1. Danube Clinical Neurology Training Course - Multiple Sclerosis, Hedache and Parkinson's disease (27-28 May 2004, Szeged, Hungary)

The "Danube Clinical Neurology Training Course" was held in Szeged, Hungary between 27-28 May, 2004, under the joint organization of the Department of Neurology of the University Szeged and the International Danube Neurology Association. The international meeting was the first of this kind, because it was meant to be an educational course mainly for young neurologists in clinical, scientific field of neurology, trainees, PhD-students from Central- and East European countries focusing on three main fields in neurology: Multiple sclerosis, Headache and Parkinson's disease.

More than 200 registered participants have attented the Training Course, from more than 20 countries in and even out of Europe.

Excellent speakers have been invited to hold plenary lectures in the following topics:

• H. Lassmann (Wien): Recent development in the pathomechanism of multiple sclerosis.
• B. Hemmer (Düsseldorf): Recent development in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
• L. Kappos (Basel): Treatment strategies in multiple sclerosis.
• F. Deisenhammer (Innsbruck): Neutralizing antibodies during immuno-modulant therapy of MS
• L. Edvinsson (Lund): Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in primary headaches.
• J. Haan (Leiden): Genetics of migraine: New discoveries.
• J. Tajti, (Szeged) L. Vécsei (Szeged): Treatment of migraine: 2004.
• P. Riederer (Würzburg): Pathomechanism of Parkinson’s disease.

• H. Reichmann (Dresden): Diagnostic problems in Parkinson syndromes.
• A. Korczyn (Tel Aviv): Treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
• F. Gerstenbrand (Wien): Ethics in neurology - The ethical aspects in clinical trials. Followed up by a round-table discussion under the following participants: H. Baumgartner (Innsbruck), D. Bereczky (Debrecen), P. Halász (Budapest).

The Teaching Course furthermore served as a meeting-point for the discussion of specialists in Mulitple Sclerosis, since on the first day of the meeting, 24 colleagues from Central and East-Europe presented the experience of their MS-Center. Following countries with their MS-Centers were present with a presentation: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Rumania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Both the abstracts of plenary lectures and MS-reports, furthermore the more than 40 years' history of the International Danube Symposium were published in the Final Programme of the Training Course as a Supplement of the Cephalagia Hungarica - Bulletin of the Hungarian Headache Society, No.13.

The scientific programme of the Training Course has been evaluated and accredited by the Hungarian Center for Postgradual Education for highly qualitative 16 CME credit points (meaning that the participants can count it to their obligatory continuing education programme).

The social events of the Meeting (Sightseeing in Szeged, Welcome reception, Fishermen's Party) were a good possibility for the participants to exchange their thoughts and experience under relaxed atmosphere of the city of sunshine. Also, the first day's welcome reception was a perfect event for the celebration of Professor Gerstenbrand's 80^th birthday. His huge birthday cake – from which all participants had the possibility to taste – symbolized with different coulours all the Danube countries and the river Danube as well. Professor Endre Csanda gave a speech on this occasion, underlining among others Professor Gerstenbrand's great personality, humanity, precise and punctual working ability and enthusiasm, friendliness, diplomatic and organizing skills in creating a bridge between East and West with the help of the Danube Symposium. In addition, his scientific works are real milestones in the development of Neurology. With a brief reaction, Professor Gerstenbrand expressed his cordial thanks towards the organizers for this great surprise and being Honorary President of the Danube Symposium, he appreciated the work of the Head Office in Szeged as well, serving as a bridge between the former East and West.

2. Protocol of the Management Committee Meeting of the IDS (27^th May, 2004)

The Management Committee Meeting was held during the Danube Clinical Neurology Training Course in Szeged. We would like to express our cordial thanks towards all participants for their attendance at this disussion.

The agenda and protocol of the Meeting was as follows (by Erika Grossmann – leader of protocol):

1. Introduction (by Franz Gerstenbrand)
2. Report of the present activities of the International Danube Symposium (by E. Grossmann and L. Vécsei)

2.1. Danube Neurology Newsletter No. 6-7 (in May and October 2003) posted to 600 addresses

per surface mail + e-mail

2.2 All available e-mail addresses of members of national Neurology Associations are requested to be sent to the DS Head Office in Szeged, Hungary

2.3. Web-site of the DS, with all Danube Newsletters, other important information, e.g.: future meetings, Management Boards, symposia, etc (http://www.szote.u-szeged.hu/neur/danube). The website is a good opportunity for announcing new meetings, symposia, conferences, etc., therefore these information and request should be forwarded to the Head Office of IDS.

