Social connectedness and surviving at the margins: Findings from interviews with low-income Latino men in the U.S. Northeast.

OBJECTIVES: Structural and interpersonal discrimination can lead to social exclusion and limited social integration, inhibiting the use of support networks to gain access to health-protective material and social resources. Social support theories suggest that connectedness may moderate the link between discrimination and health risk. This study examined how risk factors (i.e., structural and interpersonal discrimination) further marginalize Puerto Rican men by limiting access to social support. We also aimed to identify resiliency factors, such as cultural values related to social interactions and community support, which may be protective for these men's well-being. METHOD: We conducted 40 semistructured interviews with a stratified purposeful sample of Puerto Rican (92.5%) men aged 25-70 (Mage = 50.7) in the U.S. Northeast. A hybrid deductive and inductive thematic qualitative analysis was used to analyze data. RESULTS: Participants discussed how structural and interpersonal discrimination result in inequities and barriers to resources and services (e.g., lack of adequate shelter, insecurity, employment) which impacted their well-being through the inability to access fundamental support for survival. The men identified cultural values (e.g., familismo, simpatía) and emphasized the importance of community support as protective factors that may provide a respite from the difficulties of navigating discrimination experiences. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest discrimination limits Puerto Rican men's ability to access resources, which has a detrimental impact on their well-being. Identifying social support beyond the family, and considering cultural values related to support, can enhance community interventions by focusing on incorporating multiple forms of support that may improve Puerto Rican men's health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Hispanic Male Recruitment into Obesity-Related Research: Evaluating Content Messaging Strategies, Experimental Findings, and Practical Implications.

Hispanic men have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity among men in the U.S. Current research is lacking to inform best practices to engage Hispanic men in obesity-related research. The purpose of this work was to evaluate messaging strategies to engage Hispanic men in obesity-related research. Outreach took place in an outdoor marketplace in Southern Arizona, US. Messaging strategies (fear appeal/arousal, positive masculinity, and spousal convergence) identified in formative research were utilized. Two six-foot standing banners displayed content messages and infographics in both English and Spanish. Trained bilingual and bicultural staff collected health information survey cards that elicited self-reported demographic information and health concerns. Four aspects of recruitment were evaluated: volume, efficiency, community representation, and primary health concerns. A comparative analysis was conducted in the fall of 2016 to determine the effectiveness of each messaging strategy. 387 survey cards were collected, 221 were from Hispanic men. Obesity, diabetes, and cancer were identified as the most pertinent health concerns. Fear appeal yielded 209 completed surveys, followed by 110 for positive masculinity, and 68 for spousal convergence. Fear appeal/arousal and positive masculinity content messaging were effective approaches to engage Hispanic males in research, preventive and treatment efforts. Findings warrant replication as there is potential for confounding seasonal effects.

Feasibility and acceptability of a beverage intervention for Hispanic adults: results from a pilot randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a beverage intervention in Hispanic adults. DESIGN: Eligible individuals identified as Hispanic, were 18-64 years old and had BMI 30·0-50·0 kg/m2. Participants were randomized 2:2:1 to one of three beverages: Mediterranean lemonade (ML), green tea (GT) or flavoured water control (FW). After a 2-week washout period, participants were asked to consume 32 oz (946 ml) of study beverage daily for 6 weeks and avoid other sources of tea, citrus, juice and sweetened beverages; water was permissible. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and 8 weeks to assess primary and secondary efficacy outcomes. SETTING: Tucson, AZ, USA.ParticipantsFifty-two participants were recruited over 6 months; fifty were randomized (twenty-one ML, nineteen GT, ten FW). Study population mean (sd) age 44·6 (sd 10·2) years, BMI 35·9 (4·6) kg/m2; 78 % female. RESULTS: Forty-four (88 %) completed the 8-week assessment. Self-reported adherence was high. No significant change (95 % CI) in total cholesterol (mg/dl) from baseline was shown -1·7 (-14·2, 10·9), -3·9 (-17·2, 9·4) and -13·2 (-30·2, 3·8) for ML, GT and FW, respectively. Mean change in HDL-cholesterol (mg/dl) -2·3 (-5·3, 0·7; ML), -1·0 (-4·2, 2·2; GT), -3·9 (-8·0, 0·2; FW) and LDL-cholesterol (mg/dl) 0·2 (-11·3, 11·8; ML), 0·5 (-11·4, 12·4; GT), -9·8 (-25·0, 5·4; FW) were also non-significant. Fasting glucose (mg/dl) increased significantly by 5·2 (2·6, 7·9; ML) and 3·3 (0·58, 6·4; GT). No significant change in HbA1c was demonstrated. Due to the small sample size, potential confounders and effect modifiers were not investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Recruitment and retention figures indicate that a larger-scale trial is feasible; however, favourable changes in cardiometabolic biomarkers were not demonstrated.

