From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Tue Nov 01 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!daresbury!not-for-mail From: draye@gena.ucl.ac.be (Xavier DRAYE) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Extended ageing in Microchiroptera Date: 2 Nov 1994 08:21:22 -0000 Lines: 31 Sender: lpddist@mserv1.dl.ac.uk Distribution: bionet Message-ID: <397i62$d8b@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> X-Sender: draye@sci1.sri.ucl.ac.be Original-To: ageing@dl.ac.uk Sydney SHALL wrote: >RESPONSE >Is there any reason to suppose that there is a correlation between body >size and longevity? In mammals, Sacher (1978) found a functional relation between longevity and some anatomical and physiological dimensions (body size, body weight, brain size, etc). As a noticable exception, Peromyscus leucopus lives 2.5 times as long as Mus musculus, although both have similar body sizes. Sacher G.A. Evolution of longevity and survival characteristics in mammals. In: The genetics of ageing, Schneider E.L. (Ed), Plenum press, NY, 1978. Sacher G.A. and Hart R.W. Longevity, aging and the comparative cellular and molecular biology of the house mouse, Mus musculus, and the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus. In: Genetic effects on aging, Harrison D.H. (Ed), R. Liss, NY, 1977. Xavier DRAYE _______________________________________________________________________ Unite de Genetique Tel: (32) 10 473671 Universite catholique de Louvain Fax: (32) 10 473031 Croix du Sud 2/14 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve Belgium E-mail: draye@gena.ucl.ac.be _______________________________________________________________________ From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Wed Nov 02 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!daresbury!bioftp.unibas.ch!citi2.fr!jussieu.fr!cea.fr!usenet From: cisitm@albert.cad.cea.fr (Pierre Didierjean) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: *** Q: WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ON THE NET ? Date: 3 Nov 1994 16:17:01 GMT Organization: SSII Lines: 28 Sender: cisitm@albert.cad.cea.fr Message-ID: <39b2dt$9pb@anemone.saclay.cea.fr> NNTP-Posting-Host: nyassa.cad.cea.fr I'd like to know what kind of people i find on the net. Students, Commercials, Adminitrations, Scientifics or what ?? Is anybody knows that or have statistical results ? What are YOU doing in life ? I am a system administrator. Thanks for the answers and sorry for my english ..... Bye +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pierre DIDIERJEAN | | | | Administrateur Systeme UNIX | | Cisi, Aix-en-Provence | | France | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | email : cisitm@albert.cad.cea.fr | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Wed Nov 02 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!galaxy.ucr.edu!library.ucla.edu!agate!dog.ee.lbl.gov!overload.lbl.gov!lll-winken.llnl.gov!uwm.edu!news.alpha.net!news.mathworks.com!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!mehalek From: mehalek@teal.csn.org (Stephen Mehalek) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing,sci.life-extension Subject: CR side meeting at the AAMBT2010 conference Date: 3 Nov 1994 19:32:52 GMT Organization: Colorado SuperNet, Inc. Lines: 27 Message-ID: <39bdt4$lsg@burgundy.csn.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: 199.117.27.22 Xref: biosci bionet.molbio.ageing:996 sci.life-extension:2597 I have been practicing Caloric Restriction (CR) for the last 4 years, and I will be attending the "2nd Annual Conference on Anti-Aging Medicine & Biomedical Technology" in Las Vegas (Dec 4-6). I think this would be a good time to start the foundations of a CR Society. I know of at least on other CR practioner who would like to hold a small side meeting at the Conference dedicated to CR and forming a CR society. I suspect a number of other CR practioners, among them Dr. Walford, will be attending. If you are interested in meeting with other CR practioners at the Conference or forming a CR Society, please send your email address to mehalek@csn.org. I will be the defacto coordinator for scheduling the CR side meeting(s) at the Conference, I'll will query all of you for the best initial time and place. All email addresses will be kept confidential. Stephen Mehalek -- Stephen Mehalek mehalek@csn.org From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Thu Nov 03 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!URIACC.URI.EDU!DPEARL From: DPEARL@URIACC.URI.EDU Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: *** Q: WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ON THE NET ? Date: 3 Nov 1994 16:30:22 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 5 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <199411040030.QAA19382@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net To Pierre Didierjean, as to what kind of people are on the net: On trouve ici toutes sortes de gens, Di'jean, j'en suis sur, ici comme en Suisse sur. Dan Pearlman From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Thu Nov 03 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!rutgers!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news2.near.net!news.delphi.com!usenet From: jarice@delphi.com Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Extended ageing in Microchiroptera Date: Thu, 3 Nov 94 20:01:17 -0500 Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice) Lines: 29 Message-ID: References: <397i62$d8b@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: bos1f.delphi.com X-To: Xavier DRAYE Xavier DRAYE writes: >>RESPONSE >>Is there any reason to suppose that there is a correlation between body >>size and longevity? > >In mammals, Sacher (1978) found a functional relation between longevity and >some anatomical and physiological dimensions (body size, body weight, brain >size, etc). As a noticable exception, Peromyscus leucopus lives 2.5 times >as long as Mus musculus, although both have similar body sizes. The correlation between body size and maximum life span potential (mlp) was studied in a paper entitled "Antioxidants and Aging", by Richard G Cutler, Am J Clin Nutr 1991;53:373S-9S. Quoting from the abstract, "...a positive correlation in the tissue concentration of specific antioxidants with life span of mammals was found. These antioxidants include superoxide dismutase, carotenoids, vitamin E, and uric acid." The paper included many graphs showing different mammals levels of antioxidants vs life span. Most animals with low levels of antioxidants were small animals. There were numerous exceptions to the proposed correlation between body size and longeveity. Example: horses and cows are larger than humans yet live less than half as long. I think any observed trend toward larger body size leading to longer life is secondary to plasma antioxidant level. Jim Rice From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Fri Nov 04 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!FREENET.COLUMBUS.OH.US!acaudy From: acaudy@FREENET.COLUMBUS.OH.US (Amy Caudy) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Free Radicals- where should I go? Date: 5 Nov 1994 14:13:20 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 24 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net I am a high school student. After a science fair project treating poultry projects with NaClO to kill bacteria, I became very interested in free radical reactions. I developed an experiment where I tested the effect of the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system on plasmid pBR322. I sucessfully (and unknowingly) duplicated M. Rozenberg-Arska et. al.'s work published in the Journal of General Microbiology 131,3325-3330 -- in 1985 =( I learned that I should have gone back more than 5 years in my journal search (access to Biosis or Medline or any such thing is difficult for me) but I still want to continue my work. I have been looking at the xanthine-xo system on viruses, but those protein coats are tough stuff. (It is still interesting, though, because of the immune system implications.) Anyway, I have considered purifying flavanoids from various foods and using them in my DNA system to see how they affect the time-loss of transformation curve. However, I know little about flavanoid metabolism in the body. Do they cross the nuclear membrane? Is there any flavanoid interaction with DNA? Am I totally off base? Also, how would I determine appropriate flavanoid concentrations? I realize that I would be examining a mixture of compounds, but there has certainly been debate that Vitamin A, C, and E are not the enterity of our dietary protectants. