The Impact of Environmental Health Determinants in Surgical Oncology.

Environmental determinants of health refer to external factors in our surroundings that influence health outcomes. It is estimated that healthier environments could prevent almost one-quarter of the global burden of disease. Additionally, environmental factors, including lifestyle factors, air pollution, chemical exposures, and natural exposures, are responsible for a significant incidence of cancers and premature cancer deaths.

International medical graduates and PAs: A history and update.

During the 1980s and 1990s, international medical graduates (IMGs) sought legal and educational measures aimed at obtaining licensure as physician associates/assistants (PAs). Proponents of IMGs asserted that their ethnic backgrounds and identification with their respective communities could increase access to care for some segments of the population and therefore should be permitted pathways to qualify as PAs. A variety of legal measures were introduced into state legislatures in at least five states and were firmly opposed and defeated by the PA profession.

The Silent Band: Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band Erosion as an Incidental Finding During Endoscopy.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a bariatric procedure that was introduced in the early 1990s and offers a minimally invasive and reversible option for weight loss. Initially popular due to its simplicity and effectiveness, LAGB's long-term success has been limited by complications such as port-site infection, pouch dilatation, and gastric band erosion. Herein, we describe a rare case of gastric band erosion found incidentally during endoscopy a decade after placement.

"Unveiling the genetic symphony: Diversity and expression of chicken genes in Aseel and Kadaknath breeds".

In this investigation, single nucleotide variants (SNVs) within the chicken interferon-inducible transmembrane protein () genes were explored in Aseel and Kadaknath breeds. Comparative analysis with the GRCg6a reference genome revealed 9 and 16 SNVs in the locus for Aseel and Kadaknath breeds, respectively. When referencing the Genome Reference Consortium GRCg7b, Kadaknath exhibited 10 variants, contrasting with none in Aseel.

The rising concern of Oropouche fever: a call for enhanced surveillance and research in emerging arboviral threats.

Aim Of Study: The study aims to assess the growing public health threat posed by Oropouche virus (OROV), focusing on its epidemiology, transmission patterns, and the challenges in diagnosis and control. By analyzing the recent spread of OROV to new regions, including Cuba and Colombia, the study seeks to highlight the need for improved surveillance, enhanced diagnostic capabilities, and research into potential treatments and vaccines. Additionally, the study investigates the clinical similarities between Oropouche fever and other arboviruses, which often lead to diagnostic difficulties and mismanagement in affected regions.

A rare case of replaced right hepatic artery with direct aortic origin described angiographically during trans-arterial radioembolization.

Normal hepatic arterial anatomy consists of the right hepatic artery and left hepatic artery branching from the common hepatic artery. Despite this being the most common configuration, many variations have been described. Here, we present a rare variant of hepatic arterial anatomy- a replaced right hepatic artery with direct aortic origin.

Genetic ancestry in Puerto Rican afro-descendants illustrates diverse histories of African diasporic populations.

Objectives: Genetic studies of contemporary Puerto Ricans reflect a demographic history characterized by admixture between Indigenous American, African, and European peoples. While previous studies provide genetic perspectives on the general Puerto Rican population, less is known about the island's sub-populations, specifically Afro-Puerto Ricans.

Materials And Methods: In this study, the genetic ancestry of Afro-Puerto Ricans is characterized and compared to other Caribbean populations.

Examining concordance with the guidelines of the national comprehensive cancer network for the treatment of endometrial cancer in Puerto Rico.

Background: Endometrial cancer poses a significant health concern in Puerto Rico, where it ranks as the primary gynecological malignancy among women. This study evaluates concordance with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for endometrial cancer first treatment in Puerto Rican women and its association with 5-year overall survival.

Methods: Data on patients with endometrial cancer diagnosed between 2009 and 2015 was obtained from the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry, which is linked to the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Linkage database (n = 2114).

The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on crime and its implications for public health: a case study from a small developing country.

