Vaginal Microbiota and HPV in Latin America: A Narrative Review.

With the expansion of human microbiome studies in the last 15 years, we have realized the immense implications of microbes in human health. The human holobiont is now accepted, given the commensal relationships with bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, and human cells. The cervicovaginal microbiota is a specific case within the human microbiome where diversity is lower to maintain a chemical barrier of protection against infections.

Recent progresses in natural based therapeutic materials for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder that causes increased memory loss, mood swings, behavioral disorders, and disruptions in daily activities. Polymer scaffolds for the brain have been grown under laboratory, physiological, and pathological circumstances because of the limitations of conventional treatments for patients with central nervous system diseases. The blood-brain barrier prevents medications from entering the brain, challenging AD treatment.

Infection Rates of an Intraoral Versus Extraoral Approach to Mandibular Fracture Repairs are Equal: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: This study investigates whether the intraoral approach to mandibular open reduction and internal fixation, through exposure to the oral cavity's microbiome, results in higher infection rates compared to the extraoral approach, thus addressing a critical public health concern, potentially offering an opportunity to reduce health-care costs, and aiming to guide effective clinical practice.

Methods: In this systematic review with meta-analyses, a review of the literature was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Embase and PubMed for articles published between 1989 and 2023.

Weighing the risks and benefits of anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: a case report of left atrial appendage absence in a patient referred for procedural occlusion.

Background: The absence of the left atrial appendage is an exceedingly rare structural variant that could have important implications for anticoagulation regimens in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Case Summary: We report the case of a 63-year-old Puerto Rican female with a history of hypertension, cerebral artery aneurysms, and type 2 diabetes mellitus who suffered multiple haemorrhagic strokes. The patient had never received anticoagulation therapy.

Patient Perception of Robotic-Assisted Total Joint Arthroplasty in a Hispanic Population.

Background: Robotic-assisted orthopaedic surgery has become popular and widely available, mainly for total joint arthroplasty. However, there has been a persistent concern regarding access to robotic-assisted surgery and the utilization rate of total joint arthroplasty among minority groups. As an imperative effort to close the gap regarding health inequalities, we assessed the knowledge and perspective of Hispanics regarding robotic-assisted orthopaedic surgery.

Uncommon Find: An Unusual 10 cm Bezold's Abscess Involving Dural and Mastoid Erosion.

Bezold's abscess (BA) is a rare complication of otitis media that presents as a lateral neck abscess below the mastoid tip. BA incidence has recently decreased due to early diagnosis and prompt antibiotic intervention. We present a 42-year-old male with a complicated otitis media developing a 10 cm BA.

Promoter DNA methylation patterns in oral, laryngeal and oropharyngeal anatomical regions are associated with tumor differentiation, nodal involvement and survival.

Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) can be used as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets in precision medicine workflows. DNA from 21 HNSCC and 10 healthy oral tissue samples was hybridized to a genome-wide tiling array to identify DMRs in a discovery cohort. Downstream analyses identified differences in promoter DNA methylation patterns in oral, laryngeal and oropharyngeal anatomical regions associated with tumor differentiation, nodal involvement and survival.

Injection-related Visual Compromise.

The global market for hyaluronic acid (HA)-based dermal fillers has experienced substantial growth, providing patients with an effective nonsurgical cosmetic option. According to the global market report, the HA dermal fillers market size is expected to grow to $8.5 billion in 2027 at an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.

Prevalence and co-prevalence of comorbidities among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus living in Puerto Rico.

This is a descriptive study using healthcare claims data from patients with T2DM from public and private healthcare insurance companies providing services in Puerto Rico in 2013, aimed to estimate the prevalence of comorbidities in this population. Descriptive analyses were performed by sociodemographic, and type of service variables using frequency and percent for categorical data or means (+/-SD) or median (IQR) for continuous variables. Chi-square, Fisher exact or two-sample t-tests were used for comparisons.

Association of tobacco use and the presence of anal warts in people who attend the anal Neoplasia clinic in Puerto Rico.

Background: Limited research exists regarding the association between smoking and anal warts. In this study, we evaluated this association among a clinic-based Hispanic population in Puerto Rico.

Methods: Cross-sectional study among eligible patients seen at the Anal Neoplasia Clinic of the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center (2016-2023) (n = 920).

Exploring the knowledge and attitudes of college-educated Hispanics toward the transgender community in Puerto Rico.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of a sample of Hispanics in Puerto Rico (PR) toward the transgender community.

Methods: A cross-sectional study addressing Hispanics, aged 21 years or older who lived in PR, was performed from March to September 2021. Participants were invited through online advertisement shared on social media pages.

Scuba Diving-Induced Inner-Ear Pathology: Imaging Findings of Superior Semicircular Canal and Tegmen Tympani Dehiscence.

BACKGROUND Superior semicircular canal dehiscence is an inner-ear pathology which presents with vertigo, disequilibrium, and hearing loss. Although the exact etiology of superior semicircular canal dehiscence is unknown, it is thought that an increase in middle-ear pressure disrupts a thin overlying temporal bone. Superior semicircular canal dehiscence is frequently seen in association with dehiscence of the tegmen tympani, which overlies the middle ear.

Long-Term Follow-up of Untreated Adult Patients with Spondylothoracic Dysostosis (Jarcho-Levin Syndrome).

Background: Spondylothoracic dysostosis (STD), also known as Jarcho-Levin syndrome (JLS), is a rare autosomal recessive disorder affecting the formation of the spine, characterized by a complete bilateral fusion of the ribs at the costovertebral junction, producing a "crablike" appearance of the thorax. Despite being declared a core indication for a V-osteotomy vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) expansion thoracoplasty of the posterior thorax, the natural history of STD in untreated subjects remains poorly documented. In this study, we report radiographic and pulmonary function findings and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and 24-Item Early Onset Scoliosis Questionnaire (EOSQ-24) scores for untreated adult subjects with STD to gain insights into the natural history.

Instances of ocular findings in transgender patients undergoing hormonal therapy.

Purpose: To describe the ophthalmological manifestations in transgender patients on gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Methods: A retrospective chart review study was conducted. Female-to-male (FTM) and male-to-female (MTF) transgenders on gender-affirming hormone therapy evaluated at a single center were included.

West Indian Punctate Keratopathy and "Puerto Rican (PR) Spots".

This study describes the clinical characteristics of a cohort of Hispanic patients living in Puerto Rico who were found to have West Indian punctate keratopathy (WIPK). This case also introduces the term "PR (Puerto Rican) spots" to describe the dots observed in the eyes of individuals with WIPK who have a documented history of residing in Puerto Rico. The methods of the study consist of a retrospective chart review of patients presenting with WIPK.

Textbook outcome in distal pancreatectomy: A multicenter study.

Background: Textbook outcome is an interesting quality metrics tool. Information on textbook outcomes in distal pancreatectomy is very scarce. In this study we determined textbook outcome in a distal pancreatectomy multicenter database and propose a specific definition of textbook outcome-distal pancreatectomy that includes pancreatic fistula.

Disparities in Time to Treatment for Skin Cancer.

Background/aim: Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to the disparities in skin cancer treatment.

Patients And Methods: Data from The National Cancer Database (NCDB) spanning 2004 to 2019 were utilized.