Self-reported prevalence and risk factors associated with keratoconus among the adult population of Trinidad and Tobago: a cross-sectional study.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of keratoconus and its associated risk factors within the adult population of Trinidad and Tobago.

Method: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adults in Trinidad and Tobago, utilizing the Keratoconus Risk Assessment Questionnaire (KRIS) for data collection. Data were exported to the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 for analysis.

Perceptions and Attitudes of People With Cancer and Diabetes Towards Patient Guidelines: A Mixed Methods Study.

Objective: To explore patients' perceptions and attitudes towards patient guidelines (PGs) and to identify specific factors related to PG content, design, presentation, and management that may influence patients' use or adoption of PGs.

Methods: An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. Initial semi-structured interviews were conducted with a diverse group of individuals, including people with diabetes or oncology, and clinicians.

Sellar spine: a rare midline osseous spur.

A sellar spine is a rare midline osseous spur, which arises from the dorsum sellae and projects into the pituitary fossa. It can be found incidentally on imaging or may present with symptoms related to optic chiasm compression or hormonal disturbances.Herein, we present the case of an incidentally detected sellar spine in a patient presenting with sudden onset headaches.

Workplace Ergonomic Adjustments and Supportive Policies During the Pregnancy of a Paint Sprayer: A Case Report.

A 29-year-old paint sprayer presented with mild lower back pain and fatigue related to prolonged standing and repetitive tasks in the first few weeks of pregnancy. An initial assessment included a review of her workstation, evaluation of posture, and standard prenatal tests such as routine blood work and ultrasound. These investigations showed normal fetal development and no complications.

Personalized Sleep Hygiene and Structured Rest Interventions Improve Sleep Quality and Energy in a Rotating Shift Worker: A Case Report.

A 38-year-old paint technician who worked rotating shifts reported mild sleep disruptions and increased fatigue. The company's medical staff reviewed his work patterns, rest habits, and home environment. They introduced a personalized sleep hygiene program and adjusted his break schedule, allowing short, structured rest periods.

Extreme migratory connectivity and apparent mirroring of non-breeding grounds conditions in a severely declining breeding population of an Afro-Palearctic migratory bird.

Understanding the distribution of breeding populations of migratory animals in the non-breeding period (migratory connectivity) is important for understanding their response to environmental change. High connectivity (low non-breeding population dispersion) may lower resilience to climate change and increase vulnerability to habitat loss within their range. Very high levels of connectivity are reportedly rare, but this conclusion may be limited by methodology.

Comparison of cadmium pathways in a high Cd accumulating cultivar versus a low Cd accumulating cultivar of Theobroma cacao L.

Understanding cadmium (Cd) pathways in cacao trees is critical for developing Cd mitigation strategies. This study investigates whether Cd uptake and translocation mechanisms differ between a low and a high Cd-accumulating cacao cultivar. We sampled three replicate trees of each cultivar, and a grafted cultivar that shared the same scion as the low Cd accumulator but had a different rootstock.

COVID-19 Vaccines Effectiveness and Safety in Trinidad and Tobago: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness and side effects of various COVID-19 vaccines, with a focus on Trinidad and Tobago. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines demonstrated the highest efficacy, particularly against COVID-19 variants, while Janssen and Sinopharm were comparatively less effective. mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca, were associated with more frequent and severe side effects, including soreness, fever, and cardiovascular issues.

Assessment of Protein Quality and Nutritional Characteristics of Commonly Consumed Pulses in the Caribbean Diet by Different In Vitro Assays.

Pulses, the dried seeds of leguminous plants, form an important part of the diets of many cultures, including Caribbean cuisine, and are a rich source of protein, carbohydrates, and antioxidants while being low in fats. This study examined the effect of a traditional home-cooking method on the nutritional characteristics of pulses commonly consumed in the Caribbean: red kidney beans and cranberry beans ( L.), cowpeas ( L.

Assessing cardiovascular disease risk and social determinants of health: A comparative analysis of five risk estimation instruments using data from the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network.

Background: Accurate assessment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is crucial for effective prevention and resource allocation. However, few CVD risk estimation tools consider social determinants of health (SDoH), despite their known impact on CVD risk. We aimed to estimate 10-year CVD risk in the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network Cohort Study (ECS) across multiple risk estimation instruments and assess the association between SDoH and CVD risk.

Evaluating the potential of Kalanchoe pinnata, Piper amalago amalago, and other botanicals as economical insecticidal synergists against Anopheles gambiae.

Background: Synergists reduce insecticide metabolism in mosquitoes by competing with insecticides for the active sites of metabolic enzymes, such as cytochrome P450s (CYPs). This increases the availability of the insecticide at its specific target site. The combination of both insecticides and synergists increases the toxicity of the mixture.

Suspected Transient Ischemic Attack Related to Dysfunctional Quadricuspid Aortic Valve.