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions that anyone might have. Thank you very much. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sat Nov 05 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!cville-srv.wam.umd.edu!theoblit From: theoblit@wam.umd.edu (M.D. Lover) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Request: Information on Current Research Date: 6 Nov 1994 03:55:30 GMT Organization: University of Maryland College Park Lines: 33 Message-ID: <39hk3i$2bh@cville-srv.wam.umd.edu> References: <393jh0$ed4@quartz.ucs.ualberta.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: rac3.wam.umd.edu X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL0] Alec Oskin (ooskin@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca) wrote: : Does anyone have a list of labs currently working in this field (i.e. : telomerase characterization / function) and what, specifically these labs : are doing? I would appreciate it if you could either post such a list : here or e-mail me directly. Also, can anyone recommend any : reviews/current papers that would bring me "up to par" on the research : being done in this field. This is just a repost of what Suresh Rattan was nice enough to write: >Sender: lpddist@mserv1.dl.ac.uk >Once again there h ve been enquiries about some basic information about >telomeres. For those of you who want to have a very general introduction >to telomere research and progress, a well-written simple article by a >science-journalist Jean Marx is available in the journal SCIENCE, vol. 265, >pp 1656, issue dated 16 September 1994, titled CHROMOSOME ENDS CATCH FIRE. .. >Wish you a good reading. .. >In the previous posting, I forgot to mention two more interesting >write-ups on telomeres: >1, by T.R. Cech in SCIENCE, vol. 266, pp 387, 21st October 1994 issue: giving >enough background and discussing the publication of a paper in the same >issue of SCIENCE, pp 404 reporting the discovery of the gene for >telomerase RNA in the yeast. > >These two papers should bring any one up-to-date in telomere research. >Wishing you good reading, >Suresh Rattan/Aarhus/Denmark Hope that helps. --Jason Taylor From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sat Nov 05 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!athena.mit.edu!naustria From: naustria@athena.mit.edu (Nicanor R. Austriaco Jr.) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: lipofuscin Date: 6 Nov 1994 19:50:47 GMT Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lines: 10 Distribution: world Message-ID: <39jc2n$h89@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU> NNTP-Posting-Host: m66-080-6.mit.edu Keywords: lipofuscin, aging pigment Hello, I have recently been reading a lot about lipofuscin - the ubiquitous aging pigment which is found in many aging organisms. What is the most up-to-date info. on the content of this pigment and its source? I heard somewhere that a large fraction of the pigment was made up of a component of the mitochondrial ATP synthase. Is this correct? Nick Austriaco naustria@mit.edu From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sun Nov 06 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!REDVAX1.DGSCA.UNAM.MX!caviedes From: caviedes@REDVAX1.DGSCA.UNAM.MX (Caviedes Contreras Francisco-EST) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Hipertention and Krebs cicle Date: 6 Nov 1994 16:54:31 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 5 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Hi Does anyone have information about Krebs cicle and hipertention? any information will be appreciated Best regards Francisco From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sun Nov 06 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!Oberon.HSC.Colorado.edu!BRUCKLIER-J From: BRUCKLIER-J@Oberon.HSC.Colorado.edu ("John Brucklier") Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: subscribe Date: 7 Nov 1994 15:45:59 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 1 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net subscribe ageing From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sun Nov 06 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!Germany.EU.net!news.dfn.de!news.belwue.de!zib-berlin.de!workm6!bzbkowal From: bzbkowal@workm6.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Axel Kowald) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Extended ageing in Microchiroptera Date: 7 Nov 1994 11:29:19 GMT Organization: Konrad-Zuse-Zentrum fuer Informationstechnik Berlin Lines: 26 Distribution: world Message-ID: <39l32f$hk1@newsserv.zib-berlin.de> References: <9410260221.AA08400@possum.murdoch.edu.au> NNTP-Posting-Host: workm6.zib-berlin.de Well, back to the original question of Jim Cummins In article <9410260221.AA08400@possum.murdoch.edu.au>, cummins@POSSUM.MURDOCH.EDU.AU (Dr Jim Cummins) writes: |> A recent report in a local journal (Tideman, CR "Meat Markets and Chastity |> Belts" Australian Natural History 1994 p 66-67) suggests that |> Microchiropteran bats, with body masses equivalent to mice, can |> nevertheless live more than 30 years. |> |> (1) Does anyone in this group know of active research on ageing in bats; |> |> (2) Any ideas as to the possible mechanism(s)? |> According to the 'Disposable Soma' theory of Tom Kirkwood, the optimal life-span for a species has something to do with the environmental risk of the ecological niche the species has occupied. The safer the environment the higher the optimal life-span. According to this the explanation would be: bats (and birds) have a lower environmental risk compared to similar sized on the ground living mammals (they can fly). Therefore they have evolved a longer lifespan. ... simple, isn't it ? Axel Kowald From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sun Nov 06 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!POSSUM.MURDOCH.EDU.AU!cummins From: cummins@POSSUM.MURDOCH.EDU.AU (Dr Jim Cummins) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: lipofuscin Date: 6 Nov 1994 18:31:33 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 56 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <9411070235.AA28268@possum.murdoch.edu.au> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Hi: > I have recently been reading a lot about lipofuscin - the ubiquitous >aging pigment which is found in many aging organisms. What is the most >up-to-date >info. on the content of this pigment and its source? I heard somewhere that >a large fraction of the pigment was made up of a component of the mitochondrial >ATP synthase. Is this correct? This is an intriguing suggestion but I haven't come across any corroborating evidence. Do you have a reference to this? Lipofuscins are a range of fluorescent lipopigments. The following turned up in a Current Contents search:- VONZGLINICKI T (Reprint) AU - BRUNK UT AD - CHARITE BERLIN, INST PATHOL, SCHUMANNSTR 20-21, D-10117 BERLIN, GERMANY (Reprint). UNIV LINKOPING, INST PATHOL, LINKOPING, SWEDEN SO - ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GERONTOLOGIE 1993 JUL-AUG;26(4):215-220 AB - Oxygen-derived free radicals may result from various reactions, both intra- and