Leaving academia: PhD attrition and unhealthy research environments.

This study investigates PhD candidates' (N = 391) perceptions about their research environment at a Dutch university in terms of the research climate, (un)ethical supervisory practices, and questionable research practices. We assessed whether their perceptions are related to career considerations. We gathered quantitative self-report estimations of the perceptions of PhD candidates using an online survey tool and then conducted descriptive and within-subject correlation analysis of the results.

Prevalence of human papillomaviruses in the healthy oral mucosa of women with high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion and of their partners as compared to healthy controls.

Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) carriage rates were investigated in relation to genital HPV carriage in women with HPV-associated cervical lesions and male partner of such women, including several couples, in comparison with healthy individuals. Buccal and lingual mucosa of 60 males and 149 females with healthy oral mucosa and without known genital lesion, genital and oral mucosa of further 40 females with cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and 34 male sexual partners of women with HSIL (including 20 couples) were sampled. HPV DNA was detected using MY/GP PCR.

Frequency of genetic and epigenetic alterations of p14ARF and p16INK4A in head and neck cancer in a Hungarian population.

Occurrence of genetic and epigenetic alterations affecting p14ARF and p16INK4A were investigated in tumour samples of 37 oral (OSCC) and 28 laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC) patients, and compared to exfoliated buccal epithelial cells of 68 healthy controls. Presence of deletions and mutations/polymorphisms affecting exons were examined using sequencing. Methylation status of promoters was assessed by methylation-specific PCR.

Genomic differences in the background of different severity in juvenile-onset respiratory papillomatoses associated with human papillomavirus type 11.

This study aimed to compare complete genome sequences of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 11 from two solitary papillomas (considered minimally aggressive), two moderately (six and nine episodes) and two highly aggressive (30 and 33 episodes) juvenile-onset respiratory papillomatoses. Genomic regions were sequenced using the Sanger method; sequences were compared to available GenBank genomes. Activity of the long control region (LCR) was assessed in HEp-2 cell line using luciferase assays and compared to that of the reference (GenBank Accession Number M14119).

Comparison of diversity of torque teno virus 1 in different mucosal tissues and disorders.

Diversity of TTV1 was assessed in the head and neck region in patients with potentially malignant (oral lichen planus, oral leukoplakia) and malignant lesions (oral and laryngeal squamous cell cancers) and was compared to that found in the uterine cervix (cervical atypia and cervical cancer) by directly sequencing the NG061-063 segment of ORF1. These sequences were classified by the formerly used genogroup-genotype system as well as by the newly accepted species classification by aligning with the corresponding region of the type sequences of the 29 TTV species. All sequences obtained during the study clustered together with the TTV1 type sequence; to express diversity within TTV1, genotypes and subtypes of the former classification were used.

Virological failure of intralesional cidofovir therapy in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is not associated with genetic or epigenetic changes of HPV11: complete genome comparison of sequential isolates.

Five sequential human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV11) positive samples collected from an aggressive juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis before, during and after intralesional cidofovir therapy leading to virological failure after initial response were analyzed. Sequencing of the complete genome as well as methylation analysis by bisulfate modification and sequencing of the long control region (LCR) were performed to seek for genetic and epigenetic changes as a possible background for therapy failure. Single-strand conformation polymorphism of E1, E2, E6, E7 and LCR was used to exclude the presence of multiple HPV11 infection.

Investigation of the occurrence of torque tenovirus in malignant and potentially malignant disorders associated with human papillomavirus.

In a previous pilot study, a significantly poorer outcome of laryngeal cancer was found in patients co-infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) and genogroup 1 torque tenovirus (TTV). The present study aimed to collect data on the overall prevalence of TTVs on the prevalence of genogroup 1 TTV in two other malignancies associated with HPV, oral squamous cell cancer and cervical cancer, and in oral and cervical premalignant lesions (oral lichen planus, oral leukoplakia, cervical atypia). Oral samples from all patients were accompanied with a sample from the healthy mucosa.

Epstein-Barr virus prevalence in oral squamous cell cancer and in potentially malignant oral disorders in an eastern Hungarian population.

We tested 65, 44, and 116 patients with oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC), oral leukoplakia (OL), and oral lichen planus (OLP) against 68 age-matched controls for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Apparently healthy mucosa was simultaneously sampled and examined in all patients. Paraffin-embedded tissue sections of all EBV-positive patients with OSCC were examined for latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) expression (demonstrable in most EBV-associated malignancies) using immunohistochemistry.

New cholesterol-specific antibodies remodel HIV-1 target cells' surface and inhibit their in vitro virus production.

The importance of membrane rafts in HIV-1 infection is still in the focus of interest. Here, we report that new monoclonal anticholesterol IgG antibodies (ACHAs), recognizing clustered membrane cholesterol (e.g.

4-Thio-uridylate (UD29) interferes with the function of protein -SH and inhibits HIV replication in vitro.

In this short communication, it is shown that 4-thio-uridylate (s(4)UMP, designated as UD29) inhibits glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), suggesting that the enol-form of the thiolated nucleotide may interfere with the function of the essential -SH group in the active center of the enzyme. Since HIV entry requires thiol/disulfide exchange processes, this activity prompted us to study the anti-HIV activity of the nucleotide. Indeed, UD29 inhibited the replication of HIV-1(IIIB) in the MT-4 cell line and HIV-1(Ada-M) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

[Can the decrease of blood alcohol level be accelerated? Results of a clinical study].

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Guardian Angel powder (GA) on the blood alcohol level. According to the experimental protocol, two sets of measurement were performed: modeling the eating and drinking habit of a typical family or social meeting, alcohol containing drinks corresponding to 70 g of pure alcohol and copious amount of food were consumed first without GA powder, then with GA powder. In the latter case GA powder was dissolved in water and one dose was taken before eating, the other one was consumed during eating.

[Expression of ZEBRA protein of Epstein-Barr virus in Hungarian patients with Hodgkin lymphoma: latent or lytic cycle?].

Introduction: Epstein-Barr virus is a ubiquitous human herpes virus in the Hungarian population. The virus is associated with an increasing number of lymphoid malignancies, such as Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The ability of the virus to establish life-long persistent infection and induce growth transformation is related to the viral proteins that are variously expressed in both normal and malignant cells.