Feasibility and acceptability of a beverage intervention for Hispanic adults: a protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In the U.S., Hispanics have among the highest rates of overweight and obesity when compared to other racial/ethnic groups placing them at a greater risk for obesity-related disease. Identifying intervention strategies to reduce caloric intake and/or improve cardiometabolic health in Hispanics is critical to reducing morbidity and mortality among this large and growing population. Evidence exists to support diet-specific behavioral interventions, including beverage modifications, in reducing obesity-related health risks. However, the acceptability and feasibility of a beverage intervention in obese Hispanic adults has not been robustly evaluated. METHODS: The objective of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a randomized, controlled beverage intervention in 50 obese Hispanic adults ages 18-64 over 8-weeks. Eligible participants were obese (30-50.0 kg/m2), between the ages 18-64, self-identified as Hispanic, and were able to speak, read, and write in either English and/or Spanish. Study recruitment was completed August 2017. Upon the completion of baseline assessments, participants will be randomized to either Mediterranean lemonade, Green Tea, or flavored water control. After completing a 2-week washout period, participants will be asked to consume 32 oz. per day of study beverage for 6-weeks while avoiding all other sources of tea, lemonade, citrus, juice, and other sweetened beverages; water is permissible. Primary outcomes will be recruitment, retention, and acceptability of the intervention strategies. Our study will also evaluate participant-reported tolerance and as an exploratory aim, assess safety/toxicity-related to renal and/or liver function. Fasting blood samples will be collected at baseline and 8-weeks to assess the primary efficacy outcomes: total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Secondary outcomes include fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). DISCUSSION: This pilot study will provide important feasibility, safety, and early efficacy data necessary to design a larger, adequately-powered randomized controlled trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02911753 ( ClinicalTrials.gov ). Registered September 19, 2016. Last updated November 1, 2017.

Gender and Cultural Adaptations for Diversity: A Systematic Review of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Interventions for Latino Males.

BACKGROUND: Latino men are disproportionately affected by the consequences of alcohol and substance abuse when compared to non-Latino white men. Latino men also face greater barriers to accessing, engaging, and completing alcohol and substance abuse treatment services. Culturally adapted interventions are promoted to overcome these barriers. However, the effectiveness of these efforts is unclear. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this review was to summarize the published evidence regarding gender-adapted and culturally adapted alcohol and substance abuse treatment that aims to improve physical, behavioral, and social outcomes in Latino men. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted for articles reporting on culturally and/or gender-adapted alcohol and/or substance abuse interventions designed exclusively for Latino adults, including a Latino population sample of at least 10% and any proportion of Latino male participants. A thematic analysis based on predetermined themes was used to evaluate the nature of adaptations. RESULTS: Searches yielded 2685 titles, resulting in 12 articles that fit review parameters. The most scientifically rigorous findings suggest culturally adapted interventions may outperform standard treatment. Nevertheless, a fraction of the interventions did not improve outcomes compared to standard treatment. Considering the scarce number of publications, it is difficult to discern if null findings reflect ineffective interventions or methodological limitations. CONCLUSIONS: While studies are limited and findings are mixed, culturally tailored work shows promise. The growth rate of the Latino population and the current epidemic nature of substance abuse in the United States generate urgency to identify methods to diminish the disparate burden of alcohol and substance abuse in Latinos.

Breaking Down Machismo: Shifting Definitions and Embodiments of Latino Manhood in Middle-Aged Latino Men.

