Epidemiological study on varicose veins in Budapest.

Objective: To analyse the prevalence and risk factors of varicose veins and chronic venous disease in Budapest.

Method: Data were collected using a questionnaire, as well as by performing physical and Doppler ultrasound examination of 566 adult inhabitants of Budapest and some neighbouring villages.

Results: The prevalence of lower-extremity varicose veins was 57.

Circadian variation of death in hemodialysis patients.

Background: There is a circadian variation of death in nondialysis populations, with more cardiovascular events occurring in the morning. Whether this holds true in hemodialysis patients was never investigated.

Study Design: Case series.

Urinary albumin excretion is correlated to fibrinogen levels and protein S activity in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus without overt diabetic nephropathy.

The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that in diabetic patients without overt nephropathy there may be a correlation between the activity of natural anticoagulant proteins and glomerular dysfunction. Assays for functional activity of proteins S and C, measurements of urinary albumin excretion, lipid parameters and haemoglobin A1c were performed in 91 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 85 patients with type 2. Patients with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria had significantly higher mean age (44.

[Neurologic complications of aortic dissection].

Introduction: Beside the damages of the cardiovascular system the lesions of the the nervous system are the most common complications of aortic dissection. This is usually an early event, therefore the dissection of the aorta may manifest itself as an acute primary neurologic disease. The aim of this study is to describe the frequency and distribution of acute neurologic symptoms occurring in aortic dissection and the distribution of their clinico-pathologic features and to establish correlations between these and the acute in-hospital mortality as well as to discuss available diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities.

Diagnostic value of combined evaluation of neopterin and anti-DNA antibody levels for assessment of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate whether the combined evaluation of laboratory tests could improve their diagnostic value. Laboratory parameters of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), such as anti-dsDNA, neopterin, soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), C3, C4, and complement haemolytic activity (CH50), and a logistic model that provides the probable clinical activity (PCA) of a given patient, calculated by stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis from the parameters mentioned above--were evaluated as SLE activation markers.

Methods: Serum samples from 101 patients were assayed by ELISA (neopterin, sIL-2R, anti-dsDNA), radial immunodiffusion (C3, C4) and haemolytic complement assay (CH50).