Biomedical subjects

S Fekete

Publications and source records attributed to S Fekete.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Canine STR analyses in forensic practice. Observation of a possible mutation in a dog hair.

In a case of the death of a 7-year-old boy, the police investigations revealed a possible dog attack contrary to the witness testimonies. DNA investigations were carried out from hairs, saliva and bloodstains with 10 canine-specific STR loci by the use of fluorescently labelled multiplex PCR and the ABI PRISM 310 genetic analyzer. The analysis of one hair sample revealed one allele deviation from the profile of the putative Rottweiler perpetrator possibly caused by a mutation. The PCR fragments in question at the PEZ20 locus were sequenced and compared with the alleles detected in the Hungarian canine population and identified on a repeat number basis. The allele frequencies were determined based on typing of 242 genetically independent canine individuals from 72 breeds. The results suggested that two of the canine individuals could be the perpetrators.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Attitudes of Hungarian students and nurses to physician assisted suicide.

In Hungary, which has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world, physician assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia are punishable criminal acts. Attitudes towards self destruction and assisted suicide are, however, very controversial. We investigated the attitudes of medical students, nurses and social science students in Hungary towards PAS, using a twelve item scale: the total number of participants was 242. Our results indicate a particular and controversial relationship between attitudes towards assisted suicide in Hungary and experience with terminally ill people. The social science students, who had the fewest personal experiences with terminally ill patients, are characterised by the most permissive attitudes towards assisted suicide. Nurses, who had everyday contact and experience with these patients, were the most conservative, being least supportive of assisted suicide. The attitudes of medical students, the would be physicians, are somewhere between those of nurses and social science students.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

[Effect of retinoic acid on the cytogenetic remission in the first chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia treated with interferon].

Cytogenetic responses of 11 chronic myeloid leukemic (CML) patients during the first chronic phase, treated with the combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) + interferon (IFN) were compared to 9 other CML patients of phase one, treated with interferon monotherapy. Metaphase and interphase cytogenetics and a semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to evaluate the cytogenetic responses. Two of the 11 patients in the ATRA + interferon treated group were withdrawn, one of them because of interferon intolerance, and the other because of compliance failure. Among the 9 ATRA + interferon treated patients 6 major cytogenetic responses could be detected and 3 of them were complete. Of the 9 patients treated with IFN monotherapy only 2 major cytogenetic responses could be registered. No severe adverse effects were observed. The first results suggest that the ATRA + interferon combination may be superior in achieving cytogenetic remission in the first chronic phase of CML.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

[Suicidal behavior in the elderly. Review of results at the Pécs Center of the WHO/EURO Multicenter Study on Suicide].

The authors examined the characteristics of old suicide attempters (over 65 years) with special regard to organic and depressive disorders and sociodemographic features. Within the framework of the WHO/EURO Multicentre Study on Parasuicide data of 849 suicide attempts were collected during three years. Comparing old age group (n = 54) to younger suicide attempters (n = 795) were found that over 65 years the proportion of female was much higher, repeaters rate was lower. In aged group were more widowed persons, while was not substantial difference in the rate of living alone. Regarding methods of parasuicide there were fewer poisoning (but higher rate of sedatohipnotics intoxication), while hard methods were more frequent. Over 65 years the proportion of depression, and organic disorders was higher. It seems that, in spite of the fact, that many old parasuicidal patients have depressive symptoms, they could get treatment only for symptoms of anxiety and sleep disturbance, while the affective problems remain undiagnosed and untreated. Another important factor, that high proportion of elderly sample was living in the family, with other relatives or in nursing home. In spite of this most of cases family members or caretakers in nursing home could not recognise the psychic problems and could not give sufficient emotional or social support to the patients to prevent suicide attempt. Authors pointed out, that the recognition and treatment of depression plays very important role in the suicide prevention in elderly population, and the adequate emotional and psychosocial support by family and health care systems seems to be essential.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Fertile estrus induced in bitches by bromocryptine, a dopamine agonist: a clinical trial.

