Impact of ice ages on circumpolar molecular diversity: insights from an ecological key species.

We address the impact of the ice age cycles on intraspecific cpDNA diversity, for the first time on the full circumboreal-circumarctic scale. The bird-dispersed bog bilberry (or arctic blueberry, Vaccinium uliginosum) is a key component of northern ecosystems and is here used to assess diversity in previously glaciated vs. unglaciated areas and the importance of Beringia as a refugium and source for interglacial expansion. Eighteen chloroplast DNA haplotypes were observed in and among 122 populations, grouping into three main lineages which probably diverged before, and thus were affected more or less independently by, all major glaciations. The boreal 'Amphi-Atlantic lineage' included one haplotype occurring throughout northern Europe and one occurring in eastern North America, suggesting expansion from at least two bottlenecked, glacial refugium populations. The boreal 'Beringian lineage' included seven haplotypes restricted to Beringia and the Pacific coast of USA. The 'Arctic-Alpine lineage' included nine haplotypes, one of them fully circumpolar. This lineage was unexpectedly diverse, also in previously glaciated areas, suggesting that it thrived on the vast tundras during the ice ages and recolonized deglaciated terrain over long distances. Its largest area of persistence during glaciations was probably situated in the north, stretching from Beringia and far into Eurasia, and it probably also survived the last glaciation in southern mountain ranges. Although Beringia apparently was important for the initial divergence and expansion of V. uliginosum as well as for continuous survival of both the Beringian and Arctic-Alpine lineages during all ice ages, this region played a minor role as a source for later interglacial expansions.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP): a clinical perspective and a search for risk factors.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the risk factors and their relative importance and possible role in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). METHODS: The study was conducted as a retrospective analysis of deaths in an outpatient population of a tertiary referral centre, based on clinical and pathological data. RESULTS: Of a total of 140 deaths, 61 (44%) had not been to postmortem and were excluded, 37 (26%) had a verified cause of death and formed the non-SUDEP group, and 42 (30%) were classified as SUDEP. In the SUDEP group there was pulmonary oedema in 62%, signs of preceding seizures in 67%, no visible seizures in three of six observed deaths. A high seizure frequency prevailed in SUDEP as well as non-SUDEP. Sixty per cent of deaths were sleep related. Various other circumstances were temporally associated with death. The prone position at death was seen in 71% of the SUDEP patients; possible interpretations are discussed. Supposedly subtherapeutic serum concentrations of one or more antiepileptic drugs were found in 57% of those with reported serum concentrations. Alcohol was not a factor in the material, whereas hyponatraemia was seen in two cases. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases of SUDEP are preceded by seizures; their presence, frequency, type, aetiology, tractability, and the use of antiepileptic drugs are factors in the demise. No common risk factor, present in all cases of SUDEP, could be found, suggesting the probability of multiple mechanisms behind SUDEP.

[The medicine chest of Roald Amundsen in 1914]. / Roald Amundsens medisinkiste anno 1914.

This historical medicine chest evidently has not been used, and its contents are nearly complete. Practically all medicines for internal use were dispensed in tablet form, which was very advanced for that time. The chest also contains a manual with short descriptions of illnesses and injuries and how to treat them, accompanied by an inventory. The medicine chest and accompanying booklet were compiled in a systematic way for easy access, and provide an interesting review of medical and pharmaceutical knowledge at that time. Many of the compounds are in surprisingly good condition after 75 years. Some of them have been analysed for active ingredients, and were shown to contain from 0 to 79% of the declared content. The composition of the medicine chest is based on 19th century traditions for ships' equipment, but compared with a 20 years older specimen it seems advanced. The medicine chest is located in Roald Amundsen's Home at Svartskog near Oslo.