The molecular coordination of tuberization: Current status and future directions.

The integration of bulk transcriptomic, proteomic, and genomic data generated from numerous systems biology studies of tuberizing plants has resulted in a better understanding of the molecular and morphological aspects of tuberization. The identified conserved integrated hormonal, transcriptional, and metabolic pathways of tuberization in crops from various plant lineages support the hypothesis of a fundamental tuberization process. However, further studies are required to specify the additional processes defined by the genomics and phylogeny of the particular plant lineages, which control the morphological diversity of tubers.

: Self-esteem and body dissatisfaction in the drive for muscularity among Jamaican weight lifters.

This study examined a model of the associations among self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, and the drive for muscularity among Jamaican male weight lifters, and compared model relationships between weight lifters from rural and urban areas of residence. Using a purposive sampling approach, cross-sectional data were collected from 225 male weight lifters, ages 18-67 years ( = 28.16,  = 9.

The Effectiveness of Triton Used With XP-3D Adaptive Files and Active Irrigation on Smear Layer Removal During Root Canal Preparation: A Qualitative Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Study.

Background: Standard irrigating protocols during root canal treatment call for the use of sodium hypochlorite during chemo-mechanical preparation, followed by final irrigation with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). This study determined the effectiveness of a new irrigant, Triton (Brasseler, USA), on smear layer removal during root canal treatment compared to that of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite and CanalPro EDTA 17% (Coltene).

Examining the surgical backlog due to COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean: insights from a scoping review.

This scoping review assessed the surgical backlog in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) due to COVID-19 and identified mitigation strategies. We searched seven databases for citations from December 2019 to December 2022, focusing on LAC patients with cancelled or postponed procedures. We registered our protocol at Open Science Framework (https://osf.

Genetic Variation in Jamaican Populations of the Coffee Berry Borer, Hypothenemus hampei.

The coffee berry borer (CBB) Hypothenemus hampei was first described in Africa in 1867 and has spread to all major coffee-producing regions worldwide, including Jamaica. Using long-read sequencing, we produced a new high-quality reference genome (172.7 Mb) for the Jamaican strain of the CBB, with 93% of the genome assembled into 14 scaffolds.

The role of the primary healthcare research community in addressing the social and structural determinants of health: a call to action from NAPCRG 2023.

The need for effective primary healthcare to address social and structural determinants of health and to mitigate health inequalities has been well established. Here, we report on the international forum of the 2023 NAPCRG (formerly known as North American Primary Care Research Group) Annual Meeting. The aim of the forum was to develop principles for action for the primary healthcare research community on addressing social and structural determinants of health.

Draft genome of hydrocarbon-degrader BCTT, isolated from soil chronically polluted with crude oil in Trinidad.

BCTT isolated from chronically polluted soil in Trinidad, shows a capacity to survive in crude oil as a sole carbon source. Here, we report its high-quality draft genome sequence and highlight those pathways and genes involved in xenobiotic degradation. These data give a clearer insight into this organism's biotechnological potential.

Measuring Caribbean stress and resilient coping: Psychometric properties of the PSS-10 and BRCS in a multi-country study during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Caribbean health research has overwhelmingly employed measures developed elsewhere and rarely includes evaluation of psychometric properties. Established measures are important for research and practice. Particularly, measures of stress and coping are needed.

Differences in COVID-19 Vaccination and Experiences among Patients with Hypertension in Colombia and Jamaica during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hypertensive patients had increased infection and healthcare disruption in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with limited vaccine access. The objective of this report is to describe COVID-19 experiences and vaccination uptake among hypertensive patients in Colombia and Jamaica. A cross-sectional study of patients with hypertension was conducted in primary care clinics in both countries between 2021 and 2022.

Implementation of Antigen-Based Diagnostic Assays for Detection of Histoplasmosis and Cryptococcosis among Patients with Advanced HIV in Trinidad and Tobago: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The Caribbean continues to have high HIV prevalence globally with concurrently high mortality rates due to opportunistic Infections. This study addresses the prevalence of histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis among patients living with advanced HIV disease (AHD) in Trinidad and Tobago, focusing on the implementation of antigen-based diagnostic assays. Conducted as a cross-sectional survey across five HIV treatment sites, 199 participants with advanced HIV disease were enrolled between July 2022 and September 2023.

GIS-Enhanced Survey of Potential and Artificial Oviposition Containers Distributed across Communities in Trinidad, West Indies.

Dengue and other arboviruses remain a global threat, and enhanced efforts to control the mosquitoes that transmit them are urgently needed. A survey of potential manmade (L.) and (Skuse) oviposition containers was performed in four communities near the end of the typical dry season in 2018 in Trinidad, West Indies.

The relationship between leptin-to-adiponectin ratio and HOMA-IR and metabolic syndrome in five African-origin populations.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to assess the associations between serum leptin, adiponectin, leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (L/A ratio), and metabolic syndrome (MS) and HOMA-IR in five African-origin populations: Ghana, South Africa, Jamaica, Seychelles, and US.

Methods: Clinical measures included serum glucose, insulin, adipokines, blood pressure and anthropometric measures. MS was determined using the Harmonized criteria.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Persons Living with Perinatally Acquired HIV Infection at a Large HIV Treatment Clinic in Trinidad.

Data on persons with perinatally acquired HIV infection in the Caribbean are limited; thus, a chart review was conducted among these clients at an adult HIV treatment clinic in Trinidad over the period January 01, 2011-June 30, 2023. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data were extracted and analyzed using RStudio version 2021.09.

Chronogram: an R package for data curation and analysis of infection and vaccination cohort studies.

Motivation: Observational cohort studies that track vaccine and infection responses offer real-world data to inform pandemic policy. Translating biological hypotheses, such as whether different patterns of accumulated antigenic exposures confer differing antibody responses, into analysis code can be onerous, particularly when source data is dis-aggregated.

Results: The R package chronogram introduces the class chronogram, where metadata is seamlessly aggregated with sparse infection episode, clinical and laboratory data.

A comparative cadaveric biomechanical study of bilateral FacetFuse transfacet pedicle screws versus bilateral or unilateral pedicle screw-rod construct.

Background: Achieving optimal immediate stability is crucial in lumbar fusion surgeries. Traditionally, four pedicle screws have been utilized to provide posterior stability at the L5-S1 level. However, the use of bilateral transfacet pedicle screws (TFPS) as an alternative construct has shown promising results in terms of biomechanical stability.