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.

Associations between vitamin D levels and glucose metabolism markers among pregnant women and their infants in Puerto Rico.

Objectives: low vitamin D during pregnancy is common and could adversely affect health outcomes. This study evaluated vitamin D status during pregnancy and early in life, and its association with glucose metabolism. Methods: maternal serum 25(OH)D, glucose, and insulin levels were measured longitudinally during pregnancy in Hispanic women with overweight/obesity (n = 31) and their infants at birth and 4 months.

Associations between education and dementia in the Caribbean and the United States: An international comparison.

Introduction: Despite high dementia prevalence in Hispanic populations globally, especially Caribbean Hispanics, no study has comparatively examined the association between education and dementia among Hispanics living in the Caribbean Islands and older adults in the United States.

Methods: We used data on 6107 respondents aged 65 and older in the baseline wave of the population-based and harmonized 10/66 survey from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, collected between 2003 and 2008, and 11,032 respondents aged 65 and older from the U.S.

Socially distant and out of reach: Unintended consequences of COVID-19 prevention efforts on transgender and gender non-binary populations in Puerto Rico.

Substance use disorders in the United States disproportionately affect minorities and socially vulnerable populations, particularly those at the intersection of racial and sexual minority status. Preceded by over a century-long subjugation to the U.S.

Outlining key inflammation-associated parameters during early phase of an experimental gram-negative sepsis model in rhesus macaques ().

The aim of this study was to identify inflammation-associated markers during the early phase of sepsis in rhesus macaque. Four rhesus macaques were given an intravenous dose of 10 CFU/kg of . Blood samples were collected before, or 30 minutes, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after infusion.

Simple kinetic model of mitochondrial swelling in cardiac cells.

Mitochondria play an important role in both cell survival and cell death. In response to oxidative stress, they undergo opening of non-selective permeability transition pores (PTP) in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Sustained PTP opening triggers mitochondrial swelling due to increased colloidal osmotic pressure in the matrix accompanied by mitochondrial membrane depolarization and ATP hydrolysis.

Translation in Data Mining to Advance Personalized Medicine for Health Equity.

Personalized medicine is the development of 'tailored' therapies that reflect traditional medical approaches, with the incorporation of the patient's unique genetic profile and the environmental basis of the disease. These individualized strategies encompass disease prevention, diagnosis, as well as treatment strategies. Today's healthcare workforce is faced with the availability of massive amounts of patient- and disease-related data.

Functionality and stability data of detergent purified nAChR from Torpedo using lipidic matrixes and macroscopic electrophysiology.

The presented data provides additional information about the assessment of affinity purified nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) rich membrane solubilized with long chain (16 saturated carbons) lysophospholipid with glycerol headgroup (LFG-16). The assessment of stability and functionality of solubilized membrane protein is a critical step prior to further crystallization trails. One of the key factors for this task is the appropriate choice of a detergent that can support nAChR activity and stability comparable to the crude membranes.

Assessment of the functionality and stability of detergent purified nAChR from Torpedo using lipidic matrixes and macroscopic electrophysiology.

In our previous study we examined the functionality and stability of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-detergent complexes (nAChR-DCs) from affinity-purified Torpedo californica (Tc) using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) in Lipidic Cubic Phase (LCP) and planar lipid bilayer (PLB) recordings for phospholipid and cholesterol like detergents. In the present study we enhanced the functional characterization of nAChR-DCs by recording macroscopic ion channel currents in Xenopus oocytes using the two electrode voltage clamp (TEVC). The use of TEVC allows for the recording of macroscopic currents elicited by agonist activation of nAChR-DCs that assemble in the oocyte plasma membrane.

Efficacy of a Process Improvement Intervention on Inmate Awareness of HIV Services: A Multi-Site Trial.

The prevalence of HIV among U.S. inmates is much greater than in the general population, creating public health concerns and cost issues for the criminal justice system.

Differential proteomic and behavioral effects of long-term voluntary exercise in wild-type and APP-overexpressing transgenics.

Physical exercise may provide protection against the cognitive decline and neuropathology associated with Alzheimer's disease, although the mechanisms are not clear. In the present study, APP/PSEN1 double-transgenic and wild-type mice were allowed unlimited voluntary exercise for 7months. Consistent with previous reports, wheel-running improved cognition in the double-transgenic mice.

Novel inhibitors of Rac1 in metastatic breast cancer.

Objective: Rho family GTPases are molecular switches that control signaling pathways regulating a myriad of cellular functions. Rac1, a Rho family member, plays a critical role in several aspects of tumorigenesis, cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis. Rac proteins are not mutated in most invasive human cancers but are found to be overactive or over-expressed.

The effect of the smoke-free workplace policy in the exposure to secondhand smoke in restaurants, pubs, and discos in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Background: Tobacco use and the involuntary exposition to secondhand smoke (SHS) is one of the leading causes of all cancers in the world. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the smoke-free workplace policy implemented in March of 2007 in Puerto Rico on the exposition to secondhand smoke in restaurants, pubs, and discos of the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Methods: The study used a pre-post comparison design on a random sample of 55 establishments (32 restaurants and 23 pubs and discos) in the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Recent developments in the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids.

Objective: To examine the recent evidence that marijuana and other cannabinoids have therapeutic potential.

Methods: Literature published since 1997 was searched using the following terms: cannabinoid, marijuana, THC, analgesia, cachexia, glaucoma, movement, multiple sclerosis, neurological, pain, Parkinson, trial, vomiting. Qualifying clinical studies were randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled.

[Birth spacing in Puerto Rico].

This paper uses life table methods to analyze the process of family formation in Puerto Rico. Despite a continuing decline in fertility, the pattern of birth spacing is very rapid with a big proportion of short intergenesic intervals. This indicates a clear distinction between spacing and stopping behavior.