801. Diagnostic accuracy of (1-3)-[beta]-D-glucan to predict Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in non-HIV-infected patientsPetra Rogina, Miha Skvarč, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Background Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a common and potentially fatal opportunistic infection in immunocompromised non-HIV individuals. There are problems with clinical and diagnostic protocols for PCP that lack sensitivity and specificity. We designed a retrospective study to compared several methods that were used in diagnostics of PCP. Patients and methods One hundred and eight immunocompromised individuals with typical clinical picture for PCP and suspicious radiological findings were included in the study. Serum samples were taken to measure the values of (1-3)-[beta]-D-glucan (Fungitell, Associates of Cape Cod, USA). Lower respiratory tract samples were obtained to perform direct immunofluorescence (DIF, MERIFLUOR Pneumocystis, Meridian, USA) stain and real-time PCR (qPCR). Results Fifty-four (50%) of the 108 patients in our study had (1-3)-[beta]-D-glucan > 500 pg/ml. Patients that had (1-3)-[beta]-D-glucan concentrations < 400 pg/ml in serum, had mean threshold cycles (Ct) 35.43 +- 3.32 versus those that had (1-3)-[beta]-D-glucan concentrations >400 pg/mL and mean Ct of 28.97 +- 5.27 (P < 0.001). If we detected P. jirovecii with DIF and qPCR than PCP was proven. If the concentration of (1-3)-[beta]-D-glucan was higher than 400 pg/ml and Ct of qPCR was below 28.97 +- 5.27 than we have been able be certain that P. jirovecii caused pneumonia (odds ratio [OR] 2.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62-3.27, P < 0.001). Conclusions Measurement of (1-3)-[beta]-D-glucan or qPCR alone could not be used to diagnose PCP. Diagnostic cut-off value for (1-3)-[beta]-D-glucan > 400pg/ml and qPCR below 30 Ct, allow us to conclude that patient has PCP. If the values of (1-3)-[beta]-D-glucan are < 400 pg/ml and qPCR is above 35 Ct than colonization with P. jirovecii is more possible than PCP. Keywords: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, real-time PCR, non-HIV-infected patients Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 136; Downloads: 91
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802. Mechanical recanalization for acute bilateral cerebral artery occlusion - literature overview with a caseMiran Jeromel, Zoran Miloševič, Janja Pretnar-Oblak, 2020, review article Abstract: Background. Acute bilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) and/or middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion is extremely rare and associated with poor clinical outcomes. There are only a few reports in the literature about mechanical thrombectomy being performed for acute bilateral occlusions. The treatment strategies and prognoses (clinical outcomes) are therefore unclear. Methods. A systematic review of the literature was performed through several electronic databases with the following search terms: acute bilateral stroke, mechanical recanalization and thrombectomy. Results. In the literature, we identified five reports of six patients with bilateral ICA and/or MCA occlusion treated with mechanical recanalization. Additionally, we report our experience with a subsequent contralateral large brain artery occlusion during intravenous thrombolytic therapy, where the outcome after mechanical thrombectomy was not dependent on the time from stroke onset but rather on the capacity of collateral circulation exclusively. Conclusions. Acute bilateral cerebral (ICA and/or MCA) occlusion leads to sudden severe neurological deficits (comas) with unpredicted prognoses, even when mechanical recanalization is available. As the collateral capacity seems to be more important than the absolute time to flow restoration in determining the outcomes, simultaneous thrombectomy by itself probably does not lead to improved functional outcomes. Keywords: acute bilateral stroke, mechanical recanalization, thrombectomy Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 133; Downloads: 73
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803. Studying cell death initiation using a digital microscopeTina Arnšek, Nuša Golob, Nastja Marondini, Maruša Pompe Novak, Kristina Gruden, Tjaša Lukan, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Hypersensitive response (HR)-conferred resistance is an effective defense response that can be determined by the N resistance genes. HR is manifested as the formation of cell death zones on inoculated leaves. Here, a protocol for studying the rate of cell death initiation by imaging inoculated leaves in the time between the cell death initiation and the cell death appearance using a digital microscope is presented. The digital microscope enables a continuous imaging process in desired intervals, which allows an accurate determination of cell death initiation rate up to minutes exactly, as opposed to hours in traditional methods. Imaging with the digital microscope is also independent of light and can therefore be used during day and night without disturbing the circadian rhythm of the plant. Different pathosystems resulting in programmed cell death development could be studied using this protocol with minor modifications. Overall, the protocol thus allows simple, accurate, and inexpensive identification of cell death initiation rate. Keywords: digital microscope, cell death, inoculated leaves Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 157; Downloads: 86
