Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD) is a rare alcohol-associated disorder characterized by demyelination and necrosis of the corpus callosum. We report three patients who had history of chronic alcoholism, different clinical presentation and MRI findings consistent with the diagnosis of Marchiafava-Bignami disease.

[Background and purpose - Although oligoepilepsy (OLE) is a used term in many protocols, guidelines and the everyday routine, it is found practically nowhere in the scientific literature. The aim of our study is to investigate and evaluate of the main characteristics of his subcategory of epilepsy. We try to find answer to the basic question of not only theoretical but also great practical importance whether the OLE does really exist, is it an independent entity of epilepsy or only its general benign clinical presentation. Methods - We considered OLE if the patients had two seizures maximally in the last year of their course. We counted only the two most severe clinical types, the generalized tonic-clonic and the complex partial seizures. We divided the OLE into two subtypes: those patients who had OLE from the beginning of their epilepsy (OLE1) and those ones, in whom the OLE was the result of the treatment (OLE2). We analysed retrospectively the data of 817 “OLE-suspicious” patients taken from our EPIMED database Results - We found 47 patients met the inclusion criteria (OLE1=34, OLE2=13). OLE patients did not differ from the general epileptic population according to the age and gender, the type of seizures, the electro-clinical diagnosis and the possible cause of their first seizure. But we found statistically significant differences in two measures. In OLE, far less seizure provoking factors were found in the sporadic seizures. Concerning the social conditions: while the range of employees was equal, the vast majority of OLE patients were able to work at their level of education. Conclusion - We found that more than 5% of people with epilepsy can belong to the OLE category. In the majority of OLE patients the seizure frequency is low from the beginning of the disease. The sporadic seizures in OLE are generally not provoked. The chances of OLE patients in the world of job are better for the OLE patients. In our opinion OLE rather seems to be an independent entity among epilepsy. Therefore larger prospective studies are needed to the exact description of OLE and to establish the special standards for the everyday medical practice.]

[The main purpose of the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C is to achieve a sustained virologic remission (SVR), which means that no hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV RNA) is detectable 24 weeks after the cessation of treatment. In patients infected by genotype 1 virus, the chance of achieving SVR by a combination treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a or alfa-2b plus ribavirin is about 40-50%. The pharmacokinetic properties of the two peginterferons are significantly different from each other. A number of clinical trials have been performed in the past eight years to clarify whether this difference influences the clinical efficiency or safety of these drugs. Several prospective, comparative studies have been completed recently. Among these, the American IDEAL study is the largest and most important one, however, the results of numberous smaller studies are also available. More than 3000 patients with genotype 1 HCV were treated in the IDEAL study and no significant difference was found in SVR rates between the peginterferon alfa-2a and alfa-2b treatment arms. However, the doses of ribavirin used in this study raise several questions in this study. In two smaller Italian studies, significantly higher SVR was achieved with peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavarin treatment. According to a Cochrane metaanalysis, in which reviewed data of 4335 patients from eight randomized trails have been reviewed, treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a is significantly more effective. Besides efficiency, the cost/effectiveness of the two therapies were also compared in a large American study, which also showed that peginterferon alfa-2a treatment was superior to peginterferon alfa-2b treatment.]

[Stroke is a major public health issue in Hungary with considerable regional differences in mortality. We have limited information to explain such regional differences. To assess these differences, we would need comparative followup studies optimally carried out by personal contact with the patient or the carer. According to several epidemiological studies, follow-up can be carried out with significantly lower cost and similar efficiency by telephone contact or regular mail. In this pilot study we intend to assess: 1. the efficacy of telephone follow-up one year after stroke in this geographical region 2. whether the efficacy of follow-up can be further increased with questionnaires sent out by regular mail 3. whether telephone and mail-based assessment is sufficient to perform a larger population based study. We included 135 patients hospitalized consecutively for acute cerebrovascular disease (stroke or TIA) by the Department of Neurology, Semmelweis University in January and February of 2008. Based on residence, patients were divided into three groups: those living in the least wealthy district of Budapest (i.e. District-8); those living in other districts of the city; and those living in suburban areas. One year after the hospital treatment follow-up was possible by telephone in 76%. Further 12 patients could be contacted by questionnaire sent out by regular mail. Efficacy of follow-up was altogether 84%. Even in this small group of patients, we have found a tendency for more severe strokes (p=0.06) and higher acute case fatality (32% vs. 5%, p=0.029) in residents of District-8 of Budapest compared to those residing in more wealthy districts of the city and in suburban areas. Survival rate one year after stroke or TIA was only 39% in those living in District-8, 66% in those living in other districts and 75% in suburban dwellers (p=0.006). Telephone and mail-based questionnaires are insufficient for follow-up in these regions even when applied in combination. These preliminary data raise the possibility that the socio-economical conditions might influence stroke severity and outcome in the population. A larger study to address this issue would require more accurate definition of patient-groups and more efficient follow-up methods.]

[The first generation of direct acting antivirals represented a milestone in the therapy of hepatitis C but other breakthroughs are on the way with imminent authorization of new antiviral drugs and interferon-free combinations. The prices of these new agents necessitate the rational use of limited financial capacities: relatively cheaper interferon-based treatments could be used first for those who can be cured with these combinations, while the most expensive treatments are to be reserved for those with no other options. In the future, interferonfree regimens will likely be used first in those patients who did not respond to firstgeneration interferon-based regimens and in whom interferon therapy is contraindicated. To avoid complications of the disease, currently it is reasonable to treat all eligible patients with advanced fibrosis, particularly those with compensated cirrhosis, with interferon-based treatments. In some instances other medical or social conditions warrant prompt treatment. The triage of treatments is based on the Priority Index in Hungary. Current triple therapies with protease inhibitors are complicated by drug and food interactions as well as by frequent (sometimes severe) side effects. General practitioners and other specialists need to be involved in managing these issues. It is of utmost importance to refer patients to hepatology care before decompensation or development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The key of timely and accurate diagnosis is organized anti-HCV screening in populations at risk and in the age group with the highest prevalence.]