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This article investigates the impact of electoral reforms on entry barriers in political markets. The discussion starts by delineating the theoretical boundaries of various political markets, such as those for participation, parties and government. By taking a cue from industrial organisation theory, the article offers an analysis of entry barriers, both hard and soft, along with their operationalisation for empirical research. Based on this theoretical framework, a single hypothesis is investigated. It posits that the modification of the entry barriers in the market for parties leads to changes in the concentration of the popular vote for party lists. An observable implication of this relationship would be if an electoral reform that raises entry barriers led to subsequent increases in the Herfindahl index (a measure of market concentration), and vice versa. This proposition is empirically tested by a comparative analysis of a new database covering Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The analysis offers support for the following proposition: in most cases the changes in the entry barriers led to a corresponding change of concentration in the market for parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetics of the chlorine dioxide-thiourea dioxide reaction was investigated by monitoring absorbance-time profiles at λ = 360 nm. Under acidic conditions, the primary carbon-containing product is cyanamide, not urea as considered previously for many oxidation reactions of thiourea dioxide. Increase of the rate of the reaction by an increase of pH can be readily explained by the slow pH-dependent formation of a more reactive form of thiourea dioxide (TDO) that is produced steadily and unavoidably as the stock TDO solution ages. We have also found that the absorbance-time profiles of the chlorine dioxide-TDO reaction are sigmoidal with excess TDO. The addition of methionine as a hypochlorous acid scavenging agent inhibits the reaction significantly, whereas the addition of chlorite ions and trace amounts of hydrogen sulfite ions accelerates the decay of chlorine dioxide. On the basis of these experiments, a sixteen-step kinetic model involving hypochlorous acid, chlorite ions, and hydrogen sulfite ions as key intermediates that provide an autocatalytic cycle is proposed to account for the overall kinetic behavior observed, including the slow rearrangement of TDO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiourea dioxide is one of the best known, important, and stable products of thiourea oxidation. This compound has long been considered as an effective reducing agent for many years. Traditional areas of its application include the textile and paper industries. In recent years, however, thiourea dioxides and trioxides have been widely used in new fields including organocatalytic, polymerization, and phase-transfer reactions; reduction of graphene and graphite oxides; bitumen modifications; synthesis of guanidines and their derivatives; and studying nonlinear dynamical phenomena in chemical kinetics. The review gives a detailed survey of the latest developments and main trends in the chemistry and application of thiourea mon-, di-, and trioxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indirect experimental evidence of the existence of a sluggish tautomerism of thiourea dioxide in acidic aqueous solution was discovered while studying its oxidation by chlorine dioxide. Thiourea dioxide slowly rearranges into aminoiminomethanesulfinic acid, but the reactivity of these two species towards chlorine dioxide marginally differs. It was clearly demonstrated that thiourea dioxide reacts with chlorine dioxide in a relatively slow reaction in an autocatalytic fashion with respect to the carbon(IV) species. In contrast, reaction of aminoiminomethanesulfinic acid with chlorine dioxide is orders of magnitude faster but proceeds through a normal second-order process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cariprazine is a dopamine D3/D2 receptor partial agonist antipsychotic candidate, which binds with high affinity to dopamine D3 and D2 receptors (with ∼10-fold higher in vitro affinity to D3 vs. D2 receptors) and with moderate affinity to 5-HT1A receptors. The main objective of the present molecular imaging investigation was to evaluate the uptake and reversible binding of 11-C labeled cariprazine in the nonhuman primate brain, in relation to the known distributions of dopamine D2 and D3 receptors. We examined the brains of two cynomolgus monkeys at baseline condition as well as during a pharmacological blocking condition, using unlabeled cariprazine or raclopride as blockers before injection of [11C]cariprazine. Of the total injected radioactivity, ∼7% entered the brain and ∼3-4% remained in the brain after 90 min, indicating good blood brain barrier penetration and slow washout. It was possible to block cariprazine binding with unlabeled cariprazine and raclopride indicating that [11C]cariprazine binds to dopamine D3/D2 receptors. Nondisplaceable binding potential (BPND) measurements, using a simplified reference tissue model and cerebellum as the reference region, yielded values of ∼1.5 and 0.3 in the striatum and thalamus, respectively. Striatum BPND values were reduced by 80 and 85% following pretreatment with 0.1 mg/kg IV injection of unlabeled cariprazine and 1 mg/kg IV injection of unlabeled raclopride, respectively. The data confirm that cariprazine, a novel