1. |
- Landin-Olsson, Mona, et al.
(author)
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Immunoreactive trypsin(Ogen) in the sera of children with recent-onset insulin-dependent diabetes and matched controls
- 1990
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In: Pancreas. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0885-3177. ; 5:3, s. 241-247
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To evaluate the exocrine pancreatic function at the time of diagnosis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, we determined immunoreactive an-odal and cathodal trypsin(ogen) levels in sera from almost all children (n = 375) 0-14 years of age in Sweden in whom diabetes developed during 1 year, and in sex-, age-, and geographically matched control subjects (n = 312). The median level of anodal trypsin(ogen) was 5 (quartile range, 3-7) µg/L in children with newly diagnosed diabetes, compared with a median level of 7 (quartile range, 4-8) µg/L in control subjects (p < 0.0001). Similarly, the median level of cathodal trypsin(ogen) was 8 (quartile range, 4-10) µg/L in children with diabetes, compared with a median level of 11 (quartile range, 7-15) µg/L in control subjects (p < 0.0001). The median of the individual ratios between cathodal and anodal trypsin(ogen) was 1.4 in the diabetic patients and 1.7 in the control children (p < 0.001). In a multivariate test, however, only the decrease in cathodal trypsin(ogen) concentration was associated with diabetes. The levels of trypsin(ogen)s did not correlate with levels of islet cell antibodies, present in 81% of the diabetic children. Several mechanisms may explain our findings, for example, similar pathogenetic factors may affect both the endocrine and exocrine pancreas simultaneously, a failing local trophic stimulation by insulin on the exocrine cells may decrease the trypsinogen production, and there may be an increased elimination of trypsin(ogen) because of higher filtration through the kidneys in the hyperglycemic state.
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2. |
- Alfredson, Håkan, et al.
(author)
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cDNA-arrays and real-time quantitative PCR techniques in the investigation of chronic Achilles tendinosis.
- 2003
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In: Journal of Orthopaedic Research. - 0736-0266 .- 1554-527X. ; 21:6, s. 970-975
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aetiology and pathogenesis of chronic painful Achilles tendinosis are unknown. This investigation aimed to use cDNA arrays and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) technique to study tendinosis and control tissue samples. Five patients (females mean age 57.1+/-4.3 (years+/-SD)) with chronic painful Achilles tendinosis were included. From all patients, one biopsy was taken from the area with tendinosis and one from a clinically normal area (control) of the tendon. The tissue samples were immediately immersed in RNAlater and frozen at -80 degrees C until RNA extraction. Portions of pooled RNA from control and tendinosis sites, respectively, were transcribed to cDNA, radioactively labelled (32P), hybridized to cDNA expression arrays, and exposed to phosphoimager screens over night. Expressions of specific genes, shown to be regulated in the cDNA array analysis, were analyzed in the individual samples using real-time PCR. cDNA arrays showed that gene expressions for matrix-metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), fibronectin subunit B (FNRB), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 (MAPKp38) were up-regulated, while matrix-metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and decorin were down-regulated, in tendinosis tissue compared with control tissue. Using real-time PCR, 4/5 and 3/5 patients showed up-regulation of MMP-2 and FNRB mRNA, respectively. For decorin, VEGF, and MAPKp38, real-time PCR revealed a great variability among patients. Interestingly, the mRNAs for several cytokines and cytokine receptors were not regulated, indicating the absence of an inflammatory process in chronic painful Achilles tendinosis. In conclusion, cDNA-arrays and real-time PCR can be used to study differences in gene expression levels between tendinosis and control tendon tissue.
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3. |
- Dwibedi, Chinmay, 1987, et al.
(author)
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Effect of self-managed lifestyle treatment on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes
- 2022
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In: npj Digital Medicine. - : Nature Research. - 2398-6352. ; 5:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The lack of effective, scalable solutions for lifestyle treatment is a global clinical problem, causing severe morbidity and mortality. We developed a method for lifestyle treatment that promotes self-reflection and iterative behavioral change, provided as a digital tool, and evaluated its effect in 370 patients with type 2 diabetes (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04691973). Users of the tool had reduced blood glucose, both compared with randomized and matched controls (involving 158 and 204 users, respectively), as well as improved systolic blood pressure, body weight and insulin resistance. The improvement was sustained during the entire follow-up (average 730 days). A pathophysiological subgroup of obese insulin-resistant individuals had a pronounced glycemic response, enabling identification of those who would benefit in particular from lifestyle treatment. Natural language processing showed that the metabolic improvement was coupled with the self-reflective element of the tool. The treatment is cost-saving because of improved risk factor control for cardiovascular complications. The findings open an avenue for self-managed lifestyle treatment with long-term metabolic efficacy that is cost-saving and can reach large numbers of people. © 2022, The Author(s).
