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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most widespread and irreversible form of dementia and accounts for more than half of dementia cases. The most significant risk factors for AD are aging-related exacerbations, degradation of anatomical pathways, environmental variables and mitochondrial dysfunction. Finding a decisive therapeutic solution is a major current issue. Nuanced interactions between major neuropathological mechanisms in AD in patients and microbiome have recently gained rising attention. The presence of bacterial amyloid in the gut triggers the immune system, resulting in increased immune feedbacks and endogenous neuronal amyloid within the CNS. Also, early clinical research revealed that changing the microbiome with beneficial bacteria or probiotics could affect brain function in AD. New approaches focus on the possible neuroprotective action of disease-modifying medications in AD. In the present review, we discuss the impact of the gut microbiota on the brain and review emerging research that suggests a disruption in the microbiota-brain axis can affect AD by mediating neuroinflammation. Such novel methods could help the development of novel therapeutics for AD.

Gait deficits are found in various degenerative central nervous system conditions, and are particularly a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD). While there is no cure for such neurodegenerative disorders, Levodopa is considered as the standard medication in PD patients. Often times, the therapy of severe PD consists of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus. Earlier research exploring the effect of gait have reported contradictory results or insufficient efficacy. A change in gait includes various parameters, such as step length, cadence, Double-stance phase duration which may be positively affected by DBS. DBS could also be effective in correcting the levodopa-induced postural sway abnormalities. Moreover, during normal walking, interaction among the subthalamic nucleus and cortex —essential regions which exert a role in locomotion— are coupled. However, during the freezing of gait, the activity is desynchronized. The mechanisms underlying DBS-induced neurobehavioral improvements in such scenarios requires further study. The present review discusses DBS in the context of gait, the benefits associated with DBS compared to standard pharmacotherapy options, and provides insights into future research.

Background: Psychological stress is associated with unhealthy lifestyles, including smoking. Moreover, religiousbeliefs can play a significant role in relieving mental disorders such as anxiety and stress. Due to the frequentexposure of medical students to stressful situations, this study was conducted with the aim to investigate therelationship of internal and external religious orientation with perceived stress and nicotine dependence.Methods: This correlational study was carried out on medical students of Kerman University of MedicalSciences, Kerman, Iran, in 2015. The sample size was determined to be 224 individuals using the Morgantable. The participants were selected using stratified random sampling. The data collection tools consisted ofa demographic information form, the Religious Orientation Scale (ROS) (Allport and Ross), the PerceivedStress Scale (PSS-14), and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Data were analyzed usingmultiple regression analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation coefficient, and t-test inSPSS software.Findings: The findings of the study showed that internal religious orientation had a significant negativerelationship with perceived stress and nicotine dependence; however, no significant relationship wasobserved between external religious orientation and these variables.Conclusion: Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the religious beliefs of individuals havea preventive role in perceived stress and nicotine dependence.

Although esophageal liposarcoma is an extremely rare tumor, liposarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in adults. Liposarcoma is currently classified into the types of well-differentiated, myxoid, round cell, pleomorphic and dedifferentiated liposarcoma. Up to now only a few cases of esophagus liposarcoma have been described in the world literature. We describe a myxoid type liposarcoma of the esophagus in a 68 year old man presented with hoarseness and intermittent dysphagea to solid food. He had a huge mass in his mouth which was mobile with gag reflex. A barium swallow, esophageal manometery and CT scan of the esophagus have not clearly revealed the mass. After endoscopic surgical resection of the tumor the histological examination revealed a myxoid liposarcoma. Both the presenting signs and symptoms and the histology type are rare for such tumor. This case demonstrate a rare differential diagnosis of intermittent dysphagia as early diagnosis is so important in those tumors and should kept in mind them, although they are quite rare.