An analysis of continent-wide patterns of sexual selection in a passerine bird.

Patterns of selection are widely believed to differ geographically, causing adaptation to local environmental conditions. However, few studies have investigated patterns of phenotypic selection across large spatial scales. We quantified the intensity of selection on morphology in a monogamous passerine bird, the barn swallow Hirundo rustica, using 6495 adults from 22 populations distributed across Europe and North Africa. According to the classical Darwin-Fisher mechanism of sexual selection in monogamous species, two important components of fitness due to sexual selection are the advantages that the most attractive males acquire by starting to breed early and their high annual fecundity. We estimated directional selection differentials on tail length (a secondary sexual character) and directional selection gradients after controlling for correlated selection on wing length and tarsus length with respect to these two fitness components. Phenotype and fitness components differed significantly among populations for which estimates were available for more than a single year. Likewise, selection differentials and selection gradients differed significantly among populations for tail length, but not for the other two characters. Sexual selection differentials differed significantly from zero across populations for tail length, particularly in males. Controlling statistically for the effects of age reduced the intensity of selection by 60 to 81%, although corrected and uncorrected estimates were strongly positively correlated. Selection differentials and gradients for tail length were positively correlated between the sexes among populations for selection acting on breeding date, but not for fecundity selection. The intensity of selection with respect to breeding date and fecundity were significantly correlated for tail length across populations. Sexual size dimorphism in tail length was significantly correlated with selection differentials with respect to breeding date for tail length in male barn swallows across populations. These findings suggest that patterns of sexual selection are consistent across large geographical scales, but also that they vary among populations. In addition, geographical patterns of phenotypic selection predict current patterns of phenotypic variation among populations, suggesting that consistent patterns of selection have been present for considerable amounts of time.

[Experience of the Valdivia Hospital in renal transplant: an analysis of our first 100 cases]. / Experiencia del Hospital de Valdivia en trasplante renal: análisis de nuestros primeros 100 casos.

From September 1980 until October 1995 we have performed 100 renal transplant on 95 patients. Up to May of 1996 the medium follow-up was of 69.7 months (in a range of: 15 to 196 months). Seventy-nine kidney implants were performed from related living donors and 21 from dead donors. The average age of recipients was 35.8 years (SD: +/- 12.5 years). Chronic renal insufficiency of recipients is reviewed as well as their accompanying pathology. We found that in a 20% of the cases the donor's kidney had multiple renal arteries. In most of the ureteral vesical implantations were performed with Salvatierra's technique. Preservation cold time for the cadaveric donor kidneys was over 24 hours. In only a 33% of the cases Cyclosporine was used as the immunosuppression therapy. The 9% of ureteral complications are outlined. TBC is an important cause of complications and death of patients. To date there are 76 functioning kidney allografts and 14 lost graft kidneys. Ten patients have died, 3 of them with functional graft kidney. Actuarial graft survival rate for 1, 5 and 10 years are 92.7%, 78.7% and 59.3% respectively.

[Treatment of stage I nonseminomatous testicular cancer with one cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy]. / Tratamiento del cáncer testicular no seminoma etapa I con un ciclo de quimioterapia adyuvante.

On May 1990, we began a treatment protocol for testicular stage I nonseminomatous cancer, with one chemotherapy cycle consisting of a cisplatin based combination of drugs. Until July 1996 we had admitted 18 patients, presenting five of them embryonal carcinoma and three yolk sac tumors. So far, with a median follow-up of 46.9 months, we had not relapses. 11 patients have normal long term semen analysis, with two achieving pregnancy. We believe this is acceptable alternative for treating stage I nonseminomatous cancer with scarce drugs adverse reactions. The convenience of selecting patients previous admittance, is discussed.