Impact of early salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, infestation and differences in survival and marine growth of sea-ranched Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., smolts 1997-2009.

The impact of salmon lice on the survival of migrating Atlantic salmon smolts was studied by comparing the adult returns of sea-ranched smolts treated for sea lice using emamectin benzoate or substance EX with untreated control groups in the River Dale in western Norway. A total of 143 500 smolts were released in 35 release groups in freshwater from 1997 to 2009 and in the fjord system from 2007 to 2009. The adult recaptures declined gradually with release year and reached minimum levels in 2007. This development corresponded with poor marine growth and increased age at maturity of ranched salmon and in three monitored salmon populations and indicated unfavourable conditions in the Norwegian Sea. The recapture rate of treated smolts was significantly higher than the controls in three of the releases performed: the only release in 1997, one of three in 2002 and the only group released in sea water in 2007. The effect of treating the smolts against salmon lice was smaller than the variability in return rates between release groups, and much smaller that variability between release years, but its overall contribution was still significant (P < 0.05) and equivalent to an odds ratio of the probability of being recaptured of 1.17 in favour of the treated smolts. Control fish also tended to be smaller as grilse (P = 0.057), possibly due to a sublethal effect of salmon lice.

The tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus alters the activity and response, but not the predation susceptibility of infected copepods.

Cyclops abyssorum and Cyclops scutifer were experimentally infected with procercoids of the cestode Schistocephalus solidus, then examined for altered behavior and susceptibility to predation, respectively. Infected C. abyssorum differed from uninfected controls in their initial response to disturbance and their degree of activity but only when they harbored procercoids that were potentially infective to the next host. To examine the possible consequence of the altered behavior for susceptibility to predation, three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) were offered equal numbers of infected and uninfected C. scutifer. Infected copepods were not preyed upon significantly more than controls.

[The Trønderbonden sculpture at the Nidaros Domkirke. Who is he actually?]. / Skulpturen Trønderbonden i Nidaros Domkirke. Hvem fremstiller den egentlig?

The collections of Nidaros Domkirke contain a large uncrowned sculpture commonly called "Trønderbonden". The historical identity of "Trønderbonden" is not known. However, several anatomical observations, as yet not recognized, do suggest his identity. The position of the mouth and eyelid is skewed to the left, compatible with a left-sided facial paralysis. There is a defect on the left side of the neck, behind the ear and the mastoidal process of the temporal bone, indicative of a muscular injury. Such an injury might also have given rise to the facial paralysis. Altogether, these findings are compatible with and suggest that the head belongs to Erling Skakke, who ruled Norway from 1162 to 1179 AD. Erling suffered a blow to the neck in 1152, when he was a crusader, and after this could only carry his head askew.

Comparison of low molecular weight heparin vs. unfractionated heparin in gynecological surgery. II: Reduced dose of low molecular weight heparin.

In a double blind, randomized trial the hemorrhagic complications of a reduced dose of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (Fragmin, KabiPharmacia) were compared to those of the conventional dose of unfractionated heparin (UH). 2500 anti-XaU of LMWH was given once daily and UH in a dose of 5000 anti-XaU twice daily. During a one year period 141 patients undergoing gynecological surgery were included in this study. The patients were examined clinically for hematomas and for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) on the third and fifth day. Venography was performed when DVT was suspected. No patients developed clinical DVT. One woman in the LMWH group had pulmonary embolism 3 days after the prophylaxis was stopped. Two women in the LMWH group died, one from a stroke on day 2, one from cancer on day 39. There was no significant difference in serious bleeding complications between the two regimens, 20% in the LMWH group and 14% in the UH group. Even with the reduced dose of LMWH the mean plasma concentration of heparin in the LMWH group was higher (mean 0.14 anti-XaU/ml) than in the UH group (0.029 anti-XaU/ml) 3 hours after injection on the 2nd postoperative day. A reduced dose of LMWH (2500 anti XaU once daily) does not cause more bleeding complications than the conventional heparin regimen to prevent thrombosis, as was the case in our previous study with 5000 anti XaU of LMWH once daily.

Comparison of low molecular weight heparin vs. unfractionated heparin in gynecological surgery.

In a double-blind, randomized trial, the antithrombotic effect and haemorrhagic complications of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (Heparin fragment 2165, KabiVitrum) and unfractionated heparin (UH) were compared. LMWH (5000 anti-XaU) was injected every 24 h, UH (5000 IU) every 12 h; both drugs by subcutaneous injection. During 1984-85, 215 patients were examined clinically and by plethysmography. Venography was performed whenever DVT was suspected. None of the patients proved to have DVT. Bleeding complications were found in 54% of the cases. The LMWH group had a statistically significant predominance of bleeding complications as reflected by wound haematomas (p = 0.02) and the number of blood transfusions (p = 0.02). The heparin concentration was higher in the LMWH group (mean 0.13 IU/ml) than in the UH group (mean 0.13 IU/ml) measured 2 h after the injection. In the doses administered, LMWH and UH seem effective in the prevention of thrombosis. The increased bleeding tendency in the LMWH group probably was a consequence of the to high dosage.

Cytoplasmic creatine kinase isoenzymes quantitated in tissue specimens obtained at surgery.

Because previous reports have given inconsistent results, we re-examined the catalytic concentrations of cytoplasmic creatine kinase (CK) and of CK isoenzymes in 38 biopsies obtained from 19 different tissues. After homogenization and centrifugation many tissues showed high CK catalytic concentrations; 11 of them contained activity exceeding 50 U/g wet weight (Scandinavian recommended method). The highest specific activities were found in skeletal muscle (2400 U/g), brain (530 U/g), and myocardium (460 U/g). The separate isoenzyme activities were estimated by electrophoretic, anion-exchange chromatographic, immunoinhibiting, and radioimmunological methods. CK-BB was present in all tissues and, in fact, was the only cytoplasmic CK isoenzyme in 16 of the 19 tissues examined. CK-MM was the major isoenzyme of skeletal muscle and myocardium and was in addition observed in placenta, in trace amounts. CK-MB was present in high catalytic concentrations in myocardium (20% of total CK) and in low catalytic concentrations in skeletal muscle (1.1% of total CK).

Age-related reference intervals for creatine kinase BB in serum.

The mass concentration of creatine kinase BB (CK-BB) isoenzyme was measured in serum of 365 healthy children and adults with a CK-BB specific radioimmunoassay. Eight separate age groups (newborns, 4 days, and 1, 8, 14, 25, 40 and 65 years) were examined and the reference intervals for these groups were estimated. The concentration of CK-BB generally decreased with increasing age, most of the changes taking place within the first year of life. Thus, the median value at age 1 year (9.2 micrograms/l) was 1/15th of that observed at birth, 1/2 of that observed at age 4 days, but four times higher than that observed in adults. A transient increase in CK-BB concentration was observed in boys 14 years old. At this age in contrast to at all other ages the values measured in boys were significantly (P less than 0.005) higher than the values measured in girls In 27 of the sera from cord blood we also examined the relationship between estimates of CK-BB mass and activity, the latter being estimated by immuno-inhibition technique. The two estimates were highly correlated (r = 0.98), 2 micrograms of enzyme mass roughly equivalent to 1 U of enzyme activity.