Developmental expression of bFGF in the bovine retina.

PURPOSE: To examine the expression of bFGF in the developing bovine retina. METHODS: Fetal bovine eyes at 90, 120, 150, and 180 days gestational age, as well as adult bovine eyes, were immunohistochemically stained for the presence of bFGF. Detailed characterization of the anti-bFGF antibodies by immunoblot and Western blot analysis against pure FGF gene family standards and crude extracts of bovine retina were also performed. RESULTS: Expression of bFGF occurs beginning at 150 days of gestation, a period when photoreceptor development and secondary capillary network development is in process. No bFGF expression was found at 90 days, but primary capillaries were already apparent at this stage of development. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of bFGF in the developing bovine retina may play a functional role in outer retinal development.

Blood pressure levels and hypertension status among ethnic groups in England.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease and hypertension show wide variability among different ethnic groups in the UK. We combined data collected annually between 1991-1996 in the Health Surveys for England--nationwide surveys that provide information on the health status in a representative sample of the population living in England, to compare blood pressure (BP) levels, hypertension rates (systolic BP > or = 160 mm Hg or diastolic BP > or = 95 mm Hg, or those on antihypertensive medication), hypertension treatment and control rates in people of white, black (combining black-Caribbean, black-African and black-other), and South Asian origin (combining Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis). Analyses were stratified into two age groups, 16-39 (younger) and > or = 40 years (older), but were focused on older adults (30,619 whites, 295 blacks and 529 South Asians). Age-adjusted mean BP levels and hypertension rates of older adults were highest among blacks, while South Asian men showed BP levels and hypertension rates similar to black men and South Asian women had mean BP levels and hypertension rates similar to white women. After controlling for age, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, and social class the odds ratio (OR) of being hypertensive among older adults was higher in black men (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.4, 2.9; P < 0.001); black women (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.2, 2.5; P < 0.01); and South Asian men (1.9; CI 1.4, 2.4; P < 0.001), than in their white counterparts. Among those studied with hypertension, treatment rates were highest among black men and women. Among those on antihypertensive medication, the odds of having BP controlled (SBP < 160 mm Hg and DBP < 95 mm Hg) did not differ among the three groups of older men but was reduced in older South Asian women, compared with white women.

Blood lead and blood pressure: evidence from the Health Survey for England 1995.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between blood lead and blood pressure (BP) and to estimate the possible effects of a decrease in blood lead on BP. METHODS: A 2-ml blood sample was collected from a sub-sample of those included in the Health Survey for England 1995, a cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of the adult English population. Blood lead concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry and three BP readings were taken under standardised conditions using the Dinamap 8100 monitor. Analyses were carried out using data on 2563 men and 2763 women aged 16 and over. RESULTS: In stepwise multiple regression analyses adjusting for various confounders--age, body mass index, smoking status, social class, region of residence and alcohol intake--blood lead was found to be significantly and positively associated with diastolic BP, and not systolic BP in men, but not in women. These findings were unaffected by the inclusion or exclusion of those on antihypertensive medication, by whether mean or median BP was used in the regression, or by the adjustment for alcohol consumption. A halving of currently prevalent blood lead levels is estimated to be associated with a decrease of between 0.8 to 1.1 mm Hg diastolic BP in men. CONCLUSION: These findings in the context of other published data are consistent with a small pressor effect of environmental lead levels on BP. They support recommendations for further efforts to reduce lead in the environment.

Increasing cell density down-regulates the expression of acidic FGF by human RPE cells in vitro.

Previous studies have reported the expression of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) by rat, bovine, and human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in vivo. To critically examine the expression of aFGF by RPE cells, we studied the density dependence of steady-state levels of mRNA and protein expression in vitro. Northern blot analysis demonstrated 5 transcripts ranging from 4.5 kB to 1 kB. Steady-state levels of all the transcripts decreased as a function of culture density. A polyclonal antibody was raised against recombinant human aFGF and affinity purified on aFGF coupled to AffiGel-10. The resulting antibody crossreacted with bFGF but not FGF-5, but this crossreactivity could be eliminated by absorption of the antibody on bFGF coupled to AffiGel-10. The final antibody preparation recognized only a single band at approximately 18.5 kD in lysates of RPE. Immunohistochemical staining with this antibody preparation demonstrated a marked dependence on cell density after 3 days in culture. Low culture density yielded cells staining moderately for aFGF, while confluent cells exhibited little or no staining. The reduction of aFGF from RPE cells in culture in a density-dependent fashion could also be demonstrated by Western blot analysis.

