OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the validation process for research questions that measure cultural identity in a survey of adolescents from a multi-ethnic urban area. METHOD: Four questions that tapped preferred cultural origins of friends and clothing were used to classify subjects into categories for cultural identity described by Berry (1980). We assessed face, content and construct validity of these questions by: i) investigating the meaning of cultural identity from an African-Caribbean, Bangladeshi, and White British perspective in three focus groups; ii) asking participants to comment on the questions and their suitability for studies of cultural identity; and iii) using data from the Research with East London Adolescents: Community Health Survey (RELACHS) study of adolescents to test hypotheses about associations of acculturation with health outcomes (physical and mental) in order to assess whether these trends are consistent with previous research, and are in accord with trends predicted by the Berry model. RESULTS: Questions about the cultural origins of friends and clothing showed good face and content validity. However, only the questions on friendship choices showed some associations in the predicted directions, with some associations that were unexpected. The most significant findings were that, in comparison with marginalised pupils, for African-Caribbean pupils assimilation was associated with more tiredness (OR=40.7, 3.8-432.8,p<0.001) and traditionalism with less obesity (OR=0.1, 0.02-0.5, p<0.001). For Bangladeshi pupils integration was associated with a lower risk of depression (OR=0.4, 0.2-0.8, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Questions on friendship choices can be used to assess cultural identity, but associations with health and health risk behaviours are different for each ethnic group.

Acculturation↗

PubMed2005

Structure and mechanism of imidazoleglycerol-phosphate dehydratase.

The structure of A. thaliana imidazoleglycerol-phosphate dehydratase, an enzyme of histidine biosynthesis and a target for the triazole phosphonate herbicides, has been determined to 3.0 A resolution. The structure is composed of 24 identical subunits arranged in 432 symmetry and shows how the formation of a novel dimanganese cluster is crucial to the assembly of the active 24-mer from an inactive trimeric precursor and to the formation of the active site of the enzyme. Molecular modeling suggests that the substrate is bound to the manganese cluster as an imidazolate moiety that subsequently collapses to yield a diazafulvene intermediate. The mode of imidazolate recognition exploits pseudosymmetry at the active site arising from a combination of the assembly of the particle and the pseudosymmetry present in each subunit as a result of gene duplication. This provides an intriguing example of the role of evolution in the design of Nature's catalysts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Ethnicity, socio-economic status, overweight and underweight in East London adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The developed world is experiencing an 'epidemic' of childhood obesity but little is known about the prevalence of obesity, or underweight, amongst adolescents from minority ethnic groups in the UK. An understanding of the prevalence of obesity and overweight in these populations is important since some ethnic groups may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse health effects associated with obesity. STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine levels of extreme obesity, obesity, overweight and underweight amongst a representative sample of adolescents from different ethnic groups in East London and to explore the association between socio-economic status and body mass index (BMI). DESIGN: A school-based survey of adolescents aged 11-14. Obesity and overweight were estimated using the 1990 UK growth reference (UK 90) and the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off points. Extreme obesity was defined as a BMI more than three SD above the UK 90 mean. Underweight was examined by looking at those with a BMI below the 15th or the 5th UK 90 percentiles. MAIN RESULTS: A total of 2,482 adolescents were surveyed (response rate 84%), 73% from non-white ethnic groups. Although there were significant differences in BMI between ethnic groups, high levels of overweight were seen in all ethnic groups. More than one-third were overweight and one-fifth were obese using the UK 90; and over a quarter were overweight and almost one-tenth were obese using the IOTF cut-offs. Two per cent were extremely obese. Indian males were at higher risk of being overweight than white British males. The prevalence of obesity and overweight was similar in white British and Bangladeshi males. Overall the prevalence of underweight was slightly lower than that predicted by the UK 90, but South Asian ethnic groups, especially males, had a higher prevalence of underweight than other groups. No associations between BMI and measures of socio-economic status were found in this relatively deprived population. CONCLUSIONS: The 'epidemic' of childhood obesity observed in the UK involves adolescents from all ethnic groups, although there are some differences between ethnic groups in the prevalence of overweight. Indian males appear to be at increased risk of being overweight. There is no evidence of a simultaneous increase in underweight amongst this population overall, but Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani boys appear to be at increased risk of being underweight.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Cultural identity, acculturation, and mental health among adolescents in east London's multiethnic community.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate cultural identity as a risk factor for mental health problems among adolescents. DESIGN: A cross sectional school based population survey. Mental health problems were measured using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. Pupils were classified into one of four cultural identity types on the basis of friendship and clothing choices. SETTING: East London. PARTICIPANTS: 2623 adolescents (aged 11-14) from a representative sample of 28 schools in east London. RESULTS: In comparison with marginalised adolescents who chose friends from neither their own or other cultures, fewer mental health problems were found among adolescents making culturally integrated friendship choices (friends from own and other cultures: OR = 0.6, 0.4 to 0.9), boys making integrated friendship choices (OR = 0.45, 0.22 to 0.91), and specifically among Bangladeshi pupils with integrated friendship choices (OR = 0.15, 0.04 to 0.55). CONCLUSION: As measures of cultural identity, integrated friendship choices overall, and specifically for boys and Bangladeshi pupils, are associated with lower levels of adolescent mental health problems.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Childhood predictors of self reported chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis in adults: national birth cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To study childhood risk factors for chronic fatigue syndrome in adult life. DESIGN: Examination of data from the 1970 British birth cohort. PARTICIPANTS: 16,567 babies born 5-11 April 1970, followed up at 5, 10, 16, and 29-30 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) identified by self report at age 30 years. Data from childhood from questionnaires given to parents and teachers. Maternal mental health assessed with the malaise inventory. RESULTS: 93 (0.8%, 95% confidence interval 0.7 to 1.0) of 11 261 participants reported ever having CFS/ME, and 48 (0.4%, 0.3 to 0.6) had the condition currently. Higher risk of CFS/ME was associated with having a limiting longstanding condition in childhood (odds ratio 2.3, 1.4 to 3.9), female sex (2.3, 1.4 to 2.6), and high social class in childhood (2.2, 1.4 to 3.5). Higher levels of exercise in childhood were associated with lower risk (0.5, 0.2 to 0.9). Maternal psychological disorder, psychological problems in childhood, birth weight, birth order, atopy, obesity, school absence, academic ability, and parental illness were not associated with risk of CFS/ME. CONCLUSIONS: We identified no association between maternal or child psychological distress, academic ability, parental illness, atopy, or birth order and increasing risk of lifetime CFS/ME. Sedentary behaviour increased the risk.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Ethnicity, social deprivation and psychological distress in adolescents: school-based epidemiological study in east London.

