Using the IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa to inform decision-making.

The Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) is an important tool for biological invasion policy and management and has been adopted as an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) standard to measure the severity of environmental impacts caused by organisms living outside their native ranges. EICAT has already been incorporated into some national and local decision-making procedures, making it a particularly relevant resource for addressing the impact of non-native species. Recently, some of the underlying conceptual principles of EICAT, particularly those related to the use of the precautionary approach, have been challenged. Although still relatively new, guidelines for the application and interpretation of EICAT will be periodically revisited by the IUCN community, based on scientific evidence, to improve the process. Some of the criticisms recently raised are based on subjectively selected assumptions that cannot be generalized and may harm global efforts to manage biological invasions. EICAT adopts a precautionary principle by considering a species' impact history elsewhere because some taxa have traits that can make them inherently more harmful. Furthermore, non-native species are often important drivers of biodiversity loss even in the presence of other pressures. Ignoring the precautionary principle when tackling the impacts of non-native species has led to devastating consequences for human well-being, biodiversity, and ecosystems, as well as poor management outcomes, and thus to significant economic costs. EICAT is a relevant tool because it supports prioritization and management of non-native species and meeting and monitoring progress toward the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 6.

Uso de la Clasificación de Impacto Ambiental de los Taxones Exóticos de la UICN para la toma de decisiones Resumen La Clasificación de Impacto Ambiental de los Taxones Exóticos (EICAT, en inglés) es una herramienta importante para las políticas y manejo de las invasiones biológicas y ha sido adoptada como un estándar de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) para medir la seriedad del impacto ambiental causado por los organismos que viven fuera de su extensión nativa. La EICAT ya ha sido incorporada a algunos procedimientos locales y nacionales de toma de decisiones, lo que la vuelve un recurso particularmente relevante para abordar el impacto de las especies no nativas. Algunos principios conceptuales subyacentes de la EICAT han sido cuestionados recientemente, en particular aquellos relacionados con el uso del principio de precaución. Aunque todavía son relativamente nuevas, las directrices para la aplicación e interpretación de la EICAT tendrán una revisión periódica, basada en evidencia científica, por parte de la comunidad de la UICN para mejorar el proceso. Algunas de las críticas recientes están basadas en suposiciones seleccionadas subjetivamente que no pueden generalizarse y podrían perjudicar los esfuerzos globales para manejar las invasiones biológicas. La EICAT adopta un principio de precaución cuando considera el historial de impacto de una especie en cualquier otro lugar ya que algunos taxones tienen características que podrían volverlos más dañinos. Además, las especies no nativas suelen ser factores de pérdida de bidiversidad, incluso bajo otras presiones. Cuando ignoramos el principio de precaución al abordar el impacto de las especies no nativas, hay consecuencias devastadoras para el bienestar humano, la biodiversidad y los ecosistemas, así como resultados pobres de conservación, y por lo tanto con costos económicos importantes. La EICAT es una herramienta relevante porque respalda la priorización y el manejo de las especies no nativas y ayuda con el cumplimiento y monitoreo del progreso para llegar al objetivo 6 del Marco Mundial de Biodiversidad Kunming­Montreal.

More than a Bit of Fun: The Multiple Outcomes of a Bioblitz.

Bioblitzes are a popular approach to engage people and collect biodiversity data. Despite this, few studies have actually evaluated the multiple outcomes of bioblitz activities. We used a systematic review, an analysis of data from more than 1000 bioblitzes, and a detailed analysis of one specific bioblitz to inform our inquiry. We evaluated five possible bioblitz outcomes, which were creating a species inventory, engaging people in biological recording, enhancing learning about nature, discovering a species new to an area, and promoting an organization. We conclude that bioblitzes are diverse but overall effective at their aims and have advantages over unstructured biodiversity recording. We demonstrate for the first time that bioblitzes increase the recording activity of the participants for several months after the event. In addition, we provide evidence that bioblitzes are effective at bringing people and organizations together to build communities of professionals and amateurs, critical for conserving and protecting biodiversity.

