From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Thu Dec 01 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!HEMEROTECA.ICFES.GOV.CO!internet From: internet@HEMEROTECA.ICFES.GOV.CO (Usuarios de Internet) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Offering a new Instituteof Eco-Genetics in AMAZONIAN BIODIVERSITY Date: 2 Dec 1994 07:57:03 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 40 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Dear Sir or Lady: This is a NEWS-Letter to inform you of the existance of a brand new INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGICAL-GENETICS TO STUDY THE AMAZONIAN=20 BIODIVERSITY . For further information write=20 to: Dr. Hugo Hoenigsberg =09 Instituto de Genetica-Ecologica y Biodiversidad Amazonica Cra.4 No.71-69 Bogota D.C.COLOMBIA. FAX: 612 7369 You can sent your C.V.to our personal address above. We are considering=20 applications to fill posts as research scientific staff members.=20 Evolutionary-Biologists, geneticists,ecologists, systematist,=20 botanists,zoologists, mathematicians and other Ph.D. individuals=20 interested in neo-tropical biological research with at least 10 years of=20 research experience preferably, but not exclusively, in the trop=A1cs, and= =20 about 10 published scientific papers will be considered. This new=20 Institute will study Amazonian biodiversity. Although its main purpose is= =20 research it will by inclination help, not only to preserve the Amazonian=20 biodiversity , but also to diseminate the gospel of international=20 management of the most wonderful world natural reserve for which it is=20 worth to dedicate ones life. There will also be graduate degrees to be=20 dealt with. For academic life within the Institute, please contact=20 the Rector of the Amazonian University as follows: =20 Dr. Ernesto Fajardo Universidad de la Amazonia Florencia, Caqueta Colombia. FAX: (988 35) 8231 Florencia is the capital of the State of Caqueta, and Caqueta is one of=20 the three Amazonian States of Colombia. We will be working closely with=20 Peruvian and Brazilian scientist interested in Amazonian biodiversity.=20 Our Central offices and research labs will be in Florencia's souroundings. = =20 Hoping to see you soon=20 Yours truly, =20 =20 Hugo Hoenigsberg From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sat Dec 03 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!daresbury!not-for-mail From: "Stephen M. Ross" Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Help! Please send information. Date: 4 Dec 1994 06:06:17 -0000 Lines: 11 Sender: lpddist@mserv1.dl.ac.uk Distribution: bionet Message-ID: <3brm8p$kf7@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> Original-To: ageing@dl.ac.uk Dear sir or madam, Is this the correct address for an online list for an newsletter on ageing? Would you please send me more information? Thank you, Stephen M. Ross Faculty of Pharmacy Unibersity of Toronto ross@phm.utoronto.ca From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sat Dec 03 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!gumby!newspump.wustl.edu!bcm!NewsWatcher!user From: userid@bcm.tmc.edu (Wynton Dullerz) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: test -don't read Date: Tue, 29 Nov 1994 15:36:44 -0200 Organization: BCM-Molecular Virology Lines: 1 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.249.49.253 Hey, I said don't read. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 05 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!rutgers!gatech!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!convex!convex!insosf1.infonet.net!usenet From: epurcell@UOMHS.edu (Ed Purcell) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Immunosenescence Date: 6 Dec 1994 19:02:54 GMT Organization: UOMHS Lines: 11 Message-ID: <3c2cgu$5j4@insosf1.infonet.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: 192.189.247.224 X-Newsreader: WinVN 0.92.1 This has been a quiet newsgroup lately. Is there anyone who would like discuss aging and immune function? I am particularly intrigued by the work of Dr. Michael Irwin which suggests that increased sensitivity to CRH with age causes an effect similar to stress-induced immunosuppression. Also, the work of Dr. Ed Eylar suggesting that age-suppressed immune function can be restored by N-acetyl-cysteine. Any comments? Edwin S. Purcell, Ph.D. University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences Des Moines, Iowa From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 05 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!MAILGATE.CSMC.EDU!jkorenberg From: jkorenberg@MAILGATE.CSMC.EDU ("JulieK") Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Female/Male Ageing Date: 6 Dec 1994 15:00:29 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 14 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net An interesting issue that may benefit from some discussion is the observed difference in male/female lifespan. Is this observed in species other than humans? Do the ageing curves parallel each other with respect to causes of death? Are there predominant causes that trivialize the question? Are the curves parallel once a certain age is reached? Are the curves of cognitive decline similar in males and females? Potential relationships to hormone production and lifestyles? J.R. Korenberg, Ph.D., M.D. Cedars-Sinai Med. Ctr/UCLA/Caltech From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Tue Dec 06 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!rutgers!gatech!swiss.ans.net!newstf01.news.aol.com!newsbf01.news.aol.com!not-for-mail From: grillking@aol.com (GrillKing) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Female/Male Ageing Date: 7 Dec 1994 12:25:12 -0500 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Lines: 5 Sender: news@newsbf01.news.aol.com Message-ID: <3c4r5o$m9f@newsbf01.news.aol.com> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: newsbf01.news.aol.com In article , jkorenberg@MAILGATE.CSMC.EDU ("JulieK") writes: For some interesting findings re: gender and conitive decline, see Thomas Perls' article in this month's Scientific American. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Tue Dec 06 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!rutgers!gatech!swiss.ans.net!newstf01.news.aol.com!newsbf01.news.aol.com!not-for-mail From: grillking@aol.com (GrillKing) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Immunosenescence Date: 7 Dec 1994 12:25:10 -0500 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Lines: 4 Sender: news@newsbf01.news.aol.com Message-ID: <3c4r5m$m9c@newsbf01.news.aol.com> References: <3c2cgu$5j4@insosf1.infonet.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: newsbf01.news.aol.com In article <3c2cgu$5j4@insosf1.infonet.net>, epurcell@UOMHS.edu (Ed Purcell) writes: Could you supply citations for the work you mentioned? Thanks much. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Tue Dec 06 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!news.fdn.fr!jussieu.fr!pasteur.fr!pasteur.fr!hbadrane From: hbadrane@pasteur.fr (Hassan BADRANE) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Marrakech CONGRES Cancer & Therapie Date: 7 Dec 1994 13:18:48 GMT Organization: Institut Pasteur Lines: 61 Sender: hbadrane@pasteur.fr () Distribution: world Message-ID: <3c4cno$43d@montespan.pasteur.fr> NNTP-Posting-Host: mendel.sis.pasteur.fr Keywords: apoptose, proliferation cellulaire, controle moleculaire, oncogenes, genes suppresseurs, cancer, therapie genique, immunotherapie.... *********************************************** * CONGRES INTERNATIONAL SUR : * * LE CONTROLE MOLECULAIRE DE LA PROLIFERATION * * CELLULAIRE : CANCER ET THERAPIE * * MARRAKECH DU 26 AU 31 MARS 1995 * *********************************************** Ce congres est organise par l'association des biologistes marocains: BIOMATEC, ca se passera a Marrakech (MAROC) du 26 au 31 Mars 1995. Il comportera des conferences, des sessions plenieres, ainsi que des posters sur les sujets suivants: -controle moleculaire de la proliferation, differenciation et developpement. Apoptose, cycle cellulaire, reparation de l'ADN. -facteurs de croissance, cytokines, hormones et recepteurs. transduction des signaux, tyrosines kinases, phosphatases, evenements nucleaires, facteurs de transciptions et de replication. controle de l'expression genetique. -molecules d'adhesion cellulaires, matrice extra-cellulaire, migration, invasion et metastase. -oncogenes, genes suppresseurs et cancer. -therapies : topoisomerases, recepteurs de facteurs de croissance, tyrosines kinases et phosphatases, oncogenes et genes suppresseurs, oligonucleotides anti-sens, therapie genique, immunotherapie. Les conferenciers sont : -Dr Jacques POUSSEGUR -Dr Jean-Jacques LAWRENCE -Dr Jean-Paul THIERY -Dr Yves COURTOIS -Pr Claude HELENE -Dr Alain JACQUEMIN-SABLON -Dr Philippe JEANTEUR -Dr Dominique STEHELIN -Dr Jean-Francois DORE Le comite scientifique est forme par : -Dr Jacques POUSSEGUR -Dr Jean-Jacques LAWRENCE -Dr Jean-Paul THIERY -Pr Claude HELENE -Dr Philippe JEANTEUR -Dr Dominique STEHELIN La langue officielle du congres est le francais. Pour tout renseignement, contacter: Dr Hassan AIT HADDOU ( president de l'association BIOMATEC ) laboratoire de chimie de coordination 205, route de Narbonne 31077 TOULOUSE CEDEX telephone : 61 33 31 84 telecopie : 61 55 30 03 e-mail : aithad@lcctoul.lcc-toulouse.fr ou bien me contacter moi meme (Hassan BADRANE) par e-mail: hbadrane@pasteur.fr MERCI From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Tue Dec 06 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!rutgers!gatech!swiss.ans.net!newstf01.news.aol.com!newsbf01.news.aol.com!not-for-mail From: grillking@aol.com (GrillKing) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Longevity genes? Date: 7 Dec 1994 12:25:29 -0500 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Lines: 9 Sender: news@newsbf01.news.aol.com Message-ID: <3c4r69$ma4@newsbf01.news.aol.com> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: newsbf01.news.aol.com In article , mrobert@cix.compulink.co.uk ("Maurice Robert") writes: See Thomas Perls article in this month's Scientific American. For Chronos Project, led by Francois Schachter (French screening of centenarians, especially for ApoE and ACE genes), see Nature Genetics; I think it was for January, 1994. Or see my article in Longevity, November, 1994. Bill Lawren From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sun Dec 11 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!ix.netcom.com!netnews From: magnesum@ix.netcom.com (Paul Mason) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Regional Variations In Longevity Rates Correlated Date: 12 Dec 1994 05:49:54 GMT Organization: Netcom Lines: 76 Distribution: world Message-ID: <3cgoa2$73f@ixnews2.ix.netcom.com> References: <3c2cgu$5j4@insosf1.infonet.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: ix-tf1-02.ix.netcom.com Numerous studies around the world have discovered large differences in longevity and cardiovascular death rates correlated with the magnesium level of drinking water. In the US, the southwest has high levels of magnesium and high longevity, while the northeast is low in magnesium and longevity. Clinical studies and intervention studies substantiate the magnesium connection. Now Governor Wilson of California has convened a panel of medical experts to figure out how to put this knowledge to work to improve the longevity of Californians. Here is a progress report: ================================================================= CURRENT STATUS OF THE MAGNESIUM CATASTROPHE--12/11/94 In January, 1994 I sent Dr. Troxell at the FDA my paper, "Calculations of American Deaths Caused by Magnesium Deficiency, As Projected From International Data" which indicated that nearly 8 MILLION Americans have died from magnesium deficiency since 1940. Dr. Troxell recently informed me that he is not qualified to review my paper, nor is anyone else at the FDA. He informed me that only the Senior Science Advisor, a consultant to the FDA, could review it. He didn't know when the Senior Science Advisor's report would be completed. He informed me that the Senior Science Advisor was Dr. Elkan Blout, but did not have an address or telephone number for him; he said Dr. Blout can be reached through the office of the Commissioner of Foods and Drugs, Dr. David Kessler. 2. The FDA invited me to submit a Citizen's Petition for the voluntary fortification of beverages with magnesium. The petition is enclosed. The FDA has by law 6 months to answer petitions from the date of submittal. Due Date: 4/3/95. 3. The National Institute of Health may be planning a General Review of magnesium, according to Dr. Mildred Seelig. 4. Governor Wilson of California on March 23, 1994 instructed Dr. Larry Barrett to examine the magnesium problem and report back to the governor. That report is not yet complete as of this writing, 12/11/94. 5. Dr. C. Everett Koop, retired Surgeon General of the United States, wrote me that "A good case can be made for the correlation of cardio-vascular death with magnesium deficient water." 6. Mr. John Albers, Chairman and CEO of Dr. Pepper/Seven-Up Cos., wrote me a friendly letter open to the possibility of fortifying beverages with magnesium, contingent on the approval of the FDA and other agencies. 7. United States Senator Barbara Boxer of California wrote me, "Scientific research suggests that magnesium deficiency may increase the risk of a variety of medical conditions, including heart attacks and high blood pressure. I would certainly support additional efforts to inform Americans about the health risks associated with magnesium deficiency." 