BACKGROUND: In adults the prevalence of psychological distress varies in different ethnic groups, and this has been explained by differences in socio-economic status. Is this also the case in adolescents? AIMS: To examine whether ethnic differences in prevalence of psychological distress in adolescents are associated with social deprivation. METHOD: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was used to assess 2790 male and female pupils, aged 11-14 years, from a representative sample of 28 east London secondary schools. RESULTS: Rates of psychological distress were similar to rates in UK national samples in boys and girls. Bangladeshi pupils, although highly socially disadvantaged, had a lower risk of psychological distress (OR=0.63, 95% CI 0.4-0.9). Non-UK White girls had higher rates of depressive symptoms (OR=1.54, 95% CI1.1-2.2). CONCLUSIONS: High rates of depressive symptoms in non-UK White girls may be related to recent migration. Low rates of psychological distress in Bangladeshi pupils in this sample relative to White pupils, despite socio-economic disadvantage, could be associated with cultural protective factors that require further investigation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Effectiveness of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine in teenagers in England.

Meningococcal C conjugate vaccine was introduced into clinical practice in the UK before phase 3 trials had been undertaken. We therefore did a case-control study in teenagers to assess vaccine effectiveness. All cases (n=31) enrolled had laboratory confirmed meningococcal C disease. We also enrolled between one and three controls (n=65) per case, matched by age, sex, and general practitioner. Three patients and 23 controls had been vaccinated. The protective effectiveness of the vaccine, estimated by conditional logistic regression, was 93% (95% CI 39-99), which is similar to screening method estimates. The estimated protective effectiveness varied little when potential confounding risk factors were taken into account. Our findings indicate that the vaccine is highly protective against invasive meningococcal C disease.

Adolescent↗