Dietary Intake of Adolescents and Alignment with Recommendations for Healthy and Sustainable Diets: Results of the SI.Menu Study.

BACKGROUND: The SI.Menu study offers the latest data on the dietary intake of Slovenian adolescents aged 10 to 17. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively assess their dietary intake (energy and nutrients) and compare their food intakes with dietary recommendations for healthy and sustainable diets. METHODS: The cross-sectional epidemiological dietary study SI.Menu (March 2017-April 2018) was conducted on a representative sample of Slovenian adolescents aged 10 to 17 years (n = 468) (230 males and 238 females). Data on dietary intake were gathered through two non-consecutive 24 h recalls, in line with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) EU Menu methodology. The repeated 24 h Dietary Recall (HDR) and Food Propensity Questionnaire (FPQ) data were combined to determine the usual intakes of nutrients and food groups, using the Multiple Source Method (MSM) program. RESULTS: Adolescents' diets significantly deviate from dietary recommendations, lacking vegetables, milk and dairy products, nuts and seeds, legumes, and water, while containing excessive meat (especially red meat) and high-sugar foods. This results in insufficient intake of dietary fibre, and nutrients such as vitamin D, folate, and calcium. CONCLUSIONS: The dietary intake of Slovenian adolescents does not meet healthy and sustainable diet recommendations. This study provides an important insight into the dietary habits of Slovenian adolescents that could be useful for future public health strategies.

The Impact of National Activities on Antibiotic Consumption in Hospitals and Different Departments over a 14-Year Period.

The aim of this study was to assess the use of antibiotics in hospitals and different departments over 14 years (2006-2019) and the impact of various national activities related to this, including national audits of the use of antibiotics for systemic use. The consumption of antibiotics for systemic use (J01) from all Slovenian hospitals (n = 29) and five departments (internal medicine, surgery, ICU (medicine, surgery), paediatrics and gynaecology/obstetrics) was collected. Total hospital consumption was expressed as the number of defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID), the number of DDDs/100 bed days and the number of DDDs/100 admissions. Over 14 years, J01 hospital consumption increased by 13.8%, expressed in DDDs/100 bed days (p = 0.002). In 2019, compared to 2006, the consumption of J01, expressed in DDD/100 bed days, increased from 19.9% to 33.1% in all departments, except intensive care units. J01 consumption expressed in DDD/100 admissions increased by 7.0% to 39.4% in all but paediatric wards (where it decreased by 12.7%). In all years, we observed large variations in the consumption of antibiotics in departments of the same type. The effectiveness of audit interventions aimed at optimizing antibiotic consumption exhibited notable variation across hospitals, with specialized facilities generally demonstrating superior outcomes compared to general hospitals.

Navigating Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm Management through Fukuoka Consensus vs. European Evidence-Based Guidelines on Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms-A Study on Two European Centers.

This study addresses the critical need for the accurate diagnosis and management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs), which are pancreatic cystic neoplasm types holding a substantial potential for malignancy. It evaluates the diagnostic effectiveness of the Fukuoka consensus guidelines and the European evidence-based guidelines in detecting high-grade dysplasia/invasive carcinoma in IPMNs, utilizing a retrospective analysis of 113 patients from two European medical centers. The methods include a comparative analysis of clinical, radiological, and endoscopic ultrasonography data, alongside an assessment of guideline-driven diagnostic performance. The results demonstrate that both guidelines offer similar accuracy in identifying severe disease stages in IPMNs, with certain clinical markers-such as jaundice, solid mass presence, and an increase in CA 19-9 levels-being pivotal in predicting the need for surgical intervention. This study concludes that while both guidelines provide valuable frameworks for IPMN management, there is an inherent need for further research to refine these protocols and improve patient-specific treatment strategies. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on optimizing diagnostic and treatment paradigms for pancreatic cystic neoplasms, aiming to enhance clinical outcomes and patient care in this challenging medical field.

Monitoring and Genotyping of Wild Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris) in Slovenia.

Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris (sylvestris) is the only native wild grapevine in Eurasia (Europe and western Asia) and is the existing ancestor of the grapevine varieties (for wine and table grape production) belonging to the subsp. sativa. In Slovenia, the prevailing opinion has been that there are no Slovenian sylvestris habitats. This study describes sylvestris in Slovenia for the first time and aims to present an overview of the locations of the wild grapevine in the country. In this project, a sample set of 89 accessions were examined using 24 SSR and 2 SSR markers plus APT3 markers to determine flower sex. The accessions were found in forests on the left bank of the Sava River in Slovenia, on the border between alluvial soils and limestone and dolomite soils, five different sites, some of which are described for the first time. The proportion of female to male accessions differed between sites. At two sites, female plants dominated; at others, the ratio was balanced. The plants' genetic diversity and structure were compared with autochthonous and unique varieties of subsp. sativa from old vineyards in Slovenia and with rootstocks escaped from nature from abandoned vineyards. Sylvestris was clearly distinguishable from vinifera and the rootstocks. Based on genetic analyses, it was confirmed that Slovenian sylvestris is closest to the Balkan and German sylvestris groups. Meanwhile, a safety duplication of the wild grapevine accessions has been established at the University Centre of Viticulture and Enology Meranovo, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Maribor.

Investigating potential supply of ecosystem services in cultural landscapes through efficiency analysis.

One of the paramount challenges in natural resource management revolves around the delicate equilibrium between the demand for and the supply of diverse Ecosystem Services (ESs) within a cultural landscape. Recognizing the centrality of cultural landscapes to human well-being, the sustainability of these landscapes hinges upon the health and stability of ecosystems that can effectively provide the required ESs. Over the long term, the sustainable supply of ESs is constrained by the potential supply of ESs. Understanding the potential supply of ESs is crucial for averting compromises to the ecosystems within a landscape. This article introduces a novel perspective on evaluating the ESs of a landscape by means of efficiency analysis. Instead of presenting the potential supply of ESs in absolute terms, we offer a comparative analysis of ESs' relative supply to associated management costs. In principle, the efficiency of Landscape Units (LUs) is defined as the ratio of the potential supply of multiple ESs to the costs associated with land use and land cover management. The resultant efficiency maps serve as hot and cold spot maps, revealing efficient ecosystem compositions that yield multiple ESs. This composition reflects management efforts, incorporating various management costs. Forests emerge as pivotal ecosystems in landscapes, delivering the most ESs at the lowest costs. These efficiency maps offer valuable insights for regional planners, enabling them to enhance the supply of ES in inefficient LUs by studying the ecosystem structure and associated costs of the most efficient LUs.

Updated Surveillance Metrics and History of the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-2023) in Europe: Longitudinal Trend Analysis.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we built upon our initial research published in 2020 by incorporating an additional 2 years of data for Europe. We assessed whether COVID-19 had shifted from the pandemic to endemic phase in the region when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the public health emergency of international concern on May 5, 2023. OBJECTIVE: We first aimed to measure whether there was an expansion or contraction in the pandemic in Europe at the time of the WHO declaration. Second, we used dynamic and genomic surveillance methods to describe the history of the pandemic in the region and situate the window of the WHO declaration within the broader history. Third, we provided the historical context for the course of the pandemic in Europe in terms of policy and disease burden at the country and region levels. METHODS: In addition to the updates of traditional surveillance data and dynamic panel estimates from the original study, this study used data on sequenced SARS-CoV-2 variants from the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data to identify the appearance and duration of variants of concern. We used Nextclade nomenclature to collect clade designations from sequences and Pangolin nomenclature for lineage designations of SARS-CoV-2. Finally, we conducted a 1-tailed t test for whether regional weekly speed was greater than an outbreak threshold of 10. We ran the test iteratively with 6 months of data across the sample period. RESULTS: Speed for the region had remained below the outbreak threshold for 4 months by the time of the WHO declaration. Acceleration and jerk were also low and stable. While the 1-day and 7-day persistence coefficients remained statistically significant, the coefficients were moderate in magnitude (0.404 and 0.547, respectively; P<.001 for both). The shift parameters for the 2 weeks around the WHO declaration were small and insignificant, suggesting little change in the clustering effect of cases on future cases at the time. From December 2021 onward, Omicron was the predominant variant of concern in sequenced viral samples. The rolling t test of speed equal to 10 became insignificant for the first time in April 2023. CONCLUSIONS: While COVID-19 continues to circulate in Europe, the rate of transmission remained below the threshold of an outbreak for 4 months ahead of the WHO declaration. The region had previously been in a nearly continuous state of outbreak. The more recent trend suggested that COVID-19 was endemic in the region and no longer reached the threshold of the pandemic definition. However, several countries remained in a state of outbreak, and the conclusion that COVID-19 was no longer a pandemic in Europe at the time is unclear.

