Inaug.-Diss.

Ulm, Univ., Diss., 2009.

Tübingen, Univ., Diss., 2002.

Three subspecies of house mice of different geographic origins have reached New Zealand; M. m. domesticus (10 haplotypes), M. m. musculus (1 haplotype) both from Europe, and M. m. castaneus (3 haplotypes) from Asia. Identifying the sources of the multiple historical introductions of the house mouse is a complex issue, particularly during the peak colonisation period of 1830-1880. The early European settlers came with many bags, crates, plants, seed and livestock, which provided ample travel opportunities for stowaway rats and mice. With the assistance of volunteers, I have collected mice from various locations throughout the New Zealand region, to confirm the previously recorded haplotypes and to look for evidence of hybridisation between the colonising subspecies. Morphological characteristics traditionally used for identification of subspecies were compared with genetic characters, to establish whether the use of morphology is still a viable method of identifying subspecific distinctions between mice in New Zealand. While no M. m. musculus haplotypes were found among these samples, some mice still had the coat colouration typical of M. m. musculus. Data from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA) markers revealed some surprising results. I have found six new M. m. domesticus haplotypes, and three new M. m. castaneus haplotypes. The data have also revealed extensive hybridisation, particularly between M. m. domesticus and M. m. castaneus. The finding of the new haplotypes supports the previous assumption that there were multiple introductions of mice into New Zealand, but the finding of M. m. castaneus in inland towns and cities does not support the associated assumption that European mice were initially the only mice present in New Zealand. Rather, the wide distribution of M. m. castaneus suggests that this subspecies probably arrived during the early nineteenth century. The house mouse has long been recognised as an ideal organism for hybridisation studies, and the finding of a hybrid zone within New Zealand would provide an excellent opportunity to extend our knowledge of hybridisation and gene transfer. Previous studies found M. m. domesticus in Napier, and a M. m. musculus/M. m. castaneus hybrids in Wellington. A systematic sampling programme was undertaken between Wellington and Napier following State Highway 2 (SH2), in an attempt to locate a hybrid zone. Analysis of mtDNA and nDNA showed that, M. m. castaneus was found as far North as Dannevirke, and M. m. domesticus as far South as Featherston. There was also extensive evidence of integration of M. m. domesticus nDNA markers into mice with M. m. castaneus mtDNA. There was no clear support for a hybrid zone, but this does not mean that one has not existed in the past and that it has since been overrun by movement of mice with humans and their goods. Identification of subspecies by morphological characteristics, while used with confidence in other countries, is of little use in New Zealand. Extensive hybridisation/and or introgression between the subspecies has long since blurred any morphological distinctions the colonising mice may have had. I propose that these physical characters should be used in support of genetic analysis of the subspecies. The official classification of the New Zealand house mouse currently stands as M. m. musculus, however, data collected does not support this and it is proposed that the official classification should be changed to M. m. domesticus.

Proefschrift Maastricht. / Met lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Proefschrift Universiteit Maastricht. / Met lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Hybridization between closely related species of mammals is often accompanied by abnormal growth of placentas and fetuses. From the perspective of evolutionary biology, our knowledge about the contribution of such interspecies incompatibilities in speciation is still insufficient. In my thesis, I was finding out if abnormal placental and fetal growth contributes to reproductive isolation of two subspecies of house mouse, Mus musculus musculus and M. m. domesticus, which are at an early phase of speciation and in nature they still hybridize. Using two inbred strains derived from M. m. musculus (PWD/Ph, STUS) and two inbred strains derived from M. m. domesticus (C57BL6/J, SCHEST) we performed four different intrasubspecies and four different intersubspecies crosses. We found out that the size of the placenta in hybrids is more influenced by father, while the size of the fetus is more influenced by mother. After elimination influence of weight of mother and father we have not recorded a significant difference in the size of placentas and fetuses in intrasubspecies and intersubspecies crosses. Our results show that hybridization between subspecies of house mouse does not produce abnormalities in prenatal development, as was observed in hybrids between distant species of mice. It is thus possible that...

