Case report of exercise and statin-fibrate combination therapy-caused myopathy in a patient with metabolic syndrome: contradictions between the two main therapeutic pathways

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Lifestyle modifications including exercise are beneficial and fundamentally part of the therapy of metabolic syndrome, although in most of the cases medical interventions are also required to reach the target values in the laboratory parameters. Statin and fibrate combination therapy is considered to be safe and effective in dyslipidaemia and metabolic syndrome. However, increased physical activity can enhance the statin and fibrate-associated myopathy. Myositis and the rare but life-threatening rhabdomyolysis are causing a conflict between exercise and statin-fibrate therapy, which is yet to be resolved. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 43-year-old Caucasian man with metabolic syndrome who had the side-effect of exercise and drug-associated myositis. The patient had only transient moderate complaints and rhabdomyolysis could be avoided with the one-month creatine kinase control, a test which is not recommended routinely by the new guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: We would like to turn the spotlight on the possible complications of statin-fibrate therapy and exercise, when strict follow-up is recommended. In this condition high number of patients can be affected and the responsibility of general practitioners is accentuated

Nem-konvencionális gyógymódok a háziorvos szemszögéből

INTRODUCTION: The patients initiate the use of complementary and alternative medicine and this often remains hidden from their primary care physician. AIM: To explore general practitioners' knowledge and attitude towards complementary and alternative medicine, and study the need and appropriate forms of education, as well as ask their opinion on integration of alternative medicine into mainstream medicine. METHOD: A voluntary anonymous questionnaire was used on two conferences for general practitioners organized by the Family Medicine Department of Semmelweis University. Complementary and alternative medicine was defined by the definition of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and certified modalities were all listed. RESULTS: 194 general practitioners answered the questionnaire (39.8% response rate). 14% of the responders had licence in at least one complementary and alternative medicine modalities, 45% used complementary and alternative medicine in their family in case of illnesses. It was the opinion of the majority (91.8%) that it was necessary to be familiar with every method used by their patients, however, 82.5% claimed not to have enough knowledge in complementary medicine. Graduate and postgraduate education in the field was thought to be necessary by 86% of the responders; increased odds for commitment in personal education was found among female general practitioners, less than 20 years professional experience and personal experience of alternative medicine. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that general practitioners would like to know more about complementary and alternative medicine modalities used by their patients. They consider education of medical professionals necessary and a special group is willing to undergo further education in the field. Orv. Hetil., 2015, 156(28), 1133-1139

A hepatitis C virus (HCV) fertőzés pathogenesise: a genetikai és az immunológiai tényezők, valamint az oxidativ stress szerepe és a kórokozó virus sajátosságai, különös tekintettel a HCV-okozta betegségekben és a tünetmentes virushordozó állapotban = Pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: the role of the genetic and immunological factors, the oxidative stress and the viral features in the HCV-related diseases and in the symptomfree virus carriers

Genetikai, immunológiai és környezeti tényezők potenciális szerepe krónikus hepatitis C virus (HCV) infekcióban: összehasonlitó vizsgálatok aktiv HCV hepatitises betegekben és tünetmentes "egészséges" virushordozókban. 1. Sem a haemochromatosis gen mutációk, sem a CTLA4 polymorfizmusok nem befolyásolják a HCV-okozta májbetegség aktivitását, az angiotensin convertalo enzym (ACE) gen deletio azoban kedvező hatásu az anti-HCV terapia kimenetelére. 2. Az NK és B sejek felszinén levő CD81 molekula overexpressioja, valamint a regulatoros T sejtek termelte transformáló növekedési faktor (TGFbeta1), és az utóbbi által a cytotoxikus sejteken downregulált NKG2D aktiváló receptor - meghatározó szerepet játszanak a HCV infecióban kulcsfontosságu károsodott cellularis immunválaszban 3. A plasma TGFbeta1, a hyaluronsav és a procollagen-III-peptid szintek - mint a fibrogenesis markerei - kórosan emelkedettek krónikus aktiv HCV hepatitisben, de nem a tünetmentes virus-hordozókban. Az interferon + ribavirin antiviralis terapia gátolhatja a fibrogenesist, függetlenül a virológiai választól. 4. Mint additiv környezeti tényező, a SEN virus ko-infekció, gyakran előfordul HCV fertőzésben, és jelenléte negativan befolyásolja az anti-HCV terapia hatását krónikus C hepatitisben. | Genetic, immunologic and environmental factors and their potential role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: a comparison between active HCV hepatitis and symptomfree 'healthy' virus carriers. 1. Neither haemochromatosis gene mutations, nor CTLA4 polymorphisms influence the activity of HCV-related liver disease, however, ACE gene deletion has a favourable effect on the outcome of anti-HCV treatment in chronic hepatitis C. 2. Overexpression of CD81 molecule on NK and B cells, as well as transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) secreted by regulatory T cells, and downregulated NKG2D activating receptor on cytotoxic effector cells, may play a privotal role in the impaired cell mediated immunity in active HCV infection 3. Plasma TGFbeta1, hyalurinic acid and procollagene-III-peptide levels - as markers of fibrogenesis - are elevated in active hepatitis C patients, but not in symptomfree carriers. Interferon + ribavirin therapy may inhibit fibrogenesis independently of virological response in chronic HCV hepatitis. 4. SEN virus co-infection, - as an additive environmetal factor - frequently occuring in HCV patients, decreases the effect of anti-HCV treatment

