Enacting Treaty Rights through Restoring Shoshone Ancestral Foods on the Wind River Indian Reservation

Despite great loss in gathering and consumption of traditional foods among Indigenous communities, there is great hope for reclaiming and preserving knowledge. The Restoring Shoshone Ancestral Food Gathering (RSAFG) is a community group leading grassroots efforts on the Wind River reservation to reclaim Shoshone ancestral foods and promote food sovereignty. The story of the RSAFG promotes equitable, decolonized, and community empowered methods of reclaiming Indigenous foods by sharing three of RSAFG's acts of decolonization: 1) enacting treaty rights through gathering traditional plants, 2) demanding equitable partnerships in community-based research, and 3) sharing the story through radical authorship via layered narratives. A pesar de la gran pérdida en la recolección y el consumo de alimentos tradicionales entre las comunidades indígenas, existe una gran esperanza para recuperar y preservar el conocimiento. El Restoring Shoshone Ancestral Food Gathering (RSAFG) es un grupo comunitario que lidera los esfuerzos de base en la reserva wind river para recuperar los alimentos ancestrales shoshone y promover la soberanía alimentaria. La historia de la RSAFG promueve métodos equitativos, descolonizados y empoderados por la comunidad para recuperar los alimentos indígenas al compartir tres de los actos de descolonización de RSAFG: 1) promulgar los derechos de los tratados mediante la recolección de plantas tradicionales, 2) exigir asociaciones equitativas en la investigación basada en la comunidad, y 3) compartir la historia a través de la autoría radical a través de narrativas en capas.

[Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism in a diabetic cohort and diabetic nephropathy]

The renin-angiotensin system is thought to play an important role in the pathophysiology of kidney disease in diabetes. Previous studies have shown a possible association between the D allele of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene, known to be associated with higher circulating levels of ACE, and increased risk of developing nephropathy in NIDDM. The present study investigated the distribution of ACE gene genotypes in the general population and patients with NIDDM, the association between the D allele and diabetic nephropathy, and the association between the ACE genotype and involvement of other target organs in NIDDM. The ACE genotype (insertion/deletion I/D) was determined in all subjects, subsequently divided into 3 groups based on their polymorphism (DD, DI and II). The presence of nephropathy was defined by an albumin-creatinine ratio of 30 mg/g or greater (mean of 2 first morning urine samples). In the general population most had the D allele (DD or ID) and a minority the II genotype. There was no association between genotype and hypertension, ischemic heart disease, hyperlipidemia, and cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease. In diabetics the genotype distribution was not different from that in the general population. Within the diabetic group, there was no association between genotype and hypertension, hyperlipidemia, duration of diabetes, or HbA1C levels. Nephropathy, found in 81 of the 156 with NIDDM, was not associated with genotype. Diabetic nephropathy was not associated with retinopathy, neuropathy, or ischemic heart, cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease. We conclude that in the population sampled, there was no association between the D allele of the ACE gene and the risk of developing nephropathy in NIDDM.

Brain spectrin binding to the NMDA receptor is regulated by phosphorylation, calcium and calmodulin

The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) and brain spectrin, a protein that links membrane proteins to the actin cytoskeleton, are major components of post-synaptic densities (PSDs). Since the activity of the NMDA-R channel is dependent on the integrity of actin and leads to calpain-mediated spectrin breakdown, we have investigated whether the actin-binding spectrin may interact directly with NMDA-Rs. Spectrin is reported here to interact selectively in vitro with the C-terminal cytoplasmic domains of the NR1a, NR2A and NR2B subunits of the NMDA-R but not with that of the AMPA receptor GluR1. Spectrin binds at NR2B sites distinct from those of alpha-actinin-2 and members of the PSD95/SAP90 family. The spectrin-NR2B interactions are antagonized by Ca2+ and fyn-mediated NR2B phosphorylation, but not by Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM) or by Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase II-mediated NR2B phosphorylation. The spectrin-NR1 interactions are unaffected by Ca2+ but inhibited by CaM and by protein kinase A- and C-mediated phosphorylations of NR1. Finally, in rat synaptosomes, both spectrin and NR2B are loosened from membranes upon addition of physiological concentrations of calcium ions. The highly regulated linkage of the NMDA-R to spectrin may underlie the morphological changes that occur in neuronal dendrites concurrently with synaptic activity and plasticity.