Method comparison between Alinity hq and Sysmex XT-4000i in an emergency laboratory.

Due to technological advancements, haematology analysers are becoming increasingly more complex. Before introducing new analyzers, laboratories must compare the agreement between the new and the old instruments. This study aimed to quantify the method agreement between Sysmex XT-4000i and Alinity hq analysers in order to establish whether they can be used interchangeably. A total of 415 complete blood counts (CBC) from adult patients of the Emergency Clinical County Hospital of Târgu Mureș, Romania, were analysed within 4 h from the collection on Sysmex XT-4000i (considered the reference method), then on Alinity hq. Statistical analysis consisted of outlier removal, Spearman Correlation, Bland-Altman test, and Passing-Bablok regression. For each CBC parameter, the analytical difference between methods was compared with the Reference Change Value (RCV) at medical decision levels (MDL). Despite using different technologies, the instruments have a good agreement regarding cell differentiation and counting. Cell counting and haemoglobin measurement showed a good agreement at all (Medical Decision Limits) MDLs. The analytical difference between methods surpassed the (Reference Change Value) RCV with 1.2% at the 14% MDL of HCT and with 0.2% at the 100 fL MDL of MCV. This study can not tell whether Sysmex or Alinity is superior, only if the two methods agree. The poorer agreement observed for RBC indices, especially MCHC, suggests an accumulation of differences caused by the different working principles of the two methods. However, it is reasonable to assume that such small differences will not affect clinical decision-making and patient outcome.

Bone mineral density predictors in long-standing type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Despite the increased fracture risk, bone mineral density (BMD) is variable in type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes mellitus. We aimed at comparing independent BMD predictors in T1D, T2D and control subjects, respectively. METHODS: Cross-sectional case-control study enrolling 30 T1D, 39 T2D and 69 age, sex and body mass index (BMI) - matched controls that underwent clinical examination, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck) and serum determination of HbA1c and parameters of calcium and phosphate metabolism. RESULTS: T2D patients had similar BMD compared to T1D individuals (after adjusting for age, BMI and disease duration) and to matched controls, respectively. In multiple regression analysis, diabetes duration - but not HbA1c- negatively predicted femoral neck BMD in T1D (ß= -0.39, p = 0.014), while BMI was a positive predictor for lumbar spine (ß = 0.46, p = 0.006) and femoral neck BMD (ß = 0.44, p = 0.007) in T2D, besides gender influence. Age negatively predicted BMD in controls, but not in patients with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Long-standing diabetes and female gender particularly increase the risk for low bone mass in T1D. An increased body weight partially hinders BMD loss in T2D. The impact of age appears to be surpassed by that of other bone regulating factors in both T1D and T2D patients.

Pregnancy-related reference intervals for serum thyrotropin based on real-life clinical data.

AIM: During pregnancy, thyroid homeostasis is physiologically modified, leading to altered levels of thyrotropin (TSH): hence, the adoption of pregnancy-related, population- and method-specific reference ranges is recommended. This monocentric and retrospective study was conducted to establish local pregnancy-related reference intervals for serum TSH in singleton pregnant women using real-life clinical data. METHODS: We included women who measured serum TSH during pregnancy at our Laboratory over six years, excluding pregnant women with current or past history of thyroid disease, pituitary or autoimmune diseases, use of medications known to influence thyroid function, multiple and/or pathological pregnancies, BMI >30 Kg/m2. RESULTS: We retrieved a total of 3744 TSH results. Reference limits (90% confidence intervals) for TSH (in mIU/L) are: first trimester 0.09 (0.06-0.12) - 3.16 (3.05-3.29); second trimester 0.25 (0.11-0.30) - 3.55 (3.34-3.73); third trimester 0.42 (0.15-0.48) - 3.93 (3.80-4.08). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, real-life clinical data could be used to establish or verify local reference intervals for TSH in pregnant women: this may reduce the risk of misclassification of pregnant women undergoing thyroid function testing.

