The association between early maladaptive schemas and romantic relationship satisfaction.

Introduction: Relationship dynamics could be shaped by schemas, and relationship satisfaction could be depend on how couples perceive each other through these schemas. The main aim of this study was to assess how early maladaptive schemas are related to relationship satisfaction for both males and females in a relationship, by highlighting factors that contribute to relationship satisfaction, with a particular focus on the interaction of schemas between males and females.

Methods: The study involved a total of healthy 47 different-gender couples.

Current Status of Clinical and Genetic Screening of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Families in Hungary.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare germline vascular malformation syndrome with a prevalence of 1:5000-1:10,000 [...

Founder Effects in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia.

A founder effect can result from the establishment of a new population by individuals from a larger population or bottleneck events. Certain alleles may be found at much higher frequencies because of genetic drift immediately after the founder event. We provide a systematic literature review of the sporadically reported founder effects in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

Electrically-Induced Ventricular Fibrillation Alters Cardiovascular Function and Expression of Apoptotic and Autophagic Proteins in Rat Hearts.

Background: The pathological heart contractions, called arrhythmias, especially ventricular fibrillation (VF), are a prominent feature of many cardiovascular diseases leading to sudden cardiac death. The present investigation evaluates the effect of electrically stimulated VF on cardiac functions related to autophagy and apoptotic mechanisms in isolated working rat hearts.

Methods: Each group of hearts was subjected to 0 (Control), 1, 3, or 10 min of spacing-induced VF, followed by 120 min of recovery period and evaluated for cardiac functions, including aortic flow (AF), coronary flow (CF), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), and heart rate (HR).

EULAR definition of arthralgia suspicious for progression to rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: During the transition to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) many patients pass through a phase characterised by the presence of symptoms without clinically apparent synovitis. These symptoms are not well-characterised. This taskforce aimed to define the clinical characteristics of patients with arthralgia who are considered at risk for RA by experts based on their clinical experience.

Influence of Hypertension, Alone and in Combination with Other Vascular Risk Factors on Cognition.

Hypertension is one of the most important modifiable risk factors of cardioand cerebrovascular diseases, responsible for the development of severe target organ damages. It has been shown that hypertension is associated with an increased prevalence of cognitive decline. It negatively affects the cognitive battery and accelerates dementia.

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Relieves Intractable Angina Due to Exercise-Induced Left Bundle Branch Block Without Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction: A Detailed Case Study.

Exercise-induced left bundle branch block is rare and can be demonstrated with exercise testing. When the heart rate reaches a certain threshold, the QRS widens into left bundle branch block. This paper describes a patient with exercise-induced left bundle branch block related angina and dyspnea, who responded to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

A novel data storage logic in the cloud.

Databases which store and manage long-term scientific information related to life science are used to store huge amount of quantitative attributes. Introduction of a new entity attribute requires modification of the existing data tables and the programs that use these data tables. The solution is increasing the virtual data tables while the number of screens remains the same.

A comparison between nailfold capillaroscopy patterns in adulthood in juvenile and adult-onset systemic sclerosis: A EUSTAR exploratory study.

Objective: Qualitative capillaroscopy patterns in juvenile- and adult-onset systemic sclerosis (SSc) were studied in adulthood using data from the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) database.

Methods: Data collected between June 2004 and April 2013 were examined with focus on capillaroscopy. In this retrospective exploratory study, series of patients with juvenile-onset SSc were matched with series of adult-onset SSc having the same gender and autoantibody profile.

Pseudopheochromocytoma induced by anxiolytic withdrawal.

Background: Symptomatic paroxysmal hypertension without significantly elevated catecholamine concentrations and with no evidence of an underlying adrenal tumor is known as pseudopheochromocytoma.

Methods: We describe the case of a female patient with paroxysmal hypertensive crises accompanied by headache, vertigo, tachycardia, nausea and altered mental status. Previously, she was treated for a longer period with alprazolam due to panic disorder.

