The occurrence of multiple sclerosis in the Hutterites of North America.

OBJECTIVE: To report the occurrence, clinical characteristics and genealogical analysis of multiple sclerosis in the Hutterites of North-Western United States and Western Canada. BACKGROUND: The incidence of multiple sclerosis is reported to be lower or rare in certain ethnic groups and genetic isolates and was previously observed to be absent in the Hutterite population. METHODS: After long-term surveillance, six patients were identified and clinical examinations and laboratory investigations including VER and MRI were completed. RESULTS: The six cases included two brothers, two first cousins, male and female, another male and female, all representing two of the three endogamous groups of Hutterites, are linked to two common ancestors through lines of descent dating to 1723. The individual pedigrees were analyzed from extensive genealogical records covering eight generations. CONCLUSION: The incidence of multiple sclerosis in Hutterites is low in a high risk area of North America. A specific mode of inheritance pattern has not been established and a common founder effect may play a role in the development of multiple sclerosis. The genetic contribution of the Hutterites seems greater than previously recognized.

Photoorientation, motility and pigmentation in a freshwater peridinium affected by ultraviolet radiation.

The effects of ultraviolet radiation on orientation, motility and pigmentation were measured in the freshwater dinoflagellate, Peridinium gatunense. Histograms of the positive phototactically oriented cells showed a decrease in the degree of orientation even after short exposure times. Quantification of the orientation revealed a significant inhibition after 2 h exposure. Similarly, the percentages of motile cells and the mean linear velocity of the cells was strongly affected. UV radiation also caused a massive bleaching of the cellular pigments as shown by absorption spectra determined after increasing exposure times. The ecological consequences of these effects are discussed.

Effects of UV radiation on motility, photo-orientation and pigmentation in a freshwater Cryptomonas.

The effects of UV radiation on photo-orientation, motility and pigmentation have been studied in a freshwater Cryptomonas species. The cells show a pronounced diaphototactic orientation which is affected by UV radiation at 50 mW m-2 within about 90 min. Both the average velocity of the swimming cells and the percentage of motile cells within the population decrease within about the same exposure time. UV radiation also bleaches the cellular pigments.

Effects of solar radiation on photoorientation, motility and pigmentation in a freshwater Peridinium.

Solar radiation has a pronounced effect on photoorientation, motility and pigmentation in the freshwater dinoflagellate, Peridinium gatunense. Photoorientation (positive phototaxis) is impaired even after short exposure times and is totally inhibited after about 2.5 h. The percentage of motile cells decreases after short exposure times and after 4 h most cells are immotile. Likewise, the mean velocity decreases after an initial light-induced increase (photokinesis) under solar radiation. Solar UV-B (280-320 nm) radiation seems to be the major cause for the effects, since cutting off shorter wavelength by an ozone cuvette or WG filters prolongs the tolerated exposure times. Possible UV-B targets are the photoreceptor pigments since solar radiation causes a massive bleaching of the cells within a few hours.

[Illegal practice of medical care]. / Ein Beitrag zur unrechtmässigen Ausübung der Heilkunde.

The unlawful practice of medical science is the subject of the following article. Cases from actual practice and fundamental legislation are discussed. Whereas the practice of medical science and healing on legal basis shows a wide spectrum, the illegal one is even much more colorful.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor binding sites and oxidative metabolism in human granulocytes.

We investigated the interaction between GM-CSF and its receptor on human granulocytes and on several human tumor cell lines. Specific high-affinity binding for GM-CSF was characterized by Scatchard plot analysis. The specific radioactivity of the 125I-labeled derivative of rH. GM-CSF was determined by self-displacement analysis and calculated to be 30 microCi/micrograms. The maximum concentration of binding sites (B max) in granulocytes was 40 fmol/mg protein (2,200 molecules GM-CSF bound/cell) and the dissociation constant (KD) was 0.42 nM. No binding sites for GM-CSF were found in two lung cancer cell lines, SCLC-16HV and NCI-N417 or in the urinary bladder carcinoma cell line 5637, whereas the promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL60 was positive for GM-CSF binding. Time course experiments showed maximum binding of GM-CSF in granulocytes after an incubation period of 60 min and a decrease in binding after an incubation period of 2 h. In parallel, we found a maximum biological signal when granulocytes were preincubated for 90 min with GM-CSF, and a decrease after an incubation time of 120 min. Preincubation of the cells with rH. GM-CSF induced an enhancement of the production of activated oxygen species by the cells in response to PMA.

Epidermal growth factor receptor expression, proliferation, and colony stimulating activity production in the urinary bladder carcinoma cell line 5637.

Addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to cultures of the urinary bladder carcinoma cell line 5637 regulated proliferation and production of colony stimulating activity (CSA). The optimal concentration range of EGF for stimulation of cell proliferation was 5-20 ng/ml EGF and for production of CSA 2-20 ng/ml EGF. High EGF concentrations (100-200 ng/ml) showed inhibitory effects on proliferation and to a greater extent on CSA production. Also, EGF binding sites of high affinity (kd:3.25 nM) were demonstrated on the cell surface. In the optimal concentration range for stimulation (5-20 ng/ml EGF) EGF binding sites were occupied half-maximally. The loss in EGF binding after long incubation at 37 degrees C was prevented by the lysosomal inhibitory agent, chloroquine. Nonspecific binding of EGF was very low, the amount of maximally bound EGF was 1430 fmol/mg protein (130,000 bound EGF molecules/cell). A strong band of approximately 170,000 daltons could be detected by means of an anti-erbB serum which recognizes the EGF receptor protein. The protein became phosphorylated upon addition of gamma-32P ATP. The data suggest that EGF initiates its action by binding to specific high affinity receptors and plays a role in growth regulation and differentiation of the urinary bladder carcinoma cell line 5637.

Phototaxis and photophobic responses in Stentor coeruleus. Action spectrum and role of Ca2+ fluxes.

Negative phototactic orientation, step-up photophobic responses and light-induced action potentials have been studied in the ciliate Stentor coeruleus. A resolved action spectrum, based on fluence rate-response curves, is consistent with stentorin as the photoreceptor. Calcium flux blockers prolong the response time for ciliary stop and reversal and inhibit step-up photophobic responses. Drugs believed to affect the membrane-bound calcium pump likewise inhibit phobic responses. On the other hand, alpha-phosphatidic acid promotes Ca2+-influx and enhances the photophobic sensitivity of the organism, thus providing an unambiguous evidence for the role of Ca2+ influx. A change in the response time decreases the degree of phototactic orientation, indicating that negative phototaxis in this organism is brought about by subsequent phobic responses of individual rows of cilia as the associated photoreceptor granules experience an increase in light intensity when the organism rotates during forward locomotion in lateral light.