Molecular phylogenetics of subfamily Ornithogaloideae (Hyacinthaceae) based on nuclear and plastid DNA regions, including a new taxonomic arrangement

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The taxonomic arrangement within subfamily Ornithogaloideae (Hyacinthaceae) has been a matter of controversy in recent decades: several new taxonomic treatments have been proposed, based exclusively on plastid DNA sequences, and these have resulted in classifications which are to a great extent contradictory. Some authors have recognized only a single genus Ornithogalum for the whole subfamily, including 250-300 species of variable morphology, whereas others have recognized many genera. In the latter case, the genera are inevitably much smaller and they are better defined morphologically. However, some are not monophyletic as circumscribed.

METHODS

Phylogenetic analyses of Ornithogaloideae were based on nucleotide sequences of four plastid regions (trnL intron, trnL-F spacer, rbcL and matK) and a nuclear region (ITS). Eighty species covering all relevant taxonomic groups previously recognized in the subfamily were sampled. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses were performed. The molecular data were compared with a matrix of 34 morphological characters.

KEY RESULTS

Combinations of plastid and nuclear data yielded phylogenetic trees which are better resolved than those obtained with any plastid region alone or plastid regions in combination. Three main clades are found, corresponding to the previously recognized tribes Albuceae, Dipcadieae and Ornithogaleae. In these, up to 19 clades are described which are definable by morphology and biogeography. These mostly correspond to previously described taxa, though some need recircumscription. Morphological characters are assessed for their diagnostic value for taxonomy in the subfamily.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of the phylogenetic analyses, 19 monophyletic genera are accepted within Ornithogaloideae: Albuca, Avonsera, Battandiera, Cathissa, Coilonox, Dipcadi, Eliokarmos, Elsiea, Ethesia, Galtonia, Honorius, Loncomelos, Melomphis, Neopatersonia, Nicipe, Ornithogalum, Pseudogaltonia, Stellarioides and Trimelopter. Each of these has a particular syndrome of morphological characters. As a result, 105 new combinations are made and two new names are proposed to accommodate the taxa studied in the new arrangement. A short morphological diagnosis, synonymy, details of distribution and an identification key are presented.

Eco-efficient concretes: the effects of using recycled ceramic material from sanitary installations on the mechanical properties of concrete

The aim of this research was to investigate some of the physical and mechanical properties of concrete mixed under laboratory conditions, where different proportions of coarse aggregate materials were substituted by porcelain from sanitary installations. The results of the tests show that the concrete produced has the same mechanical characteristics as conventional concrete, thus opening a door to selective recycling of sanitary porcelain and its use in the production of concrete.

Effectiveness and safety of an emergency department short-stay unit as an alternative to standard inpatient hospitalisation

BACKGROUND

Emergency department short-stay units (EDSSUs) are currently emerging worldwide as an alternative to standard inpatient hospitalisation. In our hospital, a 960-bed teaching tertiary institution in Barcelona, Spain, an EDSSU has been in operation during winter periods (November-March) since 1997.

AIM

To determine the efficacy and safety of our EDSSU.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of activity and quality outcomes, assessment of patient satisfaction levels and determination of the diagnostic-related groups that were mainly responsible for admissions to the EDSSU, comparing the clinical characteristics of those patients with the characteristics of patients with similar clinical diagnoses admitted to standard hospitalisation units.

RESULTS

5666 patients were treated in the EDSSU, with a progressive increase in the number of patients admitted per period, ranging from 707 in 1997-8 to 1227 in 2003-4 (73.5% increase). The mean length of stay ranged from 3.1 to 2.8 days, mortality from 2.5% to 5.1%, home discharge rate from 84% to 90%, and hospital readmission rate within the first week after discharge from 3.9% to 6.2%. In all, 98% of patients were satisfied with their stay at the EDSSU. The main diagnostic-related groups were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD = 50%) and acute heart failure (28%). Patients with COPD admitted at the EDSSU (n = 545) showed significantly (p = 0.05) lower mean length of stay (3.4 v 12 days) and mortality (1.7% v 8.1%), but a higher hospital readmission rate (9.9% v 7%) than those admitted to standard inpatient units (n = 1961).

