Sporangia and Spores in the Fern Genera Spicantopsis and Struthiopteris (Blechnaceae, Polypodiopsida)

Struthiopteris (Blechnaceae) has recently been classified on the basis of molecular and morphological evidence, and some of its species are now included in the sister genus Spicantopsis. However, the lack of studies on several important morphological features impedes a sound assessment of their congruence with this new systematic arrangement, as well as of their range of variation and taxonomic value in this group of ferns. Here we present a study on the spores and sporangia using both light and scanning electron microscopy in Struthiopteris and Spicantopsis, using samples of all their species, and almost all their varieties. We provide full morphological descriptions of the spores and sporangia of all these taxa. We point out that the perispore structure and ornamentation and the number and the thickness of stomium cells in the sporangium clearly distinguish both generaThe Universidad Complutense de Madrid partially supported this research through the funding of a project PR26/16-20295, and a field trip to Iceland (International Mobility Program 2016

Sensory function in cluster headache: an observational study comparing the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides

Background: Based on inconsistent sensory alterations demonstrated in cluster headache (CH), the aim of this study was to determine whether patients with CH develop sensory changes in the symptomatic side compared to the asymptomatic side. Methods: Quantitative sensory testing (QST), including pressure pain threshold (PPT), tactile detection threshold (TDT), prick detection threshold (PDT), and two-point detection threshold (2PDT), was evaluated in 16 patients (seven women; age 41.9±6.8 years) with CH. Test sites included the rst, second, and third divisions of the trigeminal nerve, cervical spine, and thenar eminence in the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides. Results: The symptomatic side, compared to the asymptomatic side, presented signi cantly decreased PPT in the rst (P=0.011; 423.81±174.05 kPa vs 480.13±214.99 kPa) and second (P=0.023; 288.88±140.80 kPa vs 326.38±137.33 kPa) divisions of the trigeminal nerve, significantly increased TDT in the first (P=0.002; 2.44±0.40 vs 1.74±0.24) and second (P=0.016; 1.92±0.34 vs 1.67±0.09) divisions, and increased 2PDT in the rst division (P=0.004; 18.13±4.70 mm vs 15.0±4.92 mm) and neck (P=0.007; 45.31±20.65 mm vs 38.44±16.10 mm). Conclusion: These results support the prior evidence suggesting a specific pattern of alteration of sensory function with alterations in the symptomatic side compared to the asymp- tomatic side

Immediate Effects of Upper Cervical Translatoric Mobilization on Cervical Mobility and Pressure Pain Threshold in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of upper cervical translatoric spinal mobilization (UC-TSM) on cervical mobility and pressure pain threshold in subjects with cervicogenic headache (CEH). Methods Eighty-two volunteers (41.54 ± 15.29 years, 20 male and 62 female) with CEH participated in the study and were randomly divided into the control and treatment groups. The treatment group received UC-TSM and the control group remained in the same position for the same time as the UC-TSM group, but received no treatment. Cervical mobility (active cervical mobility and flexion-rotation test), pressure pain thresholds over upper trapezius muscles, C2-3 zygapophyseal joints and suboccipital muscles, and current headache intensity (visual analog scale) were measured before and immediately after the intervention by 2 blinded investigators. Results After the intervention, UC-TSM group exhibited significant increases in total cervical mobility (P =.002, d = 0.16) and the flexion–rotation test (P .05). Nevertheless, there was a significantly lower intensity of headache in the UC-TSM group (P =.039, d = 0.57). Conclusions Upper cervical translatoric spinal mobilization intervention increased upper, and exhibited a tendency to improve general, cervical range of motion and induce immediate headache relief in subjects with CEH

Effects of non-pharmacological conservative treatment on pain, range of motion and physical function in patients with mild to moderate hip osteoarthritis. A systematic review

Objective: The purpose of this review was to identify the effects of non-pharmacological conservative treatment on pain, range of motion and physical function in patients with mild to moderate hip osteoarthritis. Design: A systematic review based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Setting: We searched MEDLINE, PEDro, Scopus and the Cochrane Library databases for randomized controlled trials related to non-pharmacological conservative treatments for hip osteoarthritis with the following keywords: “hip osteoarthritis, ” “therapeutics, ” “physical therapy modalities, ” and “combined physical therapy”. The PEDro scale was used for methodological quality assessment and the Oxford Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine scale was used to assess the level of evidence. Outcomes measures related to pain, hip range of motion and physical function were extracted from these studies. Results: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies showed high level of evidence and only two showed low level of evidence. High quality of evidence showed that manual therapy and exercise therapy are effective in improving pain, hip range of motion and physical function. However, high quality studies based on combined therapies showed controversy in their effects on pain, hip range of motion and physical function. Conclusions: Exercise therapy and manual therapy and its combination with patient education provides benefits in pain and improvement in physical function. The effects of combined therapies remain unclear. Further investigation is necessary to improve the knowledge about the effects of non-pharmacological conservative treatments on pain, hip range of motion and physical function

