| 1. |
- Lukasch, B., et al.
(author)
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Major histocompatibility complex genes partly explain early survival in house sparrows
- 2017
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 7:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Environmental factors and genetic incompatibilities between parents have been suggested as important determinants for embryonic mortality and survival. The genetic set-up of the immune system, specifically the highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) may also influence individual resistance to infections. MHC proteins are important for an appropriate adaptive immune response and enable T-cells to separate 'self' from 'non-self'. Here we investigate the importance of MHC functional diversity for early development in birds, more specifically, if offspring survival and body mass or size depends on number of different functional MHC alleles, specific functional MHC alleles or similarity of MHC alleles in the parents. Unhatched eggs are common in clutches of many bird species. In house sparrows (Passer domesticus), embryo and nestling mortality can exceed 50%. To control for environmental factors, our study was carried out on an aviary population. We found that one specific functional MHC allele was associated with reduced nestling survival, which was additionally supported by lower body mass and a smaller tarsus when nestlings have been 6 days old. Another allele was positively associated with tarsus length at a later nestling stage (nestlings 12 days old). These results indicate that MHC alleles might influence pathogen resistance or susceptibility.
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| 2. |
- Schrey, A W, et al.
(author)
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Broad-scale latitudinal patterns of genetic diversity among native European and introduced house sparrow (Passer domesticus) populations.
- 2011
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In: Molecular Ecology. - 0962-1083. ; 20, s. 1133-1143
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduced species offer unique opportunities to study evolution in new environments, and some provide opportunities for understanding the mechanisms underlying macroecological patterns. We sought to determine how introduction history impacted genetic diversity and differentiation of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), one of the most broadly distributed bird species. We screened eight microsatellite loci in 316 individuals from 16 locations in the native and introduced ranges. Significant population structure occurred between native than introduced house sparrows. Introduced house sparrows were distinguished into one North American group and a highly differentiated Kenyan group. Genetic differentiation estimates identified a high magnitude of differentiation between Kenya and all other populations, but demonstrated that European and North American samples were differentiated too. Our results support previous claims that introduced North American populations likely had few source populations, and indicate house sparrows established populations after introduction. Genetic diversity also differed among native, introduced North American, and Kenyan populations with Kenyan birds being least diverse. In some cases, house sparrow populations appeared to maintain or recover genetic diversity relatively rapidly after range expansion (<50 years; Mexico and Panama), but in others (Kenya) the effect of introduction persisted over the same period. In both native and introduced populations, genetic diversity exhibited large-scale geographic patterns, increasing towards the equator. Such patterns of genetic diversity are concordant with two previously described models of genetic diversity, the latitudinal model and the species diversity model.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Aguilar, J. Rivero De, et al.
(author)
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MHC-I provides both quantitative resistance and susceptibility to blood parasites in blue tits in the wild
- 2016
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In: Journal of Avian Biology. - : Wiley. - 0908-8857. ; 47:5, s. 669-677
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are central for the adaptive immune response against parasites. Here, we investigated potential associations among MHC-I alleles and blood parasite infections in a natural breeding population of a passerine bird, the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus, in central Spain. We screened both infection status (presence/absence of infection) and infection intensity to the pathogenic blood parasites Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon. Three MHC-I alleles (UA104, UA108 and UA117) were associated with higher or lower infection intensities by Leucocytozoon. Interestingly, these associations were dependent on age and were found both among young and adult birds. No MHC alleles were associated with infection intensity by Haemoproteus parasites. In addition, no significant relationships were detected between infection status by Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon infections and MHC alleles. The very high prevalence of these two parasites in our study population (79-100%) poses challenges to identify associations with infection status and also suggests that clearance of infections may be rare. In conclusion, associations between specific MHC-I alleles and Leucocytozoon parasites were related to either high or low infection intensities, and hence increased susceptibility or resistance to infection.
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| 6. |
- Antonsson, M., et al.