Herpesvirus and Subsequent Usutu Virus Infection in a Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) at the Ljubljana Zoo, Slovenia.

Herpesvirus (HV) has been known to cause disease in owls, with various clinical signs and outcomes for the last several decades. The HV DNA polymerase gene was detected in oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs of a male great grey owl (Strix nebulosa) in a zoological collection in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In the following 4 months, despite continuous HV detection in swabs, no clinical signs with a clear link to HV disease were observed. Hepatoprotective and immunostimulant therapies applied during this period did not prevent HV shedding. Therefore, peroral antiviral therapy with acyclovir (150 mg/kg q24 h for seven days) was performed, and the owl tested negative at the next sampling and remained negative for the next 8 months. After that, the owl again tested positive for HV presence, and the same protocol with antiviral therapy was performed. After 3 weeks with a negative test for HV presence, without any clinical signs of illness, the owl suddenly died because of Usutu virus (USUV) infection. Among all the owls at the zoo, interestingly, only the HV-positive great grey owl died because of USUV infection. The USUV sequence detected and obtained in this study clusters together with other Europe 2 sequences detected in neighboring countries. Our study shows the potential of acyclovir therapy in the prevention of herpesvirus shedding and, moreover, lowering the possibility for spreading HV to other owls and birds. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of HV presence and USUV infection in a great grey owl in Slovenia.

Motivational variations in fitness: a population study of exercise modalities, gender and relationship status.

Introduction: Motivation plays a crucial role in determining whether or not a person adheres to an exercise program. The present study aimed to determine the motivational differences between people exercising in fitness alone, in groups/aerobics and with a personal trainer by gender and relationship status. Methods: The Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 (EMI-2) questionnaire was completed by 830 users of 20 largest fitness centers in Slovenia. Results: The Kruskal-Wallis test followed by a Dunn post-hoc test revealed that health-related motives such as ill-health avoidance were most frequently associated with exercising with a personal trainer compared to other exercise modalities, especially among females (p = 0.032, M = 4.88) and people in a relationship (p = 0.020, M = 5.18). On the other hand, intrinsic motivations such as enjoyment and stress management were mostly associated with exercising alone (p = 0.002, M = 4.98 and p = 0.021, M = 4.68, respectively). These results were also transferred to females and to some extent to people in a relationship (for enjoyment only). It is expected that intrinsic motivation is related to sustained exercise behavior. Discussion: Future studies could implement a longitudinal design to test this statement and examine the proposed relationships over a longer period to better understand whether there may be causal relationships between motivation and different exercise modalities depending on different characteristics of participants.

Habitat Degradation Facilitates the Invasion of Neophytes: A Resurvey Study Based on Permanent Vegetation Plots in Oak Forests in Slovenia (Europe).