There is a notable gap in empirical research regarding how Latino men define and demonstrate machismo, masculinity, and manhood as well as the behavioral consequences associated with these concepts. In our study, we employed a phenomenological thematic approach to analyze 20 semi-structured individual interviews conducted with Latino men residing in South Florida. Our primary objectives were twofold: to examine (1) how do Latino men ages 35 to 60 years describe what it means to be a man and (2) what are the attributes that these men seek to show others that demonstrate their character, cultural values, and gender identity. Findings suggest that Latino men understood expectations associated with machismo and explained that fulfillment of their role as provider, protector, and head of the family was important to their perception of self. While some participants reported a desire to embody characteristics associated with traditional machismo, others strived to demonstrate character, familism, and respect and to provide financial and other instrumental support to their families. Participants reported that their transition into middle age was accompanied by a shift in their perspectives on gender roles, moving away from rigid patriarchal views. Exposure to a more fluid and flexible approach to manhood offered relief from the pressures associated with inflexible manifestations of machismo, which can have negative social, behavioral, and physical health implications. The implications of our research extend to the conceptualization of gender ideals, highlighting the need to incorporate intersectionality, role strain, precarious manhood, and culturally specific notions of manhood as foundational elements in this discourse.

Uncovering Historical Legacies to Contextualize Health Inequities in Puerto Rican Men: An Expansion of the Minority Stress Model.

Background: Low/no-income Latino men are disproportionately burdened by chronic disease morbidity and mortality, which is often compounded by persistent exposure to stress. Chronic stress is a key mediating factor in pathways linking macro-level socio-structural forces to micro-level behavioral factors with negative health outcomes. Being that Latinxs continue to be one of the fastest growing populations in the U.S., it is imperative to better understand the roots of stress pathways and explore multi-level interventions. Methods: This study presents qualitative findings from in-depth interviews with Puerto Rican men (95%) living in Springfield, Massachusetts. We utilized the Minority Stress Model (MSM) first posited by Ilan Meyers, as a framework to understand stress and stress processes amongst Puerto Rican men. We mapped our data onto Meyers' MSM, which allowed us to find diverging themes and identify areas for expansion. Results: As expected, participants reported stress rooted in experiences of racism and prejudice, expectations of rejection, English-language acquisition, family relationships, insecure housing, precarious employment, and lack of resources. Nevertheless, the MSM did not account for the historical contexts that, as our findings indicate, are used to filter and understand their experiences with everyday stressors. Participants described and linked histories of colonial violence and movement and migration to their stress and community wellbeing. Discussion: Findings suggest the need to expand the current MSM and our conceptualization of the stress process to include historical understandings when contextualizing present-day stress and future interventions. We propose an expanded heuristic model that delineates the impact of distinctive historical trajectories that aid in interpreting racial health disparities amongst minoritized populations. Future multi-level interventions should give weight to highlighting history and how this impacts the present, in this case including the culpability of U.S. policy regarding Puerto Rico and the adverse health effects for Puerto Rican men on the mainland.

"Who is our real enemy?" internalized racism in the Puerto Rican diaspora and the role of political education within community health intervention.

RATIONALE: Puerto Ricans experience disproportionately high levels of emotional distress and co-occurring adverse health outcomes. Our study sought to elicit Puerto Rican men's perceptions of health disparities while centering dialogue on stressors, coping mechanisms, and general well-being. This paper focuses on one pronounced finding in our study, that of internalized racism and the effect it has on both individual well-being and intra-group cohesion. A significant gap within racial health disparity work is the role of internalized racism and its connection to psychological distress, ruptures in social unity, and resulting ill-health of racial and ethnic populations. Based on this, we probed this particular finding to further understand internalized racism within this Puerto Rican population. METHODS: Using a hybrid thematic analysis approach, this study presents qualitative findings from in-depth interviews with Latino (92.5% Puerto Rican) men living in Springfield, Massachusetts and conducted between October 2019 and January 2020. RESULTS: Our findings reveal a duality throughout: The acceptance and propagation of negative Latinx stereotypes and consequent intragroup division exists alongside expressions of community pride and desire for Latinx unity. This duality is analyzed by using W.E.B. Du Bois's theory of double consciousness. Double consciousness not only explains the self-disparagement toward oneself and one's own racial and ethnic group, but also elucidates a liberatory pathway toward political consciousness and well-being. The concept of "second sight" within double consciousness is particularly germane, speaking to one's awakening to the learned self-subjugation imposed by White supremacy. CONCLUSIONS: Internalized racism contributes to the persistent propagation of disparate health burdens in minoritized communities. Remediation can and should include community-led frameworks for the development of efficacious multilevel health interventions. The Young Lords community health activism provides such a model. These findings provide viable evidence-based examples of how the academy can synergize with community-led efforts to achieve collective agency.

