[Prenatal care in the border city of Tijuana, Mexico].

This study was intended to explore the conditions under which prenatal care is delivered in the border city of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, and to assess the possible associations between that care and neonatal results in terms of birthweight, health of the neonate, and prematurity. Seven hospitals serving persons from different socioeconomic strata were chosen, and between December 1993 and March 1994 interviews were conducted with 279 women who were in the first 24 to 48 hours of puerperium. During the interviews data were collected on socioeconomic level; the mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning obstetric health; the mothers' perceptions of access to prenatal care; the quality of prenatal care visits (evaluated in terms of having blood and urine tested and weight and blood pressure measured); and the gynecological and obstetric and health history of the mother.

Regulation of adipocyte gene expression by retinoic acid and hormones: effects on the gene encoding cellular retinol-binding protein.

Our laboratory has reported that adipose tissue and adipocytes are importantly involved in retinoid storage and metabolism. To gain further insight, we examined factors that may regulate CRBP mRNA levels in primary cultures of rat epididymal and murine BFC-1 beta adipocytes. Northern blot analysis revealed that retinoic acid is a potent inducer of CRBP mRNA, causing a 7.