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Abstract: OBJECTIVES: In population studies, iodine intake estimation relies on median urinary iodine concentration (UIC). However, interpreting UIC measurements can be challenging. METHODS: In our study, we included 772 adult participants from three groups: nationally representative gender-mixed, women of reproductive age, and pregnant women. We measured UIC and urinary creatinine (U-Cr) to calculate the iodine-to- creatinine ratio (I/Cr). U-Cr cut-off value of 0.226 g/L was used for differentiation between diluted and undiluted urine samples. After excluding samples below this cut-off, new median UIC and I/Cr ratios were calculated. We additionally evaluated the influence of urine sample collection time on UIC. RESULTS: Median UICs were 91.8 μg/L for nationally representative group, 58.3 μg/L for women of reproductive age, and 74.9 μg/L for pregnant women, while I/Cr ratios were 91.7, 102.0, and 159.2 μg/g, respectively. After implementing U-Cr cut-off and excluding all data where U-Cr was below cut-off, new median values were 93.4, 76.3, and 95.4 μg/L for UICs, and 88.6, 88.8, and 128.7 μg/g for I/Cr ratios, respectively. In women of reproductive age, median UIC was significantly lower in urine samples collected after 9:30 and after 12:00 as compared to samples collected before 9.30 (53.4, 57.8, and 97.3 μg/L, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: UIC results should be interpreted with caution, considering urine dilution and sample collection timing. U-Cr measurement should be included in population-based iodine intake studies, with corrections applied especially for pregnant women and younger adults, for whom morning is best for single-spot samples.
Keywords: urine dilution, urinary iodine concentration
Published in DiRROS: 07.11.2025; Views: 278; Downloads: 94
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Abstract: Objective: Bakery products are considered as one of main dietary sources of sodium/salt in Slovenia. Our main objective was to assess the salt content in bread in Slovenia, focusing into different bread categories and sales channels. The data collected in 2022 was compared with year 2012. Methods: A follow-up study on salt content of bread sold in Slovenia was conducted. Bread samples were purchased in large retail shops and smaller bakeries across 11 statistical regions of Slovenia. Sodium content was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; salt content was calculated by multiplying sodium content with 2.54, assuming all sodium corresponds to sodium chloride. Results: In 2022, 178 bread samples were purchased and analyzed. Weighted mean salt content in bread was 1.35 (95% CI 1.28–1.42) g/100 g in 2012, and 1.26 (95% CI 1.22–1.29) g/100 g in 2022, showing a 7% decrease. Notable differences in the salt content were observed between various bread subcategories and retail environments. In addition, a significant difference was observed between white wheat bread sold in large retail shops and smaller bakeries, where a higher salt content was observed. Conclusion: While study results show small decrease in the salt content in bread in Slovenia in last decade, the salt reduction targets set by the WHO have not been met. Additional efforts are needed to stimulate bread reformulation with reducing salt content.
Keywords: bread, sodium, salt, ICP-MS, Slovenia
Published in DiRROS: 07.11.2025; Views: 213; Downloads: 100
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Abstract: Objectives: Despite extensive study of COVID-19 disease, only a few studies also addressed the aftermath of the disease and potential long-term consequences. The aim of this study was to assess COVID-19 resolution through the cross-sectional analysis of an extensive range of haematological and biochemical laboratory parameters and to find potential markers still associated with disease severity 5-6-months post infection. Methods: In this study, we analysed 92 routine biochemical, haematological and immunological parameters in 75 non-vaccinated patients 5–6 months after recorded first time SARS-CoV-2 infection without reinfection. Demographic and disease severity data were obtained through surveys. Results: The majority of analysed parameters were within the normal reference intervals, however, statistically significant correlations with the disease severity were detected in 15 parameters: B lymphocytes, NK cells, interleukin (IL)-12, IL-1β, cortisol, ferritin, SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG and IgM antibodies, Na, Cl, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, HbA1c and alpha 2 and beta 2 globulin fractions of the proteinogram. Conclusions: Although most observed parameters returned to their normal reference intervals, significant correlations were still observed with disease severity, that could indicate either the pre-infection baseline state which affected disease outcome or minor remaining alterations in function of certain organs, pertaining their stress or damage during the acute phase of the disease.
Keywords: disease severity, laboratory parameters, resolution, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, laboratory diagnosis
Published in DiRROS: 07.11.2025; Views: 209; Downloads: 93
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Abstract: A connected graph $G$ with ${\rm diam}(G) \ge \ell$ is $\ell$-distance-balanced if $|W_{xy}|=|W_{yx}|$ for every $x,y\in V(G)$ with $d_{G}(x,y)=\ell$, where $W_{xy}$ is the set of vertices of $G$ that are closer to $x$ than to $y$. Miklavič and Šparl [Discrete Appl. Math. 244 (2018), 143--154] conjectured that if $n > n_k$ where where $n_k = 11$ if $k = 2$, $n_k = (k+1)^2$ if $k$ is odd, and $n_k = k(k +2)$ if $k \ge 4$ is even, then the generalized Petersen graph $GP(n,k)$ is not $\ell$-distance-balanced for any $1\le \ell<{\rm diam}(GP(n,k))$. In the seminal paper, the conjecture was verified for $k=2$. In this paper we prove that the conjecture holds for $k=3$ and for $k=4$.
Keywords: distance-balanced graph, $\ell$-distance-balanced graph, generalized Petersen graph, diameter
Published in DiRROS: 07.11.2025; Views: 170; Downloads: 86
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Keywords: research data
Published in DiRROS: 06.11.2025; Views: 216; Downloads: 101
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