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The possible effects of the solar and geomagnetic activity on multiple sclerosis
... Various effects of space weather on brain and behavioural function have been documented. Neurologic changes include increased frequency of epileptic seizures, changes in breathing patterns, and increased flareups of neurological conditions (Papathanasopoulos et al., 2016). Changes in mental and behavioural health include increased rates of depression and mental illness, significantly increased numbers of suicide attempts, homicides, and traffic accidents, and exacerbation of symptoms related to schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease (Abdullrahman HM, 2020). ...
... Increased hospital admission rates have been noted in multiple sclerosis patients due to acute relapses correlating temporally with intense geomagnetic storms (Papathanasopoulos et al., 2016). Data collected over an 11-year period from a hospital in Greece showed the increase in admissions occurred shortly after these storms, with a secondary, larger increase occurring 7-8 months later. ...
... It is thought that neuromelanin, a neuroprotective molecule in the brain similar in structure to melanin, becomes oxidatively charged in response to space weather events, making it unable to eliminate reactive oxygen species in the brain and thereby promoting demyelination. This theory is supported by the global distribution of multiple sclerosis, with prevalence lowest at the equator and increasing rapidly in north and south directions until peaking at about 60° north and south, corresponding more closely to geomagnetic than geographic latitude (Papathanasopoulos et al., 2016). ...
Space weather is the term used to describe events, or storms, in space that affect humans. These events, including solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and their associated electromagnetic effects, are primarily attributed to magnetic shifts occurring on the Sun. These events intensify during solar maximum, the phase of the 11-year solar cycle leading up to the Sun’s polar shift, during which the Sun’s magnetic north and south poles switch. The resulting geomagnetic storms reach and affect Earth’s atmosphere, with impacts on electrical systems, including power infrastructure, communications systems, and biological systems. Epidemiological studies show correlations between solar activity and increased severity of neurologic symptoms, increased rates of cardiovascular events, and behavioural, immune, and other effects. Currently, the Sun is approaching solar maximum, which will peak in 2025, bringing an increased frequency and intensity of geomagnetic storms.
... Because of the fact that GMD hypothesis for MS is a newborn concept, rare works have been done in this field. Recently, an interesting work has been done by Papathanasopoulos et al. on the relationship between GMDs and patient admissions due to MS attacks [30]. They studied the area that we previously reported its MS incidence association with GMD [11]. ...
... They revealed a more exact time lag between MS and GMDs. Their result pointed out that, shortly after a significant GMD, the MS patient admissions increase significantly [30]. ...
... To resolve this issue, studies with higher resolution of MS incidence data are needed. At present, as mentioned before, at least in one of the previously studied locations, such correlation is confirmed at the individual level [11,30]. ...
Background
Insufficient received ultraviolet B radiation (UV) is regarded as the main environmental risk factor (RF) for MS in vitamin D deficiency hypothesis. Nevertheless, geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) has also been proposed as a potential trigger for MS in GMD hypothesis. The aim of this study was to investigate which of these mentioned RF is correlated with long-term ultradecadal MS incidence.
Methods
After a systematic search, long-term incidence reports of the United Kingdom (UK), Denmark, Tayside County, Nordland County, the Orkney, and Shetland Islands were selected for this retrospective time-series study. Possible lead-lag relationships between MS incidence, GMD, and UV were evaluated by cross-correlation analysis.
Results
Significant positive correlations between GMD and MS incidence were seen in Tayside County (at lag of 2 years: rS = 0.38), Denmark (peak correlation at lag of 2 years: rS = 0.53), and UK (at lag of 1 year: rS = 0.50). We found a positive correlation between received UV and MS incidences in the Nordland at lag of 1 year (rS = 0.49).
Conclusion
This study found significant positive correlations between alterations in GMD with alterations in long-term MS incidence in three out of six studied locations and supports the GMD hypothesis. The observed significant correlation between MS and UV is positive; hence it is not supportive for UV related vitamin D deficiency hypothesis.
... Солнечная активность и вызываемые ею возмущения магнитного поля Земли могут быть фактором, предрасполагающим к развитию нервных и психических заболеваний, а также провоцирующим их обострения [Cohen, Wohlers, 1998]. К числу таких заболеваний относятся шизофрения, биполярное расстройство [Davis Jr., Lowell, 2006;Alvarez, 2012], рассеянный склероз [Sajedi, Abdollahi, 2012;Papathanasopoulos et al., 2016], болезнь Альцгеймера [Alvarez, 2012;Cherry et al., 2012]. ...
... Этот фактор имеет максимальную связь с вспышечной активностью солнца в рентгеновском и в Hα-диапазоне за период в несколько дней, начиная с 2-х дней до тестирования крыс. Тесная связь с планетарным K-индексом (вес 0.91) позволяет предположить, что данным фактором является корональный выброс массы, так как именно эти события вызывают возмущения геомагнитного поля [Moldwin, 2008]. ...
В большом количестве публикаций описаны результаты исследований, свидетельствующие о влиянии солнечной активности на работу мозга человека. Однако на экспериментальных животных подобные исследования практически не проводились. Цель данного исследования – изучить влияние факторов солнечной активности на локомоторное и ориентировочно-исследовательское поведение крыс. С 26.10 по 24.12.2011 г. регистрировалось поведение отдельных крыс или их небольших групп (всего 19 крыс) в тесте «открытое поле» и при обучении оперантному добыванию пищи. Параметры солнечной активности получены из открытых баз данных в Интернете. Результаты корреляционного анализа показали, что число секторов, пройденных крысами в «открытом поле», количество обследованных ими «норок» и число добытых ими пищевых гранул положительно связаны с солнечной активностью в день исследования и в ближайшие дни до и после него. Такая связь выявлена для числа солнечных пятен, интенсивности излучения Солнца в радиодиапазоне, числа солнечных вспышек в рентгеновском и H-диапазоне. Факторный анализ позволил выделить два фактора, положительно связанных с поведением крыс. Один из них тесно коррелирует с радиоизлучением Солнца и поэтому может быть предположительно отнесен к его электромагнитной составляющей. Другой тесно связан с 3-часовым планетарным индексом колебаний магнитного поля Земли K, что свидетельствует о его корпускулярной природе. Эти результаты соответствуют имеющимся в литературе данным о связи параметров солнечной и геомагнитной активности с характеристиками электрической активности мозга человека и животных. Число солнечных пятен в день исследования наиболее тесно связано с поведением крыс и значимо коррелирует с обоими факторами. Поэтому данный показатель может быть использован для учета влияния солнечной активности на поведение крыс в экспериментальной практике.