We describe a 30-year-old Caribbean-Black woman with a clinical presentation suggestive of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) with no conventional cerebrovascular risk factors, albeit with a newly diagnosed quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) with moderate aortic regurgitation (AR). Although QAV is a recognized congenital cardiac defect, its association with TIA remains elusive. This case highlights the importance of considering potential atypical etiologies, such as QAV, in the evaluation and management of young patients presenting with cerebrovascular events.

Clinical Sensitivity and Specificity of the PROSTest in an American Cohort.

Introduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the United States, following skin cancer, with an incidence rate of 112.7 per 100,000 men per year. The need for a reliable, non-invasive diagnostic tool for early PCa detection (screening, biochemical residual disease) remains unmet due to the limitations of PSA testing, which often leads to overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

Managing Arrhythmias in Cardiogenic Shock: Insights Into Milrinone and Dobutamine Therapy.

Shock is a state of inadequate perfusion that affects vital organs. Cardiogenic shock (CS) predisposes patients to various arrhythmias. The adverse effect depends on intervention and pharmacogenomics.

Occupational Dermatitis in a Paint Mixer: Impact of Symptom Neglect and Strategies for Early Intervention and Prevention.

A 34-year-old paint mixer presented with mild, localized dermatitis on the forearms, traced to low-level exposure to a paint additive. Immediate interventions, including improved personal protective equipment (PPE) and modified job tasks, led to rapid symptom resolution. This report highlights early identification, appropriate workplace controls, and follow-up measures that prevent long-term complications.

Lung function and onset of cardiometabolic diseases in the longitudinal Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study.

Introduction: Previous population-based studies, mainly from high-income countries, have shown that a higher forced vital capacity (FVC) is associated with a lower risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the longitudinal association between spirometry measures and the onset of cardiometabolic diseases across sites in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries.

Methods: The study population comprised 5916 individuals from 15 countries participating in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease baseline and follow-up assessments.

Solitary plasmacytoma: an unusual presentation.

This case highlights the importance of thoroughly investigating incidental findings, particularly in patients with unexplained symptoms. Solitary plasmacytoma, though rare and accounting for 4-5% of plasma cell dyscrasias, can occur outside the spine and may present without systemic symptoms. Early diagnosis through imaging and biopsy is crucial for appropriate management, as these lesions can be effectively treated if identified early.

Assessment of Outcomes & Anatomical Changes in the Upper Urinary Tract following Flexible Ureteroscopy with a Flexible and Navigable Suction Ureteral Access Sheath (FANS): 3-Month Results from a Multicenter Study.

Objectives: To study the long-term outcomes of the flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath (FANS) in flexible ureteroscopy (FURS). FANS has well-established efficiency and 30-day perioperative safety; however, its influence on pelvicalyceal and ureteric anatomy remains to be investigated.

Methods: This was a prospective study of patients with normal renal anatomy who underwent FURS with FANS for renal stones from April 2023 to August 2024 in 16 centers worldwide.

The Effect of Colchicine on Platelet Function Profiles in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease: The ECLIPSE Pilot Study.

Introduction: This prospective, single-arm pharmacodynamic study assessed the effect of colchicine (COLC) [Strides Pharma UK Ltd, Watford, Hertfordshire, England] 0.5 mg administered orally once daily for 14 days on platelet reactivity with respect to aspirin reaction units (ARUs) and P2Y reaction units (PRUs).

Methods: Twenty-two patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with daily maintenance aspirin and clopidogrel were recruited.

Effect of growth dynamics on the structural, photophysical and pseudocapacitance properties of famatinite copper antimony sulphide colloidal nanostructures (including nanosheets).

Facile phase selective synthesis of copper antimony sulphide (CAS) nanostructures is important because of their tunable photoconductive and electrochemical properties. In this study, off-stoichiometric famatinite phase CAS (CAS) quasi-spherical and quasi-hexagonal colloidal nanostructures (including nanosheets) of sizes, 2.4-18.

Decoding the blueprint of receptor binding by filoviruses through large-scale binding assays and machine learning.

Evidence suggests that bats are important hosts of filoviruses, yet the specific species involved remain largely unidentified. Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) is an essential entry receptor, with amino acid variations influencing viral susceptibility and species-specific tropism. Herein, we conducted combinatorial binding studies with seven filovirus glycoproteins (GPs) and NPC1 orthologs from 81 bat species.

Development of an agenda for research and action on climate change and health in the Caribbean.

This paper delineates the development of the Caribbean Research for Action Agenda which aims to empower Caribbean Small Island Developing States to reduce their vulnerabilities to the effects of climate change on health. The Caribbean Research for Action Agenda emerged from collaboration between nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, and multilateral agencies that organized a conference on climate change and health in the Caribbean. This Agenda was formulated by prioritizing research areas, synthesizing evidence from conference presentations and scientific literature, and holding consultations with stakeholders and experts.