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Byline: Laszlo L. Stacho (1), Gyula Domotor (2), Miklos I. Ban (3) Keywords: reaction path; potential energy surface; steepest descent path Abstract: The Olender--Elber (OE) reaction path concept [1] is shown to be unrelated in general with a true steepest descent path (SDP) in the mathematical sense yet the solutions of such a variational problem may even replace the old reaction path (RP) concept if the RP passes through several critical points of the potential energy surface. We have found a chemically interesting and sufficient condition for the coincidence of OE's 'SDP' and the IRC of Fukui. The OE concept has been discussed here in a rather straightforward manner giving it an exact mathematical description. Author Affiliation: (1) Bolyai Institute for Mathematics, JATE University of Szeged, H-6720, Szeged, Aradi Vertanuk tere 1, Hungary (2) Institute of Physical Chemistry, JATE University of Szeged, H-6701, Szeged, P.O. Box 105, Hungary (3) Institute of Physical Chemistry, JATE University of Szeged, H-6701, Szeged, P.O. Box 105, Hungary Article History: Registration Date: 08/10/2004

Byline: Laszlo L. Stacho (1), Gyula Domotor (2), Miklos I. Ban (2) Abstract: A mathematical proof against the theoretical foundation of the Elber--Karplus (EK) global reaction pathafollowing method and the improvements based on the EK strategy have been discussed. According to our arguments the minimization of the average value of the potential energy along a path to two energy minima never defines a reaction path (RP) unless in the chemically irrealistic situation where the points of the curve joining the two minima of reactants and products have constant energy values. Therefore, finding approximate RPs by EKastrategies for large chemical systems or even in mathematical test examples is impossible or at least strongly doubtful (the larger the system the more doubtful). Author Affiliation: (1) Bolyai Institute for Mathematics, JATE University of Szeged, Aradi Vertanuk tere 1, Ha6720, Szeged, Hungary (2) Institute of Physical Chemistry, JATE University of Szeged, P.O. Box 105, Ha6701, Szeged, Hungary Article History: Registration Date: 14/10/2004

The dimorphic cycle of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus var japonicus and transition between unipolar and bipolar growth are modulated by the nutritional gradient in the environment. Transformation from the yeast form to the mycelial morphology is correlated with widespread vacuolation. The yeast form is unstable on solid media and prone to transform to mycelium. Schizosaccharomyces japonicus var japonicus can therefore be used in the study of yeast morphogenesis and polarity.

