Geomorphic investigations in the Medves Area, North Hungary

The Medves Area lies close to the Hungarian-Slovak boundary in North Hungary. Having "horst-graben-type" geological structure it can be characterised by steeply emerging horst-like hills and between them narrow trenches and deeply dissected erosional valleys. The recent morphology of the Medves Area is determined by four main elements: the structure, the petrographic setting, the exo-genic processes and the anthropogenic effects. In spite of the domination of the Oligocene-Miocene sedimentary rocks great part of the area is covered by Pliocene basalts having either stratovolcanic structure or consisting of only lavas, forming lavaplateaus, small cones, dykes or necks. In spite of the strong denudation their original form dominates yet. The decrease of the sheet of the Medves Plateau was considerable only on the rims by parallel retreat. In the southern part of the Medves Area the evolution of the landscape was determined mainly by exogenic processes. The great density of the valleys is very significant, but it is interesting that many tributary valleys are dry valleys, which can be explained by neotectonic movements and young captures. Anthropogenic forms are very frequent in the Medves Area, where the change of the natural environment caused by human activity is above average. Especially the landscape forming effects of the mining of basalt and browncoal and that of the related industry and infrastructure changed the surface. Very interesting are the depressions on the surface caused by collapse of underground galleries, moreover sometimes trench-like deep fissures came into being.     

Immunelectrophoretic analysis of the lymph

Zusammenfassung Vergleichende immunelektrophoretische Untersuchungen des Blutplasmas, der Nieren-, Leber-, Darm- und Tr.-cervicalis-Lymphe zeigten mit Ausnahme der Leberlymphe in den Lymphproben die gleichen Proteinfraktionen wie im Blutplasma. Im Immunelektrophorogramm der Leberlymphe waren an den Stellen der - und-Globulinfraktionen mehrere Präzipitinstreifen sichtbar, die im Plasma bzw. in den Lymphproben anderen Ursprungs nicht vorhanden waren.     

Studies on the etiology of the experimental neuropathy from industrial adhesive (glues)

Summary Chickens treated by paintbrushing with glue distillate (used in shoe industries), hydrocarbon mixture and TOCP in hexane, developed paralysis (4/5); in these, we have demonstrated a diffuse degeneration of the myelinic sheath of the peripheral and central neurites. Besides TOCP, cyclohexane (because of its higher concentration in the glue distillate and in the hydrocarbon mixture) may be indicated as responsible for occupational neuropathy.Acknowledgments. The authors thank Prof. G. Azzali, Director of the Institute of Human Anatomy University of Parma (Italy), for his interpretations of microscopic ultrastructural aspects.Istituto di Anatomia Umana Normale.Istituto di Clinica Neurologica.Istituto di Chimica Organica.     

Contrasting effects of RNA and protein synthesis blocking on natural and lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against adherent HEp-2 cells

In this study, earlier observations concerning the independence of both natural (NCMC) and lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (LDCC) from DNA synthesis have been confirmed. In addition, blocking of RNA synthesis by actinomycin D and of protein synthesis, reversibly by puromycin (PM) and irreversibly by emetine (EM) had different effects on NCMC and LDCC against 3H-thymidine-prelabeled HEp-2 target cells. Similarly to the Con A-induced proliferation of lymphocytes, LDCC activity was also inhibited by blocking of RNA and protein synthesis. NCMC to HEp-2 target cells was not affected by blocking of RNA synthesis, while both PM and EM strongly enhanced NCMC activity.     

WDR62 is associated with the spindle pole and is mutated in human microcephaly

Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a disorder of neurodevelopment resulting in a small brain. We identified WDR62 as the second most common cause of MCPH after finding homozygous missense and frame-shifting mutations in seven MCPH families. In human cell lines, we found that WDR62 is a spindle pole protein, as are ASPM and STIL, the MCPH7 and MCHP7 proteins. Mutant WDR62 proteins failed to localize to the mitotic spindle pole. In human and mouse embryonic brain, we found that WDR62 expression was restricted to neural precursors undergoing mitosis. These data lend support to the hypothesis that the exquisite control of the cleavage furrow orientation in mammalian neural precursor cell mitosis, controlled in great part by the centrosomes and spindle poles, is critical both in causing MCPH when perturbed and, when modulated, generating the evolutionarily enlarged human brain.     

Psoriasis is associated with increased beta-defensin genomic copy number

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disease with a strong genetic component. We analyzed the genomic copy number polymorphism of the beta-defensin region on human chromosome 8 in 179 Dutch individuals with psoriasis and 272 controls and in 319 German individuals with psoriasis and 305 controls. Comparisons in both cohorts showed a significant association between higher genomic copy number for beta-defensin genes and risk of psoriasis.