extracellularly, but generation of oxygen free radicals from electrons escaping from the electron transport chain in mitochondria is by far the predominant process during the lifetime of a normal'', healthy cell. There is clear evidence that mitochondria are also an important target for oxygen-derived free radicals, and the resulting mitochondrial malfunction has long been suggested as the intracellular basis of aging. Moreover, there is clear evidence that free radical-dependent reactions lead to lipofuscin formation and its accumulation in Lysomes of post-mitotic cells. Lipofuscin accumulation was demonstrated to be dependent on the probability of iron-catalyzed Fenton reactions. A hypothesis is presented which assumes free radical dependent reactions in mitochondria and lysosomes to be interdependent. Production of hydrogen peroxide in mitochondria and its subsequent diffusion in the cytoplasm, and Fenton reactions in lysosomes, transferring hydrogen peroxide intralysosomally to the highly cytotoxic hydroxyl radical, are thought to be necessary intermediary steps in the generation of mitochondrial damage. On the other hand, damage to mitochondria increases both mitochondrial output of hydrogen peroxide and lipofuscin accumulation. Yours, virtually:- Jim "Spermatology rules o~ o~ o~ o~" Cummins Associate Professor in Veterinary Anatomy Murdoch University, Murdoch Western Australia 6150 Tel +61-9-360 2668 Fax +61-9-310 4144 E mail cummins@possum.murdoch.edu.au From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sun Nov 06 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!Oberon.HSC.Colorado.edu!BRUCKLIER-J From: BRUCKLIER-J@Oberon.HSC.Colorado.edu ("John Brucklier") Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: subscribe Date: 7 Nov 1994 15:54:08 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 1 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net subscribe From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Wed Nov 09 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!Germany.EU.net!netmbx.de!zrz.TU-Berlin.DE!math.fu-berlin.de!cs.tu-berlin.de!kaikuh From: kaikuh@cs.tu-berlin.de (Kai) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Genetic Engineering Date: 10 Nov 1994 11:15:39 GMT Organization: Technical University of Berlin, Germany Lines: 26 Message-ID: <39svcr$ee2@news.cs.tu-berlin.de> NNTP-Posting-Host: manelaq.cs.tu-berlin.de Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Summary: Genetic Engineering Keywords: Genetic Engineering Hello out there, ================ I don't know if this is the right group to post but I have the following problem: a friend of mine will have to read a report on genetic engineering in a few weeks. Unfortunately she does not have access to the Internet; thus she asked me to post some questions here because she has to mention something about the United States. She would like to know something of the party platform both of the democrats and of the republicans, concerning genetic engineering and its laws in the USA. Furthermore she would appreciate it to get some statements of the economy/ business/trade and industry. It would be great if anyone was able to send me some articles, drafts etc. or just some information where we can find something like that (e-mail preferred). Thank you very much in advance, Kai -- ,,, (o o) -------------------------------oOO--(_)--OOo----------------------------- Make it as easy as possible, but not easier! kaikuh@cs.tu-berlin.de From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Fri Nov 11 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!sunserver.insinc.net!cato.Direct.CA!hookup!nic.hookup.net!sgaran.hookup.net!login_name From: login_name@hookup.net Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: The WWW site for biological aging and the Museum of Natural History Date: Sat, 12 Nov 1994 17:10:42 GMT Organization: HookUp Communication Corporation, Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA Lines: 56 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: sgaran.hookup.net Keywords: WWW, aging, Museum of Natural History X-Newsreader: Trumpet for Windows [Version 1.0 Rev A] I maintain the WWW site for aging and on November the 9th I recieved an E-Mail from the Museum of Natural History in New York City. The Museum plans to include the information about the site in an upcoming news letter. I would like to ask the people who are doing research in the field of biological aging if they would like to include there lab on the WWW site. People who look at the site will be able to see where the lab is, what type of research is being done, who the members of the lab are, etc. A copy of the E-Mail is provided below: Return-Path: dan@www.itp.tsoa.nyu.edu Date: Wed, 9 Nov 94 22:35:35 -0500 From: dan Sender: windeatr@www.itp.tsoa.nyu.edu To: sgaran@hookup.net Subject: http://www.hookup.net/mall/aging/agesit59.html X-Url: http://www.hookup.net/mall/aging/agesit59.html I saw yr page after starting research for a project i am doing with the Museum of Natural History in NYC. I am the Managing Editor of the Electronic Newspaper at the museum. Our next issue(january) will have a feature piece on Aging. The Newspaper is available via kiosk in the Hall of Human Biology and evolution. I just wanted to make contact at this early stage to see if you might wish to participate in some way... Thanks and please feel free to email me. dan END OF LETTER ________________________________________ If you have not seen our WWW site as yet please feel free to use it, the address is: http://www.hookup.net/mall/aging/agesit59.html Please send any details about your lab to Steven A. Garan, my E-Mail address is sgaran@hookup.net Best Regards From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sun Nov 13 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!swrinde!pipex!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!dundee.ac.uk!NewsWatcher From: k.c.breen@dundee.ac.uk Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Lectureship Followup-To: bionet.molbio.ageing Date: 12 Nov 1994 12:13:26 GMT Organization: University of Dundee Lines: 27 Distribution: world Message-ID: <3a2bh6$fnp@dux.dundee.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: 134.36.198.60 Fixed-Term Lectureship in Pharmacology Applications are invited for a Lectureship in Pharmacology at the University of Dundee, Scotland, tenable from 1st January 1995. The appointment will be made on a fixed-term basis for a period of three years. The candidate will join a Department with a strong interest in Neuroscience and will be expected to undertake an vigorous independent programme of research. Applicants with an interest in the molecular basis of neurodegeneration or glycobiology are particularly invited to apply. The successful candidate will be encouraged to interact with a dynamic research group with interests in these fields. The appointee will also be expected to undertake general teaching duties for students of science and pre-clinical medical students. Salary will be commensurate with experience and will be on the lecturer A scale (£14,756-£19326). Informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr. Kieran Breen at +44-1382-633900 ext. 2522 (E-mail: k.c.breen@dundee.ac.uk). CV (3 copies) together with the names and addresses of 3 referees should be sent to Personnel Services, The University, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, U.K. quoting ref: est/16/45. The university is an Equal Opportunities Employer. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sun Nov 13 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!daresbury!not-for-mail From: geriatri@c220.unimo.it (Alessandro Pirani) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Subscribe Date: 14 Nov 1994 11:16:23 -0000 Lines: 1 Sender: lpddist@mserv1.dl.ac.uk Distribution: bionet Message-ID: <3a7gu7$12e@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> Original-To: ageing@dl.ac.uk Subscribe ageing@daresbury.ac.uk Prof. Salvioli From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Nov 14 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!udel!news.sprintlink.net!pipex!