Few Aggressive or Violent Incidents are Associated with the Use of HIV Self-tests to Screen Sexual Partners Among Key Populations.

Men who have sex with men and transgender women who had multiple sexual partners in the prior 3 months participated in ISUM, a randomized, controlled trial of self- and partner-testing in New York City and San Juan, PR. Only 2% of screened participants were ineligible to enroll due to anticipating they would find it very hard to avoid or handle violence. The intervention group received free rapid HIV self-test kits.

Dietary flavonoid intake and risk of periodontitis.

Background: The anti-inflammatory effect associated with flavonoid-containing foods and beverages could potentially impact the risk of periodontal disease. We prospectively investigate the associations between habitual flavonoid intake and incidence of periodontitis.

Methods: The study population was 34,940 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, who were healthy and free of periodontal disease at baseline (1986).

miR-543 regulates the epigenetic landscape of myelofibrosis by targeting TET1 and TET2.

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by cytopenia and extramedullary hematopoiesis, resulting in splenomegaly. Multiple pathological mechanisms (e.g.

Hypercalcemia of Malignancy in a Patient with Hypoparathyroidism: A Complicated but Treatable Condition.

Hypercalcemia in hypoparathyroidism has rarely been described. A 55 year-old male patient with primary hypoparathyroidism, left eye melanoma, and Noonan's syndrome, was referred to the endocrinology clinics due to hypoparathyroidism. Laboratories showed serum calcium of 7.

Evaluation and Management of the Undescended Testis in Puerto Rico: A Single Surgeon's 10 Years of Experience.

Objective: Cryptorchidism is an abnormality of the male genitourinary tract in which one or both testes fail to descend into the scrotum. The American Urological Association (AUA) clinical guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of cryptorchidism were recently published. We reviewed our experience with the evaluation and management of our patients and examined our findings with respect to the AUA and European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines.

Analysis of Serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone Values for Puerto Rican Women Presenting to a Fertility Center.

Objective: To characterize the AMH levels in Puerto Rican women presenting to a fertility clinic.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving the acquisition of measured AMH levels from patient records dating October 2012- October 2014 (N=250). AMH levels determined by laboratory values were obtained.

Efficacy of Hydromer-Coated and Antibiotic- Impregnated Shunt Systems in Reducing Early Shunt Infections in the Pediatric Population.

Objective: Shunt infection is the most common complication following a Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedure with devastating consequences. This study analyzes the efficacy of different shunt systems in reducing early shunt infections in the pediatric population.

Methods: Retrospective case study analysis of 177 pediatric patients with hydrocephalus de novo shunted using hydromer-coated (HC) shunt systems, antibiotic-impregnated (AI) shunt systems and standard non impregnated shunt systems was performed and compared for the incidence of shunt infection in the early postoperative period.

Level of Physical Activity and Knowledge about the Physical Activity Guidelines in a Group of Medical Residents from Puerto Rico.

Objective: Physicians who know about physical activity guidelines (PAG) and those who adhere to the PAG themselves may have a greater tendency to recommend physical activity (PA) to their patients. This study was aimed at evaluating the level of PA in a group of medical residents from Puerto Rico and to assess their knowledge regarding the PAG for adults.

Methods: A total of 104 medical residents from Puerto Rico completed a selfadministered questionnaire designed to obtain standardized estimates of their PA and to determine their level of knowledge regarding the PAG.

Scientific Representations at the UPR School of Tropical Medicine. II: The Evolution of Science, the First Two Eras (1926-31, 1932-1940).

The essay examines the scientific representations that unfolded and manifested at the University of Puerto Rico School of Tropical Medicine (STM) under the auspices of Columbia University (1926-1949). It focuses on the emerged scientific representations and on the kind of science practiced at the School, and has been divided into four sections: images of science, evolution during the first two eras (1926-31 and 1932-40), the unfolding third and last era (1941-49), and special technical studies. This article on the STM's scientific endeavors is the second in this historical serial collection about the images and evolution of sciences at the institution, and portrays the events and processes of the first two scientific eras.

A new method of recording from the giant fiber of Drosophila melanogaster shows that the strength of its auditory inputs remains constant with age.

There have been relatively few studies of how central synapses age in adult Drosophila melanogaster. In this study we investigate the aging of the synaptic inputs to the Giant Fiber (GF) from auditory Johnston's Organ neurons (JONs). In previously published experiments an indirect assay of this synaptic connection was used; here we describe a new, more direct assay, which allows reliable detection of the GF action potential in the neck connective, and long term recording of its responses to sound.