FGF23 Beyond the Kidney: A New Bone Mass Regulator in the General Population.

Clinical studies investigating the relationship between fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and bone mass are controversial, especially in the healthy renal population. Our study is one of the forefronts investigating the relationship between FGF23 and bone mass parameters in the general population, according to age, sex, menopausal, and nutritional status. Cross-sectional study enrolling 123 volunteers between 20-80 years of age without primary osteoporosis under treatment nor secondary osteoporosis, where bone mass (bone mineral density-BMD, bone mineral content-BMC; assessed by Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry-DXA), body composition (DXA evaluation), and also the serum levels of FGF23, parathormone (PTH), 25(OH)D, bone resorption marker C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx) and leptin were determined. FGF23 was negatively and independently associated with BMD and/or BMC in all groups. FGF23 contributed to up to 10% (p <0.05) of femoral neck BMD variance in postmenopausal women, but was not an accurate discriminator of normal versus low bone mass (AUC=0.622±0.076). FGF23 did not correlate with 25(OH)D, CTx, body weight, body composition parameters or leptin. FGF23 was independently associated with PTH in premenopausal women and men only. FGF23 was negatively associated with bone mass parameters in both sexes, but was not a fine discriminator between normal bone mass and osteopenia/osteoporosis. The mechanism through which FGF23 acts upon the bone seems independent of the nutritional status, requiring further investigation.

Balancing orbital volume reduction and redistribution for a tailored surgical treatment in Graves' ophthalmopathy.

AIM: The purpose of this study is to share our experience on the use of different orbital decompression techniques, as well as the principles followed for deciding the most case-appropriate procedure that ensured the most favorable outcomes. METHODS: We reviewed the Graves' ophthalmopathy cases operated over the course of 14 years, regarding the presenting signs, the imaging evaluation, the degree of exophthalmos, the type of surgical orbital decompression performed, and the postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: All 42 patients identified presented with proptosis, with 92.8% cases of bilateral proptosis. The main addressing concern was functional in 54.8% cases and aesthetic in 45.2% patients. CT was used for the preoperative evaluation in all cases. In total, 81 orbits were operated. The orbital decompression surgery involved only the orbital fat in 7.4% of orbits and associated fat and bone decompression in the other 92.6% of orbits. The postoperative results were favorable in all cases regarding both appearance and function, with minimal postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The adequate selection of the most suitable procedure based on the characteristics of each case is the prerequisite for a successful surgery. We found that the association of fat and bone decompression of various extents is most permissive in tailoring the degree of decompression to the existing requirements.

Persistent severe hyperkalemia following surgical treatment of aldosterone-producing adenoma.

Primary aldosteronism is one of the most common causes of secondary hypertension. This condition is characterized by autonomous hypersecretion of aldosterone which produces sodium retention and potassium excretion, resulting in high blood pressure and potential hypokalemia. Transient postoperative hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism with an increased risk of hyperkalemia may occur in some patients. We report the case of a 63-year-old patient with persistent hypokalemia, periodic paralysis, and refractory hypertension who was diagnosed with primary hyperaldosteronism due to elevated aldosterone, undetectable plasmatic renin concentration, and the presence of a left adrenal mass. One month after the surgery, the patient was admitted with signs of severe hyperkalemia (8 mmol/L) and worsened renal function, thus requiring hemodialysis. Fluid resuscitation, loop diuretic, and sodium bicarbonate treatment decreased his potassium. Zona glomerulosa insufficiency was confirmed by hormonal tests which exposed low aldosterone-renin axis. The fludrocortisone treatment was initiated and maintained, with consequent potassium and creatinine stabilization. Old age, long duration of hypertension, impaired renal function, severe hypokalemia before surgery, and large size of the aldosterone-producing adenoma are important risk factors for serious potassium imbalance after removal of the adenoma. We have to consider monitoring the patients after surgery for primary hyperaldosteronism in order to prevent severe hyperkalemia; therefore, postoperative immediate follow-up (arterial pressure, potassium, and renal function) is mandatory.