According to the literature, solar activity affects the functioning of the human brain. However, its effect on experimental animals has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether factors of solar activity influence behavior of rats. From October 26 to December 24, 2011, behavior of the individual rats or their small groups (N = 19) was recorded in the open field test and the operant food-uptake behavior test. Parameters of solar activity are obtained from public databases on the Internet. Results of the correlation analysis showed that the number of sectors travelled by the rats in the open field test, number of holes they investigated, and the number of food pellets they got during learning to food-uptake task were positively associated with solar activity on the day of the study and in the days before and after that. Such associations were revealed for the number of sunspots, the intensity of solar radiation in the radio range, the number of solar flares in the X-ray and Hα-ranges. Factor analysis allowed to distinguish two factors positively associated with behavior of rats. One of them closely correlates with the solar radio flux and can therefore be presumably attributed to its electromagnetic component. The other one is closely related to the 3-hour planetary index of oscillations of the Earth's magnetic field K, and this indicates its corpuscular nature. These results correspond to the literature data on the association between the parameters of solar and geomagnetic activity and the characteristics of electrical activity of the brain of humans and animals. Behavior of rats is associated most closely with the number of sunspots on the day of the study, which parameter significantly correlates with both factors of solar activity. Therefore, this index can be used to take into account the influence of solar activity on the behavior of rats in the experimental practice.
... Geomagnetic storms and high-speed solar wind (solar wind speed ≥ 600 km/s) and space weather changes prior to solar proton events affect the cardiovascular function [46,47]. There is evidence that more chronic diseases are affected by solar and geomagnetic activity disturbances (i.e., multiple sclerosis, strokes, hypertension, systemic lupus erythematosus, and cancer) [44,49,52,58]. More specifically, it has been suggested that in the mid-latitudes, myocardial infractions may be attributed to the Pc1 geomagnetic pulsations, but in the high latitudes (in maxima of heliogeophysical storminess), this may be attributed to the geomagnetic storminess (indexed by Kp) caused by the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field parameters [52,59,60]. ...
In this work, we analyzed simultaneous observations of solar particles and solar
electromagnetic ultraviolet (UV) radiation during solar events from January 2024 to May 2024.
Measurement campaigns to study the effects of space radiation on the terrestrial atmosphere were
conducted in the framework of the project BIOSPHERE. We show the results of the campaign in
Brussels from 1 January 2024 to 31 March 2024, during which several solar energetic particle
(SEP) events were observed by the spacecraft GOES and OMNI, together with two big
geomagnetic storms in March 2024 and May 2024 associated with solar eruptions. The last two
events combine the arrival of a SEP event with a geomagnetic storm. On 11 May 2024, the biggest
geomagnetic storm for the last 20 years was observed. These events enabled us to identify effects
due to UV, solar particles, and geomagnetic storms. The impact of these events on the terrestrial
radiation belts, illustrated by satellite observations like PROBA-V/EPT and on the atmospheric
ozone using AURA/MLS is demonstrated. For the measurement campaign, muon and neutron
monitors showed a Forbush decrease only during the geomagnetic storm at the end of March 2024
and in May 2024. Complemented by a simulation of radiation effects on the ionization rate of the
atmosphere as a function of the altitude, the extensive range of different observations available
during this measurement campaign demonstrated that SEP and geomagnetic storms due to solar
eruptions had very different effects on the terrestrial atmosphere. The geomagnetic storms mainly
modified the energetic electrons trapped in the space environment of the Earth and affected the
ionization of the atmosphere above 60 km. They also modified the cosmic ray injections, mainly
at high latitudes, creating Forbush decrease for the most intense ones. SEP events injected
energetic protons in the atmosphere that could penetrate deeper in the atmosphere because they
had more energy than the electrons. They could impact ozone, mainly at high altitude in the
thermosphere. Solar activity variation associated with the rotation of the solar active regions in 27
days modulated UV. The measurements of these electromagnetic and particle radiations are crucial
because they have important health implications.
... Geomagnetic storms and high-speed solar wind (solar wind speed ≥ 600 km/s) and space weather changes prior to solar proton events affect the cardiovascular function [46,47]. There is evidence that more chronic diseases are affected by solar and geomagnetic activity disturbances (i.e., multiple sclerosis, strokes, hypertension, systemic lupus erythematosus, and cancer) [44,49,52,58]. More specifically, it has been suggested that in the mid-latitudes, myocardial infractions may be attributed to the Pc1 geomagnetic pulsations, but in the high latitudes (in maxima of heliogeophysical storminess), this may be attributed to the geomagnetic storminess (indexed by Kp) caused by the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field parameters [52,59,60]. ...
... One review concluded that 10-15% of the population are predisposed to the adverse effects of geomagnetic variations [84]. Patients with multiple sclerosis show enhanced hospital admission during periods of geomagnetic disturbance [85]. Obscure phenomena, such as sudden infant deaths, appear to rise with sunspot activity (by implication CMEs) [86]. ...
Unexpected outcomes are usually associated with interventions in complex systems. Excess winter mortality (EWM) is a measure of the net effect of all competing forces operating each winter, including influenza(s) and non-influenza pathogens. In this study over 2400 data points from 97 countries are used to look at the net effect of influenza vaccination rates in the elderly aged 65+ against excess winter mortality (EWM) each year from the winter of 1980/81 through to 2019/20. The observed international net effect of influenza vaccination ranges from a 7.8% reduction in EWM estimated at 100% elderly vaccination for the winter of 1989/90 down to a 9.3% increase in EWM for the winter of 2018/19. The average was only a 0.3% reduction in EWM for a 100% vaccinated elderly population. Such outcomes do not contradict the known protective effect of influenza vaccination against influenza mortality per se—they merely indicate that multiple complex interactions lie behind the observed net effect against all-causes (including all pathogen causes) of winter mortality. This range from net benefit to net disbenefit is proposed to arise from system complexity which includes environmental conditions (weather, solar cycles), the antigenic distance between constantly emerging circulating influenza clades and the influenza vaccine makeup, vaccination timing, pathogen interference, and human immune diversity (including individual history of host-virus, host-antigen interactions and immunosenescence) all interacting to give the observed outcomes each year. We propose that a narrow focus on influenza vaccine effectiveness misses the far wider complexity of winter mortality. Influenza vaccines may need to be formulated in different ways, and perhaps administered over a shorter timeframe to avoid the unanticipated adverse net outcomes seen in around 40% of years.
... Geomagnetic storms of remarkable intensity may have a potential effect on many aspects of human life, including health effects due to radiation hazards, disruption of electrical systems like communications appliances, navigation systems, satellites… The biological mechanisms altered by geomagnetic storms are explored in ref. 10 , and geomagnetic activity has been recently related to several human conditions as hypertension 11 , multiple sclerosis [12][13][14] or cancer 15 . However, it is still unclear to what extend and under what threshold these health effects appear or the risk increases. ...
Intense geomagnetic storms can cause severe damage to electrical systems and communications. This work proposes a counting process with Weibull inter-occurrence times in order to estimate the probability of extreme geomagnetic events. It is found that the scale parameter of the inter-occurrence time distribution grows exponentially with the absolute value of the intensity threshold defining the storm, whereas the shape parameter keeps rather constant. The model is able to forecast the probability of occurrence of an event for a given intensity threshold; in particular, the probability of occurrence on the next decade of an extreme event of a magnitude comparable or larger than the well-known Carrington event of 1859 is explored, and estimated to be between 0.46% and 1.88% (with a 95% confidence), a much lower value than those reported in the existing literature.
