In human-altered landscapes, species with specific habitat requirements tend to persist as metapopulations, forming colonies restricted to patches of suitable habitats, displaying mutually ...independent within-patch dynamics and interconnected by inter-colony movements of individuals. Despite intuitive appeal and both empirical and analytical evidence, metapopulations of only relatively few butterfly systems had been both monitored for multiple years to quantify metapopulation dynamics, and assayed from the point of view of population genetics. We used allozyme analysis to study the genetic make-up of a metapopulation of a declining and EU-protected butterfly,
Euphydryas aurinia
, inhabiting humid grasslands in western Czech Republic, and reanalysed previously published demography and dispersal data to interpret the patterns. For 497 colony x year visits to the 97 colonies known at that time, we found annual extinction and colonisation probabilities roughly equal to 4%. The genetic diversity within colonies was intermediate or high for all assessed parameters of population genetic diversity and hence higher than expected for such a habitat specialist species. All the standard genetic diversity measures were positively correlated to adult counts and colony areas, but the correlations were weak and rarely significant, probably due to the rapid within-colony population dynamics. Only very weak correlations applied to larval nests numbers. We conclude that the entirety of colonies forms a well-connected system for their majority. Especially in its core parts, we assume a metapopulation structure with a dynamic equilibrium between local extinction and recolonization. It is vital to conserve in particular these structures of large and interconnected colonies.
Implications for insect conservation:
Conservation measures should focus on considering more in depth the habitat requirements of
E. aurinia
for management plans and on stabilisation strategies for colonies, especially of peripheral ones, e.g. by habitat restoration.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease causing limited mobility and pain, with no curative treatment available. Recent in vivo studies suggested autonomic alterations during OA ...progression in patients, yet clinical evidence is scarce. Therefore, autonomic tone was analyzed in OA patients via heart rate variability (HRV) measurements.
Time-domain (SDRR, RMSSD, pRR50) and frequency-domain (LF, HF, LF/HF) HRV indices were determined to quantify sympathetic and parasympathetic activities. In addition, perceived stress, WOMAC pain as well as serum catecholamines, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) were analyzed. The impact of the grade of disease (GoD) was evaluated by linear regression analysis and correlations with clinical data were performed.
GoD significantly impacted the autonomic tone in OA patients. All time-domain parameters reflected slightly decreased HRV in early OA patients and significantly reduced HRV in late OA patients. Moreover, frequency-domain analysis revealed decreased HF and LF power in all OA patients, reflecting diminished parasympathetic and sympathetic activities. However, LF/HF ratio was significantly higher in early OA patients compared to late OA patients and implied a clear sympathetic dominance. Furthermore, OA patients perceived significantly higher chronic stress and WOMAC pain levels compared to healthy controls. Serum cortisol and cortisol/DHEA-S ratio significantly increased with GoD and positively correlated with WOMAC pain. In contrast, serum catecholamines only trended to increase with GoD and pain level.
This prospective study provides compelling evidence of an autonomic dysfunction with indirect sympathetic dominance in early and late knee OA patients for the first time based on HRV analyses and further confirmed by serum stress hormone measurements. Increased sympathetic activity and chronic low-grade inflammation in OA as well as in its major comorbidities reinforce each other and might therefore create a vicious cycle. The observed autonomic alterations coupled with increased stress and pain levels highlight the potential of HRV as a prognostic marker. In addition, modulation of autonomic activity represents an attractive future therapeutic option.
Exogenous adenosine and its metabolite inosine exert anti-inflammatory effects in synoviocytes of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. We analyzed whether these cells are able ...to synthesize adenosine/inosine and which adenosine receptors (ARs) contribute to anti-inflammatory effects. The functionality of synthesizing enzymes and ARs was tested using agonists/antagonists. Both OA and RA cells expressed CD39 (converts ATP to AMP), CD73 (converts AMP to adenosine), ADA (converts adenosine to inosine), ENT1/2 (adenosine transporters), all AR subtypes (A1, A2A, A2B and A3) and synthesized predominantly adenosine. The CD73 inhibitor AMPCP significantly increased IL-6 and decreased IL-10 in both cell types, while TNF only increased in RA cells. The ADA inhibitor DAA significantly reduced IL-6 and induced IL-10 in both OA and RA cells. The A2AAR agonist CGS 21680 significantly inhibited IL-6 and induced TNF and IL-10 only in RA, while the A2BAR agonist BAY 60-6583 had the same effect in both OA and RA. Taken together, OA and RA synoviocytes express the complete enzymatic machinery to synthesize adenosine/inosine; however, mainly adenosine is responsible for the anti- (IL-6 and IL-10) or pro-inflammatory (TNF) effects mediated by A2A- and A2BAR. Stimulating CD39/CD73 with simultaneous ADA blockage in addition to TNF inhibition might represent a promising therapeutic strategy.
