Pharmacological Management of Insomnia in Parkinson's Disease.

Sleep dysfunction can affect almost 90% of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and insomnia related to fragmented sleep is common. Satisfactory management remains an unmet need although dopaminergic non-oral treatments utilising a continuous drug delivery strategy appears to help sleep maintenance insomnia. Transdermal therapy with rotigotine or subcutaneous apomorphine infusion is effective while recent data show considerable efficacy of intrajejunal or subcutaneous levodopa infusion on alleviation of insomnia in PD.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism.

Shifting away from the traditional perspective on parkisonism, which focused only on the motor state of the patients, recent research proves the importance of early recognition and treatment of non-motor symptoms. Patients with parkinsonism, who suffer from various sleep disturbances, such as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), experience lower quality of life, a negative impact on activities of daily living, and possible exposure to life-threatening situations. Implementing the routine use of subjective and objective means of diagnosing EDS, into clinical practice, allows for a personalised management plan, in scope of efficiently decreasing disease burden for both the patient and the caregiver.

Geopolitical risk contagion across strategic sectors: Nonlinear evidence from defense, cybersecurity, energy, and raw materials.

This study investigates the effect of geopolitical risk on the market volatility of four strategic sectors - defense, cybersecurity, energy, and critical raw materials - using a sample of 90 companies and ETFs over the 2014-2025 period. Applying Quantile-on-Quantile Connectedness (QQC) and Causality-in-Quantiles (CiQ) methods, the study captures the asymmetric and nonlinear relationships between geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility. The findings show that defense and cybersecurity sectors act as defensive assets during geopolitical crises, while energy and critical raw materials sectors exhibit increased sensitivity to external shocks.

Pathophysiology and pharmacological management for sleep problems in Parkinson's disease.

Sleep problems are among the most frequently reported non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), with a broad range of disorders: insomnia, REM sleep behavior disorder, restless legs syndrome, excessive daytime sleepiness, and sleep-related breathing disorders. These disturbances evolve in complexity across PD severity stages, significantly impact the patients' quality of life and may exacerbate motor and other non-motor symptoms. Neurodegenerative processes, impaired function of neurotransmitters, medication side effects, circadian rhythm dysfunction are among the most proposed mechanisms that may explain the frequent occurrence of sleep disorders in PD.

What is behind the 17-year life expectancy gap between individuals with schizophrenia and the general population?

Individuals with schizophrenia face significantly higher mortality rates than the general population, with a typical reduction in life expectancy of 15-20 years. This study investigated 10-year all-cause mortality and its clinical correlates in a Romanian cohort of patients with schizophrenia, using real-world clinical and hospital and forensic records. A total of 635 individuals hospitalized between 2010 and 2013 were followed for 10 years.

Heavy Metal Pollution in Arid Urban Environments: Anthropogenic and Geogenic Insights from Road Dust in the United Arab Emirates.

Dust is a significant environmental concern due to its pervasive nature and potential health risks, particularly from heavy metals. This is exacerbated in urban areas, where dust can act as a reservoir for pollutants, posing risks to human health through various exposure pathways. This study aims to explore and compare the distribution of heavy metals in road dust from two distinct cities in the UAE: Dubai, a commercial hub, and Khor Fakkan, a coastal town with industrial activities.

Correction: Riccò et al. Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A WAidid Consensus Document on New Preventive Options. 2024, , 1317.

The authors would like to make the following corrections to this published paper [...

Localized Combination Therapy Using Collagen-Hydroxyapatite Bone Grafts for Simultaneous Bone Cancer Inhibition and Tissue Regeneration.

The global burden of cancer continues to grow, with bone cancer-though rare-posing serious challenges in terms of treatment and post-surgical reconstruction. Autologous bone grafting remains the gold standard, yet limitations such as donor site morbidity drive the search for alternative solutions. Tissue engineering, combining biomaterials and therapeutic agents, offers promising avenues.

