831. Dietary iodine intake, therapy with radioiodine, and anaplastic thyroid carcinomaNikola Bešić, Barbara Gazić, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most aggressive tumors. The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between a higher dietary intake of iodine, frequency of ATC and the characteristics of ATC, and to find out how often patients with ATC had a history of radioiodine (RAI) therapy. Patients and methods. This retrospective study included 220 patients (152 females, 68 males; mean age 68 years) with ATC who were treated in our country from 1972 to 2017. The salt was iodinated with 10 mg of potassium iodide/ kg before 1999, and with 25 mg of potassium iodide/kg thereafter. The patients were assorted into 15-year periods: 1972%1986, 1987%2001, and 2002%2017. Results. The incidence of ATC decreased after a higher iodination of salt (p = 0.04). Patients are nowadays older (p = 0.013) and have less frequent lymph node metastases (p = 0.012). The frequency of distant metastases did not change over time. The median survival of patients in the first, second, and third periods was 3, 4, and 3 months, respectively (p < 0.05). The history of RAI therapy was present in 7.7% of patients. Conclusions. The number of patients with a history of RAI therapy did not change statistically over time. The incidence of ATC in Slovenia decreased probably because of higher salt iodination. Keywords: anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, iodination of salt, treatment, survival Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 138; Downloads: 81
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832. Breast cancer risk based on adapted IBIS prediction model in Slovenian women aged 40-49 years : coul it be better?Tjaša Oblak, Vesna Zadnik, Mateja Krajc, Katarina Lokar, Janez Žgajnar, 2020, original scientific article Keywords: breast surgery, IBIS, prediction models, risk factors Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 146; Downloads: 62
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833. Diversity and pathobiology of an ilarvirus unexpectedly detected in diverse plants and global sequencing dataMark Paul Selda Rivarez, Chantal Faure, Laurence Svanella-Dumas Svanella-Dumas, Anja Pecman, Magda Tušek-Žnidarič, Deborah Schönegger, Maja Ravnikar, Denis Kutnjak, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: phylogenetics, histopathology, pollen, virus diversity, virion morphology, symptomatology, virus transmission Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 149; Downloads: 142
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834. Sex-specific trait architecture in a spider with sexual size dimorphismSimona Kralj-Fišer, Matjaž Kuntner, Paul Vincent Debes, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Sexual dimorphism, or sex-specific trait expression, may evolve when selection favours different optima for the same trait between sexes, that is, under antagonistic selection. Intra-locus sexual conflict exists when the sexually dimorphic trait under antagonistic selection is based on genes shared between sexes. A common assumption is that the presence of sexual-size dimorphism (SSD) indicates that sexual conflict has been, at least partly, resolved via decoupling of the trait architecture between sexes. However, whether and how decoupling of the trait architecture between sexes has been realized often remains unknown. We tested for differences in architecture of adult body size between sexes in a species with extreme SSD, the African hermit spider (Nephilingis cruentata), where adult female body size greatly exceeds that of males. Specifically, we estimated the sex-specific importance of genetic and maternal effects on adult body size among individuals that we laboratory-reared for up to eight generations. Quantitative genetic model estimates indicated that size variation in females is to a larger extent explained by direct genetic effects than by maternal effects, but in males to a larger extent by maternal than by genetic effects. We conclude that this sex-specific body-size architecture enables body-size evolution to proceed much more independently than under a common architecture to both sexes. Keywords: maternal effects, quantitative genetics, sexual conflict, sexual-size dimorphism, trait architecture Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 169; Downloads: 151
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835. Functional responses in a lizard along a 3.5-km altitudinal gradientNina Guerra Serén, Rodrigo Megía-Palma, Tatjana Simčič, Miha Krofel, Fabio Maria Guarino, Catarina Pinho, Anamarija Žagar, Miguel A. Carretero, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Aim: Physiological and metabolic performance are key mediators of the functional response of species to environmental change. Few environments offer such a multifaceted array of stressors as high-altitude habitats, which differ markedly in temperature, water availability, UV radiation and oxygen pressure compared to low-altitude habitats. Species that inhabit large altitudinal gradients are thus excellent models to study how organisms respond to environmental variation. Location: Tenerife island, Canary Islands archipelago (Spain). Taxon: Tenerife lizard (Gallotia galloti, Lacertidae). Methods: We integrated data on age structure, thermal and hydric regulatory behaviour and four metabolic and stress-related biomarkers for an insular lizard that inhabits an extreme altitudinal range (sea level to 3700 m a.s.l.), to understand how an ectotherms' age, ecophysiology and metabolism can be affected by extreme environmental variation. Results: We found marked differences in metabolic stress markers associated with altitude (particularly in the abundance of carbonyl metabolites and relative telomere length), but without a linear pattern along the altitudinal cline. Contrary to expectations, longer telomeres and lower carbonyl content were detected at the highest altitude, suggesting