<i>Orchis longicornu</i> Poiret in Sardinia: genetic, morphological and chorological data

Data are given on the genetic structure, morphology and chorology of the Long-Spurred orchid, Orchis longicornu Poiret (1789) from Sardinia and the occurrence in this island of the morphologically similar Orchis morio L. (1753), often recorded for Sardinia, is investigated. The genetic analysis of 27 enzyme lo ci in population samples from locations where both species had been recorded showed that: (i) in the population samples from Sardinia the polymorphic loci are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; (ii) these samples are genetically poorly differentiated from each other (average Nei's D = 0.01): less than 2% of the overall genetic variation observed is attributable to differences between populations (GST = 0.015); (iii) a high rate of gene flow was estimated between Sardinian populations: Nm ≈ 4, possibly owing to seed dispersal by wind; (iv) when Sardinian samples are compared with O. morio from continental Italy, significant differences in genetic variation were observed: average He = 0.16 in the former, 0.12 in thc latter; (v) the genetic distance found between Sardinian populations and those of O. morio from continental ltaly is relatively high: average Nei's D = 0.18, average Rogers' D = 0.22; (vi) highly significant differences in allele frequencies were found at a number of loci (Mdh-2, Sod-3, Pgm-1, Gpi-1, Gpi-2) between populations from Sardinia and continental Italy, each giving a probability of correct identification that varies from 0.90 to 1 (diagnostic loci). These findings provide evidence that O. morio is not present in the material genetically analyzed from Sardinia, which includes a single species, apparently corresponding to O. longicornu. The slight heterogeneity observed at some loci in the Sardinian population samples can be attributed in some cases (e.g. Mdh-1, Adh, Est-6) to local differences, possibly adaptive; in others (e.g. Pgm-1 and Gpi-l) to genetic drift effects. The hypothesis that some alleles (Gpi-1100, Dia107, NADHdh-296) found in O. morio and recorded at low frequency in a few Sardinian populations reflect palaeointrogressive phenomena (owing to sporadical immigrant individuals of O. morio having diluted their genes in O. longicornu genome through multiple generations of backcrosses) is not sufficiently supported by the available data. The genetic data are in agreement with the results from morphological studies. These involved the examination of about 1500 specimens (both alive and dried) from all over Sardinia, and their comparison with herbarium specimens of O. longicornu from patria typica (Algeria) and of O. morio from continental Italy. The typification of O. longicornu is given. The specimens from Sardinia correspond well, on a morphological basis, to the Algerian ones and therefore were all assigned to O. longicornu. Several characters were considered, differentiating O. longicornu from O. morio both in fresh and dried specimens. However, some of them, currently used in diagnostic keys, show much overlap between the two species. This explains the quotations of O. morio from Sardinia, that appear to be misidentifications of O. longicornu. A description of O. longicornu from Sardinia is provided, and its distribution in the island is defined, on the basis of (i) a critical revision of literature rccords, and (ii) the examination of fresh and dried Sardinian specimens. O. longicornu is shown to be widespread throughout Sardinia, living in many different habitats from 0 to 1500 m a.s.l

Natural hybridization and introgression between the Long-Spurred orchid, <i>Orchis longicornu</i> Poiret and the Green-Winged orchid, <i>O. morio</i> L. (Orchidaceae) in Corsica

Genetic studies have revealed in Southern Corsica, near Bonifacio, not only the existence of sporadic F1 hybrids between Orchis longicornu Poiret and O. morio L., but of a hybrid zone where both parental taxa are more or less introgressed. Our data indicate complete interfertility between the two taxa, which should therefore be considered as subspecies of the same biological species

Loop electrosurgical excision procedure versus cryotherapy in the treatment of cervical intraepithelialneoplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

AIM: Invasive cervical cancer is proceeded by a phase of preinvasive disease that is slow to progress and can be detected, treated, and collectively referred to as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Several excisional and ablative treatments for CIN have been studied, with loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and cryotherapy being the two most commonly utilized. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to compare the compare harms and benefits of LEEP versus cryotherapy in women with CIN. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched from their inception until May 2018. We included all RCTs comparing cryotherapy versus LEEP in women with CIN. We included trials evaluating both HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative women. The primary outcome was the persistence of the disease at 6-month follow-up. Meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model to produce summary treatment effects in terms of relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Four trials, including 1035 women with CIN, were identified as relevant and included in the meta-analysis. Women who received LEEP for CIN had a significantly lower persistence at 6-month follow-up biopsy (RR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.76-0.99) and significantly lower recurrence at 12-month follow-up biopsy (RR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.84-0.99) compared to those who received cryotherapy. No between-group differences were found in the complications rate, but the analyses were not powered for these outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In women with CIN, treatment with LEEP was associated with a significantly lower risk of persistence disease at 6 months and recurrence disease at 12 months compared to treatment with cryotherapy

Effects of exercise during pregnancy in women with short cervix: Secondary analysis from the Italian Pessary Trial in singletons

