Egg removal and intraspecific brood parasitism in the European starling ( Sturnus vulgaris )

From 1983 to 1986 we monitored 284 European starling ( Sturnus vulgaris ) nests in New Jersey for evidence of intraspecific brood parasitism and egg removal during the laying period. Egg removal occurred significantly more often at nests where intraspecific brood parasitism was detected (12 of 35 nests, 34%) than at unparasitized nests (23 of 249 nests, 9%). Brood parasitism (92% of parasitized nests) and egg removal (74% of nests with egg removal) were most common at nests where egg laying began in April of each year (i.e., early nests). Egg removal occurred at 26 (19%) and brood parasitism at 32 (23%) of 138 early nests. Both brood parasitism and egg removal were concentrated during the first four days in the laying period when brood parasitism is most likely to be successful and when host nests are most vulnerable to parasitism (Romagnano 1987). Both parasitism and removal usually involved a single egg at each nest. We detected brood parasitism and egg removal on the same day at five of 12 nests (42%) where both were observed. Because starlings do not remove foreign eggs from their nests once they begin laying (Stouffer et al. 1987) we hypothesize that parasite females sometimes removed host eggs while parasitizing nests.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46889/1/265_2004_Article_BF00295201.pd

Prediction of dental caries activity

The aim of the present thesis was to find a test for prediction of caries activity which would be useful in routine clinical work.Correlations between oral health, general health, food habits and socioeconomic conditions were investigated in 4- and 8-year-old children. It was found that the salivary secretion rate and the prevalence of oral lactobacilli were factors which might be useful in caries prediction.In 5- and 8-year-old children negative correlations between caries frequency and secretion rate, pH and buffer effect of saliva were demonstrated. However, these parameters showed a wide range of variation.A dip-slide test (Dentocult®), for determination of the number of lactobacilli in saliva, were investigated. The test proved to be reliable for determining of the number of lactobacilli in saliva.The clinical use of information on salivary secretion rate and number of lactobacilli in saliva in prediction of caries activity was examined in 115 14-year-old children over a period of 64 weeks. The number of lactobacilli in saliva, but not the salivary secretion rate, was correlated to caries activity. The number of lactobacilli in saliva seems to reflect the frequency of ingested fermentable carbohydrates and indirectly the risk for initiation of carious lesions. However, when the lactobacillus test is used it is important that there are no such areas of microbial retention on the teeth, as open cavities, poorly executed conservations, dentures or orthodontic bands. The lactobacillus test would make it possible to individualize prophylactic caries treatment.Annan ISSN på omslaget och titelblad (ISSN 0934-7532).Härtill 5 delarbeten.digitalisering@um

Need of non-operative caries treatment in 16-year-olds from Northern Norway

Aim: To assess the prevalence of proximal enamel lesions, the need for non-operative caries treatment and the quality of dental restorations in 869 students aged 16 years from Northern Norway. Methods: All first year upper secondary school students in Tromsø and Balsfjord municipalities were invited to participate in an oral- and general health project (Fit Futures). The attendance rate was 90%, and all subjects born in 1994 (449 males and 420 females) were included in the present study. Dental caries was registered according to a 5-graded scale (1–2 = enamel lesions; 3–5 = dentinal lesions). Scores from 1 to 4 were used to register the quality of restorations (1 = good; 2 = acceptable; 3 = poor; 4 = unacceptable). general health project (Fit Futures). The attendance rate was 90%, and all subjects born in 1994 (449 males and 420 females) were included in the present study. Dental caries was registered according to a 5-graded scale (1–2 = enamel lesions; 3–5 = dentinal lesions). Scores from 1 to 4 were used to register the quality of restorations (1 = good; 2 = acceptable; 3 = poor; 4 = unacceptable). Results: Only 6% of the 16-year-olds were completely caries-free. There were 84% of the participants with proximal enamel lesions. A majority of them had either previously restored teeth (35%) or both restored teeth and untreated dentinal caries lesions (34%). When using the D-value of the DMFS-index as a diagnostic criterion, 39% of the participants were in need of restorative treatment. When proximal enamel lesions were included in the diagnosis, the number of participants in need of restorative and/or non-operative caries treatment was 85%. Over 1/3 of the participants presented with at least one restoration below an acceptable quality level. Conclusions: Dental caries is still a major health problem affecting the total teenage population. A non-operative treatment strategy should be considered relevant in order to reduce the need for restorative treatment