mHealth-Supported Gender- and Culturally Sensitive Weight Loss Intervention for Hispanic Men With Overweight and Obesity: Single-Arm Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Hispanic men have disproportionate rates of overweight and obesity compared with other racial and ethnic subpopulations. However, few weight loss interventions have been developed specifically for this high-risk group. Furthermore, the use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies to support lifestyle behavior changes in weight loss interventions for Hispanic men is largely untested. OBJECTIVE: This single-arm pilot study examined the feasibility and acceptability of integrating mHealth technology into a 12-week gender- and culturally sensitive weight loss intervention (GCSWLI) for Hispanic men with overweight and obesity. METHODS: A total of 18 Hispanic men (mean age 38, SD 10.9 years; mean BMI 34.3, SD 5.5 kg/m²; 10/18, 56% Spanish monolingual) received a GCSWLI, including weekly in-person individual sessions, a daily calorie goal, and prescription of ≥225 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. mHealth technology support included tailored SMS text messaging, behavior self-monitoring support using Fitbit Charge 2, and weight tracking using a Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale. Changes in weight from baseline to 12 weeks were estimated using a paired 2-tailed t test. Descriptive analyses characterized the use of Fitbit and smart scales. Semistructured interviews were conducted immediately after intervention to assess the participants' weight loss experiences and perspectives on mHealth technologies. RESULTS: Of 18 participants, 16 (89%) completed the 12-week assessments; the overall attrition rate was 11.1%. The mean weight loss at week 12 was -4.7 kg (95% CI 7.1 to -2.4 kg; P<.001). Participants wore the Fitbit 71.58% (962/1344) of the intervention days and logged their body weight using the smart scale (410/1344, 30.51% of the intervention days). Participants identified barriers to the use of the technology, such as lack of technological literacy and unreliable internet access for the smart scale. CONCLUSIONS: Although clinically significant weight loss was achieved by integrating mHealth technology into the GCSWLI, adherence to the prescribed use of technology was modest. Addressing barriers to the use of such technologies identified in our work may help to refine an mHealth intervention approach for Hispanic men. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02783521; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02783521.

A culturally and gender responsive stress and chronic disease prevention intervention for low/no-income African American men: The MOCHA moving forward randomized control trial protocol.

Low/no-income, African American men are disproportionally burdened by chronic disease resulting from a complex interplay of systemic, sociocultural, and individual factors. These disparities are related to poverty, racism, gender role strain, high levels of stress, low levels of physical activity, and malnutritious diet. Men of Color Health Awareness (MOCHA) is a community-driven movement to address the physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs of men of color. As part of ongoing programming, the MOCHA Standard intervention consists of a 10-week program including: (1) small group discussions of issues particularly relevant to men of color, (2) classes on health topics focusing on chronic disease control, such as nutrition, obesity, high blood pressure, fitness, and the social determinants of health; and (3) 60-min of moderately intensive aerobic exercise twice a week. While the MOCHA Standard intervention has yielded positive results, feedback from previous participants warranted an in-depth sociocultural tailoring of the curriculum to improve community receptiveness, in particular, revising the sessions to "narrativize" the materials to strengthen their potential effectiveness. This manuscript describes the novel recruitment strategies; the development of an enhanced MOCHA+ Stories Matter program that uses narrative communication strategies; and the methodology used to assess the comparative effectiveness of the MOCHA Standard relative to MOCHA+ Stories Matter program in lowering stress and risk of chronic diseases in a randomized controlled trial. The results of this research will contribute to the identification of effective interventions to address health disparities in low-income African-American men and the dissemination of effective chronic disease prevention programming.

Developing a "Tailor-Made" Precision Lifestyle Medicine Intervention for Weight Control among Middle-aged Latino Men.