Developing a list of invasive alien species likely to threaten biodiversity and ecosystems in the European Union.

The European Union (EU) has recently published its first list of invasive alien species (IAS) of EU concern to which current legislation must apply. The list comprises species known to pose great threats to biodiversity and needs to be maintained and updated. Horizon scanning is seen as critical to identify the most threatening potential IAS that do not yet occur in Europe to be subsequently risk assessed for future listing. Accordingly, we present a systematic consensus horizon scanning procedure to derive a ranked list of potential IAS likely to arrive, establish, spread and have an impact on biodiversity in the region over the next decade. The approach is unique in the continental scale examined, the breadth of taxonomic groups and environments considered, and the methods and data sources used. International experts were brought together to address five broad thematic groups of potential IAS. For each thematic group the experts first independently assembled lists of potential IAS not yet established in the EU but potentially threatening biodiversity if introduced. Experts were asked to score the species within their thematic group for their separate likelihoods of i) arrival, ii) establishment, iii) spread, and iv) magnitude of the potential negative impact on biodiversity within the EU. Experts then convened for a 2-day workshop applying consensus methods to compile a ranked list of potential IAS. From an initial working list of 329 species, a list of 66 species not yet established in the EU that were considered to be very high (8 species), high (40 species) or medium (18 species) risk species was derived. Here, we present these species highlighting the potential negative impacts and the most likely biogeographic regions to be affected by these potential IAS.

Coexistent papillary thyroid carcinoma diagnosed in surgically treated patients for primary versus secondary hyperparathyroidism: same incidence, different characteristics.

BACKGROUND: The coexistence of hyperparathyroidism and thyroid cancer presents important diagnostic and management challenges. With minimally invasive parathyroid surgery trending, preoperative thyroid imaging becomes more important as concomitant thyroid and parathyroid lesions are reported. The aim of the study was to evaluate the rate of thyroid cancer in patients operated for either primary (PHPT) or secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). METHODS: Our retrospective study included PHPT and SHPT patients submitted to parathyroidectomy and, when indicated, concomitant thyroid surgery between 2010 and 2017. RESULTS: Parathyroidectomy was performed in 217 patients: 140 (64.5%) for PHPT and 77 (35.5%) for SHPT. Concomitant thyroid surgery was performed in 75 patients with PHPT (53.6%), and 19 papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) were found, accounting for 13.6% from all cases with PHPT and 25.3% from PHPT cases with concomitant thyroid surgery. Thirty-one of operated SHPT patients (40.3%) also underwent thyroid surgery and 9 PTC cases were diagnosed (11.7% of all SHPT patients and 29% of patients with concomitant thyroid surgery). We found differences between PHPT and SHPT patients (p < 0.001) with respect to age (54.6 ± 13y versus 48.8 ± 12y), female-to-male ratio (8:1 versus ~ 1:1), surgical technique (single gland parathyroidectomy in 82.8% PHPT cases; versus subtotal parathyroidectomy in 85.7% SHPT cases) and presurgical PTH (357.51 ± 38.11 pg/ml versus 1020 ± 161.38 pg/ml). Morphopathological particularities, TNM classification and multifocality incidence of PTC were similar in the two groups. All PTC from patients with SHPT were thyroid microcarcinomas (TMC, i.e. tumors with a diameter smaller than 1 cm), whereas seven out of the 19 cases with PTC and PHPT were larger than 1 cm. CONCLUSIONS: PTC was frequently and similarly associated with both PHPT and SHPT irrespective of presurgical PTH levels. Thyroid tumors above 1 cm were found only in patients with PHPT. Investigators should focus also on associated thyroid nodular pathology in patients with PHPT.

