective as borax in influencing the B nutrition of both the crops.
Effect of seed dressing agents on the emergence of maize sown on different dates
Authors: Gyenes-Hegyi Z. , Záborszky S.
Published: August 2004

Maize seed sown in cold soil during the first ten days of April will only produce a satisfactory stand if the hybrid chosen has adequate chilling tolerance and if the seed has high biological value (germination percentage, cold test) and is treated with a high quality dressing agent. The emergence date is influenced to a great extent by the heat sum, so only a small proportion of the considerable difference in the sowing date is manifested in the emergence date. Nevertheless, healthy plants emerging from early-sown seed have more rapid initial growth and development, as demonstrated by their greater shoot dry matter accumulation. It is not worth risking early sowing in heavily infected soil, with seed lots having poor germination ability, without adequate seed dressing, or with chilling-sensitive hybrids.
Effects of herbicides on nodulation and growth of two varieties of peas (Pisum sativum)
Authors: Singh G. , Wright D.
Published: August 2004

The effects of the pre-emergence application of terbutryn/terbuthylazine at 1.40 and 2.80 kg a.i./ha and prometryn at 1.70 and 3.40 kg a.i./ha and the post-emergence application of bentazone at 1.44 and 2.88 kg a.i./ha were studied on nodulation, root and shoot growth in two pea varieties, namely Rex and Guido. Of these the lower rates are the recommended rates for field application. Bentazone even at the recommended rate decreased nodule dry weight, whereas all three herbicides at double the recommended rate (except terbutryn/terbuthylazine in Rex) decreased the number and dry weight of nodules. Terbutryn/terbuthylazine and bentazone decreased root dry weight to a greater extent, whereas prometryn had only a slight effect. Shoot growth was adversely affected by all three herbicides in both the varieties, but prometryn and bentazone had less adverse effects in Rex than in Guido. Compared to the recommended rate, the herbicides had a greater adverse effect on nodulation at double the recommended rate.
Quality and yield in St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) harvested in different phenological stages
Authors: Hevia F. , Berti M. , Wilckens R.
Published: August 2004

Two experiments were conducted in the province of Ñuble, Chile during the 1997/98 and 1998/99 seasons with the objective of evaluating the effect of harvesting date on the yield and quality of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) in the second year of production. The apical 25 cm of the stem were harvested in the following stages: flower bud, beginning of flowering, full flower and petal drop. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used. The best yield (fresh, dry and threshing weight) and the highest hypericin content were obtained at the petal drop stage. Nevertheless, the results indicate that the best time to harvest St. John's wort is when 10 to 20% of the flowers are open and the rest are in the bud stage.
Protein and wet gluten contents in winter wheat grain samples
Authors: Hegedűs Z. , Szentpétery Z. , Kassai K. ,   et al.
Published: August 2004

The milling and baking quality of wheat is mainly determined by the genetic basis, but may also be influenced by management techniques. Series of winter wheat varieties were examined under identical agronomic conditions in the experimental years of 1996-2001. Weed control, the rate and application time of nitrogen top dressing, the use of insecticide and fungicide and the climate of the production year were evaluated as main factors. In the present study two major characteristics: the protein and gluten content of grain samples, were examined. The effect of nitrogen fertilization proved to have the strongest impact on both quality indexes. no significant quality differences were induced by the various means of weed control. Plant protection treatments had a rather diverse effect on the contents of the protein and gluten in certain years. The protein and gluten values were correlated in all the experimental treatments, but the level of the correlation showed considerable variation. The effect of crop year proved to be the strongest, followed by fertilization, from among the quality-determining factors. The protein versus gluten correlation was also found to be the closest in the case of nitrogen top dressing applications.
Plant gametes as tools for molecular breeding
Authors: Barnabás B. , Pónya Z. , Bakos F. ,   et al.
Published: August 2004