Cardiovascular risk status and primary prevention in postmenopausal women: the MENOCARD study.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of screening for cardiovascular risk factors and the effect of applying professional guidelines for risk reduction in postmenopausal women, as judged by the Framingham and the high-risk systematic coronary risk evaluation (SCORE) methods.

Methods: 18 menopause clinics in Hungary participated in the study, enrolling a total of 2789 patients. Physicians were asked to follow professional guidelines for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Combined plasmapheresis and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in systemic sclerosis for 12 months: follow-up of immunopathological and clinical effects.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease which involves the skin, as well as several internal organs. Most therapies available in this disease are symptomatic. Authors present a case of diffuse SSc with progressive disease not responding to currently available treatments.

Targeting Angiogenesis in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Angiogenesis, the development of new capillaries, is a crucial process in health and disease. The perpetuation of neovascularization in rheumatoid arthritis is highly involved in leukocyte extravasation into the synovium and pannus formation. Numerous soluble and cell surface-bound angiogenic mediators, including growth factors, cytokines, proteases, matrix macromolecules, cell adhesion receptors, chemokines and chemokine receptors, have been implicated in the process of neovascularization.

Vascular involvement in rheumatic diseases: 'vascular rheumatology'.

The vasculature plays a crucial role in inflammation, angiogenesis, and atherosclerosis associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory rheumatic diseases, hence the term 'vascular rheumatology'. The endothelium lining the blood vessels becomes activated during the inflammatory process, resulting in the production of several mediators, the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules, and increased vascular permeability (leakage). All of this enables the extravasation of inflammatory cells into the interstitial matrix.

Incidence of lymphoma in systemic sclerosis: a retrospective analysis of 218 Hungarian patients with systemic sclerosis.

Recent results suggest that B cells may have multiple pathogenic roles in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and there may be increased incidence of B cell lymphomas in SSc. Here, we assessed the prevalence of lymphomas in a large SSc cohort. We analyzed data of 218 Hungarian patients undergoing follow-ups in our institutions between 1995 and 2007.

Increased arterial stiffness as the marker of vascular involvement in systemic sclerosis.

Objective: Endothelial dysfunction and vasculopathy of the small and large vessels are crucial pathogenic factors in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Accelerated atherosclerosis and impaired flow-mediated vasodilation have been described in SSc. We evaluated arterial stiffness in patients with SSc compared to healthy controls.

Mechanisms of Disease: angiogenesis in inflammatory diseases.

Angiogenesis, the development of new vessels, is an important process in health and disease. The perpetuation of neovascularization in inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathies and some systemic autoimmune diseases, might facilitate the ingress of inflammatory cells into the synovium and, therefore, stimulate pannus formation. Disorders associated with perpetuated neovascularization are considered to be angiogenic inflammatory diseases.

Association of rheumatoid arthritis with HLA-DR1 and HLA-DR4 in Hungary.

Susceptibility to and outcome for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been associated with particular HLA-DR alleles, but these alleles vary among ethnic groups and geographic areas. The frequency of HLA-DR1 (HLA-DRB1*0101, DRB1*0102) and HLA-DR4 (DRB1*0401, DRB1*0404) alleles is elevated among Caucasian patients with RA. We studied a northeastern Hungarian population of RA patients to determine the frequency of HLA-DR1 and HLA-DR4 phenotypes in this population and to compare it with healthy control subjects, as well as to investigate whether the presence of these alleles could be a marker for RA.

Juvenile systemic sclerosis: a follow-up study of eight patients.

Juvenile systemic sclerosis (jSSc) is a rare form of systemic sclerosis (also known as scleroderma). Fewer than 10% of SSc cases have their onset before age 20 and fewer than 2% before the age of 10. Few case reports and cohort studies on jSSc have been published.

Antiphospholipid antibodies in acute coronary syndrome.

Antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies entailing anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-beta2 glycoprotein I (anti-beta2GPI) antibodies may be involved in a number of vascular diseases including coronary artery diseases (CAD) or stroke. Here we assessed the presence of aPL antibodies in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The frequency of anti-beta2GPI antibodies was significantly higher (14.