Despite advanced knowledge of the cellular and biomechanical processes of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), the trigger and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Since the sympathetic nervous ...system (SNS) has been shown to exhibit catabolic effects in osteoarthritis pathogenesis, it is attractive to speculate that it also influences IVDD. Therefore, we explored the adrenoceptor (AR) expression profile in human IVDs and correlated it with clinical parameters of patients. IVD samples were collected from n = 43 patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion surgery. AR gene expression was analyzed by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Clinical parameters as well as radiological Pfirrmann and Modic classification were collected and correlated with AR expression levels. In total human IVD homogenates α1A-, α1B-, α2A-, α2B-, α2C-, β1- and β2-AR genes were expressed. Expression of α1A- (r = 0.439), α2A- (r = 0.346) and β2-AR (r = 0.409) showed a positive and significant correlation with Pfirrmann grade. α1A-AR expression was significantly decreased in IVD tissue of patients with adjacent segment disease (
= 0.041). The results of this study indicate that a relationship between IVDD and AR expression exists. Thus, the SNS and its neurotransmitters might play a role in IVDD pathogenesis. The knowledge of differential AR expression in different etiologies could contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches for IVDD.
Ice ages within Europe forced many species to retreat to refugia, of which three major biogeographic basic types can be distinguished: "Mediterranean", "Continental" and "Alpine / Arctic" species. ...However, this classification often fails to explain the complex phylogeography of European species with a wide range of latitudinal and altitudinal distribution. Hence, we tested for the possibility that all three mentioned faunal elements are represented within one species. Our data was obtained by scoring 1,307 Euphydryas aurinia individuals (46 European locations) for 17 allozyme loci, and sequencing a subset of 492 individuals (21 sites) for a 626 base pairs COI fragment. Genetic diversity indices, F statistics, hierarchical analyses of molecular variance, individual-based clustering, and networks were used to explore the phylogeographic patterns. The COI fragment represented 18 haplotypes showing a strong geographic structure. All but one allozyme loci analysed were polymorphic with a mean FST of 0.20, supporting a pronounced among population structure. Interpretation of both genetic marker systems, using several analytical tools, calls for the recognition of twelve genetic groups. These analyses consistently distinguished different groups in Iberia (2), Italy, Provence, Alps (3), Slovenia, Carpathian Basin, the lowlands of West and Central Europe as well as Estonia, often with considerable additional substructures. The genetic data strongly support the hypothesis that E. aurinia survived the last glaciation in Mediterranean, extra-Mediterranean and perialpine refugia. It is thus a rare example of a model organism that combines attributes of faunal elements from all three of these sources. The observed differences between allozymes and mtDNA most likely result from recent introgression of mtDNA into nuclear allozyme groups. Our results indicate discrepancies with the morphologically-based subspecies models, underlining the need to revise the current taxonomy.
Collaborative manual image analysis by multiple experts in different locations is an essential workflow in biomedical science. However, sharing the images and writing down results by hand or merging ...results from separate spreadsheets can be error-prone. Moreover, blinding and anonymization are essential to address subjectivity and bias. Here, we propose a new workflow for collaborative image analysis using a lightweight online tool named Tyche. The new workflow allows experts to access images via temporarily valid URLs and analyze them blind in a random order inside a web browser with the means to store the results in the same window. The results are then immediately computed and visible to the project master. The new workflow could be used for multi-center studies, inter- and intraobserver studies, and score validations.
The purpose of this study is to determine the mid-term outcome after arthroscopic subscapularis tendon (SCP) reconstruction using the subscapularis interlocking (SICK)-stitch technique. The ...hypotheses are that arthroscopically repaired SCP lesions using the SICK-stitch show a good restoration of shoulder function with low complication and failure rates.
This is a retrospective monocentric study of n = 199 patients (n = 106 female) with arthroscopically treated SCP tears with the interlocking (SICK) stitch technique from July 2013 to October 2018. Inclusion criteria: minimum follow-up of 2 years. Exclusion criteria: irreparable and massive cuff tears, osteoarthritis, and fractures. The postoperative assessment consisted of the range of motion, constant score, simple shoulder test, simple shoulder value, disability of the shoulder and arm score, short form 12, and patient satisfaction.
