1. Addressing viral hepatitis C reinfections in a low-threshold programme for people who inject drugs in SloveniaJasna Černoša, Jelka Meglič-Volkar, Mario Poljak, Maja Pohar Perme, Jeffrey Victor Lazarus, Mojca Matičič, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a public health threat. Although therapy with direct-acting antivirals made its elimination possible, major challenges remain in treating vulnerable populations, such as people who inject drugs (PWID) enrolled in low-threshold programmes (LTPs). This study analysed the outcome of HCV management focused on HCV reinfection in a specifically designed model-of-care (MoC) for PWID in Slovenia, where treatment is prescribed without limitations, though only by specialist physicians. Methods: All HCV antibody (anti-HCV) positive users of a MoC, combining HCV management at Clinic for Infectious Diseases at the University Medical Centre in Ljubljana and LTP for PWID in 100 km distanced civil society organisation (CSO) Svit Koper, between January 2017 to December 2022, were included. The MoC enabled regular transportation of PWID between LTP and the Clinic, where specifically assigned services for individually tailored HCV management in cooperation with CSO were available. Data on participants´ demographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics were collected partly retrospectively and prospectively, with a particular focus on HCV treatment outcome and reinfection status, and analysed accordingly. Results: The study included 49 anti-HCV positive PWID with a mean age of 38.7 (standard deviation (SD) = 7.6) years at first visit. The majority was male (40/49, 81.6%); 16/49 (32.7%) experienced previous incarceration, 14/49 (28.6%) were experiencing homelessness, and 42/49 (85.7%) were receiving opioid agonist therapy. A total of 42/49 (83.7%) were HCV RNA-positive. Of them 36/42 (85.7%) started HCV treatment at a mean age of 42.7 (SD = 5.7) years and 33/36 (91.7%) completed treatment. Six (14.3%) HCV RNA-positive PWID died. Among 28/33 (84.9%) who achieved a sustained virological response 12 weeks post treatment, 6/28 (21.4%) presented with reinfection. The HCV reinfection rate was 13.3 per 100 - PY (95% confidence interval (CI) [6.0, 29.7]), the rate of positive HCV RNA re-test was 12.2 per 100 - PY (95%CI [7.7-16.7]), while hazard of reinfection in our cohort increased with time, with the estimated reinfection probability exceeding 0.5 at 4 years. Conclusions: In marginalised population of PWID attending LTP, a sustainable HCV RNA re-screening and follow-up after HCV cure are necessary, as the risk of reinfection remains high.
Keywords: hepatitis C, micro-elimination, people who inject drugs, low-treshold settings, reinfection, Slovenia
Published in DiRROS: 14.04.2026; Views: 69; Downloads: 41
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2. Membrane palmitoylated protein 7 is required for osteogenesis and is linked with bone mineralisation and osteoporosis: the functional evaluation of GEFOS GWAS hitPetra Malavašič, Jasna Lojk, Nika Lovšin, Radko Komadina, Gregor Haring, Rihard Trebše, Fernando Rivadeneira, David Karasik, Barbara Ostanek, Janja Marc, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Genome-wide association studies have identified multiple loci associated with bone mineral density, a major determinant of osteoporotic fracture risk. At one such locus, genetic, bioinformatic, and zebrafish knockout data strongly prioritize membrane palmitoylated protein 7 (MPP7) as a candidate gene, although its precise role in bone biology remains poorly defined. MPP7 encodes a member of the p55 Stardust family of membrane-associated guanylate kinase proteins, which are key regulators of epithelial cell polarity and junctional organization. Here, we investigated the functional role of MPP7 in bone biology. We found that MPP7 expression was significantly reduced—by approximately twofold—in bone tissue from osteoporotic patients compared with osteoarthritic patients and non-osteoporotic controls. Furthermore, we generated a CRISPR/Cas9- mediated MPP7 knockout in the human osteosarcoma HOS cell line and demonstrated that MPP7 deletion impairs osteogenic differentiation and completely abrogates mineralization through downregulation of ALPL expression. Knockout cells also displayed altered morphology, suggesting that MPP7 influences osteoblast function via effects on cell polarity and adhesion. Collectively, our findings, together with zebrafish genetic evidence, indicate that MPP7 plays a critical role in osteoblast differentiation and mineralization and may contribute to osteoporosis susceptibility in humans.
