1. Predictors of loneliness in Parkinson's disease and craniocervical dystoniaSuzette Shahmoon, Dejan Georgiev, Paul Jarman, Kailash P. Bhatia, Patricia Limousin, Marjan Jahanshahi, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background Loneliness is a state in which an individual feels socially isolated due to deficiencies in the quantity or quality of social relationships and interaction. To date very little is known about loneliness in Parkinson's disease (PD) and focal/segmental craniocervical dystonia (FSCD). Objectives To explore whether level of loneliness is disease-specific by comparing PD, FCSD and healthy controls (HCs), and to define predictors of loneliness in both PD and FSCD. Methods Eighty-two people with PD, 63 people with FSCD and 50 HC were surveyed. The UCLA Loneliness Scale was used to assess loneliness. Various non-motor symptoms, psychosocial variables and measures of subjective well-being were assessed and used as potential predictors of loneliness. Results There was no significant difference in reported levels of loneliness between people with PD and matched HCs, and between people with PD and people with FSCD, but people with FSCD reported higher levels of loneliness than HCs (p = 0.018). Perceived stigma predicted loneliness in both disease groups (p < 0.001). Additionally, non-motor symptoms (p = 0.006), lack of optimism (p = 0.015) and practical social support (p = 0.006) predicted loneliness in people with PD. Patients with PD and FSCD with higher perceived stigma levels felt lonelier (p < 0.001), as did female patients with PD (p = 0.004), younger patients with FSCD (p = 0.007) and older patients with PD (p = 0.023). Conclusions We identified important predictors of loneliness in PD and FSCD. The identified age- and gender-specific differences in loneliness in people with PD and FSCD contribute to our better understanding of this complex and not yet fully understood concept. Ključne besede: loneliness, Parkinson's disease, focal/segmental craniocervical dystonia, optimism and stigma Objavljeno v DiRROS: 04.12.2025; Ogledov: 18; Prenosov: 9
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2. The role of intraoperative monitoring in target selection in deep brain stimulation : a single centre studySandro Ibrulj, Dejan Georgiev, Žiga Samsa, Polona Mušič, Mitja Benedičič, Maja Trošt, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Introduction Intraoperative microelectrode recording (MER) and intraoperative test stimulation may provide vital information for optimal electrode placement and clinical outcome in movement disorders patients treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS). The aims of this retrospective study were to determine (i) how often the planned (imaging based) placements of electrodes were changed due to MER and intraoperative test stimulation in Parkinson’s disease (PD), dystonia and essential tremor (ET) patients; (ii) whether the frequency of repositioning changed over time; (iii) whether patients’ age or disease duration (in PD) influenced the frequency of repositioning. Methods Data on the planned and the final placement of 141 electrodes in 72 consecutive DBS treated patients (52 PD, 11 dystonia, 9 ET) was collected over the first 8 years of DBS implementation in a single center. An association between the rate of electrode repositioning and the patients’ age, disease duration and the time/year of implementation was explored. Results Analysis of all targets showed a change in final electrode placement in 39.7 % (56/141); 39.8 % (41/103) in PD, 40.9 % (9/22) in dystonia and 37.5 % (6/16) in ET. Annual analysis showed a decrease in rate of repositioning between the centre’s first and eighth year (p = 0.013) of implementation. No correlation was found between electrode repositioning rate and patient age (p = 0.42) nor disease duration (p = 0.09) in PD. Conclusion This retrospective analysis confirms the benefit of MER and intraoperative test stimulation during DBS surgery in determining the final electrode position during the early / initial period of implementing the procedure. Our findings show a learning curve in successful preoperative planning in our centre achieved through experience. Ključne besede: deep brain stimulation, intraoperative monitoringa, asleep DBS Objavljeno v DiRROS: 02.12.2025; Ogledov: 57; Prenosov: 23
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3. Long-term effect and reasons for switching and combining device-aided therapies in Parkinson’s DiseaseDejan Georgiev, Maja Trošt, 2025, pregledni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Introduction. In the advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD), when standard drug adjustments fail to sufficiently improve patients’ quality of life, device-aided therapies (DATs) such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion (CSAI), levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel infusion (LCIG), levodopa-carbidopa-entacapone intestinal gel infusion, or continuous subcutaneous foslevodoa-foscarbidopa infusion are beneficial in the long run. However, sometimes patients need to switch or combine DATs due to either adverse events or loss of efficacy. Aim of study. The aim of this article was to summarise the existing data on the long-term efficacy and adverse events of DATs, and to review the data on the rationale and efficacy for switching or combining DATs in advanced PD. State of the art. A total of 50 studies on the long-term efficacy of DBS (N = 28), LCIG (N = 12), CSAI (N = 10) and 13 studies on switching and combining DATs were included in this review. Although the DATs show a favourable long-term effect on the main motor and non-motor symptoms of PD they all feature specific adverse events that need to be considered when deciding which DAT to offer to a particular patient. Occasionally, switching or combining DATs is recommended, e.g. if the first DAT shows inadequate symptom control, or due to adverse events. The choice of the second DAT depends above all on the main problems of the first DAT being correctly recognised. Clinical implications. DATs are a safe and long-term effective option for the treatment of advanced PD. Switching and/or combining DATs is recommended for patients in whom the first treatment option is not optimal. Future directions. Future studies are warranted to address the unresolved issues related to long-term efficacy, side effect profile and switching and combination of DATs in multicentric studies and using advanced analytical approaches such as machine learning. Ključne besede: advanced Parkinson’s Disease, device-aided therapies, long-term effect of device-aided therapies Objavljeno v DiRROS: 02.12.2025; Ogledov: 53; Prenosov: 24
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4. The effect of serotonin reuptake and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors on motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease : a PPMI-based matched-subject studyTeodora Matić, Martijn Hendriks, Ruben Saman Vinke, Aleksander Sadikov, Dejan Georgiev, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background: Depression often co-occurs with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and is effectively treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), but their effect on motor symptoms has not yet been conclusively demonstrated. Objective: To assess the impact of the SSRI/SNRI on the motor symptoms of PD. Methods: We used data from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative database, in a matched subject design with a target group (N =47) which had been taking SSRI/SNRI medication and a control group (N =90) which had not. Matching criteria included Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III (MDS-UPDRS-III) total score and its subscales’ scores, and levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) at the time of the first examination (initial LEDD). For the target group, we compared the MDS-UPDRS-III score before and after taking the SSRI/SNRI medication, while for the control group we compared two equally spaced examinations. Results: In the target group, we found a greater worsening of motor scores, which was associated with lower values of initial LEDD. In addition, apathy was an independent predictor of motor worsening. Conclusions: SSRI/SNRI-use seems to be characterized by a steeper worsening of motor symptoms, which can be predicted by a lower initial LEDD. Further research should continue to investigate the effect of SSRI/SNRI-use on motor symptoms in PD. Ključne besede: Parkinson’s disease, serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, depression Objavljeno v DiRROS: 28.11.2025; Ogledov: 85; Prenosov: 44
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5. The usefulness of wearable sensors for detecting freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease : a systematic reviewMatic Gregorčič, Dejan Georgiev, 2025, pregledni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background: Freezing of gait (FoG) is one of the most debilitating motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). It often leads to falls and reduces quality of life due to the risk of injury and loss of independence. Several types of wearable sensors have emerged as promising tools for the detection of FoG in clinical and real-life settings. Objective: The main objective of this systematic review was to critically evaluate the current usability of wearable sensor technologies for FoG detection in PD patients. The focus of the study is on sensor types, sensor combinations, placement on the body and the applications of such detection systems in a naturalistic environment. Methods: PubMed, IEEE Explore and ACM digital library were searched using a search string of Boolean operators that yielded 328 results, which were screened by title and abstract. After the screening process, 43 articles were included in the review. In addition to the year of publication, authorship and demographic data, sensor types and combinations, sensor locations, ON/OFF medication states of patients, gait tasks, performance metrics and algorithms used to process the data were extracted and analyzed. Results: The number of patients in the reviewed studies ranged from a single PD patient to 205 PD patients, and just over 65% of studies have solely focused on FoG + PD patients. The accelerometer was identified as the most frequently utilized wearable sensor, appearing in more than 90% of studies, often in combination with gyroscopes (25.5%) or gyroscopes and magnetometers (20.9%). The best overall sensor configuration reported was the accelerometer and gyroscope setup, achieving nearly 100% sensitivity and specificity for FoG detection. The most common sensor placement sites on the body were the waist, ankles, shanks and feet, but the current literature lacks the overall standardization of optimum sensor locations. Real-life context for FoG detection was the focus of only nine studies that reported promising results but much less consistent performance due to increased signal noise and unexpected patient activity. Conclusions: Current accelerometer-based FoG detection systems along with adaptive machine learning algorithms can reliably and consistently detect FoG in PD patients in controlled laboratory environments. The transition of detection systems towards a natural environment, however, remains a challenge to be explored. The development of standardized sensor placement guidelines along with robust and adaptive FoG detection systems that can maintain accuracy in a real-life environment would significantly improve the usefulness of these systems. Ključne besede: Parkinson’s disease, wearable sensors, freezing of gait, symptoms Objavljeno v DiRROS: 24.11.2025; Ogledov: 100; Prenosov: 54
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6. The Slovenian translational platform GlioBank for brain tumour research : identification of molecular signatures of glioblastoma progressionMetka Novak, Bernarda Majc, Marta Malavolta, Andrej Porčnik, Jernej Mlakar, Matjaž Hren, Anamarija Habič, Mateja Mlinar, Ivana Jovchevska, Neja Šamec, Alja Zottel, Marija Skoblar Vidmar, Tina Vipotnik-Vesnaver, Andrej Zupan, Alenka Matjašič, Saša Trkov, Dejan Georgiev, Aleksander Sadikov, Roman Bošnjak, Borut Prestor, Radovan Komel, Tamara Lah Turnšek, Barbara Breznik, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: biobank, biomarker, glioblastoma, tumour models, oncology Objavljeno v DiRROS: 28.01.2025; Ogledov: 722; Prenosov: 475
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