(author)
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Lungefysioterapi ved abdominal- og thoraxkirurgi
- 2011
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In: Fysioterapeuten. ; 9
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- I snart hundrede år har fysioterapeuter arbejdet på at mindske risikoen for postoperative lungekomplikationer hos patienter, der skal opereres i brystkassen og abdominalregionen. Klinisk erfaring viser, at lungefysioterapi er vigtig, men hvad ved vi i dag om effekten af forskellige former for behandling? Hvilke indsatsområder skal man i første omgang vælge? Forfatterne til denne artikel har udarbejdet retningslinjer for lungefysioterapi til patienter, som gennemgår abdominal- og thoraxkirurgi. Målet med arbejdet med retningslinjerne har været at udrede og sammensætte eksisterende evidens for lungefysioterapeutiske behandlingsmetoder i forbindelse med abdominal- og thoraxkirurgiske indgreb. Den samlede evidens i kombination med ekspertgruppens kommentarer har ført til anbefalinger for den kliniske behandling. Disse anbefalinger er målrettet fysioterapeuter i den kliniske praksis, som arbejder med abdominal - og thoraxkirurgiske patienter. Sigtet er, at den aktuelle og systematisk indsamlede viden vil bidrage til diskussioner på de forskellige arbejdspladser, og at anbefalingerne for behandling vil blive tilpasset de lokale forhold. Denne artikel sammenfatter retningslinjerne, som er publiceret på fysioterapiforbundets (Legitimerede Sjukgymnasters) hjemmeside under profession. De kliniske retningslinjer omfatter desuden en komplet referenceliste.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Ferraguti, Martina, et al.
(author)
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Environmental, geographical and time-related impacts on avian malaria infections in native and introduced populations of house sparrows (Passer domesticus), a globally invasive species
- 2023
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In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. - : Wiley. - 1466-822X .- 1466-8238. ; 32:5, s. 809-823
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: The increasing spread of vector-borne diseases has resulted in severe health concerns for humans, domestic animals and wildlife, with changes in land use and the introduction of invasive species being among the main possible causes for this increase. We explored several ecological drivers potentially affecting the local prevalence and richness of avian malaria parasite lineages in native and introduced house sparrows (Passer domesticus) populations. Location: Global. Time period: 2002–2019. Major taxa studied: Avian Plasmodium parasites in house sparrows. Methods: We analysed data from 2,220 samples from 69 localities across all continents, except Antarctica. The influence of environment (urbanization index and human density), geography (altitude, latitude, hemisphere) and time (bird breeding season and years since introduction) were analysed using generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) and random forests. Results: Overall, 670 sparrows (30.2%) were infected with 22 Plasmodium lineages. In native populations, parasite prevalence was positively related to urbanization index, with the highest prevalence values in areas with intermediate urbanization levels. Likewise, in introduced populations, prevalence was positively associated with urbanization index; however, higher infection occurred in areas with either extreme high or low levels of urbanization. In introduced populations, the number of parasite lineages increased with altitude and with the years elapsed since the establishment of sparrows in a new locality. Here, after a decline in the number of parasite lineages in the first 30 years, an increase from 40 years onwards was detected. Main conclusions: Urbanization was related to parasite prevalence in both native and introduced bird populations. In invaded areas, altitude and time since bird introduction were related to the number of Plasmodium lineages found to be infecting sparrows.
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| 9. |
- Måsbäck, A, et al.
(author)
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Cutaneous malignant melanoma in southern Sweden 1965, 1975, and 1985. Prognostic factors and histologic correlations
- 1997
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In: Cancer. - 0008-543X. ; 79:2, s. 275-283
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: There is a worldwide increase in the incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) among whites. In Sweden, a five-fold increase has been recorded since 1960, although the increase in mortality rate is substantially lower. Tumor thickness is recognized as the most important histologic prognostic factor for primary melanoma. In a previous study, the authors did not find any significant decrease in mean tumor thickness over the period 1965-1985 in their region. In the current study, prognostic factors for melanoma were evaluated for this time period.METHODS: In a population-based study, 468 cases of invasive melanoma, diagnosed in the years 1965, 1975, and 1985, were histopathologically reexamined. The level of invasion, tumor thickness, regressive reaction, ulceration, presence of inflammatory cells, presence of benign nevus cells, and site of presentation were studied. In 461 of these 468 patients, it was possible to correlate the histopathologic factors with survival.RESULTS: In univariate analyses, the parameters of presence of ulceration, increasing tumor thickness, male gender, nodular type of melanoma, and older age at diagnosis were significantly related to a shortened overall survival. In various multivariate models with adjustment for age and the factors studied simultaneously, ulceration, increasing tumor thickness, and male gender were significantly associated with a poor prognosis. Correlations between the factors studied were noted. It was observed that older patients tended to have thicker tumors. Thick melanomas correlated to a deeper level of invasion (Clark's), nodular growth pattern, ulceration, less inflammation, and less regression compared with thin, less invasive melanomas. Women had significantly fewer inflammatory cells and fewer signs of regression in their tumors compared with men.CONCLUSIONS: In multivariate analyses adjusted for age, increasing tumor thickness, older age, ulceration, and male gender were significantly associated with a poor prognosis among patients with invasive CMM. None of these factors showed a significant change for the years 1965, 1975, and 1985. Thus, a change in the prognostic factors studied does not explain the increased survival of melanoma patients for this time period.
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