World Wide Web Site
The American Association of Neuropathologists and The Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology have a World Wide Web site. Our address:
http://www.aanp-jnen.com.
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Professional Affairs Committee
A document of great interest was recently constructed by the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC). The NBAC was created by Executive Order in October of 1995. The 15 members of the commission were appointed by President Bill Clinton and were charged with defining "protection of the rights and welfare of human research subjects; and issues in the management and use of genetic information including, but not limited, to human gene patenting." The commission solicited public commentary on their draft policy "The Use of Human Biological Materials in Research." While many of the AANP membership may have missed this important web posting, as the document has wide implications for our profession, I have summarized its salient points below. The draft document can be accessed at the following URL: http://www.bioethics.gov/pubs/hbm_pub_comment/index.html. As the time for public commentary on the draft document expired December 3, 1998, this site may soon migrate to the final document.
Neuropathologists are commonly involved in the banking of human tissues, so this document is quite germane to our profession. Certainly any AANP member directing a tissue bank will need to read the final document in order to understand subsequent legislation. The scope of the committee's charge and the extent to which this document will determine future legislation might make most AANP members nervous. Any institution that does not comply with federal regulations is not eligible for federal sponsorship (which in this day and age for our profession, pretty much means doesn't exist!). But the good news is that this well written document was well thought out, and if properly understood will help us carry out many of our duties. Chapter 1 covers "growing concerns about the research use of human biological material." Current archives of human biological materials are conservatively estimated to consist of at least 282 million specimens and to be growing at 20 million specimens per year. The NBAC accurately states that this material is absolutely crucial to the advancement of biological science and the health of our world. Nevertheless, there are substantial public concerns regarding potential invasion of privacy and fears of discrimination and stigmatization. The vast majority of the specimens have been gathered without a patient's explicit informed consent to permit a wide variety of research purposes. (Given the potential uses for these specimens, the usual consent form signed by a patient undergoing surgery or authorizing an autopsy would not comply with the legal definition of "informed.") Chapter 2 covers definitions and uses of human biological materials. The key terms "Unidentified specimens", "Identified specimens", "Unlinked samples" and "Coded samples" are defined and examples given. Chapter 3 addresses ethical perspectives on research using human materials. Chapter 4 summarizes the current guidelines and chapter 5 ends with conclusions and recommendations.
For many of our banking activities, brain tissues are derived from autopsies and according to the regulations "there is no human subject and the regulations do not apply." However, coded samples that can be linked to living relatives "might, in fact, be involved, triggering regulatory oversight." Coding of autopsy samples used in research is an absolute minimum. Use of surgical biopsy specimens will require close adherence to the NBAC recommendations. At the very minimum all AANP members involved in human research should read the final conclusions and 16 recommendations. Knowledge of these primary documents will be crucial guides to our future interactions with colleagues and Institutional Review Boards.
Clayton A. Wiley, MD, PhD
Vice President for Professional Affairs
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Address Change Notifications
Please send your address changes, (including phone, fax, and email) directly to the Secretary/ Treasurer's Office. Notification to the Journal alone will not update the Association records or Directory listings.
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Membership Directory
The 1999 directory of members will be sent out with your July issue of the "Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology." According to the Association’s policy, members who did not pay 1999 dues are not listed.
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Meeting, Special Course, and Reception Registration
To register for the 1999 Annual Meeting, please fill out the enclosed Registration Form. As in the past, there is no registration fee for members. Meeting registration fees for non-members are $30.00 (student/resident/fellow) and $50.00 (faculty/staff).
If you would like to register to attend the Special Course, please include $125.00 with your meeting registration form. Please also indicate on the Registration Form if you wish to attend the Reception at 6:30 pm on Friday, June 18, and include additional payment ($10.00 members/faculty and $5.00 for students/residents/fellows).
Send the completed Registration Form to the Secretary-Treasurer at the address specified on the form. Please make any changes in your address, phone, fax, and email for the files of the Secretary/Treasurer's Office directly on the registration form.
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Hotel Reservations
Enclosed please find a hotel reservation form. This form must be received by the hotel no later than 4 weeks in advance to guarantee rooms at the special convention rates. You may mail or fax the form directly to the Portland Hilton. After May 15, 1999 rooms will be confirmed on an availability basis.
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Special Course (Thursday, June 17, 1999)
This year's course, "Infectious Diseases of the Nervous System" has been organized by our President, Jeannette J. Townsend.
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Special Course Objectives
Infectious diseases of the nervous system play a significant role in neuropathology and new methodologies have increased the ease of diagnosis and array of treatment options. This course will cover a variety of infectious diseases in order to bring to the participants an update on both the clinical and research aspects of the organisms and how they interact with the nervous system. In the last decade an increasing number of immunosuppressed patients have appeared who are vulnerable to opportunistic infections. An update on the various organisms encountered in the immunosuppressed patient will be of help to those in clinical practice. A great deal of data has been gathered on the pathophysiology of cerebral malaria and will give us new insights into the ways this worldwide parasite causes disease in humans. Viral diseases offer a significant threat to the central nervous system. Rabies and HTLV-I represent two quite different viral diseases and these differences will lead to further insight concerning viral pathogenesis. Bacterial diseases of the central nervous system are common and treatable. Several unusual bacterial infections of the nervous system will be discussed in order to update the participants on pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. Neurosyphilis has resurfaced as a disease entity in the era of AIDS and this discussion will cover the pathology and offer an update on the disease as it presents today. Upon completion of the course, participants should have a greater understanding of infectious processes that involve the nervous system and be able to transfer this understanding to diagnostic applications.
