101. Differences in growth and log quality of Douglas-Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) provenancesPeter Smolnikar, Robert Brus, Kristjan Jarni, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) is a non-native conifer from western North America that was introduced into European forests at the end of the 19th century. Plantations of Douglas-fir in Europe have shown good performance, quality, and resilience to exacerbating climatic conditions. However, all these qualities strongly depend on provenance. A total of 1061 surviving trees of fifteen different Douglas-fir provenances were measured in a Slovenian provenance trial that was established within the framework of the 1966/1967 IUFRO seed collection program. We found significant differences among provenances with respect to survival rate, growth performance, and log quality. The total recorded yield of the 46-year-old stand was 602.9 m3/ha, and the average survival rate was 43%. The correlation of juvenile tree heights in 1985 and their average breast height diameters in 2017 is positive and significant. Based on vitality and diameter, the best performing provenances were Yelm and Cathlamet. The provenance with the best log quality assessed through branchiness is Jefferson (Olympic Peninsula, western Washington). All the most promising provenances for western Slovenia (Central Europe) originate from the low-altitude western coast of Washington (WACO), with the Cathlamet provenance showing the best combination of good growth, survival rate, and log quality
Keywords: coniferous plantation, IUFRO provenance trial, non-native species, variability, growth, branching
Published in DiRROS: 05.03.2021; Views: 1135; Downloads: 871
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102. Fractional heat shock protein 27 urine excretion as a short-term predictor in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseDenise Traxler, Matthias Zimmermann, Elisabeth Simader, Elisa Einwallner, Dragan Copic, Alexandra Graf, Thomas Mueller, Cecilia Veraar, Mitja Lainščak, Robert Marčun, Mitja Košnik, Matjaž Fležar, Aleš Rozman, Peter Korošec, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and is characterized by episodes of acute exacerbations. Finding a systemic biomarker that reliably predicts outcome after an acute exacerbation remains a major challenge. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) has been previously studied in COPD, however, urine excretion trajectory and prognostic value after an exacerbation is unknown. Methods: In this retrospective post hoc analysis of a prospective study that included 253 COPD patients who were hospitalized for acute exacerbation, 207 patients were analyzed. Urine and serum were sampled at admission, discharge, and 180 days after discharge; urine excretion trajectory was analyzed and correlated with clinicopathological and survival data. Results: HSP27 urine excretion increased after an exacerbation episode [1.8% admission, 1.8% discharge, 2.3% 180 days after discharge (P=0.091)]. In severely ill patients (GOLD IV) this course was even more distinct [1.6% admission, 2.1% discharge, 2.8% 180 days after discharge (P=0.007)]. Furthermore, fractional HSP27 urine excretion at discharge was increased in GOLD IV patients (P=0.031). In Kaplan-Meier and univariable Cox proportional hazard models patients with HSP27 urine excretion below 0.845% showed significantly worse survival at 30, 90 and 180 days after discharge. In a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model including established COPD outcome parameters fractional HSP27 urine excretion remained a significant predictor of survival at 30 and 90 days after discharge. Comparing this model to our already published model that includes HSP27 serum concentration we could show that fractional HSP27 urine excretion performs better in short-term survival. Conclusions: Our findings provide novel information about fractional HSP27 urine excretion trajectory in acute exacerbation of COPD. Fractional HSP27 urine excretion may be significantly reduced during an episode of acute exacerbation in COPD patients and may be used as a predictor of short-term all-cause mortality.
Keywords: biomarkers, heat-shock proteins, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, urine, heat shock protein 27
Published in DiRROS: 25.01.2021; Views: 1501; Downloads: 1030
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104. Effects of a mixed O/F ligand in the Tavorite-type LiVPO[sub]4O structureSorour Semsari Parapari, Jean-Marcel Ateba Mba, Elena Tchernychova, Gregor Mali, Iztok Arčon, Gregor Kapun, Mehmet Ali Gülgün, Robert Dominko, 2020, original scientific article Keywords: XRD, SEM, V XANES, Tavorite-type, electrochemical properties
Published in DiRROS: 25.11.2020; Views: 1693; Downloads: 923
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106. Systemic and airway oxidative stress in competitive swimmersSabina Škrgat, Peter Korošec, Izidor Kern, Mira Šilar, Julij Šelb, Matjaž Fležar, Robert Marčun, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Background: The environment in swimming pools, which contain chlorine, might interact with the airway epithelium, resulting in oxidative stress and/or inflammation during high intensity training periods. Methods: We evaluated pulmonary functional (metacholine challenge test, FEV1 and VC), cellular (eosinophils and neutrophils), inflammatory (FeNo, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-[alpha]), oxidative (8-isoprostanes) and angiogenesis factors (VEGF) in induced sputum and peripheral blood of 41 healthy non-asthmatic elite swimmers (median 16 years) during the period of high intensity training before a national championship. The second paired sampling was performed seven months later after training had been stopped for one month. Results: There was a ten-fold increase (median 82-924 pg/ml; P < 0.001) in 8-isoprostanes in induced sputum and five-fold increase (median 82-924 pg/ml; P < 0.001) in sera during training in comparison to the period of rest. However, there was no difference in FEV1 (113 vs 116%), VC (119 vs 118%), FeNo (median 34 vs 38 ppb), eosinophils (2.7 vs 2.9% in sputum; 180 vs 165 cells/[micro]l in blood), neutrophils, different cytokines or VEGF in induced sputum or sera. The only exception was TNF-[alpha], which was moderately increased in sera (median 23 vs 40 pg/ml; P=0.02) during the peak training period. Almost half (18 of 41) of swimmers showed bronchial hyperresponsiveness during the peak training period (PC20 cutoff was 4 mg/ml). There was no correlation between hyperresponsiveness and the markers of oxidative stress or inflammation. Conclusions: High intensity training in healthy, non-asthmatic competitive swimmers results in marked oxidative stress at the airway and systemic levels, but does not lead to airway inflammation. However, we could not confirm that oxidative stress is associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (AHR), which is often observed during the peak exercise training period.
