Changes in Time to Initial Physician Contact and Cancer Stage Distribution during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma at a Large Hungarian Cancer Center.

The aim of our study was to compare the characteristics and time to initial physician contact in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic at a large Hungarian cancer center. This was a retrospective study of patients 18 years or older presenting at the regional cancer center of Pécs Clinical Center with HNSCC between 1 January 2017, and 15 March 2020 (the pre-COVID-19 period) and between 16 March 2020, and 13 May 2021 (the COVID-19 period). Demographic and clinical data were collected, and the time between initial symptom onset and initial physician contact (TTP) was determined.

Weather Variability and COPD: A Risk Estimation Identified a Vulnerable Sub-population in Hungary.

Background/aim: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health concern, affecting over 200 million people worldwide in 2019. The prevalence of COPD has risen by 40% from 1990 to 2010 and continued to increase by 13% from 2010 to 2019, causing over 3 million deaths globally in 2019, ranking it as the third leading cause of death. This study explored how daily weather changes relate to the number of COPD-related emergency department (ED) visits.

Report on palliative sedation medication usage: a survey of palliative care experts in Eight European countries.

Background: The practice of palliative sedation continues to raise ethical questions among people, which in turn leads to its varied acceptance and practice across regions. As part of the Palliative Sedation European Union (EU) project, the aim of the present study was to determine the perceptions of palliative care experts regarding the practice of palliative sedation in eight European countries (The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, Hungary, and Romania).

Methods: A specifically designed survey, including questions on the most frequently used medications for palliative sedation, their availability per countries and settings, and the barriers and facilitators to the appropriate practice of palliative sedation was sent to expert clinicians involved and knowledgeable in palliative care in the indicated countries.

Diagnosis rates, therapeutic characteristics, lifestyle, and cancer screening habits of patients with diabetes mellitus in a highly deprived region in Hungary: a cross-sectional analysis.

Introduction: Low socioeconomic status affects not only diagnosis rates and therapy of patients with diabetes mellitus but also their health behavior. Our primary goal was to examine diagnosis rates and therapy of individuals with diabetes living in Ormánság, one of the most deprived areas in Hungary and Europe. Our secondary goal was to examine the differences in lifestyle factors and cancer screening participation of patients with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes compared to healthy participants.

Predictive factors of basic palliative and hospice care among patients with cancer visiting the emergency department in a Hungarian tertiary care center.

Introduction: Patients with advanced cancer tend to utilize the services of the health care system, particularly emergency departments (EDs), more often, however EDs aren't necessarily the most ideal environments for providing care to these patients. The objective of our study was to analyze the clinical and demographic characteristics of advanced patients with cancer receiving basic palliative care (BPC) or hospice care (HC), and to identify predictive factors of BPC and HC prior to their visit to the ED, in a large tertiary care center in Hungary.

Methods: A retrospective, detailed analysis of patients receiving only BPC or HC, out of 1512 patients with cancer visiting the ED in 2018, was carried out.

Changes in Oncological Surgical Principles Driven by Advances in Preoperative Treatments.

From a surgical point of view, the development of preoperative oncological treatment has had a profound effect on the surgical treatment trends of cancer as well as on the outcomes of cancer patients. Consequently, these changes have challenged formerly entrenched oncological surgical principles. In our short report, we aimed to summarize the main shifts regarding the surgical principles of cancer treatment due to the development of preoperative oncological therapy in recent years.

Determinants of pupils' energy drink consumption - Findings from a Hungarian primary school.

Consumption of energy drinks is harmful in childhood and adolescence, and its increasing popularity makes it a public health threat in this age group. Our study aimed to assess energy drink (ED) consumption and identify the context and determinants of its consumption at a Hungarian primary school. A mixed-method approach was used for the research, including a survey filled in by 157 10-15-year-old pupils and World Café workshops (WCWs) involving pupils, home-room teachers, and Parental Council representatives (N = 39).

Retrospective study of cancer patients' predictive factors of care in a large, Hungarian tertiary care centre.

Objectives: To identify predictive factors of multiple emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalisation and potentially preventable ED visits made by patients with cancer in a Hungarian tertiary care centre.

Design: Observational, retrospective study.

Setting: A large, public tertiary hospital, in Somogy County, Hungary, with a level 3 emergency and trauma centre and a dedicated cancer centre.

Expression Levels of GHRH-Receptor, pAkt and Hsp90 Predict 10-Year Overall Survival in Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Background: Rectal cancer constitutes nearly one-third of all colorectal cancer diagnoses, and certain clinical and molecular markers have been studied as potential prognosticators of patient survival. The main objective of our study was to investigate the relationship between the expression intensities of certain proteins, including growth-hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRH-R), Hsp90, Hsp16.2, p-Akt and SOUL, in specimens of locally advanced rectal cancer patients, as well as the time to metastasis and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates.

The relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms and skin cancer susceptibility: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) interfere with the function of certain genes and thus may influence the probability of skin cancer. The correlation between SNPs and skin cancer (SC) lacks statistical power, however. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the gene polymorphisms involved in skin cancer susceptibility using network meta-analysis and to determine the relationship between SNPs and SC risk.

