The geographic distribution of measles in the United States, 1980 through 1989.

OBJECTIVE--To describe the geographic distribution of measles cases in the United States by county for the 10-year period from 1980 through 1989. DESIGN--Ecological analysis of national measles surveillance data. METHODS--Measles cases reported to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from 1980 through 1989 were analyzed. Data from the 1980 and 1990 US censuses were used to produce demographic profiles for each of the 3137 countries. Outcome variables examined included mean annual incidence and number of years reporting measles, with use of Spearman's rank correlation coefficients to examine the association between the demographic and the two outcome variables. RESULTS--A total of 56,775 measles cases were reported during the decade. Of the nation's 3137 counties, 1690 (53.9%) did not report any cases; only 17 (0.5%) reported measles in all 10 years. Counties reporting measles more frequently during the decade had higher median populations, population densities, and percentage of black and Hispanic populations than those counties reporting less frequently. Population size, population density, and percentage of Hispanic population were associated with number of years reporting measles and mean annual measles incidence rate. Measles cases in counties reporting measles every year predominantly occurred in unvaccinated preschoolers; cases in counties reporting less frequently predominantly occurred in vaccinated school-aged children. CONCLUSIONS--This analysis illustrates the focal nature of measles in the United States during the past decade. Most counties have not reported a single case of measles during the entire decade, and only 17 counties reported measles every year. Targeted strategies are needed to improve age-appropriate immunization levels among preschool-aged children living in large inner-city areas.     

A genetic linkage map for zebrafish: comparative analysis and localization of genes and expressed sequences

Genetic screens in zebrafish (Danio rerio) have isolated mutations in hundreds of genes with essential functions. To facilitate the identification of candidate genes for these mutations, we have genetically mapped 104 genes and expressed sequence tags by scoring single-strand conformational polymorphisms in a panel of haploid siblings. To integrate this map with existing genetic maps, we also scored 275 previously mapped genes, microsatellites, and sequence-tagged sites in the same haploid panel. Systematic phylogenetic analysis defined likely mammalian orthologs of mapped zebrafish genes, and comparison of map positions in zebrafish and mammals identified significant conservation of synteny. This comparative analysis also identified pairs of zebrafish genes that appear to be orthologous to single mammalian genes, suggesting that these genes arose in a genome duplication that occurred in the teleost lineage after the divergence of fish and mammal ancestors. This comparative map analysis will be useful in predicting the locations of zebrafish genes from mammalian gene maps and in understanding the evolution of the vertebrate genome.     

Isolation of a new clathrin heavy chain gene with muscle-specific expression from the region commonly deleted in velo-cardio-facial syndrome

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) and DiGeorge syndrome (DGS) are developmental disorders characterized by a spectrum of phenotypes including velopharyngeal insufficiency, conotruncal heart defects and facial dysmorphology among others. Eighty to eighty-five percent of VCFS/DGS patients are hemizygous for a portion of chromosome 22. It is likely that the genes encoded by this region play a role in the etiology of the phenotypes associated with the disorders. Using a cDNA selection protocol, we isolated a novel clathrin heavy chain cDNA (CLTD) from the VCFS/DGS minimally deleted interval. The cDNA encodes a protein of 1638 amino acids. CLTD shares significant homology, but is not identical to the ubiquitously expressed clathrin heavy chain gene. The CLTD gene also shows a unique pattern of expression, having its maximal level of expression in skeletal muscle. Velopharyngeal insufficiency and muscle weakness are common features of VCFS patients. Based on the location and expression pattern of CLTD, we suggest hemizygosity at this locus may play a role in the etiology of one of the VCFS-associated phenotypes.      

Use of molecular variation in the NCBI dbSNP database

While high quality information regarding variation in genes is currently available in locus-specific or specialized mutation databases, the need remains for a general catalog of genome variation to address the large-scale sampling designs required by association studies, gene mapping, and evolutionary biology. In response to this need, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has established the dbSNP database http://ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/SNP/ to serve as a generalized, central variation database. Submissions to dbSNP will be integrated with other sources of information at NCBI such as GenBank, PubMed, LocusLink, and the Human Genome Project data, and the complete contents of dbSNP are available to the public via anonymous FTP. Hum Mutat 15:68-75, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to ARVCF

We have generated the first monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to Armadillo repeat gene deleted in velo-cardiofacial syndrome (ARVCF), a recently identified Armadillo repeat-containing protein closely related to the catenin p120ctn. Six ARVCF-specific MAbs were characterized for isotype, species cross-reactivity, and utility in assays including immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and Western blotting. All six antibodies were isotyped as IgG1 and several cross-reacted with ARVCF from a variety of species including human, rat, dog, and monkey, but not mouse. Importantly, none of the ARVCF MAbs cross-reacted with p120ctn, despite the high homology between these proteins. MAbs 3B2 and 4B1 were consistently the best in all applications and will provide valuable tools for further study of the role of ARVCF in cells.     

