Changes in Cancer Screening Knowledge Among a Prospective Cohort of Spanish-Speaking Hispanic Community Outreach Event Participants in Florida and Puerto Rico.

The current study examined cancer prevention and early detection awareness (pre-workshop) and changes in knowledge (from pre- to post-workshop) among Hispanic/Latino (H/L) community members who participated in Spanish-language educational outreach events in Puerto Rico (PR) and Florida (FL). Spanish-language educational outreach events were comprised of an educational session lasting approximately 45-60 min and were delivered to groups in rural and urban community settings by a single trained community health educator (CHE). The research team assessed sociodemographic characteristics, personal and familial cancer health history, as well as awareness and knowledge (pre-test) of a range of cancer prevention and screening topics. Following the presentation, participants completed a post-test knowledge survey which also measured likelihood of engaging in cancer screening, cancer preventive behaviors, and cancer research as a result of information presented during the session. Change in the average knowledge score was evaluated using a paired samples t-test. Post-session likelihood of completing cancer screening and preventive behaviors and engaging in cancer research were examined using descriptive statistics and group/site comparisons. The percentage reporting awareness of screening procedures ranged from 33% (PSA test) to 79% (mammogram). H/L in PR reported higher percentage of stool blood test awareness when compared to H/L in FL (χ2(1)= 19.20, p<.001). The average knowledge score increased from 5.97 at pre-test to 7.09 at post-test (Cohen's d=0.69). The increase was significant across all participants (t(315)= 12.4, p<.001), as well as within the FL site (t(124)= 6.66, p<.001, d=0.59) and the PR site (t(190)=10.66, p<.001, d=0.77). Results from this study suggest that educational outreach events delivered to H/L community members by a CHE are valuable strategies to address challenges regarding cancer screening knowledge and engagement in multiple behaviors.

Expression of SmATPDases 1 and 2 in Schistosoma mansoni eggs favours IL-10 production in infected individuals.

A role of IL-10 is down-regulating T-cell responses to schistosome antigens. Since SmATPDases can be correlated to modulation of the immune response, we evaluated the expression of enzymes in S. mansoni eggs. Faecal samples were collected from 40 infected individuals to detect coding regions of the SmATPDases. The cytokines were measured in supernatants of PBMC. The analysis was performed by the global median determination and set up high producers (HP) of cytokines. Six individuals expressed SmATPDase1, six expressed SmATPDase2 and six expressed both enzymes. The group who expressed only SmATPDase1 showed a high frequency of IFN-γ, TNF IL-4 HP; individuals who expressed only SmATPDase2 showed a high frequency of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-4 HP; and individuals who expressed both enzymes showed a high frequency of IL-10 HP. The comparison of the IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio presented higher indices in the group who had SmATPDase 2 expression than those who had the expression of both enzymes. The positive correlation between infection intensity and IL-10 levels remained only in the positive SmATPDase group. The IL-10 is the only cytokine induced by the expression of both enzymes. Our data suggest that the expression of both enzymes seems to be a factor that modulates the host immune response by inducing high IL-10 production.

Behavioral beliefs about genetic counseling among high-risk Latina breast cancer survivors in Florida and Puerto Rico.

Compared with non-Hispanic White women, Latina women are less likely to receive genetic counseling (GC) and testing (GT) following BC diagnosis. This study used secondary data analysis to explore beliefs about GC among Latina BC survivors in and outside the US mainland. GC/GT-naïve, high-risk, Spanish-preferring Latina BC survivors (n = 52) in FL and PR completed the Behavioral Beliefs about GC scale. Participants reported high positive beliefs about GC (M = 4.19, SD = 0.92); the majority agreed that GC was beneficial to understand cancer risk (90%) and promote discussion (87%) in their family. Participants reported low-to-moderate scores for barriers (Ms = 1.53-3.40; SDs = 0.59-0.90). The most frequently endorsed barriers were desire for additional GC information (M = 3.44; SD = 0.90), and GC logistic concerns (M = 2.71; SD = 0.80). No statistically significant differences for barriers and benefits scales were identified by place of residence (all ps ≥ 0.12). These findings highlight the importance of delivering culturally sensitive GC information to high-risk Latina BC survivors.