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!daresbury!not-for-mail From: Graham Pawelec Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Meeting: Molecular bases of immunosenescence Date: 15 Nov 1994 12:25:23 -0000 Lines: 42 Sender: lpddist@mserv1.dl.ac.uk Distribution: bionet Message-ID: <3aa9bj$lfe@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> Original-To: "bionet discussion group imm. & ageing" , immuno@dl.ac.uk FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT The second EUCAMBIS International Meeting on the Molecular Biology of Immunosenescence will take place at the Max-Planck Institutes Campus in Tuebingen, Southern Germany, from 30.3. - 2.4.1995. EUCAMBIS (European Union Concerted Action on the Molecular Biology of Immunosenescence) consists of a small group of cellular immunogerontologists and molecular biologists interested in the ageing of T cells and NK cells in the human system (see previous posting to the newsgroup). The EUCAMBIS core participants will speak during the plenary session of the meeting. They are: Carlo Bartoloni, Rome Kurt Schaudt, Tuebingen Gerard Ligthart, Leiden Erminia Mariani, Bologne Chris Paraskeva, Bristol Graham Pawelec, Tuebingen Sydney Shall, Brighton Rafael Solana, Cordoba Malcolm Taylor, Manchester Vincenzo Sorrentino, Milan In addition, a number of other invited speakers will be present, and free communications from those interested in participating are welcome (abstract deadline 15th February 1995). Total number of participants will be limited to ca. 50. Further details on the development of this program are available on request by E-mail at pawelec@mailserv.zdv.uni-tuebingen.de or after 1.1.1995 at graham.pawelec@uni-tuebingen.de We hope to see some of you in the attractive old University City of Tuebingen for this meeting in the Spring! Graham Pawelec, Coordinator, EUCAMBIS From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Fri Nov 18 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!msuinfo!netnews.upenn.edu!netnews.CC.Lehigh.EDU!ns1.CC.Lehigh.EDU!not-for-mail From: x011@ns1.CC.Lehigh.EDU Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Gold and aging? Date: 19 Nov 1994 13:57:09 -0500 Organization: Lehigh University Lines: 5 Message-ID: <3alhq5$1hmb@ns1.CC.Lehigh.EDU> NNTP-Posting-Host: ns1.cc.lehigh.edu A lot of my relatives live in Ruby, South Carolina. Gold is currently being striped mined. Most of the people are given the comment don't you ever age? Could gold be a reason for their long life. Ron Blue From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sun Nov 20 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!spool.mu.edu!caen!msuinfo!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!news.uwa.edu.au!newsman.csu.murdoch.edu.au!Jim.Cummins From: cummins@possum.murdoch.edu.au (Jim Cummins) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: mt DNA inheritance Date: 21 Nov 1994 06:24:43 GMT Organization: Murdoch University, Western Australia Lines: 27 Sender: -Not-Authenticated-[6523] Message-ID: <3apefbINNakb@newsman.csu.murdoch.edu.au> NNTP-Posting-Host: vetmac3.csu.murdoch.edu.au X-Posted-From: InterNews 1.0@newsman.csu.murdoch.edu.au. Xdisclaimer: No attempt was made to authenticate the sender's name. According to Hurst (Proc R Soc B 128: 135-140, 1992) uniparental inheritance of mitochondrial DNA has evolved as a means of avoiding potentially lethal intragenomic conflict. Another possibility is the limitation of mtDNA mutations. In human females, there's an estimated 24 cell divisions between zygote and egg, whereas for males the number of precursor cell divisions is around 36 for sperm produced at puberty, increasing at a constant rate of 23 per year. Thus the sperm produced by a 45-year old man have been through c. 770 cell divisions, with a concomitant increase in the rate of mutations. This undoubtedly underlies the well-known disproportionate contributions of male parents to mutations (first pointed out by Haldane: Ann Eugen 13: 262-271, 1947). As the mitochondrial DNA mutates c 10x faster than nuclear DNA, the effect is likely to be even more disproportionate. As the average nuclear DNA mutation causes about 2% reduction in fitness, it seems that the effects of any paternal mitochondrial DNA inheritance would be rapid and lethal. Of course, this argument can't apply to those organisms (eg Sequoia) where paternal inheritance of mtDNA is the rule. However, in these cases there may be different patterns of mitotic proliferation leading up to meiosis. Anyone know? Jim "I refuse to have a signature" Cummins School of Veterinary Studies Murdoch University Western Australia 6150 Tel +61-9-360 2668 Fax +61-9-310 4144 E-mail cummins@possum.murdoch.edu.au From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Nov 21 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!EU.net!uunet!zib-berlin.de!fauern!news.th-darmstadt.de!news From: dh7y@.pop.th-darmstadt.de (Inst. f. Biochemistry) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Apoptosis vio flow-cytometry?? Date: 22 Nov 1994 15:19:16 GMT Organization: TH Darmstadt Lines: 18 Message-ID: <3at25k$148g@rs18.hrz.th-darmstadt.de> NNTP-Posting-Host: bc3.bc.chemie.th-darmstadt.de X-Newsreader: WinVN 0.90.6 Hello world! In the moment I´m working on the exciting field of apoptosis. I´m trying to detect a small amount of apoptotic cells and I can use a flow cytometer. I tried some techniques to detect the apoptotic cells as mentioned in several papers (ethanol fixation and DAPI-staining afterwards) but I still wasn´t succesful to detect the apoptotic cells. Is there anybody working on a similar problem and is able to give me some useful hints or another good method? I think of another method as well, the DNA end labeling. Are there some good hints as well or can I use the protocols descirpted in papers by Gavrieli (Journal of Cell Biol.) or Gorczyca (Cytometry) or Hotz (Cytometry). I thank everybody for useful hints because in the moment I´m a little bit frustrated. Gangolf Schrimpf e-mail: dh7y@pop.th-darmstadt.de From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Tue Nov 22 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!uchinews!apollo!jerikse From: jerikse@news.luc.edu (Jason L. Eriksen) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Gold and aging? Date: 22 Nov 1994 18:56:13 GMT Organization: Loyola University of Chicago Lines: 7 Message-ID: <3atesd$p39@apollo.it.luc.edu> References: <3alhq5$1hmb@ns1.CC.Lehigh.EDU> NNTP-Posting-Host: bsd.meddean.luc.edu X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] x011@ns1.CC.Lehigh.EDU wrote: : A lot of my relatives live in Ruby, South Carolina. Gold is currently : being striped mined. Most of the people are given the comment don't : you ever age? Could gold be a reason for their long life. Uh, don't think so. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Wed Nov 23 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!sjubiol.stjohns.edu!rick From: rick@sjubiol.stjohns.edu (Richard Lockshin) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Apoptosis vio flow-cytometry?? Date: 23 Nov 1994 20:40:49 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 8 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <9411231418.AA06576@sjubiol.stjohns.