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Abstract: The environmental pollution is a central issue in the present industrial societies. Within that the air pollution and the removal of hazardous components of flue and exhaust gases are very much important. In this paper the target is to decrease of the NO x emission by means of a technology similar to that is used in the electrostatic precipitators. In most of the papers dealing with this technique cylindrical precipitator is used as a discharge chemical reactor, and fast rising electric discharges are applied for energizing the reactor. In the industry the over helming majority of the electrostatic precipitators are plate type one. In the cylindrical precipitator the discharge electrode is parallel with the gas flow, and the corona discharge filament is perpendicular to both of them. In the case of plate type industrial electrostatic precipitator the discharge electrodes are positioned vertically, and the flow of the flue gas is horizontal. Consequently, the discharge filaments are mainly perpendicular to both the flow and the discharge electrode. In cylindrical precipitator the decomposition of NO x is done in one filament very soon, but there is no chance to modify the byproducts with a new pulse, because the energization is the same for the whole length of the discharge electrode. In the present paper a cylindrical precipitator, a plate type precipitator with horizontal electrode, and a plate type precipitator with vertical electrode were tested. The total length of the discharge electrodes of all of the precipitators was the same. The results of the NO x decomposition were experimentally determined, and the differences between the precipitators were investigated. The cylindrical and the plate type precipitators with vertical electrodes had shown basically similar decomposition rate, while the plate type one with horizontal discharge electrode had proven inferior to the others. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this paper was to find possible link between molecular and morphological similarities of 38 Hungarian white grape varieties. Three aspects of morphological and molecular similarity were assessed in the study: comparison of the ordered variety pairs, assessment of molecular and morphological mean similarity differences and separation of varieties into similar groups by divisive cluster analysis to define (DIANA). Molecular similarity was calculated from binary data based on allele sizes obtained in DNA analysis. DNA fingerprints were determined at 9 SSR loci recommended by the European GrapeGen06 project. Morphological similarity was calculated on the basis of quantitative morphological descriptors. Morphological and molecular similarity values were ordered and categorized after pairwise comparison. Overall correlation was found to be weak but case by case assessment of the variety pairs confirmed some coincidence of molecular and morphological similarity. General similarity position of each variety was characterized by Mean Similarity Index (MSI). It was calculated as the mean of n-1 pair similarity values of the variety concerned. Varieties were ordered and compared by the difference of the index. Five varieties had low morphological and high molecular MSI meaning that they share several SSR marker alleles with the others but seems relatively distinct according to the expression of their morphological traits. Divisive cluster analysis was carried out to find similar groups. Eight and twelve cluster solutions proved to be sufficient to distinct varieties. Morphological and molecular similarity groups partly coincided according to the results. Several clusters reflected parent offspring relations but molecular clustering gave more realistic results concerning pedigree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two nanocrystalline palladium-supported tin oxide catalysts for water denitration were synthesized by a modified sol-gel technique using appropriate chloride precursors for both support and active phases, and citric acid to tune the rate of hydrolysis and condensation. The difference among sample preparation procedures refers to the moment of the noble metal loading to the support, as well as to the calcination temperature altitude followed. Thus, mesoporous tin oxide was synthesized by a sol-gel method following calcination at 700°C. The palladium active phase was introduced afterwards by means of palladium chloride solution impregnation, followed by calcination at 400°C (sample 1). Alternatively, simultaneous complexation of both metal and support precursors followed by single calcination at 700°C was applied for preparation of sample 2. The former sample showed higher activity and selectivity in hydro-denitration of water model system initially containing 100 ppm of nitrates. This was explained by preferential textural, morphological and structural properties accomplished by early contact of metal and support nanoparticles, while achieved by calcination at high single temperature forcing diffusion of palladium ions into the tin oxide matrix. The outcome is very well distribution of palladium and strong metal-support interaction leading to multivalent tin. This indicates partly reduced tin oxide formation in the course of its reduction in hydrogen, which may act as active site in denitration reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Disproportionate vitamin D levels may play an important role in the development of certain systemic autoimmune and rheumatic diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to compare serological and clinical parameters in patients with different vitamin D levels from a single centre registry in Central-Eastern Europe. Methods: A total of 177 patients with SLE were enrolled in the study. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay ( CLIA). Autoantibody profiles, complement 3 (C3) and C4, clinical symptoms, and disease activity (using the SLE disease activity index, SLEDAI) of the patients were assessed. Results: Vitamin D concentration in the total SLE group investigated was 26.88 ±± 13.25 ng//mL. Vitamin D levels were normal (≥≥ 30 ng//mL) in 18.1%% of patients, insufficient (15--30 ng//mL) in 44.6%%, and deficient (< 15 ng//mL) in 37.3%%. The vitamin levels were significantly reduced in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal patients (p == 0.02). Patients with pericarditis (p == 0.013), neuropsychiatric diseases (p == 0.01), and deep vein thrombosis (p == 0.014) had reduced vitamin D levels. SLEDAI score was significantly increased in patients with reduced vitamin D levels (p == 0.038). Anti-double-stranded (ds)DNA autoantibody concentrations increased from normal to insufficient and further increased from insufficient to deficient patient subsets (p == 0.021). Anti-Smith antigen (anti-Sm) concentrations increased (p < 0.001), C4 levels decreased (p == 0.027), and immunoglobulin (Ig)G concentration increased (p == 0.034) in patients with reduced vitamin D levels. Conclusions: Our data suggest that vitamin D deficiency in SLE may play a role in perpetuation of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chromosome 1p36 region was previously indicated as a locus for susceptibility to recurrent major depressive disorder based on a linkage study in a sample of 497 sib pairs. We investigated the gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) δ receptor subunit gene, GABRD, as a susceptibility gene to childhood-onset mood disorders (COMD) because of substantial evidence implicating GABAergic dysfunction in mood disorders and the position of this gene near the 1p36 linkage region. Using a sample consisting of 645 Hungarian families with a child/adolescent proband diagnosed with a mood disorder with the onset of the first episode before age 15, we found some evidence for the association of two polymorphisms located within the gene, rs2376805 and rs2376803, as well as significant evidence for biased transmission of the haplotypes of these two markers (global χ2 test for haplotypes = 12.746, 3 df, P = 0.0052). Furthermore, significant evidence of association was only observed in male subjects ( n = 438) when the results were analyzed by sex ( χ2 = 9.000 1 df, P = 0.003 for rs2376805). This was in contrast with the previous linkage findings, as LOD scores exceeding 3 were only in female–female pairs in that study. These findings point to the GABRD gene as a susceptibility gene for COMD; however, this gene may not explain the previous linkage finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify the main causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) during a 5-year period and to determine clinical and immunological parameters with prognostic significance. Methods: The clinical and immunological features of a cohort of 1000 patients with APS from 13 European countries who had been followed up from 1999 to 2004 were analysed. Results: 200 (20%) patients developed APS-related manifestations during the 5-year study period. Recurrent thrombotic events appeared in 166 (16.6%) patients and the most common were strokes (2.4% of the total cohort), transient ischaemic attacks (2.3%), deep vein thromboses (2.1%) and pulmonary embolism (2.1%). When the thrombotic events occurred, 90 patients were receiving oral anticoagulants and 49 were using aspirin. 31/420 (7.4%) patients receiving oral anticoagulants presented with haemorrhage. 3/121 (2.5%) women with only obstetric APS manifestations at the start of the study developed a new thrombotic event. A total of 77 women (9.4% of the female patients) had one or more pregnancies and 63 (81.8% of pregnant patients) had one or more live births. The most common fetal complications were early pregnancy loss (17.1% of pregnancies) and premature birth (35% of live births). 53 (5.3% of the total cohort) patients died. The most common causes of death were bacterial infection (21% of deaths), myocardial infarction (19%) and stroke (13%). No clinical or immunological predictor of thrombotic events, pregnancy morbidity or mortality was detected. Conclusion: Patients with APS still develop significant morbidity and mortality despite current treatment (oral anticoagulants or antiaggregants, or both). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

PURPOSE: An important question in child psychiatry is the agreement between parents and children. We studied mother-child concordance about the quality of life of children (QoL). We hypothesized that mothers of depressed children rate lower QoL than children for themselves while mothers of non-depressed children rate better QoL; that inter-informant agreement is higher in the non-depressed sample; and finally that agreement increases with age of the child. METHODS: QoL of depressed children (N = 248, mean age 11.45 years, SD 2.02) were compared to that of non-depressed children (N = 1695, mean age 10.34 years, SD 2.19). QoL was examined by a 7 item questionnaire (ILK). RESULTS: Mothers of depressed children rated lower QoL than their children while mothers of nondepressed children rated higher QoL than their children. Agreement was low in both samples but higher in the controls. Inter-informant agreement was only influenced by depression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that mothers relate more serious negative effects to childhood depression than their children and rate less problems for their non-depressed children compared to self-reports. Mother-child agreement is negatively influenced by depression which further stresses the importance of obtaining reports from the child and at least one parent in order to understand the subjective experiences caused by the illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of sodium ions on the specific surface area of a NiO-Al2O3 catalyst in dependence of nickel loading (5, 10, and 20 wt% Ni), temperature of heat treatment (400, 700 and 1100°C) and the method of sample preparation was investigated. Low temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were applied for sample characterization. Dramatic differences in the specific surface area were registered between non-rinsed and rinsed Al2O3 and NiO-Al2O3 samples. The lagged sodium ions promote sintering of non-rinsed catalyst samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by increased pathologic autoantibody production. A decrease in the number of CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ regulatory T cells can play a key role in the loss of tolerance to self antigens. Our aim was to determine the absolute number of peripheral CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ T cells in 44 patients with SLE, furthermore, to measure the changes in the number of CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ T cells in 5 patients with severe SLE treated with repeated plasmapheresis for 4-6 days in comparison to the changes in the activity of disease (SLEDAI). Percent of CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ T cells were measured by flow cytometry. The absolute number of peripheral CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ T cells was significantly decreased in the 44 patients with SLE compared to the healthy controls n = 32 (0.012 ± 0.006 vs. 0.038 ± 0.017 G/L, p < 0.05). In the 5 patients with severe SLE the repeated plasmapheresis treatments increased the peripheral number of CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ T cells. As the number of CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ T cells increased during the treatment, the activity of disease (the value of SLE activity index) decreased. In the peripheral blood of SLE patients not only the ratio was decreased (as it was published earlier) but also the absolute number of these regulatory T cells. The repeated plasmapheresis treatments of SLE patients induced a significant increase in the number of peripheral CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ T cells in parallel to the decrease in the values of SLEDAI (the activity of disease). This phenomenon is, among others, possibly due to the elimination of interpheron-alpha and lymphocytotoxic antibodies during plasmapheresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormalities of regulatory T cells may play an important role in the loss of self-tolerance, which is a major characteristic of lupus. The objective of this study was to determine the ratio and the number of natural CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ and inducible CD4+IL-10+ regulatory T cells in lupus patients and to search correlation with disease activity. Seventy-two Hungarian lupus patients were enrolled in the study. Fourty-one age- and sex matched healthy donors served as controls. Flow cytometry was used for the quantification of CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ (nTreg) and CD4+IL-10+ (iTreg) cells. The ratio (3.06 ± 1.45%) and the number (0.019 ± 0.012 × 109⁄L) of nTreg cells decreased in lupus significantly (P < 0.001 in both) as compared to normal controls (4.26 ± 1.01% and 0.039 ± 0.017 × 109⁄L). The ratio of iTreg cells were significantly higher in patients than in controls (20.92 ± 14.02% versus 15.49 ± 11.65%, P < 0.03), but the number of these cell type did not differ in significant manner (0.314 ± 0.236 × 109⁄L versus 0.259 ± 0.183 × 109⁄L). The 19 active patients were characterised by significantly higher disease activity index (SLEDAI 8.63 ± 2.95 versus 1.74 ± 1.68, P < 0.001) and anti-DNA concentration (117.85 ± 145.89 versus 37.36 ± 68.85 IU/mL, P = 0.001) as compered to the 52 inactive patients. Furthermore, active patients required higher dose of methylprednisolon than inactive ones (14.8 ± 10.6 versus 4.8 ± 3.4 mg/day, P = 0.001). However, we did not find statistical significant difference in the number and ratio of the examined cell populations regarding to disease activity. Altered ratio and number of both natural and inducible regulatory T cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of lupus. There are small but appreciable difference in the number of regulatory T cells between inactive patients and healthy controls. It suggests that immunoregulatory deficiencies are present in the inactive stage of the disease also. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a nerve growth factor that has been implicated in the neurobiology of depression. Our group has previously reported an association between a BDNF variant and childhood-onset mood disorder (COMD) in an adult sample from Pittsburgh. We hypothesize that variants at the BDNF locus are associated with COMD. Six BDNF polymorphisms were genotyped in 258 trios having juvenile probands with childhood-onset DSM-IV major depressive or dysthymic disorder. BDNF markers included the (GT)n microsatellite, Val66Met and four other single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributed across the BDNF gene. Family-based association and evolutionary haplotype analysis methods were used. Analysis of linkage disequilibrium (LD) revealed substantial LD among all six polymorphisms. Analyses of the Val66Met polymorphism demonstrated significant overtransmission of the val allele (X2 = 7.12, d.f. =1, P= 0.0076). Consistent with the pattern of LD, all other SNPs showed significant biased transmission. The (GT)n microsatellite alleles also indicated a trend towards biased transmission (170 bp: Z= 2.095, P 0.036). Significant haplotypes involved Val66Met and BDNF2 (P= 0.0029). In this Hungarian sample, we found all five BDNF SNPs tested and a haplotype containing the BDNF Val66Met Val allele to be associated with COMD. These results provide evidence that BDNF variants affect liability to juvenile-onset mood disorders, supported by data from two independent samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, few studies have examined the relationship between health behavior risk factors and cigarette smoking in Hungary. From 1995 to 1999, the prevalence of current smoking increased from 35.9 to 46.0% among secondary students in Budapest, Hungary. The objective of the present study was to examine the association between smoking and other health behavior risk factors among secondary school students in Budapest. Surveys were administered during regular classes in 21 traditional and nine vocational/technical schools containing Grades 9-12; 2410 students aged 15-18 years were included in the analysis. Overall, 44.9% of males and 46.9% of females were current smokers. Smoking increased with age and was significantly higher among vocational/technical (60.2%) than traditional (43.1%) students. The likelihood of smoking was significantly higher among students who rarely or never used a seatbelt when riding in a car driven by someone else, currently used alcohol, had engaged in episodic heavy drinking, had had four or more sex partners during their lifetime or did not participate in vigorous physical activity. Health-risk behaviors are frequently interrelated. Findings suggest that programs designed to prevent smoking should consider related health-risk behaviors as part of a comprehensive program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]