Sexual reproduction plays an essential role in the propagation of Angiosperms. Fertilisation takes place in the embryo sac, which is usually deeply encased in the sporophytic tissues of the ovule. In contrast to animals and primitive plants, the mechanism of egg cell activation in flowering plants has not been discovered fully because of the inaccessibility and complexity of the process of double fertilisation. However, recent advances in plant cell and molecular biology have brought new, powerful technologies to investigate and micromanipulate the reproductive cells of flowering plants including cereal crops. An experimental approach based on various micromanipulation techniques involving in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and microinjection procedures is now available in more and more laboratories. Despite some limitations this offers new possibilities to study cellular and subcellular events preceding or occurring during or after egg cell activation and early embryonic development. Recent achievements in the field of wheat egg cell micromanipulation are presented in this paper.
How They Do It
Authors: Kaiser-Cooke Michèle
Published: August 2004

The paper incorporates insights from systems theory, sociology and the philosophy of science and argues for regarding the translation process as a trans-systemic activity in which the translator is an active participant in the communication process and translational expertise is a process originating from and based on the translator's experience of the world. A theoretical model is presented to support the following claims: (1) Our experience of the world is structured by culture-specific concepts; cultures can be regarded as systems of concepts. (2) Each culture represents a specific interpretation of reality; culturally relevant reality is constructed by text production. (3) Translating requires de-constructing one reality and constructing another; the translator's consciousness as the interface between culture and reality enables this process. (4) Translation is a specific form of trans-systemic communication; so-called indeterminacy is overcome by individual and collective human consciousness; the translator thus plays an active role in the communication process. (5) The relationship between source text and target text is located in the translator's consciousness; this is where the 'the translation process' takes place and must be the focus of Translation Studies.
Study on the Revitalization Potential of Thermal-treated Soils
Authors: Vermes László , Biró B.
Published: August 2004

A
pot experiment was set up at the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Horticultural
Sciences of the Szent István University in 2001 investigating the revitalization
effect of selected treatments on thermal-treated soils and other production
substances. In the experiment 6 factors and 7 treatments were used, each in 4
replicates, using rape (
Brassica napus DC
) as test plant. During the
time period of the experiment (29 May-17 August) continuous observations and
measurements were conducted, plant and soil analyses - chemical and microbiological
- were made to establish the main effects and results of the different
treatments. These are discussed in the paper in detail. Although the soil-vitalization
procedures were of great success, no treatment in the experiment had an
extremely positive effect. Various additives, however could enhance the re-colonization
processes significantly.  According to
the basic factors (the soils or substrates) the best treatments were: the A1 (clay-pearl)
additive and the C2, C3 factors (the medium and low temperature soil treatments).  Among the treatment combinations, treatments IV
and VII were the best (
compost
and
compost + inocula addition).
This
fact shows that
the compost in a good quality, and the compost enriched,
compost extracted microbial inocula can play the most important role in the
revitalization of thermal-treated soils.
Manure addition and the manure +
inocula treatment can also be used as a prominent treatment in the restoration,
to increase the organic matter content and the microbial activity in soils. The
single alga- and microbial inocula treatment was not successful permanently,
therefore their use - without adding any parallel organic matter - cannot be
recommended. Investigations of the soil microbial activity showed that the
lowest temperature of thermal treatments had resulted a more effective
revitalization. The clay-pearl additive increased the persistency and activity
of the microbes in the soil. It was also obviously found that the
organic
additives with or without the microbial inoculations
could be used potentially
as the best soil revitalization treatments.
Measuring and Estimating Pressure-Saturation Curves on Undisturbed Soil Samples by Using Water and NAPL
Authors: Makó Csaba
Published: August 2004