The dopamine agonist bromocryptine, probably through amplifying gonadotroph (mainly FSH) secretion, was found to be suitable for provoking fertile estrus during the anestrous phase in bitches without functional cycles and/or ovarian activity. We studied estrus induction in 48 bitches after treatment with semisynthetic ergot alkaloid bromocryptine. For habituation a fractional dose of 0.3 mg/bitch was administered for three days followed by larger doses within the range of 0.6 to 2.5 mg/bitch by selecting dose rates on the basis of individual responsiveness and body weight. The long-term daily bromocryptine dose did not exceed 0.6 mg/bitch and 2.5 mg/bitch in small and large sized bitches, respectively. Gradual habituation and individual dose rates have almost completely eliminated the unwanted side effect of emesis. The period between treatment and onset of estrus varied but the average was 19 days. After the onset of estrus bromocryptine administration was usually continued for another 3 to 6 days. Occurrences of estrus, ovulation and pregnancy were monitored by cytological evaluation of vaginal epithelium, rapid ELISA for plasma progesterone and ultrasonography, respectively. Samples for progesterone were taken on Days 7, 9, 12 and 15 and sonograms of ovarian follicles and of fetuses were taken on Days 0, 22 and 35. The bitches involved in the study either regular or irregular cycles. Bromocryptine treatment induced estrus in all of the bitches including 40 of 48 (83%) with ovulation within a regular estrus and 6 of 48 (12.5%) that showed estrus but did not ovulate. Mating or artificial insemination of bitches in their fertile periods twice at two day intervals resulted in an 83% pregnancy rate (40 cases) and 39 (97.5%) of them gave birth to puppies. However, the average litter size was small with 4.8 +/- 1.6 pups.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

[Physical illness and suicidal behavior. Review of results at the Pécs Center of the WHO/EURO Multicenter Study of Parasuicide].

The authors examined the relation of physical illness, suicidal behaviour and help-seeking patterns among suicide attempters within the framework of the WHO/EURO Multicentre Study on Parasuicide. Until now 700 monitored suicidal events have been collected; 101 structured interviews and 50 follow-up cases have been conducted in this three years period. Physical and mental problems proved to be very frequent among suicide attempters and many of them took somatic and psychiatric drugs. It was shown that patients with acute or chronic physical and mental illness more often had been in contact with GPs. Authors pointed out that in addition to mental problems the somatic diseases are significant risk factors in suicidal behaviour. In many cases these factors were not recognised and thus patients could not get help. Authors emphasised the importance of training GPs, since complex diagnostic and therapeutic approach is essential to prevent suicide.

Chronic Disease↗

PubMed2001

Canine microsatellite polymorphisms as the resolution of an illegal animal death case in a Hungarian zoological gardens.

Several animal carcasses were found in the paddocks of a Hungarian County Zoo during 1 week. The 14 animals killed were thought to be the victims of a dogfight training. The primary suspect was the security guard of the Zoo with his guard dogs. DNA tests were carried out on hairs and bloodstains and 10 canine-specific STR loci were analysed by fluorescently labelled multiplex PCR using the ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer. The results confirmed that the killer was a single animal and all of the guard dogs were excluded.

Animal Welfare↗

PubMed2001

Retarded myelination in the lumbar spinal cord of piglets born with spread-leg syndrome.

Piglets born with spread-leg syndrome, a congenital weakness of the hindlimb adductors, were investigated to determine the site of lesion leading to limb impairment. Histological and immunohistochemical studies of the motor neuron unit showed no alterations but quantitative analysis revealed a reduction of axonal diameter and myelin sheath-thickness of the fibres innervating the adductors of the affected limbs. In the lumbar spinal cord a lack of myelination was observed in the tracts descending to the lower motor neurons. Recovery from the syndrome was accompanied by a catching-up of myelination with that of the controls. The spread-leg syndrome is due to a nutritional deficiency in the sow; thus it is assumed that the deficient maternal substances, mainly choline and methionine, are essential for the normal myelin production by spinal white matter oligodendrocytes of the fetus.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2001

Mass media, cultural attitudes, and suicide. Results of an international comparative study.

Many studies indicate that the suicidal behavior in a society is affected by the suicide stories publicized. Cultural valuations appear in the way media present self-destruction. The reflection of sociocultural attitudes toward suicide can be observed and analyzed in these texts. In this research, reports about suicide (n = 2203) in the years from 1981 and 1991 taken from daily newspapers were gathered--three central and regional papers in each country. A content analysis was performed of the suicide reports in Hungary (n = 244), Japan (n = 684), the United States (n = 265), Germany (former West n = 458, former East n = 60), Austria (n = 405), and Finland (n = 81), on the basis of the following variables: mentioning of the name, personal data, prominence of the suicidal person, qualification of the suicide, methods, motives, positive or negative consequences, alternatives, and the expression(s) used to refer to the act. After a coding process, an analysis was conducted as to whether any significant differences existed in the rate of the several characteristics in the countries from the point of view of the possible imitation-identification and of the cultural differences are the most important findings interpreted.

Attitude↗

PubMed2001

Reduction of the energy density of cat foods by increasing their fibre content with a view to nutrients' digestibility.