Hidden sites in the distribution of the crayfish plague pathogen Aphanomyces astaci in Eastern Europe: Relicts of genetic groups from older outbreaks?

The crayfish plague agent Aphanomyces astaci is one of the world's most threatening invasive species. Originally from North America, the pathogen is being imported alongside American crayfish species, which are used for various purposes. In this study, we investigated the marginal, currently known distribution area of the pathogen in Eastern Europe by sampling narrow-clawed crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) and spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus) populations. In addition, using specific real-time PCR, we tested several marine decapod species, which also occur in brackish waters of the Danube at the West coast of the Black Sea and the Dniester River basin. By sequencing the nuclear chitinase gene, mitochondrial rnnS/rnnL DNA and by genotyping using microsatellite markers, we identified the A. astaci haplogroups of highly infected specimens. The A. astaci DNA was detected in 9% of the investigated A. leptodactylus samples, both in invaded and non-invaded sectors, and in 8% of the studied O. limosus samples. None of the marine decapods tested positive for A. astaci. The results revealed that narrow-clawed crayfish from the Dniester River carried the A. astaci B-haplogroup, while A. astaci from the Danube Delta belonged to the A- and B-haplogroups. In the invaded sector of the Danube, we also identified the A-haplogroup. Microsatellite analysis revealed a genotype identical to the genotype Up. It might be that some of the detected A. astaci haplogroups are relics from older outbreaks in the late 19th century, which may have persisted as a chronic infection for several decades in crayfish populations.

Extracting secondary data from citizen science images reveals host flower preferences of the Mexican grass-carrying wasp Isodontia mexicana in its native and introduced ranges.

We investigated the plant-pollinator interactions of the Mexican grass-carrying wasp Isodontia mexicana-native to North America and introduced in Europe in the 1960s-through the use of secondary data from citizen science observations. We applied a novel data exchange workflow from two global citizen science platforms, iNaturalist and Pl@ntNet. Images from iNaturalist of the wasp were used to query the Pl@ntNet application to identify possible plant species present in the pictures. Simultaneously, botanists manually identified the plants at family, genus and species levels and additionally documented flower color and biotic interactions. The goals were to calibrate Pl@ntNet's accuracy in relation to this workflow, update the list of plant species that I. mexicana visits as well as its flower color preferences in its native and introduced ranges. In addition, we investigated the types and corresponding frequencies of other biotic interactions incidentally captured on the citizen scientists' images. Although the list of known host plants could be expanded, identifying the flora from images that predominantly show an insect proved difficult for both experts and the Pl@ntNet app. The workflow performs with a 75% probability of correct identification of the plant at the species level from a score of 0.8, and with over 90% chance of correct family and genus identification from a score of 0.5. Although the number of images above these scores may be limited due to the flower parts present on the pictures, our approach can help to get an overview into species interactions and generate more specific research questions. It could be used as a triaging method to select images for further investigation. Additionally, the manual analysis of the images has shown that the information they contain offers great potential for learning more about the ecology of an introduced species in its new range.