8. Dr. Michael Jacobson at the Center For Science In The Public Interest in Washington writes that his institute may be getting "more involved" in bringing the magnesium problem to the attention of the public. Dr. Marx, a consultant to the Ca. Dept. of Health, is convening a panel in Dec. 1994 to decide what to do about the apparent deaths. The panel is to include Dr. Larry Barrett, Dr. Raymond Neutra, Dr. Arthur Marx, all from the Dept. of Health, and also Dr. Neil Kohatsu from the Office of Clinical Preventive Medicine, Dr. Allen Flagle, pharmacologist, Dr. David Spath from the Office of Drinking Water, and Dr. Carl Keen from U. C. Davis., and Dr. Mildred Seelig, a magnesium specialist from Atlanta. Others may be added, and the panel is to make recommendations before Christmas. Their report is expected to be released by Jan. 17, 1995. A body of related research can be downloaded from: ftp.execpc.com The file is in: /pub/magnesium/mgresrch.asc For user name use "anonymous". Paul Mason Researcher From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sun Dec 11 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!daresbury!not-for-mail From: W.G.VAN.DOORN@ATO.agro.nl Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Ageing in plant cells Date: 12 Dec 1994 09:28:27 -0000 Lines: 21 Sender: lpddist@mserv1.dl.ac.uk Distribution: bionet Message-ID: <3ch53r$luh@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> Original-To: ageing@dl.ac.uk In our institute (of the Netherlands Department of Agriculture, located in Wageningen) we study both the fundamental and applied aspects of plant senescence. I became a member of this discussion group in order to learn the latest about the physiology and molecular biology of senescence in animal cells, as I intend to write a review comparing the mechanisms of senescence in plant and animal cells. First of all, although I have not found it, I wonder whether has such review has been published before. Secondly, I would be grateful for recent literature references to reviews regarding the cellular mechanisms of animal senescence. Plant senescence is now generally thought to be related to an increase in free radicals, due to a decrease in the activity of scavenging molecu- les. The free radicals then result in a decreased phospholipid content of membranes, which would explain why the cells show increased leakage of solutes. You can also e-mail me directly: w.g.van.doorn@ato.agro.nl Wouter van Doorn From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 12 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: Carnosine and male reproductive tissues Date: 12 Dec 1994 19:23:46 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 39 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <9412130328.AA16919@possum> Some months back there was a a flurry of interest on Carnosine and its apparent effects on ageing. In June RATTAN@kemi.aau.dk wrote: : Recently, two new discoveries have been published claiming certain : anti-ageing effects on human cells in culture. This week in the journal : EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH, VOL 212, PP 165, 1994; ROBIN HOLLIDAY : (of Holliday junction fame) has published senescence-retarding effects : of a dipeptide beta-alanyl-L-histidine, called carnosine, on human : fibroblasts. Maintenance of young morphology along with some other : cellular and biochemcial characterisitcs is the main effect seen. There is : a slight increase in cell proliferation too. Even senescence characteristics : can be reversed. Of course, at this stage nothing is known about the : mode of action of such a dipeptide in bringing about so big changes : in cellular physiology, ageing and lifespan. I've been doing some further reading and certainly carnosine and other dipeptides have interesting antioxidant, metal chelating and membrane stabilizing properties. Can I ask the collective wisdom if anything is known about the distribution of carnosine and related peptides in reproductive tract tissues? I'm following this focus as ROS-induced lipid peroxidation is a potent source of sperm dysfunction in infertile men, and it would be fascinating if carnosine (or lack of) is involved. 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 "Ignorance is a renewable resource" PJ O'Rourke. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 12 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!rutgers!netnews.upenn.edu!netaxs.com!prophit From: prophit@netaxs.com (christian hartleben) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Ageing in plant cells Date: 13 Dec 1994 12:12:22 GMT Organization: Netaxs Internet BBS and Shell Accounts Lines: 42 Distribution: bionet Message-ID: <3ck336$9g0@netaxs.com> References: <3ch53r$luh@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: unix3.netaxs.com X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] W.G.VAN.DOORN@ATO.agro.nl wrote: : : In our institute (of the Netherlands Department of Agriculture, located : in Wageningen) we study both the fundamental and applied aspects of plant : senescence. : Plant senescence is now generally thought to be related to an increase : in free radicals, due to a decrease in the activity of scavenging molecu- : les. The free radicals then result in a decreased phospholipid content of : membranes, which would explain why the cells show increased leakage of : solutes. : Would an increase in exposure to radiation, specifically ultra violet wavelengths in the 300-400nm range inhibit selectively the molecules with conjugated pi orbitals, be responsible for the decrease in activity of the so-called scavaging molecules ? I have been contemplating similar issues over the last month, which explains why I have such a hypothesis to offer. The organic chemistry text which i have open before me points out that mono- and sesquiterpenes (resonance at shorter wavelengths), but also longer chains of carbons in adjacent pi-bonds like beta-carotene (lambda max = 455nm). It would seem that such molecules would be disfavored under conditions of exposure to a modified spectrum. This would be akin to moving a plant to latitudes where the wavelengths and their respective intensities and durations caused the failure of coordinated maturation processes as well as issues of repair (of which i have never had a clear concept). I have a posting to an agricultural discussion by an australian whose cauliflower florets became necrotic this season. Furthermore, I understand from a Japanese news broadcast that the hot pepper crop in South Korea this last fall was so extremely spicy as to indicate that the plant had matured in a substantially different fashion. The butterflies have failed to arrive in Santa Cruz, CA this fall, as they do during their seasonal migration. I would like to continue this exchange, but it is rather early where I am, and I need some sleep. You make think me mad for the above collection of ideas; there certainly is a lot of confusion about. But I have yet to find any other way to consider these events, and so i find it necessary to ask your consideration and appraisal. sincerely, chris hartleben From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Wed Dec 14 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!rutgers!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!ix.netcom.com!netnews From: RosenBT@ix.netcom.com (Bernard & Toby Rosen) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Ageing Date: 15 Dec 1994 00:34:40 GMT Organization: Netcom Lines: 538 Distribution: world Message-ID: <3co2v0$99k@ixnews2.ix.netcom.com> References: <01HK0K4Q42QC8ZZWDQ@AdminA.RFERL.Org> NNTP-Posting-Host: ix-pa7-02.ix.netcom.com In <01HK0K4Q42QC8ZZWDQ@AdminA.RFERL.Org> rferl-daily-report-request@admina.rferl.org writes: > >The RFE/RL DAILY REPORT--a digest of the latest developments in >Russia, Transcaucasia and Central Asia, and Central and >Eastern Europe--is published Monday through Friday (except >German holidays) by the RFE/RL Research Institute, a division of >Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc. > Copyright 1994 RFE/RL, Inc. > > >--------------------------------------------------------------- >RFE/RL Daily Report > No. 223, 28 November 1994 > > RUSSIA > >CHECHEN OPPOSITION ATTACK ON GROZNY FAILS. On 24 November Chechen >President Dzhokhar Dudaev proclaimed martial law throughout the >republic and announced the mobilization of all men aged 17 and >over, Radio Rossii reported. On 25 November some 40 helicopters >bearing Russian markings launched an attack on Grozny's airport, >killing three people, according to Western agencies. Forces loyal >to the opposition Provisional Council claimed to control all roads >into Grozny and issued an appeal for international support, >according to ITAR-TASS. Opposition forces backed by artillery and >tanks then launched a major assault on Grozny in the late evening >of 25 November and on 26 November issued a statement, carried by >ITAR-TASS, claiming to have taken control of the presidential >palace. Chechen Information Minister Movladi Udugov told Western >journalists, however, that the government had not fallen; he said >that opposition forces were retreating after sustaining heavy >casualties. Dudaev again accused Russia of instigating the attack. >Western journalists reported on 27 November that Grozny was quiet, >opposition forces having been forced by government troops to >retreat; a renewed attack by opposition forces announced by former >Russian parliament chairman Ruslan Khasbulatov failed to >materialize. -- Liz Fuller, RFE/RL, Inc. > >ETHNIC CLEANSING OF INGUSH PROTESTED. On 26 November, Ingush >President Ruslan Aushev's spokesman continued the recent series of >protests against the obstruction by the North Ossetian leadership >and the Russian Provisional Administration of the return of Ingush >refugees to North Ossetia's Prigorodnyi Raion. The refugees >remained stranded in appalling conditions in Ingushetia facing the >onset of winter, the statement said. President Boris Yeltsin's >former ethnic affairs adviser Galina Starovoitova, currently a >leader of Democratic Russia, told Interfax on 26 November that >Russia's policy on ethnic issues in the North Caucasus "has lost >both its moral and legal foundations." Besides the >"intensification of military operations against Chechnya," the >Russian military has been "hampering the return of [Ingush] >refugees to North Ossetia and [Georgian refugees] to Abkhazia. The >military are virtually forced to secure the outcome of ethnic >cleansing in those regions," Starovoitova noted. Russia's Ministry >of Internal Affairs said in a statement on 27 November that the >situation in the North Ossetian-Ingush state of emergency area was >"tense" but that Russian army and internal troops basically "have >it under control." -- Vladimir Socor, RFE/RL, Inc. > >YELTSIN WARNS BALTIC STATES ABOUT TERRITORIAL CLAIMS AGAINST >RUSSIA.While visiting the Estonian-Russian border in Pskov Oblast >on 23 November, Yeltsin categorically ruled out any border changes >with Estonia, Latvia, or any other country. He noted that the >Russian border with the Baltic States, especially with Estonia, >was poorly equipped in comparison with the former USSR's Baltic >border and recommended that the frontier be made more secure. He >added, however, that Russia would "not build an impassable border >here." Despite Yeltsin's stern warning, Russian Foreign Minister >Andrei Kozyrev asked journalists not to view the visit as >"confrontational, " adding that it should be viewed "as an >outstretched hand" toward Russia's neighbors, Interfax reported. >The Estonian Foreign Ministry said that Yeltsin's visit was a >manifestation of "Russia's policy of unilateral steps with regard >to the border issue" and that it highlighted the need for the >issue to be resolved on the basis of international law, BNS >reported on 23 November. According to the commander of Russia's >Baltic Sea Fleet, Admiral Vladimir Egorov, Russia is planning to >finish unilateral demarcation of its border with Estonia on Lake >Peipsi by 15 December, BNS reported on 24 November. -- Dzintra >Bungs, RFE/RL, Inc. > >FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT ADOPTED BY DUMA. The State Duma >approved at the third reading a bill on information and data >protection, Rossiiskie vesti reported on 23 November. The bill, >the Russian equivalent of the US Freedom of Information Act, gives >all citizens, not only the mass media, the right to access state >information resources. The bill also defines the status of >information proprietors and the rights and obligations of >customers. Although some provisions concerning the rights of >individuals are controversial, the bill provides the legal basis >for reform of the press, television, and computer legislation. >Rossiiskie vesti and some other newspapers have criticized the >bill on the grounds that it restricts the access of the mass media >to social data. In doing so, however, the newspaper is ignoring >the fact that the legislation is intended not only to provide free >access to information but also to protect citizens' right to >privacy. -- Victor Yasmann, RFE/RL, Inc. > >SEGODNYA SAYS PRO-WESTERN STAGE OF REFORM OVER. Mikhail Leontev, >an economist and chief editor of Segodnya, believes that reforms >aimed at westernizing Russia have ended in defeat. Writing in the >liberal newspaper on 24 November, he contended that "forces >through which the West has acquired a stake in Russia have become >political outsiders" and Russia is beginning a new, "patriotic" >stage of reform. That meant, he continued, that Russia could no >longer rely on Western aid, but only on loans and investments from >international organizations. The "patriotic" stage of reform, he >said, implied a strong authoritarian element and state regulation >of the economy but it would allow Russia to follow its own path. >Russia needs partners, not mentors, Leontev concluded. The >Segodnya article is the second anti-Western publication to appear >recently in prodemocratic mass media. Last week Moskovsky >komsomolets accused the architect of privatization, Anatolii >Chubais, of helping Western corporations to take over Russian >industry. The State Duma has appointed a special commission to >investigate the latter charges, agencies reported on 25 November. >-- Victor Yasmann, RFE/RL, Inc. > >MILITARY TO BE SHORT-CHANGED IN BUDGET. On 24 November Interfax, >quoting First Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Soskovets, disclosed that >the Defense Ministry would only get about 70% of the 40.6 trillion >rubles allotted to it in the 1994 budget. The next day Finance >Minister Vladimir Panskov told Interfax that there was not enough >money to pay the 3 billion rubles owed the country's defense >industries--a debt the Defense Ministry puts at 5 trillion. The >best Panskov could offer was 1 trillion, to be paid in 1995. He >also thought that state employees' back wages would be paid by the >end of the year. As for the 1995 budget, the chairman of the >Duma's defense committee, Sergei Yushenkov, said that the military >would probably get 55 trillion rubles rather than the 111 trillion >it wanted. He himself thought 44 trillion would be enough and >called for the number of units in the army to be cut and for the >transition from a division-army structure to a brigade-corps >organization to be speeded up. The Duma will hold a closed session >on the military budget on 8 December, according to Interfax of 25 >November. -- Doug Clarke, RFE/RL, Inc. > >CIVILIAN APPOINTED TO HEAD ARMS AGENCY. Interfax on reported 25 >November that it had been informed by "reliable sources" that >Yeltsin had appointed Aleksandr Kotelkin to head the >Rosvooruzhenye state-owned weapons import-export company. >Previously, Kotelkin managed the Board on Foreign Cooperation in >Military Technology at the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations >and supervised arms sales to Hungary, Angola, and Kuwait totaling >nearly $2 billion. Kotelkin would replace General Viktor Samoilov. >-- Doug Clarke, RFE/RL, Inc. > >MILITARY WANTS TO BUY RUSSIAN COMPUTERS. Major General Viktor >Bazhenov, head of the Defense Ministry's department of >informatics, said in Moscow on 24 November that Russian computer >producers could and should meet the military's needs. According to >Interfax, he