Indigestible compounds are useful for reducing the energy density of food for obese cats, but the acceptance and digestibility of such components must also be taken into consideration. In this trial, dried apple pomace was investigated as a compound having sweet taste, aromatic flavour and high fibre content (207 g/kg dry matter). It was mixed in a meat-based diet at a ratio of 10, 20, and 40%. These diets were fed to adult cats in digestibility trials. As could be predicted, by increasing the percentage of apple pomace in the mixtures the digestibility of nutrients significantly decreased (p < 0.01; p < 0.001). However, the digestibility of ether extract decreased much less than that of the other nutrients. The addition of apple pomace to the diets at an inclusion rate of 10 or 20% reduced their energy density but only slightly changed the digestibility of fat. However, the digestibility of crude protein decreased considerably. According to the present findings, the energy density of mixed diets decreases proportionally to the percentage of apple pomace added. However, due to the much lower digestibility, the protein supply to the cat will be worse. It was concluded that the addition of palatable fibrous components is the best method for reducing the energy content of food for obese cats, as it maintains a normal level of food intake. When calculating the required protein content of a diet supplemented with a fibrous component, in addition to the degree of dilution the reduced protein digestibility must be taken into account.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2001

Factors influencing the food preference of cats.

Four individual preference tests were carried out using the same 10 castrated adult cats. The main questions investigated were: (i) do the cats prefer diets having one dominant taste or diets made from a relatively wide range of compounds of animal origin and (ii) can the preference be connected to one taste? In test 1 a dry diet (K) made by a world-renowned company having a beef taste was compared with four others (I, II, III, IV) dry foods prepared at the authors' institute in order to prevent any one of the mixtures having a predominant taste. In test 2 diets I, II, III and IV were compared with each other in the absence of diet K. In test 3 another four diets with different dominant tastes (fish, liver, poultry with fat addition and poultry without fat addition) were investigated. In test 4 the same three tastes (beef, fish and poultry) were compared with each other by using diets of three world-renowned companies. From the results the following conclusions can be drawn. Cats undoubtedly use smell in the detection and selection of food. If cats find the odour of a certain food is significantly more attractive than that of the other, they will consume it exclusively and without tasting the less attractive food. If none of the diets are especially attractive, according to smell, cats will also taste the foods and make their decision on the basis of both senses. Diets having one dominant taste result in a higher feed intake than that reached by diets without a dominant taste. If a diet is manufactured well, its dominant taste may have less effect on diet consumption. Food preference does not seem to be connected to one exclusive taste but is significantly influenced by other factors connected to the manufacturing of the diets.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2001

Comparative investigation of salinomycin and flavophospholipol in sheep fed different composed diets.

The effects of salinomycin and flavophospholipol, and their relationship with the diet, were studied in nine ruminally and duodenally cannulated wethers. Within the composition of the ration, the levels of rumen degradable protein (RDP) and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) were changed (diet H: 74% RDP and 38% NSC; diet M: 57% RDP and 32% NSC; diet L: 48% RDP and 23% NSC). There was no clear treatment effect of flavophospholipol on propionate concentration. Salinomycin supplementation appeared to be more effective than flavophospholipol in the increase of propionate concentration at the expense of acetic acid. Salinomycin significantly reduced the ammonia concentration of the rumen fluid. Microbial N content of the duodenal digesta was significantly lower when salinomycin was used. Salinomycin inhibited proteolysis and reduced the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis. The effect of salinomycin on ruminal N metabolism was independent of the composition of substrate. Unlike salinomycin, flavophospholipol tended to increase proteolysis in the rumen and did not inhibit protein synthesis. The effect of salinomycin on ruminal fermentation and the duodenal flow of nutrients were independent of substrate composition.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2001

Remarkably reduced transplant-related complications by dibromomannitol non-myeloablative conditioning before allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in chronic myeloid leukemia.

A non-myeloablative conditioning protocol containing dibromomannitol (DBM/cytosine arabinoside/cyclophosphamide) has been applied to 36 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients followed by bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from sibling donors. Risk factors include: accelerated phase (10 patients), older age (17 patients over >40 years) and long interval between diagnosis and BMT (27 months on average). Severe mucositis did not occur. Venoocclusive liver disease was absent. Infectious complications were rare. Although grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was present in 9 (25%) cases, there were only 2 serious (III-IV) ones. Chronic GVHD occurred in 25 (69%) cases, preceded by acute GVHD in 9 of the 25 affected patients. Early hematological relapse, 7-29 weeks after BMT, developed in 6 patients (17.6%). No relapse was noted in the completely chimeric patients, however molecular genetic residual disease was observed in 6 patients, in most of them after transient short-term mixed chimeric state. Overall actual survival rate is 83.3% for the 36 cases, and leukemia-free survival is 72.2% for the 34 engrafted patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Resolution of parentage in dogs by examination of microsatellites after death of putative sire: case report.