Ecological analysis of collectivity of alcohol consumption in England: importance of average drinker.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the average consumption of alcohol is associated with the prevalence of heavy drinking, problem drinking, and abstention in England. DESIGN: Ecological analysis using data from a cross sectional household based survey of English adults. SUBJECTS: Random sample of 32,333 adults from the English population who participated in the 1993 and 1994 health surveys for England. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Association, expressed as the correlation coefficient, between the regional mean and median alcohol consumption and the regional prevalence of heavy drinking, problem drinking, and abstention. RESULTS: Mean consumption of alcohol in light to moderate drinkers was strongly positively associated with the prevalence of heavy drinking (r = 0.75 in men and r = 0.62 in women for drinking more than 21 and 14 units per week respectively). A similar association was found between median consumption and prevalence of heavy drinking. Abstention was not significantly associated with mean consumption in drinkers (r = 0.08 for men and r = -0.29 for women). Both the median and mean consumption in drinkers were positively associated with the prevalence of problem drinking as defined by the CAGE questionnaire on alcohol use (r = 0.53 for men and r = 0.42 for women for the association with mean consumption). CONCLUSION: Factors that increase the average consumption of alcohol in the population may result in an increase in the prevalence of heavy drinking and related problems.

Cell density regulates differential production of bFGF transcripts.

In vitro cultures of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were used to study the regulation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene expression. Four transcripts of 7.0, 3.7, 2.2, and 1.2 kB are produced from the bFGF gene. Increasing cell density has a profound effect on the expression of the 7.0 kB transcript relative to the 3.7 kB transcript. Here, evidence is presented suggesting that posttranscriptional processing events are responsible for differential expression of the 7.0 and 3.7 kB bFGF transcripts as a function of cell density. Primer extension analysis demonstrates that these two transcripts originate from a single transcription initiation site. Determination of the half-lives of the 7.0 and 3.7 kB transcripts at confluent cell density did not explain the relative expression of these mRNAs. These differences may arise from the use of alternative polyadenylation sites in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) as a function of cell density. Polysomal analysis indicates no selective translation of any of the four bFGF transcripts in RPE cells.

Child morbidity patterns in Ethiopia.

This study is based on the 1983 Rural Health Survey of Ethiopia. Patterns and levels of child morbidity by age, sex, geographic region, and sanitary facilities are examined. Morbidity levels peak in the second year of life. Diarrhoeal diseases are of major importance, especially among infants and toddlers. Parasitic diseases, and respiratory diseases other than pneumonia, become increasingly important with age. There are no significant sex differentials in morbidity except for higher rates of diarrhoeal diseases among female children. Geographic differentials are quite marked with particularly high morbidity levels from all disease types in the western mountainous regions of Ethiopia. Access to high quality drinking water, a latrine, and garbage disposal, are strongly related to reduced overall morbidity levels, though not necessarily to reduced diarrhoeal disease levels.