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of exercise during pregnancy in asymptomatic singleton pregnancies without prior spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) but with short transvaginal ultrasound cervical length (TVU CL). STUDY DESIGN: This is a secondary analysis of the Italian Pessary Trial for the Italian Preterm Birth Prevention (IPP) Working Group. In the original prospective randomized controlled trial asymptomatic singleton pregnancies without prior SPTB but with TVU CL ≤ 25 mm at 18 0/6-23 6/7 weeks were randomized into 1:1 ratio to either cervical pessary or no pessary. During their follow-up visits, women were asked about their activity. For the purpose of this secondary analysis, women were classified in the following groups, using the information obtained in the follow-up visit one month after randomization: 1) Exercise group, defined as women performing exercise ≥2 days a week for ≥20 min each day. 2) No exercise group, defined as women performing exercise <2 days a week for ≥20 min each day. The primary outcome of this secondary analysis was PTB < 37 weeks. RESULTS: 300 women were included in this analysis. 99 (33.0%) were included in the exercise group. 201 (67.0%) were included in the no exercise group. Of the 201 women in the no exercise group, 90 (44.8%) affirmed that they had reduced their activity after the diagnosis of short cervix despite the research staff recommendations, while the other 111 (55.2%) women performed a sedentary life style even before the diagnosis of short cervix. PTB < 37 weeks occurred in 22 women (22.2%) in the exercise group, and 66 women (32.8%) in the no exercise group (aOR 0.65, 95% CI 0.33-1.03). CONCLUSION: In asymptomatic singleton pregnancies with short cervix, performing exercise ≥2 days a week for ≥20 min each day does not increase the risk of PTB but is indeed associated with a non-significant reduction in PTB < 37 weeks by 32%

The Genetics of Non-Syndromic Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: A Systematic Review

Several causes for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) have been described, including iatrogenic and environmental factor, viral infections, chronic disease as well as genetic alterations. The aim of this review was to collect all the genetic mutations associated with non-syndromic POI. All studies, including gene screening, genome-wide study and assessing genetic mutations associated with POI, were included and analyzed in this systematic review. Syndromic POI and chromosomal abnormalities were not evaluated. Single gene perturbations, including genes on the X chromosome (such as BMP15, PGRMC1 and FMR1) and genes on autosomal chromosomes (such as GDF9, FIGLA, NOBOX, ESR1, FSHR and NANOS3) have a positive correlation with non-syndromic POI. Future strategies include linkage analysis of families with multiple affected members, array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) for analysis of copy number variations, next generation sequencing technology and genome-wide data analysis. This review showed variability of the genetic factors associated with POI. These findings may help future genetic screening studies on large cohort of women

Natural hybridization and introgression between the Long-Spurred orchid,Orchis longicornuPoiret and the Green-Winged orchid,O. morioL. (Orchidaceae) in Corsica

Genetic studies have revealed in Southern Corsica, near Bonifacio, not only the existence of sporadic F1hybrids betweenOrchis longicornuPoiret andO. morioL., but of a hybrid zone where both parental taxa are more or less introgressed. Our data indicate complete interfertility between the two taxa, which should therefore be considered as subspecies of the same biological species

Tassonomia biochimica di orchidee europee a livello sopraspecifico

Abbiamo indagato le relazioni genetiche tra varie orchidee europee, mediante elettroforesi multilocus. Questo approccio permette di quantificare la divergenza genetica tra taxa e valutare con un metodo alternativo le relazioni filogenetiche e i tempi di divergenza evolutiva

Orchis longicornuPoiret in Sardinia: genetic, morphological and chorological data

Data are given on the genetic structure, morphology and chorology of the Long-Spurred orchid,Orchis longicornuPoiret (1789) from Sardinia and the occurrence in this island of the morphologically similarOrchis morioL. (1753), often recorded for Sardinia, is investigated. The genetic analysis of 27 enzyme lo ci in population samples from locations where both species had been recorded showed that:(i)in the population samples from Sardinia the polymorphic loci are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium;(ii)these samples are genetically poorly differentiated from each other (average Nei'sD= 0.01): less than 2% of the overall genetic variation observed is attributable to differences between populations (GST = 0.015);(iii)a high rate of gene flow was estimated between Sardinian populations:Nm≈ 4, possibly owing to seed dispersal by wind;(iv)when Sardinian samples are compared withO. moriofrom continental Italy, significant differences in genetic variation were observed: average He= 0.16 in the former, 0.12 in thc latter;(v)the genetic distance found between Sardinian populations and those ofO. moriofrom continental ltaly is relatively high: average Nei'sD= 0.18, average Rogers'D= 0.22;(vi)highly significant differences in allele frequencies were found at a number of loci (Mdh-2, Sod-3, Pgm-1, Gpi-1, Gpi-2) between populations from Sardinia and continental Italy, each giving a probability of correct identification that varies from 0.90 to 1 (diagnostic loci). These findings provide evidence thatO. moriois not present in the material genetically analyzed from Sardinia, which includes a single species, apparently corresponding toO. longicornu. The slight heterogeneity observed at some loci in the Sardinian population samples can be attributed in some cases (e.g.Mdh-1, Adh, Est-6) to local differences, possibly adaptive; in others (e.g.Pgm-1andGpi-l) to genetic drift effects. The hypothesis that some alleles (Gpi-1100,Dia107,NADHdh-296) found inO. morioand recorded at low frequency in a few Sardinian populations reflect palaeointrogressive phenomena (owing to sporadical immigrant individuals ofO. moriohaving diluted their genes inO. longicornugenome through multiple generations of backcrosses) is not sufficiently supported by the available data. The genetic data are in agreement with the results from morphological studies. These involved the examination of about 1500 specimens (both alive and dried) from all over Sardinia, and their comparison with herbarium specimens ofO. longicornufrompatria typica(Algeria) and ofO. moriofrom continental Italy. The typification ofO. longicornuis given. The specimens from Sardinia correspond well, on a morphological basis, to the Algerian ones and therefore were all assigned toO. longicornu. Several characters were considered, differentiatingO. longicornufromO. morioboth in fresh and dried specimens. However, some of them, currently used in diagnostic keys, show much overlap between the two species. This explains the quotations ofO. moriofrom Sardinia, that appear to be misidentifications ofO. longicornu. A description ofO. longicornufrom Sardinia is provided, and its distribution in the island is defined, on the basis of(i)a critical revision of literature rccords, and(ii)the examination of fresh and dried Sardinian specimens.O. longicornuis shown to be widespread throughout Sardinia, living in many different habitats from 0 to 1500 m a.s.l