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5. |
- Söderdahl, G., et al.
(author)
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A prospective, randomized, multi-centre trial of systemic adjuvant chemotherapy versus no additional treatment in liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma
- 2006
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In: Transplant international. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 0934-0874. ; 19:4, s. 288-94
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The role of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy in liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is controversial. Here, we report the results of a Nordic prospective, randomized, multi-centre trial of systemic low-dose doxorubicin in patients with HCC. Between February 1996 and April 2004, 46 patients were randomized to receive either neoadjuvant doxorubicin in combination with LT (chemo group; n = 19) or LT alone (control group; n = 27). In the chemo group, doxorubicin was administered intravenously, 10 mg/m(2) weekly, starting from acceptance onto the waiting list for LT. One intraoperative dose of 15 mg/m(2) was given, and postoperatively doxorubicin was given weekly at a dose of 10 mg/m(2), depending on the clinical course, up to a cumulative dose of 400 mg/m(2). Actuarial, 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in the control group were 70% and 50%, respectively. In the chemo group, both OS and DFS were 63%. Freedom from recurrence at 3 years was 55% in the control group and 74% in the chemo group. None of the differences was statistically significant. Neoadjuvant treatment with systemic low-dose doxorubicin seems not to improve either survival or freedom from recurrence in patients with HCC undergoing LT.
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6. |
- Winblad, B, et al.
(author)
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Mild cognitive impairment--beyond controversies, towards a consensus: report of the International Working Group on Mild Cognitive Impairment.
- 2004
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In: Journal of internal medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 256:3, s. 240-6
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The First Key Symposium was held in Stockholm, Sweden, 2-5 September 2003. The aim of the symposium was to integrate clinical and epidemiological perspectives on the topic of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). A multidisciplinary, international group of experts discussed the current status and future directions of MCI, with regard to clinical presentation, cognitive and functional assessment, and the role of neuroimaging, biomarkers and genetics. Agreement on new perspectives, as well as recommendations for management and future research were discussed by the international working group. The specific recommendations for the general MCI criteria include the following: (i) the person is neither normal nor demented; (ii) there is evidence of cognitive deterioration shown by either objectively measured decline over time and/or subjective report of decline by self and/or informant in conjunction with objective cognitive deficits; and (iii) activities of daily living are preserved and complex instrumental functions are either intact or minimally impaired.
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8. |
- Bellander, M, et al.
(author)
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Preliminary evidence that allelic variation in the LMX1A gene influences training-related working memory improvement
- 2011
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In: NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA. - : Elsevier BV. - 0028-3932 .- 1873-3514. ; 49:7, s. 1938-1942
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- LMX1A is a transcription factor involved in the development of dopamine (DA)-producing neurons in midbrain. Previous research has shown that allelic variations in three LMX1A single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were related to risk of Parkinson's disease (PD), suggesting that these SNPs may influence the number of mesencephalic DA neurons. Prompted by the established link between striatal DA functions and working memory (WM) performance, we examined two of these SNPs in relation to the ability to benefit from 4 weeks of WM training. One SNP (rs4657412) was strongly associated with the magnitude of training-related gains in verbal WM. The allele linked to larger gains has previously been suggested to be associated with higher dopaminergic nerve cell density. No differential gains of either SNP were observed for spatial WM, and the genotype groups were also indistinguishable in tests of attention, interference control, episodic memory, perceptual speed, and reasoning for both SNPs. This pattern of data is in agreement with previous findings from our group, suggesting that cognitive effects of DA-related genes may be more easily detected in a training context than for single-assessment performance scores.
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10. |
- Broman, T, et al.
