1. The influence of periodontal disease and periodontal treatment on colorectal cancerUrša Potočnik, Erik Brecelj, Rok Schara, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Background: Periodontal disease (PD) is associated with more than 50 diseases and conditions, including colorectal cancer. The study aimed to investigate if periodontal treatment influences the blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in colorectal cancer patients. In addition, the aim was to isolate periodontal pathogenic bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum (FN) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG), which are most linked to colorectal cancer (CRC), from the mucosa of the cancer-affected intestine. Patients and methods: To assess the effect of periodontal treatment on colorectal cancer, we measured the CRP levels in the blood during cancer therapy on the day of the initial examination by the oncological surgeon, two days following surgery, and at the first follow-up appointment. We compared the CRP levels between two groups: the group of subjects who underwent periodontal treatment and the patients who did not receive periodontal disease treatment. An attempt was made to isolate the periodontal pathogenic bacteria FN and PG from the mucosa of the cancerous tissue in the colon by using quantitative culture. Results We found no statistically significant difference between the groups in the initial CRP measurements before starting cancer treatment. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the CRP measurements taken 1st and 2nd day after surgery and at the follow-up appointment. We could not isolate periodontal pathogenic bacteria FN and PG from cancer-altered intestine mucosa using the quantitative culture method. Conclusions Our study did not find any correlation between periodontal treatment and CRC.
Keywords: periodontal disease, colorectal cancer, periodontal treatment, fusobacterium nucleatum, porphyromonas gingivalis, C-reactive protein
Published in DiRROS: 11.02.2026; Views: 49; Downloads: 20
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2. Editorial: genetic and immunological insights into angioedema without whealsMatija Rijavec, Maurizio Margaglione, Anastasios E. Germenis, 2026, other scientific articles Keywords: angioedema, biomarker, bradykinin, genetic, inflammatory mediators, outcome, real-world data, treatment
Published in DiRROS: 30.01.2026; Views: 139; Downloads: 76
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3. International clinical evidence-based guideline for Kleefstra SyndromeArianne Bouman, Charlotte M. W. Gaasterland, Carla Sloof-Enthoven, Tanja Zdolšek Draksler, Tjitske Kleefstra, 2026, review article Abstract: Kleefstra syndrome (KLEFS1) is a rare monogenic neurodevelopmental disorder (mNDD) with multisystem involvement, caused by disruption of EHMT1 function, resulting in significant burden on affected individuals and their families. The current shortage of and globally scattered syndrome-specific knowledge has led to significant disparities in the access to and provision of evidence-based and individual-centered expert care. To address the challenges and improve outcomes for individuals with KLEFS1, an international KLEFS1 guideline consortium was formed consisting of 43 participants, both clinical experts and patient-representatives, from 15 different countries. The primary goal of the consortium was to develop a comprehensive and high-quality guideline for KLEFS1, aiming to enhance patient care, establish a uniform minimum international standard of care, and support decision-making. The current clinical guideline is evidence-based and includes 66 tailored recommendations to improve KLEFS1 care. The comprehensive methodological approach ensures broad consensus and supports effective implementation. Furthermore, this guideline serves as a valuable methodological model for guideline development in the context of rare disorders.
Keywords: Kleefstra syndrome, clinical guideline, treatment
Published in DiRROS: 26.01.2026; Views: 86; Downloads: 45
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4. Effectiveness of group voice therapy in teachers with hyperfunctional voice disorderNataša Prebil, Rozalija Kušar, Maja Šereg Bahar, Irena Hočevar-Boltežar, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the short-term and long-term effectiveness of group voice therapy in changing vocal behaviour and improving voice quality (VQ) among teachers with hyperfunctional voice disorders (HFVD), using both subjective and objective measures. Methods: Thirty-one teachers participated in a structured group voice therapy programme. Participants underwent videoendostroboscopic evaluation of laryngeal morphology and function, perceptual assessment of voice, acoustic analysis of voice samples, and aerodynamic measurements of phonation. Patients’ self-assessment of VQ and its impact on quality of life were measured using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Voice Handicap Index-30 (VHI-30). Evaluations were conducted at four time points: pre-therapy (T0), immediately post-therapy (T1), and at 3-month (T3) and 12-month (T12) follow-up visits. Results: Significant improvement was observed between T0 and T1 in perceptual voice evaluations: grade, roughness, asthenia, strain, loudness, fast speaking rate, as well as in neck muscle tension, shimmer, patients’ most harmful vocal behaviours, VHI-30 scores, patients VQ evaluation, and its impact on quality of life (all p < 0.05). Almost all parameters of subjective and objective voice assessment improved over the 12-month observation period, with the greatest improvement between T0 and T12 (all p < 0.05), indicating lasting reduced laryngeal tension and improved phonatory efficiency. Conclusions: Group voice therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for teachers with HFVD, leading to significant and long-lasting improvements in perceptual, acoustic, and self-assessment outcomes. Therapy also promoted healthier vocal and lifestyle behaviours, supporting its role as a successful and cost-effective rehabilitation and prevention method for occupational voice disorders.
