Parkinson's Disease and the Gut: Symptoms, Nutrition, and Microbiota.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, characterized by symptoms of bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability, and tremor. Recently, there has been a growing focus on the relationship between the gut and the development of PD. Emerging to the forefront, an interesting concept has developed suggesting that the initial pathophysiological changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract before changes are seen within the brain.

Effects of ropinirole on nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson disease: a prospective multicenter study.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of ropinirole on selected nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), including anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbances/excessive daytime sleepiness, and sexual functions.

Methods: Forty-four consecutive PD patients with or without motor complications (MC+ group and MC- group, respectively); 6-month prospective study; scales administered in the "on" motor state: Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale, Epworth Sleep Scale, International Index of Erectile Function, and Female Sexual Function Index; serum sexual hormones collected.

Results: The median ropinirole dose was 10 mg, and the median L-dopa dose was decreased in both groups.

[Guidelines for antiretroviral therapy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected subjects in the Czech Republic].

HIV infection remains an incurable disease because of the impossibility to eradicate the HIV from the organism. However, the combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is able to efficiently limit HIV replication and slow down progression of immunodeficiency and thus prolong and improve the quality of HIV+ patients? lives. In HIV(+) pregnant women, the antiretroviral therapy substantially reduces the risk of vertical transmission of the infection.

[Clinical manifestations and treatment of Lyme disease].

Survey of criteria necessary to establish the diagnosis of Lyme disease according to its definitions by various organizations and institutions in the USA and Europe (European Union Concerted Action on Lyme Borreliosis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society). In the discussion the authors present other possible clinical manifestations connected with the involvement of various organs. In the second part of their paper they describe patterns of therapy for individual forms of Lyme disease in Europe and the USA and their differences.