Background: Crime has been described as a public health issue in Trinidad and Tobago, a small developing nation. COVID-19 restrictions, aimed at maintaining public health safety by limiting disease spread, may have negatively impacted crime rates due to an alteration of social and economic conditions. This study evaluates the implications of these restrictions on crime dynamics and hence their impacts on overall public health.

A Systematic Review of Follicular Psoriasis: A Unique but Under-Recognized Entity.

Background: Follicular psoriasis (FP) is a rare and under-recognized subtype of psoriasis that affects hair follicles and can be frequently misdiagnosed due to its unique presentation.

Objective: We aimed to analyze the frequently reported clinical, histological, and dermatoscopic features of FP, as well as their treatment options.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the PubMed/MEDLINE database using the search terms "follicular" and "psoriasis.

The influence of recipe disaggregation in dietary assessment: results from the national food consumption survey in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

It is not always the case that recipe disaggregation is performed in dietary surveys. This investigation aimed to assess the influence of recipe disaggregation in the 2020-2021 national dietary survey in Saint Kitts and Nevis, and provide recommendations for future assessments. A total of 1,004 individuals provided information on their food consumption obtained using 24-h dietary recalls, and 442 recipes were reported.

Subacute combined degeneration from nitrous oxide abuse.

Nitrous oxide is an anesthetic medication which can also be recreationally abused in the form of whippet canisters. Its prolonged abuse can interfere with Vitamin B12 metabolism and lead to its functional deficiency. We report a case of a 30-year-old male who presented with generalized weakness and was found to have subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of the spinal cord.

Normative Hand Strength Values for the Healthy Adult Trinbagonian Population and Comparison to International Data.

Introduction: It has been well established that grip strength measurements can be useful as a benchmark for comparing the efficacy of different treatment modalities as well as an aid in the assessment of the progress of disease and rehabilitation. Grip strength has also been shown to be a representative marker for sociodemographic factors.

Methods: Participants were selected from five different regions in a cross-sectional manner from the streets of Trinidad and Tobago, and a Jamar hand dynamometer was used to assess the metrics of hand grip, palmar grip, tip pinch, and key pinch across both hands.

Infectious meningitis. Why are the leptomeninges preferentially involved? Electron microscopic insights.

In infectious meningitis, pathogens preferentially attack the leptomeninges (pia mater and arachnoid) rather than the pachymeninges (dura mater). This study aims to provide ultra-anatomical insights from our extensive collection of electron microscopy images and propose mechanisms, highlighting structures that favor the introduction, adherence, colonization, and proliferation of microorganisms leading to spinal meningitis. Over several years, we analyzed an extensive collection of transmission and scanning electron microscopy images of human spinal meninges captured in our laboratories.

Unraveling the mystery of Tacaribe virus.

Tacaribe virus (TCRV) was first isolated in the mid-1950s from several species bats in and around Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Since that time, debate has persisted whether artibeus bats serve as reservoir hosts of the virus or whether infection of the bats was an incidental spillover event from another, unidentified reservoir host. Complicating the issue is that the only TCRV isolate routinely used, TRVL-11573, had been passaged in suckling mice and likely accumulated mutations that altered its biology.

Understanding Barriers and Facilitators to Disaster Preparedness in Federally Qualified Health Centers in the United States: A Mixed Methods Study.

Objective: Severe weather events exacerbate existing health disparities due to poorly managed non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Our objective is to understand the experiences of staff, providers, and administrators (employees) of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) in providing care to patients living with NCDs in the setting of recent climate-related extreme events.

Methods: We used a convergent mixed-methods study design.

Treatment-related Problems and Countermeasures for Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis Following Tropical Cyclones: A Scoping Review.

Background: Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis face heightened vulnerability during disasters like tropical cyclones, yet there is sparse research on their treatment-related challenges and countermeasures. This scoping review aims to highlight the issues maintenance hemodialysis patients encounter following tropical cyclones.

Methods: A systematic scoping review of 19 articles from 2000 to 2023 was conducted, evaluating eligibility against predefined criteria.