Huge increase in multi-user server load after recent Lucid updates

[Jorge E. Gómez]

I applied the recent (jan. 20) batch of Lucid updates (22 packages),
and am suddenly  seeing a spike in cpu and server load (around 15,
when it was closer to 1 or 2) for our server.
Top doesn't show any unusual processes taking all the cpu, but regular
apps like evolution and firefox now claim 10-30% regularly.

Updated kernel is 2.6.32-27-generic-pae.
Other possible culprits are updated versions of: dbus, xserver-common

Any hints about what could be going on?

-- 
Jorge E. Gómez
http://jorgee.net