Keywords: MPP7, adipogenesis, HOS cell lineage, human bone tissue, human muscle tissue
Published in DiRROS: 10.04.2026; Views: 108; Downloads: 54
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3. Applying a systems approach to validation and proficiency testing in plant virology to meet ISO-17025 accreditation requirementsAnnelien J. W. Roenhorst, Denise Altenbach, Marleen Botermans, Michele Della Bartola, Francesco Faggioli, Adrian Fox, Doris Gambini, Anne Giesbers, Sabine Grausgruber-Gröger, Miroslava Hejlova, Irena Mavrič Pleško, Nataša Mehle, Sebastjan Radišek, Mathieu Rolland, Jasna Milanović, 2026, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 27.03.2026; Views: 201; Downloads: 114
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5. How far are we? : assessing progress in hepatitis C response towards the WHO 2030 elimination goals by the civil society monitoring in 25 European countries, period 2020 to 2023Mojca Matičič, Jasna Černoša, Črt Loboda, Janina Tamše, R. Rigoni, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Background: With the advent of direct acting antivirals (DAAs) the World Health Organisation (WHO) adopted global strategy to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by 2030. In Europe, people who inject drugs (PWID) account for the majority of new cases, however testing and treatment remain suboptimal. The aim was to monitor progress in HCV policy and cascade-of-care for PWID, led by the civil society organisations (CSO) that provide harm reduction services for PWID across Europe. Methods: In period 2020–2023, CSOs representing focal points of Correlation-European Harm Reduction Network were annually invited to complete online questionnaire on use/impact of HCV test-and-treat guidelines for PWID, availability/functioning of continuum-of-care, and role/limitations of harm reduction services for PWID. A retrospec‑ tive longitudinal analysis of responses to questions answered each year by the same respondents was performed, and a comparison among the studied years was made. Results: Twenty-fve CSOs from cities in 25 European countries were included and responded to 25 questions. Between 2020 and 2023, there was positive trend in number of HCV treatment guidelines, separate guidelines for PWID, and their positive impact on acess to testing/treatment (24/25, 5/25, and 16/25 in 2023, respectively). DAAs were available in all countries, predominantly prescribed by specialist physicians only (slight increase at primary care), with restrictions including active drug use, stage of liver fbrosis or/and reimbursement policies (2/25, 4/25, and 3/25 in 2023, respectively). A decrease in HCV testing sites was noted. Treatment was consistently most common at clini‑ cal settings, however an increase outside the specialist settings was detected, particularly in prisons (12/25 and 15/25 in 2020–2021, respectively). Comparing 2022–2023, number of HCV-testing services increased in many cities with positive dynamic in nearly all the settings; increase in treatment at harm reduction services/community centres was noted (6/25 to 8/25, respectively). Between 2020 and 2023 the frequency of various limitations to CSOs address‑ ing HCV was oscillating, presenting an increase between 2022 and 2023 (9/25 to 14/25, respectively). Conclusion: The overall progress towards WHO HCV elimination goals across Europe remains insufcient, most probably also due to the infuence of Covid-19 pandemic. Further improvements are needed, also by including CSOs for PWID in continuum-of-care services, and in monitoring progress
Keywords: hepatitis C, people who inject drugs, continuum-of-care, civil society, harm reduction, monitoring
Published in DiRROS: 10.03.2026; Views: 214; Downloads: 140
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6. CCR5 Δ32 and CTLA-4 +49 A/G gene polymorphisms and interferon-β treatment response in Croatian and Slovenian multiple sclerosis patientsJasna Nekić, Ivana Stanković Matić, Valentino Rački, Dolores Janko Labinac, Vladimira Vuletić, Miljenko Kapović, Smiljana Ristić, Borut Peterlin, Nada Starčević-Čizmarević, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of CCR5 Δ32 and CTLA-4 polymorphisms on the response to IFN-β treatment in our cohort of MS patients from Croatia and Slovenia. Genomic DNA was obtained from 295 MS patients (230 female; 65 male) classified as responders (n = 173) and non-responders (n = 122) based on clinical criteria for treatment efficacy. Genotyping was performed via PCR/PCR-RFLP. No significant differences in the genotype/allele frequencies of CCR5Δ32 and CTLA-4 +49 A/G were detected between male responders and nonresponders. A significantly higher prevalence (p = 0.039) of the CTLA-4 +49 AA genotype was found in female responders (42.1%) compared to non-responders (28.9%). Using multiple forward regression analysis, the CTLA-4 +49 AA genotype significantly predicted a positive response to IFN-β therapy in females (p = 0.011) and contributed to 4.5% of response variability. Furthermore, the combined presence of the CCR5Δ32 wtwt/CTLA-4 +49 AA genotype significantly predicted a positive response to treatment in females (p = 0.025). The age at disease onset, pretreatment relapse rate, and baseline EDSS score were not reliable predictors of treatment response in MS patients. Our results indicate that the presence of the CCR5Δ32 polymorphism was not associated with the response to IFN-β treatment, whereas the CTLA-4 +49 polymorphism showed a positive correlation with an optimal response in female patients.