Keywords: voice disorders, teacher, voice therapy, group therapy, treatment outcomes
Published in DiRROS: 16.01.2026; Views: 158; Downloads: 90
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5. Children's graves at the Middle La Tène cemetery of Zvonimirovo (Croatia)Marko Dizdar, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: The cemetery of Zvonimirovo is currently the only systematically researched cemetery of the La Tène culture in northern Croatia that can be dated to the Middle La Tène period (LT C2). Previous research studies were focused on richly equipped graves of warriors with weapons and of women with costume and jewellery items. The results of the anthropological analysis indicate that children under 14 years of age were also buried at the cemetery and received the same mortuary treatment as the adult members of the community. Children were most often buried alone, as the only deceased in the grave, but a smaller number of graves contains a child with an adult. The study of mortuary profiles of children’s graves indicates that the majority of them contained fewer finds than the graves of adults, but some of them were richly equipped. Aside from pottery, children’s graves contained costume and jewellery items, with weaponry appearing exceptionally. Similar mortuary profiles of children’s graves have been documented in the analyses of La Tène cemeteries in the Carpathian Basin, indicating their position in the Late Iron Age communities.
Keywords: cemetery, Zvonimirovo, children, age, La Tène culture, mortuary treatment and profiles, identity
Published in DiRROS: 14.01.2026; Views: 179; Downloads: 138
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6. Psychological distress in young adults with well-controlled psoriasisEva Klara Merzel Šabović, Tadeja Kraner Šumenjak, Miodrag Janić, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction: Psychological distress is common in psoriasis, but its prevalence and possible biological correlates in young adults with well-controlled disease remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to assess the presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in young, well-treated psoriasis patients, who were primarily expected to have no or minimal psychological distress, and to explore potential associations with inflammatory and metabolic markers. Methods: In a cross-sectional cohort of 80 psoriasis patients (women/male: 45/35; mean age 38.7 ± 4.2 years) psychological symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), with HADS-A and HADS-D subscales evaluating anxiety and depression symptoms. Exploratory associations with inflammatory cytokines and metabolic indices were examined using regression analyses and random forest machine-learning models. Results: Anxiety symptoms were identified only in 5 patients (women/male: 4/1; 6%), and depressive symptoms in 10 patients (women/male: 6/4; 12%). Affected individuals had clinically significant anxiety (HADS-A: 12/21) and borderline depressive symptoms (HADS-D: 10/21). No significant associations between HADS scores and inflammatory or metabolic markers were found. Exploratory random forest models tentatively identified IL-6, IL-23, FIB-4, HOMA-IR, and waist circumference as the strongest contributors to variance in depressive symptoms, while no clear contributors emerged for anxiety. Discussion: Anxiety and depressive symptoms can occur in well-treated young psoriasis patients. Although prevalence is low, their impact may be substantial. These findings indicate the potential importance of targeted psychological screening in this population. Associations with inflammatory and metabolic markers should be considered hypothesis-generating and warrant validation in larger, independent cohorts.
Keywords: psoriasis, HADS, depression, anxiety, treatment, young patients
Published in DiRROS: 14.01.2026; Views: 148; Downloads: 89
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7. Helicobacter pylori infection in children Versus adults, differences in management guidelines: risks and benefits of treatment in childhoodMatjaž Homan, Zrinjka Mišak, Francis Megraud, Michal Kori, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Helicobacter pylori infection in children and adults differs in several aspects such as the natural history, prevalence, the clinical presentations and complications, antibiotic resistance rates, treatment options, and the success rates of treatment. Due to all the abovementioned differences, management guidelines and recommendations are different between children and adults. In parallel to the steady decrease in the rate of H. pylori infection in the Western world in recent years, both in children and adults, antibiotic resistance rates have risen to alarming rates. The risk and benefits of eradication treatment, especially in children, must be considered when deciding “to treat or not.” The risks include the negative effects of antibiotics, treatment failure, and reinfection as well as the possibility of losing the “protective effect” of H. pylori on atopy, allergy, and possibly on other gastrointestinal diseases. On the other hand, there are also many benefits of eradication therapy such as prevention of gastric complication and associated non-gastric complications as well as reduction of parental anxiety of nontreatment. This review summarizes the differences related to H. pylori in children versus adults and the risks and benefits of treatment in children.