Changes in body composition, adipokines, ghrelin, and FGF23 in growth hormone-deficient children during rhGH therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Beyond growth acceleration, growth hormone (GH) therapy improves body composition of GH-deficient (GHD) children due to the interaction of GH with lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, possibly mediated by adipokines secreted by adipose tissue and ghrelin. To promote linear growth, it is essential to have normal phosphate homeostasis. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a known regulator of serum phosphorus and may be responsible for the increased renal phosphorus reabsorption observed during GH therapy. This study aimed to assess the impact of one-year GH therapy on body composition, adipokines, acylated/unacylated ghrelin (AG/UAG), and FGF23 in GHD children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational study of 42 prepubertal, non-obese GHD children followed up in the first year of GH replacement therapy, investigating changes in adipokine profiles, AG/UAG, FGF23, and body composition. Data before therapy onset were compared with measurements obtained after 6 and 12 months of GH therapy. RESULTS: All children with a mean age of 9.2 ± 2.6 years grew at an accelerated pace. Total body fat decreased significantly, while the lipid profile improved, and total bone mineral density (BMD) significantly increased over the 12 months of treatment. Leptin and UAG levels decreased significantly, whereas adiponectin and AG values increased. A significant increase in plasma FGF23 and insulin growth factor 1 (IGF1) was accompanied by increased serum phosphate. Changes in FGF23 concentration did not have an impact on BMD. The strong association of FGF23 with IGF1 and height standard deviation (SD) could reveal a role of FGF23 in linear growth. In regression analysis models, GH therapy influences the changes of leptin and adiponectin, but not ghrelin, independently of body composition - lean or fat mass. CONCLUSIONS: GH replacement therapy improves body composition and adipokine profile in GHD children and directly impacts leptin and adiponectin concentrations independently of body composition. Also, GHD children have increased serum phosphate, correlated with upregulation rather than with suppression of FGF23, an unexpected observation given the phosphaturic role of FGF23. Further research is needed to identify the molecular mechanisms by which the GH/IGF1 axis influences adipokines secretion and plasma changes of FGF23.

Assessing Nutritional Status in Gastric Cancer Patients after Total versus Subtotal Gastrectomy: Cross-Sectional Study.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant global health concern, ranking as the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Malnutrition is common in GC patients and can negatively impact prognosis and quality of life. Understanding nutritional issues and their management is crucial for improving patient outcomes. This cross-sectional study included 51 GC patients who underwent curative surgery, either total or subtotal gastrectomy. Various nutritional assessments were conducted, including anthropometric measurements, laboratory tests, and scoring systems such as Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group/World Health Organization Performance Status (ECOG/WHO PS), Observer-Reported Dysphagia (ORD), Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 (NRS-2002), Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), and Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ). Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were significantly higher in the subtotal gastrectomy group. Nutritional assessments indicated a higher risk of malnutrition in patients who underwent total gastrectomy, as evidenced by higher scores on ORD, NRS-2002, and PG-SGA. While total gastrectomy was associated with a higher risk of malnutrition, no single nutritional parameter emerged as a strong predictor of surgical approach. PG-SGA predominantly identified malnutrition, with its occurrence linked to demographic factors such as female gender and age exceeding 65 years.

Coincidence or Causality: Parathyroid Carcinoma in Chronic Kidney Disease-Case Report and Literature Review.

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) associated with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has been well investigated in recent years. Data regarding PC evolution in secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) are, however, scarce. Most features that raise the suspicion of PC in PHPT are part of the usual SHPT evolution in CKD, mirroring the natural changes undergone by the parathyroid glands. Therefore, pre-surgically establishing the malignant or benign character of the lesions is cumbersome. We present two cases of PC in end-stage renal disease, one of which was bilateral, diagnosed after total parathyroidectomy in a high-volume parathyroid surgery center. A literature review of the data was also performed. A systematic search of the PubMed/MEDLINE database until January 2024 identified 42 cases of PC associated with SHPT. Understanding the PC features in CKD might improve associated bone and mineral disease management, and reduce the risk of metastasis, parathyromatosis, or recurrence. Irradiation, prolonged immunosuppression, long dialysis vintage, and genotype may predispose to the malignant transformation of chronically stimulated parathyroids. Despite postsurgical diagnosis, favorable outcomes occurred when distant metastases were absent, even without "en bloc" resection. Further research is warranted to delineate specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches tailored to this particular patient subpopulation.

BRAF Detection in FNAC Combined with Semi-Quantitative 99mTc-MIBI Technique and AI Model, an Economic and Efficient Predicting Tool for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules.

