Dear Readers,

we have the pleasure to introduce a next issue of our journal, this time concentrating on paediatric issues. The papers were written “on demand” of paediatricians working at general paediatric departments. Thus, the studies concern a broad spectrum of topics, from a variety of areas within paediatrics: nephrology, cardiology, pulmonology, sleep disorders in children, infection disease, social paediatrics.

The reasons and disorders which are the cause of admitting children to paediatric departments are of various types; hence the knowledge and experience of doctors working there must be extensive. The vast majority of children complete their diagnostics and treatment at paediatric wards, while certain children must be directed to high-specialised wards. This, however, does not mean that the paediatricians need not learn about the final diagnosis and broaden their knowledge in the given field.

Dear Reader, in this issue you will find eight original studies and three case report

The article “Determinants of Heart and Arterial System Damage in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease” (M. Okarska-Napierała et al.) you will find that in children with chronic kidney disease, NT-proBNP is a useful marker of left ventricular hypertrophy, arterial stiffness and central blood pressure. In children with chronic kidney disease calcium-phosphate disturbances seem to be key determinants of left ventricle mass and arterial stiffness. Calcium carbonate dose may influence arterial stiffness and carotid intima-media thickness.