Magyar orvosok életmódja, egészségi állapota és demográfiai adatai 25 évvel a diplomaszerzés után = Morbidity, demography and life style of Hungarian medical doctors 25 years after graduation

Az egészségügyi dolgozók életmódját, egészségi állapotát, szociális körülményeit világszerte vizsgálják. A kelet-európai országokban kevés vizsgálat történt ebben a témakörben, és még kevesebbet publikáltak. Ez a tanulmány megpróbálja összehasonlítani az orvosok egészségi állapotát, a szakmai pálya jellemzőit és néhány szociológiai tényezőt 25 évvel a diplomaszerzés után. Az eredményeket nemek között és szakmai csoportok (alapellátási, manuális, nem manuális és diagnosztikus) között hasonlították össze. A Semmelweis Orvostudományi Egyetemen 1979-ben végzett 228 orvos válaszolt a kérdőívben megadott kérdésekre. Több férfi választott manuális szakmát, míg a nők körében az alapellátási szakmák voltak népszerűbbek. A nők gyakrabban kényszerültek munkahelyük vagy szakterületük módosítására, mint a férfiak. A férfi orvosok átlagos gyerekszáma 2,26, míg a nőké 1,87 volt. A legnagyobb testsúlynövekedést az alapellátási szakmát választó férfiak és a nem manuális szakmát űző női orvosok körében regisztrálták. A magas vérnyomás és a rendszeres szűrővizsgálatok elhanyagolása gyakoribb volt a férfiak körében, akik nem mindig voltak megfelelően kezelve. A fizikai aktivitás és a sportra fordított idő jelentősen csökkent a végzés után, és a kedvelt sportok is gyakran mások voltak. A női orvosok fontosabbnak tartották a rendszeres testedzést. A dohányzás főleg a manuális szakmát űző férfiak és az alapellátásban dolgozó nők körében volt gyakoribb. A manuális szakmában dolgozók és a nem manuális szakmájú nők gyakrabban fogyasztottak alkoholt. Ha betegek voltak, a férfiak megbízhatóbban követték a kezelőorvos tanácsait. Az orvosok saját egészségi állapotukat jobbnak ítélték, mint hasonló korú betegeikét. Idegen nyelveket a férfiak nagyobb arányban beszéltek. Az évfolyamból a válaszadók 10%-a szerzett tudományos fokozatot. | The health status and social circumstances of medical professionals have been studied worldwide. However, there are only a few published studies pertaining to these topics in the countries of the former Eastern block. The present paper aimed at charting the state of health, the medical career path and some sociological factors of Hungarian medical doctors who graduated in 1979. The results were analysed for differences between genders and professional speciality groups (primary, surgical, non-surgical, and diagnostic), respectively. Materials and method: Two-hundred and twenty-eight doctors who graduated in 1979 at Semmelweis Medical University in Budapest, Hungary, were asked to fill out a questionnaire on these topics. Results: More men were in surgical professions, whereas a larger proportion of women became primary specialists. Women had to modify their specialty or place of work more often than men. The average number of children was 2.26 for men and 1.87 for women. The highest increases in body weight were registered in primary specialist men and non-surgical women. Hypertension and failure to attend regular screenings were more common in males and they were not always treated properly. Physical exercise, typically sports, were reduced after graduation, furthermore the preferred types of activity also changed after graduation. Female physicians considered regular exercise more important. Smokers were mainly amongst surgical specialist men and women working in primary care. Surgical professionals and women in non-surgical specialities consumed more alcoholic beverages. As patients, male physicians followed medical advice more faithfully. Doctors judged their own health status to be better than that of their patients. The knowledge of foreign languages was higher in men. Ten percent of physicians received a postgraduate degree in research

