An analysis associating the presence of Claviceps purpurea in grassland with the incidence of type 1 diabetes.

We introduce our paper by briefly outlining how we came to the conclusion that neurons in the brain and cells in other tissues can be killed by high intracellular concentrations of calcium ions (Ca(2+)). The life cycle of Claviceps purpurea is then described before theoretical information is drawn upon which indicates that ergot alkaloids can inactivate alpha adrenergic receptors for noradrenaline released from sympathetic nerve terminals. We deduce that inhibition of these receptors by ergot alkaloids leads to an increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration which can cause the death of the insulin producing cells of the pancreas.

Malnutrition as the cause of variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease.

The evidence used to support the hypothesis that variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (vCJD) is caused by eating meat from cattle infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is unconvincing. It is postulated in this paper that the morphological symptoms of both diseases are caused by high concentrations of intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)); that in cattle the problem results from the ingestion of grass that contains mycotoxins, and in humans it results from the consumption of a diet abnormally low in protein.

A biochemical theory to explain the cause of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and other encephalopathies.

The purpose of this study is to present a hypothesis to explain the aetiology of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) which is more credible than any at present available, and to increase its credibility by varying the hypothesis to supply explanations for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and certain other conditions. The method used has been to utilize material from biochemical textbooks and similar sources. It has been concluded that BSE is caused by the failure to synthesize sufficient cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), with the result that neurons die because they are no longer able to prevent the entry of toxic quantities of calcium ions into their cytoplasm. Several causes for the failure to synthesize sufficient cGMP have been identified; these involve selenium and folate deficiencies, and problems with the availability of nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NAD). It is proposed that BSE is initiated by a combination of selenium deficiency and the destruction of NAD by a bacterial toxin of the same type as causes cholera, that folate deficiency is the predominant cause of Alzheimer's disease, and that the failure to synthesize sufficient tetrahydrobiopterin and cGMP from guanosine triphosphate results in Parkinson's disease.

The West Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Initiative: practicum training for a new marketplace.

CONTEXT: Occupational medicine practice has experienced a shift from larger corporate medical departments to organizations providing services for a variety of industries. Specific training needs will accompany this shift in practice patterns; these may differ from those developed in the traditional industrial or corporate medical department setting. METHODS: The West Virginia Occupational Health and Safety Initiative involves occupational medicine residents in consultation to a variety of small industries and businesses. It uses the expertise of occupational physicians, health and safety extension faculty, and faculty in engineering and industrial hygiene. Residents participate in multidisciplinary evaluations of worksites, and develop competencies in team-building, workplace health and safety evaluation, and occupational medical consulting. OUTCOME MEASURES: Specific competencies that address requirements for practicum training are used to measure the trainee's acquisition of knowledge and skills. Particular attention is paid to the acquisition of group problem-solving expertise, skills relevant to the current market in practice opportunities, and the specific career interests of the resident physician. Preliminary evaluation indicates the usefulness of training in evaluation of diverse industries and worksites. CONCLUSIONS: We offer this program as a training model that can prepare residents for the challenges of a changing marketplace for occupational health and safety services.

A discussion of the relationship between selenium, thyroxine, and indigestion.

The manner in which wheat is grown affects its selenium content. When wheat which is low in seleno-methionine is poorly digested it is probable that a shortage of seleno-methionine will depress the activity of deiodinases and produce the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

A speculative discussion of some problems arising from the use of ammonium nitrate fertiliser on acid soil.

Some personal farming experiences are described, and attention is drawn to four anomalies associated with the use of ammonium nitrate. These can be explained if the changes that took place in the formulation of fertilisers around 1960 have led to acidic soils becoming depleted in calcium, and if crops growing in high nitrogen conditions take up their nitrogen as ammonium. It is concluded that the fertiliser recommendations that have been formulated at Rothamsted are unsuitable for use upon acidic soils in wetter parts of the UK because they result in the soil becoming excessively anaerobic so that the balance of nutrients becomes unsuitable for optimal plant and animal growth.