Do mental health problems in childhood predict chronic physical conditions among males in early adulthood? Evidence from a community-based prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have documented associations between mental and physical health problems in cross-sectional studies, yet little is known about these relationships over time or the specificity of these associations. The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between mental health problems in childhood at age 8 years and physical disorders in adulthood at ages 18-23 years. METHOD: Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between childhood mental health problems, reported by child, parent and teacher, and physical disorders diagnosed by a physician in early adulthood. RESULTS: Significant linkages emerged between childhood mental health problems and obesity, atopic eczema, epilepsy and asthma in early adulthood. Specifically, conduct problems in childhood were associated with a significantly increased likelihood of obesity and atopic eczema; emotional problems were associated with an increased likelihood of epilepsy and asthma; and depression symptoms at age 8 were associated with an increased risk of asthma in early adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide the first evidence of an association between mental health problems during childhood and increased risk of specific physical health problems, mainly asthma and obesity, during early adulthood, in a representative sample of males over time. These data suggest that behavioral and emotional problems in childhood may signal vulnerability to chronic physical health problems during early adulthood.

Military fitness class of Finnish 18-year-old men--prediction of military fitness class at call-up with the YASR and sociodemographic factors.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine psychosocial factors associated with military fitness class, classified as capability of service, vs. temporary or permanent exemption from service. METHOD: Participants were 2,340 (80% of the original sample) Finnish 18-year-old men at call-up for obligatory military service who filled in the Young Adult Self-Report (YASR) questionnaire. RESULTS: Temporary exemption from military service was independently associated with the YASR total problem score, externalizing and internalizing problems, excessive alcohol use, drug use, problems with peers and family, and mental health service use. Permanent exemption was independently associated with problems with peers and family. CONCLUSION: The YASR is a potential selection tool to be used at call-up. Temporary exemption was more strongly associated with psychosocial problems than permanent exemption. Because of the high level of psychological problems among those temporarily exempted, the call-up situation offers a unique opportunity to identify those with problem behaviour and risk of marginalization.

Construction of a human pro alpha 1(III) collagen cDNA clone and localization of type III collagen expression in human fetal tissues.

A cDNA clone for human pro alpha 1(III) collagen mRNA was isolated from a cDNA library constructed for human fetal skin RNA. The clone, pHFS3, was identified by restriction mapping and sequencing. Comparison with previously published human type III collagen sequences revealed some differences which may reflect individual variation. The clone was used to study the expression of type III collagen mRNA in various fetal tissues in comparison to the expression of type I collagen mRNAs. In 15-18-week fetal skin the ratio of alpha 1(I) to alpha 1(III) collagen mRNAs was 0.8. Diaphyseal and calvarial bone contained high amounts of type I collagen mRNA and low levels of type III collagen mRNA, resulting in high type I/type III ratios. In situ hybridization of sections of skeletal tissues was employed to identify the cells containing the mRNAs for types I, II and III procollagens. The results revealed differential expression patterns for these three collagen types in various human fetal tissues. Lack of coordinate expression suggests that production of type I and type III collagens is under different regulatory mechanisms in developing skeletal tissues.

In situ localization of collagen production by chondrocytes and osteoblasts in fracture callus.

An experimental model of fracture-healing was used to study the production of types-I and II collagen by in situ hybridization. The distribution of cartilage matrix in callus was determined by histochemical staining. Messenger RNA (mRNA) for cartilage-specific type-II collagen was detectable as early as the fifth day in a small number of cells that had acquired a chondrocyte phenotype but that also contained type-I collagen mRNA, suggesting an ongoing change in the expression of collagen genes. The location of the first chondrocytes, which were adjacent to cortical bone, suggested that they originated from cells that had derived from the periosteum by differentiation. On the seventh day of callus formation, the presence of both type-I and type-II collagen mRNA in chondrocytes of expanding cartilage suggested that most growth occurred by differentiation of mesenchymal cells and less by proliferation of differentiated chondrocytes. Expansion continued until the tenth to fourteenth day, after which the cartilage was replaced by woven bone. This was characterized by the presence of osteoblasts that were active in the synthesis of type-I collagen.

Elevated pro alpha 2(I) collagen mRNA levels in cultured scleroderma fibroblasts result from an increased transcription rate of the corresponding gene.

Fibroblasts cultured from affected and unaffected skin sites of three scleroderma patients were studied for the activation of type I collagen gene expression. Dot blot hybridizations with pro alpha 2(I) collagen specific cDNA probe revealed 2.9-4.8-fold increases in pro alpha 2(I) mRNA levels in the affected fibroblasts over the unaffected control cells. Transcription rate of the pro alpha 2(I) gene in the nuclei isolated from the same cells was 2.0-3.7-fold higher in the scleroderma fibroblasts than in the controls. The results show that scleroderma fibroblasts have undergone activation of collagen gene expression at the transcriptional level, which subsequently results in elevated procollagen mRNA levels, overproduction of collagen, and development of dermal fibrosis.

Differential expression of fibrillar collagen genes during callus formation.

An experimental fracture healing model in the rat tibio-fibular bone was employed to study the appearance of messenger RNAs for types I, II and III collagens during endochondral fracture repair. Total RNA was extracted from normal bone and from callus tissue at various time points. The total RNAs were analyzed in Northern hybridization for their contents of procollagen mRNAs using specific cDNA clones. The results show that during the first week of fracture repair type III collagen mRNA is increased to the greatest extent, followed by type II collagen mRNA during the second week. The 28-day callus resembles bone by containing mainly type I collagen mRNAs and very little type II or III collagen mRNA.