Keywords: multiple sclerosis, polymorphism, treatment response, interferon-β
Published in DiRROS: 10.03.2026; Views: 172; Downloads: 111
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8. Načrtovanje sestave mešanice zemljine za uporabo v nenosilnih predelnih butanih stenahJasna Smolar, Vlatko Bosiljkov, Manca Suša, David Antolinc, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Zemljina je, tako kot les in kamen, eden najstarejših gradbenih materialov in je lokalno dostopna ter okolju prijazna. V zadnjih letih se v konceptu krožnega gospodarstva in trajnostne gradnje uporaba butane zemljine ponovno obuja, a trenutno ni ustrezno podprta z veljavnimi področnimi standardi in tehničnimi smernicami, ki bi opredeljevali metode preiskav in minimalne zahtevane lastnosti materiala glede na namen uporabe in dosežene dolgoročne lastnosti po vgradnji. V prvem delu prispevka je povzet koncept uporabe butane zemljine v grajenem okolju, pri čemer so na kratko predstavljene tudi bistvene zahteve nekaterih tujih tehničnih smernic za načrtovanje sestave mešanic. Drugi del obravnava geomehanske laboratorijske preiskave, izvedene pri načrtovanju mešanice za izdelavo nenosilnih testnih sten iz butane zemljine, ter primerja lastnosti mešanic z zahtevami tujih smernic. V tretjem delu so predstavljene mehanske lastnosti dveh nenosilnih testnih sten, izdelanih iz izbrane mešanice. Rezultati geomehanskih laboratorijskih preiskav so spodbudni, saj potrjujejo možnost uporabe standardnih geomehanskih preiskav za načrtovanje sestave in začetno oceno lastnosti mešanice. Za doseganje ustrezne tlačne trdnosti vgrajene mešanice sta ključnega pomena zrnavostna sestava – zlasti delež gline – ter primerna vlaga ob vgradnji. Tlačni preizkus testnih sten je pokazal razmeroma dobro tlačno trdnost, vendar tudi zelo neugoden porušni mehanizem. Slednje je treba v okviru nadaljnjih preiskav in optimizacije mešanice za izdelavo sten izboljšati, predvsem z dodatki naravnih vlaken. Za sledljivo načrtovanje sestave in rabe butane zemljine bi bilo treba izdelati tudi nacionalne tehnične smernice, ki bi upoštevale veljavne področne standarde in zakonodajo ter lokalne posebnosti (razpoložljive lokalne materiale, vplive okolja).
