C92 LOU GEHRIG, RAWHIDE AND 1938
Lewis M, Gordon PH
Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
E‐mail address for correspondence: [email protected]
Background: Lou Gehrig was one of the most talented baseball players of all time; yet he is also remembered for the disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), that took his life and still bears his name as its eponym. There is considerable speculation about when his symptoms began; some authorities believe that Gehrig had signs of ALS when he starred in the film, Rawhide, in January 1938, which would mean that he played the entire 1938 season with symptomatic ALS. Uniform logos have been used to date the year of photographs taken of Gehrig while he was playing baseball. We re‐examined the film and photographs, to determine when he first displayed evidence of ALS.
Objective: To determine whether Gehrig had signs of ALS in Rawhide, to assess his physical function in the film, and to describe photographs taken of Gehrig from 1937 to 1939.
Methods: Specific scenes from Rawhide were chosen to grade Gehrig's hand, arm, leg and bulbar function using the ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS). Separately, we checked with the Baseball Hall of Fame to ascertain the date photographs were taken, and scrutinized them for evidence of hand atrophy or leg weakness.
Results: Gehrig did not display visible signs of weakness in Rawhide. Bulbar function, handwriting, handling utensils, walking, climbing stairs, and breathing were normal. His ALSFRS score, modified to account for limitations of on‐screen activities, was normal (score = 32/32). There was no visible hand atrophy or limb weakness. He lifted an adult man overhead (time = 22:00), threw billiards balls with force and precision (22:00), stood from a seated position while clapping his hands (41:50), and leapt over a chair (57:56). Close‐up shots of his hands showed normal muscle mass (12:10, 24:40). Photographs from the spring of 1938 show normal hand bulk and leg function. A photograph of Gehrig mid‐swing taken in September 1938 implies good leg strength. The New York Yankees wore logos in 1938 that were labelled with the year 1939 to advertise the 1939 World Fair, while the uniforms displayed a centennial patch during the 1939 season.
Conclusions: Examination of Rawhide provides evidence that Gehrig functioned normally in January 1938. Several scenes illustrate exceptional strength and coordination and no hand atrophy or leg weakness. Photographs taken during the years 1937–1939 imply that physical signs first appeared after May 1938. Physical abnormalities of his hands prior to mid‐1938 were more likely due to bone injuries. Uniform patches, previously misidentified in documenting dates, can be used to discriminate between photographs taken of Gehrig in 1938 and 1939. We conclude that there was no definite evidence of ALS in photographs taken of Gehrig prior to mid‐ season 1938. The presentation will include video footage to document function and photographs to construct a timeline for hand atrophy.
C93 ANTIOXIDANTS AS THERAPIES FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE
Halliwell B
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
E‐mail address for correspondence: [email protected]
The major neurodegenerative diseases affect different parts of the brain and have different pathologies and prognoses. However, they have several common features, including increased oxidative damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, defects in the clearance of unwanted proteins, iron accumulation and some involvement of inflammation and of excitotoxicity. The link between these events will be discussed, and a unifying hypothesis of the origins of neurodegeneration will be presented. The prospects for prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by the use of antioxidants will be assessed.
References
- Halliwell B. Role of free radicals in the neurodegenerative diseases: therapeutic implications for antioxidant treatment. Drugs & Aging 2002;18:685–716.
- Halliwell B. Oxidative stress and neurodegeneration; where are we now? Journal of Neurochemistry 2006;97:1634–58.
- Halliwell B, Gutteridge JMC. Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine. 4th edn. Oxford University Press; 2006.