Knowledge of Obesity's Health Related Outcomes among Hispanic Women living in Puerto Rico.

Objective: The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess, according to previous cancer diagnosis, the knowledge Puerto Rican women have on the link between obesity-endometrial, -breast, and colon cancer, and determine women's most common source for medical information.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, eligible female patients (n=234) from the Gynecology and Gynecology-Oncology Clinics completed a self-administered survey from October 2014 to March 2016. Participants were evaluated on sociodemographic, body mass index, knowledge of the obesity-cancer link, and source of medical information.

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.

Increased Prevalence of Advanced Histologic Features in Small and Diminutive Polyps in Patients Undergoing Surveillance and Diagnostic Colonoscopy.

Objective: Studies addressing small and diminutive polyps and their potential of harboring advanced histologic features (AH) are scarce in Hispanics. We aimed to determine the prevalence of AH in a cohort of Hispanics.

Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of patients who had a colonoscopy from 2005 through 2010.

Persistence of Immunogenicity of a Purified Inactivated Zika Virus Vaccine Candidate in Healthy Adults: 2 Years of Follow-up Compared With Natural Infection.

Background: We report 2-year persistence of immune response to Takeda's prophylactic purified formalin-inactivated whole Zika virus vaccine candidate (TAK-426) compared with that observed after natural infection.

Methods: A randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-selection, phase 1 trial was conducted in 18-49-year-old adults at 9 centers (7 in the United States, 2 in Puerto Rico) from 13 November 2017 to 24 November 2020. Primary objectives were safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of 3 increasing doses of TAK-426 administered as 2 doses 28 days apart to flavivirus (FV)-naive and FV-primed adults.

The Use of Oral Hypoglycemic Agents during Pregnancy: An Alternative to Insulin?

Objective: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) are metabolic disorders characterized by increased insulin resistance. Although insulin is the treatment of choice in pregnant patients with DM, the prescription of oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) has been increasing among practitioners. This study aimed to evaluate the maternal and neonatal outcomes when oral hypoglycemic agents were used in diabetic pregnant women.

Safety and immunogenicity of a purified inactivated Zika virus vaccine candidate in healthy adults: an observer-blind, randomised, phase 1 trial.

Background: Zika virus, a flavivirus transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, is associated with cases of congenital malformations and neurological complications. Absence of specific treatment makes a prophylactic Zika virus vaccine an unmet medical need. We assessed safety and immunogenicity of three doses of a purified, inactivated, Zika virus vaccine candidate in healthy flavivirus-naive and flavivirus-primed adults.

Scientometric analysis of the Puerto Rico Clinical and Translational Research Consortium (PRCTRC) research publications, 2010-2018.

We analyzed the publication productivity supported by the Puerto Rico Consortium for Clinical and Translational Research (PRCTRC) using the structured process of scientometrics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the research and collaborations as presented in publications. Manuscripts published from 2010 to 2018 and that had the PRCTRC award number and a PMCID number were retrieved from the Science Citation Index database.

Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium Consumption and Markers of Glucose Metabolism in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

Objective: This was a cross-sectional study associating vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and potassium intakes with markers of glucose metabolism in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

Methods: HCHS/SOL is a multicenter, prospective, population-based cohort study on Hispanics/Latinos aged 18-74 years in the US. For this analysis, we included 10,609 participants who were free of diabetes.

Intervention to promote physical activation and improve sleep and response feeding in infants for preventing obesity early in life, the baby-act trial: Rationale and design.

Unlabelled: Infant obesity is increasing in the US, particularly among Hispanics. Rapid weight gain during infancy increases the risk of obesity later in life and could be prevented through multi-modal interventions addressing multiple risk factors through population-level programs.

Objectives: 1) determine the extent to which the intervention, compared with the usual care control condition, improves healthy weight gain and specific behaviors (physical activity, sleep, diet) in the first year of life and 2) evaluate the cost of the intervention as a modification of the current WIC standard of care.

Characterization of a subset of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome initially presenting with C3 or C4 hypocomplementemia.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the association of C3 and C4 hypocomplementemia at the diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) with clinical manifestations, disease activity, and disease damage.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 94 Puerto Ricans with pSS. Patients were aged ≥21 years and met the 2012 American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria for pSS.

Implementing a pharmacogenetic-driven algorithm to guide dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in Caribbean Hispanics: protocol for a non-randomised clinical trial.

Introduction: Minority populations in the USA are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular conditions. Reduced responsiveness to clopidogrel among carriers of variants has been reported in patients with either coronary artery disease (CAD) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Previous studies have evaluated genotyping-guided antiplatelet therapy in selected populations; however, this has yet to be tested among Hispanics.

Knowledge among Puerto Rican Women about Risk of Infertility Associated with Overweight and Obesity.

Objective: Our study sought to evaluate how aware the women attending gynecology clinics at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus (UPRMSC) were of the association between infertility and excess body weight (i.e., overweight and obesity).

Clinical impact of hydroxychloroquine dose adjustment according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology guidelines in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a maximum hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) dose of ≤5.0 mg/kg/day to reduce the risk of HCQ-induced retinopathy. To determine if this dose adjustment would have an impact on the clinical course of SLE, we compared outcome measures in a cohort of patients with SLE before and after adjusting HCQ dose.