In order to expand the
experimental data set of models describing the movement of organic liquids
polluting the soils, a series of experiments was set up in which the fluid
retention (pressure-
s
aturation curves of the soils) were measured using
water and NAPL (DUNASOL 180/220, a non aromatic petroleum product).
Measurements were carried out on undisturbed soil samples originating from 35
different horizons of 12 characteristic Hungarian soils. The P-S curves with
NAPL were determined in series, by a modified pressure cell apparatus -
designed and constructed in the laboratory of our department - containing
oil-resistant (silicon rubber, Teflon) components.   The applied methodology and the statistical
analysis of the measured data are presented. The results show that the commonly
used Leverett-type scaling of the water retention data provides inadequate
estimation of the NAPL retention in some cases. This deviation may be a direct
result of changes in clay volume and soil aggregation when saturation with
different fluids was performed. 
According to the analysis, however, with the easily measurable soil
parameters (bulk density, particle size distribution and humus content) a
better estimation of NAPL retention can be given. This estimation method (after
extending the database) can be useful for modelling the fate and migration of
NAPL or mapping the organic contaminant sensitivity of the soils.
A meszezés hatása a homoktalaj oldható szerves-szén- és szerves-nitrogén-tartalmára tenyészedény-kísérletben
Authors: Filep Tibor , Nagy Péter Tamás , Kincses Sándorné
Published: August 2004

Egy homok textúrájú barna erdőtalajjal beállított tenyészedény-kísérletben kétféle meszező anyag (mészkő és dolomit) hatását vizsgáltuk a talaj vízoldható szerves-C-(dissolved organic carbon, DOC) és szerves-N-(dissolved organic nitrogen, DON) tartalmára, zab (Avena sativa L.) jelzőnövény alkalmazásával. A tenyészidő alatt három alkalommal (a 6., 10. és a 15. héten) vettünk talajmintát. A kísérlet eredményei alapján az alábbi megállapításokat tehetjük:

A DOC mennyisége statisztikailag igazolható módon növekedett a mészadagok növekedésével mindhárom mintavételi időpontban. Ennek oka a pH emelkedése, ill. a mikrobiális aktivitás fokozódása. A talaj pH-ja és a DOC közötti összefüggés legjobban az y = 0,3733e0,7893x, r = 0,903*** egyenlettel írható le.

A DON esetében csak az 1. mintavételnél találtunk szignifikáns mészhatást, a tenyészidő további részében statisztikailag igazolhatóan nem növekedtek a DON-koncentrációk a mészadagokkal.

Vizsgálataink arra utalnak, hogy a DOC és a DON biodegradációja eltérő sebességű az adott kísérlet körülményei között.

A talaj vízoldható szerves-C-tartalma a 15 hetes tenyészidő alatt szignifikánsan nem változott, míg a DON-koncentráció szignifikáns csökkenést mutatott.

A mészkőpor alkalmazásakor magasabb DOC-, ill. DON-koncentrációkat mértünk, mint a dolomitkezeléseknél, de ez statisztikailag nem volt igazolható.
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the molecular cytogenetics of cancer
Authors: Szeles Anna
Published: August 2004