The spread of neophytes (non-native plant species) challenges the conservation status and ecological integrity of forests, especially in lowland areas. Long-term resurvey studies are needed to evaluate the temporal dynamics of neophytes in forests; however, such data are scarce. In 2023, we resampled a set of 45 permanent vegetation plots (established in 1992/93) in two forest vegetation types: oak-hornbeam forests dominated by Quercus robur and colline oak-beech forests dominated by Q. petraea. Over the last 30 years, oak forests have experienced extensive oak tree mortality, with the degree of habitat degradation being greater in Q. robur forests. In the early 1990s, only three neophytes with low abundance were recorded across all plots. In the 2023 resurvey, the total number of neophytes increased to 22 species (15 herbaceous and 7 woody species), comprising 6.9% of the total species pool in the understory layer. The increase in the plot-level number and cover of neophytes was significant in plots dominated by Q. robur but not in those with Q. petraea. The most frequent neophytes were Impatiens parviflora (present in 31% of plots), Solidago gigantea (27%), Erigeron annuus (16%) and Erechtites hieraciifolia (16%). The richness and cover of neophytes were significantly affected by the tree layer cover (negative correlation) and the degree of soil disturbance (positive correlation). All neophytes established in disturbed patches, whereas the occurrence of I. parviflora was exceptional as it was able to colonize less degraded, shaded understory environments. Habitat degradation (the mortality-induced loss of stand-forming oak trees resulting in extensive tree layer cover decrease) emerged as a key driver promoting neophyte proliferation, coupled with the impact of management-induced disturbances affecting overstory and soil conditions. The spread is expected to continue or even intensify in the future because novel light regimes and disturbances make forest habitats less resistant to neophyte proliferation.

Whole genome sequencing and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients with bacteraemia in Slovenia.

PURPOSE: Data on the molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients with bacteraemia in Slovenia are lacking. The aim of this study was to phenotypically and genotypically investigate 82 MRSA strains isolated from patients with bloodstream infections in central Slovenia between 2019 and 2022. METHODS: Whole-genome sequencing of selected strains was performed to characterize the strains based on sequence typing, antimicrobial resistance, toxin, and virulence factors genes. RESULTS: Most MRSA carried SCCmec II (63.4%), followed by SCCmec IV (34.1%) and SCCmec V (2.5%). A high proportion of strains belonging to the ST225 lineage (45.1%) was observed, followed by ST97 (18.3%), ST2883 (15.9%), ST22 (9.8%), ST5 (3.7%), and the ST1, ST398 and ST45 lineages (2.4% each). Sixteen different spa types were identified, predominantly ST225-t003 (31.7%), ST97-t359 (15.9%), and ST2883-t4336 (14.6%). None of the strains carried Panton-Valentine leukocidin, exfoliative toxins, or toxic shock toxin. All MRSA strains were susceptible to linezolid, rifampicin, vancomycin, teicoplanin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. MRSA strains were resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline and gentamicin, with a frequency of 74.4%, 74.4%, 8.5%, and 1.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that bacteraemia in central Slovenia is caused by diverse MRSA lineages. Identification of newly emerged lineages should be followed in the future to detect changes in the molecular epidemiology of MRSA in our country.

Traditional Use of Wild Edible Plants in Slovenia: A Field Study and an Ethnobotanical Literature Review.

No comprehensive research has been conducted on the traditional use of wild-grown edible plants in human nutrition for the Slovene ethnic area so far. In the literature on edible wild plants, authors often draw information about their use from foreign or international sources, such as books and databases, from which it is often unclear what people in different countries really include into their diet. Therefore, our purpose was to determine which edible wild-growing plant species have been used in Slovenia on a traditional basis. In our research, we gathered data using different methods. The data obtained from the literature review, i.e., the ethnobotanical literature and traditional cookbooks, were combined with those derived from the online sources and a field survey. This enabled us to create a database of 219 plant taxa encompassing more than 500 species from 62 families that are traditionally used in Slovenia. The most frequently represented families were Asteraceae, with 28 taxa, Rosaceae, with 22 taxa, Lamiaceae, with 18 taxa, Brassicaceae, with 17 taxa, Apiaceae, with 16 taxa, and Amaranthaceae, with 10 taxa. Plants are most often boiled, blanched, stewed or roasted, sometimes also baked in an oven or raw with additives, such as sour cream, sugar, salt or vinegar, but seldom fried. Selected traditional cookbooks and ethnological books provided good insight into the past use of wild plants, while an online and field survey enabled a comparison of their past and current state of use. The survey has shown that some very old wild plant recipes are still used within certain local communities, while younger people, influenced by new books about wild cuisine, are constantly introducing new plant species and recipes into their diet thereby establishing new traditions.