Altered Swimming Behaviors in Zebrafish Larvae Lacking Cannabinoid Receptor 2.

The cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) was previously implicated in brain functions, including complex behaviors. Here, we assessed the role of CB2 in selected swimming behaviors in zebrafish larvae and developed an upscalable whole-organism approach for CB2 ligand screening. Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, we generated a novel null allele ( ) and a stable homozygote-viable loss-of-function (CB2-KO) line.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Insights from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample.

Purpose: To identify racial/ethnic disparities in utilization rates, in-hospital outcomes and health care resource use among Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), African Americans (AA) and Hispanics undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the United States (US).

Methods And Results: The National Inpatient Sample database was queried for patients ≥18 years of age who underwent TAVR from 2012 to 2014. The primary outcome was all-cause in hospital mortality.

Immunogenicity and Safety of a Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine Administered as a First Dose to Children Aged 12 to 15 Months: A Phase III, Randomized, Noninferiority, Lot-to-Lot Consistency Study.

Background: MMR II (M-M-R II [Merck & Co, Inc.]) is currently the only measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine licensed in the United States. A second MMR vaccine would mitigate the potential risk of vaccine supply shortage or delay.

Effect of Season on 25-OH Vitamin D in Serum of Rhesus Monkeys Housed in Puerto Rico.

Objective: Vitamin D blood levels have been shown to be partially dependent upon season in temperate climates, however, this same evaluation has not yet been reported in fully tropical climates. Herein, we assessed the vitamin D levels in the blood of Rhesus monkeys housed at the Puerto Rico Caribbean Primate Research Center collected in the island's "summer"(May-October) and "winter" (November-April) months.

Materials And Methods: In 2006 through 2014, repeated measurements of blood samples were collected from 5 Rhesus monkeys (IACUC-approved) during "summer" and "winter" months to assess 25-OH vitamin D, determined via HPLC.

Effect of Housing Type on 25 OH Vitamin D in Serum of Rhesus Monkeys.

Objective: Vitamin D status is primarily dependent upon sun exposure and dietary sources, however genetic, cultural, and environmental factors can have a modulating role in the measured amount. One under-reported factor is the effect of regular living quarters on the degree of sun exposure. Herein, we assess vitamin D status in the blood of Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) housed in high amounts of sunlight (corn-cribs), medium sunlight (corrals with shaded areas), and minimal sunlight (quarantine cages).

Clinical correlates and outcomes in a group of Puerto Ricans with systemic lupus erythematosus hospitalized due to severe infections.

Objective: Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus. Clinical outcomes of systemic lupus erythematosus patients hospitalized due to infections vary among different ethnic populations. Thus, we determined the outcomes and associated factors in a group of Hispanics from Puerto Rico with systemic lupus erythematosus admitted due to severe infections.

Seroprevalence of HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 and correlates of exposure in unvaccinated women aged 16-64 years in Puerto Rico.

Background: To understand risk factors for HPV exposure in Puerto Rican women, we evaluated HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 serology in women aged living in the San Juan metropolitan area.

Methods: As part of a cross-sectional study, a population-based sample of 524 HPV unvaccinated Hispanic women ages 16-64 years completed face-to-face and computer assisted interviews and provided blood and self-collected anal and cervical specimens. Serology used multiplex virus-like particle based-IgG ELISA and HPV DNA was detected with L1-consensus PCR.

Low to Normal Plasma Levels of Marinobufagenin 24 Hours or More after an Ischemic Stroke: A Pilot Study.

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated a strong relationship between circulating levels of marinobufagenin (MBG) and salt-sensitivity. Since salt-sensitive hypertensives have increased plasma levels of MBG and are known to be at a higher risk of having cardiovascular events, stroke and increased mortality, we evaluated the possibility of an association between MBG and ischemic stroke. In this pilot study, we determined plasma MBG levels in patients after surviving an ischemic stroke compared to similar age and gender groups of treated hypertensives and normotensive controls.

Prevalence, genotyping, and correlates of anogenital HPV infection in a population-based sample of women in Puerto Rico.

Background: Oncogenic HPV infection is associated to anogenital cancer. We estimate the prevalence and correlates of anogenital HPV infection among a population-based sample of women aged 16-64 years living in the metropolitan area of Puerto Rico.

Methods: 564 women completed face-to-face and computer assisted interviews and self-collected anal and cervical specimens.

Building Bridges to Address Health Disparities in Puerto Rico: the "Salud para Piñones" Project.

Over the past several decades, Puerto Ricans have faced increased health threats from chronic diseases, particularly diabetes and hypertension. The patient-provider relationship is the main platform for individual disease management, whereas the community, as an agent of change for the community's health status, has been limited in its support of individual health. Likewise, traditional research approaches within communities have placed academic researchers at the center of the process, considering their knowledge was of greater value than that of the community.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Those Accompanying Medicare Patients to the Doctor: Insights from the 2013 Medicare Current Beneficiary's Survey.

Surprisingly little current, population-level detail exists regarding companion accompaniment for health care among Medicare beneficiaries, particularly by race/ethnicity. For respondents in the 2013 Medicare Current Beneficiary's Survey Access to Care public use data (N = 12,253), multivariable models predicted accompaniment to the doctor by race/ethnicity, adjusting for confounders. Chi square analyses compared, by race/ethnicity, who was accompanying and why.