Adaptive responses to living in stressful habitats: Do invasive and native plant populations use different strategies?

Plants inhabit stressful environments characterized by a variety of stressors, including mine sites, mountains, deserts, and high latitudes. Populations from stressful and reference (non-stressful) sites often have performance differences. However, while invasive and native species may respond differently to stressful environments, there is limited understanding of the patterns in reaction norms of populations from these sites. Here, we use phylogenetically controlled meta-analysis to assess the performance of populations under stress and non-stress conditions. We ask whether stress populations of natives and invasives differ in the magnitude of lowered performance under non-stress conditions and if they vary in the degree of performance advantage under stress. We also assessed whether these distinctions differ with stress intensity. Our findings revealed that natives not only have greater adaptive advantages but also more performance reductions than invasives. Populations from very stressful sites had more efficient adaptations, and performance costs increased with stress intensity in natives only. Overall, the results support the notion that adaptation is frequently costless. Reproductive output was most closely associated with adaptive costs and benefits. Our study characterized the adaptive strategies used by invasive and native plants under stressful conditions, thereby providing important insights into the limitations of adaptation to extreme sites.

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by the Yi people in Xiaoliangshan, Yunnan Province, SW China.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Yi people in the Xiaoliangshan region in southwest China have a unique practice of combining ritual treatment and traditional medicine to care for patients. Despite increasing urbanization in the area, they have managed to preserve their distinctive lifestyle and extensive knowledge of traditional medicinal plants, setting them apart from other regions. However, there is a lack of systematic documentation on the knowledge of traditional medicinal plants used by the Yi people in Xiaoliangshan. AIM OF THE STUDY: This research aims to achieve the following objectives: 1. Document the diversity of medicinal plants used by the Yi people and explore their therapeutic usages. 2. Evaluate and analyze the main types of diseases with a high incidence in the local area and identify the types of medicinal plants used to treat these diseases. 3. Explore the underlying geographical and human factors influencing both disease prevalence and medicinal plant usage. METHODS: Ethnobotanical research methods were used to record and analyze the medicinal plants used by the Yi in Xiaoliangshan. Experts identified all plant specimens collected during ethnobotanical field surveys. The types of diseases treated by medicinal plants were classified according to the International Classification of Primary Care -2nd. RESULTS: A total of 125 medicinal plants were recorded after interviewing 193 participants. Of the medicinal plants identified, those with over 100 use reports were Paris polyphylla (202 use reports), Taxillus sutchuenensis (183), Artemisia indica (149), and Papaver somniferum (113). A total of 14 disease categories were recorded, with those related to the following categories having higher Informant Consensus factor values (ICF ≥0.85): Pregnancy, Childbearing, Family Planning, General and Unspecified, Urological, Respiratory, Musculoskeletal, and Skin. The highest quantity of medicinal plants is utilized to improve specific diseases and health problems, namely those related to Digestion, Skin, and Musculoskeletal. Fewer plant species were utilized for diseases or health issues associated with Eyes, Psychological, or Pregnancy, Childbearing, and Family Planning. The use reports from the informants also revealed how some medicinal plants are used to treat a variety of diseases or health issues. For instance, Malva pusilla is used for inducing abortion, treating postpartum hemorrhage, and joint sprains; Artemisia indica is used for treating malaria; Argentina lineata is used to remedy tuberculosis and malaria. Taxillus sutchuenensis is used for dealing with cold, pneumonia, and other ailments. CONCLUSIONS: The Yi people in Xiaoliangshan have a rich knowledge of traditional medicinal plants. Decoction and wine brewing are the most common processing methods used for these plants, which are utilized to treat a wide range of diseases. The characteristics of the medicinal use of the Yi people reflects the alpine mountainous environment in which they live, and their medical practices are closely related to traditional healing culture. This study enhances our understanding of the Yi traditional medicine via documentation and offers a valuable reference for future research and the development of new drugs.

Where to draw the boundaries? Using landscape genomics to disentangle the scribbly gum species complex.