(author)
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Molecular Detection of Persistent Francisella tularensis Subspecies holarctica in Natural Waters
- 2011
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In: International Journal of Microbiology. - : Hindawi Publishing Corporation. - 1687-918X .- 1687-9198. ; 2011, s. Article ID 851946-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Tularemia, caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, where F. tularensis subspecies holarctica has long been the cause of endemic disease in parts of northern Sweden. Despite this, our understanding of the natural life-cycle of the organism is still limited. During three years, we collected surface water samples (n = 341) and sediment samples (n = 245) in two areas in Sweden with endemic tularemia. Real-time PCR screening demonstrated the presence of F. tularenis lpnA sequences in 108 (32%) and 48 (20%) of the samples, respectively. The 16S rRNA sequences from those samples all grouped to the species F. tularensis. Analysis of the FtM19InDel region of lpnA-positive samples from selected sampling points confirmed the presence of F. tularensis subspecies holarctica-specific sequences. These sequences were detected in water sampled during both outbreak and nonoutbreak years. Our results indicate that diverse F. tularensis-like organisms, including F. tularensis subsp. holarctica, persist in natural waters and sediments in the investigated areas with endemic tularemia.
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11. |
- Burzynska, A Z, et al.
(author)
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Age-related differences in white matter microstructure : region-specific patterns of diffusivity.
- 2010
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In: NeuroImage. - San Diego ; Orlando, Fla : Elsevier BV. - 1053-8119 .- 1095-9572. ; 49:3, s. 2104-2112
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We collected MRI diffusion tensor imaging data from 80 younger (20-32 years) and 63 older (60-71 years) healthy adults. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis revealed that white matter integrity, as indicated by decreased fractional anisotropy (FA), was disrupted in numerous structures in older compared to younger adults. These regions displayed five distinct region-specific patterns of age-related differences in other diffusivity properties: (1) increases in both radial and mean diffusivity; (2) increases in radial diffusivity; (3) no differences in parameters other than FA; (4) a decrease in axial and an increase in radial diffusivity; and (5) a decrease in axial and mean diffusivity. These patterns suggest different biological underpinnings of age-related decline in FA, such as demyelination, Wallerian degeneration, gliosis, and severe fiber loss, and may represent stages in a cascade of age-related degeneration in white matter microstructure. This first simultaneous description of age-related differences in FA, mean, axial, and radial diffusivity requires histological and functional validation as well as analyses of intermediate age groups and longitudinal samples.
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12. |
- Burzynska, A Z, et al.
(author)
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Microstructure of frontoparietal connections predicts cortical responsivity and working memory performance
- 2011
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In: Cerebral Cortex. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1047-3211 .- 1460-2199. ; 21:10, s. 2261-2271
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We investigated how the microstructure of relevant white matter connections is associated with cortical responsivity and working memory (WM) performance by collecting diffusion tensor imaging and verbal WM functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 29 young adults. We measured cortical responsivity within the frontoparietal WM network as the difference in blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal between 3-back and 1-back conditions. Fractional anisotropy served as an index of the integrity of the superior longitudinal fasciculi (SLF), which connect frontal and posterior regions. We found that SLF integrity is associated with better 3-back performance and greater task-related BOLD responsivity. In addition, BOLD responsivity in right premotor cortex reliably mediated the effects of SLF integrity on 3-back performance but did not uniquely predict 3-back performance after controlling for individual differences in SLF integrity. Our results suggest that task-related adjustments of local gray matter processing are conditioned by the properties of anatomical connections between relevant cortical regions. We suggest that the microarchitecture of white matter tracts influences the speed of signal transduction along axons. This in turn may affect signal summation at neural dendrites, action potential firing, and the resulting BOLD signal change and responsivity.
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13. |
- Bäckman, Ulrika, et al.
