Zsolt Lang

Measures of sociality : two different views of group size

*Department of Biomathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent Istva´n UniversityyNomogram LtdzAnimal Ecology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of SciencesxCollegium Budapest e Institute for Advanced Study**Department of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Debrecen(Received 4 January 2007; initial acceptance 31 January 2007;final acceptance 20 May 2007; published online 5 November 2007; MS. number: SC-1307R)

Lid-parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF) and dry eye: a multicentre study

Aims The study was designed to test the clinical application of the grading of lid-parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF) as a diagnostic test for dry eye. Methods At 12 centres in 11 countries, 272 eyes of 272 dry eye patients (75 men, 197 women) were examined. Their mean age was 52.7±16.2 years. The LIPCOF were graded according to the method of Höh et al. The tear film break-up time (BUT) was measured, and fluorescein staining and the Schirmer 1 test were performed. The subjective symptoms were evaluated by 16 questions. Results The LIPCOF score demonstrated significant positive correlations with age, dry eye disease severity and fluorescein staining (r>0.2, p<0.001), and negative correlations with BUT and results of the Schirmer 1 test (r<–0.2, p<0.001). The LIPCOF score exhibited a significant correlation with the overall subjective symptoms (r=0.250, p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of LIPCOF grading for discriminating between normal and dry eyes were best with the cut-off between LIPCOF degrees 1 and 2. Conclusions The displayed medium sensitivity and specificity, and good positive predictive value of the LIPCOF test support the use of LIPCOF grading as a simple, quick and non-invasive dry eye screening tool.

Dynamics of ocular surface topography in healthy subjects

Our topography system is an enhancement of a standard TMS‐1 corneal topograph instrument (Computed Anatomy Inc., New York, NY, USA). Topographic images are captured at a rate of 4 s−1, allowing the recording of a series of 120 images in 30 s after a complete blink. In this prospective preliminary study 15 healthy volunteers were examined. The main outcome measures were the time profile of changes in surface regularity index (SRI), surface asymmetry index (SAI) and simulated keratometry values (K1, K2). After a blink there was a tendency for improvement in ocular surface regularity. Later trends were less clear. Our topography system makes possible the detailed evaluation of tear‐film dynamics in the post‐blink period. The new technique may play an important role in the diagnosis of various tear‐film abnormalities; the results may also have significant implications in the planning of refractive surgeries.

Personality and cardiovascular risk: association between hypertension and affective temperaments-a cross-sectional observational study in primary care settings.

Abstract Background: Affective temperaments can be considered the subclinical manifestations of affective disorders, which have a bidirectional relationship with cardiovascular diseases. Objectives: Aim of this study was to assess the role of affective temperaments in primary hypertension, which is the leading risk factor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Methods: In total, 251 consecutive patients, including 179 patients being treated for primary hypertension with anti-hypertensives, with chronic disorders without diagnosed depression were enrolled in a primary care setting. Patients completed the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). Lifestyle-related risk factors, chronic diseases including cardiovascular complications were also recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship of affective temperaments and lifestyle-related risk factors on hypertension. Results: Dominant cyclothymic temperament—with instability and rapid mood swings as main characteristics—had a significant association with hypertension (P = 0.006) even after the adjustment of correlation for known risk factors such as age, diabetes mellitus and obesity (OR: 11.88, 95%CI: 1.27–111.17). This association remained significant after controlling for the family wise error rate. The obtained adjusted P value was 0.024 at a 0.05 error rate. Conclusion: Results indicate that dominant cyclothymic affective temperament may be an additional risk factor in cardiovascular morbidity, and it may be worthy of further assessment to identify patients at risk and formulate a more individualized treatment approach.

Preliminary findings on the efficacy of selamectin in the treatment of dogs naturally infected with Dirofilaria repens

Subcutaneous dirofilariosis caused by Dirofilaria repens is common in dogs and it is an emerging helminthozoonosis in Europe, Asia, Africa and also in Hungary. Macrocyclic lactones are used for preventing the infection; however, their activity against the microfilariae and mature stages of this species is questionable. Selamectin is widely used for the prophylaxis of heartworm (D. immitis) infection. The objective of the present study was to test the microfilaricidal efficacy of the topical formulation of selamectin in dogs naturally infected with D. repens . A total of 78 Beagle dogs were examined for the presence of circulating microfilariae by Knotts test. Twenty-three of the microfilaraemic dogs were divided into four groups and included in the trial. The dogs received monthly or biweekly selamectin treatment and were subjected to monthly blood testing for a period of 252 or 336 days. At the end of the study, 65% of the dogs were not microfilaraemic and the rest had low number of microfilariae in their blood. These results indicate that chronic spot-on selamectin treatment may be a useful tool also in the control of canine subcutaneous dirofilariosis.

Size matters for lice on birds: Coevolutionary allometry of host and parasite body size

Body size is one of the most fundamental characteristics of all organisms. It influences physiology, morphology, behavior, and even interspecific interactions such as those between parasites and their hosts. Host body size influences the magnitude and variability of parasite size according to Harrisons rule (HR: positive relationship between host and parasite body sizes) and Poulins Increasing Variance Hypothesis (PIVH: positive relationship between host body size and the variability of parasite body size). We analyzed parasite–host body size allometry for 581 species of avian lice (∼15% of known diversity) and their hosts. We applied phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) methods to account for phylogenetic nonindependence controlling for host and parasite phylogenies separately and variance heterogeneity. We tested HR and PIVH for the major families of avian lice (Ricinidae, Menoponidae, Philopteridae), and for distinct ecological guilds within Philopteridae. Our data indicate that most families and guilds of avian lice follow both HR and PIVH; however, ricinids did not follow PIVH and the “body lice” guild of philopterid lice did not follow HR or PIVH. We discuss mathematical and ecological factors that may be responsible for these patterns, and we discuss the potential pervasiveness of these relationships among all parasites on Earth.

Prevalence of bovine viral diarrhoea virus in cattle farms in Hungary

A study was performed to survey the virological prevalence of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus (BVDV) in cattle herds in Hungary between 2008 and 2012. A total of 40,413 samples for BVDV detection and 24,547 samples for antibody testing were collected from 3,247 herds (570,524 animals), thus representing approximately 75% of the cattle population in Hungary. Retrospective Bayesian analysis demonstrated that (1) the herd-level true virus prevalence was 12.4%, (2) the mean individual (within-herd) true virus prevalence was 7.2% in the herds having at least one virus-positive animal and 0.89% for all investigated herds with a mean apparent prevalence of 1.15% for the same population. This is the first study about BVDV prevalence in Hungary.

Kinetic analysis of topographical parameters and interference pattern of tear lipid layer in normal subjects

Purpose:  To investigate the post‐blink changes of the topographical regularity indices, the corneal wavefront aberrations and the tear lipid layer’s interference pattern, and analyze the relationship between these parameters’ changes.