Aim - In this study, we aimed to examine the risk factors, topographic features and stroke mechanisms of acute ischemic unilateral infarcts of thalamus. Methods - Patient with isolated thalamic infarct and those with posterior cerebral artery (PCA) infarction who were admitted to our hospital between January 2014 and January 2017 with acute unilateral thalamic infarction (TI) were included in this study (isolated thalamic infarction/ isolated TI; thalamic and posterior cerebral artery infarction/PCA+TI). Demographic characteristics and vascular risk factors of the patients were determined. Thalamic infarct areas were recorded topographically as anterior, posteromedial, ventrolateral, posterolateral, more than one area, and variant areas. Stroke mechanism was determined according to the criteria of „Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment” (TOAST). Patients with isolated TI and PCA TI were compared according to risk factors, stroke mechanism and infarct topography. Results - Forty-three patients with a mean age of 63.3 ± 14.5 years were included in the study. Twenty-eight patients (60.1%) were found to have isolated TI and the remaining 15 patients (34.9%) had PCA+TI. 32.1% of patients with isolated TI had sensory symptoms on presentation, and 60% of patients with PCA-TI had sensorimotor symptoms. The mean age, the mean score on National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the mean frequency of atrial fibrillation were higher in PCA+TI patients than in isolated-TI patients (p: 0.04, p: 0.004, p: 0.02 respectively). 32.6% of the patients had ventrolateral, 30.2% had posteromedial involvement. Ventrolateral topography was seen in 46.7% of the PCA+TI patients, while posteromedial topography was seen in 39.3% of the isolated-TI patients. 53.6% of the isolated-TI had small vessel disease etiology, while 40% of the PCA+TI had cardioembolic etiology, and the other 40% had large artery atherosclerosis. Conclusion - Our study showed that the most ommon stroke mechanism in patients with thalamic infarction is the small vessel disease. Isolated TI and PCA+TI patients differ in terms of etiologic mechanism and infarct topography. Variant territorial involvement and multiple area involvements can be quite common in thalamic infarcts.

[Sevelamer HCl is a non-metal and non-calcium based phosphate binder, ion exchange resin, which not selectively binds the phosphate ions in the gastrointestinal tract. In Hungary since 2005, on the basis of strict professional guidelines, sevelamer is available therapy for chronic kidney disease patients with severe hyperphosphatemia on dialysis. On the basis of 17 prospective and retrospective studies, sevelamer HCl is an at least as effective phosphate binder as other calcium based binders, in reducing the serum phosphate level. The advantage of sevelamer compared to the other widely used calcium based phosphate binders is the significantly lower serum calcium level and less hypercalcemic episodes. Sevelamer therapy in chronic kidney disease patients reduces the progression of cardiovascular calcification and it has also a positive effect on cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels. The side effects of sevelamer therapy may be acidosis, and gastrointestinal complaints. This year the improved form, sevelamer carbonate, becomes available in Hungary. Sevelamer carbonate has similar phosphate and cholesterol binding capacity as that of sevelamer HCl, but it has several advantages: it has a positive effect on acid-base parameters, and may be administered in powder form, which is beneficial for children and for patients with swallowing disorders. The primary analysis of the DCOR study has not revealed any significant difference in the survival and cardiovascular mortality between patient groups treated with calcium based binder or sevelamer. The RIND trial data showed improved survival of new dialysis patients, who were initially treated with sevelamer. Further clinical studies are needed to kaverify the benefits of sevelamer therapy (mortality, cardiovascular calcification) in chronic kidney disease patients. The management of hyperphosphatemia in chronic renal failure is a major challenge even in the first decade of the 21th century. This is the fact, despite that recently three different groups of phosphate binders are available in the clinical practice: the calcium based binders (calcium carbonate, calcium acetate), sevelamer and lanthanum. Which is the best binder? A calcium based or a non-calcium based one? Over the past decade, these issues are in the mainstream of clinical research of nephrology.]

[Data from a clinical study should be always viewed with great care, and is recommended to examine and evaluate the data in-depth. First of all should be determined the evidence level of the trial’s results and what recommendations can be made based on them. The study’s type and the study design, the number of participating patients, statistical power, randomisation, stratifi cation, the balance between study arms, the endpoints and the adequacy of follow-up time should be examined. In addition the importance of the observed statistical signifi cance, the clinical relevance of the data and the real magnitude of the detected differences, and the time-dependent variables are worth to consider because these factors can determine the impact of the given clinical trial on the every-day clinical practice. In the era of the “creative study plans” a critical attitude is necessary to be convinced that the study does not contain any typical bias that could infl uence the real value and actual results of the trial.]

[In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors have been shown to be effective in treating manifold types of cancer but less robust in colorectal cancer (CRC). While, the subgroup of CRC with microsatellite instability (MSI; also termed as mismatch repair defi cient) showed a moderate response to Pembrolizumab in a single arm phase II clinical trial, microsatellite stable (MSS) cancers were unresponsive. Possible mechanisms that affect immune response in colorectal cancer will be reviewed in this article. We will also propose that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition may reverse the immune editing commonly seen in advanced CRC and render them sensitive to immune checkpoint blockade.]

[In the ATTENTION (Using of ARB and sTaTin basEd iNdividualized Treatments in Hungarian patients In the light Of New CV prevention guidelines) trial’s ARB arm 9996 treated hypertensive patients were enrolled. Based on the results in the medical practice, the choice of the first ARB has a significant impact on the further antihypertensive therapy. Losartan, telmisartan and valsartan are all suitable for reaching the goal blood pressure. If necessary, doctors will not change the composition but the dose or use a diuretic supplement (resistant hypertension, older age etc.). Overall a telmisartan preference was observed in the study.]