How Vulnerable Are Patients with COPD to Weather Extremities?-A Pilot Study from Hungary.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common causes of death globally, with increasing prevalence and years lived with disability (YLD). We aimed to investigate how extreme weather conditions were associated with the number of daily COPD-related emergency visits. We collected data regarding the number of daily emergency department (ED) visits made by patients with COPD in 2017, along with all relevant daily meteorological data for the same year.

Main reasons and predictive factors of cancer-related emergency department visits in a Hungarian tertiary care center.

Background: Identifying the reasons for the Emergency Department (ED) visit of patients with cancer would be essential for possibly decreasing the burden of ED use. The aim of our study was to analyze the distribution of the demographic and clinical parameters of patients with cancer based on the reasons for the ED visits and to identify possible predictive factors for their visits.

Methods: This retrospective study, carried out at a large, public tertiary hospital in Hungary, involved all patients 18 years or over, who had received a cancer diagnosis latest within five years of their visit to the ED in 2018.

Who should talk with patients about their end-of-life care wishes? A nationwide survey of the Hungarian population.

Objective: To explore the needs and opportunities of the general population to communicate their end-of-life care wishes and to investigate what roles are assigned to healthcare providers and family members in end-of-life care discussions.

Design: A cross-sectional social survey was carried out in Hungary. Descriptive analysis and analysis of variance were performed.

Significant Regional Differences in Lung Cancer Incidence in Hungary: Epidemiological Study Between 2011 and 2016.

Hungary has one of the highest incidences and mortality rates of lung cancer (LC), therefore the objective of this study was to analyse and compare LC incidence and mortality rates between the main Hungarian regions. This nationwide, retrospective study used data from the National Health Insurance Fund and included patients aged ≥20 years who were diagnosed with lung cancer (ICD-10 C34) between Jan 1, 2011 and Dec 31, 2016. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were calculated and compared for the main regions.

Early palliative care associated with lower costs for adults with advanced cancer: evidence from Hungary.

Objective: Palliative Care Consult Service (PCCS) programme was established in Hungary to provide palliative care to hospitalised patients with complex needs and to coordinate integrated care across providers. The aim of this study was to measure the association of PCCS with healthcare costs from payer's perspective.

Methods: Study population consisted of patients with metastatic cancer, who were admitted to the Clinical Centre of the University of Pécs between 2014 and 2016.

Effective chemotherapy and targeted therapy supplemented with stereotactic radiotherapy of a patient with metastatic colon cancer following renal transplantation: a case report.

Background: Previous studies have shown that patients who underwent renal transplantation were at a greater risk of developing malignancies. Due to advances in effective surgical techniques and immunosuppressive therapies, organ recipients live longer. Yet, there is insufficient information about the recommended type of therapy for colorectal cancer patients following transplantation.

[Characteristics related to the treatment of colorectal cancer patients based on a pilot study in Baranya county, Hungary].

Unlabelled: Összefoglaló.Bevezetés: Az európai országok közül Magyarország a colorectalis daganatos incidencia és mortalitás szempontjából az élen szerepel. Ennek hátterében a beteghez vagy az egészségügyi rendszerhez köthető tényezők is állhatnak.

Identifying risks for severity of neurological symptoms in Hungarian West Nile virus patients.

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) infections have become increasingly prevalent in certain European countries, including Hungary. Although most human infections do not cause severe symptoms, in approximately 1% of cases WNV infections can lead to severe WNV neuroinvasive disease (WNND) and death. The goal of our study was to assess the neurological status changes of WNV -infected patients admitted to inpatient care and to identify potential risk factors as underlying reasons for severe neurological outcome.

Successful management of zinc phosphide poisoning-a Hungarian case.

Background: Zinc phosphide (ZnP) is the basic component of several insecticides easily accessible worldwide. Intentional or accidental intoxication may lead to severe complications and multiple organ failure, resulting in high mortality. No known antidote is currently available.

Hungarian general practitioners' attitude and the role of education in dementia care.

Background: Dementia in the elderly constitutes a growing challenge in healthcare worldwide, including Hungary. There is no previous report on the role of general practitioners in the management of dementia.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the Hungarian general practitioners' attitude toward their patients living with dementia as well as dementia care.

[The occurrence of neuroinvasive symptoms caused by the West Nile virus at an emergency center].

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the prevalence of neuroinvasive symptoms caused by the West Nile virus (WNV) has significantly increased in the past years throughout Europe, including Hungary. The rise may be attributed to changes in precipitation and climate. The WNV zoonosis is spread by mosquitoes.

ECG alterations suggestive of hyperkalemia in normokalemic versus hyperkalemic patients.

Background: In periarrest situations and during resuscitation it is essential to rule out reversible causes. Hyperkalemia is one of the most common, reversible causes of periarrest situations. Typical electrocardiogram (ECG) alterations may indicate hyperkalemia.