Morphological differentiation supports the genetic pattern of the geographic structure of Juniperus thurifera (Cupressaceae)

12 p., mapas, tablas, gráf.Juniperus thurifera is an important component of woodland communities of dry sites within the West Mediterranean region and is characterised by a strongly disjunctive geographic range. Two subspecies were recognised, subsp. thurifera in Europe and subsp. africana in Africa. The aim of the study was the comparison of phenetic diversity to the pattern of AFLP geographic differentiation of the species described in the literature. The examination of phenetic diversity was based on the biometrical analysis of 17 populations using 12 morphological characters of cone and seed. The differences among populations were analysed using Student’s t test, analysis of discrimination, UPGMA agglomeration and hierarchical analysis of variance. The majority of morphological characters differentiated at a statistically significant level between populations and between J. thurifera subsp. thurifera and subsp. africana. Three groups of populations were detected using multivariate statistical analyses. The first, well separated, is subsp. africana, while the following two concern subsp. thurifera. The morphological differentiation of populations appeared similar to that described on the AFLP. The Gibraltar Straight appeared to be the most important barrier.Funding the work was partly sponsored by the Institute of Dendrology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The collection of material was made possible due to the bilateral cooperation of the Polish Academy of Sciences with the Spanish National Research Council "Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas".Peer reviewe

What are we measuring? A critique of range of motion methods currently in use for Dupuytren's disease and recommendations for practice

Background: Range of motion is the most frequently reported measure used in practice to evaluate outcomes. A goniometer is the most reliable tool to assess range of motion yet, the lack of consistency in reporting prevents comparison between studies. The aim of this study is to identify how range of motion is currently assessed and reported in Dupuytren’s disease literature. Following analysis recommendations for practice will be made to enable consistency in future studies for comparability. This paper highlights the variation in range of motion reporting in Dupuytren’s disease. Methods: A Participants, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes and Study design format was used for the search strategy and search terms. Surgery, needle fasciotomy or collagenase injection for primary or recurrent Dupuytren’s disease in adults were included if outcomes were monitored using range of motion to record change. A literature search was performed in May 2013 using subject heading and free-text terms to also capture electronic publications ahead of print. In total 638 publications were identified and following screening 90 articles met the inclusion criteria. Data was extracted and entered onto a spreadsheet for analysis. A thematic analysis was carried out to establish any duplication, resulting in the final range of motion measures identified. Results: Range of motion measurement lacked clarity, with goniometry reportedly used in only 43 of the 90 studies, 16 stated the use of a range of motion protocol. A total of 24 different descriptors were identified describing range of motion in the 90 studies. While some studies reported active range of motion, others reported passive or were unclear. Eight of the 24 categories were identified through thematic analysis as possibly describing the same measure, ‘lack of joint extension’ and accounted for the most frequently used. Conclusions: Published studies lacked clarity in reporting range of motion, preventing data comparison and meta-analysis. Percentage change lacks context and without access to raw data, does not allow direct comparison of baseline characteristics. A clear description of what is being measured within each study was required. It is recommended that range of motion measuring and reporting for Dupuytren’s disease requires consistency to address issues that fall into 3 main categories:- Definition of terms Protocol statement Outcome reportin

Optimal functional outcome measures for assessing treatment for Dupuytren's disease: A systematic review and recommendations for future practice

This article is available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. Copyright © 2013 Ball et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Background: Dupuytren's disease of the hand is a common condition affecting the palmar fascia, resulting in progressive flexion deformities of the digits and hence limitation of hand function. The optimal treatment remains unclear as outcomes studies have used a variety of measures for assessment. Methods: A literature search was performed for all publications describing surgical treatment, percutaneous needle aponeurotomy or collagenase injection for primary or recurrent Dupuytren’s disease where outcomes had been monitored using functional measures. Results: Ninety-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-two studies reported outcomes using patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) ranging from validated questionnaires to self-reported measures for return to work and self-rated disability. The Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score was the most utilised patient-reported function measure (n=11). Patient satisfaction was reported by eighteen studies but no single method was used consistently. Range of movement was the most frequent physical measure and was reported in all 91 studies. However, the methods of measurement and reporting varied, with seventeen different techniques being used. Other physical measures included grip and pinch strength and sensibility, again with variations in measurement protocols. The mean follow-up time ranged from 2 weeks to 17 years. Conclusions: There is little consistency in the reporting of outcomes for interventions in patients with Dupuytren’s disease, making it impossible to compare the efficacy of different treatment modalities. Although there are limitations to the existing generic patient reported outcomes measures, a combination of these together with a disease-specific questionnaire, and physical measures of active and passive individual joint Range of movement (ROM), grip and sensibility using standardised protocols should be used for future outcomes studies. As Dupuytren’s disease tends to recur following treatment as well as extend to involve other areas of the hand, follow-up times should be standardised and designed to capture both short and long term outcomes

