The potential influence of KIR cluster profiles on disease patterns of Canadian Aboriginals and other indigenous peoples of the Americas

Genetic differences in immune regulators influence disease resistance and susceptibility patterns. There are major health discrepancies in immune-mediated diseases between Caucasians and Canadian Aboriginal people, as well as with other indigenous people of the Americas. Environmental factors offer a limited explanation as Aboriginal people also demonstrate a rare resistance to chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are known modulators of viral responses and autoimmune diseases. The possibility that variation in KIR cluster profiles contribute to the health outcomes of Aboriginal people was evaluated with Canadian Caucasian (n=93, population controls) and Aboriginal (n=86) individuals. Relative to Caucasians, the Aboriginal KIR cluster displayed a greater immune activating phenotype associated with genes of the B haplotype situated within the telomeric region. In conjunction, there was a decrease in the genes of the B haplotype from the centromeric region. Caucasian and Aboriginal cohorts further demonstrated distinct genotype and haplotype relationships enforcing the disconnect between the B haplotype centromeric and telomeric regions within the Aboriginal population. Moreover, Caucasian KIR cluster patterns reflected studies of Caucasians globally, as well as Asians. In contrast, the unique pattern of the Canadian Aboriginal cohort mirrored the phenotype of other indigenous peoples of the Americas, but not that of Caucasians or Asians. Taken together, these data suggest that historically indigenous peoples of the Americas were subject to immune selection processes that could be influencing the current disease resistance and susceptibility patterns of their descendents.     

Invalid corps

OBJECTIVES: This article explores America's historical experience with medical disability compensation programs during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. METHODS: Contemporary newspaper reports, complemented by book and journal articles, provide an understanding of the medical disability compensation programs offered during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. RESULTS: Military planners, politicians, and service members struggled to develop a fair and balanced medical disability compensation program during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. CONCLUSIONS: Based on America's extensive experience with the Civil War Invalid Corps, an alternative for motivated military personnel could be developed.     

Medical evaluation and treatment of urolithiasis

Nephrolithiasis is responsible for 1 in 1000 to 1 in 7600 pediatric hospital admissions annually throughout the United States. Seventy-five percent of children with nephrolithiasis have an identifiable predisposition to stone formation. This article reviews the different causes and disease states associated with nephrolithiasis in the pediatric population. The initial evaluation and the metabolic evaluation of children with nephrolithiasis are reviewed. Treatment modalities for the different stone types are also described.     

Intracellular location of newly synthesized interferon in human FS-4 cells

The distribution of interferon was examined in fractions of human FS-4 diploid fibroblasts induced with polyinosinate-polycytidylate [poly(I) · poly(C)]. In order to synchronize interferon production in the cultures, cells were first induced with poly(I) · poly(C) in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. After 4 hr, protein synthesis was allowed to resume by removing cycloheximide. Cells were harvested for the analysis of intracellular interferon at 20 min after the removal of cycloheximide, i.e., before substantial quantities of newly synthesized interferon could reach the extracellular environment. Much of the intracellular interferon present in the postnuclear supernatant (PNS) was associated with a membrane fraction that formed a single peak in sucrose density gradients. Treatment with pancreatic ribonuclease which abolished free polysomes did not result in a marked alteration of the distribution of interferon activity in the sucrose gradient, whereas treatment of the PNS with deoxycholate (0.5%) resulted in the release of all interferon activity from the membrane. Unlike free interferon, membrane-associated interferon was resistant to treatment with trypsin-chymotrypsin. Treatment with puromycin in high salt, which caused release on membrane-bound ribosomes, failed to remove interferon from the membrane fraction. These observations suggest that the membrane-associated interferon was contained inside membraneous vesicles. In addition to the interferon found in membrane-bound form, some interferon activity in the PNS of induced cells was present in free form. However, available evidence strongly suggests that this “free” interferon is an artifact due to the release of interferon from membraneous vesicles during the cell homogenization procedure. It is concluded that probably all interferon in this cell system is synthesized on membrane-bound polysomes, discharged into the lumina of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, and further processed during passage through various intracellular membrane compartments.     