PREMISE: Species delimitation is an integral part of evolution and ecology and is vital in conservation science. However, in some groups, species delimitation is difficult, especially where ancestral relationships inferred from morphological or genetic characters are discordant, possibly due to a complicated demographic history (e.g., recent divergences between lineages). Modern genetic techniques can take into account complex histories to distinguish species at a reasonable cost and are increasingly used in numerous applications. We focus on the scribbly gums, a group of up to five closely related and morphologically similar "species" within the eucalypts. METHODS: Multiple populations of each recognized scribbly gum species were sampled over a wide region across climates, and genomewide scans were used to resolve species boundaries. RESULTS: None of the taxa were completely divergent, and there were two genetically distinct entities: the inland distributed Eucalyptus rossii and a coastal conglomerate consisting of four species forming three discernible, but highly admixed groups. Divergence among taxa was likely driven by temporal vicariant processes resulting in partial separation across biogeographic barriers. High interspecific gene flow indicated separated taxa reconnected at different points in time, blurring species boundaries. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the need for genetic screening when dealing with closely related taxonomic entities, particularly those with modest morphological differences. We show that high-throughput sequencing can be effective at identifying species groupings and processes driving divergence, even in the most taxonomically complex groups, and be used as a standard practice for disentangling species complexes.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and biochar production from Parthenium hysterophorus enhance seed germination and productivity in barley under drought stress.

Drought stress can significantly affect plant growth and development. Biochar (BC) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been found to increase plant fertility and development under drought conditions. The single effects of BC and PGPR in different plant species have been widely reported under abiotic stress. However, there have been relatively few studies on the positive role of PGPR, BC, and their combination in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Therefore, the current study investigated the effects of BC from Parthenium hysterophorus, drought tolerant PGPR (Serratia odorifera), and the combination of BC + PGPR on the growth, physiology, and biochemical traits of barley plants under drought stress for two weeks. A total of 15 pots were used under five treatments. Each pot of 4 kg soil comprised the control (T0, 90% water), drought stress alone (T1, 30% water), 35 mL PGPR/kg soil (T2, 30% water), 2.5%/kg soil BC (T3, 30% water), and a combination of BC and PGPR (T4, 30% water). Combined PGPR and BC strongly mitigated the negative effects of drought by improving the shoot length (37.03%), fresh biomass (52%), dry biomass (62.5%), and seed germination (40%) compared to the control. The PGPR + BC amendment treatment enhanced physiological traits, such as chlorophyll a (27.9%), chlorophyll b (35.3%), and total chlorophyll (31.1%), compared to the control. Similarly, the synergistic role of PGPR and BC significantly (p< 0.05) enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activity including peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) to alleviate the toxicity of ROS. The physicochemical properties (N, K, P, and EL) of the soils were also enhanced by (85%, 33%, 52%, and 58%) respectively, under the BC + PGPR treatment compared to the control and drought stress alone. The findings of this study have suggested that the addition of BC, PGPR, and a combination of both will improve the soil fertility, productivity, and antioxidant defense systems of barley under drought stress. Therefore, BC from the invasive plant P. hysterophorus and PGPR can be applied to water-deficient areas to improve barley crop production.

Soil pollution and the invasion of congener Sphagneticola in crop lands.

The input of agro-pollutants, such as microplastics and nanopesticides, on farmlands is widespread and may facilitate biological invasions in agroecosystems. Here, the effects of agro-pollutants that promote invasion of congener species is studied by examining the growth performance of native Sphagneticola calendulacea and its invasive congener, S. trilobata, when grown in a native only, invasive only and mixed community. Sphagneticola calendulacea naturally occurs in croplands in southern China, while S. trilobata was introduced to this region and has since naturalized, encroaching onto farmland. In our study, each plant community was subjected to the following treatments: control, microplastics only, nanopesticides only, and both microplastics and nanopesticides. The effects of the treatments on soils of each plant community were also examined. We found that aboveground, belowground, and photosynthetic traits of S. calendulacea were significantly inhibited by the combined microplastics and nanopesticides treatment in the native and mixed communities. The relative advantage index of S. trilobata was 69.90% and 74.73% higher under the microplastics only and nanopesticides only treatments respectively compared to S. calendulacea. Soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity, gas emission rates, and chemicals in each community were reduced when treated with both microplastics and nanopesticides. Yet, soil microbial biomass of carbon and nitrogen, CO2 emission rates and nitrous oxide rates were significantly higher (56.08%, 58.33%, 36.84% and 49.95% respectively) in the invasive species community than in the native species community under microplastics and nanopesticides. Our results suggest that the addition of agro-pollutants to soils favors the more resistant S. trilobata and suppresses the less tolerant S. calendulacea. Soil properties from the native species community are also more impacted by agro-pollutants than substrates supporting the invasive species. Future studies should explore the effects of agro-pollutants by comparing other invasive and native species and considering human activities, industry, and the soil environment.

Influence of multiple global change drivers on plant invasion: Additive effects are uncommon.