Decoding the Spitz Puzzle: Histological Patterns and Diagnostic Challenges in Everyday Pathology Practice-A Single-Center Study.

: Spitz tumors represent a diagnostic challenge in dermatopathology due to their large spectrum of morphological characteristics and overlap with malignant lesions, especially in pathology departments where molecular pathology is not available. Even though most Spitz lesions are benign, the uncertainty around their biological behavior necessitates an integrated approach in daily practice. The objective of our study was to evaluate the epidemiological, macroscopic, and histopathological characteristics of Spitz lesions in accordance with .

Linking Heart Function to Prognosis: The Role of a Novel Echocardiographic Index and NT-proBNP in Acute Heart Failure.

Risk stratification in acute heart failure (AHF) remains challenging, particularly in settings where biomarker availability is limited. Echocardiography offers valuable hemodynamic insights, but no single parameter fully captures the complexity of biventricular dysfunction and pressure overload. This study aimed to evaluate a novel echocardiographic index (-) integrating a peak systolic gradient between the right ventricle and right atrium (RV-RA gradient), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), the velocity-time integral in the left ventricular outflow tract (VTI LVOT), NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide) levels, and in-hospital mortality among patients with AHF.

Uncovering Emotional and Identity-Driven Dimensions of Entertainment Consumption in a Transitional Digital Culture.

This study explores entertainment consumption patterns in Romania, a transitional digital culture characterized by high digital connectivity but underdeveloped physical infrastructure. Employing a dual qualitative coding methodology, this research combines inductive analysis of consumer focus groups with deductive analysis of expert interviews, enabling a multi-layered interpretation of both overt behaviors and latent emotional drivers. Seven key thematic dimensions, motivational depth, perceived barriers, emotional needs, clarity of preferences, future behavioral intentions, social connection, and identity construction, were analyzed and compared using a Likert-based scoring framework, supported by a radar chart and comparison matrix.

Medical Brain Drain in Albania: Migration Attitudes Among Medical and Nursing Students.

: The migration of healthcare professionals poses a serious threat to health systems worldwide. This study examines attitudes toward brain drain and the factors influencing migration tendencies among medical and nursing students in Albania, with particular attention to nursing workforce implications. : A cross-sectional study was conducted with 610 students in the 2024-2025 academic year using the 16-item Brain Drain Attitude Scale (BDAS).

Phoretic mite communities associated with Ips typographus and Ips duplicatus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) in a Norway Spruce stand.

European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (Linnaeus 1758) (Scolytinae) is considered the most destructive and aggressive pest of Norway spruce in Europe. Recently, Ips duplicatus (Sahlberg 1836) (Scolytinae), another species of bark beetle, that also affects Picea trees, has expanded its range westwards in Europe. In spruce stands, bark beetle populations are closely associated with various organisms such as fungi, nematodes, and mites.

A novel hesitant fuzzy tensor-based group decision-making approach with application to heterogeneous wireless network evaluation.

In decision environments characterized by vagueness and uncertainty, traditional models often struggle to accommodate the inherent hesitation in expert judgments. To address this challenge, this study introduces the novel concept of the Hesitant Fuzzy Tensor (HFT), a multidimensional extension of hesitant fuzzy sets, capable of representing multiple opinions across complex criteria spaces. The proposed HFT framework captures hesitation more effectively by organizing hesitant fuzzy data within tensorial structures, enabling more comprehensive analysis in group decision-making scenarios.

The MyPath Pain Pathway: developing a digital patient-centred care pathway for cancer pain.

Context: Cancer pain affects up to 45% of patients, with more than 30% experiencing moderate to severe pain. Despite established guidelines, over 40% of patients receive inadequate pain management, severely impacting their quality of life. While effective pain assessment is essential, a standardised approach is lacking in both research and clinical practice.

Deterministic and fractional-order modeling of measles dynamics with harmonic mean incidence rate and quarantine impact.

