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Introduction: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children has significantly increased worldwide in the past decades. Although it is well known that the number of AD patients has also been growing in Hungary no prevalence studies on a given population have been performed so far., Methods: The present research investigated the prevalence of AD in school children by means of questionnaires. The data of 1454 (771 girls, 683 boys) children aged 6-14 years in a big city (Pécs, Hungary) and three small settlements (Bóly, Magyarbóly, Villány; Hungary) were analyzed., Results: Applying the standard point values of the Schultz-Larsen questionnaire the prevalence of AD accounted for 15.1%; it was higher in the big city (16.5%) and lower in the small settlements (13.7%). In girls the prevalence of AD (15.9%) was greater than in boys (14%); this difference was more remarkable in the big city (18.2% vs. 14.8%). The first symptoms of AD appeared before the age of two in 58.8% and it was significantly higher in the big city (63.5%) as in the small settlements (52.6%). Among the 221 AD patients there were 38 patients (17.1%) with asthma and 93 (42.1%) with allergic rhinitis. The AD family (parents, brothers and sisters, great parents) proved to be positive in 72.8%., Conclusions: The results indicate the high prevalence rate of AD in school children in Baranya County, Hungary reaching or nearly approaching the significantly high values registered in the welfare countries.

The treatment of psoriasis vulgaris with fumaric acid esters has been controversial for more than 30 years. Recently the fumaric acid derivatives are marketed antipsoriatics in many European countries. In this paper the clinical efficacy, the side effects as well as the mode of action of these highly potent substances are summarized.

The authors describe the case of a 38-year-old female patient suffering from angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia. The symptoms, histopathology, differential diagnostic relations and the therapeutic modalities of this disease are discussed.

The authors have been using an argon laser at the Department of Dermatology of Pécs Medical University School for two years. They summarise their cosmetically good therapeutical effects on the 373 patients treated with different dermatological diseases. They refer to that the different laser instruments have their own indications, in well defined diagnoses, but slight coincidences are known. After the correct diagnose and so the correctly chosen type of the laser instrument good result could be reached.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia an uncommon craniofacial pain syndrome. An association with syncope is even less common. The authors give a short case report of 74-year old woman, who has glossopharyngeal neuralgia associated with syncope. During attacks 10 secundum asystolia was recorded in the ECG. The electrophysiologic study of heart was normal, the carotid test resulted 3 secundum asystolia without clinical symptoms. The electroencephalogram and computertomogram of brain were normal. Carbamazepine and demand pacemaker were effective in controlling the symptoms of the patient. Finally, aetiology, pathogenesis and treatment of glossopharyngeal neuralgia are discussed.

After describing the landmark results achieved so far in studying the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR), the authors go on to present their achievements and they point out those areas of dermatology where UVR can be applied. In connection with the letter, the authors show the latest treatment theories; indications, contraindications, treatment pattern, acute and chronic side effects. Finally, the authors give a brief summary on the interdisciplinary application of UVR.

After a historical review the authors give a summary about the possibility of clinical practice of Dapson dependly on 20 year literature. They emphasize the newest knowledge of the mechanism of action. The diseases in which the Dapson may be successful are expounded. The adverse effects are presented. In the centre--like the prototype of Dapsone-therapy--there is the dermatitis herpetiformis.

The introduction of this article is devoted to the physiological role of vitamin D3 and its synthesis. The authors refer to the accidental introduction of vitamin D3 into the psoriasis treatment, which later led to the development of a less toxic vitamin D3 analog named calcipotriol, and its administration as a topical antipsoriatic agent. Reviewing the literature the authors discuss the pharmacological and immunological effects of calcipotriol as well as the potential applications of vitamin D3.

Recent data have proved that eosinophil cells actively contribute to the pathogenesis of numerous inflammations, including that of atopic dermatitis. The expression of the activated secreted forms of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) as well as the determination of the rise and fluctuation of the ECP level of the serum make it very easy to follow their activity. Influencing the activation of the eosinophil cell may lead to important alterations in the treatment of these diseases.

Two patients (sister and brother) of pigmented xerodermoid are presented: the character of clinical signs (phothosensitivity, poikilodermia, keratoses and keratomas, furthermore in the brother the squamous cell epithelioma of left thigh), according to them the case history (appearance of precancerous conditions and carcinoma in early adult life) made the disease suspicious to a variant of xeroderma pigmentosum. A DNA reparation test was also carried out, which confirmed the above clinical diagnosis in both patients.

This study provides a summary about an old drug, colchicine, which has been used in medicine for two thousand years. It emphasizes the importance of this agent in the treatment of dermatologic diseases, especially in vasculitis. One of the aims of the study to spread the application of colchicine in the therapeutic management.

In 58 atopic dermatitis patients from 93 was determined the total and specific IgE. Majority of the cases (84.5%) were extrinsic in type and it is an evidence for the local (through the body surfaces) crossing route of allergens. Thus the body surfaces are the most important factors in case of host defense in the first line. To investigate the local defending factors, the body fluids (whole saliva and tear taken from patients, n = 11) were examined too (preliminary study). According to amount of IgA and IgA/IgG ratio, the tear proved to be pure glandular secretum. In the further sistemically arranged study the sera and tear samples were simultaneously examined (n = 35). In follows is scheduled the measurement of total and specific IgE not only in sera, but the tear sample of patients.

Alloimmune neonatal neutropenia is a rare condition, it must be distinguished from hereditary forms of neutropenia and acquired neutropenia accompanying sepsis. In a family with four affected newborns, the degree of the disease became more and more severe from the first child to the third child. The third child died of sepsis. After birth of the third child, specific antibodies (anti-NA 1) reacting with the neutrophils originating from the father and the first two children were detected in the mother's serum. No neutrophils were detectable in the fourth child immediately after birth. In this child falling concentrations of diaplacentally transferred antibodies could be demonstrated over 8 weeks after birth. Neutrophil counts returned to normal as the antibodies disappeared. In this newborn, infection could be prevented by the use of a germ-free environment and antimicrobial prophylaxis. The antibody titres could only be lowered by repeated exchange transfusions with Na 1-free blood. White blood cell transfusion only resulted in a short transient effect on neutropenia.