BACKGROUND: Technology allows us to predict a histopathological diagnosis, but the high costs prevent the large-scale use of these possibilities. The current liberal indication for surgery in benign thyroid conditions led to a rising frequency of incidental thyroid carcinoma, especially low-risk papillary micro-carcinomas. METHODS: We selected a cohort of 148 patients with thyroid nodules by ultrasound characteristics and investigated them by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC)and prospective BRAF collection for 70 patients. Also, we selected 44 patients with thyroid nodules using semi-quantitative functional imaging with an oncological, 99mTc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) radiotracer. RESULTS: Following a correlation with final histopathological reports in patients who underwent thyroidectomy, we introduced the results in a machine learning program (AI) in order to obtain a pattern. For semi-quantitative functional visual pattern imaging, we found a sensitivity of 33%, a specificity of 66.67%, an accuracy of 60% and a negative predicting value (NPV) of 88.6%. For the wash-out index (WOind), we found a sensitivity of 57.14%, a specificity of 50%, an accuracy of 70% and an NPV of 90.06%.The results of BRAF in FNAC included 87.50% sensitivity, 75.00% specificity, 83.33% accuracy, 75.00% NPV and 87.50% PPV. The prevalence of malignancy in our small cohort was 11.4%. CONCLUSIONS: We intend to continue combining preoperative investigations such as molecular detection in FNAC, 99mTc-MIBI scanning and AI training with the obtained results on a larger cohort. The combination of these investigations may generate an efficient and cost-effective diagnostic tool, but confirmation of the results on a larger scale is necessary.

Alien plant species distribution in Romania: a nationwide survey following the implementation of the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species.

Background: Biological invasions pose an increasing risk to nature, social security and the economy, being ranked amongst the top five threats to biodiversity. Managing alien and invasive species is a priority for the European Union, as outlined in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Alien plant species are acknowledged to impact the economy and biodiversity; thus, analysing the distribution of such species provides valuable inputs for the management and decision-making processes. The database presented in the current study is the first consolidated checklist of alien plant species that are present in Romania, both of European Union concern and of national interest. This database complements a prior published distribution, based only on records from literature, bringing new information regarding the occurrence of alien plants in Romania, as revealed by a nationwide field survey. We consider this database a valuable instrument for managing biological invasions at both national and regional levels, as it can be utilised in further research studies and in drafting management and action plans, assisting stakeholders in making informed decisions and implementing management actions. New information: We present the results of the first nationwide survey of alien plant species in Romania, conducted between 2019 and 2022, in the framework of a national project coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests and the University of Bucharest. The present database complements and updates the database published by Sirbu et. al (2022), which included occurrence records published until 2019. The new database includes 98323 occurrence records for 396 alien plant species in 77 families, with most species belonging to the Asteraceae family. One alien plant species in our database, the black locust Robiniapseudoacacia L., had more than 10,000 occurrence records. The distribution database also includes information on newly-reported invasive alien plant species of European Union concern in Romania (i.e. the floating primrose-willow Ludwigiapeploides (Kunth) P.H.Raven) and documents the presence of plants in 44 additional families compared to Sirbu et al. (2022). Each entry includes information on species taxonomy, location, year, person who recorded and identified the alien plant, geographical coordinates and taxon rank.

Development and application of a second-generation multilingual tool for invasion risk screening of non-native terrestrial plants.

