The use of macronutrient and micronutrient foods is associated with the duration of sleep. This study aimed to determine the effect of zinc supplements on the sleep quality of older adults. The current parallel randomized clinical trial study was performed using a convenience sampling method. One hundred and fifty older adults who met the inclusion criteria were assigned to intervention and control group. The participants in the intervention group received a daily dose of 30 mg zinc supplementation pill for 70 days and the control group did not receive any supplement. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Serum zinc level in both groups was measured through the auto-analysis method. The questionnaire was completed and the serum level of zinc was measured twice, before the intervention and 70 days after the intervention. Both groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic variables, sleep quality, and serum zinc level before the intervention. Of all, 73.3% of older adults in the intervention group and 74.7% of older adults in the control group had poor sleep quality. Sleep quality in the intervention group, as compared with the control group, significantly improved after the intervention. Furthermore, serum zinc levels in older adults in the intervention group, as compared with the control group, significantly increased after the intervention. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to utilize zinc supplementation as a new therapeutic approach for improving sleep quality in older adults.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, neurodegenerative disorder that in certain stages can present a series of acute symptoms and signs, the development of which lasts several hours or days. Emergencies in PD can be a direct consequence of the pathophysiology of the disease or a secondary consequence of the administration of antiparkinsonian drugs. Urgent conditions in PD can also occur due to falls, infectious diseases, after deep brain stimulation or surgical treatment of other accompanying diseases.This article describes the following emergency conditions: parkinsonism-hyperpyrexia syndrome, dyskinesia hyperpyrexia syndrome, occurrence of acute psychosis and delirium during PD. Morbidity and mortality in these disorders are a consequence of the inability to make a timely diagnosis and provide appropriate therapeutic treatment. Timely diagnosis and treatment are very important for reducing the mortality and morbidity rates.

Esophagogastric varices develop in 50-60% of patients with liver cirrhosis, and 30% of them have one episode of variceal hemorrhage within two years of variceal diagnosis. The aim of the paper was to present the latest attitudes in the treatment of esophagogastric varices. Literature review. Prevention of first bleeding from esophageal varices (EV) involves the use of non-selective beta blockers (NSBB) or carvedilol, while in case of their intolerance or contraindications for their use, endoscopic band ligation (EBL) should be performed. In acute variceal bleeding, endoscopy should be performed, preferably within 12 hours of the presentation of the bleeding, and EBL should be applied. In case of refractory hemorrhage (about 20%), repeated endoscopy and hemostasis or balloon tamponade, self-expanding metal stent (SEMS), transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and surgical therapy are required. Bleeding from gastric varices (GV) is less common than bleeding from EV but is significantly more severe with higher mortality and more frequent treatment failure. The therapy of choice is the application of cyanoacrylate (CYA), which can be applied under endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) control. In the trial is the administration of coil injections with or without CYA. In the secondary prophylaxis of bleeding from EV, NSBB should be used in combination with EBL. In the secondary prophylaxis of bleeding from cardiofundal varices, the approach is individual. The therapy of choice for the primary prevention of bleeding from EV is NSBB, while the combined therapy (NSBB and EBL) is for the secondary prophylaxis of bleeding. CYA is the therapy of choice for GI bleeding. Refractory variceal hemorrhage requires the application of many therapeutic modalities.