Mean age was 61 years (25-83); n = 4 (2%) patients were lost to follow-up with mean follow-up time of 63.6 months (36-96). Additional supraspinatus tendon lesions (n = 147) were repaired in n = 101 cases. SCP grading (n = 69) (35% traumatic) (Fox/Romeo): n = 113 grade II, n = 71 grade III, n = 11 grade IV. A positive preoperative lift-off test (n = 132, 68%) was corrected in n = 124 (94%) of cases. Ninety seven percent of patients would undergo surgery again with a mean satisfaction score of 14.4/15. Results at final follow-up (data: mean pre; post;
value): lexion (130; 166; .001), abduction (123;159; .001), external rotation (35;82; .001), internal rotation (52; 68; .07), constant score (50; 82; .001), disability of the shoulder and arm score (40; 19; .001), simple shoulder test (5; 10; .001), and simple shoulder value (44; 83; .001) significantly improved. The mean physical health scale short form 12 was 46 (24-63) and 51 (15-66) for mental health. Age, body mass index, SCP-grading, and supraspinatus tendon repair did not significantly affect any outcome parameter. Three (1.5%) patients underwent revision surgery, of which 1 (0.5%) had an infection.
Two years after arthroscopic SCP repair using the SICK-stitch technique, we observed excellent restoration of clinical function with low complication and revision rates. The SICK-stitch technique thus represents a good and reliable therapeutic option for the arthroscopic repair of SCP lesions.
... this approach appears promising, since large shotgun genomic libraries have recently proved to be an efficient, cost-effective and time saving tool for isolating microsatellites in other taxa, ...such as Aves (e.g. Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos; Abdelkrim et al., 2009), Reptilia (e.g. Agkistrodon contortrix; Castoe et al., 2010), Ascidiacea (e.g. Didemnum vexillum; Abbott et al., 2010) and Liliopsida (e.g. Typha minima; Csencsics et al., 2010), especially when combined with a biotinenrichment protocol as in the case of Zingel asper (Actinopterygii) (Dubut et al., 2010). For PCR amplification and genotyping tests of the markers, several E. aurinia samples from geographically and genetically distant and disconnected populations, which cover a wide geographical range and represent three subspecies, were used. ... the three populations screened for microsatellite polymorphism are known to be at Hardy Weinberg equilibrium based on 8-10 allozyme loci (Zimmermann, 2000; Junker & Schmitt, unpubl.).
Lateralization and distalization in reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) can be measured on anteroposterior (AP) radiographs using 2 previously described angles: lateralization shoulder angle (LSA) ...and distalization shoulder angle (DSA). However, these 2 angles measure global lateralization and distalization but do not allow to differentiate how much lateralization or distalization are attributable to the glenoid and the humerus. We hypothesized that new angles could allow us to separately measure glenoid vs. humeral lateralization and distalization. A more precise understanding of independent glenoid and humeral contributions to lateralization and distalization may be beneficial in subsequent clinical research.
Retrospective analysis of postoperative AP radiographs of 100 patients who underwent primary RSA for cuff-tear arthropathy, massive cuff tear, or glenohumeral osteoarthritis were analyzed. The new angles that we proposed use well-known bony landmarks (the acromion, glenoid, and humerus) and the most lateral point of the glenosphere, which we termed the “glenoid pivot point” (GPP). For lateralization, we used the GPP to split LSA into 2 new angles: glenoid lateralization angle (GLA) and humeral lateralization angle (HLA). For distalization, we introduced the modified distalization shoulder angle (mDSA) that can also be split into 2 new angles: glenoid distalization angle (GDA) and humeral distalization angle (HDA). Three orthopedic surgeons measured the new angles, using the online tool Tyche. Mean values with overall and individual standard deviations as well as intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated.
Because the angles form a triangle, the following equations can be made: LSA = GLA + HLA, and mDSA = GDA + HDA. All angles showed excellent inter- and intraobserver reliability (ICC = 0.92-0.97) with low means of individual standard deviations that indicate a precision of 2° for each angle.
Use of the most lateral part of the glenosphere (termed glenoid pivot point) allows us to separately measure glenoid vs. humeral lateralization and distalization. The 4 new angles (HLA, GLA, GDA, HDA) described in the present study can be used on true AP radiographs, routinely obtained after shoulder replacement, and the measured angles may be used with all types of reverse prostheses available.
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