András Folyovich

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is widely used as a proxy of nutritional status and related lifestyle risk patterns in public health, yet it does not capture body composition–related heterogeneity in cardiometabolic risk. Evidence on whether a more detailed body composition assessment improves population-level screening efficiency remains inconsistent, particularly in Central European populations. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 868 Hungarian adults participating in a nationwide mobile screening program. Locally weighted regression identified sex-specific BMI inflection points for cardiometabolic risk. Stratified receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses compared BMI with bioelectrical impedance-derived parameters across five outcomes. Cost- and time-effectiveness of scalable screening strategies were modeled at the population level. Results: Cardiometabolic risk increased at BMI levels below current WHO thresholds (females: 21.8–22.3 kg/m²; males: 23.8–24.3 kg/m²). Overall, body composition parameters did not outperform BMI in the full population. Subgroup-specific differences were observed, particularly among men with BMI 24–36 kg/m² for atherosclerosis risk, suggesting limited and outcome-specific added value rather than broad superiority over BMI. Together, non-linear risk patterns, stratified performance, and population-level modeling converged on mid-range BMI intervals (females: 22–30 kg/m²; males: 24–30 kg/m²) as likely screening windows of phenotypic heterogeneity. Within these ranges, targeted InBody assessment may help refine risk assessment for selected individuals. A mixed screening strategy covering 52% of the population would cost 178.4% of BMI-only screening, while reducing throughput by 24.3%. Conclusions: Population-specific BMI thresholds may more accurately reflect early deviations in nutritional and cardiometabolic risk than current universal cutoffs. BMI remains a useful first-line marker, and body composition assessment may add complementary information in selected BMI ranges. Overall, these findings support a potentially useful, subgroup-specific screening approach, but the modeled cost and time trade-offs should be considered hypothesis-generating and require further validation.

A neurológiai betegségek gyakran járnak dysphagiával, amelynek korai felismerése és kezelése szükséges. Ellenkező esetben a nyelészavar rontja a prognózist, növeli a szövődmények esélyét, a kórházi tartózkodást és a (különösen az antibiotikumra vonatkozó) költségeket. Időbeli felismerésének kulcsa a dysphagia szűrése. Az ellátó team (benne neurológus, más szakorvos, logopédus, gyógytornász, dietetikus, ápoló személyzet) együttes munkájával viszont jelentős sikereket lehet elérni.

A nyelészavarok ellátásának igénye az öregedő korfával és az orvosi ellátás javulásával párhuzamosan megnőtt. A nemzetközi szakirodalomban közel fél évszázados múltra tekint vissza a logopédusok bevonása a nyelészavar kezelésébe. Hazánkban ez a szerepkör talán még szokatlan, azonban az oropharyngealis dysphagia diagnosztikájában és terápiájában magasan képzett szakemberek száma növekedni látszik – a célirányos felsőoktatási képzéseknek köszönhetően – az egészségügyben.

Recent studies have reported that cerebellar lesions can cause cognitive, behavioral, and affective symptoms. This constellation is called the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS). A bedside instrument, the CCAS-Scale, has been developed to screen for this clinical presentation. The aim of this study is to adapt the CCAS-Scale to Hungarian according to international cross-cultural guidelines. In cooperation with the senior author of the original CCAS-Scale, we defined a five-step adaptation protocol (license number 6758-1/2021). Step 1: translation of the scale from English to Hungarian by two separate teams. Step 2: comparison of the two translated versions, synthesis (preliminary version). Step 3: back translation by an independent professional translator. Step 4: authorization, revision, and correction. Step 5: pre-testing the scale, measuring the test times. Following our protocol, we produced the CCAS-H and the instructions booklet. We pre-tested healthy (n = 10) and cerebellar stroke patients (n = 10) and finalized the scale. Although not significantly, but cerebellar patients reached lower raw scores compared with healthy subjects. Testing times differed significantly between the two groups. A meticulous validation protocol was outlined to assess the validity and reliability of the newly adapted test. CCAS-H is a quick and adequate scale to examine the cerebellar-cognitive affective syndrome, which will be available for Hungarian professionals. Our main challenge was to define the stimuli and cues with adequate psycholinguistic and psychometric properties. As a next step, we are gathering data for the validation with the help of six other Hungarian Neurology departments.

[ Thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy have been proven effective in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Due to the narrow time window, the number of patients suitable for these treatments is low. The main limitation is the pre-hospital stage, few people call an ambulance in time. The delay may be caused by the population’s insufficient health knowledge, but also by the loneliness and isolation of the population most prone to stroke. Among the latter, there are many grandparents who spend considerable time with their grandchildren. This gave rise to the idea of educating even younger children about the symptoms of a stroke, enabling them to call an ambulance if necessary. To this end, we adapted the Angels Initiative project previously tested in Greece. The Hungarian pilot study Budapest District XII. took place in district kindergartens. The Angels’ original role-playing program could not be implemented due to the COVID epidemic, so the necessity called for a new, Hungarian version: the online “Stroke Ovi” program. We introduced this in several stages, and in the third we also carried out an impact study. We adapted the Angels Initiative’s international program and its Hungarian translation to our program. We prepared the original, live role-playing form, with a parent meeting in the selected “test kindergarten”. Due to the uncertainly lingering impact of the COVID epidemic, we reevaluated our plan, using the Hungarian storybook and take-home workbook created in the meantime, we developed our own online version in several kindergartens in Budapest. We held 10 and then 25 minute sessions a week for 5 weeks. In the third educational cycle, which always targets new groups, we already examined the impact of the program by taking pre- and post-tests, in which not only the children but also their parents participated. In addition to neurologists and kindergarten teachers, we also included psychologists and speech therapists in our work, because we believed that in a social environment that includes parents and children, results can only be achieved through multidisciplinary cooperation. In the third cycle of the program, tests were taken before (pre-test) and after (post-test) among children and their parents. We only took into account those answers where we received an evaluable answer in the survey before and after the program. Our most important results: 1. there was no negative change in any question, so it was not the case that the total score of any question in the pre-test was higher than in the post-test. 2. The children learned that not only adults can call the ambulance. 3. Before the program, all children were already aware that if “someone is very ill”, the ambulance should be called. 4. Among the questions about stroke symptoms, it is important that hemiparesis, facial paresis and speech/language disorder are clear symptoms for children. Based on the parental questionnaires, the knowledge of the adults can be judged to be very good. The same number of correct answers were received during the pre-test and the post-test, on the basis of which we could not calculate a transfer effect. However, it is important that the parents considered the program useful, motivating and important for the children, so cooperation can be expected in the future. The Hungarian “Stroke Ovi” program has so far proven to be clearly effective. This was proven by the impact assessments even if, instead of the original role-playing game, we implemented it “only” online due to the COVID epidemic. This constraint also forced and created a new “Hungarian version”. Despite the small number of samples caused by the circumstances, we consider this positive effect to be measurable. However, as the main result and evidence, we evaluated the children’s reaction, which took shape in spontaneous drawings and displayed professional values in addition to positive emotional reactions, such as the drawing of ambulances, the recurring representation of the 112 number. With the involvement of the media, we think online education is also a good option in the series of stroke campaigns, but we think the original role-playing form is really effective. At the same time, we can see that the application of the new method requires great caution due to the education of developing children. For this reason, results can only be achieved through social and multidisciplinary cooperation involving neurologists, psychologists, kindergarten teachers, and parents.]

