Scientists attack A-bomb 'slur'
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The level of global small arms violence is enormous and the scale of human suffering it causes is immense, although poorly counted. It causes at least hundreds of thousands of deaths and more than a million injuries each year, as well as permanent physical and psychological damage, destruction of families, lost productivity, and diversion of resources from basic health services. Research is required on three basic issues, as follows: health effects of weapons; the contributing factors and causes, including behavioral issues; and impacts of interventions and their cost-effectiveness. Policies and programs designed to reduce the human and social impacts of small arms should make use of public health knowledge and analysis of risk factors as a means of bringing increased focus and effectiveness to their objectives. At its international conference on small arms, gun violence, and injury, "Aiming for Prevention" in Helsinki in September 2001, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War called on health professionals as well as scientists, activists, humanitarian and development workers to contribute to an effective confrontation of the small arms pandemic.
The technology of modern weapons, especially nuclear weapons, poses a critical threat to the health of all people. In addition to the unprecedented risk of massive destruction to living things and to the ecosphere, the resources used in production of these arsenals cause an economic threat to the health of populations even if the weapons are never used. Medical and social scientists have a responsibility to work for the prevention of nuclear war and the reversal of the arms race. This may imply an obligation to work towards the prevention of war in general. Professional responsibility in this regard is based on (1) special expertise, (2) influence in society and (3) the symbolic power of the values of life, health and human dignity.
Radiation scientists represent an important resource in homeland defense. Security analysts worry that a crude but deadly radiological bomb might be fashioned from stolen nuclear material and a few sticks of dynamite. Such a device could kill dozens, hundreds, and possibly thousands and could contaminate a square mile or more. Emergency workers may call upon radiation scientists to aid the injured. Educational materials are available on the ACR, ASTRO, and RRS websites, linked to the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, to provide radiation workers material that they can use to help emergency room and civil defense personnel after a terrorist attack. Radiation scientists are urged to obtain these materials and contact their local hospital and public health authorities to volunteer their services and expertise.
During the past 30 years, we have learned a great deal about the molecular details whereby the ovarian hormone elicits the feminizing effects that Knauer described in his experiments over a century ago. The ER plays a pivotal role in this process, and potentially in many other physiological processes. The roles of variant receptors, the details of ER-mediated transactivation and the regulation of ER expression and activation are just a few of the important unresolved issues in this field. These are not trivial problems, and their solutions are likely to require much more investigation. This information will provide important clinical insight into breast cancer, lipid metabolism, bone metabolism, prostatic hyperplasia and other diseases. Armed with this basic knowledge, scientists will be better equipped to design rational therapeutic and preventive strategies to combat these major clinical problems.
With their mythical creatures and arcane symbolism, coats of arms seem to have little connection with modern science. Yet despite its chivalric origins, the ancient language of heraldry has long fascinated famous scientists. Although this idiosyncratic tradition was parodied by Victorian geologists, who laughingly replaced unicorns and griffins with images of dinosaurs that they had recently discovered, it has been perpetuated since by Ernest Rutherford, who liked to present himself as a new alchemist.
The vitamin D hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, functions by way of a nuclear receptor (vitamin D receptor [VDR]) in a manner analogous to the other members of the steroid-thyroid hormone superfamily. Although the vitamin D receptor has been cloned, its three-dimensional structure remains unknown. The VDR binds to the direct repeat response elements called DR-3 in the promoter region of target genes to stimulate or suppress transcription of those genes encoding for proteins that carry out a wide variety of functions. The binding of the VDR to a DR-3 requires the presence of its ligand and a companion protein, namely the RXR group of retinoid receptors. The RXR binds to the 5' arm of the response element while the VDR binds to the 3' arm. In addition, the transcription factor TFIIB has been shown to bind VDR but there is currently no evidence that a co-repressor or co-activator of VDR is also involved. Phosphorylation of VDR in the transcription complex occurs as does bending of the DNA prior to the initiation or suppression of transcription. As VDR has been detected in cells not previously thought to be target organs, scientists continue to discover new functions of vitamin D. Among these new functions are those noted in the immune system. Experiments in mice have illustrated that the autoimmune diseases of multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis can be successfully treated with the vitamin D hormone and its analogs. New experiments illustrating the use of the vitamin D hormone and its analogs in suppressing transplant rejection indicate that these compounds may be superior to cyclosporin and may not have the side effects attributed to the cyclosporin immunosuppression therapies.
The ETS-domain transcription factor family can be divided into a series of subfamilies. Elk-1 represents the founding member of the ternary complex factor (TCF) subfamily. By focusing on the TCF subfamily, we can demonstrate the complexities that exist in the function and regulation of ETS-domain transcription factors. This article focuses on Elk-1 in detail and summarizes the functions of other TCFs. The key themes covered include the domain structure of the TCFs, the mechanisms of complex formation with serum response factor, regulation of TCFs by mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades, and transcriptional regulatory properties of the TCFs. Finally, the emerging role of the TCFs in vivo is discussed. A picture is developing indicating that, while these proteins exhibit significant sequence and functional conservation, key differences in their structure and regulation are being identified which may relate to unique functions of these proteins in vivo.