Influenza and Tdap Vaccines: Practices and Perception among Hispanic Women attending Tertiary Center in Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVE: Explore influenza and Tdap immunization knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Hispanics patients attending prenatal care in a tertiary hospital in Puerto Rico as well as barriers encountered by patients regarding vaccination practices during pregnancy. METHODS: Descriptive study conducted at the University District Hospital prenatal care clinics in the Medical Sciences Campus of Puerto Rico from September 2016 to June 2017. RESULTS: A total of 189 pregnant women were recruited. Regarding Influenza vaccine: 75.6% were offered or oriented about Influenza vaccination, 51.8% had received the vaccine at least once (only 12.2% during current pregnancy) and, 57.1% reported receiving information about influenza infection risks in pregnancy, mainly from health care professionals and media. For Tdap only 20.6% of women were offered or oriented about the vaccine and 7.4% received the vaccine during pregnancy. 55.6% of patients had not been oriented about potential dangers of the pertussis infection; for the few oriented, health professionals were their predominant source. In terms of barriers, lack of information about vaccination and its benefits during pregnancy were the most frequent. CONCLUSION: Our study identifies the existing gap of information regarding Influenza and Tdap vaccine. Physicians play a pivotal role in preventive care and new strategies are needed to optimize education to our patients.

Determinación de actividad antioxidante de polifenoles en la trilla de coffea arábica (café) del beneficiado Honey / Determination of antioxidant activity of polyphenols in the threshing of coffea arabica (coffee) from the beneficiary Honey

El objetivo de la presente investigación se determinó de la Actividad Antioxidante de polifenoles presentes en la trilla de Coffea arábica (café) del beneficiado Honey, procedente de la finca industrial Ibiza ubicada en el cantón El Zarzal, municipio de la Palma, departamento de Chalatenango, en el que se obtuvo información del proceso Honey donde se resaltan las abundantes ventajas en el sector cafetalero, además se estudió el trillado, medio que permite obtener la trilla de café que es un subproducto descartable; la que fue adquirida por medio de un muestreo dirigido por el propietario de la planta industrial, realizado en marzo de 2019. Se extrajeron los metabolitos polifenolicos presentes en el analito, utilizando tres tipos de solventes: mezcla hidroalcohólica 70:30, 50:50 y solvente acuoso, empleando el método ultrasónico para obtener el extracto en estado líquido, posteriormente se concentraron las muestras en el equipo Genevac EZ-Plus para obtener extracto en estado sólido. Para cuantificar la actividad antioxidante se utilizó el reactivo 2,2-difenil-picril hidrazilo (DPPH), que en su forma de radical libre, sufre una reducción en presencia de un antioxidante, por medio de espectrofotometría UV-Visible, tomando en cuenta el reactivo Trolox como estándar comparativo en el análisis obteniendo resultados positivos. Estadísticamente los resultados se evaluaron utilizando la herramienta de varianza ANOVA, indicando que existe una diferencia significativa de actividad antioxidante en cada una de las mezclas de analito, además el método estadístico Tukey indica que la extracción con mezcla hidroalcohólica 50:50 posee mayor actividad antioxidante con una media de 29.29 µM. Esta investigación sirve como fuente de información para generar un valor agregado a la trilla del café y que de esta manera se pueda estandarizar la metodología para obtener antioxidantes con fines destacados en la industria

