Aims
Heart failure (HF) hospitalization rates are decreasing in western Europe, but little is known about trends in central and east European countries. We analysed the Slovenian national ...hospitalization database to determine the burden of HF hospitalization.
Methods and results
The Slovenian National Hospital Discharge Registry was searched for HF hospitalizations between 2004 and 2012 in patients aged ≥20 years. A total of 55 531 main HF hospitalizations (43 636 first HF hospitalizations) in 34 406 patients (median age 78 years, 55% female) were recorded. The most common co‐morbidities were arterial hypertension (54.3%), atrial fibrillation (40.6%), diabetes mellitus (24.5%), and ischaemic heart disease (21.9%). The number of age‐standardized main and first HF hospitalizations per 100 000 population decreased from 249 to 232 (7.1%, P = 0.002) and from 467 to 435 (6.8%, P = 0.074), respectively. Crude main and first HF hospitalization rates increased from 249 to 298 (19.8%, P < 0.001) and from 530 to 558 (5.4%, P = 0.100), respectively. After a first HF hospitalization, any HF readmission rates within 30, 60, and 90 days and at 1 year were 11.7, 17.2, 20.9, and 37.5%, respectively. Hospitalization trends were similar in both sexes and across all age groups. In a multivariate log binomial regression model, myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, male sex, and year of admission were independently associated with higher HF readmission rates (P < 0.01 for all).
Conclusions
In Slovenia, standardized HF hospitalization rates have decreased but the crude HF hospitalization burden has increased. Readmissions were associated with established cardiovascular risk factors.
The most common primary liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and its mortality rate is increasing globally. The overall 5-year survival of patients with liver cancer is currently 10-20%. ...Moreover, because early diagnosis can significantly improve prognosis, which is highly correlated with tumor stage, early detection of HCC is critical. International guidelines advise using α-FP biomarker with/without ultrasonography for HCC surveillance in patients with advanced liver disease. However, traditional biomarkers are sub-optimal for risk stratification of HCC development in high-risk populations, early diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment response prediction. Since about 20% of HCCs do not produce α-FP due to its biological diversity, combining α-FP with novel biomarkers can enhance HCC detection sensitivity. There is a chance to offer promising cancer management methods in high-risk populations by utilizing HCC screening strategies derived from new tumor biomarkers and prognostic scores created by combining biomarkers with distinct clinical parameters. Despite numerous efforts to identify molecules as potential biomarkers, there is no single ideal marker in HCC. When combined with other clinical parameters, the detection of some biomarkers has higher sensitivity and specificity in comparison with a single biomarker. Therefore, newer biomarkers and models, such as the Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of Alpha-fetoprotein (α-FP), α-FP-L3, Des-γ-carboxy-prothrombin (DCP or PIVKA-II), and the GALAD score, are being used more frequently in the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. Notably, the GALAD algorithm was effective in HCC prevention, particularly for cirrhotic patients, regardless of the cause of their liver disease. Although the role of these biomarkers in surveillance is still being researched, they may provide a more practical alternative to traditional imaging-based surveillance. Finally, looking for new diagnostic/surveillance tools may help improve patients' survival. This review discusses the current roles of the most used biomarkers and prognostic scores that may aid in the clinical management of HCC patients.
The distributions of the total mercury (T-Hg), methylmercury (MeHg), and ethylmercury (EtHg) concentrations in soil and their relationship to chemical composition of the soil and total organic carbon ...content (TOC, %) were investigated. Core samples were collected from hill slope on the right and left riverbanks of the Idrija River. Former smelting plant is located on the right bank. The T-Hg average in each of the core samples ranged from 0.25 to 1650 mg kg−1. The vertical T-Hg variations in the samples from the left bank showed no significant change with depth. Conversely, the T-Hg varied with depth, with the surface, or layers several centimeters from the surface, tending to show the highest values in the samples from the right bank. Since the right and left bank soils have different chemical compositions, different pathways of mercury delivery into soils were suggested. The MeHg and EtHg concentrations ranged from n.d. (not detected) to 444 μg kg−1 and n.d. to 17.4 μg kg−1, respectively. The vertical variations of MeHg and EtHg were similar to those of TOC, except for the near-surface layers containing TOC greater than 20%. These results suggest that the decomposition of organic matter is closely related to organic mercury formation.