Changes in knowledge and attitudes of folate, and use of dietary supplements among women of reproductive age in Norway 1998-2000

AIMS: From March 1998, Norwegian nutrition authorities have recommended that women consume a folic acid supplement before and early in pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. The authors wished to establish Norwegian data on knowledge of, use of, and attitudes to folic acid supplement and dietary supplements before and after implementing national information campaigns on folate and pregnancy. METHODS: Telephone surveys were carried out in late 1998 and in late 2000 among, respectively, 1,146 and 1,218 Norwegian women of reproductive age. RESULTS: Overall, 50% of the women in 1998 and 60% of the women in 2000 had heard about folate, 33% and 46% knew about its role in pregnancy, and 9.5% and 21% knew that it may prevent a congenital malformation. Only 4.0% and 8.5% of the women, respectively, knew that the critical period for folic acid supplement to reduce the risk of neural tube defect is before and early in pregnancy. Knowledge and increase in knowledge between the two surveys were highest among women close to pregnancy (woman planning pregnancy, pregnant women, or women who had given birth within the last 12 months), and among women with high education. Among the 54 women in 1998 and the 55 women in 2000 whose last birth was within the previous year, use of a folic acid supplement before or early in the last pregnancy was reported by 10% (95% confidence interval (CI) 5-21%) and by 47% (95% CI 35-60%), respectively. Among women close to pregnancy, 76% in 1998 and 87% in 2000 stated that they would use a folic acid supplement in a future pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge and use of folate among Norwegian women increased from 1998 to 2000. Future information strategies on folate and pregnancy should in particular aim at increasing women's knowledge on the critical period for folic acid supplementation, as well as reducing socio-demographic differences in use and knowledge of folate.     

Immune complex disease associated with Epstein-Barr virus infectious mononucleosis

We describe a patient with immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis and leukocytoclastic vasculitis associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infectious mononucleosis. The patient required hemodialysis and has residual hypertension. This case implicates acute EBV infection as a cause of immune complex-mediated glomerulonephitis. Received October 10, 1997; received in revised form January 20, 1998; accepted January 27, 1998     

The antenatal sonographic visualization of cloacal dysgenesis

Hydronephrosis associated with a septated cystic structure in the fetal pelvis in the absence of an otherwise identifiable fetal bladder should alert the sonographer to the possibility of a persistent cloaca. Problems associated with compromised urinary tract drainage and the associated oligohydramnios occurring early in gestation as well as frequent association of anomalies with other organ systems must be addressed. Squamous epithelia in fetal bladder aspirate is further supportive evidence for the diagnosis.     

Public attitude toward pesticides. A random survey of pesticide use in Allegheny County,Pa.

Pesticide use was examined by means of a random survey in Allegheny County, Pa., in October and November 1973. The objectives included gaining insight into the need for a new community pesticide program and estimating its public acceptance. The 110 survey sites were grouped as single-family dwellings, commercial and recreational lawns, institutions, farms, rights-of-way, and wasteland. In the single-family dwellings, most householders (85 percent) used a pesticide in the previous 12 months, usually an aerosol insecticide (76 percent) or herbicide (55 percent). Their pesticide selections were most often based on advertisements of availabel products. A high percentage lacked either the interest or the knowledge of the information on the pesticide''s label. No observation in this or any other study supports the need for a new special program in pesticides or indicates that a substantial segment of the public would use its services. The main users of "hard" pesticides were the golf courses, rights-of-way, and one farm-nursery. The rights-of-way used chemicals only for vegetation control. Utilities and railroads contracted with pesticide companies for this work. Municipal users applied pesticides recommended by dealers. The golf courses and a farm-nursery used a broad range of fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides, which they selected because of information received from the Pennsylvania Extension Service and professional organizations.