Hidden behind the mask: An authentication study on the Aztec mask of the Museum of Ethnography, Budapest, Hungary.

Turquoise covered mosaic objects - especially masks - were attractive components of treasures transported to Europe from Mexico after the fall of the Aztec Empire in the 1500s. According to our present knowledge, the mosaic masks were manufactured for ritual purpose. The main material of mosaics, the turquoise was a high-prestige semi-precious stone among Mexican native people.

The Protective Effects of Endogenous PACAP in Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide having trophic and protective functions in neural tissues, including the retina. Previously, we have shown that intravitreal PACAP administration can maintain retinal structure in the animal model of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The purpose of this study is to examine the development of ROP in PACAP-deficient and wild-type mice to reveal the function of endogenous PACAP.

Prenatal cigarette smoke exposure slightly alters neurobehavioral development in neonatal rats: Implications for developmental origins of health and disease (DoHAD).

Numerous studies indicate that smoking during pregnancy exerts harmful effects on fetal brain development. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of maternal smoking during pregnancy on the early physical and neurobehavioral development of newborn rats. Wistar rats were subjected to whole-body smoke exposure for 2 × 40 min daily from the day of mating until day of delivery.

[Early and late complications of hyperglycemic extremely low birth-weight infants].

During recent decades, the perinatal mortality of extremely low-birth weight infants has decreased. An important task is to recognize complications of prematurity. We made an attempt to explore the relationship between complications of prematurity and neonatal hyperglycemia.

PACAP Is Protective in a Rat Model of Retinopathy of Prematurity.

The oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) is a well-established rodent model of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which is one of the most common causes of childhood visual impairment affecting preterm babies. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is known to have neuroprotective effects. Several studies have revealed the presence of PACAP and its receptors in the retina and reported its protective effects in ischemic and diabetic retinopathy.

Examination of PACAP38-like immunoreactivity in different milk and infant formula samples.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide with special importance in reproductive and developmental processes. PACAP is found in two bioactive forms: PACAP27 and PACAP38. Recently, we have described that PACAP38 is present in high levels in the milk of human and ruminant animals.

Changes in PACAP immunoreactivity in human milk and presence of PAC1 receptor in mammary gland during lactation.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide with widespread occurrence in the nervous system and peripheral organs, including the mammary gland. Previously, we have shown that PACAP38 is present in the human milk at higher levels than in respective blood samples. However, it is not known how PACAP levels and the expression of PAC1 receptor change during lactation.

Alterations of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-like immunoreactivity in the human plasma during pregnancy and after birth.

Background: Since its discovery, several distinct effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) have been established - predominantly in animal studies - in the nervous system, various peripheral organs as well as in the endocrine regulation. It is unknown whether PACAP has any effect on human pregnancy regarding either utero-maternal or perinatal aspects of the gestation.

Aim: We investigated alterations of PACAP38-like immunoreactivity (PACAP38-LI) in the human plasma throughout normal pregnancy, during and after delivery, and its level in the umbilical vessels, as well as in the peripheral blood of term healthy newborns.

Fructosamine levels and hyperglycemia in preterm neonates.

Background: Hyperglycemia is a common complication of prematurity, which requires attention because of its high prevalence and multiple consequences. Serum fructosamine used in diabetic patients provides information about the average glucose concentration in the preceding period of 2-3 weeks.

Objective: We investigated the physiologic characteristics of a glycemic marker, fructosamine, in preterm and term neonates.

[Life expectancy of extremely preterm infants].

Extremely preterm infants [gestational age (GA) between 24-28 weeks] should be delivered optimally in an institute where neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is available and their short- and long-term care is ensured. At the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7499 infants were born between 1st of January, 2000 and 31st of December, 2004. During this period the rate of preterm deliveries was 20% (1499/7499).

Epidural malignant lymphomas of the spine: collected experiences with epidural malignant lymphomas of the spinal canal and their treatment.

Study Design: Retrospective study of 13 patients treated by the authors.

Objective: To examine the course of the disease of malignant lymphoma (ML) presenting in the epidural area of the spine.

Setting: Department of Neurosurgery, Third Department of Internal Medicine, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.

[Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita--case report].

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita is a rare, usually congenital, localized or generalized cutaneous vascular abnormality characterized by a persistent cutis marmorata pattern, spider naevus-like telangiectasia and ulceration or atrophy of the involved skin, which frequently improves with age. Approximately 300 cases have been reported worldwide. The authors present a case of cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita with typical clinical findings: phlebectasia of the scalp with ulceration, almost generalized persistent cutis marmorata, telangiectasia.

Relationship between hyperglycemia and retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight infants.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a multifactorial vasoproliferative retinal disorder that increases in incidence with decreasing gestational age. Recently, an association between hyperglycemia and severe ROP was found in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible relation between hyperglycemia and ROP at any stage in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).

Dual regulation of leptin secretion: intracellular energy and calcium dependence of regulated pathway.

Rodent leptin is secreted by adipocytes and acutely regulates appetite and chronically regulates body weight. Mechanisms for leptin secretion in cultured adipocytes were investigated. Acutely, energy-producing substrates stimulated leptin secretion about twofold.

Fetal type lymphocytes in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

CD5+ B and gamma/delta T lymphocytes constituting a major population in the fetus and newborn infant, represent two small subsets of the B and T lymphocyte compartment in healthy adults. There is evidence for their potential involvement and relative expansion in autoimmune disorders. In insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) CD5+ B lymphocyte counts have been found to be increased or normal.

[Sonography of experimental hypovascularized kidney tumors].

The authors studied the sonographic features of Vx2-renal carcinomas in rabbits induced by the Vargha method. The series consisted of 81 rabbits with Vx2-renal carcinomas, 17 controls, five rabbits with retrorenal Vx2-carcinomas and 56 rabbits with gluteal Vx2-carcinomas. In 70.

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.

Radiological investigation of alterations in the rat femur after long-term immobilization.

The right hind limb of female rats was immobilized by plaster cast. Following 8 weeks of immobilization the alterations were compared with either the contralateral extremity of the same rat or with the extremities of non-immobilized animals. The femurs were investigated by microradioscopic, morphometric, densitometric and atom absorption methods.

Morphological studies on the articular cartilage of old rats.

Age-dependent morphological alterations of the tibial articular cartilage were studied in 26-month-old Wistar rats of both sexes. Young and adult rats (6 and 10 months of age, respectively) served as a basis for comparison. Light microscopic histology, polarization optical analysis (toluidine-blue staining with or without the addition of 0.

Effect of plaster-cast immobilization on the bone.

Plaster-cast of the right hind limb resulted in immobilization osteoporosis in rats. The alteration was characterized by loss of the bony substance as well as by a partial transformation of lamellar bone to primordial osseous tissue. In the basis of histological and histomorphometric findings, an accelerated osteoclastic activity, an increased osteocytic osteolysis and a decreased ossification are responsible for the observed changes.

Arthropathy in haemodialysed patients.

The joint disorders associated with osteodystrophy of 124 regularly haemodialysed patients are reviewed. The most common signs and symptoms of uraemic osteoarthropathy are summed up. It is pointed out that in osteoarthropathy accompanying chronic renal failure or haemodialysis the bones are generally affected first, arthropathy being secondary to this process.