Genetic variants, gene expression, and soluble CD36 analysis in acute coronary syndrome: Differential protein concentration between ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis plays an important role in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). CD36 is a scavenger receptor involved in lipid metabolism. Some single-nucleotide variants in the non-coding region could indirectly alter the expression and the function of the protein. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the gene and protein expression associated with CD36 variants (rs1194182;C > G; rs1049654;C > A, rs1334512;G > T, and rs3211892;G > A) in ACS patients from the western Mexican population. METHODS: We recruited 310 ACS patients and 308 subjects in the control group (CG). Genotyping was determined by TaqMan SNP genotyping assays. CD36 expression at the mRNA level was quantified by TaqMan gene expression assays. Soluble CD36 (sCD36) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: We show that rs1194182G > C variant provides a protective effect with a 1.7-fold lower susceptibility to develop ACS (p  = 0.03); however, this association was masked by diabetes and dyslipidemia. We observed a higher sCD36 concentration in patient with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared with patients with unstable angina (UA) (p  = 0.038). Likewise, in diabetic patients versus non-diabetic (p < 0.001). We observed in patients an increase in CD36 mRNA expression (1.91 times higher) than in the CG (p  = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The rs1194182 seems to be associated with diabetes in a risky manner, in ACS patients and protective for dyslipidemia in both groups. The concentration of sCD36 seems to be associated with the clinical spectrum of the ACS patients and the presence of diabetes, since patients with STEMI present significantly elevated level compared with UA.

Diversity of the 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' and 'Candidatus Phytoplasma fraxini' isolates that infect urban trees in Bogotá, Colombia.

Phytoplasmas have been associated with a disease that affects trees of at least 11 species from different botanic families in Bogotá, Colombia. 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' and 'Candidatus Phytoplasma fraxini' are the major groups of phytoplasma in the area of Bogotá. In this study, the genetic diversity within 'Ca. P. asteris' and 'Ca. P. fraxini' was studied in five urban tree species: Croton species (Euphorbiaceae), Fraxinus uhdei (Oleaceae), Magnolia grandiflora (Magnoliaceae), Populus nigra (Salicaceae) and Quercus humboldtii (Fagaceae). Analyses of the 16S rRNA gene using nested PCR, RFLP and sequencing showed that phytoplasmas of 'Ca. P. asteris' could be assigned to: subgroup 16SrI-B; a new subgroup named 16SrI-AF, with a restriction pattern similar to that of 16SrI-B; and a new subgroup named 16SrI-AG, with a restriction pattern similar to that of 16SrI-K and 16SrI-AH with a restriction pattern similar to that of 16SrI-AC. 'Ca. P. fraxini' isolates belonged to a new subgroup named 16SrVII-G, with a restriction pattern similar to that of 16SrVII-A. To complement the identification of the phytoplasma strains, we amplified nonribosomal genes such as leuS and secA. Unexpectedly, it was observed that in 16 trees in which 16S rRNA gene analysis showed the presence of 'Ca. P. fraxini' only, the leuS or secA primers amplified sequences exclusively affiliated to 'Ca. P. asteris. In those plants, sequences belonging to 'Ca. P. fraxini' leuS or secA genes were not amplified. The present work contributes to the identification of novel strains of both species in Colombia, and supports previous suggestions that phytoplasmas in South America are highly variable.

Design and Analyses of a Transdermal Drug Delivery Device (TD3) †.

In this paper, we introduce a novel type of transdermal drug delivery device (TD3) with a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) design using computer-aided design (CAD) techniques as well as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations regarding the fluid interaction inside the device during the actuation process. For the actuation principles of the chamber and microvalve, both thermopneumatic and piezoelectric principles are employed respectively, originating that the design perfectly integrates those principles through two different components, such as a micropump with integrated microvalves and a microneedle array. The TD3 has shown to be capable of delivering a volumetric flow of 2.92 × 10-5 cm3/s with a 6.6 Hz membrane stroke frequency. The device only needs 116 Pa to complete the suction process and 2560 Pa to complete the discharge process. A 38-microneedle array with 450 µm in length fulfills the function of permeating skin, allowing that the fluid reaches the desired destination and avoiding any possible pain during the insertion.

Payments for environmental services supported social capital while increasing land management.

Payments for environmental services (PES) programs incentivize landowners to protect or improve natural resources. Many conservationists fear that introducing compensation for actions previously offered voluntarily will reduce social capital (the institutions, relationships, attitudes, and values that govern human interactions), yet little rigorous research has investigated this concern. We examined the land cover management and communal social capital impacts of Mexico's federal conservation payments program, which is a key example for other countries committed to reducing deforestation, protecting watersheds, and conserving biodiversity. We used a regression discontinuity (RD) methodology to identify causal program effects, comparing outcomes for PES participants and similar rejected applicants close to scoring cutoffs. We found that payments increased land cover management activities, such as patrolling for illegal activity, building fire breaks, controlling pests, or promoting soil conservation, by ∼50%. Importantly, increases in paid activities as a result of PES did not crowd out unpaid contributions to land management or other prosocial work. Community social capital increased by ∼8-9%, and household-level measures of trust were not affected by the program. These findings demonstrate that major environmental conditional cash transfer programs can support both land management and the attitudes and institutions underpinning prosocial behavior. Rigorous empirical research on this question can proceed only country by country because of methodological limitations, but will be an important line of inquiry as PES continues to expand worldwide.

