[The most common cardiogenic cause of ischaemic stroke is atrial fibrillation which increases the probability of stroke five-fold and doubles case fatality. Based on international data the incidence of atrial fibrillation is approx. 2% however this rapidly increases with age. The necessity of using oral anticoagulants in the prevention of non-valvular atrial fibrillation related stroke is decided based on estimated stroke risk. The CHADS2 and the more predictive CHA2DS2-VASc scales are used for this purpose while the bleeding risk of patients treated with anticoagulant may be estimated by the HAS-BLED scoring scale. For decades oral anticoagulation meant using vitamin-K antagonists. Based on international data we can see that rate of anticoagulation is unacceptably low, furthermore most of the anticoagulated patients aren’t within the therapeutic range of INR (INR: 2-3). A lot of disadvantages of vitamin-K antagonists are known (e.g. food-drug interaction, need for regular coagulation monitoring, increased risk of bleeding), therefore compounds with new therapeutic target have been developed. The novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) can be divided in two major subgroups: direct thrombin inhibitors (dabigatran etexilate) and Xa-factor inhibitors (rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban). These products are administered in fix doses, they less frequently interact with other medications or food, and regular coagulation monitoring is not needed when using these drugs. Moreover several studies have shown that they are at least as effective in the prevention of ischaemic stroke than the vitamin-K antagonists, with no more haemorrhagic complications.]

[Incretin mimetics represent a new group of antidiabetic drugs. They bind to their own receptor on the beta-cell membrane and increase insulin secretion in a glucosedependent manner. Thus, they rarely cause hypoglycaemia. Furthermore, they significantly reduce body weight and other cardiovascular risk factors. Accordingly, they can be considered as an optimal group of antidiabetic drugs. The author reviews the clinical efficacy and safety of currently available incretin mimetics.]

[Depression is a multifactorial disease with both genes and environmental factors as well as complex relationships between these factors playing a role in its background. However, in spite of several decades of research no genetic variants playing a straightforward and robust role in the background of depression have been identified. One reason behind this is the genetic and biological heterogeneity of depression, while another is that in the majority of studies environmental effects interacting with genetic variants have not been considered which may mask important genetic effects. Furthermore, relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors may vary in case of different manifestations and subtypes of depression which has not only etiopathological relevance but may also influence choice and efficiency of treatment. Consideration of heterogeneity of depressive syndromes, as well as environmental effects in case of both candidate gene and whole genome association studies, and qualitative analysis of environmental effects in depression and antidepressant research may extend our existing knowledge concerning the pathophysiology of depression and may also aid identification of new antidepressive therapeutic targets. ]

[INTRODUCTION - In some cases of polymyositis/ dermatomyositis (PM/DM) of autoimmune origin, different malignant tumours can initiate the difficult cascade mechanisms at cell level leading to the rapid weakness of the skeletal muscles. Till now, in the international literature only four cases of PM/DM associated with cancer of prostate has been reported. CASE REPORT - Authors present a case of a 57 yearold male patient, where weakness in patient's movements developed leading to total immobility in 3 months. Purple discoloration developed on his hand and face. Significantly elevated creatin kinase (CK) levels and blood sediment rate with mild anaemia were observed during laboratory examinations. Dysphagia and lack of appetite resulted in the loss 10 kgs in body weight. Both clinical evaluation, elevated serum CK level, skin symptomes, positive electromyography and muscle biopsy confirmed acute definitive dermatomyositis. Urological examination revealed a palpable hard area at the right lobe of the prostate. Prostate biopsy confirmed the presence of carcinoma in the right lobe of the prostate. There was no sign or symptome referring to either local propagation or distant manifestation. Therefore, radical prostatectomy was performed, the tumorous prostate and both seminal vesicles were removed. Histological examination proved malignant focus in the right lobe of the prostate. After the operation patient gradually became stronger, corticosteroid medication were decreased then stopped. Patient's original muscle power and movement recovered and his previous body weight was regained. During the regular control examinations all results of laboratory tests are in normal range. CONCLUSION - In the background of some autoimmune diseases malignant tumours can be revealed. It is rare when urological neoplasms initiative the process. In men with PM/DM commencing beyond 50 years of age it is necessary to think of the presence of prostate cancer, which can be cured by performing radical operation in appropriate time.]

[In Antal Szerb’s novel, The Pendragon Legend, which was first published in 1934 (its first English translation came out in 1963), the excentric Earl of Gwynedd experiments with strange creatures. Rea­ding the book based on mystic elements as well as their mockery, the reader gets quite a bizarre knowledge of axolotls. In this re­view, a detailed history of this amphi­bian (Ambystoma mexicanum) in Western scientific research is offered; beside the scientific data, of which presumably Antal Szerb was aware, the main trends in the axolotl studies of the recent decades, both their successes and failures, are also de­fined.]