Association of intestinal inflammation and permeability markers with clinical manifestations of Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Intestinal inflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis can stimulate degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and development of Parkinson's disease (PD) via the gut-brain axis in certain patients.

Methods: In a case-control study, fecal markers of intestinal inflammation and permeability were measured using the ELISA method in PD patients and healthy controls. Motor and nonmotor symptoms were assessed using the Movement Disorder Society (MDS) Unified PD Rating Scale, Hoehn & Yahr scale, MDS Non-Motor Symptom Scale, Scales for Outcomes in PD - Autonomic Dysfunction, PD Sleep Scale - 2, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory-II.

Hyperhomocysteinemia influenced malnutrition in Parkinson's disease patients.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease with many motor and non-motor symptoms. Hyperhomocysteinemia is reported in many PD patients. Homocysteine (Hcy) is reported to be a risk factor for some PD non-motor symptoms.

What increases the risk of malnutrition in Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease (PD) patients are at a higher risk of malnutrition. The prevalence has been estimated to 0-24%, while 3%-60% of PD patients are reported to be at risk of malnutrition. To date, there is no clear explanation for malnutrition in these patients.

Impact of autonomic dysfunctions on the quality of life in Parkinson's disease patients.

Autonomic dysfunctions are part of a spectrum of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of autonomic dysfunctions and their influence on the quality of life (QoL) in PD patients, adjusted for age, sex, disease duration and motor symptoms. Patients were evaluated for motor function (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, UPDRS part III), disease stage (Hoehn and Yahr scale, H&Y scale), autonomic dysfunction (Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's disease, Autonomic, SCOPA-AUT) and QoL (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39, PDQ-39).

Translation and validation of the clinical learning environment, supervision and nurse teacher scale (CLES + T) in Croatian language.

Clinical practice is essential to nursing education as it provides experience with patients and work environments that prepare students for future work as nurses. The aim of this study was to translate the "Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher" questionnaire in Croatian language and test its validity and reliability in practice. The study was performed at the Faculty of medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia in April 2014.