Childhood overweight and obesity is a major health problem not only in Europe but also in the world. Increasing trend of the prevalence seems to be slowed and stabilised in many countries. It would be important to maintain this stability, because childhood obesity increases the cardiovascular risk in adulthood. In this summary we collected data of eight countries dealing with the prevalence of childhood overweight in order to give an overview of the trend of obesity during the recent years. Further aim of our paper is to examine what are the possible causes of this stabilization.

Growth retardation is a multicausal condition. Among its endocrine forms the defects of growth hormone – insulin like growth factor-1 (GH-IGF-1) axis have to be emphasised. Several functio - nal defects of the GH-IGF-1 axis are clinically manifested as growth hormone deficiency (GHD), IGF-1 deficiency (IGFD) as well as GH and IGF-1 insensitivity (GHI, IGFI). Defects of GH-IGF- 1 axis represent a spectrum on the basis of GH secretion and GH sensitivity. GHD and GHI are the endpoints of this continuum, and the idiopathic short stature (ISS) is staying in its middle. In clinical diagnostic process of the GH-IGF-1 axis defects demonstration of GHD is an essential task because of its high frequency. By investigating GH secretion, measuring IGF-I concentration and using clinical criteria the possible diagnosis of GHI or severe primary IGFD can be ascertained. The recombinant human GH (rhGH) therapy is an effective and safe treatment in GHD. In the rare ca ses of severe IGFD now there is a possibility for the recombinant human IGF-1 (rhIGF-1) therapy. In ISS, in which GH sensitivity may be decreased beside a normal GH secretion, it is investigating whether the rhGH/rhIGF-1 therapy can represent a perspective treatment.

Children with type 1 diabetes are at a higher risk of developing other autoimmune endocrinopathies. Two cases are described in whom first type 1 diabetes developed, which was followed by autoimmune thyroiditis (hypothyroidism) and adrenal insufficiency, prompting the diagnosis of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 2 (APS2). Retrospectively, Addison’s disease could have been suspected by the symptoms, the frequent hypoglycemia and unexplained decrease in insulin requirement in case 1, in whom diagnosis was made during an Addisonian crisis. Increased skin pigmentation suggested diagnostic tests in case 2, who remained well under hormone replacement therapy for years, but suddenly died under unknown circumstances, possibly due to Addisonian crisis. On the basis of the case histories and the review of the literature, it is suggested that children with type 1 diabetes and thyroid autoimmunity, should be regularly screened (steroid 21-hydroxylase antibodies, cortisol and ACTH) for autoimmune Addison’s disease.

Authors deal with Graves’ ophthalmopathy in relation to two own patients. This disease occurs more and more in the literature despite its rare manifestation in part due to the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties in severe form. Supposing the autoimmune pathogenesis, several working groups study the relationship between severity of the disease and the quantity and quality (stimulating/inhibiting) of TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) as well as analyse the anti-human eye muscle antibodies. The TRAb results of these patients did not indicate the severity of the ophthalmopathy; the profile of eye muscle antibodies was different in one of them from the results of adult patients. The first work is to restore and maintain the euthyroidism of the children with Graves’ disease. The collaboration is very important with appropriate ophthalmologist. Detailed classifications system of criterions to determine the clinical activity scores is available to the judgment of ophthalmopathy. Orbital imaging (first of all MRI and DTPA scintigraphy) may help in the diagnostics. Withdrawal of smoking is considered as significant step for the improvement of the disease. The most usual intervention in moderate (as one of the presented patients) or severe Graves’ ophthalmopathy is the glucocorticoid (po/iv.) therapy. In this patient it was not successful, rather developed its side effects only. Among the alternative opportunities iv. immunoglobulin treatment was chosen with favourable result.

A case report of a patient with bilateral, adrenal malignant phaeochromocytoma is presented. Repeated surgical interventions, chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation resulted in complete cure. Both the patient and his mother carry a novel VHL gene mutation. However, the mother has had no clinical manifestation of the disease. The results suggest that complex genetic testing is useful not only in children but also in older relatives. Rigorous endocrine follow up of is crucial in both cases. We are not aware of other published cases of bone marrow transplantation as a treatment modality in malignant phaeochromocytoma.

Most of the medical terms derive from Ancient Greek. Literal transcription of these terms in Latin is used in the medical literature also nowadays. The knowledge of the etymology of terms used in the field of paediatric endocrinology (endo-ped) helps its proper usage.

Background, aims: Malnutrition is often insufficiently screened and treated in hospitalized patients and ambulatory patients. However, undernutrition has negative impact on length of hospital stay, risk of infection, and health care costs. Moreover, it also affects the cognitive development of children. So far, prevalence of malnutrition in childhood has not been published in Hungary, our aim was to report occurrence of malnutrition in outpatient offices. Methods: The prevalence of malnutrition was evaluated in children younger than 18 years. Risk of malnutrition was assessed by STRONG nutritional risk screening tool in 31 outpatient offices. Results: Sixty-five percent of children had risk for malnutrition in the outpatient offices. The risk was high in 15% of patients. Percentage of undernutrition was higher in outpatient offices of academic hospitals than in outpatient offices of general hospitals. Conclusions: Recognizing children in risk for malnutrition is the key in prevention of consequencies of undernutrition. In case of malnutrition counselling and use of special formulas are essential besides evaluating the cause of malnutrition.

Authors summarize the main characteristics and medical importance of human papilloma virus (HPV), especially the correlation of the virus and the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. They go through the causes of the cervical cancer, the recent statistics, data and guidelines of the primer and secunder prevention. Authors advert briefly to the the association of the virus and the vaginal and anal cancer as well. Finally they conclude the current data and protocol of the hpv vaccination.

Though meningococcal (Neisseria menigitidis) infections are fairly infrequent in Europe, but are asssociated with serious consequences that can not be prevented in the everyday clinical practice.The most importants manifestations of meningococcal infections are meningitis and meningococaemia: meningitis can be treated relatively successfully in case of early diagnosis, however, meningococcal sepsis is associated with high mortality rate or may result in debilitating defects after recovery. The severity of meningococcal infections and the high probability of the delay of adequate interventions suggest the need of prevention, especiallly having effective vaccines.

Tick-borne encephalitis is a vector-transmitted seasonal flavivirus infection. It begins with unspecific prodromal illness that – in a minority of patients – is followed in a couple of days by neurological symptoms, most often by meningitis or meningo-encephalitis, rarely by meningo-encephalo-myelitis or meningo-encephalo- radiculitis. In the latter three forms consciousness is more severely impaired, palsies are often permanent. When tickborne encephalitis is suspected, examination of the cerebrospinal fluid and serological tests are indicated. There is no specific therapy, treatment is symptomatic. Rehabilitation might be necessary in the chronic stage. When visiting endemic regions clothes covering most of the skin and the use of repellents is recommended. After tick-bite the tick should be removed as soon as possible. Active immunization is recommended for everyone who lives or works in an endemic region or travels there for any other reason.

The number of multidrug resistance Gram negative bacterial infections has been increasing in the past few years. Resistance has developed to the well-established antibiotics thus the attention has turned towards colomycin, a drug that was invented in the 1940s and has been forgotten for a long time. The paper tells the history of colomycin and provides an overview of the literature dealing with the ways it can be used in severe infections. It describes the experience with the drug's intravenous and inhalational therapy.