PIP: 1983 data on 11,962 6-year old children were analyzed to examine patterns of child illness in rural Ethiopia. Overall child morbidity was high, especially among children who were at the most 1 year old. No significant difference existed between boys and girls, except diarrhea occurred more often in girls. Diarrhea accounted for most illnesses, especially among infants and 1-year old children. As children aged, parasitic and other respiratory diseases increased. Children who lived in a house with a latrine and who defecated in the latrine had the lowest morbidity rate (p.001). Only 12.7% of children who lived in a home with piped water were sick in the 2 weeks prior to the survey compared with or=20% for all other sources of water (p.001). The water supply with the highest morbidity rate was a river (30%). In addition, children who had a garbage bin in their house experienced fewer illnesses than did those who did not have a bin (17.1% vs. 29.2%; p,.001). Even though these 3 sanitation indicators were associated with reduced morbidity, they were not always associated with reduced diarrhea levels. The 3 western mountainous regions (Gonder, Ilubabor, and Wellega) had the highest morbidity rates (59.3%, 41.9%, and 45.7%, respectively). Their rates were much higher than the country morbidity rate of 28.8%. Moreover, children in these mountains regions were 2.6-4.9 times more likely to become sick than those in the other regions. Gonder region had the highest malnutrition rate and the 2nd highest diarrhea prevalence rate. Wellega had the highest diarrhea rate and the 2nd highest malnutrition rate. Ilubabor ranked 3rd for both diarrhea and malnutrition. Yet Ilubabor ranked highest in parasitic and other respiratory diseases. Lack of health services and malnutrition most likely accounted for the higher child morbidity in these 3 regions. It is concluded that the Primary Health Care Program should focus on improvements in sanitation and health education.

Adaptive Behavior Scale, Part Two: predictive efficiency of severity and frequency scores.

Severity and frequency of occurrence methods of scoring the Adaptive Behavior Scale, Part Two, were compared using ratings for seven groups of mentally retarded persons. Comparisons involved separately correlating the two methods with independently obtained clinical impressions of symptomatology. The severity scoring system predicted approximately 11 percent more of the variance in the criterion than did frequency scores. These results provide considerable construct and predictive validity for the severity scoring system.

Cellular adhesion regulates bFGF gene expression in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

It has previously been shown that cell density has a profound effect on the expression of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene by human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro. This study was designed to examine cellular mechanisms which may be responsible for the density-dependent expression of bFGF. Examination of RPE labeling index with respect to cell density suggests that cell cycle progression is not responsible for changes in steady-state mRNA levels. Media switch experiments between sparse and dense RPE cell cultures also rule out a soluble mediator. Extracellular matrix deposited within the 3-day plating period could also not account for the observed changes in bFGF gene expression. However, the synchronous loss of cell contact induced by Ca2+ chelation caused a transient elevation in steady-state mRNA levels. These results suggest that changes in cell adhesion may be responsible for the density-dependent regulation of bFGF mRNA levels in RPE cells in vitro.

Coexpression of FGF-5 and bFGF by the retinal pigment epithelium in vitro.

Members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) gene family have been proposed to play critical roles in the biology of the outer retina. In this study, in vitro cultures of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were surveyed for the expression of FGF gene family members. Northern analysis provided evidence for the expression of the previously reported 7.0 and 3.7 kb basic FGF (bFGF) transcripts and for the 4.0 and 2.1 kb FGF-5 transcripts. Western analysis demonstrated the presence of three bFGF proteins ranging in size from 18 to 26 kDa and three FGF-5 proteins of molecular weights 28.5, 34, and 36 kDa. We were particularly interested in cellular mechanisms which might regulate the steady-state mRNA levels of these genes. It was determined that bFGF message levels decreased with increasing culture density, increased upon serum stimulation and when placed in contact with matrix components found in the extracellular matrix of RPE cells in vivo. In a similar fashion, the steady state mRNA levels for FGF-5 decreased with increasing culture density, increased upon serum stimulation, but appeared to be unaffected by matrix contact.

Adaptive Behavior Scale part two: Relative severity of maladaptive behavior.

Part Two of the Adaptive Behavior Scale contains statements that cover 13 domains of maladaptive behavior. The present system of scoring and profiling reflects the frequency of occurrence of behavior (either occasionally or frequency) and not severity or relative importance. Thirty-three psychologists with experience in mental retardation rated the 452 statements contained in Part Two along a continuum of severity. Median severity scores were computed for all statements. Results indicated that statements prefaced by "frequently" were judged as more serious than those prefaced by "occasionally," and domains varied greatly with regard to relative severity. Correlational analysi revealed that irrespective of absolute differences due to frequency of occurrence, different types of maladaptive behavior were systematically placed along a relative continuum. Substantial reliability was found among judgments. Possible clinical and psychometric advantages of using these severity scores were suggested.