Emergency physician personnel crisis: a survey on attitudes of new generations in Slovenia.

BACKGROUND: Emergency departments globally are overburdened, and emergency medicine residency is losing popularity among students and physicians. This raises concerns about the collapse of a life-saving system. Our goal was to identify the key workforce reasoning and question medical staff employment behavior. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. In December 2022, medical students and pre-residency doctors in Slovenia were invited to complete a web-based questionnaire. The data were analyzed using T-test, chi-square test, Mann‒Whitney-Wilcoxon tests, and principal component analysis. Open-ended questions were hand-categorized. RESULTS: There were 686 participatns who clicked on the first page and 436 of those finished the survey. 4% of participants gave a clear positive response, while 11% responded positively regarding their decision to pursue emergency medicine residency. The popularity of emergency medicine decreases significantly among recent medical school graduates upon their initial employment. People who choose emergency medicine are less concerned about its complexity and pressure compared to others. Most respondents preferred 12-hour shift lengths. The preferred base salary range for residents was I$ 3623-4529, and for specialists, it was I$ 5435-6341. The sample's primary personal priorities are achieving a satisfactory work-life balance, earning respect from colleagues, and engaging in academic activities. Factors that attract individuals to choose emergency medicine include high hourly wages, establishment of standards and norms, and reduced working hours. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that enhancing compensation, establishing achievable standards and norms, facilitating a beneficial work-life equilibrium, providing assistance with initial property acquisition, stimulating participation in deficit residency programs, fostering collegiality among peers, restricting the duration of shifts, and enabling pension accrual may be imperative in attracting more individuals to pursue emergency medicine residency.

Direct diabetes-related healthcare expenditures in Slovenia: recent evolution and future projections based on population-level data.

OBJECTIVE: The burden of diabetes on individuals, healthcare systems, and society must be explored to improve and sustain diabetes care. With this aim, we estimated both past and future diabetes-related direct health expenditures in Slovenia. METHODS: Analysis of expenditures from the healthcare payer perspective during the 2019-2022 period was based on individual patient data on expenditures for seven groups of diabetes-related medical conditions from the population-level database of the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia. Expenditure projections were prepared using the European Commission's methodology for budgetary projections. RESULTS: In the 2019-2022 period, average annual diabetes-related expenditures equaled €174.1 million (€1,108 per patient), with their average annual growth rate reaching 12.5%. Expenditures due to inpatient care (33%) and drugs used in diabetes (24%) had the highest shares. More than half of the expenditures were due to complications of diabetes. The diabetes-related expenditures as a share of GDP are projected to increase by 19.2% from 2019 to 2030, with slower yet continued growth up to 2050. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes-related expenditures in Slovenia continue to rise. By focusing on the prevention and optimal management of diabetes, its impact on the healthcare system could be reduced significantly, given the magnitude of expenditures attributed to complications.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, leading to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. The number of patients with diabetes has been increasing and accounted for about 10% of the world's population aged 20­79 years in 2021. Diabetes and its complications also represent a substantial economic burden for individuals, healthcare systems, and society. Using data extracted from the database of the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, we looked at the direct healthcare expenditures related to diabetes over the 2019­2022 period and estimated their future trends. During the observed period, the average annual diabetes-related expenditures from the healthcare payer perspective equaled €174.1 million (€1,108 per patient), with their average annual growth rate reaching 12.5%. Expenditures due to hospitalizations (33%) and drugs used in diabetes (24%) had the highest shares. More than half of the expenditures were due to the complications of diabetes. Diabetes-related expenditures as a share of GDP are projected to increase by 19.2% from 2019 to 2030, with slower yet continued growth up to 2050. Our results confirm the growing economic burden of diabetes in Slovenia. Given that modifiable risk factors significantly contribute to the development of diabetes, primary prevention programs to promote healthy lifestyles need to be strengthened. By improving the detection of diabetes and managing it optimally, the progression of the disease and the occurrence of its costly complications can also be prevented considerably.

First Report of Marek's Disease Virus in Commercial Turkeys in Slovenia.

