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The clotting characteristics of autologous whole blood clots for chronic wound management in patients on anticoagulant therapy are not well defined. An exploratory ex vivo study was performed using the ActiGraft autologous whole blood clot (RedDress Ltd, Haifa, Israel) in patients receiving oral anticoagulant therapy. Twenty-five participants were eligible for inclusion and stratified into three age-matched cohorts: vitamin K antagonist-warfarin (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;9), factor Xa inhibitor- rivaroxaban (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;6), and controls not receiving anticoagulation (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;10). The primary endpoint was clot formation time. Clot formation time was defined as the time point at which no fluid movement was observed. In the study population (median [interquartile range] age 47 [42-52] years), the mean clot formation time was 10.5&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;2.6&#xa0;min (reference:8-12&#xa0;min). Mean clot formation time was significantly different across groups (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). Compared with controls (8.4&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;1.2&#xa0;min), clot formation time was significantly prolonged in both the warfarin group (11.3&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;2.3&#xa0;min; p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.002) and the rivaroxaban group (12.7&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;2.4&#xa0;min; p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001), with no significant difference between anticoagulant groups (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.297). Nonetheless, complete, stable clots were consistently formed within the expected time frame in all samples across all groups. This illustrates the feasibility of ActiGraft autologous whole blood clot in patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation. Further studies are indicated in patients with chronic wounds to assess broader safety and efficacy.

Pregnancy is known to induce profound structural adaptations in the female brain, especially in regions involved in social cognition. This pre-conception cohort fMRI study examined changes in neural signal variability and functional connectivity during mentalizing tasks among 110 women (Mage&#x2009;=&#x2009;30.5&#x2009;years, SD&#x2009;=&#x2009;3.5, range&#x2009;=&#x2009;25-41), including 40 first-time mothers, 30&#x2009;s-time mothers, and 40 nulliparous control women. Participants completed a mentalizing task before and after pregnancy, and, for a subset, 1&#x2009;year postpartum. First-time mothers exhibited increased neural variability in response to child-related stimuli in the early postpartum period relative to their pre-conception baseline, whereas control women and second-time mothers showed decreases consistent with typical age-related changes. In controls, decreased neural variability correlated with declines in mentalizing task performance, suggesting that neural variability supports flexible and effective cognitive processing. Effects were stimulus- and parity-specific, with first-time mothers showing selective increases to child-related cues and second-time mothers showing distinct changes in adult-related processing. These findings suggest that pregnancy, particularly in first-time mothers, selectively preserves or enhances neural flexibility for processing infant social cues and that neural variability is a key marker of these adaptations.

Sexual violence is a major public health issue with significant individual, social, and institutional repercussions. Addressing it requires a comprehensive approach that integrates prevention, treatment for perpetrators, and support for professionals. It is against this backdrop that the Resource Centers for Professionals Working with Perpetrators of Sexual Violence (CRIAVS) were established.