... Solar activity and perturbations of the Earth's magnetic field may become a contributory cause for the development and a trigger for the exacerbation of nervous and mental disorders (Cohen and Wohlers, 1998). Among these disorders are schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (Davis, Jr. and Lowell, 2006;Alvarez, 2012), multiple sclerosis (Sajedi and Abdollahi, 2012;Papathanasopoulos et al., 2016), and Alzheimer's disease (Alvarez, 2012;Cherry et al., 2012). ...
According to the literature, solar activity affects the functioning of the human brain. However, its effect has not been studied on experimental animals. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether factors of solar activity influence the behavior of rats. From October 26 to December 24, 2011, the behavior of individual rats or small groups of them (N = 19) was recorded in an open field test and operant food-uptake behavior test. Parameters of solar activity were obtained from public databases on the Internet. Results of the correlation analysis have demonstrated that the number of sectors travelled by the rats in the open field test, number of holes they investigated, and number of food pellets they earned while learning a food-uptake task were positively associated with solar activity on the day of the study and in the days before and after that. Such associations were revealed for the number of sunspots, the intensity of solar radiation in the radio range, and number of solar flares in the X-ray and Hα ranges. Factor analysis made it possible to distinguish two factors positively associated with the behavior of rats. One of them closely correlated with the solar radio flux and can therefore be presumably attributed to its electromagnetic component. The other is closely related to the 3-h planetary index of oscillations of the Earth’s magnetic field K, and this indicates its corpuscular nature. These results correspond to the literature data on the association between the parameters of solar and geomagnetic activity and the characteristics of electrical activity of the brain of humans and animals. The behavior of rats is associated most closely with the number of sunspots on the day of the study, the parameter of which significantly correlates with both factors of solar activity. Therefore, this index can be used to consider the influence of solar activity on the behavior of rats in experimental practice.
... P. Papathanasopoulos и соавт. [31] установили, что имеется корреляция между частотой госпитализаций по поводу обострений РС и повышением СА и ГМА. ...
Objective. Multiple sclerosis (MS) develops as a result of an interaction between genetic and environmental factors, among them solar (SA) and geomagnetic activity (GMA) attract the particular attention. An impact of SA and GMA on intrauterine and postnatal period in MS was studied. Material and methods. The study included 358 patients with MS. Correlation (CA) and regression analysis (RA) were used to study the effects of SA and GMA during intrauterine period, the 1st year of life, a year of disease onset, a year before the onset. Results and conclusions. CA revealed the association between the MS onset and mean values of kp-index in the onset year and the year before the onset year, number of days with kp≥4 and kp≥5 in the onset year and the year before the onset year, mean SFU in the onset year. RA revealed the association between the MS onset and mean kp in the year before the onset year and in the onset year, number of days with kp≥7 in the onset year and the year before the onset year, mean kp during pregnancy, number of days with kp≥7 in the 1st year of life and during pregnancy. The influence of high GMA during pregnancy and in the 1st year of life increases the MS risk in the future and the high GMA predisposes to the MS onset in adults. The practical value of the study is that predicting the GMA changes we can try to prevent the onset and relapses in the risk groups.
... The only support that we recently found in favor of this part of the GMD hypothesis is a report by Papathanasopoulos et al. They reported a significant relationship between geomagnetic activities and hospital admissions of MS patients due to disease attacks in Greece during the 23rd solar cycle (Papathanasopoulos et al., 2016). ...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological disorders in the young adults. In spite of many researches, the cause of the disease has remained mainly not understood. All evidences indicate that environmental risk factors play key roles in this disease etiology. Various hypotheses have been posited up to now on the presumed disease risk factors, however, they were not successful in explaining all MS features. The aim of this article is to introduce the concept of the newly proposed "geomagnetic disturbance hypothesis of MS" and its abilities in explaining the special features of the disease to encourage medical geologist and other biomedical researchers to contribute to this area of research.
Purpose
This paper's purpose was to examine the impact of geomagnetic activity (GMA) on the timing and valuation of earnings information disclosed by firms every quarter.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors start the analyses with a sample of 112,669 client firms from 1989 to 2018. To analyze the impact of GMA on the earnings response coefficient (ERC), the authors use the three-day cumulative abnormal returns and cumulative abnormal returns for the extended post-earnings announcement window [2, 75] as the dependent variables. The authors interact unexpected earnings (UE) with the C9 Index, an index commonly used to measure GMA and study how GMA affects the pricing of new public information. To examine the effect of GMA on the timing of disclosure of earnings news, the authors regress a variant of the GMA index on the propensity to disclose bad earnings news.
Findings
The authors find significantly lower earnings response coefficients during periods of high GMA. This effect is permanent and stock prices do not correctly incorporate the implications of earnings information over time. The authors also show that managerial behavior is affected by GMA as well and the managers are more (less) likely to release bad (good) news during periods of higher activity. Finally, the authors also find that in situations where stakeholders are likely to rely on modern technology that depends minimally on humans, the adverse impact of GMA on the pricing of earnings information is mitigated.
Originality/value
The literature on the effect of GMA on the capital market is very limited and focuses primarily on stock returns, while the behavioral finance literature focuses on circumstances like weather, temperature and sporting outcome to study how the investors' mood affects their capital market behavior. The authors add to both the literature by investigating how GMA influences investors' and managers' behaviors in the capital market.
Introduction
Outcomes of medical treatments tend to be highly variable. Some of the underlying variance is due to well-known factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and effects of local weather. There are also less obvious influences including variations in solar wind, the Earth's geomagnetic field, and the interplanetary magnetic field.
This study explored possible effects of these local and solar/geomagnetic variables on the outcomes of energy medicine treatments. The context was a pilot clinical trial involving 17 energy medicine practitioners who treated a total of 190 participants presenting with hand and wrist pain.
Methods
Eighteen environmental variables were correlated against changes in subjective pain and against changes in objective measures of nerve conduction velocity.
Results
The results showed that local barometric pressure, interplanetary magnetic field, lunar illumination, proton fluence, electron fluence, and solar radio flux showed statistically significant relationships with these health outcomes (at p < 0.05 or better) before correction for multiple comparison corrections. The variable of barometric pressure had a robust correlation with nerve conduction velocity, surviving adjustment for false discovery rate among the 18 variables at p < 0.05.
Discussion
This study lends support for future research into local weather, and potentially also to fluctuations in the solar/geomagnetic environment environmental measures as potential sources of variation in energy medicine sessions.
Der vorliegende Bericht stellt den Stand des Wissens zu gesundheitlichen Effekten von Hochspan-nungsleitungen (HSL) zusammen, wobei Hybridleitungen speziell beachtet werden. Es werden alle von HSL verursachten Expositionen behandelt, also magnetische Felder, elektrische Felder, Lärm, Ionen-ströme, Aerosole und Luftschadstoffe.
