Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory condition of the intestine that significantly impairs quality of life and imposes a heavy burden on healthcare systems globally. While the exact etiology of IBD is unclear, it is influenced by genetic, environmental, immunological, and microbial factors. Recent advances highlight the gut microbiome’s pivotal role in IBD pathogenesis. The microbial dysbiosis characteristic of IBD, marked by a decline in beneficial bacteria and an increase in pathogenic microbes, suggests a profound connection between microbial imbalance and disease mechanisms. This review explores diagnostic approaches to IBD that integrate clinical assessment with advanced microbiological analyses, highlighting the potential of microbiome profiling as a non-invasive diagnostic tool. In addition, it evaluates conventional and emerging treatments and discusses microbiome-targeted intervention prospects, such as probiotics, symbiotics, and faecal microbiota transplantation. The necessity for future research to establish their efficacy and safety is emphasised.

Bibliometric analysis is a vital methodological tool for mapping scientific knowledge and identifying research trends. However, challenges in structuring, sorting, and interpreting bibliometric results, as well as a lack of standardized workflows, often hinder their practical application, especially for novice researchers. This study introduces a structured methodological framework that improves the design and interpretability of bibliometric analyses. We propose and discuss four key methodological pillars: (i) formulation of precise research questions to guide design and metrics; (ii) the application of artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools for efficient and unbiased article screening; (iii) the normalization of research output data using economic indicators, such as gross domestic product, to improve cross-country comparisons and (iv) the use of dual-tool analysis—specifically VOSviewer and Biblioshiny—to validate bibliometric findings. This integrated framework improves the transparency, clarity and robustness of bibliometric studies. AI-powered article screening leads to faster and more consistent inclusion decisions. Normalizing bibliometric data based on economic output enhances the interpretability of national research performance. Cross-referencing bibliometric models with two complementary tools allows for a more robust depiction of knowledge structures and emerging themes. In conclusion, the introduction of this methodological framework advances the practice of bibliometric analysis, contributing to a more reliable and informative bibliometric approach.

Patients with plantar fasciitis usually suffer from reduced mobility due to the pain caused by the movement of the tendons involved. This study was aimed to compare both shockwave and ultrasound therapies in patients with plantar fasciitis by assessing the pain intensity, and both the functionality of the lower limbs and the quality of life impairments. Total amount of 88 patients with plantar fasciitis constituted the shockwave group, 56 the ultrasound group and 15 the control group. The self-administered questionnaire "University of Peloponnese Pain, Functionality and Quality of Life Questionnaire" was used. The intensity of pain, functionality impairment and quality of life impairment were evaluated on a five-point Likert scale, before treatment, immediately after and at 4-week follow-up. The pain reduction and the improvement of functionality and quality of life after shockwave treatment and ultrasound treatment significantly increased both post-treatment (p<0,001) and at the 4-week follow-up (p<0,001) compared to post-treatment. However, the improvements in the ultrasound group were not as pronounced as in shockwave group (p<0,001). Although both radial shockwave and ultrasound therapies were found to be effective in patients with plantar fasciitis, the statistical analysis showed that radial shockwave is significantly more effective than ultrasound therapy.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex metabolic disorder influenced not only by genetics, diet, and lifestyle but also by the gut microbiota. Dysbiosis (imbalances in microbial composition) can disrupt gut barrier integrity, alter microbial metabolites, and trigger low-grade inflammation, contributing to insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Nutritional interventions, such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and bioactive food components, represent potential therapeutic approaches for ameliorating gut eubiosis and advancing glycemic regulation. This narrative review incorporates evidence from selected studies identified by searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for studies published up to November 2025. The methodology included a structured literature search of in vitro, animal, and human studies, with a focus on intervention trials and mechanistic research. There are many positive signals from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but heterogeneity and short follow-up limit definitive recommendations. Evidence from clinical and experimental studies indicates a beneficial effect on fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and inflammatory markers, though heterogeneity of the individual and the variability in study designs limit generalization. There is insufficient evidence to recommend microbiota modulation as standard therapy in any disease. Key knowledge gaps include standardized interventions, stratified analyses by medication use (e.g., metformin), clinically meaningful endpoints, and long-term safety data. This review summarizes current knowledge on gut microbiota-driven mechanisms in T2DM and evaluates emerging microbiota-targeted therapies as adjunctive strategies for metabolic improvement.

Introduction: People suffering from rotator cuff tendinopathy exhibit reduced mobility due to pain. The pain and the limited functionality affect negatively the overall quality of life. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the intensity of pain, the functionality of the upper limbs and the quality of life of patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy by using two different therapeutic modalities, shockwave and ultrasound, whose outcomes were assessed pre-treatment and post-treatment as well as after a 4-week follow-up. Materials and methods: Out of the total sample of 115 patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy, 56 patients constituted the shockwave intervention group, 47 patients constituted the therapeutic ultrasound group and 12 patients made up the control group. The self-administered questionnaire “The University of Peloponnese Pain, Functionality and Quality of Life Questionnaire, UoP – PFQ” was used where the intensity of pain, functionality and quality of life of the upper limbs were evaluated on a five-point Likert scale, pre-treatment, post-treatment and at a 4-week follow-up. Results: The pain intensity was reduced and both the functionality and quality of life were improved after shockwave therapy post-treatment (p<0.001) and at a 4-week follow-up (p<0.001) compared with those found after the treatment. Similar improvements in all three parameters were also observed after ultrasound treatment but the outcomes were not as pronounced as in the shockwave group.  Conclusion: Both radial shockwave and ultrasound therapies were found to be effective in the treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy, the statistical analysis showing that radial shockwave therapy was superior to the ultrasound therapy post-treatment and at the 4-week follow-up.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a systemic metabolic disorder with an extensive spectrum of complications, which still persist despite improvements in glycemic control. Emerging evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis may be an underpinning factor in the pathogenesis of both microvascular and macrovascular complications associated with diabetes. This narrative review explores the relationship between gut microbiota and the development of diabetes complications, including nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, peripheral vascular, and reproductive system disorders. First, existing evidence regarding the nature of shared and organ-specific microbial patterns is summarized. Next, key mechanistic pathways of inflammation and metabolism underlying tissue damage induced by dysbiosis are illustrated. Lastly, the role of gut microbiota and inflammaging as modifiers of these processes is described. Emerging clinical and translational implications are finally discussed, underscoring the promises of microbiota-based diagnostics as well as therapeutics that could serve as add-on approaches to the management of diabetic complications, alongside the application of artificial intelligence-based approaches to microbiome data analysis which may enhance biomarker discovery and risk stratification. Overall, although most evidence remains associative, increasing data support that gut microbiota dysbiosis may represent a potential disease modifier in the development of various diabetic complications. Further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are needed to clarify causality and to evaluate the clinical utility of microbiome-targeted interventions, including AI-assisted predictive models, in preventing or mitigating diabetic complications.