(author)
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The Bisphosphonate Zoledronic Acid Reduces Experimental Neuroblastoma Growth by Interference with Tumor Angiogenesis
- 2008
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In: Anticancer Research. - 0250-7005 .- 1791-7530. ; 28:3A, s. 1551-1557
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Zoledronic acid is a new member of the bisphosphonate (BP) class of compounds, a family of closely related synthetic molecules originally derived from the naturally occurring pyrophosphate. These compounds that are potent inhibitors of bone resorption, have been shown to reduce the growth of several cancer cell lines in vitro, and can act as inhibitors of angiogenesis. The angiogenesis inhibitor TNP-470, a synthetic analogue of the fungal antibiotic fumagillin, has been shown to inhibit the growth of multiple tumors in vivo, and is currently in Phase H clinical trials for cancer. Materials and Methods: The effects of daily subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of zoledronic acid (0.1 mg/kg) were compared with those of TNP-470 (15 mg/kg/day and 30 mg/kg every other day, s.c.) in a nude mouse xenograft model for the childhood cancer, neuroblastoma (NB). Results: Zoledronic acid reduced the tumor growth by 33% whereas TNP-470 was less effective and reduced the tumor growth by 26% and 11% for animals treated with 15 mg/kg/day and 30 mg/kg every other day, respectively. Analysis of angiogenesis showed a significant reduction of the number of vessels per grid and in vessel length in all the treatment groups. Conclusion: Zoledronic acid shows tumoristatic and angiostatic properties that might be beneficial in the treatment of solid tumors such as neuroblastoma.
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14. |
- Cajander, Sara, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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HLA-DRA and CD74 on intensive care unit admission related to outcome in sepsis
- 2018
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In: Critical Care. - : BioMed Central. - 1466-609X .- 1364-8535. ; 22:Suppl. 1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: mRNA expressions of the major histocompatibility complex class II-related genes HLA-DRA and CD74 have been found to be promising markers for sepsis-induced immunosuppression. In the present study we aimed to study how expression of HLA-DRA and CD74 on intensive care unit (ICU) admission were related to death and/or secondary infections in patients with sepsis.Methods: During a full year adult patients admitted to the ICU of Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge were consecutively subjected to blood sampling within 1 hour from ICU admission. Patients treated with antibiotic therapy were eligible for inclusion. The plausibility of infection (definite, probable, possible, none) was determined based on the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) criteria. Patients with sepsis (definite/probable/possible infection and a SOFA score increase of >=2) were screened for death within 60 days and secondary infections 48 h to 60 days after ICU admission, using the CDC criteria. HLA-DRA and CD74 mRNA expressions were determined by reverse transcription quantitative PCR.Results: Among 579 ICU admissions, a blood sample for RNA analysis was collected in 551 cases. Two hundred fifty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria and provided written informed consent. Sepsis was noted in 134 patients. The sepsis patients experienced death in 36 cases (27%), secondary infection in 32 cases (24%), and death and/or secondary infection in 60 cases (45%). Table 1 shows the results of HLA-DRA and CD74 expression related to death and secondary infections.Conclusions: The mRNA expression of HLA-DRA on ICU admission was significantly decreased in patients with sepsis who died or contracted secondary infections within 60 days. CD74 expression was not significantly decreased in patients with negative outcome.
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15. |
- Chibnik, L. B., et al.
(author)
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Trends in the incidence of dementia: design and methods in the Alzheimer Cohorts Consortium
- 2017
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In: European Journal of Epidemiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0393-2990 .- 1573-7284. ; 32:10, s. 931-938
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Several studies have reported a decline in incidence of dementia which may have large implications for the projected burden of disease, and provide important guidance to preventive efforts. However, reports are conflicting or inconclusive with regard to the impact of gender and education with underlying causes of a presumed declining trend remaining largely unidentified. The Alzheimer Cohorts Consortium aggregates data from nine international population-based cohorts to determine changes in the incidence of dementia since 1990. We will employ Poisson regression models to calculate incidence rates in each cohort and Cox proportional hazard regression to compare 5-year cumulative hazards across study-specific epochs. Finally, we will meta-analyse changes per decade across cohorts, and repeat all analysis stratified by sex, education and APOE genotype. In all cohorts combined, there are data on almost 69,000 people at risk of dementia with the range of follow-up years between 2 and 27. The average age at baseline is similar across cohorts ranging between 72 and 77. Uniting a wide range of disease-specific and methodological expertise in research teams, the first analyses within the Alzheimer Cohorts Consortium are underway to tackle outstanding challenges in the assessment of time-trends in dementia occurrence.
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16. |
- Degl´Innocenti, A, et al.
