The complexities in the differential diagnosis of restless legs syndrome (Willis-Ekbom disease).

Introduction: We present a literature review on the clinical conundrums surrounding the differential diagnosis of restless legs syndrome (RLS, Willis-Ekbom disease), as well as conditions that can mimic RLS. An extensive literature search showed that secondary causes of RLS ranged from commonly recognized causes, such as iron deficiency anemia, to less widely noted causes, such as rheumatoid disorders and hypothyroidism. There is a controversial association with Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and RLS, whereby RLS is proposed as a prodromal feature.

Challenges of equitable access to device-aided therapies for advanced Parkinson's Disease in Poland - expert consensus and treatment recommendations.

Introduction: In Poland, not all forms of device-aided therapies for advanced Parkinson's Disease (APD) are currently available.

Material And Methods: We aimed to produce a consensus recommendation from Polish movement disorders experts after discussing gaps in the APD care pathway in Poland.

Results: Rescue therapy with apomorphine (APO) PEN injection and levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel infusion are not included in Poland's Specialist Therapeutic Programme, and are thus not reimbursed.

Test, track, treat using wearable sensors for management of Parkinson's disease: 12‑month prospective observational United Arab Emirates study using Parkinson's Kinetograph (EmPark-PKG Study).

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by both motor and non-motor symptoms that necessitate ongoing clinical evaluation and medication adjustments. Home-based wearable sensor monitoring offers a detailed and continuous record of patient symptoms, potentially enhancing disease management. The EmPark-PKG study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Parkinson's KinetoGraph (PKG), a wearable sensor device, in monitoring and tracking the progression of motor symptoms over 12 months in Emirati and non-Emirati PD patients.

Functional and connectivity correlates associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis: a systematic review.

Neural underpinnings of Parkinson's disease psychosis remain unclear to this day with relatively few studies and reviews available. Using a systematic review approach, here, we aimed to qualitatively synthesize evidence from studies investigating Parkinson's psychosis-specific alterations in brain structure, function or chemistry using different neuroimaging modalities. PubMed, Web of Science and Embase databases were searched for functional MRI (task-based and resting state), diffusion tensor imaging, PET and single-photon emission computed tomography studies comparing Parkinson's disease psychosis patients with Parkinson's patients without psychosis.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation alleviates motor impairment in Parkinson's disease: association with peripheral inflammatory regulatory T-cells and SYT6.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been used to treat various neurological disorders. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of rTMS on Parkinson's disease (PD) has not been fully elucidated. Neuroinflammation like regulatory T-cells (Tregs) appears to be a key modulator of disease progression in PD.

Subthalamic Stimulation Improves Short-Term Satisfaction with Life and Treatment in Parkinson's Disease.

The effect of subthalamic stimulation (STN-DBS) on patients' personal satisfaction with life and their Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment is understudied, as is its correlation with quality of life (QoL). Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that STN-DBS for PD enhances satisfaction with life and treatment. In a prospective, multicenter study with a 6-month follow-up involving 121 patients, we measured the main outcomes using the Satisfaction with Life and Treatment Scale (SLTS-7).

Addressing the Ethnicity Gap in Catechol O-Methyl Transferase Inhibitor Trials in Parkinson's Disease: A Review of Available Global Data.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors (COMT-Is) have significantly improved the quality of life and symptom management for those at advanced stages of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Given that PD is one of the fastest-growing neurodegenerative diseases worldwide, there is a need to establish a clear framework for the systematic distribution of COMT-Is, considering inter-individual and intra-individual variations in patient response. One major barrier to this is the underrepresentation of ethnic minority participants in clinical trials investigating COMT-Is.

Validation Study of the Parkinson's Disease Stigma Questionnaire (PDStigmaQuest).

Background: Stigma is a relevant aspect of Parkinson's disease (PD). Specific stigma tools are needed to address the complex construct of stigma in PD comprehensively.

Objective: To test the dimensionality and psychometric properties of the newly developed Parkinson's Disease Stigma Questionnaire (PDStigmaQuest).

Foslevodopa/foscarbidopa (LDp/CDp) in advanced Parkinson's Disease (aPD): demonstration of savings from a societal perspective in the UK.

