Recommendations to Improve the Influenza Immunization Rates of Respiratory Healthcare Professionals: A Survey Conducted in Puerto Rico.

Objective: Influenza affects 5-15% of the worldwide population and is responsible for 4-5 million cases and 250,000-500,000 deaths. Despite established recommendations, vaccination rates continue to be low. Our study aimed to identify barriers to influenza immunization and attitudes toward the vaccine among respiratory health care (HC) professionals in Puerto Rico.

Preference for and impact of telehealth vs in-person asthma visits among Black and Latinx adults.

Background: Black and Latinx adults experience disproportionate asthma-related morbidity and limited specialty care access. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic expanded telehealth use.

Objective: To evaluate visit type (telehealth [TH] vs in-person [IP]) preferences and the impact of visit type on asthma outcomes among Black and Latinx adults with moderate-to-severe asthma.

A randomized, open-label, pragmatic study to assess reliever-triggered inhaled corticosteroid in African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx adults with asthma: Design and methods of the PREPARE trial.

Asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality disproportionately impact African American/Black (AA/B) and Hispanic/Latinx (H/L) communities. Adherence to daily inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), recommended by asthma guidelines in all but the mildest cases of asthma, is generally poor. As-needed ICS has shown promise as a patient-empowering asthma management strategy, but it has not been rigorously studied in AA/B or H/L patients or in a real-world setting.

Adherence to adding inhaled corticosteroids to rescue therapy in a pragmatic trial with adults with asthma: A pilot study.

Background: Underuse of guideline-recommended inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) controller therapy is a risk factor for greater asthma burden. ICS concomitantly used with rescue inhalers (Patient-Activated Reliever-Triggered ICS ['PARTICS']) reduced asthma exacerbations in efficacy trials, but whether PARTICS is effective in pragmatic trials is unknown.

Objective: We conducted this pilot to determine the feasibility of executing a large-scale pragmatic PARTICS trial and to improve study protocols.

A 47-year-old man with tongue swelling.

Intermittent tongue angioedema can be the initial presentation of several disorders including angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor induced angioedema and hereditary angioedema. Persistent angioedema on the other hand, can be associated with amyloidosis, tumors, thyroid disorders and acromegaly. We present a case of intermittent episodes of tongue swelling progressing to macroglossia.

Association of the Asthma Control Test with peak flow measures in a population in Puerto Rico.

Objective: The Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire has been widely used and validated in various ethnic groups, showing an adequate correlation with physician assessment of asthma control. We sought to evaluate the relationship between ACT-defined asthma control and peak flow measures in subjects living in Puerto Rico.

Methods: A retrospective evaluation of data collected by a mobile asthma clinic in 2 cities in Puerto Rico was conducted.

Anaphylaxis diagnosis and treatment at an emergency department in Puerto Rico.

Objective: Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening systemic allergic reaction. Most cases of anaphylaxis are encountered and managed at Emergency Departments (ED). We aimed to evaluate all cases of anaphylaxis and of acute allergic reactions presenting to the ED of the Veterans Affairs Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS) to assess each patient's presentation, the possible cause of that individual's allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, and the treatment or treatments that that person received.

Allergen sensitivity (mites, insects, and pets) in a Puerto Rican population.

Objective: The people of Puerto Rico have one of the highest asthma prevalence and morbidity rates in the U.S.A.

Allergist role in asthma care in Puerto Rico.

Introduction: Puerto Ricans have one of the highest asthma prevalence and morbidity rates. However, limited information is available on asthma care and attitudes toward asthma treatment among Puerto Ricans living in the island.

Methods: We evaluated a cohort of subjects attending Ambulatory Health Screen Clinic in the two main cities in the north and south of the island during August of 2008.

Urticaria in the elderly.

Urticaria is a common disorder affecting approximately 15-25% of the population at some point in their life. We can assume that with the advancement of medical therapeutics, which have in turn prolonged the duration of life, the incidence of drug induced urticaria will increase in the geriatric population. Other common causes that need to be considered are allergy, autoimmune conditions and stress.

Asthma among Puerto Ricans.

Puerto Ricans have one of the highest asthma prevalence, morbidity and mortality in the world. Genetic, socioeconomic and environmental factors have been hypothesized to account for these elevated figures. The article discusses published articles on asthma among Puerto Ricans.

Ethnic-specific differences in bronchodilator responsiveness among African Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Mexicans with asthma.

Socioeconomic and environmental differences do not fully explain differences in asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality among Puerto Ricans, African Americans, and Mexican Americans. Differences in response to albuterol may be a factor. We compared bronchodilator responsiveness between these three populations.

Association between IgE levels and asthma severity among African American, Mexican, and Puerto Rican patients with asthma.

Background: High levels of IgE are associated with asthma. Whether higher levels of IgE are associated with more severe asthma is still unclear.

Objective: To determine whether IgE is associated with asthma severity among Latino and African American subjects with asthma.

The PTGDR gene is not associated with asthma in 3 ethnically diverse populations.

Background: The prostanoid DP receptor (PTGDR) gene on chromosome 14q22.1 has been identified as an asthma susceptibility gene. A haplotype with decreased transcription factor binding and transcription efficiency was associated with decreased asthma susceptibility in African American and white subjects.