Quality of life improvement in Latinas receiving combined substance use disorders and trauma-specific treatment: a cohort evaluation report.

Background: This study evaluates the benefits of integrating behavioral health and trauma services for Latinas with a history drug use. Changes in quality of life (QOL) domains were documented after participation in a manualized intervention in a cohort of Latinas.

Methods: Participants were part of a prospective cohort study of 136 Latinas with co-occurring disorders (COD) who may have experienced trauma and receiving services in our outpatient treatment facility in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

Malignancies Trends in a Hispanic Cohort of HIV Persons in Puerto Rico before and after cART.

Background: The study describes the cancer trends in a Puerto Rican Hispanic HIV/AIDS cohort for three different time periods as defined by the availability of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in the Island: pre (1992-1995), early (1996-2002, and recent (2003-2009).

Methods: AIDS and non-AIDS related malignancies risk, standardized incidence rate and one year mortality was evaluated in the cohort before and after cART.

Results: Of the 281 malignancies found in 265 persons; 72% were in men, 38% in injecting drug users and 42.

Late HIV Testing in a Cohort of HIV-Infected Patients in Puerto Rico.

Objective: Late HIV testing (LT), defined as receiving an AIDS diagnosis within a year of one's first positive HIV test, is associated with higher HIV transmission, lower HAART effectiveness, and worse outcomes. Latinos represent 36% of LT in the US, yet research concerning LT among HIV cases in Puerto Rico is scarce.

Methods: Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with LT, and a Cochran‒Armitage test was used to determine LT trends in an HIV-infected cohort followed at a clinic in Puerto Rico specialized in the management and treatment of HIV.

Persistent HIV Viremia: Description of a Cohort of HIV Infected Individuals with ART Failure in Puerto Rico.

The introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has allowed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) suppression in patients. We present data of a cohort of Puerto Rican patients with HIV who were under treatment with a steady regime of ART across a time horizon of eleven years. The time periods were categorized into four year stratums: 2000 to 2002; 2003 to 2005; 2006 to 2008 and 2009 to 2011.

Profile of HIV-Infected Hispanics with Pancytopenia.

Pancytopenia is seen in late HIV infection; it is associated with medical complications and with decreased survival. We determined the prevalence of pancytopenia at baseline in a cohort of HIV-positive Hispanics living in Puerto Rico, and compared their socio-demographic, immunological and clinical characteristics. A total of 1202 patients enrolled between 2000 and 2010 were included.

Impact of ASUMA Intervention on HIV Risk Behaviors among Puerto Rican Adolescents.

The purpose of this manuscript is to assess and compare HIV risk behaviors among early adolescents after a three-year pilot study. A total of 135 public and private junior high schools students completed the intervention protocol. A self-administered questionnaire was given at baseline and at the end of the third year (fourth measure).

Barriers for Compliance to Breast, Colorectal, and Cervical Screening Cancer Tests among Hispanic Patients.

Hispanics are less likely to undergo screening tests for colorectal cancer and cervical cancer than non-Hispanic whites. Compliance with mammography, fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), colonoscopy, and cervical smears (PAP) and barriers for compliance were studied. A descriptive study was performed with 194 ambulatory patients while they attended routine medical visits.

Late HIV Testing in a Cohort of HIV-Infected Patients in Puerto Rico.

Objective: Late HIV testing (LT), defined as receiving an AIDS diagnosis within a year of one's first positive HIV test, is associated with higher HIV transmission, lower HAART effectiveness, and worse outcomes. Latinos represent 36% of LT in the US, yet research concerning LT among HIV cases in Puerto Rico is scarce.

Methods: Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with LT, and a Cochran‒Armitage test was used to determine LT trends in an HIV-infected cohort followed at a clinic in Puerto Rico specialized in the management and treatment of HIV.

HIV/AIDS in the Puerto Rican elderly: immunological changes between gender and body mass index.

Purpose: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the elderly population has serious repercussions. The elderly are underdiagnosed for HIV and the costs associated with their late-stage care represent a financial burden to the public health system. The purpose is to analyze various profiles among a cohort of elderly patients with HIV/AIDS.

Hepatitis-C multimedia prevention program in poor Hispanic HIV-infected injecting drug users: six months after intervention.

Background: In order to prevent the spread of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) amongst Hispanic injection drug users (IDUs), we developed, validated, and implemented a multimedia educational intervention program.

Methods: A pre-post intervention study design was used to evaluate long-lasting knowledge and behavior changes in a group of 88 low-income Hispanic HIV-infected IDUs. Pre-intervention data was compared with data measured six months after the intervention.

K-RAS mutation profile in Puerto Rican patients with colorectal cancer: trends from April 2009 to January 2011.

The frequency of K-RAS mutations ranges between 30% and 48% among the Caucasian, Asian, and European populations and these mutations are predictors of response to EGFR therapies. We sought to determine the expression of K-RAS gene mutations among colorectal cancer patients in PuertoRico. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the expression of mutant K-RAS among colorectal cancer patients in Puerto Rico between April 2009 and January 2011.