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, the EDSSU proved to be an effective and safe alternative to standard inpatient hospitalisation.

Allelic Diversity and Affinity Variants of MICA are Imbalanced in Spanish Patients with Behcet's Disease

The aetiology of Behçet's disease (BD) is still unknown, but genetic and environmental factors are involved. HLA-B*51 is considered a susceptibility marker and some MICA alleles have also been associated. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes have been suggested as responsible for BD lesions by engaging MICA through NKG2D surface molecules. In the present study, HLA-B and MICA alleles were typed by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers, in 165 healthy Spanish controls and 42 BD patients. In the healthy group, MICA*008 (28.48%), MICA*004 (17.58%), MICA*002 (14.24%) and MICA*009 (9.39%) were the predominant alleles and the most common haplotype was MICA*004-B*44 (12.12%). MICA*001 (5.15%), MICA*004, MICA*011 (4.54%) and MICA*018 (5.15%) were more frequent, and MICA*010 (1.81%) and MICA*008 were less prevalent than in other Caucasoid populations. Similar results have been reported in North African individuals and this could support the hypothesis of a common ancestral origin of both populations. The frequencies of MICA*009 and MICA*019 were significantly increased in our BD patients in comparison with controls: 22.62% versus 9.39% and 10.71% versus 1.81% respectively. The increase of MICA*019 had not been described in other BD cohorts, and it corroborates the genetic heterogeneity at MICA locus in BD patients. High-affinity MICA alleles for NKG2D were more frequent in controls than in patients. Moreover, high-affinity alleles were not found in homozygous BD patients. These results argue against the hypothesis of an autoaggressive response in BD patients through MICA-NKG2D interactions.

Patterns of variability and gene flow in Medicago citrina, an endangered endemic of islands in the western Mediterranean, as revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)

Medicago citrina is an endangered western Mediterranean endemic that grows only on small islets of the Balearic archipelago and off the eastern Spanish coast. Only 10 isolated subpopulations are currently known (four from Ibiza, three from Cabrera, two from Columbretes and one from an offshore islet in northern Alicante province), constituting a severely fragmented genetic system. Data were analysed with the unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA) and principle coordinates analysis (PCOA), revealing several distinct groups. Genetic diversity indices indicated that Ibizan subpopulations had the highest genetic variability (Nei's index: 0.1463; Shannon's index: 0.228), whereas the lowest variability was found in Alicante (Nei's index: 0.035; Shannon's index: 0.050) and Cabrera (Nei's index: 0.068; Shannon's index: 0.104). These latter populations show the highest FST values (FST = 0.548) revealing high differentiation between them. Columbretes subpopulations formed a defined single group, although it also included some Ibizan samples. The smallest FST values, obtained between Ibiza and Columbretes (FST = 0.185), are not correlated with geographical proximity, but appear to be related to the geologically recent volcanic origin of the Columbretes islands (300,000 years ago). According to the distribution of the Ibizan samples in the dendrogram and the FST values, the best hypothesis is to regard the Ibizan subpopulations as the centre of genetic diversity of the currently known subpopulations. Our results suggest migratory scenarios from Ibiza to Columbretes based mainly on zoochory probably by seabirds. Finally, recommendations are provided for management strategies to facilitate the conservation of this endangered species.

Traqueotomía percutánea por dilatación: nuestra experiencia

Percutaneous dilation Tracheotomy (PDT) is becoming a popular alternative to surgical tracheotomy. In our hospital, we recently adopted the use of the PDT in intensive care unit patients.

OBJECTIVE

The objective [corrected] of this investigation is to characterize and quantify the rate of complications for PDT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective study of 60 PDT performed at different intesive care units, betweem September 2002 to July 2003.

RESULTS

The intraoperative time for PDT was 8 minutes. Complications included 6 cases of mild intraoperative hemorrhage, 1 case of moderate intraoperative hemorrhage, 4 cases of mild postoperative hemorrhage and 1 case of subcutaneous emphysema.

CONCLUSIONS

PDT is a good alternative to surgical tracheotomy and should be added to the otolaryngologists armamentarium of surgical airway procedures.