Objective: To identify what is important to middle-aged Latino men and their personal goals and values as foundations for a future precision lifestyle medicine intervention that is rooted in Self-Determination Theory. Design: We used a phenomenological, thematic approach to analyze data from 20 semi-structured, individual interviews with Latino men aged 35-60 years. Setting: Community-based settings between November 2017 and May 2018 in South Florida. Participants: Latino or Hispanic men who were aged 35-60 years. The mean age of the men was 49.8 years. Results: Two key themes emerged: a) the characteristics that these men say define what it means to be a man; and b) the characteristics that these men say define what is important to them. "What defines a man" includes three primary subthemes: a) the attributes, characteristics and behaviors that participants understood to be ideals that a man should embody and the roles he should fulfill; b) lessons learned growing up about what it means to be a man; and c) how Latino men relate to the ideal of machismo. "What defines me" includes the subthemes: a) comparing themselves with the ideal of machismo; b) caring for family and others; and c) supporting and modeling positive behavior for their children. Conclusions: We found key candidate mechanisms that may be novel yet critical foundations on which to build a precision lifestyle medicine intervention for Latino men. We identified actionable psychosocial factors that map onto motivational constructs that can shape behaviors that are essential for weight control and be a useful foundation for improving the health of middle-aged Latino men.

Understanding Social and Cultural Contexts of Alcohol Misuse in Mexican-Origin Hispanic Men.

Evidence suggests that Hispanic and non-Hispanic White men (NHW) have comparable prevalence rates of alcohol use. However, Hispanic men consistently have higher prevalence rates of alcohol misuse compared with NHW men. Consequently, Hispanic men experience disproportionate levels of adverse health consequences of alcohol misuse when compared with NHW men. The aim of this study was to explore Hispanic male perspectives and opinions regarding alcohol use patterns that may lead to disparate rates of alcohol misuse in Hispanic males. Demographic data were collected with questionnaires. Twenty semistructured one-on-one interviews were completed in English and Spanish with Mexican-origin Hispanic men (age: 44.6 ± 11.3 years). A thematic analysis was conducted using a hybrid deductive-inductive strategy with an a priori codebook supplemented with iterative analysis of transcripts. Results suggest that alcohol misuse patterns in Hispanic males are influenced by an interaction between alcohol-related social norms and learned expressions of masculinity; a lack of knowledge of the alcohol-related health risks that further perpetuate the normalization of alcohol misuse; and expressions of masculinity and adaptive coping that lead to alcohol misuse as an escape from life stressors. Given the rapid expansion of the Hispanic population in the United States, and the disparate consequences of alcohol misuse in this population, it is imperative to consider the complex and often compounded impact of sociocultural norms and the social context on misuse-related behaviors. Viable prevention and treatment strategies should be addressed thought multicomponent, community-level strategies that more comprehensively address the complexities of alcohol misuse in this population.

A Gender- and Culturally Sensitive Weight Loss Intervention for Hispanic Men: Results From the Animo Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background. Hispanic males have the highest rates of overweight and obesity compared with men of all other racial/ethnic groups. While weight loss can significantly reduce obesity-related health risks, there is limited research examining effective gender- and culturally tailored behavioral weight loss programs for Hispanic men. Objective. To assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week gender- and culturally sensitive weight loss intervention (GCSWLI) as compared with a waist-list control (WLC) in sedentary, Hispanic males with overweight/obesity. Method. Fifty Hispanic males (age: 43 years [SD = 11]; BMI: 34 ± 5 kg/m2; 58% Spanish monolingual) were randomized to one of two groups: GCSWLI (n = 25) or WLC (n = 25). GCSWLI participants attended weekly in-person individual sessions with a bilingual, bicultural Hispanic male lifestyle coach, and were prescribed a daily reduced calorie goal and 225 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. The WLC were asked to maintain their usual diet and physical activity habits for 12 weeks. GCSWLI participants continued with 12 additional weeks of follow-up including biweekly phone calls with lifestyle coaches. Results. At Week 12, the mean weight loss in the GCSWLI was -6.3 kg (95% confidence interval [CI; -8.1, -4.4]) compared with -0.8 kg (95% CI [-2.5, 0.9]) for the WLC (difference = -5.5 kg, 95% CI [-8.0, -2.9], p < .01). At Week 24, weight loss in the GCSWLI was maintained. Conclusions. The GCSWLI appears to be a feasible strategy to engage Hispanic males in short-term weight loss. Our pilot study indicates preliminary evidence of efficacy, though confirmation of these findings is needed in a larger study.

Mexican Origin Hispanic Men's Perspectives of Physical Activity-Related Health Behaviors.