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•The distributions of T-Hg, MeHg, and EtHg near the Idrija Hg mine were investigated.•The Hg values were compared to the chemical composition, TOC, and T-N of the soil.•The first data of EtHg in soil around the mine is reported.•The decomposition of organic matter is closely related to organic Hg formation.•Hg circulation among soil, air and plant with change of chemical forms was suggested.
Background
Currently, data on pathogenic variants in the
CHEK2
gene and their impact on cancer risk are lacking. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of breast cancer (BC) patients from ...families with
CHEK2
pathogenic variants in Slovenia.
Methods
In the years 2014 to 2019,
CHEK2
pathogenic variants/likely pathogenic variants (PV/LPVs) were found in probands from 50 different families who underwent genetic counseling and testing using a multigene panel at the authors’ institution. Altogether, the study enrolled 75 individuals from 50
CHEK2
families who were carriers of a
CHEK2
PV/LPV. The clinical data on 41 BC patients with
CHEK2
PV/LPV and other carriers of
CHEK2
PV/LPV from Slovenia were collected and analyzed.
Results
Breast cancer was diagnosed in 41 of 75
CHEK2
PV/LPV carriers (40 females, 1 male). The mean age at BC diagnosis was 42.8 years (range, 21–63 years), and 27 (65.8%) of the 41 of patients with BC had a positive family history for BC. Contralateral BC (CBC) was observed in 8 (19.5%) of the 41 patients (mean age, 55.6 years). Of 12 patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive tumor type, a c.444+1G > A PV/LPV was detected in 4 patients, c.349A > G in 3 patients, deletion of exons 9–10 in 3 patients, deletion of exon 8 in 1 patient, and c.1427C > T PV/LPV in 1 patient.
Conclusion
Bilateral BC was diagnosed in as many as 19.5% of the Slovenian BC patients with
CHEK2
PV/LPVs. Breast cancer associated with a germline
CHEK2
PV/LPV occurs in younger patients compared with sporadic BC.
The new Checklist of hornworts (Anthocerotophyta) and liverworts (Marchantiophyta) of Slovenia within current political boundaries comprises 181 species, additional 4 subspecies and 2 varieties. ...Additional 5 species are denoted by a question mark since reports are considered questionable. An alphabetically arranged tabular presentation of genera, species and lower taxa shows their presence in the phytogeographical units of Slovenia. The records from the periods before and after 1958 are marked with different symbols. Each species also has a new Red List status in Slovenia. The checklist includes the data from the literature and Herbarium LJU. Annotations to selected species give a critical evaluation of the literature and herbarium data. A list of taxa that should be excluded from the flora of Slovenia, the synonyms and the used literature with floristic data not cited in this article are also added.
This article provides an overview and analysis of how the study of sport at the intersection with the media has developed in the Slovenian context over the last three decades. The first part of the ...article briefly explains the importance and role of sport and media in the broader social context. By looking in particular at sports journalism and introducing the Slovenian context, the purpose of the study is clarified. The second part identifies and reviews all academic research contributions published on the highlighted intersection and during the selected period. Based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the most frequently addressed aspects of the sports media system, the main research topics identified and the media outlets studied, the main findings are summarized and highlighted. While studies addressing different aspects of nationality predominate, attention to gendered nationalism is highlighted as particularly valuable in the context of studies focusing on gender and its intersections. Event-oriented and decontextualized sports content is problematized in the context of recent studies focusing on some aspects of sports journalism. In the final section of the article, some guidelines are formulated to encourage further research in (and of) this geographical area (and beyond).
We report a case of human metapneumovirus infection that spread from humans to chimpanzees and back to humans. Bronchopneumonia developed in 4 of 6 members of a chimpanzee family, and 2 subsequently ...died. The chimpanzees' keeper also became ill. Sequencing showed 100% identity between virus sequences from chimpanzees and the keeper.
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