A novel mathematical model which explores the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases integrating nonlinear incidence and quarantine measures is presented in this study. Five different compartments: susceptible, latent, infectious, quarantined and recovered individuals presents total population. Saturation effects in disease transmission are modeled through a nonlinear infection rate while quarantine and recovery processes are explicitly incorporated.

Comparisons of the Effects of Polymer and Alcohol Varnishes on Norway Spruce Wood Surface Modifications.

Spruce wood is a natural polymeric material, consisting of cellulose, lignin, hemicelluloses and other secondary components, which gives it a unique chemical footprint and architecture. Varnishes are used in musical instruments to protect the wood against humidity variations, wood being a hygroscopic material, but also to protect the wood from dirt. The varnishes used both to protect the wood from resonance and to ensure a special aesthetic appearance are either polymeric varnishes (nitrocellulose, oil-based) or volatile solvents (spirit).

Targeting Oxidative Stress in Acute Pancreatitis: A Critical Review of Antioxidant Strategies.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is among the most frequent gastroenterology emergencies, with hospital admission rates on the rise in recent decades. However, a specific treatment for this condition is still lacking. Mitochondrial damage induced by oxidative stress is regarded as the key event in the pathophysiology and initiation of cellular damage in AP.

Effects of Exercise-Based Rehabilitation on Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of rehabilitation-focused exercise interventions for lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD), a leading cause of chronic low back pain. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across international and regional databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Magiran, SID, and Noormags) covering the period from January 2010 to January 2025. The review protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under registration number CRD420251088811.

Mechanical Characteristics of Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polyester Composite Materials.

Fiber-reinforced composites are gaining more importance across different fields such as aeronautics, automotives, high-performance sporting equipment, etc., where decreasing weight while improving mechanical properties of polymers is fundamental. This article explores the mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced polyester composite materials, highlighting their advantages and applications in various industrial fields.

Single-Center Comparative Evaluation of Freehand Transperineal and Transrectal Prostate Biopsy Techniques Performed Under Local Anesthesia.

To diagnose prostate cancer, a prostate biopsy is required. Two methods are commonly used for biopsy: transrectal and transperineal. The transperineal approach, particularly the "freehand" technique under local anesthesia, offers better access to the anterior prostate, lower infection risk, and higher detection rates.

The Emotional Anatomy of Diagnosis: A Medical Humanities Approach to Empathy in Pathology.

Pathology is often perceived as a technical medical specialty that lacks direct contact with the patient. However, oncological histopathological diagnosis requires a high degree of moral and emotional responsibility. The objective of this study was to investigate how empathy is manifested toward the "invisible" patient, the emotional impact on pathology staff, and potential repercussions in their personal lives.

Correction: The antipsychotics functional index (AFI) in schizophrenia.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.

Application of concentrated solar energy in postprocessing of selective laser melted Ti6Al4V alloy through simultaneously gas nitriding and heat treatment.

Additive manufacturing is revolutionizing sustainable manufacturing by optimizing production processes and enhancing material and energy efficiency, reducing waste, and lowering resource consumption. Its integration with renewable energy sources further amplifies these benefits by reducing time, energy consumption and minimizing ecological impact. Currently, no studies have reported on high-temperature gas nitriding or the combined thermochemical and thermal treatment of Ti6Al4V alloy produced by selective laser melting (SLM) in a solar furnace (SF) using Concentrated Solar Energy (CSE) as a clean, renewable energy source.

Prediction of obesity levels based on physical activity and eating habits with a machine learning model integrated with explainable artificial intelligence.

Objectives: This study aims to build a machine learning (ML) prediction model integrated with explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) to categorize obesity levels from physical activity and dietary patterns. The inclusion of XAI methodologies facilitates a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors influencing the model predictions and thus increases transparency in the identification of obesity risk factors.

Methods: Six ML models were used: Bernoulli Naive Bayes, CatBoost, Decision Tree, Extra Trees Classifier, Histogram-based Gradient Boosting and Support Vector Machine.