[Mitochondrial diseases are a significant part of neuromuscular diseases. Majority of them is multisystemic disorder. The diagnosis can be established in more and more cases. Beyond the routine neurological examination imaging methods (MRI and MR-spectroscopy) and electrophysiology (EMG, ENG, EEG, evoked potential tests) might be helpful in setting the diagnosis. Raised blood lactate level supports the diagnosis. Muscle biopsy demonstrates mitochondrial abnormalities in the majority of cases. The positivity of genetic tests is low, because the amount of mitochondrial DNA alterations is different in tissues. Therefore other tissue than blood (mainly muscle) is necessary for genetic tests. The other reason is that the respiratory chain is under double -mitochondrial and nuclear - genetic control, and testing the nuclear genes are available only in selected laboratories. The treatment is limited, mainly symptomatic.]

[The prevalence of hypertension among pa­tients with chronic kidney disease is high, reaching more than 80%. Hypertension is both one of the main causes and also the most common consequence of chronic kidney disease. It is also a main factor responsible for the high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this patient population. Blood pressure control can improve patient outcomes, lower cardiovascular risk and slow down the progression of kidney dis­ease, irrespective of the underlying cause. The optimal therapy should therefore focus not only on blood pressure reduction but also on renoprotection. Basic understanding of the renal pathophysiology in hypertension and renal effects of various medications is of paramount importance. In this review, we summarized cornerstones of the antihypertensive therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease. The management of patients receiving kidney replacement therapies, such as hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or transplanta­tion requires special knowledge and expe­rience, therefore it is not discussed here. The aim of this review was to allow non-nephrologist physicians to take care of their kidney patients with more confidence and effectiveness.]

[The role of vascular wall inflammation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is becoming increasingly clear. However, the causal relationship between the inflammation and the course of atherosclerosis, which begins in childhood and continues for life, is debated in the literature. The interpretation of the basic pathophysiologial essence of inflammation is also controversial. This paper summarizes the basics and various features of inflammation, the body's defensive and aversive reaction. The “acute phase reaction syndrome” is a general, immediate, non-specific defense reaction of the organism, which is strongly associated with the specific, adaptive immune response. There are inflammatory processes that are chronic from the start. When looking at the main types and functions of the arterial wall proteoglycans, it is clear that they, along with the lipoprotein receptors and HDL cholesterol, are closely connected to the process, course and characteristics of the inflammation. The arterial wall proteoglycans are definitely capable of directly and indirectly influencing the inflammatory process. The issue of a possible target of statin derivatives other than the inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis has not been resolved. Atherosclerosis may be considered a primarily chronic individual vasculitis syndrome that involves all layers of the blood vessels, and is determined by the risk factors and by the special structure of the arterial wall. The presence of inflammation is a prerequisite to the development and throughout the entire course of atherosclerosis.]

[INTRODUCTION - Intramuscular follicular Bcell lymphoma is a rare entity of malignant lymphomas complicating the disease course of dermato/polymyositis. CASE REPORT - The authors report a female patient who was diagnosed with dermatomyositis in 1963 (age of 36). She was given steroid and hydroxychloroquine therapy. In 1973 she was treated with steroid for Boeck sarcoidosis. In 1999, she was treated for steroid therapy again for reoccurence of dermatomyositis. In 2000, a histological diagnosis of primary intramuscular follicular lymphoma was established from the right thigh region. She was given several courses of polychemotherapy and radiation therapy, but the lymphoma was difficult to control, and she died of progressive disease in 2003. CONCLUSION - It is an interesting case as 37 years elapsed since the diagnosis of dermatomyositis before the lymphoma has started. We could not state a definite relation between the myositis and the lymphoma but the increased frequency of autoimmune diseases is probably due to immune regulatory problems, that have eventually led to the appearance of the rapidly growing indolent lymphoma.]

[The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is a complex and complicated process. The rule of some factors (lipoproteindeposition, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, endothel dysfunction, etc) is well known, but others are not yet clarified. Conventional, metabolic and some special residual factors have also influenced for the starting process. One of them, the lipid profile is the most important. Statins are able to decrease the lipid levels - LDL cholesterol - significantly to the physiological level. These drugs are essential for the primer and secunder cardiovascular prevention moreover it is advisable to give in acute coronary syndrome as well. The most excellent statin is rosuvastatin, because of beneficial effect to decreasing LDL cholesterol level and cardiovascular events. Rosuvastatin is able to produce a regression of atherosclerotic process int he vessel walls. Presumably this effect can be explained by their pleiotrop property.]