A Conference Role of Neural Plasticity in Chemical Intolerance The New York Academy of Sciences is sponsoring a conference entitled: Role of Neural Plasticity in Chemical Intolerance in June, 2000. The principal investigator and chair is Barbara Sorg, Ph.D., Washington State University. The co-chair is Iris Bell, M.D., Ph.D., Tucson Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Chemical intolerance (CI), also referred to as multiple chemical sensitivity, is a condition whereby individuals become increasingly sensitive to chemicals in the home and workplace. It is an emerging problem in environmental health. A wide variety of symptoms and severe illness from lowlevel chemical exposures have been reported in as high as 46% of the American population. Individuals with sensitivities to chemicals make an average of 23 health care provider visits per year. Thus, the economic impact of the CI condition and lack of treatment is potentially enormous. The main objective of the meeting is to gather neuroscientists from a variety of subdisciplines to discuss the potential mechanisms for the amplification of symptoms in individuals with CI. The meeting will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas in these subdisciplines in an effort to develop a series of testable hypotheses based upon the postulate that neural plasticity plays a role in the development of CI. While the primary focus of the meeting is on preclinical data, the program will also include scientists who will provide uptodate information on the clinical aspects of CI. It is expected that these presentations by clinical and basic scientists will familiarize the audience with not only the primary clinical findings of CI but also basic biological findings related to neural plasticity as a potential critical link for mechanisms leading to CI in humans. The basic science findings will focus primarily on the cellular changes that mediate plasticity as well as alterations in brain pathways that regulate behavior. The findings will be integrated into a rationale for future basic research and clinical applications. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a greater understanding of the mechanism(s) of CI so that treatment strategies may be developed. The proceedings will be published as a volume in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences and will be distributed internationally. This conference is unique in that it will focus on neurobiological changes which may occur in individuals with chemical intolerance, or CI. Neurological symptoms are the number one complaint among those with CI, and we feel it is time to move our research efforts toward an understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying the neurological changes that may occur in CI. Many of the speakers planned for the conference are among the top research scientists in their various subdisciplines, and nearly all have agreed to participate in the meeting. CONFERENCE PROGRAM: Role of Neural Plasticity in Chemical Intolerance Friday, June 16, 2000 7:00-9:00 pm ..... Wine and cheese reception Saturday, June 17, 2000 (POSTER SESSION: Posters set up by 12:00 Saturday, viewing/discussion Sunday, 5:30-7:30 pm) 8:00-8:30 am ..... Opening Remarks (Brief introduction by Drs. Bell and Sorg) Session I: Chemical Intolerance in Humans Chairpersons: Claudia S. Miller, M.D., and Iris R. Bell, M.D., Ph.D. 8:30-9:00 am ..... Claudia S. Miller, M.D., M.S. Family Practice Univ Texas Hlth Sci Ctr, San Antonio 7703 Floyd Curl Dr San Antonio, TX 78284-7794 Title: Current Perspectives on CI in humans 9:00-9:30 am ..... Nancy Fiedler, Ph.D. UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute 681 Frelinghuysen Road, Room 210 Piscataway, NJ 08855 Title: Overview of Scientific Studies in Individuals Reporting CI 9:30-10:00 am ..... Gerd Kobal, M.D. Institute for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Erlanger-N˝rnberg Krankenhausstrasse 9 D-91054 Erlangen GERMANY Title: Nasal Chemosensitivity in Individuals Reporting CI 10:00-10:20 am ..... Coffee break 10:20-10:50 am ..... Iris R. Bell, M.D., Ph.D. Tucson Veterans Affairs Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Ave., MS 116A Tucson, Arizona 85723 Title: Sensitization Studies in CI Individuals 10:50-11:20 am ..... Donald W. Black, M.D. Department of Psychiatry University of Iowa College of Medicine Iowa City, IA 52242-1000 Title: Nine-Year Follow-up of Patients with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity 11:20-12:10 am ..... Bernard D. Goldstein, M.D. Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Piscataway, NJ 08855-1179 Environmental Risks and Public Health ALTERNATE Gilbert S. Omenn, MD., Ph.D. Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs University of Michigan M-7324 Medical Sciences I Building 1301 Catherine Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0624 12:10-12:30 ..... Discussion with Panelists (Session I speakers) 12:30-2:00 pm ..... Speaker's Lunch Session II: Animal Models for Chemical Intolerance: Role of Central Nervous System Plasticity Chairperson: Robert C. MacPhail, Ph.D. 2:00-2:30 pm ..... Barbara A. Sorg, Ph.D. Dept. VCAPP Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-6520 Title: Repeated Formaldehyde Effects in an Animal Model for CI 2:30-3:00 pm ..... Mary E. Gilbert, PhD Neurotoxicol Div MO 74B US EPA Res Triangle Pk, NC 27711 Title: Repeated Chemical Exposure and Kindling 3:00-3:30 pm ..... David H. Overstreet, Ph.D. Center for Alcohol Studies University of North Carolina Chapel Hill CB 7178 Thurston-Bowles Bldg. Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7178 Title: Cholinergic Sensitivity in an Animal Model of CI 3:30-3:50 pm ..... Coffee break 3:50-4:20 pm ..... Robert C. MacPhail, Ph.D. Chief, Neurobehavioral Toxicology Branch Neurotoxicology Division U.S. EPA (MD-74B) Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 Title: Repeated Neurotoxicant Exposure Effects in Animals 4:20-4:45 pm ..... Discussion with Panelists (Sessions II speakers) 6:30 pm ..... Speaker's Dinner Sunday, June 18, 2000 Session III: Neurogenic Inflammation Chairperson: Jon D. Levine, MD., Ph.D. 8:00-8:30 am ..... Rebecca Bascom, M.D., M.P.H. Penn State Greisinger Health System Section of Pulmonary Allergy and Critical Care M.P. H039, P.O. Box 850 Hershey, PA 17033 Title: Environmental Factors Contributing to Respiratory Hypersensitivity 8:30-9:00 am ..... Jon D. Levine, M.D., Ph.D. National Institutes of Health Pain Center Box 0440 University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA 94143-0452 Title: Mechanisms of Neurogenic Inflammation Session IV: Neural Plasticity in Pathological Pain Chairperson: Ronald Melzack, Ph.D. 9:00-9:30 am ..... Holger Ursin, Ph.D. Department of Biological and Medical Psychology Division of Physiological Psychology University of Bergen Aarstadveien 21, N-5009 Bergen, Norway Title: Sensitization, Somatization and Subjective Health Complaints 9:30-10:00 am ..... M. Catherine Bushnell, Ph.D. Department of Anesthesiology McGill University Royal Victoria Hospital 687 Pine Avenue, Room F9.16 Montreal, PQ H3A 1A1, Canada Title: Affective Aspects of Pain 10:00-10:20 am ..... Coffee break 10:20-10:50 am ..... Jianren Mao, M.D., Ph.D. Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston, MA Title: " Neural and molecular mechanisms of abnormal pain states and opioid tolerance". 10:50-11:20 am ..... William D. Willis, Jr, MD. PhD Chairman, Dept Anat & Neurosci Director, Marine Biomed Inst Univ Texas Med Branch Galveston 2.104 Med Res Bldg 301 University Blvd Galveston, TX 77555-1069 Title: Role of Neurotransmitters in Sensitization of Pain Responses 11:20-11:50 am ..... Ronald Melzack, Ph.D. Department of Psychology McGill University Montreal, Quebec, CA Title: Central Neuroplasticity and Pathological Pain 11:50-12:15 pm ..... Discussion with Panelists (Session III and IV speakers) 12:15-2:00 pm ..... Lunch Session V: Cytokines, Chronic Fatigue States and Sickness Behavior Chairperson: Roberto Patarca, M.D., Ph.D. and Harvey Moldofsky, M.D. 2:00-2:30 pm ..... Roberto Patarca, M.D., Ph.D. U. Miami Dept. Clinical Immunology Miami, FL 33136 Title: Cytokine Measures in Chronic Fatigue ALTERNATE Dedra S. Buchwald, M.D. Department of Medicine Harborview Medical Center Seattle, WA Title: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Overlaps with CI 2:30-3:00 pm ..... Harvey Moldofsky, M.D. Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology The Toronto Hospital Western Division 399 Bathurst Street Toronto, Canada M5T 2S8 Title: Sleep, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia 3:00-3:30 pm ..... James M. Krueger, PhD Dept. VCAPP College Vet Med Washington State Univ Wegner Hall-Rm 205 Pullman, WA 99164-6520 Title: Role of Cytokines in Physiological Sleep 3:30-3:50 pm ..... Coffee break 3:50-4:20 pm ..... Robert Dantzer, Ph.D. INSERM U394 Rue Camille Saint-Saens 33077 Bordeaux Cedex, FR Title: Cytokines and Sickness Behavior 4:20-4:40 pm ..... Daniel J. Clauw, M.D. Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy Department of Medicine Georgetown University Medical Center Washington, D.C., 20007 Title: Discussant for Cytokines, Chronic Pain and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 4:40-5:00 pm ..... Discussion with Panelists (Session V speakers) 5:30-7:30 pm ..... POSTER SESSION (mini-sessions included) Cash Bar Federal Agencies (NIEHS, NIOSH, Veterans Administration, ATSDR, OHSA, U.S. EPA, NIMH, NIH Office of Alternative Medicine) Monday, June 19, 2000 Session VI: Physiological stress and the neuroendocrine axis Chairperson: Bruce S. McEwen, Ph.D. 8:00-8:30 am George P. Chrousos, M.D., S.C.D. Developmental Endocrinology Branch National Institute of Child Health and Human Development NIH Building 10 Room 10N262 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD Title: Neuroendocrine Responses to Stressful Stimuli in Humans 8:30-9:00 am ..... Catherine G. Rivier, PhD Peptide Biol Lab Salk Inst PO Box 85800 San Diego, CA 92186-5800 Title: Role of CRF in Stress Responses 9:00-9:30 am ..... Bruce S. McEwen, Ph.D. Lab Neuroendocrinol The Rockefeller Univ 1230 York Ave New York, NY 10021 Title: Role of Neuroplasticity in Chronic Disease 9:30-9:50 am ..... Discussion with Panelists (Session VI speakers) 9:50-10:10 am ..... Coffee break Session VII: Neural Conditioning Chairpersons : Joseph E. LeDoux, Ph.D. and Robert C. MacPhail, Ph.D. 10:10-10:40 am ..... Omer Van den Bergh, Ph.D. Department of Psychology University of Leuven Tiensestraat 102, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium Title: Conditioning of Somatic Complaints in Humans: Experiments with Odors 10:40-11:10 am ..... Joseph E. LeDoux, Ph.D Ctr Neural Sci New York Univ 6 Washington Pl New York, NY 10003 Title: Neural Plasticity of Stimulus Generalization ALTERNATE Michael S. Fanselow, PhD Dept Psychol UCLA 405 Hilgard Ave Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563 11:10-11:40 pm ..... Timothy A. Otto, Ph.D Department of Psychology Rutgers University Busch Campus New Brunswick, NJ 08903 Title: Conditioning to Odors in Rats 11:40-12:00 pm ..... Panelist Discussion (Session VII speakers) 12:00-12:30 pm ..... General Discussion open to public