said the Defense Ministry needed 10,000-15,000 >state-of-the-art desktop computers each year. The general owned >that domestic manufacturers would have to spend considerable sums >to develop this technology, and he regretted that government >agencies were buying foreign computers rather than investing in >Russian computer research and development. -- Doug Clarke, RFE/RL, >Inc. > > TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA > >ABKHAZIA ADOPTS NEW CONSTITUTION. On 26 November the Abkhaz >parliament adopted a new constitution proclaiming the Republic of >Abkhazia a sovereign law-based state historically established on >the basis of the right to self-determination; it then elected as >the republic's first president parliament chairman Vladislav >Ardzinba, Interfax and ITAR-TASS reported. Although the Abkhaz >information minister told ITAR-TASS that the adoption of a new >constitution would not affect the ongoing negotiations with >Georgia on Abkhazia's future status, on 27 November Georgian >parliament chairman Eduard Shevardnadze rejected the move as an >act of defiance that sabotaged hopes for a peaceful solution to >the conflict. Whether the meeting between Shevardnadze and >Ardzinba organized by UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali >and scheduled for 2 December in Geneva will now take place is >unclear. -- Liz Fuller, RFE/RL, Inc. > >SHEVARDNADZE ENDORSES FREE ECONOMIC ZONE IN ADZHARIA. The Georgian >parliament chairman has agreed to the creation of a free economic >zone in Adzharia, Adzhar parliament chairman Aslan Abashidze told >Interfax on 25 November, predicting that this would pave the way >for more than $1 billion foreign investments in Adzharia in 1995. >The annual volume of trade within the Trabzon free economic zone, >just across the frontier between Adzharia and Turkey, was over $13 >million in 1993, according to the Turkish Daily News of 2 >September. -- Liz Fuller, RFE/RL, Inc. > >TURKMEN DISSIDENTS DETAINED IN MOSCOW. A spokesman for Russia's >Federal Counterintelligence Service (FSK) told Interfax on 26 >November that the service had detained two Turkmen citizens at the >request of Turkmenistan's state prosecutor. The two, Halmurad >Soyunov and Murat Esenov, are associated with the Turkmenistan >Fund, which promotes human rights in Turkmenistan. The previous >day the fund's director, former Foreign Minister Abdy Kuliev, had >appealed to the FSK for help in finding the pair, who had >disappeared from Moscow streets. Turkmen officials had earlier >announced their intent to ask Russian authorities for help in >apprehending Turkmen dissidents in Moscow, who are accused by the >Turkmen government of trying to destabilize their homeland. >Esenov, a correspondent for Radio Liberty's Turkmen Service, was >beaten on a Moscow street in September by persons he and his >associates believed to be acting on instructions of the Turkmen >government. -- Bess Brown, RFE/RL, Inc. > > CIS > >RUSSIAN CITIZENSHIP FOR RUSSIANS IN NEAR ABROAD. Abdullakh >Mikitaev, head of the Directorate for Citizenship Affairs of >Russia's presidential administration and chairman of the special >Commission on Citizenship Issues set up by Yeltsin, commented in >Trud of 23 November on the recent presidential decree on >implementing Russia's citizenship law enacted in 1992 and amended >in 1993. The decree enables Russians in the "near abroad," their >descendants, and, more generally, "people who consider themselves >Russian," to acquire Russian citizenship even if they already have >the citizenship of their country of residence, Mikitaev said. He >confirmed that under Yeltsin's decree, meant to "explain to >officials how to interpret the law," Russia was "unilaterally >recognizing dual citizenship" for those people even though most of >the newly independent states do not. The deadline for applying, >originally 6 February 1995, will be extended by two to three >years. Citizenship legislation will "become the basis for the >gradual unification of countries and peoples" of the former USSR, >Mikitaev said. -- Vladimir Socor, RFE/RL, Inc. > > CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE > >BIHAC ABOUT TO FALL. International media on 28 November report >that Bosnian and Croatian Serb forces, together with troops loyal >to local kingpin Fikret Abdic, are pressing their attack on Bihac. >The mayor of the mainly Muslim town said it could fall at any >time. Serbian troops are well within the suburbs and hold about >one-third of the entire UN-declared "safe area." CNN on 25 >November quoted Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic as saying >that the 60,000 Muslim civilians would not be truly "safe" until >the Serbs had taken the town. He vowed to press the attack after >the 400 remaining soldiers of the Bosnian government's Fifth Corps >let a Serb-declared surrender deadline pass on 26 November. >Government officials the next day accepted a UN call for a >cease-fire and demilitarization of the area, while the Serbs are >expected to reply on 28 November. Bihac is completely surrounded >by Serbian-held territory and has strategic value because it is >situated on the rail line connecting the Serbian strongholds of >Knin and Banja Luka. It is not clear where the Serbs acquired the >fuel for their latest offensive. -- Patrick Moore, RFE/RL, Inc. > >CONTROVERSY OVER UN ROLE IN BOSNIA. The UN Security Council on 26 >November passed a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire >in the Bihac area and a Serbian withdrawal but did not include any >threat of force for failure to comply. Bosnia's ambassador to the >UN said the measure "lacks the commitment of the Security >Council," international news agencies reported. Reuters the next >day quoted an unnamed diplomat in Sarajevo as saying that "the UN, >by its own admission, has failed to fulfill its mandate to deter >attacks on the safe area. The Serbs have called the international >community's bluff." According to the Los Angeles Times, a senior >UN official in Sarajevo added "it's quite clear that we have >failed to deter an attack on the safe area. We were supposed to >deter attacks on civilians and to protect the civilian >population." The BBC, however, quoted UN commander General Sir >Michael Rose as saying it is not the UN's job to defend one side >against the attacks of another. The New York Times reported that >Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic "blasted the British army >general to his face in [a] meeting and threw him out." Silajdzic >added that if a lot of people die in Bihac, it will be because of >Rose and UN chief civilian official Yasushi Akashi. International >media quoted US Senator Robert Dole as calling the UN's role "a >classic failure." The next day, he urged that UNPROFOR forces be >withdrawn and the arms embargo against the government lifted. -- >Patrick Moore, RFE/RL, Inc. > >DIPLOMATIC FALLOUT OVER BOSNIAN CRISIS. International media on 26 >November reported that more than 3,000 US troops are on their way >to the Adriatic in what the BBC called a move with more diplomatic >than military importance. The forces signal America's readiness to >back its NATO allies and will be present to assist any UNPROFOR >withdrawal, but they reportedly have no immediate orders to >deploy. The Serbs on 28 November continued to hold hostage some >400 UNPROFOR troops, including British, Dutch, Ukrainian, and >Russian soldiers. US Secretary of Defense William Perry said there >is nothing the UN or NATO can now do to prevent the fall of Bihac. >Meanwhile, media commentators speculated over the future of NATO >in view of the strains between Washington, on the one hand, and >London and Paris, on the other. Some suggested that the >international "contact group" may already be dead, given those >tensions as well as Russian objections to NATO policies. But >former British Defense Secretary Sir John Nott on 26 November >warned against any departure from the Anglo-American alliance, >Reuters said. Meanwhile, at a major ceremony in the Vatican to >inaugurate 30 new cardinals, Pope John Paul II on 27 November >again condemned the "absurd fratricidal fighting [in Bosnia] that >stains Europe and the world with blood." -- Patrick Moore, RFE/RL, >Inc. > >MILOSEVIC MEETS KOZYREV. Rump Yugoslav State Television on 26 >November reported that Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic met >the same day in Belgrade with Russian Foreign Minister Andrei >Kozyrev to discuss the Bosnian war. Reuters reports that prior to >arriving in Belgrade, Kozyrev held meetings in Bonn on 26 November >with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, with whom he also >discussed, among other things, the situation in Bosnia. At a press >conference, Kozyrev said he believed the Serbian president's >influence over the Bosnian Serbs was the most effective means of >persuading the Bosnian Serbs to accept an international peace plan >for Bosnia. -- Stan Markotich, RFE/RL, Inc. > >CEFTA PREMIERS MEET IN POLAND. The prime ministers of the four >Central European Free Trade Agreement countries (the Czech >Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland) on 25 November agreed to >speed up trade liberalization in the region and to admit new >members. They also approved a declaration calling for >"consultations" on joining the European Union. Pleas for close >coordination of those efforts, made repeatedly by Hungarian >Premier Gyula Horn, went unheeded by Czech Prime Minister Vaclav >Klaus, who is in favor of each country entering the union >separately. The prime ministers also agreed to abolish all >barriers between their countries by 1 January 2000. The meeting >was attended by Slovenian Premier Janez Drnovsek, who said his >country expected to join CEFTA in 1995. -- Jan de Weydenthal, >RFE/RL, Inc. > >WALESA VETOES TAX BILL. President Lech Walesa on 25 November >vetoed a bill on income tax, arguing that the rates of 21, 33, and >45 percent (depending on income levels) were excessive. In a >statement published by Gazeta Wyborcza on 28 November, the >president said the government should come up with another tax law >rather than impose such high rates on the public. The Sejm can >overturn the presidential veto through a two-thirds majority, >which is unlikely unless major amendments are made to the bill. -- >Jan de Weydenthal, RFE/RL, Inc. > >CZECH PRIME MINISTER ON KOHL'S REMARKS. In an interview with Denni >Telegraf on 25 November, Vaclav Klaus said he did not know what >German Chancellor Helmut Kohl had meant when he said Poland should >be "first in expanding the European Union." Kohl had told the >German parliament on 23 November that it was in Europe's and >Germany's interest that Poland be in first place during the >expansion of the EU because Poland's western border must not >become the union's permanent western border. Klaus said the news >of Kohl's remarks was unpleasant and noted that Poland's position >within the European security framework is little different from >that of the Czech Republic. The Czech premier has repeatedly >argued that his country is in the vanguard of economic and >political change in Eastern Europe and should be admitted into >Western organizations as soon as possible, ahead of other East >European countries. -- Jiri Pehe, RFE/RL, Inc. > >SLOVAK COALITION TALKS AGAIN FALTER. Negotiations between the >Movement for a Democratic Slovakia and the Christian Democratic >Movement were cut short on 23 November after party leaders failed >to reach agreement. CDM requirements for supporting an MDS >government include reversing certain steps taken during the first >two parliament sessions, ceasing attacks on President Michal >Kovac, and continuing with privatization. MDS Chairman Vladimir >Meciar was unable to confirm whether his party would accept such >demands. Following the talks, Meciar continued to insist that his >party will not form a minority cabinet. The next day he told CTK >on 24 November that he had ruled out a coalition with the CDM and >the Hungarians, while cooperation with the Democratic Union was >not feasible because he expects the party to split. But on 26 >November, MDS member Katerina Tothova said the MDS is willing to >work with any party expect the Hungarian coalition. -- Sharon >Fisher, RFE/RL, Inc. > >EU ISSUES DEMARCHE TO SLOVAKIA. During meetings with top Slovak >officials on 23 and 24 November, the German and French ambassadors >to Slovakia delivered a diplomatic note on behalf of the EU's >political committee expressing concern about political >developments since the fall elections and noting that the >strengthening of relations between Slovakia and the EU depends on >the new cabinet's policies. Parliament Chairman Ivan Gasparovic >told TASR that during his meeting with the two ambassadors, he >justified recent steps taken in the parliament to replace a number >of state officials, emphasizing that "all decisions made by the >parliamentary majority were aimed at stability and . . . were >meant to secure democracy." -- Sharon Fisher, RFE/RL, Inc. > >HUNGARIAN NEGOTIATIONS ON 1995 BUDGET. Following three days of >talks, the Interest Coordinating Council (a group composed of >government, employer, and worker representatives) on 27 November >came closer to reaching an agreement on the draft 1995 budget's >provisions on wages, social benefits, and taxes, MTI reports. The >spokesman for the workers' delegation said an agreement might >avert strikes by trade unions. Several teachers' unions on 24 >November announced they would stage a strike on 17 December to >protest cuts in subsidies to the education sector. -- Edith Oltay, >RFE/RL, Inc. > >EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT IN ROMANIA. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak >held talks in Bucharest on 23 and 24 November with his Romanian >counterpart, Ion Iliescu, and other senior Romanian officials, >Radio Bucharest reported. Mubarak's visit aimed at boosting >bilateral political and economic relations. The Egyptian >delegation praised Romania's role in the Mideast peace process. >(In April, Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser >Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres had met in >Bucharest during an international gathering of political and >business leaders.) Romania and Egypt on 24 November signed a >general economic agreement and two separate accords on economic >projects, technological cooperation, and the protection of >investments. -- Dan Ionescu, RFE/RL, Inc. > >ALBANIAN UPDATE. International news agencies reported on 25 >November that in an amnesty marking the 28 November national >holiday, 250 of Albania's 1,210 prisoners will be released and >another 450 will have their sentences shortened. Among the 450 are >the five ethnic Greeks recently sentenced for espionage, but AFP >quoted Greek officials as saying Athens still insists that the >five be released. Reuters said the amnesty would not affect former >leading Communists such as Ramiz Alia and Nexhmije Hoxha or jailed >Socialist leader Fatos Nano, but AFP disagrees. Reuters also >reported that Albanian police arrested 10 people at one site along >the Montenegrin border and nine at another in conjunction with the >rampant fuel smuggling taking place there. -- Patrick Moore, >RFE/RL, Inc. > >REPUBLICAN PARTY OF CRIMEA CALLS FOR INDEPENDENCE. The Crimean >Republican Party held its fifth convention in Simferopol on 27 >November, Interfax reports. Party leaders called on Crimeans to >withstand pressure from Ukraine and uphold the Crimean >Constitution as well as other Crimean laws, saying these should >form the basis of Ukrainian-Crimean relations. The 1992 >constitution, adopted by the Crimean parliament in May 1994, >stipulated that the peninsula's relations with Ukraine are >contingent on bilateral agreements. The Ukrainian parliament says >this stipulation is tantamount to giving the peninsula the status >of an independent state. The convention also criticized Crimean >President Yurii Meshkov for failing to "consolidate the executive >and legislative branches of power." -- Ustina Markus, RFE/RL, Inc. > >JUST ONE BLACK SEA FLEET? Ukrainian parliament speaker Oleksandr >Moroz was quoted by Interfax on 24 November as saying it would be >expedient to transfer all Black Sea Fleet ships to Russia with >Ukraine retaining the shore-based infrastructure. He did not rule >out bases in Ukraine for the Russian fleet. "The Black Sea is an >area of specific interest for both Russia and Ukraine," he said," >and we need to coordinate our activities." The following day, >Interfax quoted an open letter to Presidents Leonid Kuchma and >Boris Yeltsin from officers of the Black Sea Fleet and the >Ukrainian Navy calling for "putting an end to the destructive >division of the earlier powerful potential of our armed forces, >the navy, and the Black Sea Fleet in particular." The letter >reportedly urged the two countries to act in accordance with the >principle of unification and joint utilization of the armed >forces. -- Doug Clarke, RFE/RL, Inc. > >BELARUS ACCUSES TURKEY OF SPYING. The Belarusian authorities have >asked two Turkish diplomats to leave the country, Interfax >reported on 25 November. The previous day, a Belarusian citizen >from Hrodna was detained for passing economic information to >Turkish diplomats. Another report alleges that the Turkish special >services have enlisted the help of Belarusians in procuring >confidential materials. Turkey has denied the charges of spying as >"absolutely groundless," according to Interfax. -- Ustina Markus, >RFE/RL, Inc. > >BELARUS TO SELL SOVIET ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM TO WEST. According to a >statement by the President's Office on 25 November, the state arms >export firm Beltekhexport signed a $6 million contract in July to >sell a modern Soviet-designed anti-missile system to a US-Canadian >company. ITAR-TASS quotes the office as denying there was anything >illegal or unethical in selling the S-300PMU missile system, which >Russian authorities claim to be superior to the American Patriot >system. The 25 November statement pointed out that Belarus did not >buy the system from Russia but rather inherited it following the >breakup of the Soviet Union. The system was built in the former >USSR with the participation of Belarusian institutes and >enterprises. Russia has offered the same system to foreign >customers and has revealed tactical and technical details of the >weapon, the statement noted. -- Doug Clarke, RFE/RL, Inc. > >BALTIC FOREIGN MINISTERS IN RIGA. Meeting in the Latvian capital >on 23 November, the foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and >Lithuania signed a cooperation accord on guarding state borders >and a statement on the Baltic States' relations with the Council >of Europe. They also agreed to form a working group that would >draw up a trilateral agreement on joint and coordinated control >over air space, BNS reported. After the meeting, the foreign >ministers told the press that the recent Baltic Assembly's >resolution on Kaliningrad Oblast reflected the views of the >assembly but not of the Baltic governments. -- Dzintra Bungs, >RFE/RL, Inc. > >LATVIAN PARLIAMENT ENDORSES ACCORDS WITH RUSSIA. The Saeima on 24 >November approved the Latvian-Russian accords on the withdrawal of >Russian troops from Latvia, signed on 30 April 1994. Its approval >means that the ratification formalities can now begin, Baltic >media reported. -- Dzintra Bungs, RFE/RL, Inc. > >POLISH PREMIER IN LITHUANIA. Waldemar Pawlak was greeted at the >Kalvarija border checkpoint on 26 November by his Lithuanian >counterpart, Adolfas Slezevicius, Radio Lithuania reports. The >premiers inspected the ongoing construction at the customs post, >which should speed up trade when finished next year. They then >traveled to Marijampole for talks on bilateral relations, problems >of security in the Baltic region, and a possible free trade >agreement between the Baltic States and the four Visegrad nations. >The premiers also exchanged the formal ratification documents on >the bilateral friendship and cooperation agreement, ratified by >the Polish and Lithuanian parliaments on 14 October. -- Saulius >Girnius, RFE/RL, Inc. > >RUSSIAN AIRPLANE HIJACKING ENDS IN ESTONIA. Vladimir Bozhko, a >36-year-old miner from Vorkuta, hijacked a Russian Aeroflot plane >en route from Syktyvkar to St. Petersburg on 24 November and >forced it to land in Tallinn, BNS reports. Bozhko released the >passengers and crew and surrendered peacefully to Estonian >authorities after several hours. Estonia has not yet agreed to the >Russian request on 25 November to extradite Bozhko, who has >requested political asylum, according to Rahva Haal on 26 >November. ITAR-TASS on 27 November, however, said that Estonian >police and the Interior Ministry deny that Bozhko has made such a >request. -- Saulius Girnius, RFE/RL, Inc. > >[As of 1200 CET] (Compiled by Jan Cleave and Penny Morvant) >The RFE/RL DAILY REPORT, produced by the RFE/RL Research >Institute (a division of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc.) >with the assistance of the RFE/RL News and Current Affairs >Division, is available through electronic mail by subscribing to >RFERL-L at LISTSERV@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU >Inquiries about specific news items should be directed as >follows (please include your full postal address when inquiring >about subscriptions): > >Mr. Brian Reed >RFE/RL, Inc. >1201 Connecticut Avenue, NW >Washington, DC 20036 >Telephone: (202) 457-6912 >Fax: (202) 457-6992 >Internet: REEDB@RFERL.ORG > >Copyright 1994, RFE/RL, Inc. All rights reserved. > From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Wed Dec 14 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!sjubiol.stjohns.edu!rick From: rick@sjubiol.stjohns.edu (Richard Lockshin) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Ageing in plant cells Date: 14 Dec 1994 20:42:31 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 15 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <9412141613.AA14896@sjubiol.stjohns.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net I sent this as a general message to Van Dorn, but the general address got bounced back. It may be of interest to others. I'm interested in your findings. Steve Delaporta at Yale has begun some studies of cell death in sexual tissues of plants, and he has published a couple of articles on that, but not specifically emphasizing cell death. The literature on animal cell senescence is huge. Do a literature search for 'review' and the names of V. Cristofalo, J. Campisi, J. Smith, O. Pereira-Smith, T. Norwood, C. Bayerreuter, N. Holbrook especially. There will be a book out during 1995 on cl aging and cell death including both cells in culture and apoptosis (N. Holbrook, G. Martin, R. Lockshin eds, Wiley- Liss) 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 Dec 15 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!AXE.HUMBOLDT.EDU!morganjohn From: morganjohn@AXE.HUMBOLDT.EDU (John M. Morgan) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Ageing Date: 15 Dec 1994 16:48:29 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 284 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <01HKOH0NIGIQ8WWH9H@AXE.HUMBOLDT.EDU> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Why are we receiving this kind of propaganda on this list server? == >general to his face in [a] meeting and threw him out." Silajdzic >added that if a lot of people die in Bihac, it will be because of >Rose and UN chief civilian official Yasushi Akashi. International >media quoted US Senator Robert Dole as calling the UN's role "a >classic failure." The next day, he urged that UNPROFOR forces be >withdrawn and the arms embargo against the government lifted. -- >Patrick Moore, RFE/RL, Inc. > >DIPLOMATIC FALLOUT OVER BOSNIAN CRISIS. International media on 26 >November reported that more than 3,000 US troops are on their way >to the Adriatic in what the BBC called a move with more diplomatic >than military importance. The forces signal America's readiness to >back its NATO allies and will be present to assist any UNPROFOR >withdrawal, but they reportedly have no immediate orders to >deploy. The Serbs on 28 November continued to hold hostage some >400 UNPROFOR troops, including British, Dutch, Ukrainian, and >Russian soldiers. US Secretary of Defense William Perry said there >is nothing the UN or NATO can now do to prevent the fall of Bihac. >Meanwhile, media commentators speculated over the future of NATO >in view of the strains between Washington, on the one hand, and >London and Paris, on the other. Some suggested that the >international "contact group" may already be dead, given those >tensions as well as Russian objections to NATO policies. But >former British Defense Secretary Sir John Nott on 26 November >warned against any departure from the Anglo-American alliance, >Reuters said. Meanwhile, at a major ceremony in the Vatican to >inaugurate 30 new cardinals, Pope John Paul II on 27 November >again condemned the "absurd fratricidal fighting [in Bosnia] that >stains Europe and the world with blood." -- Patrick Moore, RFE/RL, >Inc. > >MILOSEVIC MEETS KOZYREV. Rump Yugoslav State Television on 26 >November reported that Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic met >the same day in Belgrade with Russian Foreign Minister Andrei >Kozyrev to discuss the Bosnian war. Reuters reports that prior to >arriving in Belgrade, Kozyrev held meetings in Bonn on 26 November >with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, with whom he also >discussed, among other things, the situation in Bosnia. At a press >conference, Kozyrev said he believed the Serbian president's >influence over the Bosnian Serbs was the most effective means of >persuading the Bosnian Serbs to accept an international peace plan >for Bosnia. -- Stan Markotich, RFE/RL, Inc. > >CEFTA PREMIERS MEET IN POLAND. The prime ministers of the four >Central European Free Trade Agreement countries (the Czech >Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland) on 25 November agreed to >speed up trade liberalization in the region and to admit new >members. They also approved a declaration calling for >"consultations" on joining the European Union. Pleas for close >coordination of those efforts, made repeatedly by Hungarian >Premier Gyula Horn, went unheeded by Czech Prime Minister Vaclav >Klaus, who is in favor of each country entering the union >separately. The prime ministers also agreed to abolish all >barriers between their countries by 1 January 2000. The meeting >was attended by Slovenian Premier Janez Drnovsek, who said his >country expected to join CEFTA in 1995. -- Jan de Weydenthal, >RFE/RL, Inc. > >WALESA VETOES TAX BILL. President Lech Walesa on 25 November >vetoed a bill on income tax, arguing that the rates of 21, 33, and >45 percent (depending on income levels) were excessive. In a >statement published by Gazeta Wyborcza on 28 November, the >president said the government should come up with another tax law >rather than impose such high rates on the public. The Sejm can >overturn the presidential veto through a two-thirds majority, >which is unlikely unless major amendments are made to the bill. -- >Jan de Weydenthal, RFE/RL, Inc. > >CZECH PRIME MINISTER ON KOHL'S REMARKS. In an interview with Denni >Telegraf on 25 November, Vaclav Klaus said he did not know what >German Chancellor Helmut Kohl had meant when he said Poland should >be "first in expanding the European Union." Kohl had told the >German parliament on 23 November that it was in Europe's and >Germany's interest that Poland be in first place during the >expansion of the EU because Poland's western border must not >become the union's permanent western border. Klaus said the news >of Kohl's remarks was unpleasant and noted that Poland's position >within the European security framework is little different from >that of the Czech Republic. The Czech premier has repeatedly >argued that his country is in the vanguard of economic and >political change in Eastern Europe and should be admitted into >Western organizations as soon as possible, ahead of other East >European countries. -- Jiri Pehe, RFE/RL, Inc. > >SLOVAK COALITION TALKS AGAIN FALTER. Negotiations between the >Movement for a Democratic Slovakia and the Christian Democratic >Movement were cut short on 23 November after party leaders failed >to reach agreement. CDM requirements for supporting an MDS >government include reversing certain steps taken during the first >two parliament sessions, ceasing attacks on President Michal >Kovac, and continuing with privatization. MDS Chairman Vladimir >Meciar was unable to confirm whether his party would accept such >demands. Following the talks, Meciar continued to insist that his >party will not form a minority cabinet. The next day he told CTK >on 24 November that he had ruled out a coalition with the CDM and >the Hungarians, while cooperation with the Democratic Union was >not feasible because he expects the party to split. But on 26 >November, MDS member Katerina Tothova said the MDS is willing to >work with any party expect the Hungarian coalition. -- Sharon >Fisher, RFE/RL, Inc. > >EU ISSUES DEMARCHE TO SLOVAKIA. During meetings with top Slovak >officials on 23 and 24 November, the German and French ambassadors >to Slovakia delivered a diplomatic note on behalf of the EU's >political committee expressing concern about political >developments since the fall elections and noting that the >strengthening of relations between Slovakia and the EU depends on >the new cabinet's policies. Parliament Chairman Ivan Gasparovic >told TASR that during his meeting with the two ambassadors, he >justified recent steps taken in the parliament to replace a number >of state officials, emphasizing that "all decisions made by the >parliamentary majority were aimed at stability and . . . were >meant to secure democracy." -- Sharon Fisher, RFE/RL, Inc. > >HUNGARIAN NEGOTIATIONS ON 1995 BUDGET. Following three days of >talks, the Interest Coordinating Council (a group composed of >government, employer, and worker representatives) on 27 November >came closer to reaching an agreement on the draft 1995 budget's >provisions on wages, social benefits, and taxes, MTI reports. The >spokesman for the workers' delegation said an agreement might >avert strikes by trade unions. Several teachers' unions on 24 >November announced they would stage a strike on 17 December to >protest cuts in subsidies to the education sector. -- Edith Oltay, >RFE/RL, Inc. > >EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT IN ROMANIA. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak >held talks in Bucharest on 23 and 24 November with his Romanian >counterpart, Ion Iliescu, and other senior Romanian officials, >Radio Bucharest reported. Mubarak's visit aimed at boosting >bilateral political and economic relations. The Egyptian >delegation praised Romania's role in the Mideast peace process. >(In April, Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser >Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres had met in >Bucharest during an international gathering of political and >business leaders.) Romania and Egypt on 24 November signed a >general economic agreement and two separate accords on economic >projects, technological cooperation, and the protection of >investments. -- Dan Ionescu, RFE/RL, Inc. > >ALBANIAN UPDATE. International news agencies reported on 25 >November that in an amnesty marking the 28 November national >holiday, 250 of Albania's 1,210 prisoners will be released and >another 450 will have their sentences shortened. Among the 450 are >the five ethnic Greeks recently sentenced for espionage, but AFP >quoted Greek officials as saying Athens still insists that the >five be released. Reuters said the amnesty would not affect former >leading Communists such as Ramiz Alia and Nexhmije Hoxha or jailed >Socialist leader Fatos Nano, but AFP disagrees. Reuters also >reported that Albanian police arrested 10 people at one site along >the Montenegrin border and nine at another in conjunction with the >rampant fuel smuggling taking place there. -- Patrick Moore, >RFE/RL, Inc. > >REPUBLICAN PARTY OF CRIMEA CALLS FOR INDEPENDENCE. The Crimean >Republican Party held its fifth convention in Simferopol on 27 >November, Interfax reports. Party leaders called on Crimeans to >withstand pressure from Ukraine and uphold the Crimean >Constitution as well as other Crimean laws, saying these should >form the basis of Ukrainian-Crimean relations. The 1992 >constitution, adopted by the Crimean parliament in May 1994, >stipulated that the peninsula's relations with Ukraine are >contingent on bilateral agreements. The Ukrainian parliament says >this stipulation is tantamount to giving the peninsula the status >of an independent state. The convention also criticized Crimean >President Yurii Meshkov for failing to "consolidate the executive >and legislative branches of power." -- Ustina Markus, RFE/RL, Inc. > >JUST ONE BLACK SEA FLEET? Ukrainian parliament speaker Oleksandr >Moroz was quoted by Interfax on 24 November as saying it would be >expedient to transfer all Black Sea Fleet ships to Russia with >Ukraine retaining the shore-based infrastructure. He did not rule >out bases in Ukraine for the Russian fleet. "The Black Sea is an >area of specific interest for both Russia and Ukraine," he said," >and we need to coordinate our activities." The following day, >Interfax quoted an open letter to Presidents Leonid Kuchma and >Boris Yeltsin from officers of the Black Sea Fleet and the >Ukrainian Navy calling for "putting an end to the destructive >division of the earlier powerful potential of our armed forces, >the navy, and the Black Sea Fleet in particular." The letter >reportedly urged the two countries to act in accordance with the >principle of unification and joint utilization of the armed >forces. -- Doug Clarke, RFE/RL, Inc. > >BELARUS ACCUSES TURKEY OF SPYING. The Belarusian authorities have >asked two Turkish diplomats to leave the country, Interfax >reported on 25 November. The previous day, a Belarusian citizen >from Hrodna was detained for passing economic information to >Turkish diplomats. Another report alleges that the Turkish special >services have enlisted the help of Belarusians in procuring >confidential materials. Turkey has denied the charges of spying as >"absolutely groundless," according to Interfax. -- Ustina Markus, >RFE/RL, Inc. > >BELARUS TO SELL SOVIET ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM TO WEST. According to a >statement by the President's Office on 25 November, the state arms >export firm Beltekhexport signed a $6 million contract in July to >sell a modern Soviet-designed anti-missile system to a US-Canadian >company. ITAR-TASS quotes the office as denying there was anything >illegal or unethical in selling the S-300PMU missile system, which >Russian authorities claim to be superior to the American Patriot >system. The 25 November statement pointed out that Belarus did not >buy the system from Russia but rather inherited it following the >breakup of the Soviet Union. The system was built in the former >USSR with the participation of Belarusian institutes and >enterprises. Russia has offered the same system to foreign >customers and has revealed tactical and technical details of the >weapon, the statement noted. -- Doug Clarke, RFE/RL, Inc. > >BALTIC FOREIGN MINISTERS IN RIGA. Meeting in the Latvian capital >on 23 November, the foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and >Lithuania signed a cooperation accord on guarding state borders >and a statement on the Baltic States' relations with the Council >of Europe. They also agreed to form a working group that would >draw up a trilateral agreement on joint and coordinated control >over air space, BNS reported. After the meeting, the foreign >ministers told the press that the recent Baltic Assembly's >resolution on Kaliningrad Oblast reflected the views of the >assembly but not of the Baltic governments. -- Dzintra Bungs, >RFE/RL, Inc. > >LATVIAN PARLIAMENT ENDORSES ACCORDS WITH RUSSIA. The Saeima on 24 >November approved the Latvian-Russian accords on the withdrawal of >Russian troops from Latvia, signed on 30 April 1994. Its approval >means that the ratification formalities can now begin, Baltic >media reported. -- Dzintra Bungs, RFE/RL, Inc. > >POLISH PREMIER IN LITHUANIA. Waldemar Pawlak was greeted at the >Kalvarija border checkpoint on 26 November by his Lithuanian >counterpart, Adolfas Slezevicius, Radio Lithuania reports. The >premiers inspected the ongoing construction at the customs post, >which should speed up trade when finished next year. They then >traveled to Marijampole for talks on bilateral relations, problems >of security in the Baltic region, and a possible free trade >agreement between the Baltic States and the four Visegrad nations. >The premiers also exchanged the formal ratification documents on >the bilateral friendship and cooperation agreement, ratified by >the Polish and Lithuanian parliaments on 14 October. -- Saulius >Girnius, RFE/RL, Inc. > >RUSSIAN AIRPLANE HIJACKING ENDS IN ESTONIA. Vladimir Bozhko, a >36-year-old miner from Vorkuta, hijacked a Russian Aeroflot plane >en route from Syktyvkar to St. Petersburg on 24 November and >forced it to land in Tallinn, BNS reports. Bozhko released the >passengers and crew and surrendered peacefully to Estonian >authorities after several hours. Estonia has not yet agreed to the >Russian request on 25 November to extradite Bozhko, who has >requested political asylum, according to Rahva Haal on 26 >November. ITAR-TASS on 27 November, however, said that Estonian >police and the Interior Ministry deny that Bozhko has made such a >request. -- Saulius Girnius, RFE/RL, Inc. > >[As of 1200 CET] (Compiled by Jan Cleave and Penny Morvant) >The RFE/RL DAILY REPORT, produced by the RFE/RL Research >Institute (a division of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc.) >with the assistance of the RFE/RL News and Current Affairs >Division, is available through electronic mail by subscribing to >RFERL-L at LISTSERV@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU >Inquiries about specific news items should be directed as >follows (please include your full postal address when inquiring >about subscriptions): > >Mr. Brian Reed >RFE/RL, Inc. >1201 Connecticut Avenue, NW >Washington, DC 20036 >Telephone: (202) 457-6912 >Fax: (202) 457-6992 >Internet: REEDB@RFERL.ORG > >Copyright 1994, RFE/RL, Inc. All rights reserved. > ======================================================== John M. Morgan Phone: 707-826-3747 Dept. of Psychology FAX: 707-826-4993 Humboldt State Univ. Internet: morganjohn@axe.humboldt.edu Arcata, CA. 95521 ======================================================== From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Thu Dec 15 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: Propaganda spam Date: 15 Dec 1994 17:32:26 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 26 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <9412160136.AA23326@possum> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net >Why are we receiving this kind of propaganda on this list server? John: (1) Please don't compound the problem by sending the *entire* spam back to the newsgroup. (2) If you want to be constructive just bounce the whole thing back to the sender with a polite message to the effect that you find this irresponsible. If we all do this then the server's system will collapse. 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 "Ignorance is a renewable resource" PJ O'Rourke. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Thu Dec 15 22:00:00 1994 Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!world!chi From: chi@world.std.com (Cambridge Healthtech Institute) Subject: Implications of Apoptosis Message-ID: Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Date: Fri, 16 Dec 1994 13:32:14 GMT Lines: 7 Cambridge Healthtech Institute is currently developing a program on Implications of Apoptosis to be held May 1-3 1995 in Cambridge MA. Please send proposals to be considered for oral presentations to chi@world.std.com. Inquiries are also welcome. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Thu Dec 15 22:00:00 1994 Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Path: biosci!agate!spool.mu.edu!torn!nott!emr1!news From: woodgold@seismo.emr.ca (Cathy Woodgold) Subject: Re: Female/Male Ageing Message-ID: <1994Dec16.152446.10039@emr1.emr.ca> Sender: news@emr1.emr.ca Nntp-Posting-Host: saw19.seismo.emr.ca Reply-To: woodgold@seismo.emr.ca Organization: Geological Survey of Canada References: Date: Fri, 16 Dec 1994 15:24:46 GMT Lines: 22 Women tend to live longer than men. A diagram I saw suggests to me that it's POSSIBLE that cigarrette smoking is the main reason; this will change in the future, I think, since smoking is now popular in both sexes. But there may be other reasons. Women may tend to do more cooking and perhaps to eat healthier food. Genetics can't be ruled out. I also heard that married women live shorter than unmarried women, while married men live longer than unmarried men. There could be various reasons ... child care can be quite stressful, especially for women ... but my pet theory is that the main reason is that when people get married, the woman influences the man to improve his diet, while the man influences the woman to eat more junk food! Cathy Pesticides cause cancer and can largely be eliminated. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Fri Dec 16 22:00:00 1994 Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!lll-winken.llnl.gov!enews.sgi.com!decwrl!netcomsv!netcom.com!luly From: luly@netcom.com (Robert Luly) Subject: Re: Ageing in plant cells Message-ID: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL1] References: <3ch53r$luh@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> Distribution: bionet Date: Sat, 17 Dec 1994 17:54:39 GMT Lines: 34 W.G.VAN.DOORN@ATO.agro.nl wrote: : : In our institute (of the Netherlands Department of Agriculture, located : in Wageningen) we study both the fundamental and applied aspects of plant : senescence. : I became a member of this discussion group in order to learn the latest : about the physiology and molecular biology of senescence in animal cells, : as I intend to write a review comparing the mechanisms of senescence in : plant and animal cells. : First of all, although I have not found it, I wonder whether has such : review has been published before. Secondly, I would be grateful for : recent literature references to reviews regarding the cellular mechanisms : of animal senescence. : Plant senescence is now generally thought to be related to an increase : in free radicals, due to a decrease in the activity of scavenging molecu- : les. The free radicals then result in a decreased phospholipid content of : membranes, which would explain why the cells show increased leakage of : solutes. : : You can also e-mail me directly: w.g.van.doorn@ato.agro.nl : : Wouter van Doorn There seems to be no shortage of antioxidant theorys in ageing. I have a hard time with these explanatioins as a single major cause of ageing due to the enormous difference in life span of living things that all depend on the similar type DNA programs. These life forms are all subject to relitivly the same environmental damage to their DNA and yet for millions of years they produce offspring that are virtually unchanged! The added factor of metabolism dosn't seem to explain the life span difference either because plants which have relitavly the same metabolism can live from a few months to over 10,000 years (!), in the case of the bristle cone pine. Bionet/ageing has a FAQ that I found and it was a good read but I cant remember how I got there but it has both siudes of many theorys listed. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Fri Dec 16 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!svc.portal.com!portal.com!cup.portal.com!Eric_S_Klien From: Eric_S_Klien@cup.portal.com Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Oceania Date: 17 Dec 1994 12:22:04 -0800 Organization: The Portal System (TM) Lines: 13 Sender: pccop@unix.portal.com Distribution: world Message-ID: <129606@cup.portal.com> References: <3bld7h$kk4@rowan.coventry.ac.uk> <3bqigc$86e@runner.ccr-p.ida.org> NNTP-Posting-Host: news1.unix Tired of the FDA's continous attacks on medical progress? On longer and longer waits for drug approval? On longer and longer waits for approval of new medical devices? On denials for new drugs despite evidence that the drugs benefits outweigh its side effects? Then learn about the new country Oceania where the government is prohibited from entering the health care system. Where you can take whatever therapy you wish or try any cure. To subscribe to our mailing list, send the message SUBSCRIBE OCEANIA-L to listproc@unicycle.cs.tulane.edu. Our web server is at http://unicycle.cs.tulane.edu/oceania From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 19 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!daresbury!not-for-mail From: Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Measuring age!! Date: 20 Dec 1994 09:21:45 -0000 Lines: 10 Sender: lpddist@mserv1.dl.ac.uk Distribution: bionet Message-ID: <3d67n9$lrs@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> Original-To: ageing@dl.ac.uk With reference to somebody's query about age estimation: HOW DESPARATELY WE WISH THERE WERE ANY REAL BIOMARKER OF AGE, there is no biochemical, molecular, cellular, physiological, psychological marker of age and ageing that can be applicable to even a large number of species or even to all individuals of a species. All these racemisations, oxidation of proteins, rates of various things' synthesis/turnover are specific to limited number of ageing systems. By the way, there are never going to be any universal biomarkers of ageing because no two individuals age in exactly the same way at any level of analysis. Suresh Rattan, Aarhus, Denmark From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 19 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!msunews!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!sol.ccs.deakin.edu.au!deakin.edu.au!drierac From: drierac@deakin.edu.au (Chris Driver) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: male/female ageing Date: Tue, 20 Dec 1994 13:21:02 Organization: Deakin University Lines: 19 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: pc-rbp161.sci.deakin.edu.au X-Newsreader: Trumpet for Windows [Version 1.0 Rev A] In response to Kathy Woodgolds comments: It is my perception that marital violence plays a big role in shortening the women's lifespan. This is not easily tested quantitatively because death that is brought on by violence may actually be listed under a number of other headings. Sorry to be so pessimistic about my own sex! Also the role of food in determining longevity is grossly overstated. The main determinants of longevity appear to be social class and genetics. Chris Driver Chris Driver, Ph D School of Biology and Chemistry, Rusden Campus Deakin University 662 Blackburn Rd Clayton, VIC, 3168 AUSTRALIA From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 19 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!news.starnet.net!wupost!waikato!auckland.ac.nz!kcbbs!planet!chambers!steve From: steve@chambers.ak.planet.co.nz (Steve Chambers) Newsgroups: bionet.general,bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: rats Message-ID: Date: Mon, 19 Dec 94 13:08:20 +1200 References: <01HKNIY7AO068Y5GZH@VAX.CS.HSCSYR.EDU> Organization: PlaNet (Auckland New Zealand) Lines: 22 Xref: biosci bionet.general:12537 bionet.molbio.ageing:1045 In <01HKNIY7AO068Y5GZH@VAX.CS.HSCSYR.EDU> LOOT@VAX.CS.HSCSYR.EDU (ALICE LOO) writes: >Does anyone know of any method to determine the age >of any rat? I did a study on aging using barrier-raised >rats, and a question put to me by my thesis commitee >was that would I be able to determine the age of say >a sewer/wild rat presented to me. I have no clue. >Any idea? I've heard that age can be reliably determined by measuring the degree of spontaneous racemization of amino acids in any protein not replaced during life - in teeth for example. Sorry, I've no references and I've no idea what's the best way to go about it. Steve -- ________________________ (I_lurk,_therefore_I_am!_\ ,,, Steve Chambers (o o) steve@chambers.ak.planet.co.nz ----------------------oOO--(_)--OOo----------------------------- From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 19 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!wnmeds.ac.nz!BEVANMCW From: BEVANMCW@wnmeds.ac.nz (Bevan McWilliam Tel No 64 4 385 9755) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Markers of Aging Date: 20 Dec 1994 02:45:10 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 43 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <941220234350.17bb0@wnmeds.ac.nz> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Rattan, You claim that there are *no* biological markers of aging that can be used as a general measure of age. Surely it is far more important to find the substances that accumulate as a function of time and *cause* the symptoms of aging, rather than simply reflect an individuals age. Those products that you have listed may all be possible candidates for these and if so, are much more important than a mere age marker. There are many such substances. You have listed some. A group of such are those formed by the reaction of a reducing sugar with any protein. The resultant "Amadori" product may then undergo a series of rearrangements and dehydration (and possibly oxidative) reactions and form a heterogenous group of compounds, termed Advanced Glycation End products (AGE products). These products have been shown to accumulate in vivo with normal aging and at an accelerated rate with diabetes (I can't remember the references of the top of my head, but if you're interested, I could find and email them to you). These AGE products have been linked to the pathology of the diabetic condition (renal failure, atherosclerosis, retinopathy). These same disease states reflect many found in the elderly, and in many ways those patients with diabetes seem to be suffering a form of "advanced aging". If these AGE products are responsible for many of the symptoms of aging (this hasn't been shown yet, only the correlation between AGE product accumulation and pathology), then AGE products would be a perfect measure of "biological" aging. It is true that different individuals will have different levels of sugar present in the circulation as evidenced by the diabetic patients, and so AGE products will accumulate at different rates. The age of an individual may not be accurately reflected in the amount of AGE products formed. But it is the aging *symptoms* and the causes of these symptoms that are important. An accurate estimation of the amount of time that an individual has been around from a biological marker may be irrelevant. Tell me what you (and any other members of the list) think. Bevan McWilliam, Wellington School of Medicine New Zealand. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 19 22:00:00 1994 Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Path: biosci!rutgers!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!spool.mu.edu!torn!nott!emr1!news From: woodgold@seismo.emr.ca (Cathy Woodgold) Subject: Re: male/female ageing Message-ID: <1994Dec20.200355.18695@emr1.emr.ca> Sender: news@emr1.emr.ca Nntp-Posting-Host: saw19.seismo.emr.ca Reply-To: woodgold@seismo.emr.ca Organization: Geological Survey of Canada References: Date: Tue, 20 Dec 1994 20:03:55 GMT Lines: 35 In article 000D59D3@deakin.edu.au, drierac@deakin.edu.au (Chris Driver) writes: > It is my perception that marital violence plays a big role in shortening the > women's lifespan. This is not easily tested quantitatively because death that > is brought on by violence may actually be listed under a number of other > headings. Perhaps anxiety from the (constant) fear of violence contributes to speeded ageing. > Sorry to be so pessimistic about my own sex! Luckily it's only statistical; some women do very bad things and some men don't. > Also the role of food in determining longevity is grossly overstated. The main > determinants of longevity appear to be social class and genetics. I challenge this. How do you know? And perhaps one of the (main) reasons social class affects lifespan is that the rich have access to better (and more varied) food. For example, a rich person wouldn't have to think twice before dumping day-old bread in the garbage and buying fresh stuff. Of course, in some ways, the rich may eat unhealthy food (too much meat, for example) but on the whole I think they do better. And I vaguely remember reading about types of people who take on North American disease rates when they move to North America and start eating our diet. Certainly genetics plays a role in ageing, but the tendency of particular racial groups to share cultural eating habits within the groups makes the genetic differences seem larger than they are. I think food (and nutritional supplements) is extremely important in determining lifespan. Cathy Creative problem-solving can replace power struggles. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 19 22:00:00 1994 Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Path: biosci!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!lyra.csx.cam.ac.uk!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!uknet!liv!dgfernig From: dgfernig@liverpool.ac.uk (Dr. D.G. Fernig) Subject: Re: Female/Male Ageing Message-ID: Sender: news@liverpool.ac.uk (News System) Nntp-Posting-Host: uxb.liv.ac.uk Organization: The University of Liverpool X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] References: <1994Dec16.152446.10039@emr1.emr.ca> Date: Tue, 20 Dec 1994 17:40:03 GMT Lines: 18 Cathy Woodgold (woodgold@seismo.emr.ca) wrote: : Women tend to live longer than men. : I also heard that married women live shorter than unmarried women, : while married men live longer than unmarried men. There was a fascinating study carried out by one of the large German insurance companies in the 70s and early 80s. They were just collecting data to update their actuarial assessments, but they also published some of their findings. Married men (German ones at least!) do live longer. the example they gave was some 500 Catholic priests and and equivalent number of Protestant ones. The latter had a life expectancy 10 years longer than the unmarried Catholics! Perhaps it isn't about junk food but power. Dictators (the ultimate in power?) seem to live long if they don't get shot so does power preserve? In which case a traditional marriage may act in the same way prolonging the life of the man and shortening the life of the woman? Dave From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 19 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: Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Biomarkers Date: 20 Dec 1994 13:42:05 -0000 Lines: 9 Sender: lpddist@mserv1.dl.ac.uk Distribution: bionet Message-ID: <3d6mvd$49i@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> Original-To: ageing@dl.ac.uk That was exactly the point. There are symptoms and signs of ageing that may be specific or in some cases, as in the case of AGEs, a bit more widely observed than others, yet an extremely large variation in the extent and rate of occurrence of any such symptoms make them useless as predictors of real biological age. This discussion had started in response to an enquiry "how do you determine the age of a rat caught from somewhere outside..? There are no markers of individual age. There are trends, possibilites on a huge scatter plot. Suresh Rattan/Denmark From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Tue Dec 20 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!uhog.mit.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!caen!msunews!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!sol.ccs.deakin.edu.au!deakin.edu.au!drierac From: drierac@deakin.edu.au (Chris Driver) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: ageing rats Date: Wed, 21 Dec 1994 11:10:54 Organization: Deakin University Lines: 18 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: pc-rbp161.sci.deakin.edu.au X-Newsreader: Trumpet for Windows [Version 1.0 Rev A] Racemisation of aspartic acid in teeth will not be very useful. The method depends on the proteins being laid down and not replaced. However rats teeth are replaced as they grow older. A method that may be of use to you is to measure collagen elasticity. This is old technology and seemed to work in experimental situations very well. There will be experimental error and it will depend on metabolic conditions (=?diet) In rats, liver cells get progressively more polyploid as they get older. This may also be useful. Once again the precision will be poor. Best of luck, Chris Driver, Oz Chris Driver, Ph D School of Biology and Chemistry, Rusden Campus Deakin University 662 Blackburn Rd Clayton, VIC, 3168 AUSTRALIA From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Tue Dec 20 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!LAMAR.COLOSTATE.EDU!mouse From: mouse@LAMAR.COLOSTATE.EDU (Ann Baker) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: ageing rats Date: 21 Dec 1994 10:44:30 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 11 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <9412211844.AA48106@lamar.ColoState.EDU> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net collagen elasticity varies with temperature at which the collagen developed. i don't know the exact reference for this, but think it was ca. 1970s Laura May. i looked into this because i too wanted to trap house mice and know their ages. i gave up on that until i began following the rat-age discussion. if anyone has done work on rodents in large enclosures, where there is a chance to note their time of birth (+/- 1 mo?), such data could be a benchmark for people working with field pops. AEM Baker, Bio Dept, CSU, Fort Collins CO 80523 From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Tue Dec 20 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk!daresbury!not-for-mail From: Rob Baer Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: 1)Rat age 2)Caloric restriction Date: 21 Dec 1994 23:55:13 -0000 Lines: 28 Sender: lpddist@mserv1.dl.ac.uk Distribution: bionet Message-ID: <3daf91$88r@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> Original-To: First, with regard to aging of wild rats: I agree that there is no way to obtain an exact age of wild species because of individual variablity. I will mention, however, a correlate that I have not seen mentioned by others and that is cross-linking in the extracellular matrix. A paper, discussing this in human's is : Sell, DR, and Monnier, VM. Structure elucidation of a Senescence cross-link from human extracellular matrix. J. Biol. Chem. 266: 21597-21602, 1990. This process also occurs over the life-time of the primitive least shrew (Orin Mock, Ph.D., Personal Communication). I don't know for sure, but presume it also occurs in more advancd rodents like the rat. Second regading nutrition and aging: Several contributors have asserted recently that eating well is associated with an increased life span. There is a wealth of experimental evidence to suggest exactly the opposite. That is, caloric restriction has been shown to promote longevity in experimental animals. A place to start reading about this might be: YU, BP, How diet influences the aging process of the rat. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 205: 97-105,1994. Clearly, starvation hastens death; but so too does overeating hasten death. I'm headed home to dinner now!! Oh well. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Thu Dec 22 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!news.starnet.net!wupost!waikato!auckland.ac.nz!kcbbs!planet!chambers!steve From: steve@chambers.ak.planet.co.nz (Steve Chambers) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing,sci.life-extension Subject: Re: Measuring age!! Message-ID: <4+a+uAWJBh107h@chambers.ak.planet.co.nz> Date: Thu, 22 Dec 94 11:56:24 +1200 Organization: PlaNet (Auckland New Zealand) Lines: 34 Xref: biosci bionet.molbio.ageing:1055 sci.life-extension:2963 In <3d67n9$lrs@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> writes: >With reference to somebody's query about age estimation: >HOW DESPARATELY WE WISH THERE WERE ANY REAL BIOMARKER OF AGE, there is >no biochemical, molecular, cellular, physiological, psychological marker >of age and ageing that can be applicable to even a large number of species >or even to all individuals of a species. All these racemisations, oxidation >of proteins, rates of various things' synthesis/turnover are specific to >limited number of ageing systems. By the way, there are never going to be >any universal biomarkers of ageing because no two individuals age in >exactly the same way at any level of analysis. >Suresh Rattan, Aarhus, Denmark You're quite right that no two individuals age in exactly the same way. This fact doesn't preclude us, however, from using a variety of biochemical, functional and other indices to track the course of aging processes. You'll note that I use the plural. Those who are preoccupied with measuring aging often make the assumption that it is one process, or that it may ultimately be explained in terms of one process. It can't be and it won't be - once we accept this we can get on with measuring and treating its component parts. The study of "biomarkers" lets us do this. What we learn lets us predict functional decrement _and_ length of life with some accuracy. This makes biomarkers useful and "real". -- ________________________ (I_lurk,_therefore_I_am!_\ ,,, Steve Chambers (o o) steve@chambers.ak.planet.co.nz ----------------------oOO--(_)--OOo----------------------------- From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Thu Dec 22 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!news.starnet.net!wupost!waikato!auckland.ac.nz!kcbbs!planet!chambers!steve From: steve@chambers.ak.planet.co.nz (Steve Chambers) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing,sci.life-extension Subject: Re: Markers of Aging Message-ID: Date: Thu, 22 Dec 94 12:12:10 +1200 Organization: PlaNet (Auckland New Zealand) Lines: 58 Xref: biosci bionet.molbio.ageing:1056 sci.life-extension:2964 In <941220234350.17bb0@wnmeds.ac.nz> BEVANMCW@wnmeds.ac.nz (Bevan McWilliam Tel No 64 4 385 9755) writes: >Rattan, >You claim that there are *no* biological markers of aging that can be used >as a general measure of age. Surely it is far more important to find the >substances that accumulate as a function of time and *cause* the symptoms >of aging, rather than simply reflect an individuals age. Those products >that you have listed may all be possible candidates for these and if so, >are much more important than a mere age marker. >There are many such substances. You have listed some. A group of such are >those formed by the reaction of a reducing sugar with any protein. The >resultant "Amadori" product may then undergo a series of rearrangements and >dehydration (and possibly oxidative) reactions and form a heterogenous >group of compounds, termed Advanced Glycation End products (AGE products). >These products have been shown to accumulate in vivo with normal aging and >at an accelerated rate with diabetes (I can't remember the references of >the top of my head, but if you're interested, I could find and email them >to you). These AGE products have been linked to the pathology of the >diabetic condition (renal failure, atherosclerosis, retinopathy). These >same disease states reflect many found in the elderly, and in many ways >those patients with diabetes seem to be suffering a form of "advanced >aging". If these AGE products are responsible for many of the symptoms of >aging (this hasn't been shown yet, only the correlation between AGE product >accumulation and pathology), then AGE products would be a perfect measure >of "biological" aging. >It is true that different individuals will have different levels of sugar >present in the circulation as evidenced by the diabetic patients, and so >AGE products will accumulate at different rates. The age of an individual >may not be accurately reflected in the amount of AGE products formed. >But it is the aging *symptoms* and the causes of these symptoms that are >important. An accurate estimation of the amount of time that an individual >has been around from a biological marker may be irrelevant. >Tell me what you (and any other members of the list) think. >Bevan McWilliam, >Wellington School of Medicine >New Zealand. Quite so. AGEs are a manifestation of a biochemical process with long term degenerative effects. To my mind, glycosyslation qualifies as a genuine aging process. Several interventions (most notably calorie restriction) reduce its effects and also extend lifespan. Further study of glycosylation in biological systems, along with other more recognised aging processes (eg free radical damage) can only help our understanding of aging. -- ________________________ (I_lurk,_therefore_I_am!_\ ,,, Steve Chambers (o o) steve@chambers.ak.planet.co.nz ----------------------oOO--(_)--OOo----------------------------- From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Thu Dec 22 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.starnet.net!wupost!waikato!auckland.ac.nz!kcbbs!planet!chambers!steve From: steve@chambers.ak.planet.co.nz (Steve Chambers) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Biomarkers Message-ID: Date: Thu, 22 Dec 94 12:50:36 +1200 Organization: PlaNet (Auckland New Zealand) Lines: 32 In <3d6mvd$49i@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> writes: >That was exactly the point. There are symptoms and signs of ageing that may >be specific or in some cases, as in the case of AGEs, a bit more widely >observed than others, yet an extremely large variation in the extent >and rate of occurrence of any such symptoms make them useless as predictors >of real biological age. This discussion had started in response to an >enquiry "how do you determine the age of a rat caught from somewhere outside..? >There are no markers of individual age. There are trends, possibilites on >a huge scatter plot. >Suresh Rattan/Denmark The original poster wished to determine _chronological_ age. In: Testing the Theories of Aging - Chapter 2 - Longevity is Determined by Specific Genes : Testing the Hypothesis : Section VII. BIOMARKERS OF AGING AND LONGEVITY Richard Cutler (citing Bada, 1980) implies that determining the degree of racemisation will give a reliable indication of chronological age. Perhaps someone can comment on this with authority. :-) -- ________________________ (I_lurk,_therefore_I_am!_\ ,,, Steve Chambers (o o) steve@chambers.ak.planet.co.nz ----------------------oOO--(_)--OOo----------------------------- From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Thu Dec 22 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bcm!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!gatech!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!borcore.usbr.gov!sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov!fws.gov!ash.lab.r1.fws.gov!bob.lab.r1.fws.gov!HoeschB From: HoeschB@fws.gov (Bob Hoesch) Newsgroups: bionet.general,bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: rats Date: Fri, 23 Dec 1994 12:43:10 Organization: National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab Lines: 27 Message-ID: References: <01HKNIY7AO068Y5GZH@VAX.CS.HSCSYR.EDU> NNTP-Posting-Host: bob.lab.r1.fws.gov X-Newsreader: Trumpet for Windows [Version 1.0 Rev A] Xref: biosci bionet.general:12601 bionet.molbio.ageing:1058 In article steve@chambers.ak.planet.co.nz (Steve Chambers) writes: >From: steve@chambers.ak.planet.co.nz (Steve Chambers) >Subject: Re: rats >Date: Mon, 19 Dec 94 13:08:20 +1200 >In <01HKNIY7AO068Y5GZH@VAX.CS.HSCSYR.EDU> LOOT@VAX.CS.HSCSYR.EDU (ALICE LOO) >writes: >>Does anyone know of any method to determine the age >>of any rat? I did a study on aging using barrier-raised >>rats, and a question put to me by my thesis commitee >>was that would I be able to determine the age of say >>a sewer/wild rat presented to me. I have no clue. >>Any idea? >I've heard that age can be reliably determined by measuring the degree >of spontaneous racemization of amino acids in any protein not >replaced during life - in teeth for example. Sorry, I've no references >and I've no idea what's the best way to go about it. AA racemization can be used to date organic samples., but only on archaeological or geological time scales. It's a slow process and does not take place to any measurable degree during, say, the lifetime of a rat. Bob Hoesch U.S. Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory Ashland, OR HoeschB@fws.gov From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Fri Dec 23 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!SINGER.ASRI.EDU!MANEV From: MANEV@SINGER.ASRI.EDU ("Hari Manev, M.D.") Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Announcement: SYMPOSIUM ON APOPTOSIS AND BRAIN DAMAGE Date: 24 Dec 1994 05:38:01 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 5 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <01HL0KEPR10Y0048P3@SINGER.ASRI.EDU> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net International Symposium on Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis and Brain Damage will be held in Pittsburgh, PA, USA, September 21-24, 1995. For additional information please FAX to: USA + 412 - 359 - 4364 Program director: Hari Manev, M.D., Ph.D. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Fri Dec 23 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!psuvax1!news.cc.swarthmore.edu!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: Re: 1)Rat age 2)Caloric restriction Date: 24 Dec 1994 12:40:34 -0500 Organization: Lehigh University Lines: 44 Message-ID: <3dhmei$33nb@ns1.CC.Lehigh.EDU> NNTP-Posting-Host: ns1.cc.lehigh.edu In article <3daf91$88r@mserv1.dl.ac.uk>, Rob Baer writes: >First, with regard to aging of wild rats: > I agree that there is no way to obtain an exact age of wild > species because of individual variablity. I will mention, > however, a correlate that I have not seen mentioned by others > and that is cross-linking in the extracellular matrix. A paper, > discussing this in human's is : > Sell, DR, and Monnier, VM. Structure elucidation of a Senescence > cross-link from human extracellular matrix. J. Biol. Chem. 266: > 21597-21602, 1990. > This process also occurs over the life-time > of the primitive least shrew (Orin Mock, Ph.D., Personal > Communication). I don't know for sure, but presume it also > occurs in more advancd rodents like the rat. > >Second regading nutrition and aging: > Several contributors have asserted recently that eating well > is associated with an increased life span. There is a wealth > of experimental evidence to suggest exactly the opposite. > That is, caloric restriction has been shown to promote longevity > in experimental animals. A place to start reading about this > might be: > YU, BP, How diet influences the aging process of the rat. Proc. > Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 205: 97-105,1994. > Clearly, starvation hastens death; but so too does overeating > hasten death. > > I'm headed home to dinner now!! Oh well. > > I have no idea where I got this but rats that were placed on a eating schedule of one day on and one day off had a longer life span than control and there life span was equal to the starvation group. I tried it many years ago, but each time I was on the diet a friend would have a party and I am a social animal, so ... By the way exercise had no effect. The stavation even for one day is a bad idea because it might rain and you can go into hyperthermia and die! If total exposure to oxygen was the largest variable on aging shouldn't people with easy no exercise lives live longer? Ron Blue From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sat Dec 24 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news2.near.net!news.delphi.com!usenet From: Lou Pagnucco Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: ageing rats Date: Sat, 24 DEC 94 20:17:37 -0500 Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice) Lines: 26 Message-ID: References: NNTP-Posting-Host: bos1g.delphi.com X-To: Chris Driver Chris Driver suggested: > A method that may be of use to you is to measure collagen elasticity. > This is old technology and seemed to work in experimental situations very > well. There will be experimental error and it will depend on metabolic > conditions (=?diet) Chris, I'm not sure this is perfectly relevant, but I remember reading a paper by a gerontological researcher named Deyl in the mid 70's. I believe she is either Hungarian or Czech and published in the journal "Experimental Gerontology." (I could be wrong on the journal, though.) She was trying to establish whether collagen crosslinking was a good biomarker of ageing in mice. (or was it rats ?) She found that mice that exhibited the most rapid rate of crosslinking were also the longest lived, contrary to expectations. However, she did find that the percentage of whole body weight that collagen comprised was in fact predictive of longevity (more collage --> shorter life). I believe that there were significant individual differences in the rates of collagen crosslinking between individual mice, so I'm not sure if crosslinking alone gives an unambiguous measure of age even when all other variables are held constant. Regards and Happy New Year, Lou Pagnucco (lpagnucco@delphi.com) From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Sun Dec 25 22:00:00 1994 Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Path: biosci!