Összefoglaló. A neurológiai betegek körében a dysphagia előfordulása gyakori, és több oka van. Az utóbbi évek kutatásai a közvetlen neurológiai kórokok (beleértve a gyakori stroke) szerepét is részletesen feltárták. Felismerték az ún. néma aspiráció jelentőségét: ez gyakran áll az (aspirációs) pneumonia hátterében, amely sokszor halálos szövődmény lehet. Az ún. poststroke pneumonia fogalma gyökeresen más értelmezésbe helyezte a stroke-ot követő tüdőgyulladások megítélését, jellegzetessége alapján egyértelműen a stroke közvetlen cerebralis hatásaként alakul ki. Egyértelművé vált a nyelészavar korai felismerésének és ellátásának szükségessége. A stroke-betegek megfelelő tápláltsági állapota az eredményes rehabilitációnak, a szövődményszám csökkentésének, a rövidebb kórházi kezelésnek, az alacsonyabb mortalitásnak a záloga. A dysphagia a betegség kimenetelének független előrejelzője lehet, különösen az első három hónapban. A nyelészavar malnutritióval, kiszáradással és a kórházi tartózkodás hosszabb időtartamával jár együtt, emeli a gyógyszerköltségeket. A stroke-beteg ellátásának egyik első eleme a dysphagia szűrése. Táplálásterápiára akkor szorul a stroke-beteg, amikor magas a kóros tápláltsági állapot kialakulásának kockázata, és per os táplálással nem fedezhető biztonságosan a megfelelő energia-, tápanyag- és folyadékbevitel. A táplálásterápia módját, eszközeit, az energia- és tápanyagbeviteli célértékeket az orvos határozza meg, az alapbetegség súlyosságától, a társbetegségektől és a laborértékektől függően. Az étrend minden esetben individuális és progresszív, azaz alkalmazkodik a beteg állapotához és annak változásához. A dietetikus feladata a megfelelő diéta összeállítása mellett a beteg, a hozzátartozó és a kezelőszemélyzet oktatása, az állapot követése, a beteg tápláltsági állapotának, tápanyagbeviteli értékeinek gyakori elemzése, szükség esetén tápszerek ajánlása. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(40): 1601–1609. Summary. Among neurological patients, the incidence of dysphagia is common and has several causes. Research in recent years has explored the role of direct neurological pathogens (including frequent strokes). The frequency of ’silent aspiration’, which often underlies (aspirational) pneumonia and can be a fatal complication, has been recently discovered. The concept of ’post-stroke pneumonia’ has drastically changed the assessment of post-stroke pneumonia. Based on its characteristics, it clearly develops as a direct cerebral effect of stroke. The need for early detection and early care of swallowing disorder has become clear. Adequate nutritional status of stroke patients is the key to successful rehabilitation, reduction of complications, shorter hospitalization, and lower mortality. Dysphagia can be an independent predictor of disease outcome, especially in the first three months. Swallowing disorder is associated with malnutrition, dehydration and longer lengths of hospital stay, increasing drug costs. One of the first elements in the care of a stroke patient is screening for dysphagia. The stroke patient needs nutritional therapy when the risk for abnormal nutritional condition is high or if the condition is already present, or when oral nutrition does not safely cover adequate energy, nutrient and fluid intake. The method and means of nutritional therapy, the goals of energy and nutrient intake are determined by the doctor, depending on the severity of the underlying disease, comorbidities and laboratory values.The diet is individual and progressive in each case. The dietitian’s task is not only to compile a proper diet, but also to educate the patients and relatives. The dietitian is responsible for monitoring the patient’s nutritional status. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(40): 1601–1609.

A Guillain–Barré-szindróma (GBS) sporadikus, viszonylag ritka betegség. Legsúlyosabb formájában légzési elégtelenséghez és halálhoz vezethet. Jelenleg még nem ismert a Covid-19-betegek GBS-megbetegedési kockázata, pedig a SARS-CoV-2-fertôzés elhúzódó pulmonalis károsító hatása a GBS okozta potenciális légzészavarhoz társulva nagy gyakorlati jelentôséggel bírhat. Az irodalom nem egységes a tekintetben, hogy a GBS a SARS-CoV-2 vírus direkt vagy indirekt következménye-e. A szerzôk betegük kórtörténetét ismertetik, akit hazánk elsô Covid-19- fertôzésen átesett GBS-betegének tartanak. Az irodalomban közölt esetekhez hasonlóan az idôbeli egybeesés miatt itt feltételezhetô a Covid-fertôzés trigger szerepe. Eddig egyetlen betegben sem sikerült PCR-vizsgálattal liquorból kimutatni a SARS-CoV-2 vírust, így ebben a betegben sem.

