261. Quantitative, absolute count-based T cell analysis of CD69 upregulation as a new methodology for in vitro diagnosis of delayed-type nickel hypersensitivityAna Koren, Mira Šilar, Helena Rupnik, Mihaela Zidarn, Peter Korošec, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Background: T cells play a major role in delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. Their reactivity can be assessed by measuring the upregulation of the activation marker CD69, followed by proliferation and cytokine production. The aim of our study was to develop a novel, whole blood-based, quantitative, absolute count activation index (AI) analysis of CD69 upregulation on different subsets of T cells in nickel hypersensitive patients and compare it with the previously reported approaches. Methods: Ten patients with nickel allergy and nine healthy controls were included. CD69 expression of CD3+, CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T cells in heparinized blood was determined with flow cytometry after incubation with nickel sulfate for 48 h. The absolute cell count of CD69+ cells was determined with microbeads. The production of the cytokines IL-2, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-[gamma] was determined after nickel sulfate stimulation of PBMNCs for 48 h. Results: We showed that the most sensitive methodology is the absolute AI, which was calculated as the ratio between the absolute count of CD69-positive T cells stimulated with nickel and the absolute count of CD69-positive T cells in non-stimulated blood. This novel quantitative approach was more discriminative than the previously reported approaches in which T cell CD69 percentage AI and cytokine production are measured. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that measuring the absolute CD69 AI is an accurate new approach to quantify antigen-specific T cells in the blood of patients with hypersensitivity reactions to nickel. This approach may be useful for better in vitro assessment of patients with delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions.
Keywords: allergy and immunology, delayed hypresensitivity, nickel, blood, CD antigenes, CD69
Published in DiRROS: 18.11.2020; Views: 1223; Downloads: 314
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262. Using citizen science to monitor the spread of tree pests and diseases : outcomes of two projects in Slovenia and the UKPeter Crow, Ana Pérez-Sierra, Andreja Kavčič, Kate Lewthwaite, Marija Kolšek, Nikica Ogris, Barbara Piškur, Jana Kus Veenvliet, Simon Zidar, Suzanne Sancisi-Frey, Maarten De Groot, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: The trees and forests of Europe are increasingly under threat from new pests and diseases that have originated in other parts of the world. Early detection of alien species when they first appear in European countries allows rapid response and offers the best chance to mitigate against their establishment and spread. Citizen science initiatives such as LIFE ARTEMIS in Slovenia, and Observatree in the UK, provide members of the public with the necessary training and educational resource to identify these tree pests and diseases and report them to the appropriate authorities, thereby increasing the level of surveillance and the capacity of the early warning system. This paper summarises some of the outcomes of these two projects and how they have both become integral parts of the official forest and tree health monitoring systems within their respective countries of Slovenia and the United Kingdom.
Keywords: invasive alien species, plant health, tree health, forest health, early warning, rapid response
Published in DiRROS: 16.11.2020; Views: 1729; Downloads: 857
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264. Pomen biovarnosti za zdravje gozdov : pregled izkušenj iz tujine in predlogi za SlovenijoAna Brglez, Peter Smolnikar, Barbara Piškur, 2020, professional article Abstract: V letu 2020 obeležujemo mednarodno leto zdravja rastlin. V kmetijstvu in vrtnarstvu je pojem zdravja rastlin dobro znan, medtem ko se za naravno okolje vse premalokrat omenja. Gozdove ogrožajo številni domači in tujerodni organizmi, ki jim naša dejavnost v okolju omogoča vse lažje in hitrejše širjenje v prostoru. Za preprečitev oz. omejevanje širjenja je ključno delovanje fitosanitarnih inšpekcij in nadzora na mejah ob vstopu tujega blaga, na lokalnem nivoju pa ozaveščenost strokovnih služb, lastnikov zemljišč ter vseh obiskovalcev narave, da upoštevajo osnovne ti. biovarnostne ukrepe. Biovarnost je skupek