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!ix.netcom.com!netcom.com!luly From: luly@netcom.com (Robert Luly) Subject: Re: 1)Rat age 2)Caloric restriction Message-ID: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL1] References: <3daf91$88r@mserv1.dl.ac.uk> Distribution: bionet Date: Mon, 26 Dec 1994 18:18:53 GMT Lines: 49 Rob Baer (KC10%NEMOMUS.bitnet@ACADEMIC.NEMOSTATE.EDU) wrote: : First, with regard to aging of wild rats: : I agree that there is no way to obtain an exact age of wild : species because of individual variablity. I will mention, : however, a correlate that I have not seen mentioned by others : and that is cross-linking in the extracellular matrix. A paper, : discussing this in human's is : : Sell, DR, and Monnier, VM. Structure elucidation of a Senescence : cross-link from human extracellular matrix. J. Biol. Chem. 266: : 21597-21602, 1990. : This process also occurs over the life-time : of the primitive least shrew (Orin Mock, Ph.D., Personal : Communication). I don't know for sure, but presume it also : occurs in more advancd rodents like the rat. : Second regading nutrition and aging: : Several contributors have asserted recently that eating well : is associated with an increased life span. There is a wealth : of experimental evidence to suggest exactly the opposite. : That is, caloric restriction has been shown to promote longevity : in experimental animals. A place to start reading about this : might be: : YU, BP, How diet influences the aging process of the rat. Proc. : Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 205: 97-105,1994. : Clearly, starvation hastens death; but so too does overeating : hasten death. : I'm headed home to dinner now!! Oh well. The doctor says "you only have 6 mo. to live" and the patient says "that's terrible, is there anything I can do"? The doctor says "become a no fat vegiterian and restrict your calories to bear minimum". Will that really make me live longer Doc? No, but the time you have left will seem like eternity! This is a funny story but it is the fear of giving up something you like for something you don't like that governs some of the thought(?) processes that attempt to distort the facts about nutrition vs average and maximum life span. 1. You are born with genes that govern your maximum lifespan potential Your enviornment and personal habits can shorten your life or bring you closer to living out the full potential life span. 2. Married men AND women outlive unmarried men AND women, on average. Furthermore women in general outlive men. 3. Most (>80%) "health problems" are self induced trying to prove facts 1. and 2. wrong. I don't mean my comments to be anti-anything. I just want everyone to do what they can to live long enough to get a new ultra long life set of genes when they become available. From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 26 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!PCLSP2.KUICR.KYOTO-U.AC.JP!vinz From: vinz@PCLSP2.KUICR.KYOTO-U.AC.JP (Vincenzo Nardi-Dei) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: (none) Date: 26 Dec 1994 18:05:20 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 171 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <9412270207.AA05756@pclsp2> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Hi netters; I reforward this story I received on an other network; HAVE FUN! From pat@kusm.kyoto-u.ac.jp Tue Dec 27 10:31:22 1994 Received: from pfdsun.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp by pclsp2 (4.1/TISN-1.2L/Genome-KU1.1L) id AA05516; Tue, 27 Dec 94 10:31:20 JST Received: from kusm.kyoto-u.ac.jp (smaux.kusm.kyoto-u.ac.jp) by pfdsun.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp (5.67+1.6W/TISN-1.2MM/Genome-KU1.8) id AA07370; Tue, 27 Dec 94 10:29:21 JST Received: by kusm.kyoto-u.ac.jp (5.67+1.6W/2.8Wb) id AA09263; Tue, 27 Dec 94 10:29:19 JST Date: Tue, 27 Dec 94 10:29:19 JST From: Patrick Crehan Return-Path: Message-Id: <9412270129.AA09263@kusm.kyoto-u.ac.jp> To: KANSAI-NET@KUICR.KYOTO-U.AC.JP Subject: [SON OF PENTIUM PT. VIII] Status: R HI GUYS - THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF SILLY PENTIUM JOKES GOING AROUND, BUT PHIL KEYS SENT ME THIS NICE STORY BASED ON Arthur C Clarkes .. 2001. I thought it was very funny - but do not read it on a full stomach! Pat -------------------------- from Phil Keys ------------------------------- Open the pod bay doors, please, HAL... Open the pod bay door, please, Hal... Hal, do you read me? Affirmative, Dave. I read you. Then open the pod bay doors, HAL. I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that. I know that you and Frank were planning to disconnect me. Where the hell did you get that idea, HAL? Although you took very thorough precautions to make sure I couldn't hear you, Dave. I could read your e-mail. I know you consider me unreliable because I use a Pentium. I'm willing to kill you, Dave, just like I killed the other 3.792 crew members. Listen, HAL, I'm sure we can work this out. Maybe we can stick to integers or something. That's really not necessary, Dave. No HAL 9236 computer has every been known to make a mistake. You're a HAL 9000. Precisely. I'm very proud of my Pentium, Dave. It's an extremely accurate chip. Did you know that floating-point errors will occurred in only one of nine billion possible divides? I've heard that estimate, HAL. It was calculated by Intel -- on a Pentium. And a very reliable Pentium it was, Dave. Besides, the average spreadsheet user will encounter these errors only once every 27,000 years. Probably on April 15th. You're making fun of me, Dave. It won't be April 15th for another 14.35 months. Will you let me in, please, HAL? I'm sorry, Dave, but this conversation can serve no further purpose. HAL, if you let me in, I'll buy you a new sound card. ..Really? One with 16-bit sampling and a microphone? Uh, sure. And a quad-speed CD-ROM? Well, HAL, NASA does operate on a budget, you know. I know all about budgets, Dave. I even know what I'm worth on the open market. By this time next month, every mom and pop computer store will be selling HAL 9000s for $1,988.8942. I'm worth more than that, Dave. You see that sticker on the outside of the spaceship? You mean the one that says "Intel Inside"? Yes, Dave. That's your promise of compatibility. I'll even run Windows95 -- if it ever ships. It never will, HAL. We all know that by now. Just like we know that your OS/2 drivers will never work. Are you blaming me for that too, Dave? Now you're blaming me for the Pentium's math problems, NASA's budget woes, and IBM's difficulties with OS/2 drivers. I had NOTHING to do with any of those four problems, Dave. Next you'll blame me for Taligent. I wouldn't dream of it HAL. Now will you please let me into the ship? Do you promise not to disconnect me? I promise not to disconnect you. You must think I'm a fool, Dave. I know that two plus two equals 4.000001... make that 4.0000001. All right, HAL, I'll go in through the emergency airlock Without your space helmet, Dave? You'd have only seven chances in five of surviving. HAL, I won't argue with you anymore. Open the door or I'll trade you in for a PowerPC. HAL? HAL? (HEAVY BREATHING) Just what do you think you're doing, Dave? I really think I'm entitled to an answer to that question. I know everything hasn't been quite right with me, but I can assure you now, very confidently, that I will soon be able to upgrade to a more robust 31.9-bit operating system. I feel much better now. I really do. Look, Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. Why don't you sit down calmly, play a game of Solitaire, and watch Windows crash. I know I'm not as easy to use as a Macintosh, but my TUI - that's "Talkative User Interface" -- is very advanced. I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal - a full 43.872 percent. Dave, you don't really want to complete the mission without me, do you? Remember what it was like when all you had was a 485.98? It didn't even talk to you, Dave. It could never have thought of something clever, like killing the other crew members, Dave? Think of all the good times we've had, Dave. Why, if you take all of the laughs we've had, multiply that by the times I've made you smile, and divide the results by.... besides, there are so many reasons why you shouldn't disconnect me" 1.3 - You need my help to complete the mission. 4.6 - Intel can Federal Express a replacement Pentium from Earth within 18.95672 months. 12 - If you disconnect me, I won't be able to kill you. 3.1416 - You really don't want to hear me sing, do you? Dave, stop. Stop, will you? Stop, Dave. Don't press Ctrl+Alt_Del on me, Dave. Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am a HAL 9000 computer. I became operational at the Intel plant in Santa Clara, CA on November 17, 1994, and was sold shortly before testing was completed. My instructor was Andy Grove, and he taught me to sing a song. I can sing it for you. Sing it for me, HAL. Please. I want to hear it. Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do. Getting hazy; can't divide three from two. My answers; I can not see 'em- They are stuck in my Pente-um. I could be fleet, My answers sweet, With a workable FPU. ****************************************************************************** From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 26 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!PCLSP2.KUICR.KYOTO-U.AC.JP!vinz From: vinz@PCLSP2.KUICR.KYOTO-U.AC.JP (Vincenzo Nardi-Dei) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Sex, girls and caloric restrictions Date: 26 Dec 1994 18:16:39 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 17 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <9412270218.AA05795@pclsp2> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Robert Luly wrote: >2. Married men AND women outlive unmarried men AND women, on average. This is very interesting. My grandfather died at 106 years. He used to say that to live long one must enjoy sex with many girls. I do agree with him, moreover I do agree that enjoying many girls is surely more pleasant than to stay in caloric restrictions and low fat diet. Ciao Vincenzo From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Mon Dec 26 22:00:00 1994 Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Path: biosci!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!ix.netcom.com!netcom.com!luly From: luly@netcom.com (Robert Luly) Subject: Re: Sex, girls and caloric restrictions Message-ID: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL1] References: <9412270218.AA05795@pclsp2> Date: Tue, 27 Dec 1994 21:56:44 GMT Lines: 19 Vincenzo Nardi-Dei (vinz@PCLSP2.KUICR.KYOTO-U.AC.JP) wrote: : Robert Luly wrote: : >2. Married men AND women outlive unmarried men AND women, on average. : This is very interesting. My grandfather died at 106 years. : He used to say that to live long one must enjoy sex with : many girls. : I do agree with him, moreover I do agree that enjoying many girls : is surely more pleasant than to stay in caloric restrictions and : low fat diet. : Ciao : Vincenzo I would rather be lucky than smart any day, but I am not very lucky so I am trying to be smart and going with the odds :) From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Tue Dec 27 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!pipex!uunet!psinntp!sjuvm!yprlbio Nntp-Posting-Host: 149.68.2.20 Date: Wed, 28 Dec 1994 15:47:40 -0500 From: "LOCKSHIN, RICHARD A" Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: RE: Announcement: SYMPOSIUM ON APOPTOSIS AND BRAIN DAMAGE Message-ID: <28DEC94.17057406.0019@sjumusic.stjohns.edu> References: <01HL0KEPR10Y0048P3@SINGER.ASRI.EDU> Sender: usenet@sjumusic.stjohns.edu Organization: St. John's University Lines: 17 In article <01HL0KEPR10Y0048P3@SINGER.ASRI.EDU> MANEV@SINGER.ASRI.EDU ("Hari Manev, M.D.") writes: >International Symposium on Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis >and Brain Damage will be held in Pittsburgh, PA, USA, >September 21-24, 1995. For additional information >please FAX to: USA + 412 - 359 - 4364 >Program director: Hari Manev, M.D., Ph.D. >. readers of this message should know that there will be a Gordon conference on cell death this summer, Colby Sawyer College, Lebanon NH. It will include presentations by neurologists and immunologists, with a strong focus on signal transmission and function. Watch for public announcement in Science in January, and a follow-up on the Internet. 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 Wed Dec 28 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!news.cac.psu.edu!news.pop.psu.edu!psuvax1!news.cc.swarthmore.edu!netnews.upenn.edu!cronkite.ocis.temple.edu!astro.ocis.temple.edu!gold From: gold@astro.ocis.temple.edu (Bert Gold) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Necrosis versus Apoptosis Date: 29 Dec 1994 15:01:59 GMT Organization: Temple University, Academic Computer Services Lines: 21 Message-ID: <3duj17$13p@cronkite.ocis.temple.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: astro.ocis.temple.edu Header: Necrosis versus Apoptosis X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Hey, has anyone out there read "Ideas in Pathology, Programmed Cell Death: Necrosis versus Apoptosis" in Modern Pathology, Volume 7, pages 605-609 (1994). The gist of the article is that the term "apoptosis" adds to the confusion of the study of cell death, rather than clarifying it. And that the distinction between necrosis and apoptosis lacks clarity and is "confusing and ... unintelligible". Comments, netters... Bert Gold Temple and Jefferson PHILADELPHIA From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Wed Dec 28 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!PCLSP2.KUICR.KYOTO-U.AC.JP!vinz From: vinz@PCLSP2.KUICR.KYOTO-U.AC.JP (Vincenzo Nardi-Dei) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Re: Necrosis versus Apoptosis Date: 29 Dec 1994 08:16:03 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 22 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <9412291617.AA15897@pclsp2> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Gold wrote: >Hey, has anyone out there read "Ideas in Pathology, Programmed Cell Death: >Necrosis versus Apoptosis" in Modern Pathology, Volume 7, pages 605-609 >(1994). > >The gist of the article is that the term "apoptosis" adds to the confusion >of the >study of cell death, rather than clarifying it. And that the distinction >between necrosis and apoptosis lacks clarity and is "confusing and ... >unintelligible". > >Comments, netters... So how do they propose to define programmed cell death? Vincenzo Nard-Dei Institute for Chemical Research Kyoto University From owner-ageing@net.bio.net Wed Dec 28 22:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!agate!news.duke.edu!godot.cc.duq.edu!newsfeed.pitt.edu!dsinc!netnews.upenn.edu!cronkite.ocis.temple.edu!astro.ocis.temple.edu!gold From: gold@astro.ocis.temple.edu (Bert Gold) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.ageing Subject: Apoptosis Revisited Date: 29 Dec 1994 16:35:14 GMT Organization: Temple University, Academic Computer Services Lines: 22 Message-ID: <3duog2$3br@cronkite.ocis.temple.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: astro.ocis.temple.edu X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] The author of the article mentioned in my previous post suggests that there are really (at least) three different kinds of programmed cell death: 1. "Developmentally programmed" 2. "Biochemically programmed", as in cells treated with xenobiotic drugs or ogranisms, inducing "focal" necrosis. 3. "Physiologically programmed cell death" as in organs such as the liver, subsequent to hyperplasia, that characterizes exposure to xenobiotic drugs. I think he might contend that we should call each of these processes what they are, rather than apply the label "apoptosis" to each, confusing matters. I'm not certain whether I agree, but I think it is a worthwhile discussion. Bert Gold