Toward Community Empowerment: The Puerto Rican .

People who inject drugs (PWID) who migrate from Puerto Rico (PR) to New York City (NYC) are at elevated risk for hepatitis C (HCV), HIV and drug overdose. There is an urgent need to identify a sustainable path toward improving the health outcomes of this population. Peer-driven HIV/HCV prevention interventions for PWID are effective in reducing risk behaviors.

Effects of neuromuscular blocking drugs on viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of neuromuscular blocking drugs on the viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and to investigate whether they cause vascular complications due to cell proliferation.

Methods: HUVECs were cultivated with 5% CO at 37°C in a predefined supplemented medium over 7 days until confluence of cell monolayers. Assays were conducted during the exponential growth phase.

Pre- and post-bone marrow harvest anaemia is associated with lower CD34+ stem cell collection, high harvest volume and female gender.

Background: Donor safety is paramount when performing bone marrow stem cell harvest. The incidence of full blood count (FBC) abnormalities among donors and variables associated with anaemia after marrow harvest are not well established.

Aims: To describe the frequency of FBC abnormalities prior to bone marrow stem cell harvest and to identify variables associated with post harvest anaemia.

Injection risk norms and practices among migrant Puerto Rican people who inject drugs in New York City: The limits of acculturation theory.

Background: Among people who inject drugs (PWID) in New York City (NYC), racial minorities are disproportionately infected with HIV and hepatitis C (HCV). Prior research has shown that PWID who started injecting drugs in Puerto Rico (P.R.

Substance Use Among Older People Living With HIV: Challenges for Health Care Providers.

Older people living with HIV (OPLWH) have higher rates of substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs) than their HIV-negative peers. Addressing health care needs of OPLWH who use substances is more challenging than for those who do not: they are highly impacted by comorbid conditions, substance use can interact with other medications (including antiretroviral therapy-ART) and reduce their effectiveness, and substance use has been associated with reduced adherence to ART and increased risky behaviors (including sexual risks). People who use substances also suffer disparities along the HIV continuum of care, resulting in lower viral suppression rates and poorer health outcomes.