ukrepov, ki zmanjšajo ali v celoti preprečijo vnos in prenos škodljivih organizmov z ene lokacije na drugo. Po navadi ukrepi zajemajo čiščenje oblačil, obutve, vozil in opreme vseh organskih ostankov rastlin in zemlje ter pregled notranjosti vozila glede prisotnosti žuželk. V prispevku predstavljamo kot primer dobre prakse ozaveščanja o pomenu biovarnosti v gozdovih obširno akcijo Združenega kraljestva Keep it clean ter iščemo ovire in priložnosti za rabo pri nas. V Sloveniji je pojem biovarnosti uveljavljen v kmetijstvu (npr. v prašičjereji in hmeljarstvu), v gozdarstvu pa je dokaj neznan. Z zakonsko dovoljenim prostim dostopom v gozd, gosto mrežo gozdnih cest in v zadnjem času povečanim obiskom gozdov je ob morebitni prisotnosti škodljivih organizmov potencial za njihovo hitro razširjenje izjemno velik. Vendar pa je tudi prostora za izboljšanje sedanje situacije še veliko. Med priložnostmi lahko izpostavimo ozaveščanje v smeri higiene in ukrepov, ki so potrebni za preprečitev vnosa in prenosa škodljivih organizmov, posodobitev veljavne zakonodaje na področju zdravja rastlin in gozdarstva, njuno uskladitev z veljavno evropsko zakonodajo ter nadzor nad njihovim izvajanjem. Nikakor pa ne smemo pozabiti na največjo priložnost vsakega izmed nas, da se vede odgovorno do okolja, v katerem živimo.
Keywords: biovarnost, biovarnostni ukrepi, zdravje gozdov, varstvo gozdov, škodljivi organizmi
Published in DiRROS: 14.11.2020; Views: 1814; Downloads: 483
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266. CD3+CD4-CD8- mucosal T cells are associated with uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polypsTanja Soklič, Mira Šilar, Matija Rijavec, Ana Koren, Izidor Kern, Irena Hočevar-Boltežar, Peter Korošec, 2019, short scientific article Abstract: Increased mucosal double-negative (DN) CD3+CD4-CD8- T cells were found for the first time in CRS and were much more abundant in uncontrolled CRSwNP than in well-controlled CRSwNP.
Keywords: chronic rhinosinusitis, CD3+ T-cells, CD4- T-cells, CD8- T-cells
Published in DiRROS: 22.10.2020; Views: 1579; Downloads: 512
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267. In vitro interactions between Eutypella parasitica and some frequently isolated fungi from the wood of the dead branches of young Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)Ana Brglez, Barbara Piškur, Nikica Ogris, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: The ten most frequently isolated fungi from the wood of the dead branches of Acer pseudoplatanus L. were tested in dual cultures to evaluate their in vitro antagonistic activity against Eutypella parasitica R.W. Davidson and R.C. Lorenz, the causative agent of a destructive disease of maples in Europe and North America. The tested fungi, treated also as challenge isolates, were Diaporthe sp., Eutypa sp., Eu. maura, E. parasitica, Fusarium avenaceum, Neocucurbitaria acerina, Neonectria sp., Peniophora incarnata, Petrakia irregularis, and Phomopsis pustulata. The antagonistic ability of each challenge isolate was evaluated by calculating an index of antagonism (AI) based on the interaction type in the dual cultures. The results of competition between the fungal isolates were quantified after re-isolations from the interaction zone (s). The dual cultures revealed two main types of competitive interactions: Deadlock, consisting of mutual inhibition after mycelial contact or at a distance, and replacement, reflecting in the inhibition of E. parasitica, followed by partial overgrowth by the replacing fungus. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in average AI and s of challenge isolates between different dual culture assays. Based on the results of the antagonism index, Eutypa sp., Eu. maura, Neonectria sp., and P. incarnata had the highest inhibitory effect on E. parasitica growth and were recognized as the most promising candidates for further biocontrol studies of E. parasitica. The mycelium of E. parasitica at the interaction zones remained mostly viable, except in dual cultures with Eutypa sp., F. avenaceum, and Neonectria sp., where re-isolations did not yield any colony of the E. parasitica isolate. Based on the results, we assume that E. parasitica is a weak competitor, which invests less energy in direct mycelial competition. We discuss the potential of the observed antagonists as a possible biocontrol of Eutypella canker of maple. Nevertheless, additional experiments should be performed for a solid conclusion about competitive ability of E. parasitica and usefulness of antagonists as biocontrol.