In this review, we discuss the developments of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and place them in the context of their applications in cancer research. These methods are not only very useful for the causal analysis of the development and spread of certain tumors, they are also efficient tools for tumor diagnosis. Although a review of all of the literature in this field is not possible here, many of the major contributions are summarized along with recent work from our laboratory. Our group contributes to the goal of functional identification of tumor growth antagonizing genes. FISH and molecular analyses have shown that the short arm of human chromosome 3 is frequently deleted in kidney, lung, breast, uterus, testis and ovary carcinomas. Deletion-mapping studies have outlined several separate deletion prone regions in different tumors, namely 3pter-p25, p22-p21.3, p21.1-p14 and p14-p12, which may contain putative tumor suppressor genes (TSGs). Candidate suppressor genes isolated from frequently deleted regions need to be assayed for possible tumor-antagonizing ability by functional tests. We have developed a functional test system, the microcell hybrid (MCH) based "elimination test” (Et). The Et is based on the introduction of a single human chromosome into tumor cells of human or murine origin, via microcell fusion. The MCHs were analyzed by FISH painting and PCR for the elimination or retention of specific human chromosome 3 (chr. 3) regions after one or several passages in severe combined immune-deficient (SCID) mice. We have defined a common eliminated region (CER) on chr. 3p2I.3. CER is approximately 1 megabase (Mb) in size. We have covered this region with PACs (bacteriophage PI based artificial chromosome) and used FISH mapping for localization and ordering PACs and cosmids on the chromosome 3 and high-resolution free chromatin/DNA fiber FISH to orient the PAC contig, to measure the lengths of PACs, and to establish their order. Activation of cellular oncogene by chromosomal translocation, which brings an oncogene under the influence of a highly active chromosome region, appears to play a pivotal role in the genesis of certain hematopoetic and lymphoid tumors. We have detected specific chromosomal translocations by FISH painting in mouse plasmacytoma (MPC), human Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and other B-cell derived tumors. We have showed in a murine sarcoma derived line (SEWA) that FISH can also be used for detection of amplified oncogene (c-myc) and the linked locus (pvt-1). We have also applied the FISH technique for visualization of integrated and episomal Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes and EBV transcripts in EBV-carrying B-cell derived human cell lines.
Genetics of sulphate assimilation in Schizosaccharomyces Pombe
Authors: Simonics T. , Bánszky Luca , Maráz Anna
Published: August 2004

Sulphur plays an important role in yeasts, especially in the biosynthesis of methionine and cysteine. The inorganic sulphur source, sulphate, is taken up by the cells via the sulphate-permease(s). After its transport, it is activated and subsequently reduced to sulphide or serves as a donor for sulphurylation reactions. Selenate anion (SeO42-), which has the same metabolic pathway as sulphate, is toxic for the cells ofSchizosaccharomyces pombe. We isolated selenate resistant mutants which cannot utilize sulphate, therefore they need organic sulphur source for growth. One of the selenate resistant mutants was successively transformed withS. pombegenomic libraries and the gene complementing the selenate resistance was identified as that of coding for the ATP-sulphurylase enzyme.
Regularities and irregularities in the cell cycle of the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Sveiczer Á. , Novák B.
Published: August 2004

In an exponentially growing wild-type fission yeast culture a size control mechanism ensures that mitosis is executed only if the cells have reached a critical size. However, there is some scattering both in cell length at birth (BL) and in cycle time (CT). By computational simulations we show here that this scattering cannot be explained solely by asymmetric cell division, therefore we assume that nuclear division is a stochastic, asymmetric process as well. We introduce an appropriate stochastic variable into a mathematical model and prove that this assumption is suitable to describe the CT vs. BL graph in a wild-type fission yeast population. In a double mutant of fission yeast (namelywee1-50 cdc25D) this CT vs. BL plot is even more curious: cycle time splits into three different values resulting in three clusters in this coordinate system. We show here that it is possible to describe these quantized cycles by choosing the appropriate values of the key parameters of mitotic entry and exit and even more the clustered behavior may be simulated by applying a further stochastic parameter.
Cloning and sequence analysis of Mucor Circinelloides glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene
Authors: Ács Klára , Kasza Zs. , Lukács Gyöngyi , Schwab H. , Vágvölgyi Cs.
Published: August 2004

A genomic library ofMucor circinelloidesATCC 1216b has been constructed in Lambda Fix II vector. The library has an average insert site of 10 kb and covers the genome 12 times. TheM. circinelloidesgene encoding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) was isolated from this library by hybridization of the recombinant phage clones with agpd-specific gene probe generated by PCR reaction. The complete nucleotide sequence encodes a putative polypeptide chain of 339 amino acids interrupted by 3 introns. The predicted amino acid sequence of this gene shows a high degree of sequence similarity to the GPD proteins from other filamentous fungi. The promoter region, containing a consensus TATA and CAAT box and a 298 nucleotid long termination region were also determined.
The smut fungi of the world. A survey
Authors: Vánky K.
Published: August 2004

