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A comprehensive understanding of the dietary habits of carnivores is essential to get ecological insights into their role in the ecosystem, potential competition with other carnivorous species, and their effect on prey populations. Genetic analysis of non-invasive samples, such as scats, can supplement behavioural or microscopic diet investigations. The objective of this study was to employ DNA metabarcoding to accurately determine the prey species in grey wolf (Canis lupus) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) scat samples collected in the Julian Alps and the Dinaric Mountains, Slovenia. The primary prey of wolves were red deer (Cervus elaphus) (detected in 96% scat samples), European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (68%), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) (45%). A smaller portion of their diet consisted of mesocarnivores, small mammals, and domestic animals. In contrast, the lynx diet mostly consisted of European roe deer (82%) and red deer (64%). However, small mammals and domestic animals were also present in lynx diet, albeit to a lesser extent. Our findings indicate that the dietary habits of wolves and lynx are influenced by geographical location. Snapshot dietary analyses using metabarcoding are valuable for comprehending the behaviour and ecology of predators, and for devising conservation measures aimed at sustainable management of both their natural habitats and prey populations. However, to gain a more detailed understanding of wolf and lynx dietary habits and ecological impact, it would be essential to conduct long-term genetic monitoring of their diet.

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Habitat fragmentation and loss have contributed significantly to the demographic decline of European wildcat populations and hybridization with domestic cats poses a threat to the loss of genetic purity of the species. In this study we used microsatellite markers to analyse genetic variation and structure of the wildcat populations from the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and North Macedonia. We also investigated hybridisation between populations of wildcats and domestic cats in the area. One hundred and thirteen samples from free-leaving European wildcats and thirty-two samples from domestic cats were analysed. Allelic richness across populations ranged from 3.61 to 3.98. The observed Ho values ranged between 0.57 and 0.71. The global FST value for the four populations was 0.080 (95% CI 0.056-0.109) and differed significantly from zero (P < 0.001). The highest FST value was observed between the populations North Macedonia and Slovenia and the lowest between Slovenia and Croatia. We also found a signal for the existence of isolation by distance between populations. Our results showed that wildcats are divided in two genetic clusters largely consistent with a geographic division into a genetically diverse northern group (Slovenia, Croatia) and genetically eroded south-eastern group (Serbia, N. Macedonia). Hybridisation rate between wildcats and domestic cats varied between 13% and 52% across the regions.

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Genetic characterisation of wild ungulates can be a useful tool in wildlife management and in obtaining a greater understanding of their biological and ecological roles in a wider spatiotemporal context. Different ways of optimising methodologies and reducing the costs of genetic analyses using widely available bone tissues collected within regular hunting allocations were examined. Successful isolation and analysis of DNA from widely available bones can be cheap, fast and easy. In particular, this study explored the possibility of using bones for extracting high quality nuclear DNA for microsatellite analysis. The utility of applying a modified demineralisation process using two commercially available DNA isolation kits, which differ significantly in price, was evaluated. The sample sets included bones and, for comparison, muscle tissues from four wild ungulate species: chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), and Alpine ibex (Capra ibex). For the recent bones, these results confirmed that the DNA concentrations and microsatellite amplification were sufficiently high, even when using low-cost kits, after prior demineralisation. For old bones, prior demineralisation and use of a specially designed isolation kit led to a more successful extraction of DNA. Besides reducing kit-related costs, low-cost kits are much faster and therefore make genetic analysis more efficient.

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Despite strong evidence of an inheritable component of muscle phenotypes, little progress has been made in identifying the specific genetic factors involved in the development of sarcopenia. Even rarer are studies that focus on predicting the risk of sarcopenia based on a genetic risk score. In the present study, we tested the single and combined effect of seven candidate gene variants on the risk of sarcopenia. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes were genotyped using the KASP assay. We examined 190 older adults that were classified as non-sarcopenic or sarcopenic according to the diagnostic criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Sarcopenia was associated with Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, Alpha-actinin-3, and Nuclear respiratory factor 2 genotypes. The combined effect of all three polymorphisms explained 39% of the interindividual variation in sarcopenia risk. Our results suggest that the single and combined effect of Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, Alpha-actinin-3, and Nuclear respiratory factor 2 polymorphism is associated with sarcopenia risk in older adults. Nowadays, as the population is getting older and older, great efforts are being made to research the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of sarcopenia. At the same time, small progress has been made in understanding the genetic etiology of sarcopenia. Given the importance of research on this disease, further genetic studies are needed to better understand the genetic risk underlying sarcopenia. We believe that this small-scale study will help to demonstrate that there is still much to be discovered in this field.

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OBJECTIVES: To investigate the short- and long-term effects of elastic resistance training (ERT) on physical performance, inflammatory markers, and myokines in older women living in a nursing home. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial, with 12 weeks of ERT intervention. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Nursing home. Twenty female nursing home residents (mean age = 84 ± 8 years) were randomized into 2 groups: the training group (n = 11), and the control group (n = 9). MEASURES: Muscle mass was estimated with bioelectrical impedance, and the functional test Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was performed, whereas handgrip strength and plasma concentration of myokines and inflammatory markers were measured before and after the intervention period. Additional blood samples were also taken after the fourth ERT session. A mixed model (group × time) analysis of variance was applied to determine the effect on primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS: After 1 exercise session, the training group showed a significant increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (P = .04) and a decrease in interleukin (IL)-8 (P = .01) plasma concentration. After 12 weeks of intervention, the results showed a significant group × time effects for the SPPB total score (P < .01), as well as gait speed (P = .04), chair rise (P < .01), and BDNF concentration (P = .02). However, there were no significant interactions for grip strength, IL-15, IL-8, resistin, glucose, and C-reactive protein (P ≥ .06). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The present study emphasizes the clinical impact of moderate-intensity ERT on mobility and functional performance in older women. The results indicate that an increase in exercise-induced peripheral BDNF may have a protective role in the preservation of muscular function in older women. Incorporating ERT into nursing homes could be a feasible preventive strategy to counteract functional deterioration.

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BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is a major health problem of the older population. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) developed diagnostic criteria for diagnosis of sarcopenia that require assessing muscle mass and strength or physical performance. Recently, however, a rapid screening method SARC-CalF was developed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to validate the SARC-CalF test using EWGSOP sarcopenia diagnostic criteria in a sample of nursing home residents. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. A sample of 80 nursing home residents [30% of men; mean age 84.3 (7.9) years]. Sarcopenia was determined as proposed by the EWGSOP diagnostic criteria, whereby muscle mass was measured by bioelectrical impedance, muscle strength by handgrip strength, and physical performance by usual gait speed and a Short Physical Performance Battery score. Sarcopenia was also assessed by the SARC-CalF screening test. RESULTS: A total of 38.7% of sarcopenia was evaluated using EWGSOP diagnostic criteria and 36.2% using the SARC-CalF test. The SARC-CalF demonstrated a sensitivity level of 77.4% and specificity of 89.8%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of SARC-CalF test was 0.84 (95% confidence interval 0.74, 0.94). CONCLUSIONS: SARC-CalF could be a useful screening test for sarcopenia in nursing home residents. The incorporation of the test as a basis for sarcopenia screening will provide additional value to current nursing home preventive measures.

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