The contact zone between subspecies of house mouse Mus musculus musculus and Mus musculus domesticus is one of the most intensively studied hybrid zones. It is also due to extensive introgression of the Y chromosome of M. m. musculus subspecies to the genetic background of M. m. domesticus. One theory of the origin of the introgression explains it by intragenomic conflict between the sexes. With a set of variable microsatellite markers on the Y chromosome, I have examined the validity of this theory by simple approaches revealing the history of the introgression area. It turned out that overly big variability of our markers makes the revelation of this theory impossible. Our markers have been found suitable for use in the analysis of population structure of house mouse. Thanks to them, we can identify migrants between localities and estimate the level of closeness of the population structure in relation to migrants from the neighborhood. Populations in our analysis proved to be relatively closed and resistant to the influx of migrants. Despite the conclusions of previous research where the dispersion of males ran up to one kilometer, I have discovered a relatively large number of migrations to a distance of thirty kilometers. Keywords Mus musculus musculus, Mus musculus domesticus, Y chromosome,...

Schultererkrankungen nehmen in sozioökonomischer Hinsicht einen Spitzenplatz unter den Erkrankungen des Bewegungsapparates ein.58 Die häufigen „klassischen Schultererkrankungen“ wie Schulterinstabilitäten, Rotatorenmanschettenrupturen und Omarthrosen sind schon sehr lange bekannt und durch viele Studien gut untersucht. Demgegenüber stellen Läsionen des Aufhängeapparates der langen Bizepssehne (LBS) eine sehr junge Schulterpathologie dar, über die es noch wenige Daten gibt. Im Jahre 1994 formten Walch et al.62 für diese komplexe intraartikuläre Halteschlinge der LBS den Begriff des „stabilizing pulley“, oder Bizepspulley. Im Folgenden sollen Anatomie, Funktion und Pathologie des Bizepspulleys mit allen wichtigen anatomischen Strukturen kurz erläutert werden. / This study retrospectively analyzed 1007 diagnostic shoulder arthroscopies. The study included 72 patients with an arthroscopically verified pulley lesion as the main pathologic finding. Epidemiologic data and arthroscopic findings were evaluated in all patients, and 53 were clinically examined with the Constant score after a minimum follow-up of 2 years. We observed an incidence of 7.1% for pulley lesions. An isolated rupture of the superior glenohumeral ligament (SGHL) was seen in 53 patients (73.6%) and a combined partial articular-side tear of the rotator cuff adjacent to rotator interval in 19 (26.4%). Thirty-one patients (43%) had a history of trauma, whereas 41 (57%) had none. Overall, the mean postoperative Constant score adjusted for age and gender was 80.1% (range, 47%-135%). Patients with a SGHL lesion only (85.7%) exhibited a significant (P = .047) higher age- and gender-adjusted Constant score compared with patients with a combined partial surface tendon tear (73.1%). Our epidemiologic data accentuate the need for careful evaluation of the superolateral aspect of rotator interval to avoid underdiagnosis of pulley lesions at shoulder arthroscopy. Our findings provide evidence that the clinical outcome of isolated SGHL lesions is better compared with combined partial articular-side rotator cuff tear. With respect to the progressive pathologic process of pulley lesions, we recommend an early surgical treatment.

The thesis is divided into theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part contains information about anatomy of the trapezius muscle and its myofascial pathology. Author further discusses trigger points, their histopathology and diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. A significant section of the theoretical part explains the physical principle of ultrasound therapy and laser phototherapy, including clinical aspects and their use in the treatment of trigger points. The practical part is focused on comparing the efficacy and relative effectiveness of two methods of physical therapy - ultrasound therapy and laser phototherapy, where myofascial trigger points treatment effect can be expected. Research group is made up of 47 patients divided into two groups. These patients have a doctor confirmed trigger point in the upper portion of trapezius muscle. The first group of patients is treated by exactly parametrically defined ultrasound therapy. The second group of patients is treated by specifically defined laser phototherapy. The aim of this thesis is to compare the above mentioned physical procedures in terms of subjective and objective efficacy in the treatment of trigger points and also to compare their relative effectiveness.