Improving environmental and social targeting through adaptive management in Mexico's payments for hydrological services program.

Natural resource managers are often expected to achieve both environmental protection and economic development even when there are fundamental trade-offs between these goals. Adaptive management provides a theoretical structure for program administrators to balance social priorities in the presence of trade-offs and to improve conservation targeting. We used the case of Mexico's federal Payments for Hydrological Services program (PSAH) to illustrate the importance of adaptive management for improving program targeting. We documented adaptive elements of PSAH and corresponding changes in program eligibility and selection criteria. To evaluate whether these changes resulted in enrollment of lands of high environmental and social priority, we compared the environmental and social characteristics of the areas enrolled in the program with the characteristics of all forested areas in Mexico, all areas eligible for the program, and all areas submitted for application to the program. The program successfully enrolled areas of both high ecological and social priority, and over time, adaptive changes in the program's criteria for eligibility and selection led to increased enrollment of land scoring high on both dimensions. Three factors facilitated adaptive management in Mexico and are likely to be generally important for conservation managers: a supportive political environment, including financial backing and encouragement to experiment from the federal government; availability of relatively good social and environmental data; and active participation in the review process by stakeholders and outside evaluators.

Factores asociados al pie diabético en pacientes ambulatorios. Centro de Diabetes Cardiovascular del Caribe. Barranquilla (Colombia) / Factors associated with diabetic foot outpatients. Cardiovascular Diabetes Center of the Caribbean Barranquilla (Colombia)

Objetivos: Establecer los factores asociados a la presencia de pie diabético en pacientes atendidos en el Centro de Diabetes Cardiovascular del Caribe en Barranquilla (Atlántico, Colombia), en el periodo julio-octubre de 2009. Materiales y métodos: Estudio analítico de casos y controles. Se tomó como muestra a 200 pacientes, entre hombres y mujeres, atendidos en el Centro de Diabetes Cardiovascular del Caribe; 100 de ellos eran pacientes con pie diabético y otros 100 con diabetes sin la presencia de pie diabético. Se aplicó una encuesta de 27 preguntas a cada uno de ellos para determinar los factores relacionados con la aparición de pie diabético. La tabulación y análisis de los datos se hizo de manera computarizada, utilizando el software Epi Info versión 6.04d y el paquete Microsoft Office 2003. Resultados: La macroangiopatía y la microangiopatía fueron importantes en la presencia del pie diabético (OR = 44.33; p = 0.000 y OR = 13.62; p = 0.00 respectivamente), la neuropatía (OR = 10.14; p = 0.00) y la deformidad de los pies (OR = 10.02; p = 0.00) se asociaron significativamente al pie diabético. Se encontró como factor protector el autocuidado (OR = 0.21; p = 0.00000) y la educación relacionada con el control de factores de riesgo para la diabetes (OR = 0.32; p = 0.00007). Conclusión: La macroangiopatía, la microangiopatía, la neuropatía y la deformidad en los pies se comportaron como factores asociados a la presencia del pie diabético. El autocuidado contribuyó a la prevención del mismo.

Objective: To establish the factors associated with the presence of diabetic foot in patients treated at the Centro de Diabetes Cardiovascular del Caribe in Barranquilla (Atlántico), July-October 2009. Materials and methods: Analytical study of cases and controls. It was taken as a sample 200 patients, men and women, treated at the Centro de Diabetes Cardiovascular del Caribe in Barranquilla; 100 with presence of diabetes food, and 100 without of presence of diabetic foot; A twenty-seven question survey was done to each patient; whose objective was to determine the factor related to diabetic foot. The tabulation and analysis of data were computed using the software Epi Info version 6.04d and the Microsoft Office 2003 package. Results: The macroangiopaty and the microangiopaty were important in diabetic foot presence (OR = 44.33; p = 0.000 y OR = 13.62; p = 0.00 respective), the neuropathy (OR = 10.14; p = 0.00) and the foot deformity (OR = 10.02; p= 0.00) were associated significantly. Self-care was found to be a protective factor (OR = 0.21; p = 0.00). Conclusions: The macroangiopaty, the microangiopaty, the neuropathy and the feet deformity were considered as associated factors to the presence of diabetic foot disease. Self-care contributed to the prevention of the disease.