reduced stress in these populations. Evaporative water loss differed between populations but did not follow a linear altitudinal gradient. Lizard age structure or thermal physiological performance did not markedly change across different altitudes. Mixed signals in life-history and thermal ecology across populations and altitude suggest complex responses to variable conditions across altitude in this species. Main Conclusions: Our integrative study of multiple functional traits demonstrated that adaptation to highly divergent environmental conditions in this lizard is potentially linked to an interplay between plasticity and local adaptation variably associated with different functional traits. Keywords: ecophysiology, evaporative water loss, metabolic activity, oxidative stress, preferred temperatures, relative telomere length, skeletochronology, lizard Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 161; Downloads: 245
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836. Validated inventories of non-indigenous species (NIS) for the Mediterranean Sea as tools for regional policy and patterns of NIS spreadMarika Galanidi, Mehdi Aissi, Malek Ali, Ali Bakalem, Michel Bariche, Angela G. Bartolo, Borut Mavrič, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: This work presents refined, updated subregional and regional non-indigenous species (NIS) inventories for the Mediterranean Sea, validated by national and taxonomic experts, with species records observed until December 2020. These datasets will be used as the baselines for the implementation of the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme for the Mediterranean (IMAP) and the Mediterranean Quality Status Report 2023. In total, 1006 non-indigenous species have been found in Mediterranean marine and brackish waters. The highest numbers of NIS were observed in Israel, Türkiye, Lebanon and Italy. Approximately 45 species were categorized as data deficient, either due to lack of consensus on their alien status or the validity of their identification. Polychaeta, Foraminifera and macroalgae were the groups with the highest numbers of controversial species. There was a general increase in the yearly rate of new NIS introductions after the late 1990s, which appears to be slowing down in the last decade, but this may be confounded by reporting lags and differential research efforts. Between 1970 and 2020 there has been a steep increase in the proportion of shared species present throughout all four Mediterranean subregions, which are predominantly transported via shipping and recreational boating. While Lessepsian species are gradually spreading westwards and northwards, there is still a considerable invasion debt accumulating in the eastern and central Mediterranean. Keywords: non-indigenous species, Mediterranean Sea, validation, non-indigenous species inventories, NIS, Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme for the Mediterranean, IMAP Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 198; Downloads: 165
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837. Inter-comparison of marine microbiome sampling protocolsFrancisco Pascoal, Maria Paola Tomasino, Roberta Piredda, Grazia Marina Quero, Luís Torgo, Julie Poulain, Tinkara Tinta, Timotej Turk Dermastia, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Research on marine microbial communities is growing, but studies are hard to compare because of variation in seawater sampling protocols. To help researchers in the inter-comparison of studies that use different seawater sampling methodologies, as well as to help them design future sampling campaigns, we developed the EuroMarine Open Science Exploration initiative (EMOSE). Within the EMOSE framework, we sampled thousands of liters of seawater from a single station in the NW Mediterranean Sea (Service d'Observation du Laboratoire Arago [SOLA], Banyuls-sur-Mer), during one single day. The resulting dataset includes multiple seawater processing approaches, encompassing different material-type kinds of filters (cartridge membrane and flat membrane), three different size fractionations (>0.22 µm, 0.22–3 µm, 3–20 µm and >20 µm), and a number of different seawater volumes ranging from 1 L up to 1000 L. We show that the volume of seawater that is filtered does not have a significant effect on prokaryotic and protist diversity, independently of the sequencing strategy. However, there was a clear difference in alpha and beta diversity between size fractions and between these and “whole water” (with no pre-fractionation). Overall, we recommend care when merging data from datasets that use filters of different pore size, but we consider that the type of filter and volume should not act as confounding variables for the tested sequencing strategies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a publicly available dataset effectively allows for the clarification of the impact of marine microbiome methodological options across a wide range of protocols, including large-scale variations in sampled volume. Keywords: marine microbiome, standardized sampling, inter-comparison, amplicon sequencing, microbial diversity, seawater sampling Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 156; Downloads: 175
