[In the recent years, according to international and Hungarian guidelines, in addition to lifestyle modification, metformin is the preferred initial glucose-lowering drug for most people with type 2 diabetes, if not contraindicated. Sodium glucose co­transporter-2 inhibitors have been shown to reduce progression of chronic kidney disease, or kidney failure, as well as the risk of hospitalizations for congestive heart failure and (mainly in secondary prevention) cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes. For major adverse cardiovascular events and for the renoprotection, there seems to be no class effect. On the other hand, a class effect of sodium glucose co­transporter-2 inhibitors is evident for hospitalization for heart failure. In this review the authors summarize novel data about sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and about their new perspectives in the near future.]

[Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a sporadic, relatively rare disease. In serious cases, it can lead to respiratory failure and death. The correlation between SARS-CoV-2 and the risk of GBS is not yet known. COVID-19-associated prolonged pulmonary complications could be worsened by the potential airway interference caused by GBS. The literature is inconsistent whether SARS-CoV-2 virus has direct or indirect effect on the onset of GBS. The authors describe the medical history of the first published GBS patient in Hungary with a preceding confirmed COVID-19 infection. The trigger role of COVID-19 infection is assumed because of the subsequent development of GBS after COVID-19 infection. So far none of the patients in the literature (including this patient) had positive PCR of SARS-CoV-2 virus from the cerebrospinal fluid.]

Objectives – Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the European region. In spite of a decreasing trend, stroke related mortality remains higher in Hungary and Romania when compared to the EU average. This might be due to higher incidence, increased severity or even less effective care. Methods – In this study we used two large, hospital based databases from Targu Mures (Romania) and Debrecen (Hungary) to compare not only the demographic characteristics of stroke patients from these countries but also the risk factors, as well as stroke severity and short term outcome. Results – The gender related distribution of patients was similar to those found in the European Survey, whereas the mean age of patients at stroke onset was similar in the two countries but lower by four years. Although the length of hospital stay was significantly different in the two countries it was still much shorter (about half) than in most reports from western European countries. The overall fatality rate in both databases, regardless of gender was comparable to averages from Europe and other countries. In both countries we found a high number of risk factors, frequently overlapping. The prevalence of risk factors (hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidaemia) was higher than those reported in other countries, which can explain the high ratio of recurring stroke. Discussion – In summary, the comparatively analyzed data from the two large databases showed several similarities, especially regarding the high number of modifiable risk factors, and as such further effort is needed regarding primary prevention.

[There are confirmed COVID-19 infections in Hungary since March 2020. This disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 was initially known not to impose special risk on pregnant women, but probably due to the increasing number of cases and the latest mutations, this is no longer true nowadays. Recent outcomes suggest that pregnancy increases the risk of hospital admission, invasive ventilation and death with higher odds of preterm birth and caesarean sec­tion. Seemingly, vertical infection occurs only in a small percentage of all cases. To our best knowledge, 7 expectant mothers lost their life in Hungary thus far due to COVID-19. However, further rigorous studies are needed for a more accurate understanding of pregnancy complica­tions.]

[Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is recognized to be the main cause of death and disability in the first four decades representing a major socio-economical problem worldwide. Recent communications revealed a particularly worrying image about the quality of care for TBI in Hungary. For any improvement a systematic approach characterized by utilization of scientific evidence based guidelines forming the basis for close monitoring of the actual care are considered a prerequisite. In Hungary the first evidence based guidelines in the field of TBI have been issued by the National Society for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care more than two decades ago followed by joint guidelines of the Hungarian Neurosurgical Society and the Hungarian College of Neurosurgeons. These publications were primarily based on the work of the European Brain Injury Consortium as well as guidelines issued by the Brain Trauma Foundation. Recent renewal of the latter and a need to refresh the outdated national guidelines was met by a call from regulatory authorities to issue the updated version of the Hungarian TBI-guidelines. The present review is aimed to briefly summarize the most fundamental elements of the national head injury guidelines that would hopefully be officially issued in a far more detailed format soon.]