It is shown the statistical associations between space weather pattern and humans’ cardiovascular system. We investigated the association between space weather events and cardiovascular characteristics of 4076 randomly selected patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who were admitted for inpatient treatment in Kaunas city, Lithuania during 2000–2005. We hypothesized that days of the space weather events, 1–3 days after, and the period between two events, named as intersection days (1–3 days after the event, which coincided with 1–3 days before the event), might be associated with patients’ cardiovascular characteristics. The multivariate logistic regression was applied, and the patients’ risk was evaluated by odds ratio (OR), adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, the day of the week, and seasonality.
During the intersection days of geomagnetic storms (GS), the risk of ACS increases in obese patients (OR=1.72, p = 0.008). The risk of ventricular fibrillation during admission was associated with stream interaction region (SIR) with a lag of 0–3 days (OR=1.44, p = 0.049)
The risk of ACS in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation was associated with fast solar wind (FSW) (≥600 km/s) (lag 0–3 days, OR=1.39, p = 0.030) and with days of solar proton event (lag 0–3) going in conjunction with SIR (lag 0–3) (OR=2.06, p = 0.021). During days which were not assigned as GS with a lag of (−3 to 3) days, FSW (lag 0–3) was associated with the risk of ACS in patients with renal disease (OR=1.71, p = 0.008) and days of SIR – with the risk in patients with pulmonary disease (OR=1.53, p = 0.021).
A SIR event, days between two space weather events, and FSW without GS may be associated with a risk to human health.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common auto-inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, affecting more than 2 million individuals worldwide. It is a genetically complex disease, in which a substantial part of a person’s liability to develop MS is caused by a combination of multiple genetic and non-genetic (e.g., environmental) risk factors. Increasing this complexity, many of the involved risk factors likely interact in an intricate and hitherto ill-defined fashion. Despite these complexities, and owing greatly to the advent and application of large-scale genome-wide association studies, our understanding of the genetic factors underlying MS etiology has begun to gain unprecedented momentum. In this perspective, I will summarize some recent advances and outline future challenges in MS genetics research.
Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms have been studied as potential contributors to multiple sclerosis (MS). However, published studies differ with respect to study design and the significance of the effects detected. The aim of this study was to quantify the magnitude of the risk associated with the TaqI, BsmI, ApaI and FokI VDR polymorphisms in MS using a meta-analysis approach. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we conducted a systematic search and meta-analysis of the literature. Subgroup analyses were performed to detect potential sources of heterogeneity from the selected study characteristics. The stability of the summary risk was evaluated using sensitivity analyses. The meta-analysis included a total of 3300 cases and 3194 controls from 13 case-control studies. There were no significant associations found between TaqI and BsmI polymorphisms and MS risk. The association between the ApaI polymorphism and MS risk was significant in the homozygous and codominant models (P=0.013 and P=0.031, respectively), suggesting that the AA ApaI genotype might be a significant MS risk factor. Publication year and age significantly affected the association between TaqI polymorphisms and MS (P=0.014 and P=0.010, respectively), which indicates a protective effect of the major T allele. The AA ApaI and FF FokI genotypes are significant risk factors for MS. The association between the TaqI polymorphism and MS risk is significantly affected by study characteristics.Cellular & Molecular Immunology advance online publication, 7 July 2014; doi:10.1038/cmi.2014.47.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with an increasing incidence in females. Epidemiological data strongly implicate environmental factors acting at the population level during gestation, childhood and adulthood in the increasing incidence of MS. Several such factors are implicated in disease risk, but their causality remains unproven, while other factors remain unknown. An understanding of the risk factors acting during development is particularly limited. Animal studies could potentially bridge the gap between observational epidemiology and clinical intervention, providing not only direct evidence of causality for a given environmental agent, but also an opportunity to dissect the underlying molecular mechanisms. Given a rodent’s short gestational and developmental period, the effects of developmental exposure can also be readily addressed. Nonetheless, studies in this area so far are few. In this review, we summarize the insights gleaned from studies that test environmental influences in animal models of MS, with a particular focus on gestational and early life exposures.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) has undergone a significant increase in incidence in the industrialised nations over the last 130 years. Changing environmental factors, possibly infections or a lack of or altered timing of them, determine the prevalence of the disease. Although a plethora of aetiological factors, clearly evident in a group of children with MS, appear relevant, there may nevertheless be a single factor essential for the aetiopathogenesis and clinical manifestation of MS.Description and discussion: This hitherto unknown factor is postulated to be a 'melanoma-like neuromelanin' (MLN) dependent on the activation of a gene for syncytin-1. An involvement of MLN could explain the diverse findings in the epidemiology, immunology and pathology of MS, requiring a consideration of a complex infectious background, the human leucocyte antigens, as well as cosmic radiation causing geomagnetic disturbances, vitamin D deficiency, smoking, and lower levels of uric acid.
In principle, the MLN-based concept is a unifying one, capable of explaining a number of characteristics of the disease. To date, MLN has not been addressed in studies on MS and future work will need to be done on human patients, as there is little or no neuromelanin (the precursor of MLN) in the animals used as experimental models in the study of MS.
Within a period of intense activity (20 October to 5 November 2003), the injection and propagation of near relativistic electrons, resulted in hundreds of type III bursts recorded by the ARTEMISIV radio spectrograph (20-650 MHz). For a number of these type III events association with GOES SXR/Halpha flare and/or SOHO/LASCO CME was established. We study the variation of characteristic type III parameters and their relationship with features of the associated flares and/or CMEs.
Observational studies have shown an association between lower vitamin D levels and higher risk of relapse among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This has raised interest in potential clinical benefits of vitamin D supplementation in the management of MS. The objectives were to examine the effect of vitamin D based interventions on the relative risk of relapse in MS. Any randomised controlled trial assessing the effect on the relative risk of relapse of any formulation or dose of vitamin D, in participants with MS, was eligible. The inverse variance with random effects model in Review Manager 5.1 was used to calculate the odds ratio of relapses in high dose vitamin D treated patients vs. controls. Five studies were published as of September 2012, yielding a total of 129 high-dose vitamin D-treated patients and 125 controls. We found no significant association between high-dose vitamin D treatment and risk of MS relapse (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.45–2.16). In conclusion, although no significant association between high-dose vitamin D treatment and risk of MS relapses was found, the studies were limited by several methodological limitations. Further larger, more prolonged studies are merited.
Background
We noticed that a hypothesis based on the effect of geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) has the ability to explain special features of multiple sclerosis (MS). Areas around geomagnetic 60 degree latitude (GM60L) experience the greatest amount of GMD. The easiest way to evaluate our hypothesis was to test the association of MS prevalence (MSP) with angular distance to geomagnetic 60 degree latitude (AMAG60) and compare it with the known association of MS with geographical latitude (GL). We did the same with angular distance to geographic 60 degree latitude (AGRAPH60) as a control.