Invasive plants threaten biodiversity and cause huge economic losses. It is thought that global change factors (GCFs) associated with climate change (including shifts in temperature, precipitation, nitrogen, and atmospheric CO2) will amplify their impacts. However, only few studies assessed mixed factors on plant invasion. We collated the literature on plant responses to GCFs to explore independent, combined, and interactive effects on performance and competitiveness of native and invasive plants. From 176 plant species, our results showed that: (1) when native and invasive plants are affected by both independent and multiple GCFs, there is an overall positive effect on plant performance, but a negative effect on plant competitiveness; (2) under increased precipitation or in combination with temperature, most invasive plants gain advantages over natives; and (3) interactions between GCFs on plant performance and competitiveness were mostly synergistic or antagonistic. Our results indicate that native and invasive plants may be affected by independent or combined GCFs, and invasive plants likely gain advantages over native plants. The interactive effects of factors on plants were non-additive, but the advantages of invasive plants may not increase indefinitely. Our findings show that inferring the impacts of climate change on plant invasion from factors individually could be misleading. More mixed factor studies are needed to predict plant invasions under global change.

Evolutionary processes in an undescribed eucalypt: implications for the translocation of a critically endangered species.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Knowledge of the evolutionary processes responsible for the distribution of threatened and highly localized species is important for their conservation. Population genomics can provide insights into evolutionary processes to inform management practices, including the translocation of threatened plant species. In this study, we focus on a critically endangered eucalypt, Eucalyptus sp. Cattai, which is restricted to a 40-km2 area of Sydney, Australia, and is threatened by increased urbanization. Eucalyptus sp. Cattai has yet to be formally described in part due to its suspected hybrid origin. Here, we examined evolutionary processes and species boundaries in E. sp. Cattai to determine whether translocation was warranted. METHODS: We used genome-wide scans to investigate the evolutionary relationships of E. sp. Cattai with related species, and to assess levels of genetic health and admixture. Morphological trait and genomic data were obtained from seedlings of E. sp. Cattai propagated in a common garden to assess their genetic provenance and hybrid status. KEY RESULTS: All analyses revealed that E. sp. Cattai was strongly supported as a distinct species. Genetic diversity varied across populations, and clonality was unexpectedly high. Interspecific hybridization was detected, and was more prevalent in seedlings compared to in situ adult plants, indicating that post-zygotic barriers may restrict the establishment of hybrids. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple evolutionary processes (e.g. hybridization and clonality) can operate within one rare and restricted species. Insights regarding evolutionary processes from our study were used to assist with the translocation of genetically 'pure' and healthy ex situ seedlings to nearby suitable habitat. Our findings demonstrate that it is vital to provide an understanding of evolutionary relationships and processes with an examination of population genomics in the design and implementation of an effective translocation strategy.

Pathogen resistance in Sphagneticola trilobata (Singapore daisy): molecular associations and differentially expressed genes in response to disease from a widespread fungus.

Understanding the molecular associations underlying pathogen resistance in invasive plant species is likely to provide useful insights into the effective control of alien plants, thereby facilitating the conservation of native biodiversity. In the current study, we investigated pathogen resistance in an invasive clonal plant, Sphagneticola trilobata, at the molecular level. Sphagneticola trilobata (i.e., Singapore daisy) is a noxious weed that affects both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and is less affected by pathogens in the wild than co-occurring native species. We used Illumina sequencing to investigate the transcriptome of S. trilobata following infection by a globally distributed generalist pathogen (Rhizoctonia solani). RNA was extracted from leaves of inoculated and un-inoculated control plants, and a draft transcriptome of S. trilobata was generated to examine the molecular response of this species following infection. We obtained a total of 49,961,014 (94.3%) clean reads for control (un-inoculated plants) and 54,182,844 (94.5%) for the infected treatment (inoculated with R. solani). Our analyses facilitated the discovery of 117,768 de novo assembled contigs and 78,916 unigenes. Of these, we identified 3506 differentially expressed genes and 60 hormones associated with pathogen resistance. Numerous genes, including candidate genes, were associated with plant-pathogen interactions and stress response in S. trilobata. Many recognitions, signaling, and defense genes were differentially regulated between treatments, which were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Overall, our findings improve our understanding of the genes and molecular associations involved in plant defense of a rapidly spreading invasive clonal weed, and serve as a valuable resource for further work on mechanism of disease resistance and managing invasive plants.

Transcriptome profiling of Arabidopsis thaliana roots in response to allelopathic effects of Conyza canadensis.