The objective of this research was determined from the Antioxidant Activity of polyphenols present in the threshing of Coffea arabica (coffee) from the beneficiary Honey, from the Ibiza industrial estate located in the El Zarzal canton, municipality of La Palma, department of Chalatenango, In which information was obtained on the Honey process, where the abundant advantages in the coffee sector are highlighted, in addition, threshing was studied, a means that allows obtaining the threshing of coffee, which is a disposable by-product; which was acquired through a sampling directed by the owner of the industrial plant, carried out in March 2019. The polyphenolic metabolites present in the analyte were extracted, using three types of solvents: hydroalcoholic mixture 70:30, 50:50 and aqueous solvent, using the ultrasonic method to obtain the extract in liquid state, later the samples were concentrated in the Genevac EZ-Plus equipment to obtain extract in solid state. To quantify the antioxidant activity, the 2,2-diphenyl-picryl hydrazyl reagent (DPPH) was used, which in its free radical form, undergoes a reduction in the presence of an antioxidant, by means of UV-Visible spectrophotometry, taking into account the Trolox reagent as a comparative standard in the analysis obtaining positive results. Statistically the results were evaluated using the ANOVA variance tool, indicating that there is a significant difference in antioxidant activity in each of the analyte mixtures, in addition the Tukey statistical method indicates that the extraction with a 50:50 hydroalcoholic mixture has greater antioxidant activity with a mean of 29.29 µM. This research serves as a source of information to generate added value to the threshing of coffee and that in this way the methodology to obtain antioxidants can be standardized for outstanding purposes in the industry

Congenital dacryocystocele: sonographic evaluation of 11 cases.

PURPOSE: To report prenatal sonographic findings of congenital dacryocystocele. METHODS: The medical records of all cases diagnosed with congenital dacryocystocele at a tertiary care center from 2003 to 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Eleven cases of congenital dacryocystocele were analyzed. No accompanying fetal anatomic anomalies where detected. Mean maternal age at evaluation was 22 years of age (range, 17-32 years). Four of 10 cases were primigravidas. The mean gestational age at evaluation was 32.6 weeks' gestational age. Ten out of 11 cases occurred in female fetuses (91%). Of the 11, 10 cases were unilateral and 1 was bilateral. The mean diameter at evaluation was 5.1 mm. Spontaneous resolution occurred in 2 cases (18%). In the remaining 9 fetuses, postnatal diagnosis of dacryocystocele were confirmed by an ophthalmologist evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatally diagnosed congenital dacryocystocele may undergo spontaneous resolution before birth. However, a better understanding of the prenatal sonographic findings can help to appropriately orient parents of potentially affected fetuses. Referral to a pediatrician and pediatric ophthalmologist may be considered for complete evaluation and postnatal management.

Effect of gender and CYP2C9 and CYP2C8 polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen enantiomers.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of polymorphisms in CYP2C9 and CYP2C8 and gender on the pharmacokinetics of the enantiomeric forms of ibuprofen. MATERIALS & METHODS: 122 healthy volunteers were genotyped for polymorphisms in CY2C8 and CYP2C9 using real-time PCR. RESULTS: CYP2C8 polymorphisms affected neither R- nor S-ibuprofen. CYP2C9*3 and CYP2C9*2 carriers had a lower S-ibuprofen clearance and a higher S-ibuprofen AUC and half-life. R-ibuprofen clearance was decreased in CYP2C9*3 carriers. Gender affected R-ibuprofen and S-ibuprofen pharmacokinetics. Multiple regression analysis showed that CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3 and gender were associated with S-ibuprofen clearance, but only CYP2C9*3 was associated with R-ibuprofen clearance. CONCLUSION: The pharmacokinetics of S-ibuprofen and R-ibuprofen is affected by CYP2C9 polymorphisms and gender. CYP2C8 polymorphisms do not have a significant role. Original submitted 6 February 2015; Revision submitted 1 April 2015.

Evaluation of the relationship between polymorphisms in CYP2C19 and the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole, pantoprazole and rabeprazole.

AIM: To evaluate the possible association between polymorphisms in CYP2C19 and the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole, rabeprazole and pantoprazole. MATERIALS & METHODS: 151 healthy volunteers were evaluated for polymorphisms in the CYP2C19 gene using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Plasma concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Carriers of the *2 allele displayed poor metabolism for all the PPIs studied (around 50% decrease in clearance). Subjects with the *17 allele showed a light increase in clearance compared with *1/*1 (not significant). CONCLUSION: CYP2C19*2 is associated with decreased clearance of all the PPIs, that could be associated with higher drug efficacy. CYP2C19*17 could increase clearance of these drugs, although the effect seems small.