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net For end labeling, try the Apoptag kit (Oncor). Although it has some ability to pick up DNA repair, it generally is pretty good for in situ end labeling. For chemical end labeling, see paper by Zakeri....Lockshin in FASEB J, 1993 and references cited therein. Richard A. Lockshin Dept. Biol. Sci. St. John's U. 8000 Utopia Pkwy Jamaica NY 11439 USA/Phone 718: 990-1854/ Fax 718: 380-8543 From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Thu Nov 24 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!malgudi.oar.net!mercury.wright.edu!desire!s006sef From: s006sef@desire.wright.edu Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: ha just playin with ya Message-ID: <1994Nov24.235616.28593@desire> Date: 24 Nov 94 23:56:16 EST Organization: Wright State University Lines: 12 hello i am a fool just trying this information highway stuff out cool dudes jammin' ok cold out see ya now peace From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Fri Nov 25 22:00:00 1994 Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!swrinde!sgiblab!sgigate.sgi.com!enews.sgi.com!decwrl!tribune.usask.ca!quartz.ucs.ualberta.ca!mercury.arc.ab.ca!skyler.arc.ab.ca!morgan From: morgan@skyler.arc.ab.ca Subject: Current odds of Immortality by 2050 at 30 to 49% Message-ID: <785806366.173571@skyler.arc.ab.ca> Sender: news@arc.ab.ca (USENET News System) Nntp-Posting-Host: skyler.arc.ab.ca Organization: Alberta Research Council Date: Fri, 25 Nov 1994 23:32:46 GMT Lines: 43 The full description of this claim is as follows: The death rate (per hundred thousand persons) will drop by 90%, relative to 1994, in any year through 2050. The measurement population is people in the United States, who are at least one year old. Persons in suspended animation (or cryonic suspension, reduced metabolism, etc.), if they are expected to remain suspended for a month or more, count as dead while suspended; they are omitted from the calculation after the year of "death". This claim will be judged 12/31/2053. The odds shown in the subject line are the consensus of participants in an Idea Futures market (the two prices are the buy and sell prices for 'funny money' bets). You can learn more about this market by pointing your world wide web browser to http://skyler.arc.ab.ca/~morgan/IF/IF.shtml To participate in the market, a web browser with forms support is mandatory (e.g., Mosaic2alpha or later, Lynx). Instructions for accessing the web (including email and plain text browsers) are in the WWW FAQ, posted to news.answers, and the various comp.infosystems.www groups. The current odds for all questions on the market are as follows: $Cdn [misc] 25 - 87% Cdn$ below $.65 US by June 95 3SAT [sci] 35 - 40% Good 3SAT Algorithm by 2020 Am30 [misc] 20 - 40% 30 amends. to US Const by 2000 CFsn [sci] 8 - 15% Cold Fusion Canc [sci] 30 - 40% Cancer Cured by 2010 Cryo [sci] 15 - 19% Cryonics Catches On by 2000 Ferm [sci] 1 - 70% Fermat's Last Theorem resolved Immo [sci] 30 - 49% Immortality by 2050 Moon [sci] 30 - 36% Moonbase by 2025 Neut [sci] 15 - 25% Neutrino mass >0 QueS [misc] 15 - 25% Quebec separation SLvl [sci] 15 - 25% 1 m rise in Sea Level SSTO [sci] 25 - 30% Single Stage to Orbit Stew [sci] 13 - 15% Nanotech Stewart platform Terr [misc] 45 - 46% Nuke capable Terrorists Time [sci] 5 - 15% Time Travel Univ [sci] 14 - 30% Eventual Collapse of Universe Full descriptions and conditions of these claims are available at http://skyler.arc.ab.ca/~morgan/IF/claim.shtml This message is automatically posted to this newsgroup on a quarterly basis From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Nov 28 22:00:00 1994 Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Path: biosci!rutgers!gatech!swrinde!pipex!uunet!zib-berlin.de!news.th-darmstadt.de!terra.wiwi.uni-frankfurt.de!zeus.rbi.informatik.uni-frankfurt.de!news.dfn.de!scsing.switch.ch!swidir.switch.ch!news.unige.ch!NewsWatcher!user From: lhuber@sc2a.unige.ch (Lukas A. Huber) Subject: Re: Apoptosis vio flow-cytometry?? Message-ID: Sender: usenet@news.unige.ch Organization: University of Geneva, Dept. Biochemistry References: <3at25k$148g@rs18.hrz.th-darmstadt.de> Date: Tue, 29 Nov 1994 16:56:53 GMT Lines: 13 contact george Wick , University of Innsbruck Austria, tel +43-512-507-3100, he is a leading expertz on that. best Lukas A. Huber OFFICE: Département de Biochimie Université de Genève, Sciences II 30, quai Ernest-Ansermet 1211 Genève 4 FAX: +41 22 702 6464 PH: +41 22 702 6467 (office), +41 22 702 6468 (lab) e-mail: LHUBER@sc2a.unige.ch From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Wed Nov 30 22:00:00 1994 Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Path: biosci!rutgers!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uknet!cix.compulink.co.uk!not-for-post From: mrobert@cix.compulink.co.uk ("Maurice Robert") Subject: Longevity genes? Message-ID: Organization: Phase 1 Date: Thu, 1 Dec 1994 11:51:52 GMT X-News-Software: Ameol Lines: 9 It appears that longevity runs in some families just as the tendency to suffer the diseases that shorten life runs in others. Do people who live long have healthier versions of the genes which, in others, increase the risk of vascular disease, cancer etc? Or is there evidence that people that are still healthy in their 90's have a range of genes which equip them to live longer? Can anyone supply references of reviews on this? Lesley Newson From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Wed Nov 30 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!rutgers!uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uknet!daresbury!not-for-mail From: Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: BIOTECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE - PRAGUE 1995 Date: 1 Dec 1994 10:20:38 -0000 Lines: 348 Sender: lpddist@mserv1.dl.ac.uk Distribution: bionet Message-ID: <3bk81m$hl9@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> X-Mts: smtp X-Char-Esc: 29 X-Charset: ASCII Original-To: admin-l@albnydh2.bitnet, ageing@dl.ac.uk, clan@frmop11.bitnet, cocamed@utoronto.bitnet, health-L@irlearn.bitnet, lpn-l@brownvm.bitnet, mbtm@decsys.lf3.cuni.cz, medinf-l@dearn.bitnet, pharm@dmu.ac.uk, telemed@leon.nrcps.ariadne-T.gr, wmn-hlth@uwavm.bitnet +*************************************************************+ * * * M E D I C A L B I O T E C H N O L O G Y * * * * T O W A R D S T H E M I L L E N I U M * * * * WORLD CONFERENCE * * * * held * * * * September 5-8, 1995 in Prague, Czech Republic * * * * * * * 1st Announcement * * * * * Plenary lectures Papers Short Papers * * Panel Discussions Symposia Demonstrations Posters * * * +*************************************************************+ ---------- INVITATION ---------- World Conference Medical Biotechnology towards the Millenium is an international meeting, organized by the 3rd Medical Faculty of Charles Universityin Prague, Biocon Ltd. and partially supported by governmental and non-governmental organizations. This conference serves as a multi-disciplinary forum for the dissemination of information on the research, development and applications on all topics related to medical biotechnology. We invite you cordially to attend the Conference and submit proposals for papers, panels and demonstrations/posters. All proposals will be reviewed for inclusion to the conference program. ------------------ Scientific Program ------------------ The preliminary program outlines are as follows: PLENARY LECTURES ---------------- * impact of the modern biotechnology to medicine * research development and research tools * diseases of important socio-economic impact * overlapping of medical biotechnology with other fields of biotechnology SYMPOSIA -------- * gene therapy * advanced informatics in medicine * new drugs and antibiotics * diagnostics * artificial organs * futuristic aspects (ageing, neurobiomedicine, cancer, AIDS, vaccines) PANEL DISCUSSIONS ----------------- * link between fundamental research and medical applications * political and economic aspects of medical biotechnology * legal and social aspects of medical biotechnology ------------------------ Date, Venue and Language ------------------------ The Conference Medical Biotechnology toward the Millenium (MBTM) will be held from 5-8 September 1995 at the Hotel Atrium, Prague, Czech Republic. The official language of the