Nitrate deposition in northern hardwood forests and the nitrogen metabolism of Acer saccharum marsh

It is generally assumed that plant assimilation constitutes the major sink for anthropogenic Nitrate NO 3 − deposited in temperate forests because plant growth is usually limited by nitrogen (N) availability. Nevertheless, plants are known to vary widely in their capacity for NO 3 − uptake and assimilation, and few studies have directly measured these parameters for overstory trees. Using a combination of field and greenhouse experiments, we studied the N nutrition of Acer saccharum Marsh. in four northern hardwood forests receiving experimental NO 3 − additions equivalent to 30 kg N ha −1 year −1 . We measured leaf and fine-root nitrate reductase activity (NRA) of overstory trees using an in vivo assay and used 15 N to determine the kinetic parameters of NO 3 − uptake by excised fine roots. In two greenhouse experiments, we measured leaf and root NRA in A. saccharum seedlings fertilized with 0–3.5 g NO 3 − −N m −2 and determined the kinetic parameters of NO 3 − and NH 4 + uptake in excised roots of seedlings. In both overstory trees and seedlings, rates of leaf and fine root NRA were substantially lower than previously reported rates for most woody plants and showed no response to NO 3 − fertilization (range = non-detectable to 33 nmol NO 2 − g −1 h −1 ). Maximal rates of NO 3 − uptake in overstory trees also were low, ranging from 0.2 to 1.0 μmol g −1 h −1 . In seedlings, the mean V max for NO 3 − uptake in fine roots (1 μmol g −1 h −1 ) was approximately 30 times lower than the V max for NH 4 + uptake (33 μmol g −1 h −1 ). Our results suggest that A. saccharum satisfies its N demand through rapid NH 4 + uptake and may have a limited capacity to serve as a direct sink for atmospheric additions of NO 3 − .Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47695/1/442_2004_Article_BF00334659.pd

Physiotherapy for pelvic pain and female sexual dysfunction: an untapped resource

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women is a complex syndrome. Pain sensation and intensity often do not correspond with the identified lesion location but are felt elsewhere, leading to muskuloskeletal and myofascial disorders and sexual dysfunction (SD). Although physical aspects are prevalent, they are often underdiagnosed and undertreated due to lack of understanding regarding its origin and distribution. Frequently, patients experience pelvic pain as psychological distress resulting in physical complaints, leading clinicians to prescribe medication or surgical intervention to correct or alleviate these symptoms, often with insufficient results. Because pelvic floor muscle disorders contribute significantly to CPP and SD, there is rationale for physiotherapy. However, physiotherapy is a widely underused and untapped resource, which has its place in the multidisciplinary approach to these health problems. Computer-aided and manual searches and methodological quality assessment were carried out for meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 1990 and 2017 investigating classification, assessment, and (physiotherapeutic) treatment of pelvic pain and/or female SD defined by the keywords below. Expert opinions were sought via interviews. Due to a lack of sufficient relevant medical information, referral data, and test results, focused physiotherapy is difficult to administer adequately. However, recent quality studies indicate significant clinical effects of physiotherapy for CPP and female SD, and experts advocate a multidisciplinary approach that includes physiotherapy. Because of its holistic approach, physiotherapy can contribute significantly to the multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of CPP and female SD