Human serum fetuin A/α2HS-glycoprotein level is associated with long-term survival in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, comparison with the Child-Pugh and MELD scores

BACKGROUND: Serum concentration of fetuin A/α2HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) is a good indicator of liver cell function and 1-month mortality in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. We intended to determine whether decreased serum AHSG levels are associated with long-term mortality and whether the follow-up of serum AHSG levels can add to the predictive value of the Child-Pugh (CP) and MELD scores. METHODS: We determined serum AHSG concentrations in 89 patients by radial immunodiffusion. Samples were taken at the time of enrolment and in the 1(st), 3(rd), 6(th), and the 12(th )month thereafter. RESULTS: Forty-one patients died during the 1-year follow-up period, 37 of them had liver failure. Data of these patients were analysed further. Deceased patients had lower baseline AHSG levels than the 52 patients who survived (293 ± 77 vs. 490 ± 106 μg/ml, mean ± SD, p < 0.001). Of all laboratory parameters serum AHSG level, CP and MELD scores showed the greatest difference between deceased and survived patients. The cutoff AHSG level 365 μg/ml could differentiate between deceased and survived patients (AUC: 0.937 ± 0.025, p < 0.001, sensitivity: 0.865, specificity: 0.942) better than the MELD score of 20 (AUC: 0.739 ± 0.052, p < 0.001, sensitivity: 0.595, specificity: 0.729). Initial AHSG concentrations < 365 μg/ml were associated with high mortality rate (91.4%, relative risk: 9.874, 95% C.I.: 4.258–22.898, p < 0.001) compared to those with ≥ 365 μg/ml (9.3%). Fourteen out of these 37 fatalities occurred during the first month of observation. During months 1–12 low AHSG concentration proved to be a strong indicator of mortality (relative risk: 9.257, 95% C.I.: 3.945–21.724, p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that decrease of serum AHSG concentration was independent of all variables that differed between survived and deceased patients during univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that correlation of low serum AHSG levels with mortality was stronger than that with CP and MELD scores. Patients with AHSG < 365 μg/ml had significantly shortened survival both in groups with MELD < 20 and MELD ≥ 20 (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0014, respectively). CONCLUSION: Serum AHSG concentration is a reliable and sensitive indicator of 1-year mortality in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis that compares well to the predictive value of CP score and may further improve that of MELD score

A depresszió diagnosztikája és kezelése a családorvosi gyakorlatban

A depresszió a külföldi és hazai felmérések szerint is a leggyakoribb pszichiátriai tünetegyüttes. Nyugat-Európában a major depresszió élettartam-prevalenciája 13%, egyéves prevalenciája 4% körül alakul. Magyarországon is hasonló a súlyos depresszió előfordulási aránya; a családorvosnál megjelenő betegek mintegy 5–8%-ánál diagnosztizálható valamilyen depresszív zavar. A megbetegedés nők körében és az életkor előrehaladtával gyakrabban fordul elő. Az Egészségügyi Világszervezet szerint a depresszió jelenleg a harmadik leggyakoribb munkaképesség-csökkenésért felelős betegség. A kórkép jelentőségét növeli, hogy nagymértékben rontja az életminőséget, gyakran társul szorongással, alvászavarokkal, alkohol- és drogfüggőséggel, valamint egyes szomatikus kórképekkel. A depresszió az öngyilkosság legfőbb rizikófaktora. A depresszió szűrésében, diagnosztizálásában nagy szerep jut a családorvosnak. Nemcsak a levert hangulatról, szomorúságról, öngyilkossági gondolatokról panaszkodó beteg esetén kell depresszióra gondolni, hanem szervi betegséggel nem magyarázható egyéb tünetek, fejfájás, fáradékonyság, hasi fájdalom, gastrointestinalis panaszok, testsúlyváltozás esetén is. A családorvosnak megfelelő ismeretekkel kell rendelkeznie a különböző terápiás lehetőségekről – pszichoterápiás módszerekről, antidepresszív gyógyszerekről, egyéb terápiás lehetőségekről –, hogy betegét hatékonyan tudja kezelni, szükség esetén a pszichológussal, pszichiáter szakorvossal együttműködve. Jelen közleményünkben bemutatjuk a depresszió jelentőségét és előfordulási gyakoriságát vizsgáló irodalmi adatokat, valamint összefoglaljuk a depresszió diagnosztikus és terápiás lehetőségeit a családorvosi gyakorlatban. | Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders, according to Hungarian and international data. In Western- Europe, lifetime prevalence of major depression is 13%, while one-year prevalence is 4%. The prevalence of severe depressive symptoms is similar in Hungary: approximately 5 to 8% of all patients seen by primary care physicians suffer from some kind of depressive disorders. Depression is more prevalent in women and in the elderly. According to the World Health Organization, depression is the third most common disabilitating disorder. Patients with depression experience impaired quality of life, anxiety, sleep disturbances, alcohol and drug abuse, and different somatic disorders. Furthermore, depression is the most important risk factor for suicide. Primary care physicians have a crucial role in the screening and diagnosing of depressive disorders. Depressive disorders can exist not only in patients complaining about depressed mood, but also in patients with „medically unexplained symptoms” (headache, fatigue, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, weight change). Primary care physicians should have appropriate knowledge about the different therapeutic options (including various psychotherapies, antidepressant medications and other treatment options) to be able to treat their patients properly. We review the literature about the significance and epidemiology of depression and summarize the diagnostic and therapeutic options of depressive disorders in primary care practice