The American Association of Neuropathologists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Association of Neuropathologists designates the Special Course as a continuing medical education activity for 6 credit hours in Category I of the Physician's Recognition Award of the American Medical Association.
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Special Course AGENDA (Thursday, June 17, 1999)
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8:00 - 8:10
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Introduction |
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8:10 - 9:00
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Leroy R. Sharer: Opportunistic Infections
(Department of Pathology, New Jersey Medical School) |
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9:00 - 9:50
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Gareth D. H. Turner: Pathophysiology of Cerebral Malaria
(Dept. of Cellular Science, Oxford University, England) |
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9:50 - 10:20
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Coffee Break |
| 10:20 - 11:10 |
Robert E. Mrak: Rabies Encephalitis in Humans
(Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas) |
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11:10 - 12:00
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Steve Jacobson: Immunopathogenesis of HTLV-I and Associated Diseases
(Viral Immunology Section, National Institutes of Health) |
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12:00 - 1:30
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Lunch |
| 1:30 - 2:20 |
Patricia K. Coyle: Lyme Disease and the CNS
(Department of Neurology, SUNY at Stony Brook) |
| 2:20 - 3:10 |
Arthur K. Asbury: Campylobacter jejuni in the Guillain BarrÈ Syndrome
(Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania) |
| 3:10 - 3:40 |
Soft Drink Break |
| 3:40 - 4:30 |
Roger P. Simon: Neurosyphilis in the Era of AIDS
(Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh) |
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Scientific Sessions (Friday and Saturday, June 18-19)
This year approximately 238 abstracts have been accepted for platform and poster sessions. Scientific sessions will be held on Friday and Saturday and will include both poster and platform presentations. Two platform sessions will be conducted concurrently and there will be two poster sessions (morning and afternoon) on each day.
The poster surfaces available to us measure 4 feet by 8 feet. Please prepare your poster accordingly. Bring your own push-pins (preferably 5/8" long) to the meeting. Thumb tacks will not be adequate to fasten your display to the poster boards. Members are responsible for disseminating this information to their residents, fellows and guests. There will be two poster discussion sessions each day.
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NOTICE FOR AUTHORS OF ABSTRACTS: "Authors of abstracts that have been published as full length papers are reminded that they are responsible for informing the Secretary-Treasurer's office of this prior to the meeting. Abstracts of previously published papers are not eligible for the Association Awards."
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Reception (Friday evening, June 18, 6:30 PM)
A reception for the attendees and guests will be held at the Portland Hilton on Friday evening. There will be hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Admission is $10.00 and $5.00 for students/residents/fellows. Those who wish to attend may submit payment with the pre-registration form, or may purchase tickets at the time of the meeting.
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Business Meeting
The annual business meeting, to be held on Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19, will begin promptly at noon on both days.
Saul R. Korey Lecture
The lecture named in honor of Dr. Saul R. Korey will be given by Dr. William F. Hickey. This lecture will be held on Saturday, June 19th.
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Presidential Symposium (Sunday, June 20)
President Jeannette J. Townsend has organized the symposium entitled "Pathogenesis of CNS Infections" which will be held on Sunday morning, June 20, 1999. Dr. Townsend's Presidential Address will be entitled "Herpes Simplex Virus". Dr. Diane Griffin will speak on "Sindbis Virus", and Dr. Clayton A. Wiley will discuss "Human Immunodeficiency Virus".
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Presidential Symposium Schedule
| 8:00 - 8:15 |
Introduction |
| 8:15 - 9:15 |
Matthew T. Moore Lecturer
Richard T. Johnson: Viral Pathogenesis Overview
(Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University) |
| 9:15-10:00 |
Diane Griffin: Sindbis Virus
(Dept. of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University) |
| 10:00 - 10:30 |
Awards Ceremony & Coffee Break |
| 10:30 - 11:15 |
Clayton A. Wiley: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh) |
| 11:15- 11:45 |
Jeannette J. Townsend: Herpes Simplex Virus
(Department of Pathology, University of Utah) |
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Matthew T. Moore Lecture
As part of the Presidential Symposium, the Matthew T. Moore Distinguished Lecture is entitled "Viral Pathogenesis, an Overview" and will be presented by Dr. Richard T. Johnson of Johns Hopkins University.
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Diagnostic Slide Session (Saturday, 8:00 PM, June 19)
Slides and protocols may be purchased for $40 in U.S. currency. Foreign checks, including Canadian, must be issued through an American Bank with a proper routing number. Mail checks to:
Leroy R. Sharer, M.D.
Department of Pathology
New Jersey Medical School
185 South Orange Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103
Ph: (973) 972-4770
Fax: (973) 972-5933
Slide sets are limited to one per person. Make checks payable to "Diagnostic Slide Session." The protocols will be sent from New Jersey, and the slides from Boston, on or about May 1. Slide delivery before the meeting on any orders received after May 16, 1999 cannot be guaranteed.
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Constitution Committee
The Committee has proposed several amendments to the Constitution, which are enclosed with this Newsletter. For these amendments to be adopted, a vote will be held at the Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon.
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ERRATUM
One of the two papers awarded Honorable Mention for the Weil Award at the 1998 Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was omitted from the list in the October Newsletter.
The paper entitled, "Beta chemokines enhance CD4+T cell subset adhesion to human brain microvessel endothelial cells (HBMEC) in vitro" by J. Shukaliak, R. Prameya, V. Wu, and K. Dorovini-Zis is the other paper that was awarded Honorable Mention.
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FUTURE MEETINGS
June 8-11, 2000: Radisson Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia
June 21-24, 2001: Chicago Mart Plaza, Chicago, Illinois
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