Conference will be English. -------------------------- Information for Presenters -------------------------- Details of presentation formats are given on the following pages. The general principles applying to all are: o All communication will be with the principal presenters who are responsible for communicating with co-presenters of a particular session. o The conference will attempt to provide with all equipments needed for presenters. However, where special equipment is needed, presenters may be asked to provide it on their own. o All presenters must pay the registration fee. Proceedings ----------- Accepted papers will be publishedin proceedings. In addition, selected papers may be invited for publication in the topics-related Journals and/or in a book to be published by a major international publisher. Exhibition ---------- Exhibits are expected to be an integral part of the conference. The exhibition will give companies and research institutions the opportunity to present their activities, specific know how and biotechniology products associated with the issues of the Conference. Companies or institutions interested are invited to complete and return the Request for Information form below. ---------------------------------- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ---------------------------------- * Prof.C.Hoeschl,M.D., Chairman Dean of the 3rd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Czech Republic * Prof.F.T.de Dombal, University of Leeds, United Kingdom * Prof.L.Ernster, Stockholm University, Sweden * Prof.D.Loisance, Faculte de Medicine, Creteil, France * Dr.V.Lungagnani, ASSOBIOTEC, Italy * Prof.J.F.Martin, Universidad de Leon, Spain * Dr.P.Patel, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom * Prof.E.Skamene, McGill University, Canada * Doc.M.Jira, M.D., Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic * Dr.Weigl, Olomouc University, Czech Republic ----------------- TECHNICAL PROGRAM ----------------- The Technical Program includes a wide range of interesting and useful activities designed to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information. These include keynote and invited talks, full and short paper presentations, demonstrations, poster sessions and panel discussions. Papers (25 minutes) ------------------- Papers present reports of significant work or integrative reviews in research, development, and applications related to medical biotechnologies. Submissions: Papers should include a cover page and an extended abstract of at least 2500 words or should be submitted as full paper of not over words (4-8 pages). The cover page should include the title of the paper with names of each author, their affiliations, complete addresses, phone numbers, and suggested conference topic area(s). Papers may be submitted in either hard copy (send 5 copies) or by FAX or in electronic form. Electronic proposals are preferred and MUST BE pure ASCII text. Final versions of accepted papers must be submitted in photo- reproducible form according to specifications available upon acceptance and will have a length of 4-8 pages. Final papers also submitted as ASCII, will also be published on a CD-ROM. Each full paper will be presented in a 25-minute session. This includes 5 minutes for discussion. Short Papers (15 minutes) ------------------------- Short papers are brief, more condensed presentations and will be published as 1 page in the conference proceedings volume. Use above Full Paper submission guidelines except submission length should be 2-6 pages. Panels ( 1.5 hours) ----------------------- A panel offers an opportunity for 3-5 people to present their views or results on a common theme, issue, or question. Panels should cover timely topics related to the conference areas of interest. Panel selection will be based on the importance, originality, focus and timeliness of the topic; expertise of proposed panelists; as well as the potential for informative (and even controversial) discussion. Panels should have no more than 5 members, including the chair. A panel summary and position statements will be included in the proceedings. Submissions: Panel proposals should include: - A brief position statement and qualifications of each panelist; no more than 1 page each. A cover sheet should include the panel title, panelists' names and affiliations, and the panel organizer's name, affiliation, address, e-mail address, Fax and phone number. Electronic proposals are preferred and must be in ASCII format. Submit to: ---------- MBTM Secretariat, Minska 9, 101 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic attn.Dr.Beata Lejtnarova Phone: +42-2-725469, +42-2-7248356 Fax: +42-2-724417 E-mail: mbtm@LF3.cuni.cz Demonstrations/Posters ------------------------------- Demonstration/Poster sessions enable researchers and non-commercial developers to demonstrate and discuss their latest results and development in progress in order to gain feedback and to establish contact with similar projects. Demonstration/Poster sessions do not involve a formal presentation but will be included in the proceedings. Submissions: Demonstration/Poster proposals should include a 2-3 page written description of the planned demonstration/poster and should emphasize the problem; what was done, and why the work is important. The proposal should make clear the advantages of presenting the material in the form of a demonstration/poster rather than a paper. The cover page should include the session title with presenter names, affiliations, complete addresses, phone and FAX numbers of the principal presenter. Electronic proposals are preferred and must be in ASCII format. Submit to: ---------- MBTM Secretariat, Minska 9, 101 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic attn.Dr.Beata Lejtnarova Phone: +42-2-725469, +42-2-7248356 Fax: +42-2-724417 E-mail: mbtm@LF3.cuni.cz --------------------------------------------- About Prague - the Capital of Czech Republic --------------------------------------------- The Conference will be held in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic situated in the very heart of Europe. Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it is one of the biggest administrative and economic points in Central Europe. Prague is also the heart of the most important political, cultural and scientific events going on in this area. The " Golden city " provides the visitors with innumerable opportunities to enjoy their stay with all the conveniences they are looking for. There are plenty of places of interest such as galleries, museums,historical buildings, parks and gardens and also a wide choice of cultural events. The City also offers fine restaurants and many shops of high quality. There is a possibility to make a day trip to the castles Karlstejn and Konopiste and to see Prague's surroundings and beautiful Czech countryside. Prague has an international airport and is connected with almost all the European countries. There are daily flights to and from most of European capitals and other cities. There exist rapid railway connections to Prague, with a typical 3 hour travel time from the borders of the Czech Republic. By car it is possible to reach Prague by E12, E14 and E15 motorway routes. ------------------------------------------ HOTEL ATRIUM - THE VENUE OF THE CONFERENCE ------------------------------------------ The hotel Atrium is a modern four star hotel located very close to the centre of the City. It can offer to its visitors nice reastaurants, bars, fitness centre and other sport facilities including an inner swimming-pool. English is used as the main communication language there. For more information on Prague turn to: MBTM Secretariat, Minska 9, 101 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic attn.Dr.Beata Lejtnarova Phone : +42-2-725469, +42-2-7248356 Fax : +42-2-724417 E-mail: mbtm@LF3.cuni.cz +-----------------------------------------------------+ | Congress Deadlines (postmark dates) | | | | Submissions Due: March 31, 1995 | | Authors Notified: May 15, 1995 | | Pre-Registration Deadline: June 30, 1995 | | Post-registration Fee: after June 30, 1995 | +-----------------------------------------------------+ ----------------- REGISTRATION FEES ----------------- The registration fee will be $ 600 before July 1, 1995; it will include admission to all scientific sessions, the commercial exhibition, copy of the final programme and the abstract book, the Proceedings of the Conference, work lunches, and welcome and farewell parties. Students will be eligible for a reduced rates at $ 450. After July 1,1995, the fees will be $ 680 (full registration) and $ 500 (student registration). Limited amount of fellowships will be available for participants from technically-emerged countries of Central and Eastern Europe countries or NIS. Application for the above mentioned fellowships must include: * C.V. of the applicant (incl. list of publications etc.) * references if applicable * estimated support requested (in US $) The applications should reach the Conference Secretariat before January 31, 1995. The review Commitee will notify succesfull applicants before April 30, 1995. The required documents should be send in 5 copies, Faxed, or e-mailed (in ASCII) to: MBTM Conference Secretariat attn. Dr. Beata Lejtnarova Minska 9, 101 00 Praha 10 Phone: +42-2-725469, +42-2-7248356 Fax: +42-2-724417 E-mail: mbtm@LF3.cuni.cz -------------- x ---------- Cut Here ---------- x ------------------- ------------------- INFORMATION REQUEST ------------------- To receive future Conference announcements, please complete this form and return to the address below. Name: _________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ City/State/Code: ______________________________________________ Country: ______________________________________________________ Fax: _________________________________________________________ E-Mail: _______________________________________________________ Please send me: __ Conference registration form and further information __ Proceedings order __ Information for Exhibitor/Sponsor -- Information calendar of 3rd MF of Charles University in Prague Return to: MBTM Conference Secretariat Minska 9 Praha 10, 101 00, Czech Republic Fax: +42-2-724417 E-mail: mtbm@LF3.cuni.cz Would you prefer to be sent to you: __ as a hardcopy by regular mail __ in electronic form (you can tick both) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Wed Nov 30 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!grapevine.lcs.mit.edu!uhog.mit.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!purdue!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!ix.netcom.com!netnews From: magnesum@ix.netcom.com (Paul Mason) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Breakthrough! Now what do we do? Date: 1 Dec 1994 03:34:50 GMT Organization: Netcom Lines: 257 Distribution: world Message-ID: <3bjg8q$dt9@ixnews1.ix.netcom.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: ix-tf1-28.ix.netcom.com There has been a breakthrough in the correlation of cardiovascular death with magnesium deficiency. Dr. C. Everett Koop, retired Surgeon General of the United States, writes, "A good case can be made for the correlation of cardiovascular death with magnesium deficient water." Now what do we do? Attached is a petition to the FDA for the voluntary fortification of beverages with magnesium. It is a starting point, and other well-reasoned suggestions are welcome at this address. Paul Mason Researcher USA (408) 897-3023 ======================================================================== ======= October 3, 1994 Dockets Management Branch DOCKET 94P-0361/CP1 Food and Drug Administration Room 1-23 12420 Park Lawn Drive Rockville, MD 20857 PAGE 21 CITIZEN PETITION The undersigned submits this petition under the relevant statutory sections of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or the Public Health Service Act, or under any other statutory provision for which authority has been delegated to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs under 21 CFR 5.10 to request the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to make a public recommendation announced to the media. ACTION REQUESTED I request that the Commissioner of Food and Drugs make the following public announcement to the media: "A good case can be made for the correlation of cardiovascular death with magnesium deficient water. Numerous studies show that many Americans get less than the Recommended Daily Intake of magnesium. To correct that deficiency, the FDA recommends that bottlers fortify bottled or canned water and water-based beverages, including soft drinks and beer, to provide at least 90 mg of bio-available magnesium per liter of beverage. The recommended additive is magnesium carbonate because it has been more widely tested in practice than other compounds. Excluded beverages are naturally magnesium-rich beverages which need no fortification, such as orange juice (110 mg/L), milk (140 mg/L), and grape juice (130 mg/L). Bottlers who wish to fortify to more than 90 mg magnesium per liter of beverage are cautioned to be aware that excessive magnesium may cause a laxative effect in some individuals. Individuals having kidney failure are advised to consult their doctor before consuming fortified beverages. Consumers are urged to use only magnesium-rich water in all cooking or boiling of food, as magnesium is leached out of foods boiled in soft water." STATEMENT OF GROUNDS 1. Mg deficiency is widespread in the United States (1,7,24,44,45,54,61,68,70,73,82,88,93) 2. Mg deficiency causes atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, and cardiovascular death. (5,7,9,20,25,51,78,79,80,81,82,85,87) 3. A global pattern exists which positively correlates cardiovascular death with magnesium-deficient water supplies. (8,9,10,11,13,18,19,20,57,58,66,74,75,76,85). 4. Supplementation has been shown by intervention or cohort studies to be effective in lowering the rate of cardio-vascular death. (69,85) Mg intake predicted future IHD events (35). 5. Extensive data suggests that if the Ca/Mg ratio exceeds 2/1, cardiovascular death is positively correlated with the rising PAGE 22 Ca/Mg ratio. (45, also: Karpannen; Minerals, coronary heart disease, and sudden coronary death. Advances in Cardiology 25:9-24, 1978. 6. The NIH has recently recommended a calcium intake of 1500 mg per day. Studies show American Mg intake is 300 mg/day, which would make an unprecedented ratio of Ca/Mg of 5/1, with the possibility of a much increased rate of cardiovascular death. (expert: Dr. Mildred Seelig). 7. Boiling food in soft water leaches out more magnesium than does boiling of food in magnesium-rich water (40,50). 8. Mg in water is absorbed 30% better and much faster than Mg in food. (23,25,27,40,50) 9. Mg may be toxic to persons with kidney dysfunction, but at levels above what is normally found in wine (110 mg/L Mg). METAL CONTENT OF CALIFORNIA WINES ; OUGH, C. S., CROWELL, E. A., BENZ. J.; 1985, JUNE Besides the references cited above, Dr. Burton Altura has informed me that he will be submitting a written comment in support of this petition within two weeks which will include additional citations of the literature of magnesium. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT I claim a categorical exclusion under paragraph 25.24 of 21 CFR. UNFAVORABLE INFORMATION 1. Magnesium is commonly sold over-the-counter as a laxative. Hearsay indicates that the bottled water from a spring in Bartlett, California, sometimes has a laxative effect due to its 360 mg/L magnesium content. Bottled water from the Adobe Springs in California contains 96 mg/L magnesium, and no laxative effect has been reported to the bottler. If assorted brands of foods and beverages are voluntarily fortified with various amounts of magnesium without guidelines, there is a strong chance of some consumers experiencing a laxative effect while other consumers remain deficient in magnesium. 