Identifying interventions for developing language skills in autistic people is a top research priority. To develop effective language interventions, it is essential to understand whether community members feel they are important, acceptable, and meaningful. The aim of our research was to elicit views from members of the autism community on language and language interventions for autistic people. Our diverse team (comprising those with lived and professional experience of autism and/or language interventions) achieved our goals using an online survey. Via opportunity sampling, we recruited 356 participants including autistic adults, parents of autistic children, and professionals/researchers working with autistic people. Data were thematically analyzed. Participants recognised the importance of language for self-advocacy, societal participation, interacting with others, and expressing needs, feelings and desires. Language was seen as a potential tool for communication, but one of crucial importance in navigating a world designed for non-autistic people. Responses also strongly emphasised the importance of language interventions being focused on autistic people's individual needs, that benefit them, allow them to be their authentic selves, and prioritise choice and agency. Our research highlights the importance of including community voices in the development of language interventions. Future language interventions should be individualised to a person's needs and wishes, respect autistic people's identity, and support self-advocacy. Subsequent work should ensure that seldom-heard voices are centered in such discussions.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 7 (CLN7 disease) can present with late-infantile or juvenile onset phenotypes. Current understanding of disease progression is limited as most published data derive from case reports or case series. Our goal was to characterize clinical aspects of CLN7 disease across phenotypes. Participants with CLN7 disease were enrolled in a longitudinal observational study. We obtained medical and developmental histories, assessed adaptive behavior ability, and conducted standardized NCL-specific assessments, including the Unified Batten Disease Rating Scale and/or the Hamburg late infantile NCL rating scale. We enrolled 5 participants with late infantile onset and 2 participants with juvenile onset CLN7 disease. Those with late-infantile CLN7 disease typically demonstrated normal early development followed by a plateau in language development. Initial symptoms were commonly cognitive/learning problems (median onset 3.0 years). Developmental regression started between ages 4 and 6 years, with loss of independent ambulation and expressive language by age 6 years. In contrast, both participants with juvenile onset CLN7 disease had normal early development with vision loss as the initial symptom (ages 10-12.5 years), followed by seizure onset within 4 years. Late-infantile and juvenile onset phenotypes of CLN7 disease have distinct natural histories and progression patterns, including typical presenting symptoms, presence of developmental regression and differences in disease course. Disease progression in the juvenile cohort was more protracted compared to the late infantile cohort. Characterizing the natural history of CLN7 disease phenotypes is essential for improving early diagnosis, improving clinical management, and supporting therapeutic development for this devastating disorder.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease in which conventional clinical examination frequently underestimates subclinical extension and fails to distinguish between lesion types that carry different therapeutic implications. High-frequency ultrasound has emerged as a valuable adjunct, enabling detection of deep and occult disease, more granular assessment of inflammatory activity, and refined classification beyond traditional Hurley staging and the International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS4). Over the last decade, multicenter studies and expert consensus have progressively defined high-frequency ultrasound lesion phenotypes, sonographic scoring systems, and workflow recommendations, positioning ultrasound as a practical bedside imaging tool for hidradenitis suppurativa. This Leading Article provides a concise balanced overview of high-frequency ultrasound in hidradenitis suppurativa, with an emphasis on unified lesion terminology, Doppler-based activity assessment, and an iconographic color-coded mapping strategy that links each ultrasound-defined lesion to its exact clinical location. The article highlights how such approaches can bridge communication between dermatologists, sonographers, and surgeons, support lesion-level decision making, and guide surgical planning, while also discussing current limitations, implementation barriers, and priorities for future research.

Psoriasis is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but the impact of psoriasis on cardiac structure and function has been less clear. To assess cardiac structure, function and cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals with psoriasis compared with matched controls and across psoriasis severity. Cross-sectional analysis of 1010 adults with psoriasis from the prospective PSOCADIA cohort and 1010 age- and sex-matched controls without inflammatory skin disease. Participants underwent clinical assessment and transthoracic echocardiography. Cardiac abnormalities assessed included hypertrophy, valvular disease, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and myocardial dysfunction defined by global longitudinal strain (GLS) <16%. Despite well-managed skin disease, individuals with psoriasis had more prevalent myocardial dysfunction by abnormal GLS (16.7% vs. 6.0%, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001) compared with controls. This association persisted after adjustment for cardiometabolic risk factors and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Cardiac structure and function were largely similar across psoriasis severity. Higher body mass index and diabetes were independently associated with myocardial dysfunction in psoriasis. Individuals with psoriasis, even with well-managed skin disease, exhibit a higher burden of myocardial dysfunction compared with controls, independent of cardiometabolic comorbidity. The prevalence was similar across psoriasis severity, highlighting the importance of cardiovascular assessment in all patients with psoriasis. GOV: NCT04950218 (Prevalence and risk factors asSOciated with CArdiac comorbiDIty in psoriAsis, registered on 6 July 2021). WHAT IS THE DISEASE?: Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects about 2&#x2013;3% of adults. It causes red, scaly patches on the skin and is linked to a higher risk of heart and blood vessel diseases due to ongoing inflammation and shared risk factors. The study was conducted in the greater Copenhagen area, Denmark. We investigated whether people with psoriasis have differences in heart structure and function compared with people without psoriasis, and whether these changes are related to psoriasis severity. This study included 1010 adults with psoriasis and 1010 matched individuals without skin disease from the general population. Participants underwent detailed heart ultrasound examinations, including advanced imaging to detect subtle heart muscle changes. Clinical information on health, lifestyle and blood tests was also collected. People with psoriasis had more common risk factors such as higher body weight, high blood pressure and diabetes. Overall, heart&#x2010;pumping function was similar between groups. However, subtle signs of heart muscle dysfunction were more common in psoriasis, even when skin disease was well controlled. These changes were not related to psoriasis severity. Higher body weight and diabetes were linked to worse heart function in psoriasis. Psoriasis is associated with early, subtle changes in heart function that may not be detected by routine tests. This suggests that people with psoriasis may benefit from careful monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors, even when their skin disease is mild or well&#x2010;controlled.

