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Biomedical subjects

T Szilágyi

Publications and source records attributed to T Szilágyi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Tobacco industry efforts to erode tobacco advertising controls in Hungary.

OBJECTIVE: To review strategies of transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) at creating a favourable advertising environment for their products in Hungary, with special regard to efforts resulting in the liberalisation of tobacco advertising in 1997. METHOD: Analysis of internal tobacco industry documents relevant to Hungary available on the World Wide Web. Transcripts of speeches of members of the Parliament during the debate of the 1997 advertising act were also reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: The tobacco companies not only entered the Hungarian market by early participation in the privatisation of the former state tobacco monopoly, but also imported theirsophisticated marketing experiences. Evasion and violation of rules in force, creation of new partnerships, establishment and use of front groups, finding effective ways for influencing decision makers were all parts of a well orchestrated industry effort to avoid a strict marketing regulation for tobacco products.

Advertising↗
PubMed2003

Hungry for Hungary: examples of tobacco industry's expansionism.

OBJECTIVE: To give an overview of available internal tobacco industry documents on the transnational tobacco companies' (TTCs) efforts to enter the new market of the emerging democracy of Hungary and how it developed allies in its efforts at resisting tobacco control regulations. METHOD: Internal tobacco industry documents relevant to Hungary, available on the World Wide Web, were searched between 26 July and 30 November 2001. Documents on the identification of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as a great market potential have been reviewed; another set of reviewed documents are of particular relevance to Hungary, as they indicate who the main partners of the industry are. CONCLUSIONS: TTCs not only invaded the markets of the fragile new CEE democracies by making their product widely available, but also introduced sophisticated lobbying and marketing tactics. TTCs will try to shape the country's regulatory framework in a manner to help increase their profits. The fiercer the reaction of TTCs against a planned regulatory measure is, the more impact on the health of the population could be expected from the introduction and enforcement of that measure.

Democracy↗
PubMed2003

Tobacco industry efforts to keep cigarettes affordable: a case study from Hungary.

OBJECTIVE: To review strategies of multinational tobacco companies aimed at keeping tobacco products affordable to smokers in Hungary and to provide background information on the Hungarian request for the delayed introduction of minimum European Union tobacco excise duty levels. METHOD: Review of internal tobacco industry documents available on the World Wide Web, downloaded between 26 July 2001 and 31 October 2002. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate pricing strategies and lobbying for low tobacco tax policies were used by the tobacco industry in Hungary to keep cigarettes affordable to the public. During the 1990s and in the early 2000s transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) were still able to prevent substantial cigarette price rises, which would have been desirable for more effective control of Hungarian tobacco use. Strategies used by TTCs included the creation of new partnerships, use of supportive MPs, communication around tobacco tax issues and also the successful management of the differences in approaches used by individual companies regarding taxation of tobacco products. These resulted in the adoption of governmental policy aimed at delaying the introduction of the EU directive on the minimum tax levels of retail prices of cigarettes.

Commerce↗
PubMed2002

Peer education of tobacco issues in Hungarian communities of Roma and socially disadvantaged children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this demonstration program was to examine the effectiveness of peer education in disseminating tobacco related information and influencing knowledge, attitudes and beliefs related to smoking in socially disadvantaged youth communities. METHOD: Peer educators were trained to become messengers of tobacco issues. Intervention sites were selected. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess the effectiveness of interventions. Recommendations were drawn up on the inclusion of peer conducted health education into the comprehensive program of the Ministry of Health to improve the health situation of Roma (Gypsy) and disadvantaged population groups. RESULTS: Peer educators were recognised as trustworthy mediators of tobacco related information. Interventions resulted in an improved level of knowledge of and changes in attitudes towards smoking in the targeted youth communities. CONCLUSIONS: The program demonstrated that peer education is an effective tool to raise awareness on smoking issues in communities of Roma and disadvantaged children, when multiple socio-cultural-environmental factors facilitate the taking up of unhealthy habits. If disseminated, this tool could be effective in helping reduce teenage smoking in these communities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Effect, number and location of synapses made by single pyramidal cells onto aspiny interneurones of cat visual cortex.