Aims: In advanced Parkinson's disease (aPD), adequate 24-hour control of OFF-time may not be achievable using oral/transdermal therapies. Clinical trials of foslevodopa/foscarbidopa (LDp/CDP) demonstrate meaningful reductions in OFF-time and OFF-related sleep disturbance in aPD. Previous analyses have only considered direct medical costs: this analysis considers a broader societal perspective (direct non-medical costs, informal care, loss of earnings, productivity, and tax).

Phase separation dynamics in wetting ridges of polymer surfaces swollen with oils of different viscosities.

When drops are placed on a sufficiently soft surface, the drop surface tension drives an out of plane deformation around the contact line (, a wetting ridge). For soft elastomeric surfaces that are swollen with a liquid, capillarity from a drop can induce a phase separation in the wetting ridge. Using confocal microscopy, we study the dynamics of phase separation at the wetting ridge of glycerol drops on silicone elastomers, which are swollen with silicone oils of varying viscosity (, molecular weight).

Exploring Analysis Approaches for Using the Dopamine Transporter Striatal Binding Ratio in Early- to Mid-Stage Parkinson's Disease Modification Trials.

Background: The dopamine transporter striatal binding ratio (DAT SBR) has been used as an outcome measure in Parkinson's disease (PD) trials of potential disease-modifying therapies; however, both patient characteristics and analysis approach potentially complicate its interpretation.

Objective: The aim was to explore how well DAT SBR reflects PD motor severity across different striatal subregions and the relationship to disease duration, and side of onset.

Methods: DAT SBR for the anterior and posterior putamen and caudate in both hemispheres was obtained using validated automated quantitative software on baseline scans of 132 patients recruited for the Exenatide PD2 and PD3 trials.

Pain in Multiple System Atrophy: A Community-Based Survey.

Background: Pain is a frequent yet poorly characterized symptom of multiple system atrophy (MSA). Understanding the factors influencing pain and its burden is crucial for improving the symptomatic treatment and quality of life of MSA individuals.

Objective: This study aimed at assessing the prevalence, characteristics, and current treatment strategies for pain in MSA.

Response to letter to the editor regarding "Does the 5-2-1 criteria identify patients with advanced Parkinson's disease? Real-world screening accuracy and burden of 5-2-1-positive patients in 7 countries".

The 5-2-1 criteria was developed to facilitate the identification and referral of patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) inadequately controlled by oral medications. The criterion was not developed to screen patients with PD for device-aided therapy eligibility. The robust design and validation of the 5-2-1 criteria minimizes over or inappropriate referrals, and supports physicians in the timely identification of patients with PD who may warrant further evaluation for treatment optimization.

Orexin and Sleep Disturbances in Alpha-Synucleinopathies: a Systematic Review.

Purpose Of Review: Sleep disturbances are amongst most frequent non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD), and they are similarly frequently reported in other alpha-syncleinopathies, such as Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). More recently, the orexin system has been implicated in control of arousal based on salient environmental set points, and its dysregulation in sleep issues in alpha-synucleinopathies suggested by the findings from the translational animal models. However, its role in the patients with alpha-synucleinopathies remains unclear.

Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy's Influence on Alpha-Synuclein and Inflammatory Marker Levels: A Pilot Study.

: Microbial dysbiosis may contribute to alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) homeostasis disruption, yet the burden of inflammatory periodontal infection and its treatment have never been studied in this regard. We aimed to compare the cytokine and α-Syn levels in the saliva and blood of patients with periodontitis who underwent non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) and those of their healthy counterparts. : Periodontal examination and saliva and blood sample collection were carried out in incoming patients at a university clinic.

Pain Characteristics of Parkinson's Disease Using Validated Arabic Versions of the King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Scale and Questionnaire: A Multicenter Egyptian Study.

Objective: Pain is one of the most common nonmotor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD), with variable characteristics among populations. This multicenter Egyptian study aimed to translate and validate the King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Scale (KPPS) and Questionnaire (KPPQ) into Arabic versions and to investigate the pain characteristics in Egyptian people with PD (PWP).

Methods: A total of 192 PWP and 100 sex- and age-matched controls were evaluated by the KPPS-Arabic and KPPQ-Arabic.