Approximately 83% of Hispanic men of Mexican origin are overweight or obese, which are both associated with increased risk of chronic disease and all-cause mortality. Consequently, men of Mexican origin have some of the highest prevalence rates of obesity-related comorbidities. Physical activity (PA) may be an important strategy for Hispanic men of Mexican origin in reducing incidence and risk factors of lifestyle diseases. The current study engaged Spanish-speaking, Hispanic men of Mexican origin aged 24-64 years with overweight/obesity to examine perspectives of health behaviors related to PA. A total of 14 in-depth semistructured individual interviews were completed between September and November of 2015 and data analyzed using an iterative deductive-inductive thematic assessment strategy. The men suggested that their PA was hindered by (a) work-related energy and time constraints, (b) socioeconomic status (SES) and the need to prioritize work, (c) adaptations to majority population lifestyle norms, and (d) perceived lack of suitable access to PA-promoting spaces. The men provided valuable insight for strategies to improve PA interventions such as (a) accurately accounting for current PA levels of participants, including occupational and transportation PA, (b) considerations of family dynamics that influence PA-based behavior change, and (c) considerations of economic and geographical constraints that can be remediated. To improve effectiveness, future PA-related intervention research with Hispanic men of Mexican origin should consider methods that (a) account for transportation and occupational PA to better tailor PA to individual needs, (b) consider sociocultural and socioeconomic influences, (c) account for social support and accountability, and (d) consider economic and geographical constraints.

Exploring Structural, Sociocultural, and Individual Barriers to Alcohol Abuse Treatment Among Hispanic Men.

Hispanic men have poor access to alcohol abuse treatment, low treatment engagement, and low treatment completion rates despite the contrasting burden of alcohol-related consequences they face. The purpose of this study was to examine Hispanic male perspectives regarding alcohol abuse treatment-seeking behaviors and the structural, sociocultural, and individual factors that may influence initiation and continued engagement in treatment in this population. Individual interviews were conducted with a sample of 20 Hispanic men (age: 44.6 ± 11.3 years). Thematic analysis was completed using a hybrid deductive-inductive approach centered in an a priori codebook that was further supplemented with iterative exploration of transcripts. Results suggested treatment-seeking behaviors were highly influenced by (a) structural factors related to poor treatment access, as well as lack of linguistic- and cultural-responsiveness of available treatment; (b) sociocultural factors related to difficulties problematizing alcohol abuse due to lack of community awareness, societal normalization of consumption, and stigmatization of alcohol abuse treatment; and (c) individual factors related to lack of individual knowledge. This work highlights the perceived lack of congruency between available treatment and the linguistic, cultural, and gender norms of Hispanic men. There is need for responsive treatment strategies that comprehensively consider the gendered- and sociocultural-factors that govern treatment seeking and engagement behaviors. Findings also suggest a need for targeted alcohol abuse awareness building efforts in the Hispanic community. Specifically, the detrimental effects of alcohol-related problems and potential benefits of treatment should be addressed in order to diminish social stigma of abuse and of treatment.

A gender- and culturally-sensitive weight loss intervention for Hispanic males: The ANIMO randomized controlled trial pilot study protocol and recruitment methods.

Hispanic men have the highest rates of overweight and obesity when compared to men of other racial/ethnic groups, placing them at increased risk for obesity-related disease. Yet, Hispanic men are grossly underrepresented in weight loss research. Tailored intervention strategies to improve obesity treatment programs for this vulnerable racial/ethnic subgroup are needed. This manuscript describes recruitment strategies, methodology, and participant characteristics of the ANIMO study, a 24-week randomized controlled pilot trial testing the effects of a gender- and culturally-sensitive weight loss intervention (GCSWLI) on body weight in Hispanic men compared to a wait-list control condition. The ANIMO study included two phases. The first phase was a 12-week GCSWLI. Participants attended weekly in-person individual sessions guided by a trained bilingual Hispanic male lifestyle coach, were prescribed a daily reduced calorie goal, and 225 min of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. In the second phase, GCSWLI participants received bi-weekly phone calls across a 12-week follow-up. Wait-list control (WLC) participants from phase 1 received the GCSWLI plus mobile health technology support. Recruitment strategies included face-to-face efforts at a swap meet (outdoor marketplace), family/friend referrals, printed advertisements and social media. Recruitment, screening, and participant enrollment occurred over three months. Overall, 143 men expressed interest in participation. Of these, 115 were screened and 78% (n = 90) were eligible to participate; 45% of enrolled participants (n = 52) completed baseline assessments and 43% (n = 50) were randomized (mean age of 43.3 ±â€¯11.4 years; BMI: 34.1 ±â€¯5.3 kg/m2; 58% Spanish monolingual). Parameter estimates from ANIMO will support future adequately powered trials for this health disparate population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02783521.