The molecular mechanisms underlying allelopathy and their role in the interactions between invasive weeds and native species remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the physiological and molecular response of plant roots of a native species to allelopathy from an invasive weed. We examined the growth and development of roots of native Arabidopsis thaliana for a 2-week period after being treated with aqueous extracts at different concentrations from invasive Conyza canadensis. Extracts with higher concentration in the Murashige and Skoog (MS) media (i.e., 4 mg of extract/mL of MS) significantly affected the root growth of A. thaliana. Roots of A. thaliana displayed weakened root tip activity and an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to extracts from C. canadensis. The transcriptome analysis of A. thaliana roots exposed to phytotoxicity revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in cell wall formation, abiotic stress, transporter genes and signal transduction. We found that genes associated with nutrient transport, such as major facilitator superfamily (MFS) and amino acid permease (AAP3) transporters as well as genes involved in stress response, including leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinases (LRR-RLKs) were down-regulated. In addition, we found that many transcription factors associated with plant stress (such as APETALA2/ethylene response factors) were up-regulated while others (e.g., zinc-finger proteins) were down-regulated. Allelochemicals from C. canadensis also induced the up-regulation of detoxification (DTX) genes, ROS related genes, calcineurin B-like interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) and calmodulin. Overall, our findings provided insights into allelopathy in C. canadensis at the molecular level, and contributes to our understanding of invasion mechanisms of alien plant species. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: This study does not contain any studies with clinical trials performed by any of the authors.

Non-Additive Effects of Environmental Factors on Growth and Physiology of Invasive Solidago canadensis and a Co-Occurring Native Species (Artemisia argyi).

Changes in environmental factors, such as temperature and UV, have significant impacts on the growth and development of both native and invasive plant species. However, few studies examine the combined effects of warming and enhanced UV on plant growth and performance in invasive species. Here, we investigated single and combined effects of warming and UV radiation on growth, leaf functional and photosynthesis traits, and nutrient content (i.e., total organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous) of invasive Solidago canadensis and its co-occurring native species, Artemisia argyi, when grown in culture racks in the greenhouse. The species were grown in monoculture and together in a mixed community, with and without warming, and with and without increased UV in a full factorial design. We found that growth in S. canadensis and A. argyi were inhibited and more affected by warming than UV-B radiation. Additionally, there were both antagonistic and synergistic interactions between warming and UV-B on growth and performance in both species. Overall, our results suggested that S. canadensis was more tolerant to elevated temperatures and high UV radiation compared to the native species. Therefore, substantial increases in temperature and UV-B may favour invasive S. canadensis over native A. argyi. Research focusing on the effects of a wider range of temperatures and UV levels is required to improve our understanding of the responses of these two species to greater environmental variability and the impacts of climate change.

Looks can be deceiving: speciation dynamics of co-distributed Angophora (Myrtaceae) species in a varying landscape.

Understanding the mechanisms underlying species divergence remains a central goal in evolutionary biology. Landscape genetics can be a powerful tool for examining evolutionary processes. We used genome-wide scans to genotype samples from populations of eight Angophora species. Angophora is a small genus within the eucalypts comprising common and rare species in a heterogeneous landscape, making it an appropriate group to study speciation. We found A. hispida was highly differentiated from the other species. Two subspecies of A. costata (subsp. costata and subsp. euryphylla) formed a group, while the third (subsp. leiocarpa, which is only distinguished by its smooth fruits and provenance) was supported as a distinct pseudocryptic species. Other species that are morphologically distinct could not be genetically differentiated (e.g., A. floribunda and A. subvelutina). Distribution and genetic differentiation within Angophora were strongly influenced by temperature and humidity, as well as biogeographic barriers, particularly rivers and higher elevation regions. While extensive introgression was found between many populations of some species (e.g., A. bakeri and A. floribunda), others only hybridized at certain locations. Overall, our findings suggest multiple mechanisms drove evolutionary diversification in Angophora and highlight how genome-wide analyses of related species in a diverse landscape can provide insights into speciation.

Gene Expression Profiling Reveals Enhanced Defense Responses in an Invasive Weed Compared to Its Native Congener During Pathogenesis.

