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PubMed1964

HISTOPLASMIN SENSITIVITY OF YOUNG MEN IN ALASKA, HAWAII, THE PHILIPPINES AND PUERTO RICO.

The author describes results of a continuing study of skin sensitivity to histoplasmin among United States Navy recruits from Alaska, Hawaii, the Philippine Islands and Puerto Rico. For comparison, material is also included for several groups of recruits from different states of mainland United States.The evidence is interpreted as indicating that the frequent large reactions in Puerto Rican and Filipino recruits represent specific infection with Histoplasma, whereas the small reactions in recruits from Hawaii and the Philippines represent cross-reactions due to sensitization with a presently unknown agent or agents.

Alaska↗
PubMed1987

The Spanish Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Reliability and concordance with clinical diagnoses in Puerto Rico.

A Spanish translation of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) was assessed using samples of Puerto Rican patients and community subjects from the San Juan area. Concordance between DIS results from psychiatrists' interviews and from laypersons' interviews was similar to results with the DIS in mainland samples. Comparisons of laypersons' DIS results with psychiatrists' clinical diagnoses yielded generally poorer agreement. Levels of agreement improved when diagnoses were clustered into higher-rank categories. These results raise cultural issues related to the use of the DIS in Puerto Rico.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Mitochondrial DNA analysis reveals substantial Native American ancestry in Puerto Rico.

To estimate the maternal contribution of Native Americans to the human gene pool of Puerto Ricans--a population of mixed African, European, and Amerindian ancestry--the mtDNAs of two sample sets were screened for restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) defining the four major Native American haplogroups. The sample set collected from people who claimed to have a maternal ancestor with Native American physiognomic traits had a statistically significant higher frequency of Native American mtDNAs (69.6%) than did the unbiased sample set (52.6%). This higher frequency suggests that, despite the fact that the native Taíno culture has been extinct for centuries, the Taíno contribution to the current population is considerable and some of the Taíno physiognomic traits are still present. Native American haplogroup frequency analysis shows a highly structured distribution, suggesting that the contribution of Native Americans foreign to Puerto Rico is minimal. Haplogroups A and C cover 56.0% and 35.6% of the Native American mtDNAs, respectively. No haplogroup D mtDNAs were found. Most of the linguistic, biological, and cultural evidence suggests that the Ceramic culture of the Taínos originated in or close to the Yanomama territory in the Amazon. However, the absence of haplogroup A in the Yanomami suggests that the Yanomami are not the only Taíno ancestors.

Bias↗
PubMed1998

Halogeometricum borinquense gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel halophilic archaeon from Puerto Rico.

A novel extremely halophilic archaeon was isolated from the solar salterns of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. The organism is very pleomorphic, motile and requires at least 8% (w/v) NaCl to grow. Polar lipid composition revealed the presence of a novel non-sulfate-containing glycolipid and the absence of the glycerol diether analogue of phosphatidylglycerosulfate. The G + C content of the DNA is 59 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA sequence data, the new isolate cannot be classified in one of the recognized genera, but occupies a position that is distantly related to the genus Haloferax. All these features justify the creation of a new genus and a new species for the family Halobacteriaceae, order Halobacteriales. The name Halogeometricum borinquense gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ATCC 700274T.

Base Composition↗
PubMed2004

Identification of fast-growing rhizobia nodulating tropical legumes from Puerto Rico as Rhizobium gallicum and Rhizobium tropici.

Fifteen isolates from several nodulated tropical legumes from Puerto Rico (USA) were characterised by their phenotypic, molecular and symbiotic features. The identification of isolates was based on a polyphasic approach, including phenotypic characteristics, 16S rRNA sequencing, Low molecular weight (LMW) RNA profiles, Two Primers-RAPD patterns, and restriction patterns from 16S rDNA molecules. Despite of the variety of hosts included in this study the 15 isolates were separated into only two groups that corresponded to Rhizobium gallicum and Rhizobium tropici. This work shows that R. gallicum and R. tropici nodulate legume plants, such as Sesbania, Caliandra, Poitea, Piptadenia, Neptunia and Mimosa species, that were not previously considered as hosts for these rhizobia. Moreover, some of these host plants can be nodulated by both species. The results confirm the great promiscuity of R. tropici and also support the hypothesis that the species R. gallicum may be native from America or cosmopolitan and worldwide spread.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2003

The association of lead-contaminated house dust and blood lead levels of children living on a former landfill in Puerto Rico.