Keywords: bronchial diseases, swimming, oxidative stress, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, competitive swimmers, training
Published in DiRROS: 23.11.2020; Views: 1772; Downloads: 498
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107. Differences in reporting the ragweed pollen season using Google Trends across 15 countriesJean Bousquet, Ioana Agache, Uwe Berger, Karl-Christian Bergmann, Jean-Pierre Besancenot, Philippe J. Bousquet, Thomas Casale, Gennaro d'Amato, Igor Kaidashev, Musa Khaitov, Ralph Mösges, Kristof Nekam, Gabrielle L. Onorato, Davor Plavec, Aziz Sheikh, Michel Thibaudon, Robert Vautard, Mihaela Zidarn, 2018, review article Abstract: Background: Google Trends (GT) searches trends of specific queries in Google, which potentially reflect the real-life epidemiology of allergic rhinitis. We compared GT terms related to ragweed pollen allergy in American and European Union countries with a known ragweed pollen season. Our aim was to assess seasonality and the terms needed to perform the GT searches and to compare these during the spring and summer pollen seasons. Methods: We examined GT queries from January 1, 2011, to January 4, 2017. We included 15 countries with a known ragweed pollen season and used the standard 5-year GT graphs. We used the GT translation for all countries and the untranslated native terms for each country. Results: The results of "pollen," "ragweed," and "allergy" searches differed between countries, but "ragweed" was clearly identified in 12 of the 15 countries. There was considerable heterogeneity of findings when the GT translation was used. For Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia, the GT translation was inappropriate. The country patterns of "pollen," "hay fever," and "allergy" differed in 8 of the 11 countries with identified "ragweed" queries during the spring and the summer, indicating that the perception of tree and grass pollen allergy differs from that of ragweed pollen. Conclusions: To investigate ragweed pollen allergy using GT, the term "ragweed" as a plant is required and the translation of "ragweed" in the native language needed.
Keywords: allergy and immunology, allergens, seasonal allergic rhinitis, rhinitis, pollen, ambrosia, Google Trends, hay fever
Published in DiRROS: 20.11.2020; Views: 1261; Downloads: 271
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108. Uspevanje omorike (Picea omorika (Pančić) Purk.) v generativnem semenskem nasadu Počivalnik pri PostojniSebastian Bambič, Kristjan Jarni, Gregor Božič, Robert Brus, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Omorika (Picea omorika (Pančić) Purk.) je endemična drevesna vrsta z Balkanskega polotoka, ki dobro uspeva tudi v Sloveniji in bi bila na nekaterih rastiščih v manjših deležih lahko zanimiva alternativa navadni smreki (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Raziskavo smo opravili v nasadu omorike pod vrhom hriba Počivalnik med Uncem in Postojno. Drevesa so bila posajena leta 1988 in so zdaj v fazi drogovnjaka. Izmerili smo jim prsni premer in ocenili zdravstveno stanje. Izračunali smo deleže dreves različnih zdravstvenih stanj za posamezne provenience in fenotipe, izdelali model nasada, napravili analizo variance in post hoc test. Ugotovili smo, da imajo provenience velik vpliv na vitalnost dreves, ne pa tudi na debelinski prirastek. Vitalnost dreves se prav tako razlikuje med posameznimi fenotipi. Korelacijo med fenotipi in prsnimi premeri smo potrdili pri dveh od petih fenotipov (B; tip 'semidichotomy', C; tip 'serbica'). Vpliv fenotipa na debelinski prirastek je v različnih proveniencah različen. Glede na našo raziskavo bi bil ob morebitni uporabi za Dinarski kras v Sloveniji najprimernejši semenski material provenience Šargan, najprimernejša fenotipa pa C (tip 'serbica') in F (tip 'argentea'), oba sicer najbolj zaželena tudi v hortikulturi.
