[The multiple effectiveness of a hormone-like cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6) is highly important in a series of immunological, neuroendocrinological and inflammatory reactions of the mammalian organism. In this review a complex view of the gene and its regulation of IL-6 and the significance of the cytokine network in acute phase reaction is discussed. Manipulation of this complex network studied by the methodology of molecular biology and genetics provides entirely new approaches for the biotechnological and pharmacological regulation of inflammation.]

[Hungary is one of the world's leading countries in the grim international statistics on cardiovascular disease mortality, with around 80 000 people dying every year from serious cardiovascular disorders. This figure represents nearly 55% of all deaths! The vast majority of heart disease is related to the failure of the heart's own coronary arteries, and a significant proportion of brain disease is related to damage to the brain vessels themselves.]

[The author was one of the first in 1976 who began to use the various types of lasers for plastic-esthetical reasons and for therapy of skin lesions. He considers the indication spectrum of the argon laser to be the largest and its results are the best. The author summarizes and makes known the tissue-effects of the argon laser and compaes it with the tissue-destruction of other lasers and classical methods. The quality of the tissue destruction determines the indications and the applications, among them the therapy of the port wine syndrome. In the author's opini on, not the exposition time and the energy of the argon laser could be exactly determined. The experience of the physician plays the most important tole in the therapy. ]

[Bath therapy includes both hydro- and balneotherapy. During hydrotherapy the patient is treated by the physical parameters of the water. The effect of balneotherapy is based on the penetration of the mineral water. Its me chanism is not yet clear. There are several double-blind studies which prove the benefits of balneotherapy. Further studies are needed to judge the objective effects of balneotherapy. ]

[ A knowledge of the current activity of ulcerative colitis is essential in planning appropiate follow-up. Histological findings obtained from 209 colonoscopies were compared with the values of 22 clinical variables. One way analysis of variance was carried out. Of the 22 variables 11 proved to be significantly different between the groups of the clinically valuable classification (inactive, chronic, acute). Each of the three groups differed in the number of bloody stools. The acute inflammatory process was characterized by the high numbers of bowel movements, mucus and bloody mucus defecation, bowel movements at night, and haematocrit values suggesting anaemia. The serum iron levels in the inactive group differed significantly from the levels of both the acute and the chronic groups. The count of thrombocyte and the general well being were found to be valuable only in the differentiation between the acute and the inactive inflammatory processes. The computed haematocrit value proved to be useful in distinguishing the acute stage from the inactive and the chronic process. Out of the 22 variables only 11 had clinical importance in the evaluation of the activity of ulcerative colitis. ]