A pneumococcusvakcináció gyakorlata a családorvosi praxisokban

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of invasive pneumococcal disease, which is depending on risk factors and comorbidities, is increasing over the age of 50 years. Most developed countries have recommendations but vaccination rates remain low. AIM: To assess the general practitioners' daily practice in relation to pneumococcal vaccination and analyse the effect of informing the subjects about the importance of pneumococcal vaccination on vaccination routine. METHOD: Subjects over 50 years of age vaccinated against influenza during the 2012/2013 campaign were informed about the importance of pneumococcal vaccination and asked to fill in a questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 4000 subjects, 576 asked for a prescription of pneumococcal vaccine (16.5% of females and 11.6% of males, OR 1.67 CI 95% 1.37-2.04, p<0.001) and 310 were vaccinated. The mean age of females and males was 70.95 and 69.8 years, respectively (OR 1.01; CI 95% 1.00-1.02; p<0.05). Information given by physicians resulted in 33,6% prescription rate, while in case it was 8% when nurses provided information (OR 6.33; CI 95% 5.23-7.67; p<0.001). As an effect of this study the vaccination rate was 6.3 times higher than in the previous year campaign (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: General practitioners are more effective in informing subjects about the importance of vaccination than nurses. Campaign can raise the vaccination rate significantly

Association of PPAR Alpha Intron 7 G/C, PPAR Gamma 2 Pro12Ala, and C161T Polymorphisms with Serum Fetuin-A Concentrations

BACKGROUND: Both peroxisome activator proteins (PPARs) and fetuin-A play a role in lipid and glucose metabolism. AIMS: We investigated whether PPARalpha intron 7 G2468/C and PPARgamma2 Pro12Ala and PPARgamma exon 6 C161T polymorphisms are associated with serum fetuin-A concentrations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The PPARalpha intron 7 G/C polymorphism was studied in cohort 1 (79 reference individuals, 165 postinfarction patients). The two PPARgamma polymorphisms were investigated in cohort 2 (162 reference individuals, 165 postinfarction patients). Fetuin-A levels and PPAR polymorphisms were determined by radial immunodiffusion and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. RESULTS: The C allele variant of PPARalpha intron 7 G2467C was associated with higher fetuin-A levels (p = 0.018). Postinfarction status (p = 0.001), PPARalpha intron 7 GG/GC/CC genotypes (p = 0.032), and the C allele (p = 0.021) were the strongest determinants of fetuin-A concentration in a multiple regression model. Higher fetuin-A levels were associated with the Pro variant of PPARgamma2 (p = 0.047). Postinfarction status (p = 0.041) and BMI (p < 0.001) but not PPARgamma2 Pro were the strongest determinants of fetuin-A concentrations. PPARgamma exon 6 C161T genotypes were not associated with fetuin-A levels. CONCLUSIONS: Fetuin-A was determined mainly by the PPARalpha intron 7C allele and postinfarction status in cohort 1 and the BMI and postinfarction in cohort 2. The PPARalpha intron 7C and PPARgamma2 Pro variants are associated with fetuin-A levels

Infektív, genetikai és complement aktivációs tényezők szerepének vizsgálata az autoimmun betegségek patogenezisében = Investigation of the role of infective, genetic and complement activation factor in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders

Az MBL2 gén polimorfizmusa az SLE kialakulásának rizikó faktora. 315 SLE-s betegben és 182 kontrollban az MBL2 polimorfizmust vizsgáltuk. Kimutattuk, hogy az MBL2 polimorfizmusában a homozigóta SLE-s betegekben szignifikánsan fiatalabb életkorban (p=0,017) kezdődik a betegség. XA/XA homozigótákban a fiatalkorban kezdődő SLE (≤20 év) előfordulási gyakorisága különösen magas volt és gyakrabban lehetett igazolni a bőr manifesztációk (p=0,003) és a pleuritis/pericarditis (p=0,013) kialakulását. A Parvovírus B19 (PVB19) elleni antitestek szerepét vizsgáltuk felnőttkori SLE-ben. 76 beteg szérumában kimutattuk, hogy a PVB19-IgM és/vagy ?IgG antitest pozitivitás szignifikánsan gyakoribb a 30 év feletti SLE-ekben (p=0,003). 95 I-es és II-es típusú herediter angioneurotikus oedemas (HANO) betegen vizsgáltuk meg a C1-inhibitor autoantitestek (C1-INH-At) előfordulási gyakoriságát. Emelkedett IgM típusú C1-INH-At-eket találtunk a HANO-s betegek 31 %-ban (p<0,001). 217 HANO-s beteg adatait dolgoztuk fel a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradikáció szerepének tisztázására a rohamok megelőzésében. A sikeres eradikáció szignifikánsan csökkentette a hasi rohamok számát (p=0,006). 95 betegben igazoltuk, hogy a szérum antikoleszterin-antitest szintek szignifikánsan magasabbak HANO-ban, mint a 246 kontrollban (p<0,0001). | The polymorphism of the MBL2 gene is a risk factor for the development of SLE. We investigated the MBL2 polymorphisms in 315 SLE patients and 182 controls. Within the group of patients, we found that homozygotes for an MBL2 promoter polymorphism were significantly (p=0.017) younger at diagnosis than the other patients. The frequency of juvenile-onset SLE was high among XA/XA homozygotes (≤20 years) (17,4%) (p=0.004), as well as the development of cutan manifestations (p=0.003) and pleuritis/pericarditis (p=0.013). The role of antibodies was investigated against Parvovirus B19 in patients with adult onset SLE. We found higher anti-PVB19-IgM and/or ?IgG antibody titers in patients older than 30 years (p=0.003) in 76 serum samples of SLE. Serum samples were taken and tested for C1-INH-Abs from 95 patients with type I or II hereditary angioedema (HAE) and 54 individuals. Elevated IgM C1-INH-Abs levels were found in 31% of HAE patients (p<0.001). 217 patients were studied to detect any relationship between H. pylori infection and the occurrence of abdominal attacks in HAE patients. Successful eradication of H. pylori significantly (p=0.0006) reduced the number of abdominal attacks. Serum IgG type anticholesterin-antibody levels were higher in 95 of HAE patients, compared to 246 controls (p<0,0001)

Potential correlates of burnout among general practitioners and residents in Hungary: the significant role of gender, age, dependant care and experience

Burnout is increasingly prevalent among general practitioners (GPs) in Hungary, which may lead to functional impairment and, subsequently, to poor quality of patient care. However, little is known about potential predictors of burnout among GPs. The aim of this study was to explore psychosocial correlates of burnout among GPs and residents in Hungary.We collected socio-demographic and work-related data with self-administered questionnaires in a cross-sectional study among GPs (N = 196) and residents (N = 154). We assessed burnout with the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) and calculated the mean level of burnout and the proportion of physicians suffering from low, intermediate and high degree of burnout. To identify potential socio-demographic and work-related correlates of burnout among physicians, we determined Spearman's and Mann-Whitney U correlation coefficients and conducted stepwise linear regression analyses. We deployed Mann-Whitney U test to explore gender disparity in the level of burnout between female and male physicians and between general practitioners and residents.The prevalence of moderate to high level emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and impaired personal accomplishment was 34.7, 33.5 and 67.8% as well as 41.0, 43.1, and 71.1% among GPs and residents, respectively. Residents reported significantly lower level of personal accomplishment vs GPs. We identified a significantly higher level of depersonalization among male physicians compared to female physicians. Age correlated negatively with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and positively with personal accomplishment among GPs. Dependant care was positively associated with burnout among female GPs. Female residents were more likely to report depersonalization. High workload was positively correlated with depersonalization among female GPs. Younger age emerged as the strongest predictor of emotional exhaustion. Male gender and fewer years of experience predicted depersonalization best, and male gender showed a significant predictive relationship with low personal accomplishment.We identified specific socio-demographic and work-related correlates of burnout, which may guide the development of specific and effective organizational decisions to attenuate occupational stress and subsequent burnout as well as functional impairment among GPs, and thus, may improve the quality of patient care