Toxoplasmic encephalitis in an AIDS cohort at Puerto Rico before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) significantly reduced the toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) incidence in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. The TE incidence and mortality were evaluated in an AIDS cohort followed in Puerto Rico before, during, and after HAART implementation in the Island. Of the 2,431 AIDS studied patients 10.

Changes in the socio-demographics, risk behaviors, clinical and immunological profile of a cohort of the Puerto Rican population living with HIV: an update of the Retrovirus Research Center (1992-2008).

Objectives: We describe the changes in the socio demographic, risk behavior, immunological and clinical trends profiles of a cohort HIV patients followed at the Retrovirus Research Center, at baseline and study periods interval by periods intervals: 1992-1997, 1998-2003, and 2004-2008.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of a longitudinal cohort comprised of 4016 HIV/AIDS patients admitted to the RRC since January 1992. Data collected include socio-demographic variables; risk related variables; psychological variables; and clinical variable by periods of study.

Cardiovascular events during general elections in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Unlabelled: Emotional stress has been linked to acute coronary events. We examined whether the emotional response to elections in Puerto Rico induced a similar response.

Methods: We reviewed records at HIMA San Pablo Hospital (HIMASP) and Ramon Ruiz Arnau University Hospital (HURRA) in Bayamon and identified patients admitted with ICD-9 codes 410, 411, and 413 or corresponding diagnoses during a period surrounding the general elections and compared them with the same time period in non-election years.

The morbidity and mortality associated with kidney disease in an HIV-infected cohort in Puerto Rico.

Introduction: Nephropathy in HIV-infected patients has been associated with progression to AIDS and death. The virus, several comorbid conditions and certain medications may contribute to the development and progression of kidney disease.

Methods: This study analyzed data collected from HIV-infected persons enrolled in a HIV registry in Puerto Rico during January 1998 through September 2006.

Changes in developmental factors and HIV risk behaviors among early adolescents in Puerto Rico.

Introduction: Teenagers are the fastest growing group of newly HIV-infected persons. Consequently, a support model for HIV risk reduction was designed and implemented for early adolescents in Puerto Rico.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to assess changes in developmental factors and HIV risk behaviors among early adolescents after three years of follow-up of an intervention and a non-intervention group.

The feasibility and acceptability of a multimedia hepatitis C prevention program for Hispanic HIV-infected persons.

Introduction: Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV coinfection has emerged as a major health problem in Puerto Rico, particularly among injection drug users (IDUs). We developed and implemented a multimedia educational intervention for HIV-infected IDUs, based on the Health Belief Model and social cognitive theory.

Methods: To evaluate the program's acceptability, a group of 42 participants completed a written questionnaire immediately after each intervention component.

AIDS-defining neoplasm prevalence in a cohort of HIV-infected patients, before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Introduction: Malignant disorders have been linked to the HIV epidemic from its onset. Implementation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has resulted in a dramatic reduction in the HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality. The present study evaluates the neoplasm prevalence before and after the implementation of HAART.

Changes in profile and colorectal cancer stage over 15 years in Puerto Rico.

Introduction: The stage of a malignant tumor defines how advanced the malignant process is at the time of diagnosis. In many clinical scenarios it is an indirect measurement of the efficacy of screening interventions used for early detection. We have evaluated changes in the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage of colorectal cancer across a 15-year period.

Profile of Puerto Rican HIV/AIDS patients with early and non-early initiation of injection drug use.

Background: Early initiation of injection drug use (IDU) increases the risk of HIV infection.

Methods: We compare the sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical profiles of HIV-positive IDU patients according to the age at which IDU was initiated. This is a cross-sectional study of 1308 patients seen from 1992 through 2005.

Trends in the HIV and AIDS epidemic in a Puerto Rican cohort of patients: 1992-2005.

The HIV epidemic is a significant global health care issue. With increasing knowledge and improved therapeutics the natural history of the infection has been modified. In this paper we aim to present the general socio-demographic profile and the clinical and therapeutic spectrum of patients with HIV infection who have visited the Bayamón Health Care facilities over the last 12 years and who are part of the Retrovirus Research Center (RRC).

Mortality trends of HIV-infected patients after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy: analysis of a cohort of 3,322 HIV-infected persons.

Introduction: The implementation of highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) has reduced the mortality attributed to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Variation in the specific causes of death has also changed since the implementation of these therapies.

Methods: A prospective study was performed in 3322 HIV-infected persons enrolled in Puerto Rico between 1992 and 2003.

Changes in the AIDS epidemiologic situation in Puerto Rico following health care reform and the introduction of HAART.

Objectives: To compare the occurrence of AIDS as well as the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of AIDS patients in Puerto Rico before and after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the privatization of the island's public health care system.

Methods: We compared the incident AIDS cases for two three-year periods, 1992-1994 and 1998-2000, in four populations: (1) entire United States, (2) Puerto Rico, (3) Bayamón Health Region (located in north-central Puerto Rico, it includes 11 of the island's 78 municipalities), and (4) an HIV cohort enrolled at the Universidad Central del Caribe (UCC) School of Medicine. The UCC is located in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, within an academic medical complex that houses the teaching hospital (Ramón Ruíz Arnaú University Hospital), the ambulatory health care facilities (Immunology Clinics) for patients with HIV, and administrative buildings.