Keywords: butana zemljina, laboratorijske mehanske preiskave, načrtovanje mešanice, vgradljivost, nenosilna stena, zgoščanje, tlačna trdnost
Published in DiRROS: 03.02.2026; Views: 290; Downloads: 230
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9. Vpliv terapije z lutko na življenje oseb, obolelih za demenco : sistematični pregledNataša Mlinar Reljić, Zvonka Fekonja, Jasna Mulej, Sergej Kmetec, Majda Pajnkihar, 2019, review article Abstract: Uvod: Terapija z lutkami sodi med nefarmakološke pristope v obravnavi oseb, obolelih za demenco, ki ugodno vplivajo na zmanjšanje duhovne in čustvene stiske, vznemirjenosti in izboljšajo komunikacijo. Namen sistematičnega pregleda literature je bil predstaviti psihološke, socialne in duhovne vplive terapije z lutko na osebe, obolele za demenco. Metode: Uporabljen je bil sistematični pregled znanstvene literature. Pregledane so bile podatkovne zbirke CINAHL, Science Direct in PubMed. Iskanje je potekalo s ključnimi besedami v angleščini: "doll therapy", "doll", "dementia", "spiritual", "psychological", "social", "aspect" in "nursing". Vključeni so bili izvirni znanstveni članki, objavljeni po letu 2001. Izključeni so bili znanstveni članki z neustrezno vsebino, populacijo, pregledni članki, članki v jezikih, ki ni angleški. Izmed 135 zadetkov je bilo v končno analizo vključenih 10 člankov. Podatke smo analizirali z metodo vsebinske analize. Rezultati: Oblikovane so bile tri vsebinske kategorije: (1) povezanost, (2) družabni stiki, (3) dobro počutje in ugodje. Rezultati kažejo na pomembnost povezanosti in družabnih stikov ter izpostavljajo potrebo po dobrem počutju. Gre za pomembne psihosocialne in duhovne vidike oseb, obolelih za demenco. Diskusija in zaključek: Ugotovitve kažejo, da je uporaba terapije z lutko v obravnavi oseb, obolelih za demenco, učinkovit in uporaben pristop, ki ugodno vpliva na njihovo dobro počutje. Pristop spodbuja interakcijo oseb, obolelih za demenco, z osebjem in drugimi. Zato je z vidika zagotavljanja psihosocialnih in duhovnih potreb oseb, obolelih za demenco, primeren in priporočljiv.
Keywords: zaupanje, lutka, starejše osebe, zdravstvena nega, medicinske sestre, demenca
Published in DiRROS: 28.01.2026; Views: 253; Downloads: 153
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10. Zlorabe starostnikov na primeru doma za starejšeJasna Šmit, Ljiljana Leskovic, 2013, professional article Abstract: Uvod: Zlorabe in nasilje so dejanja, ki osebo prizadenejo proti njeni volji. Namen prispevka je predstaviti problem zlorab nad starostniki in ugotoviti, kolikšno je poznavanje in zavedanje tega problema med negovalnim osebjem. Metode: Uporabljena je bila deskriptivna metoda dela. Podatki za raziskavo so bili pridobljeni s pomočjo strukturiranega vprašalnika. Vprašanja so bila sestavljena s pomočjo pregleda strokovne literature obravnavanega področja. Raziskava je potekala med zaposlenimi v Domu starejših občanov Bor v Črnem Vrhu nad Idrijo leta 2010. Rezultati: V raziskavi je sodelovalo 30 delavcev zdravstvene nege in oskrbe v domu starejših občanov, in sicer 24 žensk ter 6 moških. Največ sodelujočih (n = 23) je imelo poklicno izobrazbo za bolničarja in izobrazbo pete stopnje zdravstvene smeri. Anketiranci v večini poznajo telesno, duševno in spolno zlorabo (n = 28). Najpogostejše žrtve zlorab so dementni (n = 26) in nepomični starostniki (n = 24), najpogostejši povzročitelji so sostanovalci v domu (n = 27). Zlorabe so se najpogosteje (n = 22) zgodile v popoldanskem času, ob delavnikih, v sobi starostnika. Zaposleni, ki so bili priča nasilju, so se v 2,5 % pogovorili s starostnikom. 25 anketirancev bi želelo več pogovorov na temo nasilja in zlorab na delovnem mestu z vodjo službe zdravstvene nege in oskrbe. 5 anketirancev ni izrazilo želje po dodatnem usposabljanju na temo nasilja. Diskusija in zaključek: Če želimo nasilje zmanjšati in omejiti, se ga moramo najprej zavedati in poznati njegovo problematiko. Najpogostejše žrtve zlorab so dementni in nepomični starostniki, najpogostejši povzročitelji pa sostanovalci v domu. Večina anketirancev bi želela izobraževanja na temo zlorabe in nasilja nad starostniki.
Keywords: zloraba, nasilje, starostniki, negovalno osebje
Published in DiRROS: 28.01.2026; Views: 276; Downloads: 0 |