Invasive plants are a huge burden on the environment, and modify local ecosystems by affecting the indigenous biodiversity. Invasive plants are generally less affected by pathogens, although the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for their enhanced resistance are unknown. We investigated expression profiles of three defense hormones (salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene) and their associated genes in the invasive weed, Alternanthera philoxeroides, and its native congener, A. sessilis, after inoculation with Rhizoctonia solani. Pathogenicity tests showed significantly slower disease progression in A. philoxeroides compared to A. sessilis. Expression analyses revealed jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET) expressions were differentially regulated between A. philoxeroides and A. sessilis, with the former having prominent antagonistic cross-talk between salicylic acid (SA) and JA, and the latter showing weak or no cross-talk during disease development. We also found that JA levels decreased and SA levels increased during disease development in A. philoxeroides. Variations in hormonal gene expression between the invasive and native species (including interspecific differences in the strength of antagonistic cross-talk) were identified during R. solani pathogenesis. Thus, plant hormones and their cross-talk signaling may improve the resistance of invasive A. philoxeroides to pathogens, which has implications for other invasive species during the invasion process.

Lower ocular pulse amplitude with dynamic contour tonometry is associated with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the role of the ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) from Pascal dynamic contour tonometry in predicting the temporal artery biopsy (TABx) result in patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA). DESIGN: Prospective validation study. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 50 years or older who underwent TABx from March 2015 to April 2017. METHODS: Subjects on high-dose glucocorticoids more than 14 days or without serology before glucocorticoid initiation were excluded. The OPA from both eyes was obtained and averaged just before TABx of the predominantly symptomatic side. The variables chosen for the a priori prediction model were age, average OPA, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), platelets, jaw claudication, and eye findings were also recorded. In this study, subjects with a negative biopsy were considered not to have GCA, and contralateral biopsy was performed if the clinical suspicion for GCA remained high. An external validation set (XVAL) was obtained. RESULTS: Of 109 TABx, 19 were positive and 90 were negative. On univariate logistic regression, the average OPA had 0.60 odds for positive TABx (p = 0.03), with no statistically significant difference in age, sex, CRP, ESR, or jaw claudication. In suspected GCA, an OPA of 1 mm Hg had positive likelihood ratio 4.74 and negative likelihood ratio 0.87 for positive TABx. Multivariate regression of the prediction model using optimal mathematical transforms (inverse OPA, log CRP, age >65 years) had area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) = 0.85 and AUROCXVAL = 0.81. CONCLUSIONS: OPA is lower in subjects with biopsy-proven GCA and is a statistically significant predictor of GCA.

Speciation in the presence of gene flow: population genomics of closely related and diverging Eucalyptus species.

Speciation is a complex process that is fundamental to the origins of biological diversity. While there has been considerable progress in our understanding of speciation, there are still many unanswered questions, especially regarding barriers to gene flow in diverging populations. Eucalyptus is an appropriate system for investigating speciation mechanisms since it comprises species that are rapidly evolving across heterogeneous environments. We examined patterns of genetic variation within and among six closely related Eucalyptus species in subgenus Eucalyptus section Eucalyptus in south-eastern Australia (commonly known as the "green ashes"). We used reduced representation genome sequencing to genotype samples from populations across altitudinal and latitudinal gradients. We found one species, Eucalyptus cunninghamii, to be highly genetically differentiated from the others, and a population of mallees from Mount Banks to be genetically distinct and therefore likely to be a new undescribed species. Only modest levels of differentiation were found between all other species in the study. There was population structure within some species (e.g., E. obstans) corresponding to geographical factors, indicating that vicariance may have played a role in the evolution of the group. Overall, we found that lineages within the green ashes are differentiated to varying extents, from strongly diverged to much earlier stages of the speciation continuum. Furthermore, our results suggest the green ashes represent a group where a range of mechanisms (e.g., reticulate evolution and vicariance) have been operating in concert. These findings not only offer insights into recent speciation mechanisms in Eucalyptus, but also other species complexes.

Seedling response to environmental variability: The relationship between phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary history in closely related Eucalyptus species.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Phenotypic plasticity is an important means through which organisms cope with environmental variability. We investigated seedling plasticity in the green ash eucalypts within a phylogenetic framework to examine the relationship between plasticity and evolutionary history. The green ashes are a diverse group, which include the tallest flowering plant in the world (Eucalyptus regnans) and a rare mallee less than 1 m tall (E. cunninghamii). METHODS: Seedlings of 12 species were exposed to high and low nutrient and water availability in a factorial experiment. Leaf trait and total plant plasticity were evaluated using the phenotypic plasticity index. A phylogeny of the species was estimated using genome-wide scans. KEY RESULTS: We found significant differences in functional traits across species, growth forms, and substrates in response to changes in resource availability. Many traits (e.g., leaf width) were highly plastic for most species. Interspecific differences in leaf-level plasticity was significant, however plasticity was not correlated with phylogeny. Species with broader environmental niches had higher leaf-level plasticity than species with narrower environmental ranges. CONCLUSIONS: Plastic responses to environmental variability can differ widely among closely related species, and plasticity is therefore likely to be associated with many factors, including habitat and range size, as well as evolutionary history. Our results provided insights for species delimitation in Eucalyptus, which have management implications. Because of the high number of rare species and that other species are commercially important, a more comprehensive understanding of plasticity is essential for predicting their response to changing climates.