Isoproterenol downregulation of statin-related gene expression in the rat parotid gland

Statin, a 57 kilodalton (kDa) nuclear protein, is characteristically found in nonproliferating cells in culture as well as nondividing cells of a wide range of highly differentiated tissues. Moreover, cells in culture that are statin positive lose this statin expression when re-entering the cell-cycle traverse. In this work, statin expression was investigated in the parotid gland of untreated rats and those treated with isoproterenol (IPR), a proliferation-inducing catecholamine. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy revealed specific nuclear staining with anti-statin monoclonal antibody (S-44) in the acinar and ducts cells of the untreated rats but significantly reduced in those induced with isoproterenol. To characterize the protein recognized by S-44, protein extracts from both tissues were immunoblotted and incubated with S-44. The antibody reacted specifically with a 48 kDa protein in the extract of the parotid glands from untreated rats while no reaction was detected in that of the proliferation-induced ones. These observations along with the result that a statin-like (S1) transcript is downregulated by isoproterenol in the parotid glands further support the notion that the disappearance of statin-related expression is associated with the IPR-induced proliferation in the rat parotid glands. The discrepancy between the apparent molecular mass of the protein identified by S-44 in nonproliferating parotid cells and that of statin originally found in fibroblasts, suggests that either a modified form of statin may be present in the parotid gland, or this 48 kDa protein may be a member of the nonproliferative statin-like family.

Mechanisms of macrophage-mediated tumor cell killing: a comparative analysis of the roles of reactive nitrogen intermediates and tumor necrosis factor

The roles of tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) and reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) as effectors of macrophage-mediated tumor cell killing were investigated in a variety of tumor cell lines. Three TNF alpha-sensitive tumor targets were also susceptible to resting bone-marrow-derived mononuclear phagocytes (BMMP). This macrophage lytic activity was markedly diminished or even abolished by anti-TNF alpha, indicating that TNF alpha is the major effector of macrophage-mediated killing of these targets. The other 21 tumor cell lines examined were resistant to TNF alpha but, in their large majority, were more or less susceptible to killing by interferon gamma (IFN gamma)- and Corynebacterium parvum (CP)-activated BMMP. Among the various analogues of L-arginine used to assess the role of L-arginine-derived RNI as mediators of macrophage tumoricidal activity, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA) was most efficient in suppressing RNI secretion by activated macrophages. In some macrophage tumor-cell combinations, NMMA inhibited both the generation of RNI and the expression of tumoricidal activity in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a central role for RNI as effectors. In other combinations, NMMA in concentrations that abolished secretion of RNI either affected tumor-cell killing only after its induction by IFN gamma, or not at all. The findings not only support the thesis that macrophages posses various means of coping with tumor cells but also suggest that the mechanism becoming operative is determined predominantly by the pathway of macrophage activation and the properties of the tumor-cell type.

A quantitative study of dendrite complexity in selected areas of the human cerebral cortex

This study seeks relationships between the degree of dendrite complexity of four areas of the human cerebral cortex and the type of function subserved by those areas. Quantitative studies of basilar dendrite patterns in the trunk and hand-finger receptive zones of areas 3 and 1, superior gyrus of the prefrontal cortex (area 9), and supramarginal gyrus (area 39) of the parietal lobe, in the left hemisphere of 10 subjects are reported. Measurements of dendrite complexity were based on the Sholl method of counting dendrite intersections with a series of superimposed concentric rings centered on the middle of the neuron soma. The data were analyzed graphically to show (1) characteristic dendrite profiles generated by cells in each of these areas, (2) comparisons between dendrite systems of two paired areas, i.e., trunk vs. hand-finger, and hand-finger vs. supramarginal, and (3) cumulative dendrite-ring intersection patterns for all areas studied. The data provided only partial support for our working hypothesis suggesting a relationship between complexity of the dendrite arbor and the nature of the computational tasks performed by the area. However, complexity of dendrite systems in the trunk area was found to be generally less than that of any other. In addition, there were suggestive associations between the complexity of dendrite systems of the hand-finger zone of the primary sensory receptive area and the nature of the work with which the individual had been associated during his/her working life. It proved more difficult to discern relationships between structure and function in the cortical associative areas. The study underlines the large degree of interindividual variation in dendrite structure and the need for much more extensive information about the life history of individuals who serve as subjects for this type of study.