1. Dual intracellular recordings were made from synaptically coupled pyramidal cell-to-interneurone pairs (n = 5) of the cat visual cortex in vitro. Pre- and postsynaptic neurones were labelled with biocytin, followed by correlated light and electron microscopic analysis to determine all sites of synaptic interaction. 2. Pyramidal neurones in layers II-III elicited monosynaptic EPSPs in three distinct classes of smooth dendritic local-circuit neurones, namely basket cells (n = 3), a dendrite-targeting cell (n = 1) and a double bouquet cell (n = 1). Unitary EPSPs in basket cells were mediated by one, two, and two synaptic junctions, whereas the pyramid-to-dendrite-targeting cell and pyramid-to-double bouquet cell interaction were mediated by five and seven synaptic junctions, respectively. Recurrent synaptic junctions were found on all somato-dendritic compartments, with a tendency to be clustered close to the soma on the double bouquet and dendrite-targeting cells. The latter interneurones were reciprocally connected with pyramidal cells. 3. Unitary EPSPs had an average peak amplitude of 1005 +/- 518 microV, fast rise times (10-90%; 0.67 +/- 0.25 ms) and were of short duration (at half-amplitude, 4.7 +/- 1.0 ms). Their decay was monoexponential (tau = 7.8 +/- 4.3 ms) at hyperpolarized membrane potentials and appeared to be shaped by passive membrane properties (tau = 9.2 +/- 8.5 ms). All parameters of concomitantly recorded spontaneous EPSPs were remarkably similar (mean amplitude, 981 +/- 433 microV; mean rise time, 0.68 +/- 0.18 ms; mean duration, 4.7 +/- 1.7 ms). 4. In all three pyramidal-to-basket cell pairs, closely timed (10-50 ms) pairs of presynaptic action potentials resulted in statistically significant paired-pulse depression, the mean of the averaged second EPSPs being 80 +/- 11% of the averaged conditioning event. The overall degree of paired-pulse modulation was relatively little affected by either the amplitude of the preceding event or the inter-event interval. 5. The probability density function of the peak amplitudes of the unitary EPSPs could be adequately fitted with a quantal model. Without quantal variance, however, the minimum number of components in the model, excluding the failures, exceeded the number of electron microscopically determined synaptic junctions for all five connections. In contrast, incorporating quantal variance gave a minimum number of components which was compatible with the number of synaptic junctions, and which fitted the data equally well as models incorporating additional components but no quantal variance. For this model with quantal variance with the minimum number of components the estimate of the quantal coefficient of variation ranged between 0.33 and 0.46, and the corresponding quantal sizes ranged between 260 and 657 microV. The peak EPSP amplitudes in two of the four connections with more than one synaptic junction could be adequately described by a uniform binomial model for transmitter release. 6. In conclusion, at least three distinct interneurone classes receive local excitatory pyramidal cell input which they relay to different compartments on their postsynaptic target neurones. The reliability of transmission is high, but the fast time course of the EPSPs constrains their temporal summation. Due to the relatively small amplitude of unitary EPSPs several convergent inputs will therefore be required to elicit suprathreshold responses.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1996

Physiological properties of anatomically identified basket and bistratified cells in the CA1 area of the rat hippocampus in vitro.

Basket and bistratified cells form two anatomically distinct classes of GABAergic local-circuit neurons in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus. A physiological comparison was made of intracellularly recorded basket (n = 13) and bistratified neurons (n = 6), all of which had been anatomically defined by their efferent target profile (Halasy et al., 1996). Basket cells had an average resting membrane potential of -64.2 +/- 7.2 vs. -69.2 +/- 4.6 mV in bistratified cells. The latter had considerably higher mean input resistances (60.2 +/- 42.1 vs. 31.3 +/- 10.9 M Ohms) and longer membrane time constants (18.6 +/- 8.1 vs. 9.8 +/- 4.5 ms) than basket cells. Differences were also apparent in the duration of action potentials, those of basket cells being 364 +/- 77 and those of bistratified cells being 527 +/- 138 microseconds at half-amplitude. Action potentials were generally followed by prominent, fast after-hyperpolarizing potentials which in basket cells were 13.5 +/- 6.7 mV in amplitude vs. 10.5 +/- 5.1 in bistratified cells. The differences in membrane time constant, resting membrane potential, and action potential duration reached statistical significance (P < 0.05). Extracellular stimulation of Schaffer collateral/commissural afferents elicited short-latency excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in both cell types. The average 10-90% rise time and duration (at half-amplitude) of subthreshold EPSPs in basket cells were 1.9 +/- 0.5 and 10.7 +/- 5.6 ms, compared to 3.3 +/- 1.3 and 20.1 +/- 9.7 ms in bistratified cells, the difference in EPSP rise times being statistically significant. Basket and bistratified EPSPs were highly sensitive to a bath applied antagonist of non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, whereas the remaining slow-rise EPSP could be abolished by an NMDA receptor antagonist. Increasing stimulation intensity elicited biphasic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in both basket and bistratified cells. In conclusion, basket and bistratified cells in the CA1 area show prominent differences in several of their membrane and firing properties. Both cell classes are activated by Schaffer collateral/commissural axons in a feedforward manner and receive inhibitory input from other, as yet unidentified, local-circuit neurons.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1996

Neuroplastic changes in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus: the estradiol effect is accompanied by increased exoendocytotic activity of neuronal membranes.