Introduction and Objectives. Epigenetic changes can be reversible because they modify the activity or expression of genes without DNA alteration. There are some common trigger factors involved in the occurrence of the diseases, like smoking, alcohol consumption, metabolic syndrome (glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia and obesity), environmental factors, lifestyle and unhealthy alimentation. Our study aims to evaluate the influence of known trigger factors on epigenetic changes (on the 5-methyl-cytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethyl-cytosine (5hmC) variations, where 5mC is the global methylation marker, and 5hmC reflects the demethylation stage) in newly diagnosed benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) patients. Materials and Methods. The study population comprises 200 of male adults over 50 years who provided written consent to participate and fulfill the inclusion criteria. We categorized the study patients in two groups: 181 newly diagnosed BPH patients and 19 clinically healthy patients, as a control group. Human genomic DNA was extracted from fresh peripheral white blood cells using the QIAamp DNA Blood Maxi Kit. The 5mC and 5hmC content of genomic white blood cell DNA in patients with BPH and control samples was determined by colorimetric ELISA. Results. Our results show that patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and cardio-vascular diseases showed significantly higher values of 5mC compared to the control group. Patienst with obesity, body mass index (BMI) > 30, smokers and those who consumed daily alcohol showed significantly higher values of 5mC compared to the control group and normal BMI patients. Instead, the values of global demethylation (5hmC) remained relatively constant in all of these groups. Conclusions. In conclusion we can say, that epigenetic markers, especially 5mC, were directly influenced by alcohol and tobacco consumption, and obesity and type 2 diabetes are negative prognostic factors for the evolution of BPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objectives. The benign hypertrophy of prostate (BPH) is a benign tumor of the prostate characterized by the appearance of LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms). In Romania there are about 200 000 men registered under treatment, but the number of patients could exceed 900 000. The aim of the study was to re-evaluate the clinical relevance of the IPSS score in the BPH diagnosis and assessment of the quality of life during patients’ follow-up. Materials and Methods. Between October 2015 - September 2016 we conducted a population-based descriptive cross-sectional survey designed to assess the prevalence of clinical BPH amongst male adults in Arad County, Romania. The study group included male adults over 45 years; patients with any type of neoplasia were excluded. Additionally, 19 healthy patients were included in a control group. All patients were interviewed for LUTS using the IPSS questionnaire, and investigated for PSA level in conjunction with DRE (digital rectal examination) and transabdominal prostate ultrasonography. Results. We selected 181 patients with BPH. The mean age of patients with BPH was 68.31 ± 5.54 years, the youngest subject being 53 years old and the oldest 83. Most patients were enrolled between 61-70 years and 60.77% (n = 181). Our study show that the rate of BPH in Arad County using IPSS questionnaire were 2.00% in 51-60 age group, 30.0% in the 61-70 age group and 21.00% in > 70 age group. The prevalence of BPH based on DRE and abdominal ultrasound is 4.00% in the 51-60 age group, 41.5% in the 61-70 age group and 23.00% in > 70 age group. Conclusions. The IPSS score is an important factor both in the diagnosis of BPH patients for correct assessment of symptom severity and an indirect indicator in assessing the quality of life of patients both prior to treatment and in subsequent periodic evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objectives. Prostate carcinoma (PCa) can be an evasive diagnosis, with unpredictable outcomes, when refering to prognosis. Histopathological diagnosis of PCa can be established by transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) biopsy after an abnormal finding in digital rectal examination (DRE) or finding an increased value of total prostate specific antigen (PSAt) in the blood. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between standard complementary parameters like: age, PSAt, Gleason score, histological degree of chronic prostate inflamation, prostate volume and clinical tumoral stage - DRE, in order to predict cancer agressivnes at time of diagnosis. Materials and Methods. The study included 60 patients, who attended a urological consult (anamnestics, total PSA evaluation, DRE - digital rectal examination, abdominal ultrasound). After the examination, the patients with abnormal DRE and PSA level (> 4 ng/dl) underwent TRUS prostate biopsy. After histopatological diganosis of PCa, the patients were divided into groups according to age, PSAt, cancer agressivness, histological degree of chronic prostate inflamation, prostate volume, clinical (DRE) tumoral stage and furthermore, the groups were compared to each other for statistical analysis. Results. A positive biopsy result was found in all patients. The PSA level corresponded well with the diagnosis of prostate cancer. All prostate cancer patients enrolled in the study had serum PSA above 4 ng / mL, while the dominant number of patients had serum PSA> 10 ng / mL. The mean age of the patients was 68 years, the majority of them had an average prostate volume (40-70 cm3). Most of the patients had prostate cancer at the T3 clinical tumoral stage. Also, the majority of cases had a Gleason score 7. The highest percentage of patients had first degree of inflammation associated with the presence PCa. Nonparametric analysis using the Spearman ρ (rho) correlation coefficient, revealed weak but statistically significant associations between PSA and prostate volume, respectively between PSA and the degree of chronic inflammation. The clinical tumoral stage - DRE, showed a significant mean association with prostatic volume. Overall, a trend of increasing absolute value of PSAt with Gleason score, was observed (median test, p = 0.006). A significant increase in serum PSAt with histological degree of chronic inflammation (Median test, p ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, a general trend of prostate cancer severity was estimated, based on the total Gleason score, associated with the degree of chronic inflammation. Conclusions. The correlation between standard parameters: Age, PSAt, Gleason score, degree of chronic inflammation, ultrasound-determined prostate volume, and clinical tumor stage - DRE, improves PCa diagnosis and are valuable parameters for obtaining a prognostic factor at time of diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]