Ultrasound measurement of the effects of high, medium and low hip long-axis distraction mobilization forces on the joint space width and its correlation with the joint strain

Background: No study has evaluated the mechanical effect of different magnitudes of long axis-distraction mobilization (LADM) force on hip joint space width (JSW) or the association between the separation of joint surfaces and the strain on hip capsular ligaments. Objective: To compare the joint separation when applying three different magnitudes of LADM forces (low, medium and high) and to analyse the correlation between joint separation, strain on the inferior ilio-femoral ligament and magnitude of applied force. Design: Repeated measures controlled laboratory cadaveric study. Methods: Three magnitudes of force were applied to 11 cadaveric hip joints (mean age 73 years). Ultrasound images were used to measure joint separation, and strain gauges recorded inferior ilio-femoral ligament strain during each condition. Results: The magnitude of joint separation was significantly different between low (0.23 ± 0.19 mm), medium (0.72 ± 0.22 mm) and high (2.62 ± 0.43 mm) forces (p 0.723; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Hip joint separation and ligament strain during LADM are associated with the magnitude of the applied force

Immediate effects of a telerehabilitation program based on aerobic exercise in women with fibromyalgia

Background: We analyzed the immediate effects of a Telerehabilitation Program (TP) based on aerobic exercise in women with fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome during the lockdown declared in Spain due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was designed. Thirty-four women with FM were randomized into two groups: TP group and Control group. The intervention lasted 15 weeks, with 2 sessions per week. The TP based on aerobic exercise was guided by video and the intensity of each session was monitored using the Borg scale. Pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale), mechanical pain sensitivity (algometer), number of tender points, FM impact (Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire), pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), physiological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), upper (Arm Curl Test) and lower-limb physical function (6-min Walk Test) were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Results: The TP group improved pain intensity (p = 0.022), mechanical pain sensitivity (p 0.05). Conclusion: A TP based on aerobic exercise achieved improvements on pain intensity, mechanical pain sensitivity, and psychological distress compared to a Control group during the lockdown declared in Spain due to COVID-19 pandemic

Modeling discards in Trawling Mediterranean Northern Alboran Sea Fishery

Target and Bycatch species metrics estimated from fishery-dependent data were explored to assess their use in governance of habitat conservation in respect to fisheries. Fishing data collected by onboard observers in otter-trawl boats between 2011 and 2012 at monthly sampling frequency in the Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean) were used to build maps of sensitivity to fishing stress. Maps were drawn by means kriging interpolation techniques of biomass and abundance (Catch Per Unit of Effort, CPUE) in kilogram and number per fishing hour of blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), European hake (Merluccius merluccius), and red mullets (Mullus barbatus and Mullus surmuletus) target species, seabreams (Pagellus acarne, Pagellus bogaraveo, and Pagellus erythrinus), and mackerels (Trachurus mediterraneus, Trachurus trachurus, and Trachurus picturatus) bycatch species and Bogue (Boops boops) bycatch discarded species. Modelling discards by means Generalised Additive Models (GAMs) use environmental (sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a from satellite data and NAO climatic index); spatial (latitude, longitude, depth and port) and temporal (season, haul duration, moon phase), as well as technical (boat length and power) explanatory variables. The main causes of discards, for both target and bycatch species, are associated to the seasonality of the recruitment and the changes on the spatial distribution of habitat preferences along their ontogeny. Environmental variables did not reveal significant effects, showing that operational oceanography standard products must be not enough to assess discards, and therefore products providing information on specific ecological processes to discards must be designed with this purpose. In Bycatch species, such as sea breams, mackerels and bogue, discards were also highly dependent of the port and boat (fleet/boat strategies, power, etc, and market preferences). The higher discards corresponded to these bycatch pelagic or bentho-pelagic species. Keywords: Discards, Otter-trawl fisheries, fishery conservation, operational oceanography, spatial modelin