Beyond the storms: Exploring predictors of posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth among survivors of hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico.

Background: Within disaster-affected communities, residents' exposures and post-disaster mental health outcomes can vary widely. Yet, few studies have explored the relationship between such diverse disaster-related exposures and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in a Puerto Rican context.

Methods: To address this gap, we used data from the Preparedness to Reduce Exposures and Diseases Post-hurricanes and Augment Resilience (PREPARE) study, a cohort of mainly Hispanic Puerto Ricans who experienced Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017.

Association of over-the-counter mouthwash use with markers of nitric oxide metabolism, inflammation, and endothelial function-a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Regular use of mouthwash can disrupt nitrate reduction by oral bacteria and may affect systemic nitric oxide (NO) levels, which are important for inflammation and endothelial function. We aim to assess the association between over-the-counter (OTC) mouthwash use and nitrate/nitrite, markers of inflammation (IL-6, TNF-α, CRP) and endothelial function (sICAM-1, sVCAM-1) in serum and saliva, and to assess the relationship between nitrate/nitrite levels and these biomarkers, as well as how OTC mouthwash modulated this relationship. We hypothesize that nitrates/nitrites are associated with these biomarkers, and that their associations would vary with the frequency of mouthwash use.

Pre-disaster Health Vulnerabilities Predict Major Depressive Disorder Symptoms Among High-Risk Puerto Rican Adults after Hurricanes Maria and Irma.

Objective: Robust research has established that preexisting physical and mental health conditions increase risk for adverse psychiatric outcomes after disasters. However, it is unclear if increased risk is independent of disaster exposure, and most studies have relied on retrospective reports of pre-disaster functioning.

Methods: In a pre-post sample of high-risk Puerto Rican adults (N = 361) who experienced Hurricanes Irma and Maria, we assessed: 1) whether indicators of pre-disaster depression and physical health conditions were associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) symptoms; and 2) whether the effects of pre-disaster depression and physical health conditions on PTSD and MDD symptoms were indirect via disaster exposure or had exacerbated the effects of disaster exposure on PTSD and MDD symptoms.

Behavioural components and delivery features of early childhood obesity prevention interventions: intervention coding of studies in the TOPCHILD Collaboration systematic review.

Background: Early childhood obesity prevention interventions that aim to change parent/caregiver practices related to infant (milk) feeding, food provision and parent feeding, movement (including activity, sedentary behaviour) and/or sleep health (i.e. target parental behaviour domains) are diverse and heterogeneously reported.

Catastrophic spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma following thrombolysis: An intersection of neurosurgical and cardiological challenges - An institutional experience.

Catastrophic spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) following thrombolysis poses a complex intersection of neurosurgical and cardiological challenges. This case report presents the institutional experience of a 66-year-old female who developed rapid-onset compressive myelopathy after thrombolysis for inferior wall myocardial infarction with injection streptokinase. SSEH, although rare, demands prompt recognition due to its potential for permanent neurologic injury and mortality.

Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus using lipid-lowering agents have better periodontal health than non-users.

Background: Recent studies suggest that lipid-lowering agents (LLA) may reduce chronic periodontitis, but it is unknown whether this benefit extends to people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Objective: We assessed the association between LLA use and periodontitis in Hispanic adults with T2D.

Design: This was a cross-sectional observational study.

Branched-Chain and Aromatic Amino Acids, Type 2 Diabetes, and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Puerto Rican Adults.

(1) Background: Branched-chain and aromatic amino acids (BCAAs/AAAs) have been considered as markers of type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, studies on associations between these metabolites and T2D and cardiometabolic traits in Hispanic populations are limited. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between baseline BCAAs (isoleucine, leucine, valine)/AAAs (phenylalanine, tyrosine) and prevalent and incident T2D, as well as baseline and longitudinal (2 year) changes in cardiometabolic traits (measures of glycemia, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and obesity) in two large cohorts of adults of Puerto Rican descent. (2) Methods: We included participants of the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS, = 670) and San Juan Overweight Adult Longitudinal study (SOALS, = 999) with available baseline metabolite and covariate data.

Saliva, Plasma, and Multifluid Metabolomic Signatures of Periodontal Disease, Type 2 Diabetes Progression, and Markers of Glycemia and Dyslipidemia Among Puerto Rican Adults With Overweight and Obesity.

Background: Evidence from cohort studies indicates a bidirectional relationship between periodontal disease and type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to (1) identify saliva, plasma, and multifluid metabolomic signatures associated with periodontal disease and (2) determine if these signatures predict T2D progression and cardiometabolic biomarkers at year 3.

Methods And Results: We included participants from the SOALS (San Juan Overweight Adult Longitudinal Study) (n=911).

Discovery and validation of plasma, saliva and multi-fluid plasma-saliva metabolomic scores predicting insulin resistance and diabetes progression or regression among Puerto Rican adults.

Aims/hypothesis: Many studies have examined the relationship between plasma metabolites and type 2 diabetes progression, but few have explored saliva and multi-fluid metabolites.

Methods: We used LC/MS to measure plasma (n=1051) and saliva (n=635) metabolites among Puerto Rican adults from the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study. We used elastic net regression to identify plasma, saliva and multi-fluid plasma-saliva metabolomic scores predicting baseline HOMA-IR in a training set (n=509) and validated these scores in a testing set (n=340).

Association of Gut Microbiota-Related Metabolites and Type 2 Diabetes in Two Puerto Rican Cohorts.

(1) Aims: Gut microbiota metabolites may play integral roles in human metabolism and disease progression. However, evidence for associations between metabolites and cardiometabolic risk factors is sparse, especially in high-risk Hispanic populations. We aimed to evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between gut microbiota related metabolites and measures of glycemia, dyslipidemia, adiposity, and incident type 2 diabetes in two Hispanic observational cohorts.