Marek's disease (MD), caused by Mardivirus gallidalpha 2 (GaAHV-2), also known as MD virus (MDV), is a lymphoproliferative disease that primarily affects chickens. Recently, MDV has been detected in lymphomatous tumors in turkeys in various countries. Between 2021 and 2023, three cases ranging from no to severe clinical disorders (depression, lameness, and increased mortality) occurred in commercial turkey flocks in Slovenia. In all cases, MDV was detected by PCR in DNA samples extracted from organs developing tumor infiltrations. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the meq gene revealed that the GaAHV-2 detected has molecular features of a very virulent pathotype and genetic similarity with GaAHV-2 detected in chickens in Tunisia. This is the first report of MDV in commercial turkeys in Slovenia.

Suicide Methods in Slovenia - Characteristics andTime Trends 2001-2020.

Background: Between 2001 and 2020, Slovenia lost 8,952 lives due to suicides, two thirds of them by hanging. Aim: To analyze trends in suicide methods between 2001 and 2020 and to explore relationships between suicide methods and selected sociodemographic characteristic. Methods: We focused on methods accounting for 95.7% of all suicides. We performed joinpoint regression to examine changes in suicide rates by respective methods and multivariate logistic regression analyses to study sociodemographics associated with specific suicide methods. Results: A gender-specific annual decrease in suicide rates was observed in all methods except for sharp objects and jumping or lying in front of a moving object. Age was statistically significant in the use of firearms and jumping or lying in front of a moving object, while gender was significant in all methods. Associations were found between education, marital status, region of residence, and various suicide methods. Limitations: The results are potentially culturally specific. Conclusion: Certain sociodemographics seem to be associated with the selection of the method.

Measuring young individuals' responses to climate change: validation of the Slovenian versions of the climate anxiety scale and the climate change worry scale.

Introduction: While increasing awareness of climate change is needed to address this threat to the natural environment and humanity, it may simultaneously negatively impact mental health. Previous studies suggest that climate-specific mental health phenomena, such as climate anxiety and worry, tend to be especially pronounced in youth. To properly understand and address these issues, we need valid measures that can also be used in non-Anglophone samples. Therefore, in the present paper, we aimed to validate Slovenian versions of the Climate Anxiety Scale (CAS) and the Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) among Slovenian youth. Method: We conducted an online survey in which 442 young individuals (18-24 years) from Slovenia filled out the two central questionnaires and additional instruments capturing other relevant constructs (e.g., general anxiety, neuroticism, and behavioral engagement). Results: The confirmatory factor analyses results supported the hypothesized factorial structure of the CAS (two factors) and the CCWS (one factor). Both scales also demonstrated great internal reliability. Moreover, the analyses exploring both constructs' nomological networks showed moderate positive associations with similar measures, such as anxiety and stress (convergent validity), and very weak associations with measures they should not be particularly related to, such as narcissism (discriminant validity). Lastly, we found that the CAS and, even more so, the CCWS have unique predictive value in explaining outcomes such as perceived threat, support for climate policies, and behavioral engagement (incremental validity). Discussion: Overall, Slovenian versions of the CAS and the CCWS seem to be valid, reliable, and appropriate for future studies tackling young individuals' responses to climate change. Limitations of the study and areas for future research are discussed.

Incidence of Achilles tendon rupture: 25-year regional analysis with a focus on bilateral ruptures.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to fill the research gap regarding the incidence of Achilles tendon rupture (ATR), which is reportedly increasing, as there is a lack of data on the incidence of ATR and no data on bilateral ruptures in our region. METHODS: We determined the incidence of complete ATR among 273,485 people during 1991 to 2015. RESULTS: In the study period, 524 patients (486 [92.75%] men and 38 [7.25%] women, average age 39.03±10.86 [range 20-83] years, = sex ratio 12.8:1) were treated for ATR in our study area. The average incidence was 7.77 per 100,000 person-years, with an increasing trend until 2008 and peak incidence of 11.33 per 100,000 person-years. Most injuries (67.04%) occurred while performing sports activities. In total, 7 (1.34%) patients (six men [1.23%] and one woman [2.63%]) experienced ruptures on both sides, an average of 5.1 years apart; the average age at the second rupture was 57.71±16.69 (range 39-83) years, with a calculated incidence for bilateral ATR of 0.1 per 100,000 person-years. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of complete ATR in our study region increased gradually between 1991 and 2008, after which it declined. Bilateral ATR during that period was a very rare injury.

