Bats in Bulgaria: Patterns of Species Distribution, Richness, Rarity, and Vulnerability Derived from Distribution Models

Bats are affected by a variety of anthropogenic pressures, and effective conservation measures require a complex approach by not only covering the roosts themselves but also the surrounding habitats and migration corridors. The development of concrete localized conservation measures requires detailed quantitative data to assess habitat status regarding the most crucial factors for concrete species. This chapter aims, by modeling using a Maxent based on many georeferenced locations and the state of ecologically relevant ecogeographic variables, to reveal the spatial trends in the habitat suitability of 29 bat species; to obtain meaningful biogeographical species groups; and to provide a countrywide quantitative assessment of bat richness, rarity, and vulnerability. The modeling results showed that altitude, karstic areas (presence of caves), topographic wetness index, and presence of deciduous forests were the most influential factors. In this respect, three well-defined groups were delineated. The species’ richest areas were mostly located in semimountain karstic areas with a well-developed broadleaved forests, and the lowest in xerophilous, bare habitats, especially those of anthropogenic origin. Regarding rarity, more rare species were associated with caves and mountains. Vulnerability (in terms of IUCN criteria) was positively affected by the presence of caves showing the importance of protecting karstic areas

Clinical Application Of Endoanal And Endorectal Ultrasound For Benign And Malignant Conditions Of The Anus, Perianal Space, And Rectum

INTRODUCTION: Benign and malignant conditions of the anus, perianal space, and rectum encompass various disorders: perianal abscesses and fistulas, anal fissures, hemorrhoids, incontinence, defecation disorder, rectovaginal and rectovesical fistulas, rectal prolapse, neoplasms of the anal canal and rectum. Very often patients have more than one condition. The high prevalence of benign anal disorders makes them socially significant. In the last two decades, a lot of new diagnostic methods were introduced. This has improved the understanding of the pathogenesis of these conditions. Endoanal and endorectal endoscopic ultrasound has become an important part of the evaluation of anal and rectal disease. This method is widely preferred because of its low price, accessibility, lack of complications, and good tolerance to the examination without sedation.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients have undergone endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) examination, from April 2023 to June 2023. All ERUS examinations were performed using 3D 20R3 and 3D X14L4 endorectal transducers connected to BK 3000 Ultrasound System (BK Medical Aps, Denmark).RESULTS: The mean age was 48.4. Eighteen patients were male (60%). The main clinical indication was an evaluation of perianal abscesses and fistulas or neoplasms. Nine of the examinations, or 30%, were performed for anal and rectal tumors. Perianal abscesses were identified in 7 cases (23%); 5 patients had anal fissures; 4 had perianal fistulas (13%); 1 had a rectovaginal fistula. The rest of the patients had hemorrhoidal disease.CONCLUSION: Endorectal and endoanal ultrasound is a sensitive and reliable method for the assessment of the anatomical structures and diagnosis of benign and malignant diseases of the anus, perianal space, and rectum

Long term (1985–2018) changes of the habitat suitability of European souslik assessed by Maxent modelling based on Landsat satellite imagery – a case study from a mountain landscape of Central Bulgaria

The spatial and temporal aspects of the habitat suitability of the European souslik (Spermophilus citellus L.) in an area of Sredna Gora Mountain (Bulgaria) were studied. We used Landsat satellite imagery data to model changes in the habitat suitability of the species from 1985 to 2018. The obtained results demonstrate that the habitat suitability of the European souslik increased during the studied period, presumably due to raised temperatures and the accompanying drought during summertime, as well as the human-caused modifications in pasture livestock breeding. Based on statistical modelling, the employed procedure applies to long-term monitoring and assessment of the role of land cover change because of climate change and human activity on the habitat suitability of the European souslik. This approach can be useful for conservation planning

Patterns of craniometric variability of six common species of shrews (Soricidae: Crocidura, Neomys, Sorex)

The morphometric variability of the skull and the lower jaw of 6 species of shrews (Crocidura suaveolens s. l., C. leucodon, Neomys anomalus, N. fodiens, Sorex minutus, and S. araneus) from Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Austria was analyzed. The results from the PCA and the unsupervised model-based clustering showed that morphological geographic intraspecific variation was clearly expressed in Crocidura suaveolens and C. leucodon, poorly pronounced in Neomys anomalus and N. fodiens, and almost missing in Sorex minutus and S. araneus. Our data provide a morphological confirmation of the recent molecular data, which indicate a division of both Crocidura species to western and eastern lineages. The geographical location of their boundaries was discussed

Surgical Methods for Minimizing the Incidence of Paracolostomy Hernias

INTRODUCTION: Regardless of the advances in surgical techniques, parastomal hernia continues to be a frequent and serious complication after colostomy construction. The outcomes after surgical treatment are often not satisfactory, and the recurrence rate is high.AIM: The study aims to present modern surgical methods for the prevention of paracolostomy hernias.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 77 patients with formed colostomies in the Clinic of Surgery of Alexandrovska University Hospital during the period from 2017 to 2022, analyzed with a follow-up period of at least six months. Group A includes 35 patients whose stoma was constructed by the extraperitoneal route. Group B consists of 42 patients with the traditional transperitoneal technique. In addition, 2 patients in whom synthetic mesh was used to treat and prevent paracolostomy hernia are reported.RESULTS: In group A only one patient was diagnosed with parastomal hernia, while in group B there were 9. The difference between the two groups was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the cases where a prophylactic synthetic mesh was utilized, no complications we observed.CONCLUSION: Improving surgical techniques for preventing paracolostomy hernias is crucial, as they represent an inevitable complication, in most cases, after colostomy formation. The results of the conducted study as well as the available literature data highlight the benefits of methods such as the extraperitoneal route for stoma construction and the prophylactic use of synthetic meshes