Keywords: children, adults, treatment, Helicobacter pylori
Published in DiRROS: 14.01.2026; Views: 178; Downloads: 109
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8. An open-label randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy and safety of a 7-day triple therapy with bismuth versus 14-day standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication in children and adolescentsAnja Šterbenc, Bor Vratanar, Eva Miler Mojškerc, Matjaž Homan, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Background: To achieve eradication rates > 90%, the ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN guidelines for pediatric Helicobacter pylori in-fection recommend tailored antimicrobial therapy using sufficiently high doses over 10–14 days. However, prolonged treatmentoften leads to suboptimal compliance in children, which is a major contributor to reduced eradication rates. To address this, weevaluated the efficacy and safety of a shorter, 7 day triple therapy with bismuth compared with the 14 day standard triple therapywithout bismuth in H. pylori infected children.Materials and Methods: From 2020 to 2024, we carried out a randomized controlled trial involving treatment-naïve childrenand adolescents (5–18 years old) with confirmed H. pylori infection. Eligible participants were randomly allocated to receiveeither a 7 day triple therapy with bismuth (bismuth subcitrate, a proton pump inhibitor [PPI], amoxicillin, plus clarithromycin/metronidazole) or a 14 day standard triple therapy (a PPI, amoxicillin, plus clarithromycin/metronidazole) without bismuth. Twomonths after completing therapy, treatment success was determined using either a two-step monoclonal stool antigen assay or aurea breath test. Any adverse events were documented using a structured questionnaire.Results: Seventy-three children were enrolled in the study. In the intention-to-treat analysis, eradication was achieved in 91%of children treated with the 7 day triple therapy with bismuth and 87% of those receiving the 14 day standard triple therapy(p = 0.695). Per-protocol eradication rates were 94% and 87%, respectively (p = 0.418). No serious adverse events were reported,and most adverse events were mild to moderate. A metallic taste was significantly more frequent in the 14 day standard tripletherapy group, while other adverse events occurred with similar frequency.Conclusions: Adding bismuth to a 7 day triple regimen achieved high eradication rates and a safety profile similar to 14 daystandard triple therapy, supporting its use as an effective and safe treatment option for pediatric H. pylori infection.
Keywords: treatment, eradication, Helicobacter pylori
Published in DiRROS: 14.01.2026; Views: 106; Downloads: 81
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9. Activation of α2B/2C adrenergic receptor ameliorates ocular surface inflammation through enhancing regulatory T cell functionNai-Wen Fan, Man Yu, Shudan Wang, Tomas Blanco, Zala Lužnik Marzidovšek, Sunil K. Chauhan, Veena Viswanath, Daniel Gil, Katherine S Held, Yihe Chen, Dana Reza, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: There is an unmet need for effectively treating dry eye disease (DED), a T cell-mediated chronic, inflammatory ocular surface disorder. Given the potential of nonneuronal adrenergic system in modulating T cell response, we herein investigated the therapeutic efficacy and the underlying mechanisms of a specific alpha 2 adrenergic receptor agonist (AGN-762, selective for α2B/2C receptor subtypes) in a mouse model of DED. Experimental DED was treated with the AGN-762 by oral gavage, either at disease induction or after disease establishment, and showed sustained amelioration, along with reduced expression of DED-pathogenic cytokines in ocular surface tissues, decreased corneal MHC-II+CD11b+cells and lymphoid Th17 cells, and higher function of regulatory T cells (Treg). In vitro culture of DED- derived effector T helper cells (Teff) with AGN-762 failed to suppress Th17 response, while culture of DED-Treg with AGN-762 led to enhanced suppressive function of Treg and their IL-10 production. Adoptive transfer of AGN-762-pretreated DED-Treg in syngeneic B6.Rag1-/- mice effectively suppressed DED Teff-mediated disease and Th17 response, and the effect was abolished by the neutralization of IL-10. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that α2B/2C adrenergic receptor agonism effectively ameliorates persistent corneal epitheliopathy in DED by enhancing IL-10 production from Treg and thus restoring their immunoregulatory function.
Keywords: dry eye disease, treatment, T cells, Th17 immunity, autoimmunity
Published in DiRROS: 13.01.2026; Views: 168; Downloads: 96
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10. From diagnosis to treatment : navigating the course for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasmsLara Mastnak, David Badovinac, 2025, review article Abstract: Introduction: Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs) represent an increasinglysignificant, unique and complex subgroup of neuroendocrine diseases. Theirheterogeneity is reflected in wide variations in biological behaviour, metastatic potential,functionality and aetiology. This review synthesizes the current understanding of pNENs,from diagnosis to treatment.Discussion: Recent advances in understanding of these neoplasms have led tosignificant changes in their classification, now distinguishing three grades ofwell-differentiated tumours from poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas.These neoplasms are rare and can occur sporadically or within the context of hereditarysyndromes, however, due to advances in diagnostic modalities and ageing populationtheir incidence worldwide is on the rise. They can present as functional neoplasms,secreting biologically active hormones and inducing hormonal syndromes, or asnon-functional neoplasms. Surgery remains the primary curative-intent approach forlocalized and locally advanced tumours, while systemic treatment is often the onlyoption for patients with advanced disease. Multifaceted nature of pNENs demands amultidisciplinary approach that incorporates personalized diagnostic and therapeuticstrategies. While clinical guidelines provide an essential framework, they must remainadaptable to accommodate individual patient circumstances and evolving evidence.Conclusions: This review addresses existing gaps, unresolved controversies and areas ofinconsistency in diagnostic workup and management of pNENs. It underscores theneed for continued investigation to refine our understanding and improve patientoutcomes
Keywords: neuroendocrine tumours, pancreas, diagnostic workup, treatment, multidisciplinary management, clinical guidelines
Published in DiRROS: 08.01.2026; Views: 234; Downloads: 157
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