Impact of Long-Term Floods on Spatial Dynamics of Myrmica scabrinodis, a Host Ant of a Highly Threatened Scarce Large Blue (Phengaris teleius).

Extensively used wet meadows with high species diversity are under threat in Europe by anthropogenic pressure. The increasing frequency of prolonged flooding is emerging as an additional threat to this fragile environment. In our study, we investigated how prolonged flooding affects the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics (through mortality and recolonization process) of the host ant species Myrmica scabrinodis, which is essential for the survival of the endangered Scarce large blue (Phengaris teleius). The study was conducted in the flood-prone Ljubljansko barje plain situated on the southern edge of the species' global range. Prolonged flooding in the study area, possibly affecting the past and current distribution of the host ant M. scabrinodis, was recorded in 2010, 2013, and 2017. In 2020, we set 160 ant traps to estimate the distribution of host ants in a system of meadows covering the entire gradient of flood history. Results indicate that M. scabrinodis survives the flooding for up to three days, starting to disappear if flooding persists longer. After the flooding recedes, ants gradually recolonize empty habitats from the surrounding upland refugia. Our spatial analyses predict that the average recolonization speed was about 29 m per year and that in a year, ants compensate for the mortality effects of 1.8 days of flooding by recolonization in a year. These results show that flooding should be considered as an additional (in some areas, a major) threat to the endangered P. teleius through its deleterious effects on the host ant species.

Strategic concept paper for Bioeconomy in Slovenia: from a patchwork of good practices to an integrated, sustainable and robust bioeconomy system.

While Slovenia has significant bioeconomy potential, it remains underutilized, facing challenges in primary bioeconomy sectors, their integration along value chains, uptake of industrial innovation, and institutional coordination. This paper aims to support the unlocking of Slovenia's bioeconomy potential, and foster sustainable and integrated development of its value chains. It provides the evidence base of the composition, volumes and current utilization of the available biomass streams from agriculture, forestry and aquatic systems. It discusses the potential uses of these resources and highlights the need for improved logistics and scalability. Additionally, the structure and performance of bioeconomy-related industries in Slovenia are examined, emphasizing the importance of firm consolidation and integration for successful bioeconomy development. It emphasizes the importance of sector-specific transformation pathways, from primary production to expanding hybrid sectors. The exchange between policymakers and stakeholders is encouraged to recognize synergies, accelerate cooperation, and improve economic performance while closing material and energy loops. The document also reviews the supporting environment for bioeconomy development and proposes steps for improved coordination and strategic planning.

First Report on Leptospira Species Isolated from Patients in Slovenia.

Leptospirosis is an important worldwide zoonosis, and it has also been reported in Slovenia. The cultivation of Leptospira from human material is difficult. Despite that, we successfully isolated 12 human Leptospira strains isolated from patients between 2002 and 2020 and used various methods for the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the strains, including matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) using our own MALDI-TOF data library, melting temperature analysis of the amplified lfb1 gene, determination of Leptospira serogroups using rabbit immune sera, NotI-RFLP of the whole Leptospira genome, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of seven housekeeping genes, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based typing. We confirmed the presence of four pathogenic Leptospira species (L. kirschneri, L. interrogans, L. borgpetersenii, and L. santarosai) and three serogroups: Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Sejroe. MALDI-TOF identified three of seven isolates at the species level and four isolates at the genus level. Serovars of 8 of the 10 strains were determined using NotI-RFLP. MLST showed that the clinical isolates belonged to sequence types ST17, ST110, and ST155. WGS confirmed the analysis of Leptospira strains using conventional methods. In addition, WGS provided better taxonomic resolution for isolate DDA 10944/10.