Under the increasing threat to native ecosystems posed by non-native species invasions, there is an urgent need for decision support tools that can more effectively identify non-native species likely to become invasive. As part of the screening (first step) component in non-native species risk analysis, decision support tools have been developed for aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Amongst these tools is the Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) for screening non-native plants. The WRA has provided the foundations for developing the first-generation WRA-type Invasiveness Screening Kit (ISK) tools applicable to a range of aquatic species, and more recently for the second-generation ISK tools applicable to all aquatic organisms (including plants) and terrestrial animals. Given the most extensive usage of the latter toolkits, this study describes the development and application of the Terrestrial Plant Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (TPS-ISK). As a second-generation ISK tool, the TPS-ISK is a multilingual turnkey application that provides several advantages relative to the WRA: (i) compliance with the minimum standards against which a protocol should be evaluated for invasion process and management approaches; (ii) enhanced questionnaire comprehensiveness including a climate change component; (iii) provision of a level of confidence; (iv) error-free computation of risk scores; (v) multilingual support; (vi) possibility for across-study comparisons of screening outcomes; (vii) a powerful graphical user interface; (viii) seamless software deployment and accessibility with improved data exchange. The TPS-ISK successfully risk-ranked five representative sample species for the main taxonomic groups supported by the tool and ten angiosperms previously screened with the WRA for Turkey. The almost 20-year continuous development and evolution of the ISK tools, as opposed to the WRA, closely meet the increasing demand by scientists and decision-makers for a reliable, comprehensive, updatable and easily deployable decision support tool. For terrestrial plant screening, these requirements are therefore met by the newly developed TPS-ISK.

Artificial Neural Network Models for Accurate Predictions of Fat-Free and Fat Masses, Using Easy-to-Measure Anthropometric Parameters.

Abdominal fat and fat-free masses report a close association with cardiometabolic risks, therefore this specific body compartment presents more interest than whole-body masses. This research aimed to develop accurate algorithms that predict body masses and specifically trunk fat and fat-free masses from easy to measure parameters in any setting. The study included 104 apparently healthy subjects, but with a higher-than-normal percent of adiposity or waist circumference. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were built for predicting abdominal fat and fat-free masses in patients with relatively low cardiometabolic risks. The data were divided into training, validation and test sets, and this process was repeated 20 times per each model to reduce the bias of data division on model accuracy. The best performance models used a maximum number of five anthropometric inputs, with higher R2 values for ANN models than for MLR models (R2 = 0.96-0.98 vs. R2 = 0.80-0.94, p = 0.006). The root mean square error (RMSE) for all predicted parameters was significantly lower for ANN models than for MLR models, suggesting a higher accuracy for ANN models. From all body masses predicted, trunk fat mass and fat-free mass registered the best performance with ANN, allowing a possible error of 1.84 kg for predicting the correct trunk fat mass and 1.48 kg for predicting the correct trunk fat-free mass. The developed algorithms represent cost-effective prediction tools for the most relevant adipose and lean tissues involved in the physiopathology of cardiometabolic risks.

Thyroid Collision Tumors: The Presence of the Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Component Negatively Influences the Prognosis.

Thyroid collision tumors (TCTs) are rare pathological findings, representing <1% of thyroid cancers. This study aimed to compare the main pathological features of TCTs containing medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) components with MTC-only tumors and PTC-only tumors. Methods: The retrospective study included 69 cases diagnosed with TCTs (with simultaneous MTC and PTC components), MTC and PTC. All tumors were comparatively assessed for the classical histopathological prognostic features, including a new grading system for MTC. Results: The main component of TCTs had more frequent microscopic extrathyroidal extension (mETE) (p = 0.000), lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (p = 0.000), perineural invasion (PNI) (p = 0.044), and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.042). Additionally, the TCTs' MTC component presented with more frequent LVI (p = 0.010). Comparing TCTs' MTC and PTC components with MTC-only tumors and PTC-only tumors revealed that only the TCTs' MTC components had statistically significant more frequent mETE (p = 0.010) than MTC-only tumors. When applied to the MTC component of TCTs, the pathological parameters of the new grading system of MTC showed no correlations with other microscopic or clinical aspects. Conclusion: Using classical pathological prognostic features, the comparative analysis revealed that the main TCTs' component was more aggressive than the minor one. Contrary to PTCs, in TCTs, the medullary component was more aggressive than the papillary one, but also more aggressive than MTC-only tumors.