2. Consumers having kidney failure may tolerate only mineral-free water. OTHER VIEWS Dr. C. Everett Koop, retired Surgeon General of the United States, has written me, "A good case can be made for the correlation of cardiovascular death with magnesium-deficient water." PAGE 23 Dr. Mildred Seelig has identified a new health hazard caused by a new policy of the NIH which may vastly increase the number of cardiac deaths in this country: To explain the problem, Dr. Seelig first quotes Karpannen's article, "Minerals, Coronary Heart Disease, And Sudden Coronary Death" published in ADVANCES IN CARDIOLOGY in 1978. Abstract: Loss of myocardial K and Mg and increased myocardial Ca predispose to ventricular arrhythmias and Sudden Coronary Death. Reference to animal studies and epidemiological studies. Finland has highest Ca/Mg ratio (4/1) and SCD rate. Line graph showing direct correlation of rising IHD with increasing Ca/Mg ratio. USA is next with ratio of 3/1. Japan, Greece, and Yugoslavia have lowest IHD rate and lowest Ca/Mg ratio. "As the Ca/Mg ratio rises, so does the heart attack death rate. "Now that the NIH has recommended a Ca intake of 1500 mg/day, the ratio of Ca/Mg will be about 5/1 since large scale surveys have shown that Americans (on average) consume no more than 300 mg Mg/day. "Providing Mg in water or soft drinks (especially sports drinks--since surveys show that Mg is likely to be deficient in athletes, and that this may cause sub-optimal performance) may well be a practical means to correct the Mg deficiency." It appears that the NIH's recommendation of a Ca intake of 1500 mg/day may increase substantially the cardiac death rate in this country because it destroys the proper Ca/Mg ratio. Dr. Burton Altura's view is: "The mean value of about 0.60 mM for ionized Mg2+ is approximately one-half what it is for Ca2+ and thus represents a Ca2+/Mg2+ ratio in human blood of about 2.0. This ratio may be of more than passing interest considering that Mg2+ acts as a natural Ca channel blocker and that variability in either of their concentrations could influence the interpretation of the effects of the other on conduction, contraction, vasomotor tone, and numerous functions of cells and tissues." ANOTHER VIEW: Most companies selling bottled spring water in America advertise their water's "purity", and are loath to admit that the lack of magnesium in their spring water is a problem. The bottled water industry has been hostile to foreign medical journal articles examining the correlation between cardiovascular death rates and the magnesium content of tap water. I have repeatedly brought the problem to the PAGE 24 attention of senior officers of the International Bottled Water Association, but they have expressed no interest whatever, and some IBWA members have been overtly hostile to the study of magnesium in water. Over dinner at a meeting of the California Bottled Water Association a couple years ago I was told most emphatically that bread should be fortified instead of beverages. The problem with the Mg-fortification of food is the dosage. The most common foods are bread and salt, yet some people eat almost no bread or salt and other people eat a lot. To get a uniform Mg intake without resorting to pills, there are only three possibilities: 1. Fortify all processed foods with "X"* Mg per Kg of food. (This method penalizes people who don't eat processed foods, but maybe they don't need fortification as much, depending on which unprocessed foods they eat. Processing often removes Mg.) 2. Fortify all processed foods/beverages with "X" Mg per Kg of food/beverage. 3. Fortify beverages with "X" Mg per liter. *"X" = an adequate amount of Mg fortification to prevent deficiency without triggering a laxative effect. Any other method than one of the three above will result in uneven dosages, with the possibility of some consumers getting the runs and other consumers not getting enough Mg. Of the three alternatives above, beverage-borne Mg is 30% more bio-available, and the cheapest to implement, as there are far fewer beverages than foods. Undissolved magnesium carbonate in foods might wear the enamel off teeth. Mr. John Albers, Chairman and CEO of the Dr. Pepper/Seven-Up Cos., wrote me a letter that was friendly and open to the possibility of fortifying beverages with magnesium, contingent on a favorable reaction from the FDA and other agencies. Discussions with isotonic bottlers have also been friendly. I have supplied all interested parties with a copy of my paper, "The Economics of Magnesium Fortification of Beverages" (60). Dr. Arthur Marx at the California Environmental Health Investigations Branch (510) 540-3657, has voiced his opinion to me that magnesium chloride, magnesium oxide, magnesium citrate, and many other magnesium compounds have not been PAGE 25 tested on a large scale for possible unwanted effects. It is common knowledge that magnesium carbonate is natural in nearly all ground waters, and magnesium carbonate is found in some historic European bottled waters at concentrations yielding more than 90 mg/L magnesium content: Apollinaris 122 mg/L Gerolsteiner 112 mg/L St. Gero 120 mg/L Adelheidquelle 107 mg/L Rosbacher 128 mg/L (ref: The Best Bottled Waters In The World, by M & T Green, 1985). Natural magnesium carbonate in water has been so widely tested in practice for so many centuries that there is negligible chance of any problem with it. To test the feasibility of fortifying with magnesium carbonate, I obtained a pound of USP grade magnesium carbonate in light powder form, 4MgCO3 * Mg(OH)2 * 5H2O. I mixed .5 teaspoon of it with one cup of distilled water, and got these results: 1. One hour after adding Mg, there was no flavor, but it did end the flatness of the distilled water. The water was clear. I thought I detected some sweetness, but it was not as sweet as Adobe Springs. It tasted OK to me, about the same as a good grade of tap water. 2. The mouth-feel was a little bit slippery, which some people also notice in the Adobe Springs' water. 3. I tested the TDS using a Myron L "DS" meter. One hour after adding the Mg, the meter read 110 ppm TDS, and the undissolved white residue lay in the bottom of the cup. Three days later, the meter read 220 ppm TDS, and there was noticeably less residue in the bottom. The flavor was unchanged. After one week, the TDS levelled off at 350 ppm, with some residue still left in the bottom. With a lesser amount of magnesium carbonate, dissolution is complete. More views are contained in the 94 articles listed in the Enclosures section of this petition. PAGE 26 CERTIFICATION The Undersigned certifies, that, to the best knowledge and belief of the Undersigned, this petition includes all information and views on which the petition relies, and that it includes representative data and information known to the petitioner which are unfavorable to the petition. (Signature)_________________________________________________ PAUL W. MASON P O Box 1199 Livermore, Ca. 94551 tel: (408) 897-3023 fax: (408) 897-3028 REFERENCES AND ENCLOSURES 1. Absorption and Excretion of Magnesium; Gastrointestinal Absorption of Magnesium; Renal Excretion of Magnesium; etc.: 1984. 2. Alfrey, A. C.; Miller, N. L.; Butkus, D.: Evaluation of body magnesium stores: The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine: Aug., 1974. 3. Alpers, D.; Clouse, R.: Magnesium: Manual of Nutritional Therapeutics: 1979?. 4. Altura, B. M.; Altura, B. T.: Cardiovascular risk factors and magnesium: relationships to atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease and hypertension: Magnesium and Trace Elements: 1991-92; 10:182-192. 5. Altura, B. M.: Sudden-death ischemic heart disease and dietary magnesium intake: is the target site coronary vascular smooth muscle?: Medical Hypotheses: