Background Probiotic supplementation significantly reduces the risk of mortality and ≥ Stage II necrotising enterocolitis in preterm neonates. (Deshpande et al Lancet 2007, Pediatrics 2010. Based on the current evidence, experts favour routine probiotic supplementation in preterm neonates, if safe and effective products are available. We implemented a stepwise plan to introduce probiotics in our regional tertiary neonatal centre.Step wise approach:

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Background Probiotic supplementation significantly reduces the risk of mortality and ≥ Stage II necrotising enterocolitis in preterm neonates. (Deshpande et al Lancet 2007, Pediatrics 2010. Based on the current evidence, experts favour routine probiotic supplementation in preterm neonates, if safe and effective products are available. We implemented a stepwise plan to introduce probiotics in our regional tertiary neonatal centre.Step wise approach:

Background: The Parkinson’s Disease-Cognitive Rating Scale (PD-CRS) is a comprehensive screening procedure for the evaluation of cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objectives: In the present study we adjusted the PD-CRS for the Greek population, developed normative data and examined its clinical utility for the assessment of cognitive functioning in Greek PD patients. In addition, the correlation of clinical characteristics with cognitive performance in PD patients was examined. Methods: Three hundred four community-dwelling healthy adults and 59 patients with PD, completed the adapted PD-CRS. Results: Healthy adults outperformed the PD patients on the total, the cortical and subcortical scores of the PD-CRS. Normative data indicated effects of both education and age on the PD-CRS. The optimal total PD-CRS cutoff score for the identification of cognitive impairment in a heterogeneous sample of PD patients, with regard to the severity of cognitive difficulties, was 79, yielding a modest sensitivity and specificity. Clinical characteristics of the patients (i.e., disease duration and functional disease burden) were related to poor performance on the PD-CRS. Conclusions: The Greek version of the PD-CRS is a useful instrument for the assessment of cognition in PD. Future prospective studies should examine its clinical utility to identify PD-cognitive subtypes (i.e., PD patients with mild cognitive impairment), to monitor cognitive changes, as well as its predictive accuracy for subsequent dementia.

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