Methods
English written papers with MSP keywords, done in Europe (EUR), North America (NA) or Australasia (AUS) were retrieved from the PubMed. Geomagnetic coordinates were determined for each location and AMAG60 was calculated as absolute value of numerical difference between its geomagnetic latitude from GM60L. By an ecological study with using meta-regression analyses, the relationship of MSP with GL, AMAG60 and AGRAPH60 were evaluated separately. MSP data were weighted by square root of number of prevalent cases. Models were compared by their adjusted R square (AR2) and standard error of estimate (SEE).
Results
111 MSP data were entered in the study. In each continent, AMAG60 had the best correlation with MSP, the largest AR2 (0.47, 0.42 and 0.84 for EUR, NA and AUS, respectively) and the least SEE. Merging both hemispheres data, AMAG60 explained 56% of MSP variations with the least SEE (R = 0.75, AR2 = 0.56, SEE = 57), while GL explained 17% (R = 0.41, AR2 = 0.17, SEE = 78.5) and AGRAPH60 explained 12% of that variations with the highest SEE (R = 0.35, AR2 = 0.12, SEE = 80.5).
Conclusions
Our results confirmed that AMAG60 is the best describer of MSP variations and has the strongest association with MSP distribution. They clarified that the well-known latitudinal gradient of MSP may be actually a gradient related to GM60L. Moreover, the location of GM60L can elucidate why MSP has parabolic and linear gradient in the north and south hemisphere, respectively. This preliminary evaluation supported that GMD can be the mysterious environmental risk factor for MS. We believe that this hypothesis deserves to be considered for further validation studies.
Objective
We aimed to determine if the risk of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is associated with month of birth in Norway and to explore a possible latitudinal gradient.
Methods
All patients with MS born between 1930 and 1979 registered in the Norwegian MS Registry or ascertained in Norwegian prevalence studies were included (n = 6649). The latitude gradient was divided in Southern, Middle and Northern Norway, according to the estimated regional yearly mean vitamin D effective UV dose.
Results
Risk of MS was 11% higher for those born in April (p = 0.045), and 5% higher for those born in May (p = 0.229), 5% lower for those born in November (p = 0.302) and 12% lower for those born in February (p = 0.053) compared with the corresponding population, unaffected mothers and siblings. In Southern Norway the odds ratio of MS births in April and May was 1.05 (0.98 – 1.24), in Middle Norway 1.11 (0.97 – 1.27) and in Northern Norway 1.28 (1.0 – 1.63) compared with the other months.
Conclusions
This study confirms previous reports of increased MS births in spring and decreased MS births in the winter months. This could support the role of decreased sunlight exposure during pregnancy and vitamin D deficiency in prenatal life in MS.
We present a multi-frequency and multi-instrument study of the 20 January 2005 event. We focus mainly on the complex radio
signatures and their association with the active phenomena taking place: flares, CMEs, particle acceleration, and magnetic
restructuring. As a variety of energetic-particle accelerators and sources of radio bursts are present, in the flare – ejecta
combination, we investigate their relative importance in the progress of this event. The dynamic spectra of ARTEMIS-IV – Wind/Waves – HiRAS, with 2000MHz – 20kHz frequency coverage, were used to track the evolution of the event from the low corona to
the interplanetary space; these were supplemented with SXR, HXR, and γ-ray recordings. The observations were compared with the expected radio signatures and energetic-particle populations envisaged
by the Standard Flare – CME model and the reconnection outflow termination shock model. A proper combination of these mechanisms seems to provide an adequate model for the interpretation of the observational
data.
KeywordsRadio bursts-Dynamic spectrum-Type III-Type II-Type IV
The possibility that conditions on the Sun and in the Earth’s magnetosphere can affect human health at the Earth’s surface has been debated for many decades. This work reviews the research undertaken in the field of heliobiology, focusing on the effect of variations of geomagnetic activity on human cardiovascular health. Data from previous research are analysed for their statistical significance, resulting in support for some studies and the undermining of others. Three conclusions are that geomagnetic effects are more pronounced at higher magnetic latitudes, that extremely high as well as extremely low values of geomagnetic activity seem to have adverse health effects and that a subset of the population (10–15%) is predisposed to adverse health due to geomagnetic variations. The reported health effects of anthropogenic sources of electric and magnetic fields are also briefly discussed, as research performed in this area could help to explain the results from studies into natural electric and magnetic field interactions with the human body.Possible mechanisms by which variations in solar and geophysical parameters could affect human health are discussed and the most likely candidates investigated further. Direct effects of natural ELF electric and magnetic fields appear implausible; a mechanism involving some form of resonant absorption is more likely. The idea that the Schumann resonance signals could be the global environmental signal absorbed by the human body, thereby linking geomagnetic activity and human health is investigated. Suppression of melatonin secreted by the pineal gland, possibly via desynchronised biological rhythms, appears to be a promising contender linking geomagnetic activity and human health. There are indications that calcium ions in cells could play a role in one or more mechanisms. It is found to be unlikely that a single mechanism can explain all of the reported phenomena.
A controversial body of literature demonstrates associations of geomagnetic storms (GMS) with numerous cardiovascular, psychiatric and behavioural outcomes. Various melatonin hypotheses of GMS have suggested that temporal variation in the geomagnetic field (GMF) may be acting as an additional zeitgeber (a temporal synchronizer) for circadian rhythms, with GMS somehow interfering with the hypothesized system. The cryptochrome genes are known primarily as key components of the circadian pacemaker, ultimately involved in controlling the expression of the hormone melatonin. Cryptochrome is identified as a clear candidate for mediating the effect of GMS on humans, demonstrating the prior existence of several crucial pieces of evidence. A distinct scientific literature demonstrates the widespread use of geomagnetic information for navigation across a range of taxa. One mechanism of magnetoreception is thought to involve a light-dependent retinal molecular system mediated by cryptochrome, acting in a distinct functionality to its established role as a circadian oscillator. There is evidence suggesting that such a magnetosense--or at least the vestiges of it--may exist in humans. This paper argues that cryptochrome is not acting as secondary geomagnetic zeitgeber to influence melatonin synthesis. Instead, it is hypothesized that the cryptochrome compass system is mediating stress responses more broadly across the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (including alterations to circadian behaviour) in response to changes in the GMF. Two conceptual models are outlined for the existence of such responses--the first as a generalized migrational/dispersal strategy, the second as a stress response to unexpected signals to the magnetosense. It is therefore proposed that GMS lead to disorientation of hormonal systems in animals and humans, thus explaining the effects of GMS on human health and behaviour.
Humans are not believed to have a magnetic sense, even though many animals use the Earth's magnetic field for orientation and navigation. One model of magnetosensing in animals proposes that geomagnetic fields are perceived by light-sensitive chemical reactions involving the flavoprotein cryptochrome (CRY). Here we show using a transgenic approach that human CRY2, which is heavily expressed in the retina, can function as a magnetosensor in the magnetoreception system of Drosophila and that it does so in a light-dependent manner. The results show that human CRY2 has the molecular capability to function as a light-sensitive magnetosensor and reopen an area of sensory biology that is ready for further exploration in humans.
There is a striking latitudinal gradient in multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence, but exceptions in Mediterranean Europe and northern Scandinavia, and some systematic reviews, have suggested that the gradient may be an artefact. The authors sought to evaluate the association between MS prevalence and latitude by meta-regression.
