Crossveinless 2 contains cysteine-rich domains and is required for high levels of BMP-like activity during the formation of the cross veins in Drosophila.

The BMP-like signaling mediated by the ligands Dpp and Gbb is required to reinforce the development of most veins in the Drosophila wing. However, the formation of the cross veins is especially sensitive to reductions in BMP-like signaling. We show here that the formation of the definitive cross veins occurs after the initial specification of the longitudinal veins in a process that requires localized BMP-like activity. Since Dpp and Gbb levels are not detectably higher in the early phases of cross vein development, other factors apparently account for this localized activity. Our evidence suggests that the product of the crossveinless 2 gene is a novel member of the BMP-like signaling pathway required to potentiate Gbb of Dpp signaling in the cross veins. crossveinless 2 is expressed at higher levels in the developing cross veins and is necessary for local BMP-like activity. The Crossveinless 2 protein contains a putative signal or transmembrane sequence, and a partial Von Willebrand Factor D domain similar to those known to regulate the formation of intramolecular and intermolecular bonds. It also contains five cysteine-rich domains, similar to the cysteine-rich domains found in Chordin, Short Gastrulation and Procollagen that are known to bind BMP-like ligands. These features strongly suggest that Crossveinless 2 acts extracelluarly or in the secretory pathway to directly potentiate Dpp or Gbb signaling.

Gender and living alone as determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption among the elderly living at home in urban Nottingham.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables by a sample of 369 elderly people living in Nottingham, England, was analysed in relation to whether or not they were eating five portions a day. Living status was only of significance to men who, if single, consumed 2.66 portions of fruits and vegetables per day compared with an overall mean of 4.1. The salient question is therefore not "Are you living alone?" but " s there a woman in the household?". Those respondents who were older and less educated ate less vegetables and those respondents who had a lower income or social grade ate less fruit. Men were less likely to be able to cook a range of meals, to have had a job that involved cooking or to watch cookery programmes on television. Single men were more likely than single women to say that eating food that was easy to cook and prepare was an important influence on their food choice. Single women on the other hand were more influenced by body image. Finding foods that were the right portion size and easy to open, prepare and cook was more important to single men than married men, as was the amount of money left after paying the bills.

Food safety knowledge and practice among elderly people living at home.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the food storage knowledge and practice of elderly people living at home. METHODS: Three phase survey data collection: face to face interviews; dietary diaries with a food frequency questionnaire; and follow up interviews. SETTING: Urban Nottingham. PARTICIPANTS: 809 elderly people (aged 65+) randomly selected from general practitioner lists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Respondent's refrigerator temperature; knowledge of freezer star rating; understanding of "use by" and "sell by" dates; reported ability to read food product safety labels. RESULTS: From a weighted total of 645 refrigerators measured, 451 (70%) were too warm for the safe storage of food (> or = 6 degrees Celsius). Only 41% of respondents (n = 279) knew the star rating of their freezer. Within a smaller sub-sample knowledge of the "use by" and "sell by" dates was good, but 45% of these respondents reported difficulty reading food labels. The storage of foods at inappropriate temperatures was not independent of socioeconomic or demographic status, and tended to be more likely among the poorer and those not living alone. CONCLUSIONS: Food storage practices among the majority of elderly people interviewed in this study do not meet recommended safety standards to minimise the risk of food poisoning.

Fruit and vegetable consumption in later life.

OBJECTIVE: to assess levels of fruit and vegetable consumption in elderly people, and to examine the socio-economic, physical and psychological factors which influence this consumption. METHODS: a three-phase survey: face to face interviews; self-completed dietary diaries with a food frequency questionnaire; and follow-up face-to-face interviews. PARTICIPANTS: 445 elderly people (aged 65+) randomly selected from general practitioner lists in urban Nottingham and rural Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. RESULTS: the recommended target of five portions of fruit and vegetables a day was achieved by less than half the respondents: 37% of those living in the urban area and 51% of those living in the rural area. Low fruit and vegetable consumption was particularly associated with being male, smoking and having low levels of social engagement. CONCLUSIONS: most elderly people consume less than the recommended levels of fruit and vegetables. Health programmes promoting fruit and vegetable consumption may not be successfully reaching elderly people and need to target those particularly at risk of low consumption.