[Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in developed countries; in Hungary, the mortality has almost tripled in the past four decades. A decrease in mortality can only be expected from a consistently applied diagnostic and management strategy, including preventive measures. Primary prevention is defined as dietary, medicinal and lifestyle actions that can reduce the risk of developing cancer in people with average risk. Secondary prevention is the prophylactic treatment of high-risk patients or praecancerous lesions; tertiary prevention is the prevention of recurrence in patients cured of colorectal cancer. Drugs or dietary supplements used for chemoprevention block, delay or reverse the process of carcinogenesis. The most important drugs used for chemoprevention are aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Long-term administration of these drugs reduces the risk of developing colorectal cancer or adenoma both in the high-risk and in the average-risk population. The risk-lowering effect seems to be in positive correlation with the dose and the duration of use. Other chemoprophylactic drugs such as calcium, folate, oestrogen and antioxidants, as well as 5-aminosalicylates in patients with ulcerative colitis are also discussed in this review. Based on the current knowledge, chemoprophylaxis of colorectal cancer is recommended as secondary prevention in patients at high risk (e.g., familial adenomatous polyposis, extensive ulcerative colitis). In contrast, based on adverse event profile and cost-effectiveness analysis, primary prevention with chemopreventive drugs is currently not recommended in the averagerisk population.]

[INTRODUCTION - The most common symptom of spleen diseases is splenomegaly of various extent, which may be accompanied by pain in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen, as well as by fever, jaundice, haemorrhages. CASE REPORT - A 24-year-old woman with an abdominal mass that could not be determined by imaging was operated on and an epithelial cyst of unusually large size was identified in the spleen. CONCLUSION - The pathological background, diagnostic possibilities, and treatment options are discussed for this rare disease.]

[The changes in attitude that occurred in general medicine 2 to 3 decades ago had a fundamental impact on psychiatry by giving it a greater emphasis due to the wider acceptance of the bio-psycho-social model. In parallel with this change an English-speaking professional dominance took over the former German-French traditions. Hungarian psychiatrists keep pace with the development of psychiatry, with remarkable achievements in some areas. In everyday patient care and clinical practice, however, severe difficulties are encountered. The paper reviews the trends in practice, education, research, and also the development of professional organizations. Certain ethical implications of the sociocultural changes and future trends of national psychiatry are also summarized.]

[INTRODUCTION - Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease with multiple organ involvement. Immune- inflammatory processes play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The connection between inflammatory parameters and atherosclerosis in MCTD has not yet been studied. Lipid abnormality is an important risk factor of atherosclerosis. Among the lipids, HDL is protective, which is in part due to the antioxidant effect of paraoxonase. In this paper, the lipid profiles and paraoxonase activities of MCTD patients were studied and the factors causing abnormalities were investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS - Thirty-seven patients with MCTD, who had not taken any lipid lowering drugs in the past 2 months, were enrolled in the study. Thirty healthy individuals served as controls. At the time of the study the mean age of the MCTD patients was 51.2 ± 9.5 years, and the mean disease duration was 11.0 ± 7.2 years. Paraoxonase activity was determined by spectrophotometry, lipid profiles were determined by a Cobas Integra 700 Analyser, the von Willebrand factor antigen (vWFAg) was measured by turbidimetry in platelet-poor plasma and the thrombomodulin and anti-endothelial cell antibody (AECA) measurements were carried out by ELISA methods. RESULTS - Paraoxonase activity in the MCTD patients was lower than in the control population (118.5 ± 64.6 U/l vs. 188.0 ± 77.6, p<0.001). The arylesterase activity was also significantly lower in the patients (p<0.001). The reduction of paraoxonase activity was in correlation with the age of the patients, the duration of the disease and with vascular (eye, cardiac, cerebral) disorders. The total cholesterol and triglicerid levels of the patients were significantly increased compared to the control group, while in the apoA1 levels a significant reduction was seen. A very strong correlation was observed between the reduction of paraoxonase activity and the increase of endothelial cell activation markers (thrombomodulin, vWFAg, AECA). There was no difference in the values of patients with or without corticosteroid treatment. CONCLUSIONS - The results suggest that in MCTD there is an increased risk for atherosclerosis. Apart from an elevated cholesterol and triglicerid level, a reduced paraoxonase level and activity may also play a role in the development of atherosclerosis,. Therefore, in patients with MCTD, due to the increased oxidative processes and the impaired elimination of free radicals, a sustained damage to the endothelial cells occurs, which is indicated by increased levels of thrombomodulin, vWFAg, and anti-endothelial antibody.]