This study aimed to explore public sympathy toward individuals with substance misuse, including relationships between that phenomenon and demographic, socioeconomic, and health factors in a single U.S. state. Weighted summary statistics and logistic regression analyses were conducted using data from the 2021 Utah Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The outcome measure was derived from a unique question which asked about sympathy toward those misusing substances, which may reflect behaviors indicative of or preceding substance use disorder (SUD). Other measures included standard demographics; education; religious affiliation; veteran status; LGBTQ+ status; history of cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use; and health status. Older age, Hispanic race/ethnicity, affiliation with several Christian religions, residence in rural counties, and lack of health insurance were negatively related to sympathy toward individuals misusing substances. Those with past-month marijuana use, higher education, and current poor mental health were significantly more likely than their counterparts to express this sympathy. This state-level measure of sympathy toward those misusing substances allowed for detection of both previously known and potentially newly identified predictors of sympathy around substance misuse and, potentially, disorders. Efforts should be made to measure SUD sympathy or stigma in nationally-representative datasets. The knowledge derived from such data could be used to increase SUD sympathy and reduce SUD stigma. In addition, further research in this area should focus on education level and religion.

School-based physical activity (PA) interventions can contribute to reducing social inequalities in health. However, implementation in socio-economically disadvantaged school settings remains challenging due to organisational, material and social constraints. To identify implementation conditions associated with the successful delivery of PA interventions in primary schools in socio-economically disadvantaged contexts in high-income countries, focusing on adoption, local ownership and integration into school routines. School-based PA interventions were identified through a search of six bibliographic databases conducted iteratively between 2022 and 2024 and covering studies published up to early 2022 using predefined eligibility criteria. Programmes were analysed across three dimensions: school entry modalities (top-down, bottom-up or hybrid); stakeholder involvement (school staff, students, families and community actors); and the level of contextual and socio-cultural adaptation, coded exclusively from explicitly reported information. Implementation conditions were synthesised using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Sixteen interventions met inclusion criteria. Top-down (public authority initiated) approaches facilitated targeting disadvantaged schools but were associated with limited local ownership. Bottom-up (school-initiated) approaches promoted local engagement but were prone to selection bias. Hybrid models, combining institutional targeting and local adaptation, documented implementation effectiveness (adoption, organisational compatibility and support). Highly adapted programmes relied on dedicated resources, flexibility and integration into school routines whereas standardised models produced transient effects. In socio-economically disadvantaged school settings, PA intervention effectiveness depends on contextual fit and implementation conditions. Findings apply to disadvantaged contexts in high-income countries and highlight the need for future research integrating implementation analyses and long-term follow-up.

WNT10A mutations, a major genetic determinant of dental agenesis and ectodermal dysplasia, exert profound effects on craniofacial development. Although classified as rare disorders, these mutations account for more than half of oligodontia cases, reflecting their critical role. The associated phenotypes span a broad clinical spectrum, ranging from isolated tooth agenesis to complex multisystem disorders, including hypodontia, enamel and root defects, palmoplantar keratoderma, alopecia, nail dystrophy, skin xerosis, hypohidrosis, eyelid cysts, and skin cancer, skeletal abnormalities and impaired bone homeostasis, underscoring their systemic impact. This review synthesizes current biological and clinical knowledge by linking phenotypes of WNT10A mutations to disruptions in Wnt/&#x3b2;-catenin signaling and its interactions with BMP, SMAD, RANK/RANKL/OPG, VEGF, and other regulatory pathways. Altered pathway activity affects key processes in tooth morphogenesis, osteogenesis, cellular proliferation, and tissue maintenance, offering mechanistic explanations for the heterogeneity and severity of patient presentations. A clearer understanding of these pathways is essential for improving diagnosis and management of WNT10A-associated oligodontia, particularly in treatment planning for growth-dependent interventions, regenerative strategies, and implant rehabilitation. Despite significant progress, critical gaps remain in defining the molecular basis of variable expressivity and genotype-phenotype relationships. Elucidating these mechanisms will be pivotal for advancing precision approaches in dental and craniofacial care.