Keywords: Picea omorika, provenienca, fenotip, vitalnost, ujma, pogozdovanje
Published in DiRROS: 18.11.2020; Views: 6149; Downloads: 1760
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109. Expenditures on oncology drugs and cancer mortality-to-incidence ratio in Central and Eastern EuropeEduard Vrdoljak, Gyorgy Bodoky, Jacek Jassem, Razvan A. Popescu, Robert Pirker, Tanja Čufer, Semir Beslija, Alexsandru Eniu, Vladimir Todorović, Katerina Kopečková, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Background. There is a steady decline in cancer mortality in Western Europe (WE), but this trend is not so obvious in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). One of the largest discrepancies between WE and CEE is the level of investment in cancer care. The objective of our analysis was to examine the correlation between mortality-to-incidence (M/I) ratio and expenditures on oncology drugs in CEE and WE. Materials and Methods. This cross-sectional analysis was done on publicly available data. Data on expenditures for oncology drugs were obtained from QuintilesIMS, and data on M/I ratio from Globocan. The main outcome was mortality-to-incidence ratio, and the primary analysis was performed by Spearman's rank correlation. Results. There is a large discrepancy in expenditure on oncology drugs per cancer case between WE and CEE, and within CEE. Average expenditure on oncology drugs per capita as well as per new cancer case was 2.5 times higher in WE than in CEE. Availability of oncology drugs was highest in Germany (100%), relatively similar in WE (average of 91%), but in CEE it ranged from 37% to 86%, with an average of 70%. Annual expenditures on all oncology drugs per new cancer case was significantly negatively correlated with the M/I ratio (Spearman's p = -0.90, p < .001). Conclusion. There is a financial threshold for oncology drugs per cancer case needed to increase survival. Based on significantly lower expenditures for oncology drugs in CEE in comparison with WE, more investment for drugs as well as better, more organized,value-oriented consumption is needed. Implications for Practice. Cancer is not treated equally successfully in Western Europe (WE) and in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). This study showed that success in treatment of cancer is associated with the amount of money invested in oncology drugs. CEE countries spend on average 2.5 times less than WE countries for oncology drugs per new cancer case. These findings should be used by healthcare providers and oncologists struggling for more resources and better, more organized, evidence-based allocation of these resources as well as better oncology outcomes.
Keywords: neoplasms -- mortality -- epidemiology, incidence, pharmaceutical preparations -- economics, cancer, oncology, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, drug expenditures
Published in DiRROS: 26.10.2020; Views: 1384; Downloads: 339
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110. Worldwide perspectives on venom allergyPeter Korošec, Thilo Jakob, Harfi Harb, Robert Heddle, Sarah Karabus, Ricardo de Lima Zollner, Julij Šelb, Bernard Yu-Hor Thong, Fares Zaitoun, David B. K. Golden, Michael Levin, 2019, review article Abstract: Venom immunotherapy is the standard of care for people with severe reactions and has been proven to reduce risk of future anaphylactic events. There is a moral imperative to ensure production, supply and worldwide availability of locally relevant, registered, standardized commercial venom extracts for diagnosis and treatment. Insects causing severe immediate allergic reactions vary by region worldwide. The most common culprits include honeybees (Apis mellifera), social wasps including yellow jackets (Vespula and Dolichovespula), paper wasps (Polistes) and hornets (Vespa), stinging ants (Solenopsis, Myrmecia, Pachycondyla, and Pogonomyrmex), and bumblebees (Bombus). Insects with importance in specific areas of the world include the Australian tick (Ixodes holocyclus), the kissing bug (Triatoma spp), horseflies (Tabanus spp), and mosquitoes (Aedes, Culex, Anopheles). Reliable access to high quality venom immunotherapy to locally relevant allergens is not available throughout the world. Many current commercially available therapeutic vaccines have deficiencies, are not suitable for, or are unavailable in vast areas of the globe. New products are required to replace products that are unstandardized or inadequate, particularly whole-body extract products. New products are required for insects in which no current treatment options exist. Venom immunotherapy should be promoted throughout the world and the provision thereof be supported by health authorities, regulatory authorities and all sectors of the health care service.
Keywords: allergy and immunology, venoms, Hymenoptera, bee venoms, wasp venoms, insecta, ants hornet, bumblebee, mosquitoes, venom immunotherapy, immunologic desensitization
Published in DiRROS: 23.09.2020; Views: 1827; Downloads: 1078
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