Waves and synchrony in Epirrita autumnata/Operophtera brumata outbreaks. I. Lagged synchrony: regionally, locally and among species.

1. In 1990-2003, during a complete 10-year outbreak cycle, the synchrony of the birch defoliating outbreaks of the geometrids Epirrita autumnata and Operophtera brumata was studied quantitatively in the northern part of the Fennoscandian mountain chain (the Scandes). Data were supplemented with similar data from 1964 to 1966 and historical information. A 30-year series of field data from one locality in southern Scandes made possible interregional comparisons. 2. In 1991, outbreaks started in north-eastern Fennoscandia and moved westward like a wave and reached the outer coast of north-western Norway in about 2000. This wave is a new observation. In the same years, a previously documented outbreak wave moved southward along the Scandes. 3. Outbreak periods have usually occurred around the middle of each decade. Seemingly unrelated population peaks at the decadal shift 2000 were reported from islands at the coast of north-western Norway. They are shown here to have been the final ripples of the east-west wave. 4. At some localities, O. brumata peaked 2 years after E. autumnata. A lag of 1 or 2 years also occurred at the locality in southern Scandes. This interspecific time lag is a new observation. In accordance with the north-south wave, a time-lag of 1-2 years occurred between the fluctuations of northern and southern E. autumnata and O. brumata populations. 5. The population peak of E. autumnata occurred 1 year earlier at one locality than at a nearby locality. This pattern and particular altitudinal shifts of the O. brumata population density at these localities repeated in two outbreak periods. This indicates that, for example, local climate may modify outbreak synchrony between nearby localities. 6. At the same localities, O. brumata peaked first at one altitude and 1 or 2 years later at another altitude. This vertical lag is a new observation. 7. E. autumnata shows fluctuation traits similar to some other cyclic animals, e.g. the larch budmoth in the European Alps, some European tetraonid birds and the Canadian snow-shoe hare. These similarities (and dissimilarities) in intra- and interspecific synchronies and causes of E. autumnata and O. brumata synchronies, regionally, locally and among the two species are discussed.

Waves and synchrony in Epirrita autumnata/Operophtera brumata outbreaks. II. Sunspot activity cannot explain cyclic outbreaks.

1. In recent studies, it has been argued that sunspot activity forces the Epirrita autumnata 9-10-year outbreak periodicity in the mountain birch forest of Fennoscandia. For the following reasons, we challenge this conclusion. 2. With a 10-year outbreak cycle of E. autumnata and the 11-year sunspot cycle, it is expected that the cycles will run in-phase, out-of-phase and in-phase within 10 x 11 years. Hence, given such cycle lengths, sunspot activity should not affect outbreak periods. For a test, the E. autumnata series should be at least 110 years in length. 3. A well-documented E. autumnata outbreak series of 81 years (1888-1968; outbreak periods IV-XII) exists. This series is here lengthened to 114 years by adding outbreak frequencies for three decades (1969-2001). 4. By lengthening the series, three more E. autumnata/Operophtera brumata periods (XIII, XIV, XV) are identified. Period XV, like several earlier periods, was of the moving type, i.e. outbreaks moved in a wavelike manner from northern Fennoscandia to southern Norway. 5. As with several earlier outbreak periods in central northern Fennoscandia, the main timing of periods XIII-XV centred at the middle of the decades. In contrast, outbreaks at the extreme north-western coast of Norway centred at the decadal shifts, i.e. about 1979, 1989 and 1999. Supported by historical documents, we explain the 1979 and 1999 outbreaks as the final expressions of east-west outbreak waves that branched off from the main waves which moved southward during periods XIII and XV. These side-waves in the north are new observations. Outbreaks at the decadal shift 1989/1990 may have been of a more complex nature. 6. We find that sunspot activity does not explain outbreak waves. Furthermore, a test of our 114-year long E. autumnata series against the contemporaneous sunspot series shows that the two series run in-phase and out-of-phase. The observed interval between the two cycles coming in-phase agrees with the expected interval. This challenges the hypothesis of sunspot synchronization of the E. autumnata (and O. brumata) outbreaks.

Feeding and oviposition rates in the pine weevil Hylobius abietis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Feeding and oviposition in the pine weevil Hylobius abietis (Linnaeus) were monitored under laboratory conditions in two long-term experiments lasting over an extended breeding season. Data were also collected from weevils under semi-natural conditions outdoors. In addition, the effects of crowding and starvation were studied in separate experiments. During the main peak oviposition period, female H. abietis consumed 50% more bark tissue than males. When oviposition ceased, the feeding rate of the females declined to the same level as in the males. The rates and spatial distribution patterns of oviposition and feeding were clearly affected by climatic conditions and the degree of crowding. Females were estimated to lay on average 0.8 eggs per day during the season under outdoor conditions. The realized fecundity of a female weevil during the first season was estimated to be approximately 70 eggs. The estimated average rate of feeding was 23 mm2 of Scots pine bark per weevil per day. This implies that planted seedlings can only constitute a minor part of the food resources needed to sustain H. abietispopulations of the size that usually appear on fresh clear-cuttings in northern Europe.

Abnormalities on chest radiographs following radiation therapy for breast cancer.