Recurrent immunoglobulin A nephropathy after kidney transplantation remains a major clinical challenge, but risk factors are not fully defined. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of biopsy-proven recurrent IgAN and identify risk factors for recurrence in a contemporary Scandinavian cohort. We conducted a multicenter cohort study including adult patients with biopsy-proven immunoglobulin A nephropathy who received a first kidney-only transplantation between 1990 and 2020 across two Danish transplantation centers. Recurrence incidence and associations with clinical and donor-related characteristics were assessed during follow-up. A total of 118 recipients were followed for a median of 5.5 years. Biopsy-confirmed recurrence occurred in 14% of patients, corresponding to a cumulative incidence of 16% at 10 years post-transplantation. Younger age at immunoglobulin A nephropathy diagnosis, faster progression to kidney failure, and receipt of a kidney from a living or genetically related donor were independently associated with an increased risk of recurrence. Maintenance post-transplant steroid use was not associated with recurrence. Recurrent immunoglobulin A nephropathy was associated with an increased risk of graft failure compared with non-recurrent disease (unadjusted HR 3.8; adjusted HR 6.7). Recurrence of IgAN after kidney transplantation remains a clinically significant challenge, associated with younger age, rapid progression to KF, and transplantation from living or genetically related donors. Maintenance post-transplant steroid use was not associated with recurrence risk in this cohort. Larger and more diverse cohorts are warranted to clarify donor-related risk, strengthen the evidence on immunosuppressive protocols and guide strategies to improve graft outcomes.

This manuscript covers guidance proposed by The European Cystic Fibrosis Society Clinical Trials Network (ECFS-CTN) for the use of chest computed tomography (CT) scans in special situations such as haemoptysis, aspergillus-related lung disease, non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection and pneumothorax in people with CF. Guidance development followed a three-step process. The most important questions were first identified via anonymous online survey, then a comprehensive literature search was made to support a first set of statements. They were finally validated by a Delphi process to obtain collective opinion of participants. Consensus supported the use of chest CT in the presence of haemoptysis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis, and NTM-positive cultures (>2 separate expectorated sputum samples, or 1 positive bronchoscopic result). The ultimate responsibility for justifying a chest CT scan lies with the healthcare professionals directly involved in patient management.

Diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is frequently delayed, as symptoms are misattributed to other lung or cardiac diseases. Identifying prediagnostic patterns in healthcare utilisation may highlight areas of intervention leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment, potentially improving prognosis. We aimed to investigate healthcare utilisation in primary and secondary care in ILD patients compared to matched references over 10&#x2005;years preceding the ILD diagnosis, using nationwide Danish registers and adjusting for comorbidities. We conducted a nationwide matched cohort study using data from national registers. The study population was patients with a first-time diagnosis of ILD between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2019. Cases were matched with 10 references. Outcomes included number of hospital contacts, chest radiographs or computed tomography, and general practitioner consultations, spirometries, and C-reactive protein measurements. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated using multivariate negative binomial regression models, adjusted for socioeconomic factors and comorbidities. We identified 13&#x2009;161 cases with ILD, matched with 131&#x2009;620 references. Mean&#xb1;sd age at diagnosis was 68.4&#xb1;13.9&#x2005;years, with a slight male predominance. Most adjusted IRRs were elevated for up to 10&#x2005;years preceding diagnosis, steadily increasing and sharply peaking 1&#x2005;year prior to diagnosis. Similar patterns were seen when stratifying analyses for comorbidities. The adjusted IRRs were generally higher for patients without comorbidities. This nationwide study shows an increase in healthcare utilisation in both primary and secondary care in ILD patients up to 10&#x2005;years before diagnosis, indicating a diagnostic delay longer than previously reported.