Exposure to lead in children living on a former landfill in Vega Baja-Puerto Rico, a United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) designated Superfund Site, is a major health concern. Direct contact with lead-contaminated soil is considered a major exposure source. However, there is a lack of information regarding the contribution of lead-contaminated house dust to children's blood lead concentrations. This study evaluated the relationship between lead contaminated-house dust and children's blood lead levels. Blood from 42 children, aged 6 years old or less, and dust from 29 houses were analyzed for lead, and face-to-face interviews were performed to gather information on potential risk factors for high blood lead levels. Blood lead levels ranged from 0.97 to 7.79 micrograms/dL. Lead values for floors fluctuated from 0.12 to 98.30 micrograms/ft2, with 17% of houses surpassing the USEPA standard of 40 micrograms/ft2. Multiple regression analysis showed that lead in window sills, toy chewing and soil eating habits were significant predictors of blood lead levels. Further investigations aimed at assessing the long-term effects of constant exposure to environmental lead in these children are warranted.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dengue activity in Puerto Rico during an interepidemic period (1995-1997).

From 1995 to 1997 dengue was reported in Puerto Rico at an average annual rate of 1.75/1,000 population, compared to 6.73 in 1994, an epidemic year. Dengue virus serotypes 1 (DEN-1), -2, and -4 were isolated each year, with DEN-2 predominating in 1995 and 1996, and DEN-4 in 1997. From 1995 through 1997 incidence was highest (0.61-0.77/1,000) in persons under 30 years of age; males and females were equally affected. Among positive cases, 28.3% to 37.9% were hospitalized; 28.9% to 35.2% had hemorrhagic manifestations; at least 1.1% to 1.6% fulfilled the criteria for dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome; and 0.2% to 0.3% died. Neither hurricane preparations (1995) nor widespread floods (1996) seem to have affected dengue incidence. Most municipalities with the highest laboratory-diagnosed dengue rates in 1995 were in the eastern foothills of the central mountains, an area relatively spared by the 1994 epidemic. In the next two years, at least half of the municipalities with the highest laboratory-diagnosed dengue rates were in the west. The most intense municipal outbreak of this period (DEN-2, Villalba, 1995, rate of 11.67/1,000) is described to highlight the importance of local conditions and epidemiologic history in determining the risk of dengue.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

The introduced free-ranging rhesus and patas monkey populations of southwestern Puerto Rico.

Rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and patas (Erythrocebus patas) monkeys escaped to the mainland of southwestern Puerto Rico (SWPR) from research colonies on small offshore islands during the 1960s and through 1982. A three year study (1990-1993) combined radio-telemetry with visual observations to collect information on population sizes, the composition of social groups, their daily movements, and their home ranges. Two populations of rhesus monkeys were identified in SWPR: one within the study area in Sierra Bermeja and a second population located 10 km north of the study area. The size of the Sierra Bermeja rhesus population was derived from escapees from research colonies and at the time of the study was 65-85 individuals. Within their home range area (3.7 km2) the density of this population was >>18.9 individuals/km2. A second rhesus population was found in a mountainous region 10 km north of the study area. This population consisted of one (or two) heterosexual groups with a total of 40-45 individuals. Although a primary characteristic of this species in India is its ability to live as a commensal with humans, the rhesus monkey populations of SWPR are extremely shy and elusive, they avoid contact with humans. The patas monkey population consisted of >>120 individuals in four heterosexual groups and several all-male bands. There was no evidence of patas monkeys outside the study area. Within their home ranges (26.8 km2) the population density was 4.47 individuals/km2). Patas monkeys have not previously been considered a territorial species, their behavior in SWPR suggested territoriality. In contrast to studies in Africa, where the amount of home range overlap between patas monkey groups in high, in SWPR the amount of range overlap between groups is small and each group uses areas with clearly defined boundaries.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Factors associated to outcome in psychotherapy: an effectiveness study in Puerto Rico.