Fibrocartilaginous embolism is a rare cause of ischemic myelopathy. Authors report a case of a 39-year-old woman with progressive tetraparesis and severe autonomic dysfunction. Despite of the detailed examinations, the definite diagnosis was verified by autopsy. The patient was admitted because of progressive pain and numbness of the upper extremities and tetraparesis. Hypotonic muscles of the lower extremities with mild tetraparesis were observed. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an intramedullary lesion at the level of the cervical V-VII vertebral. Patient’s tetraparesis worsened gradually to plegia with urinary retention. Expansive, rapidly progressing multiple decubiti developed, which were resistant to therapy. In spite of the complex therapy, the patient died. No internal disease was found to explain the death by autopsy. Multiple subacute infarctions of the cervical myelon (involving the lateral columns as well) in the territory of the anterior spinal artery were verified by neuropathological examination. The occluded vessels were filled by a material containing cartilaginous cells, while signs of atherosclerosis or thrombosis were not present. Cartilaginous embolism of spinal arteries was diagnosed.

The cause of intracerebral, subarachnoid and subdural haemorrhage is different, and the simultaneous appearance in the same case is extremely rare. We describe the case of a patient with a ruptured aneurysm on the distal segment of the middle cerebral artery, with a concomitant subdural and intracerebral haemorrhage, and a subsequent secondary brainstem (Duret) haemorrhage. The 59-year-old woman had hypertension and diabetes in her medical history. She experienced anomic aphasia and left-sided headache starting one day before admission. She had no trauma. A few minutes after admission she suddenly became comatose, her breathing became superficial. Non-contrast CT revealed left sided fronto-parietal subdural and subarachnoid and intracerebral haemorrhage, and bleeding was also observed in the right pontine region. The patient had leucocytosis and hyperglycemia but normal hemostasis. After the subdural haemorrhage had been evacuated, the patient was transferred to intensive care unit. Sepsis developed. Echocardiography did not detect endocarditis. Neurological status, vigilance gradually improved. The rehabilitation process was interrupted by epileptic status. Control CT and CT angiography proved an aneurysm in the peripheral part of the left middle cerebral artery, which was later clipped. Histolo­gical examination excluded mycotic etiology of the aneu­rysm and “normal aneurysm wall” was described. The brain stem haemorrhage – Duret bleeding – was presumably caused by a sudden increase in intracranial pressure due to the supratentorial space occupying process and consequential trans-tentorial herniation. This case is a rarity, as the patient not only survived, but lives an active life with some residual symptoms.

Introduction - Population-based screening is an option to identify persons at high risk for stroke. However it is associated with rather high expenses, necessitating the selection of effective methods that take local characteristics into account. The 12th district of Budapest has a long tradition of population-based screening for frequent and preventable diseases. The Szent Janos Hospital hosts an annual stroke screening day. In the present study, previously published data from the 2011 screening were compared with those obtained in 2016, looking for changes and tendencies throughout the examined period. Subjects and methods - The screening day was conducted in a generally similar way in 2011 and 2016. Similarly to the previous event, the program was organized on a Saturday, the call for the event was spread by the local newspaper. The crew composition was the same. As regards the components of the screening (currently including general history taking, risk status assessment, blood pressure measurement, BMI assessment, cholesterol and blood glucose tests, carotid duplex ultrasonography, and ophthalmological examination), the only difference was the absence of cardiologic examination (it was conducted on an independent day). The anonymous data sheet was the same. Results - The number of participants in the 2016 event was 33, to provide more comfortable conditions. The female predominance was slightly less pronounced but was still present in 2016 (60.6% vs. 72.9%). The mean age became substantially higher (71.2 y vs. 62.9 y). The ratios of participants with higher level of education (97% vs. 94%) and those who are married were still remarkable. The most frequent risk factors were the same; however the ratio of participants with hypertension, 'other heart disease', and diabetes increased, whereas that of with hyperlipidemia and obesity decreased. The incidence of atrial fibrillation was unaltered. None of the participants in 2016 admitted smoking (previously this ratio was 20.8%) or drinking heavily. The findings of the carotid ultrasonography revealed a more favorable vascular status. Ophthalmological assessments (predominantly hypertensive alterations on fundoscopy) revealed that the pathological vs. physiological ratio switched to 1:2 from 2:1. The final evaluation of the screening program likewise demonstrated an improved overall state of health of the population. Conclusions - We observed a more favorable stroke risk status of the population in 2016. Whether it is indeed a tendency unknown at present. The role of the local media in calling for screening is still decisive, and the cohesive power of the family is important.