The localization of apoprotein E in the normal human aortic wall and in atherosclerosis

The authors studied the distribution of apoprotein E (apoE) in normal and atherosclerotic human aortic wall. Double immunofluorescent technique and a set of mono- and polyclonal antibodies were used in the study. Apo E was found in normal intima of every aorta taken from people over 20 years of age and in vessels of some adolescents. The protein was localized extracellularly and was noted in some portion of macrophages but not in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells of human aorta. The accumulation of apo E increased in lipid strips and was particularly high in acellular zone of the atherosclerotic plaque. This effect may be due to the retention of apo E by changed sulfated glycosaminoglycans of aortic connective tissue. The accumulation of apo E in the vessel wall may have an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.     

Aggression–impulsivity,mental pain,and communication difficulties in medically serious and medically non-serious suicide attempters

Background

Unbearable mental pain, depression, and hopelessness have been associated with suicidal behavior in general, while difficulties with social communication and loneliness have been associated with highly lethal suicide attempts in particular. The literature also links aggression and impulsivity with suicidal behavior but raises questions about their influence on the lethality and outcome of the suicide attempt.

Objectives

To evaluate the relative effects of aggression and impulsivity on the lethality of suicide attempts we hypothesized that impulsivity and aggression differentiate between suicide attempters and non-attempters and between medically serious and medically non-serious suicide attempters.

Method

The study group included 196 participants divided into four groups: 43 medically serious suicide attempters; 49 medically non-serious suicide attempters, 47 psychiatric patients who had never attempted suicide; and 57 healthy control subjects. Data on sociodemographic parameters, clinical history, and details of the suicide attempts were collected. Participants completed a battery of instruments for assessment of aggression–impulsivity, mental pain, and communication difficulties.

Results

The medically serious and medically non-serious suicide attempters scored significantly higher than both control groups on mental pain, depression, and hopelessness (p < .001 for all) and on anger-in, anger-out, violence, and impulsivity (p < .05 for all), with no significant difference between the two suicide attempter groups. Medically serious suicide attempters had significantly lower self-disclosure (p < .05) and more schizoid tendencies (p < .001) than the other three groups and significantly more feelings of loneliness than the medically non-serious suicide attempters and nonsuicidal psychiatric patients (p < .05). Analysis of aggression–impulsivity, mental pain, and communication variables with suicide lethality yielded significant correlations for self-disclosure, schizoid tendency, and loneliness. The interaction between mental pain and schizoid traits explained some of the variance in suicide lethality, over and above the contribution of each component alone.

Conclusions

Aggression–impulsivity and mental pain are risk factors for suicide attempts. However, only difficulties in communication differentiate medically serious from medically non-serious suicide attempters. The combination of unbearable mental pain and difficulties in communication has a magnifying effect on the risk of lethal suicidal behavior.     

Impact of revaccinating children who initially received measles vaccine before 10 months of age

Two hundred fifty-four infants who had received measles vaccine at less than 10 months of age were revaccinated at greater than or equal to 15 months of age, and their immune responses were compared with 129 control infants who received their first doses of measles vaccine at greater than or equal to 15 months of age. Sera were collected at the time of revaccination (study infants) or primary vaccination (control infants), 3 weeks, and 8 months later and tested for antibody by hemagglutination inhibition (HI), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and cytopathic effect neutralization (CPEN). Of the 121 study infants who were initially HI negative, 116 (95.9%) made HI antibody 3 weeks postrevaccination compared with 126 (99.2%) of 127 control infants (P = 0.19). Of the 63 study infants with no initial detectable antibody by any of the three tests, 14 (22.2%) had a measles-specific IgM response 3 weeks postrevaccination compared with 37 of 50 (74.0%) randomly chosen control infants. By 8 months after revaccination, the 121 initially HI-negative study infants were significantly less likely to have detectable HI antibodies than control infants (52.1% v 97.6%) (P less than .001). However, 96.7% of these 121 study infants had detectable neutralizing antibody 8 months postrevaccination, an antibody thought to correlate best with protection. This study confirms the altered immune response to revaccination in infants first vaccinated prior to 10 months of age; however, the data suggest that most of these infants were successfully primed and are probably protected after revaccination.