3. Danube Neurology Fellowship – "Friederika Susanne Tschabitscher Danube Neurology Fellowship".

Dr. Vasile Tibre (Medical Clinic of Cluj-Napoca, Rumania-Transsylvania) was the fifth and Dr. Milija Mijajlovic (Institute of Neurology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro) the sixth colleague taking part in the Danube Fellowship programme in November, 2003 and in May, 2004. Both collegues were hosted by the Department of Neurology, Szeged, Hungary.

4. A brief report was presented of the present Training Course, organized by the Head Office of the International Danube Symposium (by E. Grossmann, L. Vécsei).
5. The difficult financial situation of the organizers of meetings, conferences was underlined, since due to anti-corruption laws, the industry and pharmaceutical companies are not able to support these events. This problem has to be faced by the Head Office of the Danube Symposium as well, since there are no financial or other sources for running the Office.
6. The Second Announcement and Call for Abstracts of the 36^th International Danube Symposium in Sofia, Bulgaria, 2004 was presented by I. Milanov, Head of Department, Sofia, Bulgaria. It was stressed that colleagues from the USA, Canada and Mexico are interested to participate at the Danube Symposium in Sofia both as speakers and as participants. All members of the Management Committee Meeting agreed that it is very important to spread information about the Meeting, so that a great number of participants from all Danube Countries will be present in Sofia. Professor Gerstenbrand underlined that a satellite teaching course should be organized in the framework of the symposium under the auspices of EFNS.
7. The proposed scientific topics and time of the following future meetings of the Danube Symposium were discussed, and further proposals were passed by the Management Committee members.

7.1. The 37^th IDS in Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2005 (by S. Sega on behalf of the organizer Z. Pirtosek). The proposed time for the meeting is: 29^th September to 2^nd October, 2005.

7.2. It was decided that the exact time for the 38^th IDS in Brno, Czech Republic (organized by I. Rektor) should be further discussed, due to numerous international meeting and conferences in 2006.

7.3. Peter Riederer presented a leaflet with the exact time and venue of the 39^th IDS in 2007: Würzburg, Germany (3-7 June, 2007). The meeting will be combined with the 10^th Symposium of the European Society of Clinical Neuropharmacology in order to make it possible for colleagues to participate at both meetings of outstanding importance.

7.4. The venue for the 40^th IDS in 2008 is not yet decided. The present applicants are: Bucuresti, Romania, Zagreb, Croatia and Linz, Austria. Further applicants are welcome! All present and future applicants are asked to present a precise application (venue, scientific programme, financial support, etc.) until 30^th April, 2005.

8. Discussion of the following topics:

9) Closing remarks (F. Gerstenbrand)

3. The 36^th International Danube Symposium for Neurological Sciences and Continuing Education (15-18 September 2004, Sofia, Bulgaria)

Under the host of the Bulgarian Society of Neurology, the auspices of EFNS, the Ministry of Health (Bulgaria), the Union of Medical Scientific Societies and the Mayor of Sofia, the 36^th meeting of the IDS was organized at the National Palace of Culture, in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 15-18^th September 2004.

Professor Stefka Yancheva, President of the Local Organizing Committee underlined in her welcome address, that "The Danube Symposium for Neurological Sciences is a proof that scientific exchange and cooperation on a Pan-European scale in the field of neurology is crucial for the advancement and improvement in neurological studies in general."

Following up the Opening Ceremony, the Danube Lectures were held by J. Aarli: Late onset myasthenia gravis and L. Battistin: Parkinson's Disease: From the shaking palsy description to the actual management.

To give an idea of the scientific spectrum of the meeting, here are the main topics of the Symposium:

• Cerebrovascular Diseases; Headache; Autonomic Nervous System;
• Satellite Symposium on Hyperbaric Medicine; HBO Therapy in Neurology; Dementia; Movement Disorders; Multiple Sclerosis; Epilepsy; Demyelinitanig Diseases;
• New Trends in Experimental and Clinical Neurooncology
• Poster Presentations
• Young Neurologists' Meeting.