Studies were sourced from online databases, reference mining and author referral. Prevalence estimates were age-standardised to the 2009 European population. Analyses were carried out by means of random-effects meta-regression, weighted with the inverse of within-study variance. The authors included 650 prevalence estimates from 321 peer-reviewed studies; 239 were age-standardised, and 159 provided sex-specific data. The authors found a significant positive association (change in prevalence per degree-latitude) between age-standardised prevalence (1.04, p<0.001) and latitude that diminished at high latitudes. Adjustment for prevalence year strengthened the association with latitude (2.60, p<0.001). An inverse gradient in the Italian region reversed on adjustment for MS-associated HLA-DRB1 allele distributions. Adjustment for HLA-DRB1 allele frequencies did not appreciably alter the gradient in Europe. Adjustment for some potential sources of bias did not affect the observed associations.
This, the most comprehensive review of MS prevalence to date, has confirmed a statistically significant positive association between MS prevalence and latitude globally. Exceptions to the gradient in the Italian region and northern Scandinavia are likely a result of genetic and behavioural-cultural variations. The persistence of a positive gradient in Europe after adjustment for HLA-DRB1 allele frequencies strongly supports a role for environmental factors which vary with latitude, the most prominent candidates being ultraviolet radiation (UVR)/vitamin D.
We present complex radio bursts recorded by the radiospectrograph ARTEMIS-IV in the active period of January 2005. The wide spectral coverage of this recorder, in the 650-20 MHz range, permits an analysis of the radio bursts from the base of the Solar Corona to 2 Solar Radii; it thus facilitates the association of radio activity with other types of solar energetic phenomena. Furthermore the ARTEMIS-IV1, high time resolution (1/100 sec) in the 450-270 MHz range, makes possible the detection and analysis of the fine structure which most of the major radio events exhibit. Comment: Recent Advances in Astronomy and Astrophysics: 7th International Conference of the Hellenic Astronomical Society. AIP Conference Proceedings, Volume 848, pp. 213-217 (2006)
Recent studies demonstrate distinct changes in gene expression in cells exposed to a weak magnetic field (MF). Mechanisms of this phenomenon are not understood yet. We propose that proteins of the Cryptochrome family (CRY) are "epigenetic sensors" of the MF fluctuations, i.e., magnetic field-sensitive part of the epigenetic controlling mechanism. It was shown that CRY represses activity of the major circadian transcriptional complex CLOCK/BMAL1. At the same time, function of CRY, is apparently highly responsive to weak MF because of radical pairs that periodically arise in the functionally active site of CRY and mediate the radical pair mechanism of magnetoreception. It is known that the circadian complex influences function of every organ and tissue, including modulation of both NF-kappaB- and glucocorticoids- dependent signaling pathways. Thus, MFs and solar cycles-dependent geomagnetic field fluctuations are capable of altering expression of genes related to function of NF-kappaB, hormones and other biological regulators. Notably, NF-kappaB, along with its significant role in immune response, also participates in differential regulation of influenza virus RNA synthesis. Presented data suggests that in the case of global application (example-geomagnetic field), MF-mediated regulation may have epidemiological and other consequences.
The human hypothalamus synthesis an endogenous membrane Na(+)-K(+) ATPase inhibitor, digoxin. A digoxin-mediated model for quantal perception of geomagnetic fields is proposed. External geomagnetic fields can produce membrane Na(+)-K(+) ATPase inhibition. The inhibition of Na(+)-K(+) ATPase can contribute to increase in intracellular calcium and decrease in magnesium, which can result in (1) defective neurotransmitter transport mechanism, (2) neuronal degeneration and apoptosis, (3) mitochondrial dysfunction, (4) defective golgi body function and protein processing dysfunction, (5) immune dysfunction and oncogenesis. Geomagnetic fields can thus regulate cellular function and contributing to the pathogenesis of disease.
To evaluate the literature about the role of vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).
MEDLINE (1966-April 2006) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-April 2006) searches were performed. In addition, pertinent references from identified articles were obtained. Key search terms included vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, vitamin D deficiency, and multiple sclerosis.
Vitamin D supplementation prevented the development and progression of experimental autoimmune encephalitis, an animal model of MS, in mice. A large, prospective, cohort study found that vitamin D supplementation was associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of developing MS. Four small, noncontrolled studies suggested that vitamin D supplementation may decrease exacerbation of MS symptoms.
Vitamin D supplementation may help prevent the development of MS and may be a useful addition to therapy. However, current studies are in small populations and are confounded by other variables, such as additional vitamin and mineral supplementation.
This chapter reviews the neural connections between the retinas and the pineal gland and summarizes the role of the light:dark cycle and the biological clock, i.e. the suprachiasmatic nuclei, in regulating pineal melatonin synthesis and secretion. The cellular mechanisms governing the nocturnal production of melatonin are described together with the way in which the misuse of light interferes with the circadian melatonin cycle and the total quantity of the indole generated. The chapter describes the nature of the membrane melatonin receptors and their signal transduction mechanisms in peripheral organs. The clinical implications and potential uses of melatonin in terms of influencing the biological clock (e.g. sleep and jet lag), immune function, and cancer initiation and growth are noted. Additionally, the chapter includes a description of the newly discovered free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities of melatonin; it also includes a list of clinical situations in which melatonin has been used with beneficial effects.
Noise is everywhere and in most applications that are related to audio and speech, such as human-machine interfaces, hands-free communications, voice over IP (VoIP), hearing aids, teleconferencing/telepresence/telecollaboration systems, and so many others, the signal of interest (usually speech) that is picked up by a microphone is generally contaminated by noise. As a result, the microphone signal has to be cleaned up with digital signal processing tools before it is stored, analyzed, transmitted, or played out. This cleaning process is often called noise reduction and this topic has attracted a considerable amount of research and engineering attention for several decades. One of the objectives of this book is to present in a common framework an overview of the state of the art of noise reduction algorithms in the single-channel (one microphone) case. The focus is on the most useful approaches, i.e., filtering techniques (in different domains) and spectral enhancement methods. The other objective of Noise Reduction in Speech Processing is to derive all these well-known techniques in a rigorous way and prove many fundamental and intuitive results often taken for granted. This book is especially written for graduate students and research engineers who work on noise reduction for speech and audio applications and want to understand the subtle mechanisms behind each approach. Many new and interesting concepts are presented in this text that we hope the readers will find useful and inspiring.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a multifactorial disease in which both genetic and environmental factors and their interactions underlie causation. The current evidence base supports a strong association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and MS, but potential causality remains strongly debated. It is not possible to exclude the possibility that an abnormal response to EBV infection is a consequence, rather than a cause, of the underlying pathophysiology of MS, or indeed that the association may be a reflection of a similar underlying disease mechanism. Substantial experimental progress is necessary to achieve consistency of molecular findings to complement the strong epidemiological association between EBV and MS, which cannot alone show causation. Collectively, the strength of the association between EBV and MS warrants careful development and trial of anti-EBV drugs to observe any effect on MS disease course.