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804. The first record of a stygobiotic form of Garra rufa (Heckel, 1843), sympatric with Garra tashanensis Mousavi-Sabet, Vatandoust, Fatemi & Eagderi, 2016 (Teleostei, Cyprinidae), in Iranian subterranean watersMohammad Javad Malek-Hosseini, Jean-François Flot, Yaser Fatemi, Hamid Babolimoakher, Matjaž Kuntner, Oleg A. Diripasko, Dušan Jelić, Nina G. Bogutskaya, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: developmental biology, karst aquifers, stygobionts, phylogeny, cave animals, Iran Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 153; Downloads: 125
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805. New records of rarely reported species in the Mediterranean Sea (July 2023)Daniele Grech, Giorgos Chatzigeorgiou, Emanuele Asciutto, Rigers Bakiu, Pietro Battaglia, Chaima Ben-Grira, Lovrenc Lipej, Borut Mavrič, Domen Trkov, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: This Collective Article presents new information about the occurrence of 23 marine taxa that belong to five Phyla: two Chlorophyta, one Annelida, six Mollusca, three Arthropoda, eleven Chordata (one Ascidiacea, one Elasmobranchii and nine Teleostei) and extending from the Western Mediterranean to the Levantine Sea. All these records were reported from nine countries from the western to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with a broad biogeographical coverage as follows: Spain: first records of the sacoglossans Cyerce graeca and Placida tardyi for the Alboran Sea and first records of the nudibranch Marionia gemmii for the Mediterranean waters of Spain; first records of nudibranch Algarvia alba in the Mediterranean Sea. Italy: First report of the long-legged crab Paragalene longicrura, a further new Mediterranean record of the rare offshore rockfish Pontinus kuhlii, first documented record of the spiny butterfly ray Gymnura altavela in Sardinia (Tyrrhenian Sea), new record of the red‐spotted wrasse Lappanella fasciata from the Messina Strait, first documented record of the rarely observed brown moray Gymnothorax unicolor in the Ionian coast, first record of the colonial ascidian Botrylloides israeliensis, first record of the Morocco dentex Dentex maroccanus, first record of mottled shore crab Pachygrapsus maurus and of an adult specimen of barracudina Lestidiops sphyrenoides in the Adriatic Sea, and further new Mediterranean records of Ross worm Sabellaria spinulosa along the same coast. Tunisia: second record of smalleye squaretail Tetragonurus cuvieri from the African Mediterranean coast. Slovenia: first records of the sea slug Trapania graeffei and Melanochlamys wildpretii, with the last one also representing the northernmost finding of this species. Croatia: northernmost record of the endangered twaite shad Alosa fallax in the Adriatic coast. Albania: first records of the Mediterranean spearfish Tetrapturus belone. Türkiye: first record from the Aegean coasts for Türkiye of the green macroalgae Cladophora battersii and Valonia aegagropila. Israel: first record of the skeleton shrimp Caprella acanthifera in the Southeastern Mediterranean Sea. Syria: first record of the Smooth grenadier Nezumia aequalis from Syrian marine waters. Keywords: rare species, gillrakers, Levantine Sea, Mediterranean Sea Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 114; Downloads: 142
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806. The prevalence of occult ovarian cancer in the series of 155 consequently operated high risk asymptomatic patients : Slovenian population based studyAndreja Gornjec, Sebastjan Merlo, Srdjan Novaković, Vida Stegel, Barbara Gazić, Andraž Perhavec, Ana Blatnik, Mateja Krajc, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: We assessed the prevalence, localization, type and outcome of occult cancer at risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy or salpingectomy (RRSO) in asymptomatic carriers of pathogenic or likely pathogenic BRCA1/2 variants and high-risk BRCA1/2 negative women. Patients and methods. A retrospective analysis of all consecutive gynaecologic preventive surgeries from January 2009 to December 2015 was performed. Participants underwent genetic counselling and BRCA1/2 testing before the procedure. Data on clinical parameters, adjuvant treatment and follow-up were collected and analysed. Results. One hundred and fifty-five RRSO were performed in 110 BRCA1, 35 BRCA2 carriers of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants and 10 high-risk BRCA1/2 negative women, at the mean age of 48.3 years. Nine occult cancers (9/155, 5.8%) were identified; eight in BRCA1 positive women and one in high-risk BRCA1/2 negative woman. We identified four non-invasive serous intraepithelial tubal carcinomas (3 in BRCA1 carriers and 1 in a high-risk BRCA1/2 negative woman) and five invasive tubo-ovarian high grade serous cancers (all detected in BRCA1 carriers). Only one out of nine patients (11.1%) with occult cancer had a slightly elevated CA-125 value preoperatively. Conclusions. A 5.8% prevalence of occult invasive and noninvasive tubo-ovarian serous cancer after RRSO was found in high risk asymptomatic and screen negative women. We conclude that RRSO should be performed in BRCA1/2 carriers and in high-risk BRCA1/2 negative women. Age of preventive gynaecologic surgery should be carefully planned, taking into account the completion of childbearing age and type of mutation. The results favour the tubal hypothesis of tubal origin of high grade serous ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Cytology result of peritoneal cavity washing was important for the decision making process in determining treatment. Cytology examination should be performed in all cases of RRSO. CA-125 assay did not prove to be an effective screening tool for early cancer detection in our patients. Keywords: risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy, occult serous cancer, serous tubal intraepithelial cancer, BRCA1/2 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 114; Downloads: 47