Altogether, a great number of speeches and lectures were held and 99 posters were presented and published in the Book of Abstracts.

Some statistics about the conference: 550 registered participants took part (among which 80 participants were non-Bulgarians) at the Danube Symposium.

It should not be forgotten to mention the thoroughly and perfectly organized social programmes as well, with Reception, Coctail Party, Gala Dinner, sightseeing in Sofia and trip to Rila Monastery and other events. All of the participants and the Head Office of the International Danube Symposium in Szeged would like to express cordial thanks towards Professor Stefka Yancheva, President of the Organizing Committee, Professor Ivan Milanov and Professor Irena Velcheca, Co-Presidents of the Organizing Committee and all other Members of the Organizing Committee, moreover the colleagues in Sofia, involved in the perfect organization of this Symposium.

The Organizers are requested, to present a report including the financial balance of the Meeting to the Head Office and transfer the surplus or the amount of min. EUR 2.500 to the Head Office until 1^st December 2004 – according to the earlier decision of the Management Curatorium Meeting of the Danube Association –.

4. Present and Future Activities of the International Danube Neurology Association

• The organizational structure of the International Danube Symposium has been reformed, therefore the name has been changed into: International Danube Neurology Association of Central and East Europe
• The Danube Association fosters and coordinates fellowship programs for young neurologists from Danube Countries (see Danube Neurology Fellowship);
• Coordination of future Danube Symposia;
• The Danube Neurology Newsletter is posted to more than 600 surface addresses, and the electronic version is available free of charge on Internet as well;
• We also consider as our task to help with the activity of the EFNS in the Danube-countries.

"Frontiers in Clinical Neuroscience" – Publication in Honour of Professor Ábel Lajtha

We would like to present a recent publication under the title "Frontiers in Clinical Neuroscience – Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection" edited by László Vécsei and published by Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers. The book appeared under the auspices of Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, Volume 541 and is based on the contribution of the invited speakers of the Symposium in honour of Professor Ábel Lajtha, organized by the European Society for Clinical Neuropharmacology (ESCNP) and the Danube Symposium for Neurological Sciences in Budapest, Hungary, October 24-25, 2002.

5. Protocol of the Management Committee Meeting of the International Danube Symposium (18^th September, 2004, Sofia, Bulgaria

AGENDA:

1) Introduction (Prof. Gerstenbrand)

2) Report of the present activities of the International Danube Symposium (Prof. Vécsei) - to this agenda see the Protocol under Point 2. above (held in May 2004, in Szeged, Hungary).

3) Participants at the Danube Neurology Fellowship (under coordination of the DS Head Office) - for the report of the participants Dr. Vasile Tibre and Dr. Milija D. Mijajlovic see Point 6. of this Newsletter

4) Report of the Danube Clinical Neurology Training Course – organized by the Head Office of Danube Symposium (Prof. Vécsei)

5) Brief report of the present Danube Symposium in Sofia (Prof. Yancheva, Prof. Velcheva, Prof. Milanov)

6) Future Meetings of the Danube Symposium - to this agenda see the Protocol under Point 2. above (held in May 2004, in Szeged, Hungary).

Present applicants for the future International Danube Symposia in 2008, 2009 and 2010 are: Linz, Austria, Bucuresti, Romania, and Zagreb, Croatia. Applicants should present a written applications to the Danube Head Office until 30^th April, 2005, per e-mail and/or surface mail.

7) Finances of the DS: 70:30 between the local organizers and the permanent International Danube Symposium Secretariat or to transfer the amount of min. EUR 2,500 to the Secreteriat (deadline for the presentation of finances and the bank-transfer of present Danube Symposium: December, 2004)

8) Future Danube Symposium activities (Prof. Vécsei)

9) Publication of Frontiers in Clinical Neuroscience – Publication in Honour of Professor Lajtha (Kluwer, New York)

10) Cooperation with EFNS, other organizations (Prof. Vécsei)

11) Harmonization of PhD-Programs in Medicine and Health Sciences (Zagreb on April 24-25, 2004) – to this agenda see further under Point 9. of this Newsletter

12) Closing remarks (Prof. Gerstenbrand)

6. Danube Neurology Fellowship – "F. S. Tschabitscher Danube Neurology Fellowship"