Multidisciplinary approach combining food metabolomics and epidemiology identifies meglutol as an important bioactive metabolite in tempe, an Indonesian fermented food.

This study introduces a multidisciplinary approach to investigate bioactive food metabolites often overlooked due to their low concentrations. We integrated an in-house food metabolite library (n = 494), a human metabolite library (n = 891) from epidemiological studies, and metabolite pharmacological databases to screen for food metabolites with potential bioactivity. We identified six potential metabolites, including meglutol (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate), an understudied low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-lowering compound.

Impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Asthma, Hypertension, and Depression in a Sample of the Puerto Rico Population.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on 3 major chronic diseases in Puerto Rico.

Methods: San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal study participants were re-evaluated after Hurricanes Irma and Maria (May 2019-July 2020) for the Preparedness to Reduce Exposures and Diseases Post-hurricanes and Augment Resilience study. This study compared the prevalence and incidence of asthma, depression, and hypertension within the same 364 individuals over time.

Longitudinal Association between Periodontitis and the Risk of Hypertension.

Objectives: Hypertension poses a major public health challenge due to its association with increased risk of heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and death. The objective of this study is to evaluate the longitudinal association between periodontitis and the risk of hypertension.

Methods: Using a cohort study design, 540 participants free of diagnosed hypertension/prehypertension in the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study and with complete 3-year follow-up data were included.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria and Diabetes incidence in Puerto Rico.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of Hurricanes Irma/Maria on diabetes incidence in Puerto Rico. Mortality increased substantially after the hurricanes, but morbidity was not assessed.

Methods: We recruited 364 participants from the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (SOALS) aged 40-65 years who completed a three-year follow-up and were free of diabetes.

Healthcare and Social Organizations' Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Experience: Lessons Learned From Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Background: Healthcare and social organizations (HSOs) are first respondents after natural disasters. Hence, their preparedness and resilience are critical components for addressing future disasters. However, little is known about HSOs' experiences prior to, during, and after hurricanes.

Estimating COVID-19 cases in Puerto Rico using an automated surveillance system.

Due to concerns regarding limited testing and accuracy of estimation of COVID-19 cases, we created an automated surveillance system called "Puerto Rico Epidemiological Evaluation and Prevention of COVID-19 and Influenza" (PREPCOVI) to evaluate COVID-19 incidence and time trends across Puerto Rico. Automated text message invitations were sent to random phone numbers with Puerto Rican area codes. In addition to reported COVID-19 test results, we used a published model to classify cases from specific symptoms (loss of smell and taste, severe persistent cough, severe fatigue, and skipped meals).

Novel Plasma Metabolomic Markers Associated with Diabetes Progression in Older Puerto Ricans.

We assessed longitudinal associations between plasma metabolites, their network-derived clusters, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) progression in Puerto Rican adults, a high-risk Hispanic subgroup with established health disparities. We used data from 1221 participants free of T2D and aged 40-75 years at baseline in the Boston Puerto Rican Health and San Juan Overweight Adult Longitudinal Studies. We used multivariable Poisson regression models to examine associations between baseline concentrations of metabolites and incident T2D and prediabetes.

Tooth count, untreated caries and mortality in US adults: a population-based cohort study.

Background: The link between oral diseases and mortality remains under-explored. We aimed to evaluate the associations between tooth count, untreated caries and risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

Methods: Data on 24 029 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-94/1999-2010, with mortality linkage to the National Death Index to 31 December 2015, were analysed.

Pathways Linking Oral Bacteria, Nitric Oxide Metabolism, and Health.

Nitrate-reducing oral bacteria have gained a lot of interest due to their involvement in nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and its important cardiometabolic outcomes. Consortia of nitrate-metabolizing oral bacteria associated with cardiometabolic health and cognitive function have been recently identified. Longitudinal studies and clinical trials have shown that chronic mouthwash use is associated with increased blood pressure and increased risk for prediabetes/diabetes and hypertension.

Transforming Obesity Prevention for CHILDren (TOPCHILD) Collaboration: protocol for a systematic review with individual participant data meta-analysis of behavioural interventions for the prevention of early childhood obesity.

Introduction: Behavioural interventions in early life appear to show some effect in reducing childhood overweight and obesity. However, uncertainty remains regarding their overall effectiveness, and whether effectiveness differs among key subgroups. These evidence gaps have prompted an increase in very early childhood obesity prevention trials worldwide.

Unpacking the behavioural components and delivery features of early childhood obesity prevention interventions in the TOPCHILD Collaboration: a systematic review and intervention coding protocol.

Introduction: Little is known about how early (eg, commencing antenatally or in the first 12 months after birth) obesity prevention interventions seek to change behaviour and which components are or are not effective. This study aims to (1) characterise early obesity prevention interventions in terms of target behaviours, delivery features and behaviour change techniques (BCTs), (2) explore similarities and differences in BCTs used to target behaviours and (3) explore effectiveness of intervention components in preventing childhood obesity.

Methods And Analysis: Annual comprehensive systematic searches will be performed in Epub Ahead of Print/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane (CENTRAL), CINAHL, PsycINFO, as well as clinical trial registries.

Impact of Impaired Glucose Metabolism on Periodontitis Progression over Three Years.

We evaluated the relationship between glucose abnormalities and periodontitis in overweight/obese individuals. Eight hundred and seventy (870) diabetes-free participants aged 40-65 years completed the three-year follow-up in the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study. The ADA thresholds for fasting and 2-h post-load glucose and HbA1c were used to define prediabetes.