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807. Benthic sediment as stores and sources of bacteria and viruses in streams : a comparison of baseflow vs. stormflow longitudinal transport and residence timesJennifer D Drummond, José Gonçalves, Tomás Aquino, Susan A. Bernal, Esperança Gacia, Ion Gutiérrez-Aguirre, Valentina Turk, Maja Ravnikar, Stefan Krause, Eugenia Martí Roca, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: The presence of bacteria and viruses in freshwater represents a global health risk. The substantial spatial and temporal variability of microbes leads to difficulties in quantifying the risks associated with their presence in freshwater. Fine particles, including bacteria and viruses are transported and accumulated into shallow streambed (i.e., benthic) sediment, delaying the downstream transmission during baseflow conditions but contributing to their resuspension and transport downstream during stormflow events. Direct measurements of pathogen accumulation in benthic sediments are rare. Until now, the dynamic role of benthic sediment as both a store and source of microbes, has not been quantified. In this study, we analyze microbial abundance in benthic sediment along a 1 km reach of an intermittent Mediterranean stream receiving inputs from the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant, a known point source of microbes in streams. We sampled benthic sediment during a summer drought when the wastewater effluent constituted 100 % of the stream flow, and thus, large accumulation and persistence of pathogens along the streambed was expected. We measured the abundance of total bacteria, Escherichia coli (as a fecal indicator), and presence of enteric rotavirus (RoV) and norovirus (NoV). The abundance of E. coli, based on qPCR detection, was high (4.99∙102 gc /cm2) along the first 100 m downstream of the wastewater effluent input and in general decreased with distance from the source, with presence of RoV and NoV along the study reach. A particle tracking model was applied, that uses stream water velocity as an input, and accounts for microbial exchange into, immobilization, degradation, and resuspension out of benthic sediment during baseflow and stormflow. Rates of exchange into benthic sediment were 3 orders of magnitude higher during stormflow, but residence times were proportionately lower, resulting in increased longitudinal connectivity from up to downstream during stormflow. Model simulations demonstrated mechanistically how the rates of exchange into and out of the benthic sediment resulted in benthic sediment to act as a store during baseflow and a source during stormflow. Keywords: E. coli, norovirus, rotavirus, benthic sediment, pathogen transport, microbial risk Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 137; Downloads: 123
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808. Current and innovative approaches in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer : the role of transurethral resection of bladder tumor and organoidsMilena Taskovska, Mateja Erdani-Kreft, Tomaž Smrkolj, 2020, review article Abstract: Background. Bladder cancer is the 7th most common cancer in men. About 75% of all bladder cancer are nonmuscle invasive (NMIBC). The golden standard for definite diagnosis and first-line treatment of NMIBC is transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURB). Historically, the monopolar current was used first, today bipolar current is preferred by most urologists. Following TURB, depending on the tumour grade, additional intravesical chemo- or/and immunotherapy is indicated, in order to prevent recurrence and need for surgical resection. Development of new technologies, molecular and cell biology, enabled scientists to develop organoids % systems of human cells that are cultivated in the laboratory and have characteristics of the tissue from which they were harvested. In the field of urologic cancers, the organoids are used mainly for studying the course of different diseases, however, in the field of bladder cancer the data are scarce. Conclusions. Different currents - monopolar and bipolar, have different effect on urothelium, that is important for oncological results and pathohistological interpretation. Specimens of bladder cancer can be used for preparation of organoids that are further used for studying carcinogenesis. Bladder organoids are step towards personalised medicine, especially for testing effectiveness of chemo-/immunotherapeutics. Keywords: bladder cancer, transurethral resection of bladder tumour, monopolar/bipolar current, consensus molecular subtype Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 102; Downloads: 72
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809. 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: 111; Downloads: 67
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810. 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: 118; Downloads: 58
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