Hispanic Male's Perspectives of Health Behaviors Related to Weight Management.

Hispanic males have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity among men in the United States; yet are significantly underrepresented in weight loss research. The purpose of the current study was to examine Hispanic male's perspectives of health behaviors related to weight management to refine the methodologies to deliver a gender-sensitive and culturally sensitive weight loss intervention. From October 2014 to April 2015, semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 overweight Hispanic men of ages 18 to 64 years. The interviews lasted approximately 60 minutes. Participants also completed a brief questionnaire and body weight/height were measured. Grounded in a deductive process, a preliminary codebook was developed based on the topics included in the interview guides. A thematic analysis facilitated the identification of inductive themes and the finalization of the codebook used for transcript analysis. Four overarching themes were identified: (a) general health beliefs of how diet and physical activity behaviors affect health outcomes, (b) barriers to healthy eating and physical activity, (c) motivators for change, and (d) viable recruitment and intervention approaches. Future research should examine feasible and appropriate recruitment and intervention strategies identified by Hispanic males to improve weight management in this vulnerable group.

Insights on Structure and Function of a Late Embryogenesis Abundant Protein from Amaranthus cruentus: An Intrinsically Disordered Protein Involved in Protection against Desiccation, Oxidant Conditions, and Osmotic Stress.

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are part of a large protein family that protect other proteins from aggregation due to desiccation or osmotic stresses. Recently, the Amaranthus cruentus seed proteome was characterized by 2D-PAGE and one highly accumulated protein spot was identified as a LEA protein and was named AcLEA. In this work, AcLEA cDNA was cloned into an expression vector and the recombinant protein was purified and characterized. AcLEA encodes a 172 amino acid polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 18.34 kDa and estimated pI of 8.58. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AcLEA is evolutionarily close to the LEA3 group. Structural characteristics were revealed by nuclear magnetic resonance and circular dichroism methods. We have shown that recombinant AcLEA is an intrinsically disordered protein in solution even at high salinity and osmotic pressures, but it has a strong tendency to take a secondary structure, mainly folded as α-helix, when an inductive additive is present. Recombinant AcLEA function was evaluated using Escherichia coli as in vivo model showing the important protection role against desiccation, oxidant conditions, and osmotic stress. AcLEA recombinant protein was localized in cytoplasm of Nicotiana benthamiana protoplasts and orthologs were detected in seeds of wild and domesticated amaranth species. Interestingly AcLEA was detected in leaves, stems, and roots but only in plants subjected to salt stress. This fact could indicate the important role of AcLEA protection during plant stress in all amaranth species studied.

Structural Vulnerability Among Migrating Women and Children Fleeing Central America and Mexico: The Public Health Impact of "Humanitarian Parole".

Since October 2013, US Customs and Border Patrol has apprehended 15,979 families on the Southwest Border of the US. Daily, migrating women and children from Mexico and Central America that qualify for humanitarian parole are released from immigration detention to a humanitarian aid organization in Southern Arizona. After several days in detention facilities, these families arrive tired, hungry, dehydrated, and with minimal direction regarding their final destination, and adherence to the parameters of their parole. Project helping hands (PHHs) utilizes a network of volunteers to provide the women and children with food, water, clothing, hygiene products, hospitality, and legal orientation. The aim of this assessment was to document the experiences of families granted humanitarian parole through the lens of structural vulnerability. Here, we apply qualitative methods to elicit PHH lead volunteer perspectives regarding the migration experience of migrating families. Using inductive analysis, we found six major themes emerged from the qualitative data: reasons for leaving, experience on the journey, dehumanization in detention, family separation, vulnerability, and resiliency. These findings elucidate the different physical and psychological distresses that migrating families from Mexico and Central America experience before, during and after their arrival at the US-Mexico border. We posit that these distresses are a result of, or exacerbated by, structural vulnerability. Structural vulnerability has life-long health implications for a sub-population of young mothers and their children. The number of migrating families who have experienced traumatic events before and during their migration experience continues to expand and thus warrants consideration of mental health surveillance and intervention efforts for these families. More public health research is needed to better understand and combat the health challenges of this growing population.