Designed as a text for upper-level undergraduate and first-year graduate
students, this volume attempts to establish the curriculum for the
modern student entering the fledgling field of space physics. The book
provides a broad, yet selective, treatment of the subject, covering
virtually all aspects of space plasmas in the solar system. There are
sections on the sun and solar wind, the magnetized and unmagnetized
planets, and the fundamental process of space plasmas including shocks,
plasma waves, ULF waves, wave-particle interactions, and auroral
processes. In addition to emphasizing analysis, the authors also place
importance on underlying phenomenology with extensive attention to
observations.
Objective:
To review and assess the role of vitamin D in the onset, progression, and relapse of multiple sclerosis (MS), based on evidence acquired from the analysis of preclinical, observational, and interventional studies.
Methods:
All English language literature in MEDLINE (January 1969 through April 2012) was searched for observational and interventional studies on the dosage effect of vitamin D on the onset, progression, and relapse rate of MS. The medical subject heading (MeSH) terms used in the search included Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis. Additional publications and abstracts were identified from review articles and from the references cited in the previously found articles. In addition to the experimental studies, only those human studies that specified the population size, doses of vitamin D used, and the resulting effect on MS were considered.
Results:
Vitamin D deficiency is very common among MS patients. Multiple preclinical studies have shown that vitamin D is a potent regulator of inflammation in MS. Most observational studies support an association between high vitamin D levels and a reduced risk of developing MS. However, conflicting results have been reported by observational studies on the correlation between vitamin D and MS severity and by interventional studies using vitamin D as a therapeutic agent for MS.
Conclusion:
Vitamin D deficiency in MS patients should be avoided. In addition, the risk of developing MS might be reduced by maintaining optimal vitamin D levels in the healthy population. Larger randomized interventional trials are needed to clarify the therapeutic effect of vitamin D in MS.
ABSTRACT Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurological disease of unknown cause. Investigators are attempting to discover its cause through laboratory investigation and through population-based epidemiologic analysis. Much of the most intriguing evidence comes from an analysis of the geography of MS. Its incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates are lowest at the equator and increase regularly with latitude. Moreover, people who migrate from high to low incidence areas at an early age assume the risk of developing MS of their destination region, while those migrating in adulthood retain the risk of their countries of origin, implicating an agent or agents, in childhood. Cultural and economic factors may be important as well. Despite these clues, identification of the cause of MS remains elusive.
This work is based on former investigations describing the similarity between the distribution of MS-frequency and solar particle rays. The analysis of the prevalence values shows clearly that the global MS-frequency is closer related to the geomagnetic than to the geographic latitude. This relation is best described by a Gaussian curve: in temperate latitudes the MS-frequency increases rapidly in pole direction and decreases again in pole-proximity. The MS-distribution shows a spatial relation to the distribution of solar particle rays and geomagnetic activity and to the external radiation belt of the earth. Further considerations are being made including the 11-year-sun-cycle.
A large number of studies have identified significant physical, biological and health effects associated with changes in Solar and Geomagnetic Activity (S-GMA). Variations in solar activity, geomagnetic activity and ionospheric ion/electron concentrations are all mutually highly correlated and strongly linked by geophysical processes. A key scientific question is, what factor is it in the natural environment that causes the observed biological and physical effects? The effects include altered blood pressure and melatonin, increased cancer, reproductive, cardiac and neurological disease and death. Many occupational studies have found that exposure to ELF fields between 16.7 Hz and 50/60 Hz significantly reduces melatonin levels. They are also associated with the same and very similar health effects as the S-GMA effects. The cell membrane has an electric field of the order of 105 V/cm. The ELF brain waves operate at about 10-1 V/cm. Fish, birds, animalsand people have been shown to respond to ELF signals that produce tissue electric gradients of ULF/ELF oscillating signals at a threshold of 10-7 to 10-8 V/cm.This involves non-linear resonant absorption of ULF/ELF oscillating signals into systems that use natural ion oscillation signals in the same frequency range. A long-lived, globally available natural ULF/ELF signal, the Schumann Resonance signal, was investigated as the possible plausible biophysical mechanism for the observedS-GMA effects. It is found that the Schumann Resonance signal is extremely highly correlated with S-GMA indices of sunspot number and the Kp index. The physical mechanism is the ionospheric D-region ion/electron density that varies with S-GMA and forms the upper boundary of the resonant cavity in which the Schumann Resonance signal is formed. This provides strong support for identifying the Schumann Resonance signals as the S-GMA biophysical mechanism, primarily through a melatonin mechanism. It strongly supports the classification of S-GMA as a natural hazard.
The uneven distribution of multiple sclerosis (MS) across populations can be attributed to differences in genes and the environment and their interaction. Prevalence and incidence surveys could be affected by inaccuracy of diagnosis and ascertainment, and prevalence also depends on survival. These sources of error might play a part in the geographical and temporal variations. Our literature search and meta-regression analyses indicated an almost universal increase in prevalence and incidence of MS over time; they challenge the well accepted theory of a latitudinal gradient of incidence of MS in Europe and North America, while this gradient is still apparent for Australia and New Zealand; and suggest a general, although not ubiquitous, increase in incidence of MS in females. The latter observation should prompt epidemiological studies to focus on changes in lifestyle in females. New insights into gene-environment and gene-gene interactions complicate interpretations of demographic epidemiology and have made obsolete the idea of simple causative associations between genes or the environment and MS.
Studies have linked the natural history of many pathologies with environmental physical activity. This study investigated the relationship between the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) recorded by implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) and geomagnetic and cosmic ray (neutron) activity.
The study group included 85 patients (73 men) with cardiomyopathy (80% ischemic) who underwent ICD placement in the years 1995-2006; 74% had a left ventricular ejection fraction of < 30%. Data on the days on which VT/VF occurred (total number of days: 284) and the days on which the patients were treated (total number of treatments: 580) were collected from the ICD records. The findings were analyzed against levels of geomagnetic activity (GMA) (I degree -IV degree) and cosmic ray activity (CRA), derived from international observatories, on the same days and throughout the study period.
On days of VT/VF, daily values of GMA level averaged 1.5 +/- 0.7, consistent with level I degree (quiet). The ratios of daily VT/VF episodes and treatment to GMA level for the whole study period were as follows: 1.2 level I; 0.9 level II; 0.69 level III; 0.78 level IV (r = -0.974; p = 0.02). Mean CRA on days of VT/VF was 9246.8 +/- 299.0 imp/min, and for all 4383 days studied, 8805.33 +/- 411.4 imp/min (p < 0.0001).
In patients with predominantly ischemic cardiomyopathy and severe left ventricular dysfunction, VT/VF occurs more often on days of low GMA and high CRA. Further studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanism of the effect of neutron activity on cardiac electrical instability.