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838. Identification of marine biotechnology value chains with high potential in the Northern Mediterranean regionAna Rotter, Antonia Giannakourou, Jesús E. Argente García, Grazia Marina Quero, Charlène Auregan, Ernesta Grigalionyte-Bembič, Jan Ulčar, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Marine (blue) biotechnology is an emerging field enabling the valorization of new products and processes with massive potential for innovation and economic growth. In the Mediterranean region, this innovation potential is not exploited as well as in other European regions due to a lack of a clear identification of the different value chains and the high fragmentation of business innovation initiatives. As a result, several opportunities to create an innovative society are being missed. To address this problem, eight Northern Mediterranean countries (Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain) established five national blue biotechnology hubs to identify and address the bottlenecks that prevent the development of marine biotechnology in the region. Following a three-step approach (1. Analysis: setting the scene; 2. Transfer: identification of promising value chains; 3. Capitalization: community creation), we identified the three value chains that are most promising for the Northern Mediterranean region: algae production for added-value compounds, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) and valorization aquaculture/fisheries/processing by-products, unavoidable/unwanted catches and discards. The potential for the development and the technical and non-technical skills that are necessary to advance in this exciting field were identified through several stakeholder events which provided valuable insight and feedback that should be addressed for marine biotechnology in the Northern Mediterranean region to reach its full potential. Keywords: marine biotechnology, blue biotechnology, innovation, value chains, Northern Mediterranean, microalgae, macroalgae, IMTA, circular economy, discards valorization Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 151; Downloads: 132
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839. Aberrantly expressed hsa_circ_0060762 and CSE1L as potential peripheral blood biomarkers for ALSMetka Ravnik-Glavač, Massimo Mezzavilla, Ana Dolinar, Blaž Koritnik, Damjan Glavač, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive adult-onset neurodegenerative disease that is often diagnosed with a delay due to initial non-specific symptoms. Therefore, reliable and easy-to-obtain biomarkers are an absolute necessity for earlier and more accurate diagnostics. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have already been proposed as potential biomarkers for several neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we further investigated the usefulness of circRNAs as potential biomarkers for ALS. We first performed a microarray analysis of circRNAs on peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a subset of ALS patients and controls. Among the differently expressed circRNA by microarray analysis, we selected only the ones with a host gene that harbors the highest level of conservation and genetic constraints. This selection was based on the hypothesis that genes under selective pressure and genetic constraints could have a major role in determining a trait or disease. Then we performed a linear regression between ALS cases and controls using each circRNA as a predictor variable. With a False Discovery Rate (FDR) threshold of 0.1, only six circRNAs passed the filtering and only one of them remained statistically significant after Bonferroni correction: hsa_circ_0060762 and its host gene CSE1L. Finally, we observed a significant difference in expression levels between larger sets of patients and healthy controls for both hsa_circ_0060762 and CSE1L. CSE1L is a member of the importin β family and mediates inhibition of TDP-43 aggregation; the central pathogenicity in ALS and hsa_circ_0060762 has binding sites for several miRNAs that have been already proposed as biomarkers for ALS. In addition, receiver operating characteristics curve analysis showed diagnostic potential for CSE1L and hsa_circ_0060762. Hsa_circ_0060762 and CSE1L thus represent novel potential peripheral blood biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ALS. Keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, circRNA, biomarker, peripheral blood biomarker, hsa_circ_0060762, CSE1L, biomedicine Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 132; Downloads: 148
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840. An extended mtDNA phylogeography for the alpine newt illuminates the provenance of introduced populationsJody Robbemont, Sam van Veldhuijzen, Steven J. R. Allain, Johanna Ambu, Ryan Boyle, David Stanković, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Many herpetofauna species have been introduced outside of their native range. MtDNA barcoding is regularly used to determine the provenance of such populations. The alpine newt has been introduced across the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Ireland. However, geographical mtDNA structure across the natural range of the alpine newt is still incompletely understood and certain regions are severely undersampled. We collect mtDNA sequence data of over seven hundred individuals, from both the native and the introduced range. The main new insights from our extended mtDNA phylogeography are that 1) haplotypes from Spain do not form a reciprocally monophyletic clade, but are nested inside the mtDNA clade that covers western and eastern Europe; and 2) haplotypes from the northwest Balkans form a monophyletic clade together with those from the Southern Carpathians and Apuseni Mountains. We also home in on the regions where the distinct mtDNA clades meet in nature. We show that four out of the seven distinct mtDNA clades that comprise the alpine newt are implicated in the introductions in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Ireland. In several introduced localities, two distinct mtDNA clades co-occur. As these mtDNA clades presumably represent cryptic species, we urge that the extent of genetic admixture between them is assessed from genome-wide nuclear DNA markers. We mobilized a large number of citizen scientists in this project to support the collection of DNA samples by skin swabbing and underscore the effectiveness of this sampling technique for mtDNA barcoding. Keywords: citizen science, Ichthyosaura alpestris, invasive species, mtDNA barcoding, skin swabbing Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 168; Downloads: 150
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