A case of disputed paternity in dogs is reported. DNA examinations were carried out from hair samples of the individuals several months after the death of the putative sire. Ten short tandem repeat (STR) loci were analysed by fluorescence-labelled multiplex PCR using ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyser. Based on the results the candidate sire was included in the pedigree records as the biological sire. In spite of the genetic homogeneity of pedigree dogs due to inbreeding, canine microsatellites can provide an adequate basis for assigning paternity in pure breeds.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Alteration of body composition in rats: effect of organic chromium and L-carnitine.

A growth trial was carried out to test the effect of organic, trivalent chromium and L-carnitine on the body composition of growing rats. At the same time, an evaluation of different measurement methods (weight of epididymal fat pad, adipocyte morphometry, total body electrical conductivity) was performed. Outbred Wistar rats of 30 days of age were fed diets of different (0, 10 and 20%) protein level. The diets were supplemented with 4 mg/kg Cr as chromium nicotinate, and 100 mg/kg L-carnitine. The experimental feeding lasted 15 days, after a 5-day-long adjustment period. It was found that Cr addition increased feed intake. Both treatments caused changes in body composition, increasing fat and protein deposition. Organic chromium had no effect at either protein level, while L-carnitine improved the protein retention only at an optimum (20%) protein supply. No statistically significant correlation was found between total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) and body composition, which could be attributed to the great individual differences. A close correlation was found among total body fat percentage, weight of epididymal fat pad and the adipocyte surface. The data suggest that there is an interaction between dietary protein supply and the effect of repartitioning agents.

Adipocytes↗

PubMed2000

[Diagnostic and preventive factors in the background of attempted suicide--review of two-years results of the Pécs Center in the WHO/EURO Multicenter Study of Attempted Suicide].

Since parasuicides are not being systematically recorded in Hungary, a monitoring project within the framework of the WHO/Euro Multicentre Study on Parasuicide was started in Pecs catchment area. The study is aimed both to monitor the medically treated parasuicides and to predicts future acts (repetition prediction study) through a follow-up investigation. Pecs centre has been participated for two years in this study. The recent results of this survey are presented and analysed: 553 monitored suicidal events has been collected; 101 structured interview and 37 follow-up cases has been conducted in this period. The most important epidemiologic sociodemographic and psychosocial factors are discussed. Authors paid special attention to the presuicidal psychological characteristics especially the cry for help of the patients, emphasizing the specific diagnostic and preventive possibilities.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

[Detection of minimal residual diseases in B-cell tumors using PCR specific for the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene].

In B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), clonal rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene provides a useful marker for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) after treatment. To explore clinical usefulness of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of clonal IgH gene rearrangement in the detection of MRD a follow up study of 10 patients with B-cell NHL have been performed. At the time of diagnosis, tumor DNAs were PCR-amplified using sense primer specific for the heavy chain variable region (VH) and antisense primer specific for the heavy chain joining region (JH) of the IgH gene. The clonal rearrangement of IgH gene detected by PCR was used as clonal marker to determine MRD after treatment. In three cases, where clinical remission was not achieved, clonal IgH gene rearrangement was detected after the treatment. In seven cases, clinical remission was achieved after induction therapy but the PCR analysis revealed clonal IgH gene rearrangement in three of the cases. In all of the three cases, where MRD was detected by PCR, clinical relapse developed after 7-28 months of the therapy. In all cases that have relapsed, the IgH gene rearrangement was identical at the time of initial diagnosis and at the relapse. This study demonstrates that PCR analysis of clonal IgH gene rearrangement is a useful method to monitor and detect MRD before clinical relapse.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMed2000

[Comparative study of the attitudes of students and nurses to physician-assisted suicide--first results].

While the popular media and the professional literature deal with the topic of euthanasia intensively, the problems of physician-assisted suicide received insufficient attention in Hungary. The authors review the most important details of the physician-assisted suicide. A twelve-item scale to measure attitude toward PAS (constructed and validated by G. Domino) was administered to the samples of Hungarian social science, medical students and nurses. The distributions of responses for the 12 items for the social and medical samples are compared and discussed. Also a cross-cultural comparison was made with an American student sample examined by Domino. The social science students who have the fewest personal experiences with serious, or terminally ill patients are the most liberal group, characterised by the most permissive attitudes toward PAS. Nurses who have everyday contact and experience with these patients are the most conservative; they show more or less conclusively the lowest acceptability rate of PAS. The attitudes of medical student's group, of the would-be physicians are between them, and they are the most controversial and ambivalent. Future research is necessary to get more information about attitudes toward physician-assisted suicide.

Adult↗