This work is based on former investigations describing the similarity between the distribution of MS-frequency and solar particle rays. The analysis of the prevalence values shows clearly that the global MS-frequency is closer related to the geomagnetic than to the geographic latitude. This relation is best described by a Gaussian curve: in temperate latitudes the MS-frequency increases rapidly in pole direction and decreases again in pole-proximity. The MS-distribution shows a spatial relation to the distribution of solar particle rays and geomagnetic activity and to the external radiation belt of the earth. Further considerations are being made including the 11-year-sun-cycle.
The hypothesis that geomagnetic storms may partly account for the seasonal variation in the incidence of depression, by acting as a precipitant of depressive illness in susceptible individuals, is supported by a statistically significant 36.2% increase in male hospital admissions with a diagnosis of depressed phase, manic-depressive illness in the second week following such storms compared with geomagnetically quiet control periods. There is a smaller but not statistically significant increase in female psychotic depression and non-psychotic depression admissions following storms. There was no correlation between geomagnetic storm levels and number of male admissions with psychotic depression, which is consistent with a threshold event affecting predisposed individuals. Phase advance in pineal circadian rhythms of melatonin synthesis may be a possible mechanism of causation or be present as a consequence of 5-hydroxytryptamine and adrenergic system dysfunction associated with geomagnetic disturbance. Effects on cell membrane permeability, calcium channel activity and retinal magneto-receptors are suggested as possible underlying biochemical mechanisms.
The effects of geomagnetic disturbances on urinary excretion of the melatonin metabolite, 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate (6-OHMS), were studied in conjunction with 60 Hz magnetic field (MF) and ambient light exposure in 132 electric utility workers. Geomagnetic activity was assessed using a local (equivalent amplitude or A(K), Boulder, CO) and global (average antipodal or aa) index. Personal exposures to 60 Hz MFs and light were obtained using data-logging meters. The relationship between geomagnetic activity and 6-OHMS was assessed with adjustment for age, light exposure, and month of participation. Mean overnight 6-OHMS excretion was lower on days when the 36-h A(K) or aa values exceeded 30 nT. A greater reduction in 6-OHMS excretion was observed when increased geomagnetic activity was combined with elevated 60 Hz MF or reduced ambient light exposures.
Factors other than light may affect variations in melatonin, including disturbances in the geomagnetic field. Such a possibility was tested in Alta, Norway, located at latitude 70 degrees N, where the aurora borealis is a result of large changes in the horizontal component (H) of the geomagnetic field. Geomagnetic disturbances are felt more strongly closer to the pole than at lower latitudes. Also noteworthy in Alta is the fact that the sun does not rise above the horizon for several weeks during the winter. To examine whether changes in geomagnetic activity influence the secretion of melatonin, saliva was collected from 25 healthy subjects in Alta several times during the day-night and at different times of the year. Single cosinor analyses yielded individual estimates of.the circadian amplitude and MESOR of melatonin. A 3-hour mean value for the local geomagnetic activity index, K, was used for approximately the same 24-hour span. A circadian rhythm was found to characterize both melatonin and K, the peak in K (23:24) preceding that of melatonin (06:08). During the span of investigation, a circannual variation also characterized both variables. Correlation analyses suggest that changes in geomagnetic activity had to be of a certain magnitude to affect the circadian amplitude of melatonin. If large enough (> 80 nT/3 h), changes in geomagnetic activity also significantly decreased salivary melatonin concentration.
This chapter reviews the neural connections between the retinas and the pineal gland and summarizes the role of the light:dark cycle and the biological clock, i.e. the suprachiasmatic nuclei, in regulating pineal melatonin synthesis and secretion. The cellular mechanisms governing the nocturnal production of melatonin are described together with the way in which the misuse of light interferes with the circadian melatonin cycle and the total quantity of the indole generated. The chapter describes the nature of the membrane melatonin receptors and their signal transduction mechanisms in peripheral organs. The clinical implications and potential uses of melatonin in terms of influencing the biological clock (e.g. sleep and jet lag), immune function, and cancer initiation and growth are noted. Additionally, the chapter includes a description of the newly discovered free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities of melatonin; it also includes a list of clinical situations in which melatonin has been used with beneficial effects.
The possible relation between various biological or medical phenomena and changes in environmental physical activity, such as Solar, Geomagnetic Activity (GMA); Cosmic Ray; Proton, and other particle flux, have been reported. These phenomena seem to be reflected, among others, in the immune system, resulting in changes in immunoglobulin (Ig) levels or outbursts of epidemics.
to examine a possible association of GMA with another aspect of the immune system--autoimmunity. Fluctuations of levels of anticardiolipin (IgG; IgM, IgA subtypes) and lupus anticoagulant (Kaulin clotting time and Dilute Russell's viper venom time) autoantibodies, serving as anticardiolipin syndrome (ACLS) markers, were monitored during days of severe GMA storms and compared with those of lowest/quiet GMA days. Cosmophysical data were obtained from the NOAA National Space Service Center and the National Geophysical Data Center, USA.
A significant rise in the levels of anti beta2Gp1-IgA (p = 0.0001); and KCT (p = 0.019) was observed on days of the GMA storms.
On days of major GMA storms, significant changes in the autoimmune marker levels of ACLS were observed compared with quiet days. An involvement of those changes in clinical events related to GMA storms is possible.
As discussed in Part I of this review, the geographic distribution of multiple sclerosis (MS) and the change in risk among migrants provide compelling evidence for the existence of strong environmental determinants of MS, where "environmental" is broadly defined to include differences in diet and other behaviors. As we did for infections, we focus here primarily on those factors that may contribute to explain the geographic variations in MS prevalence and the change in risk among migrants. Among these, sunlight exposure emerges as being the most likely candidate. Because the effects of sun exposure may be mediated by vitamin D, we also examine the evidence linking vitamin D intake or status to MS risk. Furthermore, we review the evidence on cigarette smoking, which cannot explain the geographic variations in MS risk, but may contribute to the recently reported increases in the female/male ratio in MS incidence. Other proposed risk factors for MS are mentioned only briefly; although we recognize that some of these might be genuine, evidence is usually sparse and unpersuasive.
The frequency of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Greece remains speculative, as data from many parts are still lacking.
To estimate trends in MS prevalence and annual incidence in western Greece from January 1, 1984 to December 31, 2006.
Patients were identified from the patient records of the Department of Neurology at Patras University Hospital in Rion-Patras. Only patients with a definite MS diagnosis according to Poser's criteria and retrospective application of the McDonald's criteria were included. We calculated age- and sex-specific prevalence rates for patients living in the study area on December 31, 2006. Annual incidence rates were calculated for the period 1984-2006.
The crude prevalence rate of definite MS cases increased significantly in 23 years from 10.1/100,000 recorded in northeastern Greece in 1984 to 119.61/100,000 on December 31, 2006 in western Greece for the 780 cases still alive. The mean annual incidence rate increased from 2.71/100,000 recorded during the period 1984-1989 to 10.73/100,000 in the 5-year period of 2002-2006.
The prevalence rates were higher than expected, but closer than in previous surveys conducted in Greece to those reported recently in Sicily and Istanbul. These findings place the area in the high-risk zone.
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