Cancer Treatment Disruption by Residence Region in the Aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and María in Puerto Rico.

Since 2017, Puerto Rico has faced environmental, economic, and political crises, leading to the emigration of healthcare workers and weakening the healthcare system. These challenges have affected cancer treatment continuity, exacerbating healthcare access challenges island-wide. In this study, we estimate the effect of the residence region on cancer treatment disruption following Hurricanes Irma and María (2017).

Over-the-counter mouthwash use, nitric oxide and hypertension risk.

Mouthwash is used by a large population. Short-term clinical trials have shown that antibacterial mouthwash deplete oral nitrate-reducing bacteria, and decrease systemic nitric oxide bioavailability. Our previous publication from the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (SOALS) was the first to show frequent over-the-counter mouthwash use was independently associated with increased risk of prediabetes/diabetes.

Longitudinal association between adiposity and inter-arm blood pressure difference.

This is the first longitudinal study evaluating whether adiposity is associated with inter-arm blood pressure difference. We evaluated 714 overweight/obese individuals aged 40-65 years over a 3-year follow-up. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured in both arms simultaneously using an automated machine.

Longitudinal association between periodontitis and development of diabetes.

Background: Clinical trials have shown very modest short-term improvements in glycemic control among participants with diabetes after periodontitis treatment. Few longitudinal studies suggest that periodontitis may be related to prediabetes/diabetes risk.

Methods: We evaluated 1206 diabetes free participants in the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (SOALS) and 941 with complete 3-year follow-up data were included.

Insulin resistance predicts the risk of gingival/periodontal inflammation.

Objectives: Evaluate whether insulin resistance (IR) predicts the risk of oral inflammation, assessed as the number of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP) and number of teeth with probing pocket depths (PPD) ≥ 4 mm and BOP.

Methods: Data on 870 overweight/obese diabetes free adults, aged 40-65 years from the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study over a three-year period, was analyzed. Baseline IR, assessed using the Homeostasis Model Assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) index, was divided into tertiles.

Association between within-visit systolic blood pressure variability and development of pre-diabetes and diabetes among overweight/obese individuals.

Short-term blood pressure variability is associated with pre-diabetes/diabetes cross-sectionally, but there are no longitudinal studies evaluating this association. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between within-visit systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability and development of pre-diabetes/diabetes longitudinally. The study was conducted among eligible participants from the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (SOALS), who completed the 3-year follow-up exam.

Over-the-counter mouthwash use and risk of pre-diabetes/diabetes.

Aims: Over-the-counter mouthwash comprises part of routine oral care for many; however, potential adverse effects of the long-term daily use have not been evaluated. Most mouthwash contain antibacterial ingredients, which could impact oral microbes critical for nitric oxide formation, and in turn predispose to metabolic disorders including diabetes. Our aim was to evaluate longitudinally the association between baseline over-the-counter mouthwash use and development of pre-diabetes/diabetes over a 3-year follow-up.

Relationship between tooth loss and peripheral arterial disease among women.

Aim: We assessed the longitudinal association between tooth loss and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) within the Nurses' Health Study.

Materials And Methods: After excluding participants with prior cardiovascular diseases, 277 of 79,663 women were confirmed as PAD cases during 16 years of follow-up. Number of teeth and recent tooth loss were reported initially in 1992.

Comparing glucose and hemoglobin A diagnostic tests among a high metabolic risk Hispanic population.

Background: Compare glycated hemoglobin (HbA ) diagnostic tests for prediabetes and diabetes with plasma glucose criteria and compare the metabolic profiles of people classified by HbA versus by glucose levels.

Methods: Participants were recruited for the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study. The participants were primarily Hispanic (98%), without previously diagnosed diabetes, and aged 40 to 65 years.

Neck Circumference May Be a Better Alternative to Standard Anthropometric Measures.

This paper evaluates neck circumference as a metabolic risk marker. Overweight/obese, nondiabetic Hispanics, 40-65 years old, who are free of major cardiovascular diseases, were recruited for the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (SOALS). Baseline exams were completed by 1,206 participants.

Lipid-lowering agents use and systemic and oral inflammation in overweight or obese adult Puerto Ricans: the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (SOALS).

Unlabelled: The effects of lipid-lowering agents (LLA) on reducing systemic and oral inflammation have not been evaluated.

Objective: To assess the association of LLA use with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and oral inflammation.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis using baseline data from 1300 overweight/obese participants aged 40-65 years, recruited for the ongoing San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study.

Associations between measures of central adiposity and periodontitis among older adults.

Objective: To evaluate the association between measures of adiposity and periodontitis among older Puerto Rican adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 147 representative adults ≥70 years living in the San Juan metropolitan area. Height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference were measured by trained personnel.