antipsychotic drug candidate, enters the nonhuman primate brain readily and binds to dopamine D3/D2 receptors. Furthermore, in PET imaging [11C]cariprazine can effectively visualize dopamine D3/D2 receptors in the nonhuman primate brain. Synapse 67:258-264, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate clinically and histologically the healing of advanced intrabony defects following regenerative periodontal surgery with an enamel matrix derivative (EMD) combined with a new biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP). Methods: Ten subjects, each of them displaying advanced combined 1- and 2-wall intrabony defects around teeth scheduled for extraction because of advanced chronic periodontitis and further prosthodontic considerations, were included in the study. The defects were consecutively treated with a combination of EMD + BCP. A notch was placed at the most apical extent of the calculus present on the root surface or at the most apical part of the defect (if no calculus was present) to serve as a reference for the histologic evaluation. At 9 months after regenerative surgery, nine of 10 teeth were extracted with some of their surrounding soft and hard tissues and processed for histologic evaluation. Results: There were no adverse effects related to EMD or the graft material used in any of the treated subjects. One tooth was not extracted because of the excellent clinical outcome. The clinical measurements at the nine biopsied teeth demonstrated a mean probing depth reduction of 3.3 ± 1.4 mm and a mean clinical attachment level gain of 3.0 ± 1.6 mm. The histologic findings indicated formation of cementum with inserting collagen fibers to a varying extent. A long junctional epithelium was observed in three of the nine biopsies. Mean new connective tissue attachment (i.e., new cementum with inserting collagen fibers) varied from 0.0 to 2.1 mm. The amount of newly formed bone was limited and varied from 0.0 to 0.7 mm. At 9 months, graft particles were still present and were mostly encapsulated in connective tissue, whereas formation of bone a round the graft particles was observed only occasionally. Direct contact between the graft particles and the root surface (cementum or dentin) was not observed in any of the analyzed specimens. Conclusions: The combination of EMD with a BCP bone substitute did not interfere with the regenerative potential reported for EMD and may result in formation of new cementum with an associated periodontal ligament. However, the combination of EMD + BCP resulted in no to minimal new bone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regenerative periodontal therapy using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and different types of bone substitutes with or without guided tissue regeneration (GTR) has been proposed as a modality to enhance the outcome of regenerative surgery. However, there are limited data from controlled clinical studies evaluating the effect of PRP on the healing of deep intrabony defects treated with a combination of bone substitutes and GTR. The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate the effect of PRP on the healing of deep intrabony defects treated with beta tricalcium phosphate (β- TCP) and GTR by means of a non-bioresorbable expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. Methods: Twenty-eight subjects with advanced chronic periodontal disease and displaying one intrabony defect were treated randomly with a combination of PRP + β TCP + GTR or β TCP + GTR. Plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing depth (PD), gingival recession, and clinical attachment level (CAL) were evaluated at baseline and at 1 year after treatment. CAL was the primary outcome variable. Results: No differences in any of the investigated parameters were observed at baseline between the two groups. Healing was uneventful in all subjects. At 1 year after therapy, the sites treated with PRP + β- TCP + GTR showed a reduction in mean PD from 9.1 ± 0.6 mm to 3.3 ± 0.5 mm (P<0.001) and a change in mean CAL from 10.l ± 1.3 mm to 5.7 ± 1.l mm (P<0.001). In the group treated with β TCP + GTR, mean PD was reduced from 9.0 ± 0.8 mm to 3.6 ± 0.9 mm (P<0.001), and the mean CAL changed from 9.9 ± 1.0 mm to 5.9 ± 1.2 mm (P<0.001). In both groups, all sites gained ≥3 mm of CAL. CAL gains ≥4 mm were noted in 86% (12 of 14 defects) of the cases treated with PRP + β-TCP + GTR and in 79% (11 of 14 defects) of those treated with β-TCP + GTR. No statistically significant differences in any of the investigated parameters were observed between the two groups at the 1-year reevaluation. Conclusion: At 1 year after surgery, both therapies resulted in significant PD reductions and CAL gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Csikós M, Szalai Z, Becker K, Sebõk B, Schneider I, Horváth A, Kárpáti S. Novel keratin 14 gene mutations in patients from Hungary with epidermolysis bullosa simplex. Mutations in genes keratin 5 ( KRT5) and 14 ( KRT14) encoding the basal type keratin intermediate filaments have been identified in epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) families and are likely to cause skin fragility. Three novel keratin 14 mutations in cases from the Hungarian Epidermolysis Bullosa Centre are reported. In a 7-year-old boy with Dowling-Meara type EBS (DM-EBS), who had severe skin symptoms with extended herpetiform blisters, a novel amino acid substitution N123K in keratin 14 had been detected. A 26-year-old woman with mild DM-EBS with prominent palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and without active blister formation had a novel R125G mutation in keratin 14. In a 6-year-old girl, with Weber-Cockayne type EBS (WC-EBS) with palmoplantar blisters and moderate mental retardation, a novel V133L substitution was detected. Her pedigree showed autosomal dominant mode of inheritance; in the two other families, only the index patients were affected. The N123K and R125G mutations causing DM-EBS phenotypes are located within the helix initiation motif of the rod domain, whereas the very close V133L mutation underlying the WC-EBS phenotype is outside of this region. These novel amino acid substitutions provide further information for genotype–phenotype correlation in KRT14 mutations, and demonstrate the first molecular genetic data in EBS patients from Hungary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors followed the frequency of fragrance contact sensitization in Hungary in a multicentre study in the years 1998 and 1999. A total of 3604 patients were tested with fragrance mix (FM), and positive reactions were observed in 294 (8.2%). In 160 FM hypersensitive patients, the study was continued with patch testing of the mix constituents (cinnamic alcohol, cinnamic aldehyde, eugenol, amyl cinnamic aldehyde, hydroxycitronellal, geraniol, isoeugenol, oak moss absolute). Of the patients tested, 70.6% produced positive reactions to the constituents. FM contact sensitization was mainly observed in female patients (74.4%). The incidence of contact urticaria in FM hypersensitive patients was 6.1%. Simultaneous patch test trials of other environmental contact allergens, in both early and late evaluations, mainly confirmed hypersensitivity reactions to balsams. Female dominance of hypersensitivity reactions observed during testing the individual components of the mix was striking (82.4%). In positive skin reactions, cinnamic alcohol, isoeugenol and oak moss provoked skin symptoms most frequently. We also tested the 104 patients who produced negative reactions to FM with the constituent individual allergens, with 11.9% positive incidence. The clinical symptoms of the patients were above all manifest in the form of contact eczema, located on the hands, face, eyelids and axillae. With this study, the authors, members of the Hungarian Contact Dermatitis Research Group , call attention to one of the most frequent allergens in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background A 42-year-old male patient suffering from the rare Comèl–Netherton syndrome is reported, and the symptoms are discussed together with the results of light and electron microscopic examinations. Case report Our case presented peeling skin syndrome type B with spontaneous, lifelong skin shedding with underlying erythema; however, with more careful studies, the hidden features of Comèl–Netherton syndrome were identified. Conclusion This is an example of a condition where there is no clear border between Comèl–Netherton syndrome and peeling skin syndrome type B, lending credence to a close relationship between the two syndromes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a 51-year-old female patient with intraepidermal neutrophilic IgA dermatosis (IEN) type of IgA pemphigus, circulating IgA, but not IgG, autoantibodies were detected to bind to the cell surface of the whole epidermis, being much stronger in the upper epidermis. In the patient's skin a heavy intraepidermal IgA staining was observed throughout the whole epidermis, accompanied by a weak IgG and a more prominent C3 staining. IgA from the patient's serum showed no reactivity either with epidermal proteins by immunoblot analysis, or with COS 7 cells transiently transfected with mammalian cell expression constructs containing full length human Dsc1, Dsc2 and Dsc3. Our patient's IgA specifically reacted with conformational epitopes of human desmoglein (Dsg) 1 but not Dsg 3, when studied in a previously established, here for IgA antibody detection modified enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) of baculovirus expression system. The immunoreactivity against keratinocyte cell surface was completely removed from the serum of the patient by pre-incubation with recombinant Dsg1 baculoprotein. This finding indicates that the sera possess only IgA antibodies against the extracellular domain of Dsg1 baculoprotein, but no antibodies against components of keratinocyte cell surface other than Dsg1. This is the first case of IgA pemphigus where Dsg1 has been identified as the autoantigen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Contact sensitization has been an accepted topical immunotherapy in the treatment of alopecia areata ( ). Whether the age of patients is a significant factor in the treatment results is a matter of controversy. In our study, we investigated the correlation between age of the patients and diphenylcyclopropen-one contact sensitization in vivo and in vitro ( ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 21-year-old nurse had been working in a surgical intensive care department for 3 years. She had hay fever for the past 2 years. 3 months and 10 days before presentation local itching, contact urtricaria, dyspnoea, vertigo, hypotension and Quincke's oedema appeared on wearing rubber gloves. Patch test with the European standard series, fragrance compounds and preservatives were negative. A solution of 0.1% latex allergens on prick testing resulted in a local urticarial reaction with negative control.