Exercise as a vital sign: a preliminary pilot study in a chiropractic setting.

BACKGROUND: The association between physical inactivity and non-communicable disease risk has been well documented in recent literature. An exercise vital sign (EVS) is a measure that can routinely capture vital information about a patient's physical activity behaviour. The objective of this study is to understand if (1) patient exercise minutes per week (EMPW) are being recorded by chiropractic interns, and (2) whether these patients are exceeding, meeting or falling short of the current recommendations provided by the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines (CPAG). METHODS: Electronic medical records obtained from two Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) teaching clinics for patients seen between August 01, 2015 and January 31, 2017 (N=273). EMPW, age, and gender were used to compare patient files relative to the CPAG. RESULTS: Overall, 86.4% of patient files had recorded data to the question of how many EMPW they perform. The majority (68.8%) of individuals appear to be meeting or exceeding the CPAG, leaving nearly one third (31.2%) of individuals failing to meet these guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study with two sports specialist clinicians an exercise vital sign had been integrated alongside traditional vital signs in order to identify issues of physical inactivity and improve opportunities for continued exercise counselling.

CONTEXTE: L'existence d'un lien entre inactivité physique et risque de maladie non transmissible est bien documentée dans la littérature récente. Exercise vital sign (EVS) est une mesure permettant d'obtenir de façon systématique des données sur l'activité physique d'un patient. Cette étude visait à savoir si 1) les minutes consacrées à l'exercice physique par semaine (MEPPS) sont consignées par les internes en chiropratique et si 2) ces patients suivent les recommandations actuelles énoncées dans les Lignes directrices canadiennes en matière d'activité physique (LDCAC). MÉTHODOLOGIE: Dossiers médicaux électroniques de patients vus entre le 1er août 2015 et le 31 janvier 2017 (n=273) provenant de deux cliniques d'enseignement affiliées au Canadian Memorial Chiropratique College (CMCC). Les MEPPS, l'âge et le sexe ont servi à comparer les dossiers de patients en tenant compte des LDCAC. RÉSULTATS: Dans l'ensemble, 86,4 % des dossiers de patients contenaient des données sur le nombre de MEPPS. Il semble que la majorité (68,8 %) des sujets respectaient les LDCAC ou allaient même au-delà, alors que presque le tiers (31,2 %) ne les respectaient pas. CONCLUSIONS: Dans cette étude pilote menée par deux cliniciens spécialistes de la médecine sportive, l'exercise vital sign et d'autres signes vitaux classiques ont servi à cerner les problèmes reliés à l'inactivité physique et à accroître les occasions de fournir des conseils en matière d'exercice continu.

Symptomatic improvement in function and disease activity in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis utilizing a course of chiropractic therapy: a prospective case study.

BACKGROUND: There is limited outcome measure support for chiropractic manipulative therapy in the management of ankylosing spondylitis. An improvement in specific indices for both function and disease activity during chiropractic therapy for ankylosing spondylitis has not previously been reported. OBJECTIVE: To measure changes in function and disease activity in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis during a course of chiropractic therapy. The clinical management of ankylosing spondylitis, including chiropractic manipulative therapy and the implications of this case study are discussed. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 34-year-old male with a 10 year diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis sought chiropractic treatment for spinal pain and stiffness. His advanced radiographic signs included an increased atlantodental interspace and cervical vertebral ankylosis. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), finger-tip-to-floor distance and chest expansion were assessed during an 18 week course of chiropractic spinal manipulation and mobilization therapy. There was a 90% improvement in the disease activity index and an 85% improvement in the functional index from the pre-treatment baseline, as measured by the BASDAI and BASFI respectively. Spinal flexibility and chest expansion also improved. CONCLUSION: To the authors knowledge this is the first study to incorporate ankylosing spondylitis specific indices, for both disease activity and function, to objectively support the use of chiropractic manipulative therapy in the management of ankylosing spondylitis. More intensive research is suggested.