1. In the rat hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, estradiol induces coordinated changes in the number of axosomatic synapses, the amount of glial ensheathing, and the ultrastructure of the membrane of neuronal somas. In the present study we used conventional electron microscopy and freeze-fracture to examine cellular mechanisms responsible for the estradiol-induced changes at the membrane level. 2. In freeze-fracture replicas taken 10-60 min and 24 hr after injection of 17 beta-estradiol to adult ovariectomized females, it was found that there was a rapid increase in the number of exoendocytotic images that reached a plateau by 30 min. 3. In thin sections from animals injected 24 hr earlier we demonstrated a significant increase in coated vesicles in the periphery of the neurons and coated pits in the perikaryal membranes and decreased axosomatic synapses. 4. We conclude that these morphological alterations are signaling estrogen-induced transport and/or turnover of perikaryal membrane constituents and extracellular components which may affect interneuronal and neuroglial interactions.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Modulation by thyroid hormones of the development of external plexiform layer in the rat olfactory bulb.

Width of the external plexiform layer in olfactory bulbs and mean area of mitral and granule cell dendritic and glial processes were measured of normal, hypo- and hyperthyroid rat pups at the age of 24 days. Hypothyroidism was induced by treating the rats with a reversible goitrogen 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil dissolved in their drinking water, while the hyperthyroid group was given water containing thyroxine. The 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil treatment was begun on gestational day 18 and on the day of birth. Thyroxine treatment started on the day of birth. Both treatments were continued till the day of sacrifice. A significant decrease in the width of the external plexiform layer of the olfactory bulb in the prenatally 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil treated group and a significant increase in the width of the external plexiform layer of the hyperthyroid group was shown by the Student's paired t-test. The areas of neuronal and glial processes were measured at electron microscopic level by using an IBAS image analysing system. A significant decrease was found by the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's range test in the mean area of (1) mitral cell dendrites in the prenatal 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil treated group, (2) granule cell dendrites in both the postnatally 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil treated and in the hyperthyroid groups and (3) glial processes in the thyroxine treated group comparing to controls.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Histology and histochemistry of intervertebral discs of rats participated in spaceflight.

The qualitative and quantitative histological and histochemical changes in the structure and macromolecular composition of lumbar intervertebral discs of rat during a 12.5-day space flight (Cosmos 1887 biosatellite) were determined using light and polarization microscopy. Semiquantitative histochemical, topo-optical reactions were measured and evaluated by retardation values of birefringence. (a) Lateral expansion and accumulation of the notochordal cells in the nucleus pulposus was observed in contrast with the vivarium control, where the chondroid cells dominated. (b) The cartilage and plate showed a swelling, which consisted mainly of hypertrophied cells sometimes with mild extracellular mineralization. (c) In the external zone of annulus fibrosus and cartilage end plate a mild decrease of orientation of collagen fibers was found. (d) A significant increase of orientation of hyase sensible glycosaminoglycans in the internal zone of annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus was observed. (e) In the external and internal zones of annulus fibrosus an increase of orientation of glycoproteids was revealed. The alterations of macromolecular components of intervertebral discs, cartilage end plates, and the osteoporotic changes of the lumbar vertebral bodies producing the looser structure of vertebral column after 12.5 day space flight suggest the necessity of the common evaluation of these structures, and may explain the heavy spinal pains of astronauts.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Polyphasic and protracted patterns of hepatitis A infection: a retrospective study.

The present study was performed in order to evaluate the frequency and clinical features of polyphasic and protracted forms of HA infection. Out of 297 adult HA patients admitted to our hospital, 12.5% and 8.4% were polyphasic and protracted, respectively, in clinical course. 21.6% of the polyphasic patients had more than one relapses. The rates of symptomatic relapse during the follow-up of the polyphasic and protracted HA infections were 51% and 56%, respectively, One % of all HA patients presented a cholestatic pattern. Three % of all the patients had to be readmitted for hospital treatment. The outcome of disease was benign in all HA patients, though, complete recovery sometimes needed six months.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Difficulties in recognition and treatment of lethal midline granuloma and otolaryngologic and radiotherapeutic practice].