Myocardial Function after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients with Preoperative Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction—The Role of the Left Ventricular Longitudinal Strain

Background and Objectives: The role of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on postoperative left ventricular (LV) function in patients with preoperatively preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is still being discussed and only a few studies address this question. This study aimed to assess LV function after CABG in patients with preoperatively preserved LVEF using left ventricular longitudinal strain assessed by 2D speckle tracking imaging (STI). Materials and Methods: Fifty-nine consecutive adult patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) referred for a first-time elective CABG surgery were enrolled in the final analysis of this prospective single-center clinical study. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), with conventional measures and STI measures, was performed within 1 week before CABG as well as 4 months after surgery. Patients were divided into groups based on their preoperative global longitudinal strain (GLS) value. Differences in systolic and diastolic parameters between groups were analyzed. Results: Preoperative GLS was reduced (GLS < −17%) in 39% of the patients. Parameters of systolic LV function were significantly reduced in this group of patients compared to the patient group with GLS% ≥ −17%. In both groups, 4 months after CABG there was a decline in LVEF but statistically significant only in the group with GLS% ≥ −17% (p = 0.035). In patients with reduced GLS, there was a statistically significant postoperative improvement (p = 0.004). In patients with preoperative normal GLS, there was not a significant change in any strain parameters after CABG. There was an improvement in diastolic function parameters measured by Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) in both groups. Conclusions: There is improvement in LV systolic and diastolic function after CABG in patients with preserved preoperative LVEF measured by STI and TDI. GLS might be more sensitive and effective than LVEF for monitoring improvements in myocardial function after CABG surgery in patients with preserved LVEF

A real – life observational pilot study to evaluate the effects of two-week treatment with montelukast in patients with chronic cough

BACKGROUND: Different conditions make the proximal airways susceptible to tussigenic stimuli in the chronic cough (CC) syndrome. Leukotrienes can be implicated in the inflammatory mechanism at play in it. Montelukast is a selective cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor antagonist with proven effectiveness in patients with asthma. The aim of our real-life pilot study was to use montelukast to relieve cough symptoms in patients with CC allegedly due to the two frequent causes other than asthma – upper airway cough syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux (GER). METHODS: 14 consecutive patients with CC were evaluated before and after 2 weeks of treatment with montelukast 10 mg daily. Cough was assessed by validated cough questionnaire. Questionnaires regarding the presence of gastroesophageal reflux were also completed. Cough reflex sensitivity to incremental doubling concentrations of citric acid and capsaicin was measured. Lung function, airway hyperresponsiveness and exhaled breath temperature (EBT), a non-invasive marker of lower airway inflammation, were evaluated to exclude asthma as an underlying cause. Thorough upper-airway examination was also conducted. Cell counts, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), lactoferrin, myeloperoxidase (MPO) were determined in blood to assess systemic inflammation. RESULTS: Discomfort due to cough was significantly reduced after treatment (P < 0.001). Cough threshold for capsaicin increased significantly (P = 0.001) but not for citric acid. The values of lactoferrin and ECP were significantly reduced, but those of MPO rose. EBT and pulmonary function were not significantly affected by the treatment. CONCLUSION: Patients with CC due to upper airway cough syndrome or gastroesophageal reflux (GER) but not asthma reported significant relief of their symptoms after two weeks of treatment with montelukast. ECP, lactoferrin, MPO altered significantly, highlighting their role in the pathological mechanisms in CC. Clinical trial ID at Clinicaltrials.gov is NCT01754220

The January 2015 outburst of a red nova in M31

M31N 2015-01a (or M31LRN 2015) is a red nova that erupted in January 2015 -- the first event of this kind observed in M31 since 1988. Very few similar events have been confirmed as of 2015. Most of them are considered to be products of stellar mergers. Results of an extensive optical monitoring of the transient in the period January-March 2015 are presented. Eight optical telescopes were used for imaging. Spectra were obtained on BTA, GTC and the Rozhen 2m telescope. We present a highly accurate 70 d lightcurve and astrometry with a 0.05" uncertainty. The color indices reached a minimum 2-3 d before peak brightness and rapidly increased afterwards. The spectral type changed from F5I to F0I in 6 d before the maximum and then to K3I in the next 30 d. The luminosity of the transient was estimated to $8.7^{+3.3}_{-2.2}\times10^{5}L_{\odot}$ during the optical maximum. Both the photometric and the spectroscopic results confirm that the object is a red nova, similar to V838 Monocerotis.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics as a Letter to the Editor; page 5 is online material onl