(author)
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Executive deficits in major depression
- 1998
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In: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. ; 97, s. 182-188
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Clinically depressed patients and control subjects were examined by means of different tests to assess executive function (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Stroop Color Word Test, and a test of verbal fluency). The results indicate that the depressed pati
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19. |
- Jones, C, et al.
(author)
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Precipitants of post-traumatic stress disorder following intensive care: a hypothesis generating study of diversity in care.
- 2007
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In: Intensive care medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0342-4642 .- 1432-1238. ; 33:6, s. 978-85
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This prospective observational study was designed to explore the relationships between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), patients' memories of the intensive care unit (ICU) and sedation practices.Prospective multi-centre follow-up study out to 3 months after ICU discharge.Two district general hospitals and three teaching hospitals across Europe.Two hundred and thirty-eight recovering, post-ventilated ICU patients.None.Assessment of patients' memories of ICU was undertaken at 1-2 weeks post ICU discharge. Patients' psychological recovery was assessed by examining the level of PTSD-related symptoms and rate of PTSD by 3 months post ICU. The rate of defined PTSD was 9.2%, ranging from 3.2% to 14.8% in the different study ICUs. Independent of case mix and illness severity, the factors found to be related to the development of PTSD were recall of delusional memories, prolonged sedation, and physical restraint with no sedation.The development of PTSD following critical illness is associated with a number of different precipitating factors that are in part related to how patients are cared for within intensive care. This study raises the hypothesis that the impact of care within the ICU has an impact on subsequent psychological morbidity and therefore must be assessed in future studies looking at the way patients are sedated in the ICU and how physical restraint is used.
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20. |
- Kraemer, B. K., et al.
(author)
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Efficacy of Prolonged- and Immediate-release Tacrolimus in Kidney Transplantation : A Pooled Analysis of Two Large, Randomized, Controlled Trials
- 2017
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In: Transplantation Proceedings. - : Elsevier BV. - 0041-1345 .- 1873-2623. ; 49:9, s. 2040-2049
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background. Two large, prospective studies (12-03; OSAKA) compared the efficacy and tolerability of prolonged-release versus immediate-release tacrolimus in kidney transplant patients also receiving mycophenolate mofetil and low-dose corticosteroids (without induction therapy). Methods. Data were combined into one database to compare results over 24 weeks using 3 alternative endpoints: biopsy-confirmed acute rejection (BCAR); the Food and Drug Administration composite endpoint (graft loss, SCAR, and loss to follow-up), and the European Medicines Agency composite endpoint (graft loss, BCAR, and graft dysfunction). The 95% confidence intervals were calculated (10% noninferiority margin). Results. Overall, 633 patients received prolonged-release tacrolimus (12-03, n = 331; OSAKA, n = 302) and 645 received immediate-release tacrolimus (n = 336; n = 309). Baseline characteristics were comparable. Proportionately more patients receiving prolonged-release tacrolimus had trough levels of 5-15 ng/mL on day 1 (60.8%) and 2 (56.6%) versus immediate-release tacrolimus (42.5% and 43.9%, respectively, both P < .001). Efficacy of prolonged-release and immediate-release tacrolimus were similar as assessed by BCAR (13.9% vs 14.1%, respectively), European Medicines Agency composite endpoint (40.3% vs 38.3%) and US Food and Drug Administration composite endpoint (21.5% vs 19.8%). Conclusions. Novel efficacy endpoints as required by the European Medicines Agency and US Food and Drug Administration demonstrate noninferiority of prolonged-release versus immediate-release tacrolimus. Significantly more patients treated with prolonged release tacrolimus versus immediate-release tacrolimus achieved trough levels of 5 to 15 ng/mL early after transplantation.
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21. |
- Kraemer, B. K., et al.