Leucocytes regulate the immune response through multiple pathways including cytokine release, which is critical for mediating host defences. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) initiates a systemic inflammatory response that may contribute to adverse patient outcomes. Full blood counts (FBC) provide insight into patient's haematological status, however FBC don't provide comprehensive analysis of leucocyte subsets. We investigated the impact of CABG on circulating leucocyte subsets and plasma cytokine levels. Whole blood was collected from CABG patients (n = 75) at five time-points (admission, intra-operative, ICU, day three (D3), day five (D5)). The absolute count of monocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, B-cells, T-cell subsets, and dendritic cell (DC) subsets were assessed using Trucount tubes. A full blood count was performed on each patient sample and used to calculate the lymphocyte monocyte ratio and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio. Cytokine levels in patient plasma were measured via cytometric bead array. The relationship between CABG-associated immunomodulation and patient outcomes (atrial fibrillation (AF) and ICU length of stay (LOS)) was also explored. Compared to admission, patient monocyte numbers increased, and T-cell numbers decreased from the ICU period. B-cell numbers initially decreased during CABG surgery before increasing from D3. During the CABG procedure, classical DC numbers decreased, while plasmacytoid DC numbers increased. CABG also increased plasma levels of IL-6, MCP-10 and IP-10. Modulation of DC subsets, DC subset activation markers and T-cell subsets were associated with AF and ICU LOS. This study demonstrates the utility of comprehensive leucocyte subset and ratio analyses in CABG patients and provides further insight into cardiac immunobiology. Detailed assessment of the patient haematological status could be used as a clinical tool to guide post-operative management.

Resistance to thyroid hormone alpha (RTH&#x3b1;) is a rare genetic disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the thyroid hormone receptor alpha (THRA) gene, characterized by tissue-specific hypothyroidism despite often normal circulating thyroid hormone levels. In this report, we describe a family of three individuals - two sisters and their mother - carrying a heterozygous missense variant (c.1207G>A) in THRA. The variant was identified after evaluation of the daughters for short stature, increasing adiposity, and delayed bone age. Hormonal assessments revealed subtle thyroid function abnormalities, including low-normal free thyroxine (FT4), high-normal free tri-iodothyronine (FT3), an elevated FT3/FT4 ratio, and normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. Additional clinical features included variably present delayed dentition, chronic constipation, and hepatic steatosis. Both sisters exhibited normocytic anemia and delayed language development. This report adds novel insight by documenting intrafamilial variability and age-related attenuation of biochemical abnormalities in a family carrying a previously described THRA variant. It emphasizes the risk of missed diagnosis when relying solely on thyroid function tests and illustrates the importance of family-based evaluation across the lifespan, including in adults who may present with subtler biochemical or metabolic abnormalities. RTH&#x3b1; should be considered in patients with growth delay, disproportionate weight gain, persistent normocytic anemia, or developmental delay, even when thyroid hormone levels appear near-normal. Awareness of these patterns can prevent delayed diagnosis and support individualized clinical management.

As demand for sustainable and welfare-conscious food production increases, reducing the environmental and health impacts of animal feed has become a key challenge. Soybean meal (SBM) is widely used in poultry diets for its high protein content, but its richness in non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) can hamper its digestibility. To address this issue, a common strategy involves the utilization of enzymatic cocktails rich in carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). While these feed additives are specifically designed to degrade NSPs and enhance SBM protein digestibility, only scarce information is available on their impact on intestinal health. In this study, using intestinal epithelial cells lines, we show that pre-treatment of SBM by the enzymatic cocktail Rovabio&#x2122; Advance, supplemented or not with pectin-active fungal secretomes, did not alter epithelial integrity nor induce inflammatory responses. Additionally, in vitro chicken caecal fermentations revealed that SBM was associated with a higher relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae, while wheat fermentation was associated with Lactobacillaceae and Enterococcaceae enrichment. Enzymatic supplementation with Rovabio&#x2122; Advance further enhanced wheat fermentation and bacterial community shifts, while its effect on SBM fermentation remained limited. In contrast, SBM pre-treatment with pectin-active fungal secretomes led to significantly increased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production and enriched SCFA-associated genera. These findings indicate that while industrial enzyme cocktails are well suited to cereal-based diets, targeted pectin-degrading enzymes could be seen as a promising strategy to enhance the prebiotic potential of SBM. This study highlights the importance of tailoring enzymatic solutions to feed carbohydrate composition, to improve gut microbiota function and promote intestinal health in poultry. KEY POINTS: &#x2022; SBM does not induce intestinal cell inflammation or epithelium disruption in vitro. &#x2022; Both SBM and wheat increase SCFA production by the chicken caecal microbiota. &#x2022; Pre-treatment with fungal pectin-active secretomes enhance SBM's prebiotic potential.