The aim of this study was to study pulmonary radiological abnormalities with chest radiography following different radiotherapy (RT) techniques for breast cancer with respect to regions and density, and their association with pulmonary complications and reduction in vital capacity (VC). Chest radiographs were performed 5 months following local or loco-regional RT in 167 breast cancer patients. The radiological abnormalities were analysed with a classification system originally proposed by Arriagada and evaluated according to increasing density (0-3) and affected lung regions (apical-lateral, basal-lateral, central-parahilar). The highest-density grades in each region were added together to form scores ranging from 0 to 9. The patients were monitored for RT-induced pulmonary complications. The VC was measured prior to and 5 months following RT. An independent evaluation of 51 patients was performed by a second radiologist to control the reproducibility of the classification system. Increasing scores were associated with loco-regional RT and pulmonary complications (P < 0.001). The mean reduction of VC for patients scoring 0-3 (-30 ml) vs 4-9 (-161 ml) was not statistically significant (P = 0.10). Scores of 4-9 were more frequently observed in older patients (P < 0.001). The independent evaluations by two radiologists revealed good agreement (P < 0.001) and no systematic inter-observer variation. Radiological abnormalities on chest radiographs, scored according to Arriagada, can be used as an objective end point for RT-induced pulmonary side effects in breast cancer.

Distribution of coronary atherosclerosis and its correlation to metabolic risk factors and femoral atherosclerosis.

Coronary angiography was performed in 216 men of whom 78 also had a cine-angiogram of one femoral artery. Stenoses of the coronary arteries were measured with a pair of calipers and the femoral angiograms were computer-analysed. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether the bulk of the coronary stenoses affected the central or the peripheral part of the coronary arteries. The groups were investigated regarding differences in lipid and metabolic risk factors. Coronary atherosclerosis was most often found in the proximal part of the right coronary arteries. No significant correlation between coronary and femoral atherosclerosis was found. Previous myocardial infarction was associated with more coronary artery stenosis (p < 0.003). No pattern of risk factors was found to discriminate between central and peripheral coronary atherosclerosis.

Coronary artery vasoregulation and left ventricular function in patients with angina pectoris-like pain and normal coronary angiograms.

Twenty patients with angina pectoris-like pain, normal coronary angiography and abnormal exercise 201Tl scans were investigated by means of haemodynamic, coronary sinus blood flow and lactate determinations before and after cold provocation, pacing and dipyridamole infusion. Radionuclide angiography, a new exercise 201Tl scan and noninvasive hyperventilation and ergonovine tests were performed. Intracoronary infusions of acetylcholine were given in increasing doses and a second coronary angiogram in combination with a 201Tl scintigram was performed. Despite a previously pathological 201Tl scintigram, with reversible perfusion defects, only ten of the patients had reversible perfusion defects at the second investigation. Hyperventilation and ergonovine tests did not result in ECG signs indicative of coronary spasm. Intracoronary infusion of acetylcholine resulted in a diffuse coronary constriction in 3 of 14 patients, and in one patient a perfusion defect was observed on thallium scintigram. In conclusion, although most of the common methods for inducing coronary vasospasm were used, no consistent pattern of reaction was found to explain the chest pains experienced in this group of patients.

Phlebographic evaluation of nonthrombotic deep venous incompetence: new anatomic and functional aspects.

The anatomy, valvular function, and reflux patterns in the deep veins of the lower extremities were studied by ascending and descending phlebography in 126 limbs with nonthrombotic deep venous incompetence. The most common patterns were isolated reflux in the superficial femoral vein (51%), and combined reflux in the superficial femoral and the deep femoral veins (44%). Isolated deep femoral vein reflux occurred in 5%. As the degree of reflux in this vein varied considerably, a grading system for classification of deep femoral vein reflux was proposed. Depending on variations in the deep femoral vein anatomy, four different patterns could be distinguished. This study demonstrated that contrast filling of the deep femoral vein during ascending phlebography may indicate the presence of reflux in this vein. Complete visualization of the deep femoral vein is a new diagnostic sign that strongly correlates (p less than 0.001) with reflux in the deep femoral vein. The mean number of valves in the superficial femoral vein was reduced with increasing degree of reflux compared with a reference group consisting of 41 extremities without reflux. The diameter of the popliteal vein was significantly increased in the presence of pathologic reflux, which may indicate that vein wall dilation is a major cause of primary nonthrombotic deep venous incompetence.

Subcutaneous treatment of deep venous thrombosis with low molecular weight heparin. A dose finding study with LMWH-Novo.

Treatment of deep venous thrombosis with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH-Novo, Logiparin) was carried out with two different doses of Logiparin, 75 XaI U/kg b.w. twice daily and 150 XaI U/kg b.w. once daily subcutaneously for 5 days. Simultaneously warfarin was given from the first day of heparin treatment. Mean age of the twenty patients was 65 years and one third was females. No serious side effects, hematomas, pulmonary emboli or signs of recurrent thrombosis occurred during treatment with either dose regime. Venografic assessment with Marder scoring one week after initiation of Logiparin treatment showed a slight not significant improvement apparent in 40% of the patients. The activities of F-IIaI and F-XaI in the blood plasma were found to increase after injection of Logiparin. These two parameters seem to be the most suitable for monitoring the effect during treatment. For future studies on the therapeutic effect of Logiparin in deep venous thrombosis a single dose of 150 to 200 F-XaI activity per 24 hours seems to be most suitable.

Quantitation of atherosclerosis in femoral arteriography with ECG gated exposures.

Using a densitometric method introduced in 1977 by Crawford et coll. the volumes of segments of the femoral artery were calculated from two angiographic series in each of 13 patients. ECG gated exposures were used to minimise the error of the method. The reproducibility of the method was found to be better than in a previous study in which ECG gating was not used. The method may therefore be of use in long term angiographic follow-up studies of atherosclerotic lesions, although the impact of different investigation parameters on methodologic precision is still not fully known.