Keywords: Eutypella parasitica, dual culture, hyphal interaction, deadlock, replacement, competition, antagonism, inhibition, re-isolation, biocontrol
Published in DiRROS: 19.10.2020; Views: 1314; Downloads: 862
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269. Transcription factors gene expression in chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polypsTanja Soklič, Matija Rijavec, Mira Šilar, Ana Koren, Izidor Kern, Irena Hočevar-Boltežar, Peter Korošec, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Background. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) current therapeutic approaches still fail in some patients with severe persistent symptoms and recurrences after surgery. We aimed to evaluate the master transcription factors gene expression levels of T cell subtypes in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) that could represent new, up-stream targets for topical DNAzyme treatment. Patients and methods. Twenty-two newly diagnosed CRS patients (14 CRSwNP and 8 CRSsNP) were prospectively biopsied and examined histopathologically. Gene expression levels of T-box transcription factor (T-bet, TBX21), GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3), Retinoic acid-related orphan receptor C (RORC) and Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results. Eosinophilic CRSwNP was characterized by higher level of GATA3 gene expression compared to noneosinophilic CRSwNP, whereas there was no difference in T-bet, RORC and FOXP3 between eosinophilic and noneosinophilic CRSwNP. In CRSsNP, we found simultaneous upregulation of T-bet, GATA3 and RORC gene expression levels in comparison to CRSwNP; meanwhile, there was no difference in FOXP3 gene expression between CRSwNP and CRSsNP. Conclusions. In eosinophilic CRSwNP, we confirmed the type 2 inflammation by elevated GATA3 gene expression level. In CRSsNP, we unexpectedly found simultaneous upregulation of T-bet and GATA3 that is currently unexplained; however, it might originate from activated CD8+ cells, abundant in nasal mucosa of CRSsNP patients. The elevated RORC in CRSsNP could be part of homeostatic nasal immune response that might be better preserved in CRSsNP patients compared to CRSwNP patients. Further data on transcription factors expression rates in CRS phenotypes are needed.
Keywords: sinusitis, nasal polyps, Th1 cells, Th2 cells, Th17 cells, transcription factors, chronic rhinosinusitis
Published in DiRROS: 09.10.2020; Views: 1498; Downloads: 824
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270. The Chronic Urticaria Registry (CURE) : rationale, methods, and initial implementationKarsten Weller, Ana M. Giménez-Arnau, Clive Grattan, Riccardo Asero, Pascale Mathelier-Fusade, Mojca Bizjak, Michael Hanna, Marcus Maurer, 2020, short scientific article Abstract: Background: Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common disease, characterized by the recurrent appearance of wheals, angioedema, or both for more than 6 weeks. Its underlying biology is not well understood, and many patients do not obtain sufficient relief from recommended treatments. Patient registries are rapidly growing as a form of research, because they can provide powerful, data-driven insights about the epidemiology of diseases, real-world effectiveness of treatments, rare patient types, safety monitoring, healthcare costs, and opportunities for quality improvement of healthcare delivery. Objectives: The Chronic Urticaria Registry (CURE) has been designed to improve the scientific understanding, clinical treatment, and healthcare planning of chronic urticaria patients. This report describes the rationale, methods, and initial implementation of this registry. Methods: CURE is an ongoing, prospective, international, multicenter, observational, voluntary registry of patients with CU. Participation in CURE is open to any physician treating CU patients, regardless of location, medical specialty, or type of practice setting. CURE aims to collect data on all CU patients, with no intentional selection or exclusion criteria. It collects baseline and follow-up data on the patient's demographics, history, symptoms, trigger and risk factors, therapies, and healthcare utilization. Results: CURE is a landmark achievement of the global urticaria medical community. As of 26 February 2020, 39 centers around the world have joined the registry and 35 have entered baseline data on a total of 2946 patients. Publications of this data will be forthcoming soon. Conclusions: CURE is eagerly seeking the participation of more physicians and the support of more governmental, charitable, and commercial sponsors from around the world. Here, in this paper, we invite other physicians to join this unique project to improve the lives of patients with CU.
Keywords: urticaria, registries
Published in DiRROS: 07.10.2020; Views: 1373; Downloads: 759
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