(author)
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Tacrolimus Once Daily (ADVAGRAF) Versus Twice Daily (PROGRAF) in De Novo Renal Transplantation : A Randomized Phase III Study
- 2010
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In: American Journal of Transplantation. - : Elsevier BV. - 1600-6135 .- 1600-6143. ; 10:12, s. 2632-2643
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This multicenter, 1:1-randomized, parallel-group, noninferiority study compared the efficacy and safety of twice-daily tacrolimus (Tacrolimus BID; Prograf) and once-daily tacrolimus prolonged release (Tacrolimus QD; Advagraf), combined with steroids and low-dose mycophenolate mofetil without antibody induction, in 667 de novo kidney transplant recipients. A double-blind, double-dummy 24-week period was followed by an open extension of up to 12 months posttransplant. Biopsy-proven acute rejection rate at 24 weeks (primary endpoint, per-protocol analysis) was 15.8% for Tacrolimus BID versus 20.4% for Tacrolimus QD (p = 0.182; treatment difference 4.5%, 95% confidence interval-1.8%, 10.9%, just outside the prespecified 10% noninferiority margin). Kaplan-Meier 12-month patient and graft survival rates were 97.5% and 92.8% for Tacrolimus BID and 96.9% and 91.5% for QD. Both treatment groups showed equally well-maintained renal function at 12 months (mean creatinine clearance approximately 67 mL/min) and similar adverse event profiles. Overall results obtained with either Tacrolimus QD or BID, without antibody induction, were good, supporting use of the once-daily formulation as an effective alternative to the established twice-daily formulation.
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22. |
- Labeau, S., et al.
(author)
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Evidence-based guidelines for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia : results of a knowledge test among European intensive care nurses
- 2008
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In: Journal of Hospital Infection. - : Elsevier BV. - 0195-6701 .- 1532-2939. ; 70:2, s. 180-185
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As part of a needs analysis preceding the development of an e-learning platform on infection prevention, European intensive care unit (ICU) nurses were subjected to a knowledge test on evidence-based guidelines for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). A validated multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed to 22 European countries between October 2006 and March 2007. Demographics included nationality, gender, ICU experience, number of ICU beds and acquisition of a specialised degree in intensive care. We collected 3329 questionnaires (response rate 69.1%). The average score was 45.1%. Fifty-five percent of respondents knew that the oral route is recommended for intubation; 35% knew that ventilator circuits should be changed for each new patient; 38% knew that heat and moisture exchangers were the recommended humidifier type, but only 21% knew that these should be changed once weekly; closed suctioning systems were recommended by 46%, and 18% knew that these must be changed for each new patient only; 51% and 57%, respectively, recognised that subglottic drainage and kinetic beds reduce VAP incidence. Most (85%) knew that semi-recumbent positioning prevents VAP. Professional seniority and number of ICU beds were shown to be independently associated with better test scores. Further research may determine whether low scores are related to a lack of knowledge, deficiencies in training, differences in what is regarded as good practice, and/or a lack of consistent policy.
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25. |
- Lindström, Åke, et al.
(author)
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Extreme altitude changes between night and day during marathon flights of great snipes
- 2021
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In: Current Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0960-9822 .- 1879-0445. ; 31:15, s. 3433-3439
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Summary Several factors affect the flight altitude of migratory birds, such as topography, ambient temperature, wind conditions, air humidity, predation avoidance, landmark orientation, and avoiding over-heating from direct sunlight.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Recent tracking of migratory birds over long distances has shown that migrants change flight altitude more commonly and dramatically than previously thought.4, 5, 6, 7, 8 The reasons behind these altitude changes are not well understood. In their seasonal migrations between Sweden and sub-Saharan Africa, great snipes Gallinago media make non-stop flights of 4,000–7,000 km, lasting 60–90 h.9,10 Activity and air pressure data from multisensor dataloggers showed that great snipes repeatedly changed altitudes around dawn and dusk, between average cruising heights about 2,000 m (above sea level) at night and around 4,000 m during daytime. Frequency and autocorrelation analyses corroborated a conspicuous diel cycle in flight altitude. Most birds regularly flew at 6,000 m and one bird reached 8,700 m, possibly the highest altitude ever recorded for an identified migrating bird. The diel altitude changes took place independently of climate zone, topography, and habitat overflown. Ambient temperature, wind condition, and humidity have no important diel variation at the high altitudes chosen by great snipes. Instead, improved view for orientation by landmarks, predator avoidance, and not least, seeking cold altitudes at day to counteract heating from direct sunlight are the most plausible explanations for the diel altitude cycle. Together with similar recent findings for a small songbird,6 the great snipes’ altitudinal performance sheds new light on the complexity and challenges of migratory flights.
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