After a short historical review, our current knowledge about the smut fungi of the world, their number, classification, occurrence on host plant groups and their relationship to other groups of fungi are presented. Surprising results of the new classification of smut fungi are shown. The estimated number of existing species, expected results and trends in smut fungus taxonomy, the necessity and modalities of the conservation of smut fungi and the preparation of an illustrated world monograph of smut fungi are discussed.
Mycological characterization and comparison of climax forest associations in the Mecsek mountains
Authors: Pál-Fám F.
Published: August 2004

Deciduous forests, developed in Submediterrean climate, differ essentially from those in Central and Western Europe. Present paper concerns fungistical characterization of four Submediterranean climax associations based on 8 years investigation, as well as on literary data. Near common and rare species differential and local character ones are considered, those with indicative value, too. In addition, functional distribution of these associations is discussed.
Lignicolous macrofungi of the Kékes north forest reserve in the Mátra Mountains, Hungary
Authors: Siller Irén , Turcsányi G. , Maglóczky Zsófia , Czájlik P.
Published: August 2004

A three-year mycological investigation of the Kékes North forest reserve in the Mátra mountains, Hungary proved the richness of the area in lignicolous macrofungi. Diversity of macrofungi was in close correlation with the developmental phases of the forest as well as with the amount of dead wood of different quality (diameter, stage of decomposition, etc.).
Studies on the root associations of the truffle Terfezia terfezioides
Authors: Kovács G. M. , Bagi I. , Vágvölgyi Cs. , Kottke Ingrid , Oberwinkler F.
Published: August 2004

The paper contains an overview of the results of the studies made on the truffle Terfezia terfezioides, particularly the investigations related to the associations of this fungus with plants. Twelve plant species originated from a natural habitat of the fungus were supposed to be connected with T. terfezioides based on the anatomy of the endogenous fungal structures in their roots. Aseptic experiments were carried out on modified MMN substrates with different phosphate concentrations to study the interaction of T. terfezioides with Robinia pseudoacacia and Helianthemum ovatum. The colonization of the roots of black locust was always weaker than that of Helianthemum. The main characteristics were the intracellular coiled, branched, frequently septated hyphae in dead root cells. The intercellular hyphae formed Hartig-net with finger like structures only in Helianthemum. the interactions could not be considered unambiguously as mycorrhizae. There was no difference between the RFLP profiles of the nr DNA ITS of nineteen fruit bodies collected at the same time from the habitat and the ITS of three randomly chosen specimens were identical on sequence level, too. These invariability makes to design species specific PCR primers possible to check unambiguously the host plants.
Isolation and characterization of two types of actinophages infecting Streptomyces scabies MR13
Authors: El-Sayed A. , El-Didamony G. , Mansour K.
Published: August 2004

Two types of actinophages, φS and φL, were isolated from soil samples by usingStreptomyces scabiesMR13, a potato scab pathogen, as an indicator strain. The phages were partially characterized according to their physicochemical properties, plaques and particles morphology and their host-range. The host-range of these phages was narrow for φS and wide for φL. The adsorption rate constants of the φS and φL were 3.44 × 10−9and 3.18 × 10−9ml/min, and their burst sizes were 1.61 and 3.75 virions, respectively. One-step growth indicated that φS and φL have a latent period of 30 min followed by a rise period of 30 min. The temperate character of these phages was tested in other isolates ofStreptomyces. Four of the phages (φSS3, φSS12, φSS13 and φSS17) were identified as temperate phages, since they were able to lysogenize SS3, SS12, SS13 and SS17. φSS3, φSS12 and φSS13 were homoimmune, and they were heteroimmune with respect to φSS17. The restriction barriers of lysogenic isolates (SS12, SS13 and SS17) interfered with the blockage of plaques formation by phages (φSS12, φSS13 or φSS17) propagated on them, about 75% of lysogenic isolates had restriction systems. The exposure of the lysogenic isolates (SS12, SS13 and SS17) to UV-irradiation prevented the possible restriction barriers of these isolates, and these barriers could be overcome.