Use of HIV Self-Testing Kits to Screen Clients Among Transgender Female Sex Workers in New York and Puerto Rico.

Transgender female sex workers (TFSW) are highly affected by HIV, with a global prevalence of 27%. HIV self-testing (HIVST) to screen sexual partners has helped men who have sex with men and female sex workers make informed sexual decisions and avoid HIV exposure. This is the first report on TFSW's experiences screening clients using HIVST.

Impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Puerto Rico Maternal and Child Health Research Programs.

Puerto Rico was hit by two major hurricanes in September 2017 causing great devastation, losing over 90% of the power grid, wireless communication and access to potable water, and destroying many homes. Our research programs: Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT), Center for Research on Early Childhood Exposure and Development in Puerto Rico (CRECE), Zika in Infants and Pregnancy (ZIP), and Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) are ongoing observational cohort studies that have been investigating environmental risk factors for perinatal health outcomes among Puerto Rican mothers and infants. Our projects paused operations for about two weeks, to begin recovery process and become a source of assistance, retaining 95% of study participants across all research programs.

Pharmacokinetics of the Rac/Cdc42 Inhibitor MBQ-167 in Mice by Supercritical Fluid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

The Rho GTPases Rac and Cdc42 are potential targets against metastatic diseases. We characterized the small molecule MBQ-167 as an effective dual Rac/Cdc42 inhibitor that reduces HER2-type tumor growth and metastasis in mice by ∼90%. This study reports the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of MBQ-167 following intraperitoneal and oral single-dose administrations.

Over-the-counter mouthwash use, nitric oxide and hypertension risk.

Mouthwash is used by a large population. Short-term clinical trials have shown that antibacterial mouthwash deplete oral nitrate-reducing bacteria, and decrease systemic nitric oxide bioavailability. Our previous publication from the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (SOALS) was the first to show frequent over-the-counter mouthwash use was independently associated with increased risk of prediabetes/diabetes.

Protective effects of eicosapentaenoic acid in adipocyte-breast cancer cell cross talk.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women among all cancer types. Obesity is one of the factors that promote progression of breast cancer, especially in post-menopausal women. Increasingly, adipose tissue is recognized for its active role in the tumor microenvironment.

In silico simulation of reversible and irreversible swelling of mitochondria: The role of membrane rigidity.

Mitochondria have been widely accepted as the main source of ATP in the cell. The inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) is important for the maintenance of ATP production and other functions of mitochondria. The electron transport chain (ETC) generates an electrochemical gradient of protons known as the proton-motive force across the IMM and thus produces the mitochondrial membrane potential that is critical to ATP synthesis.

Biological therapy for pustular psoriasis: a systematic review.

Background: The anecdotic evidence of the benefits from biologic agents for psoriasis is extensive. However, data on the efficacy of biologic agents for pustular psoriasis are limited.

Methods: To update the data on the efficacy and safety of biologic agents for the management of pustular psoriasis.

Publisher Correction: Shared heritability and functional enrichment across six solid cancers.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Time elapsed between Zika and dengue virus infections affects antibody and T cell responses.

Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) are co-endemic in many parts of the world, but the impact of ZIKV infection on subsequent DENV infection is not well understood. Here we show in rhesus macaques that the time elapsed after ZIKV infection affects the immune response to DENV infection. We show that previous ZIKV exposure increases the magnitude of the antibody and T cell responses against DENV.

Multimodal Endovascular approach in a Case of Multiple Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae.

Dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVF) are vascular abnormalities in which arteriovenous shunts are contained in between the periosteal and meningeal lamellae of the dura matter. Rarely, multiple DAVF are diagnosed in a single patient; occurring in only about 8% of the diagnosed cases. We describe a rare presentation of DAVF in a patient with multiple DAVF, at 3 separate sites within the cranial cavity; associated with a medical history of two traumatic motor-vehicle accidents, total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), and acquired aplastic anemia.

Improvement in Hispanics' CRC Knowledge and Awareness using the Inflatable Caribe Colon.

Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cause of cancer death in Puerto Rico (PR). CRC screening rates among PR Hispanics aged ≥ 50 years (57.5%) are below the Healthy People 2020 recommendations (70.

Comparison of Skin Biomechanics and Skin Color in Puerto Rican and Non-Puerto Rican Women.

Objective: Skin biomechanics are physical properties that protect the body from injury. Little is known about differences in skin biomechanics in racial/ethnic groups and the role of skin color in these differences. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between skin biomechanics (viscoelasticity, hydration) and skin color, when controlling for demographic and health-related variables in a sample of Puerto Rican and non-Puerto Rican women.