Variability of needle characters of Pinus mugo Turra populations in the Karkonosze Mountains in Poland

The basic aim of the work was to widen the knowledge about variation of Pinus mugo in the Karkonosze (Giant) Mountains and verification of provenance of several, probably planted populations on that basis. Seven populations were sampled, four on hardly accessible precipices of glacial cirques as natural, and three on the topical, mostly plane or only slightly in clined parts of the mountains as potentially alien ones. The variation of the needles was biometrically analyzed in respect of 23 morphological and anatomical characters. Measurement data were subject of multivariate statistical analyses. Results call attention on rather continuous variability of P. mugo in the Karkonosze Mts. The differences among samples were found as relatively low and no direct connections have been detected between variation and provenance from precipices versus plane sites

Variation of cone characters in Pinus mugo (Pinaceae) populations in the Giant Mountains (Karkonosze, Sudetes)

The subalpine communities of Pinus mugo were destructed and replaced by pasture lands on plateau parts and moderately inclined slopes of the mountains during between the 15th andthe 18th centuries. The species were able to survive that pressure probably on the abrupt slopes of the glacial cirques. The pasturing stoppedin the 19th century, andthe mountain pine startedto reforest its previous habitats since that time. It was also plantedin several places andsome of contemporary populations can origin from the seeds of the Giant Mountains. In the latter case the populations on the plateau shall reveal differences in the cone characters from autochtonous ones from the glacial cirques. This study was structured on this hypothesis. The characteristics of seven Pinus mugo populations in the Giant Mts. were comparedon the basis of 15 morphological characters of cones. Each population was represented by at least 30 individuals, and for every individual 10 cones were examined. Four of the sampled populations, treated as local, occurred on the steep slopes of the glacial cirques andthe other three on the mountain plateaus, usedas pastures in the 17th to 18th centuries, potentially originatedfrom another region. Results show rather small differences among the comparedpopula - tions, independently of origin. The separation of the plateau from the steep slope ones is rather inconspicuous, if any. This suggests the local origin of plateau populations, even when planted

Dendroecological differences between Taxus baccata males and females in comparison with monoecious Abies alba

Taxus baccata L. is a rare and endangered dioecious species in Europe. Species of this mating system are considered to be the most vulnerable to extinction. It is believed that one reason for this state may be the uneven reproductive effort and different habitat requirements of the two sexes. Silver fir and European yew have very similar ecological requirements, but fir is a monoecious species. The aim of this study was to compare the growth rate andthe effect of precipitation andtemperature on the annual tree-ring width of silver fir and both sexes of European yew. The study site was the Knyazhdvir reserve in western Ukraine, located near the limit of the geographical range of both species. Knyazhdvir reserve is the site of one of the last yew populations in Europe with a large number of individuals (about 15,000 individuals above 1.3 m height) growing alongside fir.Woodsamples were taken from 15 male and15 female specimens of T. baccata andfrom 15 specimens of A. alba and were subjected to a standard dendrochronological procedure. The results showed high positive correlation between the temperatures in February andMarch andthe tree-ring width in the studied species and genders. The response of annual tree-ring width to the examined climatic factors was relatively similar in yew andfir. However slight differences were foundbetween males andfemales of T. baccata. The growth rate decreased more rapidly in females compared to males, probably following sexual maturation. Precipitation in April hada positive effect on firs andfemale yews, but not on male yews. This confirms earlier reports of the requirement of female specimens of dioecious species for a higher humidity than male individuals

Pinus uliginosa from Czarne Bagno peat-bog (Sudetes) compared morphologically to related Pinus species

Pinus uliginosa is an interesting taxon from the Pinus mugo complex with controversial systematic position andspecific characteristics, intermediate among P. mugo, P. uncinata and P. sylvestris. The peat-bog pine is rare andprotectedin Poland. All its’ known populations have a relict character andare slightly different from each other. The aim of the present study was comparison of the individuals from the Czarne Bagno of the “Torfowisko pod Zieleńcem” Nature Reserve (Sudetes), determined in the field on the basis of morphological characteristics as Pinus uliginosa, with four samples of this taxon from the northern limits of its range in PolandandGer - many andwith Pinus sylvestris, P. mugo and P. uncinata, to verify morphological andtaxonomic relations between them. The material collected from 30 individuals determined as P. uliginosa, was closest to populations of P. uliginosa from the Bory Dolnośląskie, andto P. mugo from the Tatra Mts., concerning the needle characters. The cone characteristics of P. uliginosa individuals from the Czarne Bagno appeared similar to all other of that taxon. In spite of that, the cone characters first of all differentiate P. uliginosa from P. sylvestris, P. mugo and P. uncinata. The combination of needle and cone morphological characters are a good tool to distinguish P. sylvestris, P. uncinata, P. mugo and P. uliginosa with a very high probability