The authors report on two cases of a "lethal midline granuloma". The first patient was treated by irradiation and chemotherapy. He lives for the last three and a half years in complete remission. The established diabetes did not affect the healing process. In the second case only a palliative irradiation was practicable because of the extreme tumour propagation, but the result was nevertheless good.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effect of short- and long-term spaceflight on the contractile properties of rat skeletal muscles with different functions.

In the Cosmos biosputnik 1514, 1667, 1887, 2044 and 1129 the rats 5, 7, 12,5, 15, 18,5 days were in weightlessness state. Due to the adaptation of the skeletal muscles' weightlessness the adaptation was different in various muscles, which depends on the time of participation in antigravitation, the composition of the fibers and from the biometrical characteristics. In different muscles, the changing of the metabolism and the structure of the muscles more than likely in connection with the changing of the myosin subordinate unit compositions. In our experiments we had studied, as to how the muscular atrophy changes, does it increase all the time, or does it balances out after reaching a certain stage.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1990

Effects of space flight on bone formation and resorption.

Samples of femurs and tibiae of male Wistar rats subjected to a 13 day space-flight on the biosatellite Cosmos 1887--were investigated and compared with vivarium and synchronous controls or immobilized rats, using histological and histomorphometric methods. 1. After flight in the metaphysis of bones the density and volume of the spongious trabeculae diminished significantly indicated by the Sv and Vv histomorphometric values and histological data comparing to the controls. In the diaphysis, the density of trabeculae decreased too. 2. In the flight group significant suppression of bone formation was determined by histological and histomorphometric (decrease of the OS, OB and OBI values) methods. 3. In the flight group according to the histological pictures the signs of bone resorption (increase of Hoswship's lacunae, osteoclastic activity, structural rarefication of spongious and cortical bones, osteon disintegration, osteocytic osteolysis) were revealed, which was substantiated by the histomorphometric results (increase of osteoclastic index: OCI). 4. Significant differences between flight and immobilized groups were not determined, except the osteoid value, which was increased in the case of immobilization. 5. Some histomorphometric values related to bone formation of synchronous control group showed close relationship rather to the flight group than to the vivarium control group.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effect of short-term spaceflight on the contractile properties of rat skeletal muscles with different functions.

In the biosatellites "Cosmos-1514" and "Cosmos-1667" rats were exposed to weightlessness in the space for either 5 or 7 days. The contractile properties of the soleus, extensor digitorum longus (EDL), brachialis, plantar, gastrocnemius and triceps (caput mediale) muscles were studied after return to earth. The muscles of animals living freely (vivarium group) and animals kept under conditions identical to those on the biosatellite (synchronous group) served as controls. The myofibrils were preserved by glycerol treatment. The ATP-Ca+(+)-induced isometric tension as well as the speed of contraction were registered, through a signal transformer, on a potentiometric recorder. The experimental results are concomitantly recorded numerically and graphically on a Citizen 1200 printer and analyzed with a Commodore 128D computer. During the short-term spaceflight the greatest weight loss and decrease of contractile power was seen in the slow soleus muscle, i.e. weightlessness and immobilization led to the degeneration and weakening of mainly the tonic muscle fibres. Nevertheless after the short-term spaceflight, even with the present improved and sophisticated methods, the authors were unable to demonstrate, changes indicating muscle transformation which had been previously seen in rats exposed to weightlessness for 18.5 days.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1988

The effect of ipriflavone treatment on osteoporosis induced by immobilization.

The purpose of these experiments was to study the effect of Ipriflavone (7 isopropoxy-isoflavone) on the osteoporosis induced by immobilization. The immobilization was produced by plaster cast of the right hind limb in young and old rats. Ipriflavone was administered via a gastric tube in a daily dose of 40 mg/kg body weight for 8 weeks. On the basis of histological and histomorphometric examinations of the tibia, results of Ipriflavone treatment are the following: 1) The decrease in the density and volume of spongy trabecules was less apparent in both meta- and diaphysis; 2) The amount of persisting cartilage core and structural rarefication of trabecules were diminished; 3) In the metaphysis osteoblastic activity was considerably enhanced; 4) Bone resorption and cortical thinning were decreased; 5) Bone remodeling was increased subperiosteally and to small extent also endosteally; 6) The treatment did not prevent the development of osteoporosis but significantly diminished it.

Aging↗