Long-term persistence with antifibrotic drugs is crucial to slow disease progression in fibrosing ILDs but is challenging due to adverse events. Large-scale, real-world studies investigating modifiable healthcare system factors associated with persistence are lacking. The main objectives of this study were to assess the real-life persistence with antifibrotic treatments in the overall French population and to explore factors associated with patients' persistence with antifibrotic therapy. In this retrospective observational study conducted using the French National Health Database System, all adults initiating nintedanib or pirfenidone between January 2019 and December 2021 were included. They were categorized by diagnosis (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis, and progressive pulmonary fibrosis) using International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision codes. Persistence with antifibrotic therapy (defined as no treatment gap longer than 60 days), adherence to antifibrotic treatments, overall survival (OS), and event-free survival (EFS) were assessed. A multivariable Fine-Gray model identified factors associated with non-persistence. Among 4,935 incident patients, the 12-month persistence rate with antifibrotic therapy was 70.8%. The median time of follow-up for incident patients was 27 months. The median time on antifibrotic therapy was 14.1 months. Switching between antifibrotics occurred in 16.6% of patients, mainly during the first year. At 12 months, OS and EFS were 85.8% and 57.4%, respectively, with lower rates observed among patients with IPF. Regular outpatient visits, follow-up in expert centers, and early supportive interventions (day-hospitalization, temporary treatment interruptions) were associated with increased persistence whereas suboptimal follow-up (<&#x2009;2 pulmonary function tests during the follow-up period) was strongly associated with non-persistence (sHR&#x2009;=&#x2009;3.1). Structured patient follow-up and proactive management of adverse events, including treatment interruption, could be key to optimizing long-term persistence with antifibrotic therapy.

An extensive study of organic and inorganic pollutants in surface sediments from 32 locations and sediment cores from four locations in Bulgarian Black Sea waters has been carried out. The study included metals, hydrocarbons including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), legacy chlorinated and brominated contaminants (polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its degradation products, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), trans-nonachlor) and contaminants of emerging concern (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)). PBDEs and PFAS are reported in marine sediments from this region for the first time. After studying grain size, total organic carbon contents and 210Pb-dating of sediment cores, the levels of these pollutants are concluded to be low at most locations. An exception is several coastal locations off the ports of Varna and Burgas and the Kamchia River estuary, where strongly elevated levels of several pollutants were found. Possible sources for these are discussed based on compound or congener composition. Contaminant levels in sediments from the remaining locations were mostly determined by sediment characteristics, the higher levels found in fine-grained sediments in the open sea. Two of the sediment cores demonstrated an increase in pyrogenic PAHs in recent times, attributed to anthropogenic impacts, while the metals were largely at their natural background level determined through core analysis. No apparent impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine upon sediment pollution could be found as per October 2024, two years after the start of the war.

In Europe, where livestock has largely replaced wild ungulates over the centuries, dung beetle assemblages have become largely dependent on livestock farming. The radical changes in livestock farming practices during the 20th century have therefore had a profound impact on these assemblages. Trophic rewilding with large herbivores is an important focus in European rewilding projects, and dung beetle assemblages appear to be good indicators of the success of rewilding. By comparing the composition of dung beetle assemblages and the rate of dung disappearance in three neighboring grassland habitats in southern France, maintained respectively by a population of Przewalski horses managed by natural selection and two herds managed for production purposes (a flock of sheep and a herd of endurance horses), our study shows a) significant differences in the composition of the dung of the three animals; b) a single pool of dung beetle species; c) but a different assemblage structure. While tunnelers dominated across all the sampled habitats, rollers were the second most abundant group in domestic farms, and were replaced by dwellers in the Przewalski horse rangelands. Differences in dung beetle assemblages and dung composition between the three grazers could both explain that sheep droppings were removed faster than horse dung. Understanding how herbivore types and management shape these assemblages helps refine decisions for conservation and/or rewilding. However, the place of ecological heritage and species co-occurences in these changes need to be examined, since in this region the history of dung beetles is closely linked to that of sheep pastoralism as for other types of semi-natural grasslands in Europe.