Chromosome findings in multiple myeloma

Cytogenetic studies were performed on six patients with multiple myeloma in which G-banding allowed the identification of clonal chromosome abnormalities. Normal cells and random chromosome gains and losses were seen in all cases. Numerical clonal aberrations were observed in two cases. Among the remaining cases, clonal chromosome rearrangements were seen in two cases, whereas, the other two patients revealed both numerical and structural clonal anomalies. The following marker chromosomes were identified: 1q-, 2p+, 2q+, 7q-, 17p-, and five unidentified abnormal chromosomes.

Normalization of monocyte candidacidal deficiency by cyclooxygenase inhibitors in Hodgkin's disease

In a previous work, the authors found that the peripheral blood monocytes from patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) had depressed lytic capability to kill Candida pseudotropicalis and depressed phagocytic function. The aim of this study was to evaluate if cyclooxygenase inhibitors could correct the defective macrophage functions. Fifteen untreated patients with HD and 10 normal subjects were studied. The incubation of the cells from the patients with HD with indomethacin (IM) at 1, 3, and 10 micrograms/ml and with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) at 20 micrograms/ml increased their previously deficient ability to kill C. pseudotropicalis, reaching values close to those of normal subjects. The oral administration of ASA during 1 week also corrected the monocyte lytic deficiency in the patients' group. Neither the in vitro nor the in vivo treatment with these cyclooxygenase inhibitors had any significant effect on normal subjects' monocytes' lytic function. The drugs did not improve the impaired phagocytic function in patients with HD. These results indicate that the failure of the lytic activity of the monocytes in HD could be associated to an excessive production of PGE2, and the oral administration of inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase activity can correct such abnormality whereas the phagocytic dysfunction is not reverted by them.

Dendritic organization of the anterior speech area

Golgi studies revealed significant differences in dendritic patterns between neurons of the left and right opercular regions of the frontal lobe (Broca's speech area on the dominant side) and between cells of the left and right precentral areas (the orofacial motor zones) just behind. Although total dendritic length of the basilar dendritic array seemed characteristic of an area independent of side, a larger proportion of the length on the left (dominant) side was made up of higher order (4, 5, 6) dendrite branches, and lower order (1, 2, 3) segments predominated on the right. The pattern was partially reversed in non-right-handed patients. These findings can be interpreted as indicating an early preponderance of dendrite growth in the non-speech-gifted hemisphere followed by enhanced dendrite growth in the dominant hemisphere coincident with the beginning of conceptualization and speech function.

The membrane phenotype of T-prolymphocytic leukaemia

Cells from 13 cases of T-prolymphocytic leukaemia (T-PLL) were studied with a battery of immunological techniques in order to define their membrane phenotype. All cases were E-rosette positive and were negative with OKT6, anti-HLA-DR, anti-Ig and M-rosettes; in 3, 20-30% of the cells had receptors for C3b. 7 cases had predominantly a 'helper/inducer' T-subset phenotype, (OKT4+, OKT8-) and 4 had a 'suppressor/cytotoxic' phenotype (OKT8+, OKT4-). Cells in 2 cases coexpressed OKT4 and OKT8 in 48% and 95% of prolymphocytes and in another, both OKT4 and OKT8 were negative. Terminal transferase (TdT) was negative by IF in all the cases, but a low positive level was detected biochemically in one. Although T-PLL appears to be heterogenous in respect of membrane phenotype, the observation of unexpected features in 8 of the cases raises the possibility that it may originate in a cell of intermediate maturation between late thymocytes and mature T-lymphocytes. These features plus the clinical manifestation of the disease - typical morphology, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, skin lesions, high WBC and aggressive clinical course - help define T-PLL as a distinct clinicopathological entity.

Chronic T-cell leukaemias. III. T-colonies, PHA response and correlation with membrane phenotype

The functional capacity of T lymphocytes from 28 cases of chronic T-cell leukaemia--T-CLL, T-PLL, T-LCL and Sézary syndrome--was evaluated in a T-colony forming system and in a PHA response assay. Reduced or absent T-colony growth was observed in 23 cases (82%) while in five the growth was normal. Although a good correlation was generally observed between colony formation and PHA transformation, in a few cases a low PHA response was accompanied by moderate colony growth and vice versa. Characterization of the leukaemic T lymphocytes using monoclonal antibodies (OKT series) indicates that cases with a helper/inducer phenotype (OKT4+) showed moderately reduced or near-normal T-colony numbers, whilst cases with a suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype (OKT8+)--confined to T-CLL in this study--had a very low or absent colony growth. The functional abnormalities reported here suggest that neoplastic T-cells with a helper/inducer phenotype show a low proliferative response in the assay systems used, although expressing mature T-cell characteristics. The low growth observed in T-CLL confirms that cells with a suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype form few T-cell colonies.

Unusual T-cell phenotype in advanced B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

T-lymphocytes isolated by E-rosetting from 22 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) showed membrane phenotype features distinct from those of normal T-lymphocytes. These changes were particularly marked in advanced disease (Rai stages II, III, IV and WBC over 100x10(9)/l). The most significant finding was the demonstration, in 10 cases, of a major population of E-rosette positive cells (40-80%) unreactive with the OKT monoclonal antibodies against mature or immature T-cells; 15-30% of the cells were unreactive in seven other cases. A significant reduction in OKT4 positive (helper) lymphocytes was seen in 18 cases. The proportion of OKT8 positive cells was increased in two and normal or low in the rest. Only four patients with early disease (stages 0 and I) had a normal T-cell phenotype. These findings could explain abnormalities previously described in the T-lymphocytes of B-CLL and provide new insights into the pathogenesis of the disease.

Simultaneous surgical management of cataract and glaucoma

This paper reports and analyses 70 combined cataract and trabeculectomy operations carried out on 50 patients by the two authors from 1973 to mid 1979. Control of glaucoma was achieved by surgery alone in 86%, the remaining 14% required additional medical therapy to achieve control. This therapy was less than that used preoperatively. Where the preoperative control was good 96% achieved post operative control without therapy. In eyes with poor preoperative control, 80% achieved post operative control without therapy. The complication rate was low and no eyes were lost in the series. The literature for alternatives for managing cataracts and glaucoma has been reviewed and analysis of this shows the following percentage control by surgery without additional medical therapy. (a) Cataract extraction alone 40.5%. (b) Drainage procedure followed by lens extraction 65.5%. (c) Combined cataract and glaucoma surgery other than trabeculectomy 79%. (d) Combined cataract and trabeculectomy 91%. The latter combined procedure is recommended for all eyes with coexistent cataract and glaucoma.

[Degenerative and regenerative phenomena in pigmented rabbit irides following irradiation with the xenon arc lamp at different pulse energies (author's transl)]

The morphological condition of the pigmented rabbit iris following irradiation with a Xenon arclamp at four different pulse energies was analyzed. It was shown that: 1. There is a direct relationship between the applied pulse energy and the extent, as well as the rate, of secondary-degenerative transformations. 2. Secondary-degenerative and repair processes occur simultaneously. 3. As opposed to the primary damage event, secondary degeneration appears to progress from the back to the front of the iris. 4. As a rule, pulse energies of less than 1 Joule do not lead to secondary perforation of the iris. Fifteen weeks, after the damage event, regeneration of connective tissue and the larger blood vessels, as well as of myelinated and unmyelinated nerves may be found. 5. The inducing factors, as well as those sustaining the process of secondary degeneration after irradiation of the rabbit iris with high pulse energies, cannot be explained on the basis of morphological findings alone.