Psychotherapy research has not received much attention among Latinos in the U.S. or in Latin America including Puerto Rico. The present study explores factors associated with the effectiveness of psychotherapy with a sample of Puerto Ricans. Seventy-nine persons who received psychotherapy participated in a study aimed at evaluating the process and outcome of psychotherapy. Participants completed a questionnaire on the effects of treatment on the presenting problem. Information from the questionnaire and other information from the clinical records included the BDI and the Symptom Check List-36 scores, the number of sessions received, etc. constituted the data set. The results show that symptomatic severity, age. the number of sessions, and the therapeutic alliance were associated with effectiveness. Also, the alliance explained 45% of the variance in effectiveness. The results suggest that the therapeutic alliance merits further study in psychotherapy research and in clinical training.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Analysis of survival of patients with end-stage renal disease in Puerto Rico, 1970-1994].

To assess the survival probabilities of patients with end stage renal disease in Puerto Rico, the data from the United States Renal Data System from 1970 through 1994 was analyzed. The Kaplan Meier method was used to determine the survival rate for the following variables: diagnosis, gender, age groups, treatment modality and health regions. The analysis included 7,527 patients reported to the United States Renal Disease System of which 4,295 (57%) patients were reported dead. The median time of survival rate (50%) was 47.7 months. There was significantly lower survival rate (p = 0.0001) for diabetics compared with all the other diagnosis. Age was also a strong predictor of survival (p = 0.0001) and modality treatment (p = 0.0001). We concluded that diabetes, the elderly and the hemodialysis modality, had the lower survival rate in the puerto rican population.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Spiritism in Puerto Rico. Results of an island-wide community study.

Using data from the first community-based, epidemiological survey of Puerto Rico, this paper examines the current prevalence of use of spiritist healers by Puerto Ricans, the role of spiritism in the provision of mental health services, and the association between spiritism and psychiatric disorders and symptoms. Those who visit spiritists were found to be more likely to work outside the home, to have a low family income, to have sought help for emotional problems from mental health professionals, and to have mild symptoms of depression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

A cellular approach to the study of complex natural behavior patterns in the ragged sea hare (Bursatella leachii), a marine invertebrate indigenous to Puerto Rico.

The ragged sea hare (Bursatella leachii), an aplysiid mollusc indigenous to the tropical waters of Puerto Rico, possesses numerous properties that make it suitable for a neuroethological approach to the study of complex behavior patterns. Field studies spanning three years have established a location and season of Bursatella availability on the north coast of the island. In the natural habitat, the Bursatella exhibit a daily rhythm of behavior patterns in which feeding-related activities predominate during the day and reproductive behaviors predominate at night. Some aspects of this natural pattern persist in animals held in the laboratory. The Bursatella nervous system contains large neurons, some of which appear to be homologous to cells that have been characterized extensively in related species. Following isolation of the nervous system, neural centers associated with feeding movements and locomotion retain extraordinarily robust rhythm generating capabilities. It is proposed that this species offers unique opportunities for deriving general principles governing the regulation and integration of central pattern generator circuits underlying complex natural behavior patterns.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Community-based dengue prevention programs in Puerto Rico: impact on knowledge, behavior, and residential mosquito infestation.

Dengue is a major health burden in Puerto Rico. Televised public service announcements and posters, elementary and pre-school educational programs, and an exhibit at the Children's Museum in Old San Juan were evaluated separately using knowledge and practices surveys administered to children and their parents, surveys of house lots for larval container habitats, focus groups, and interviews with program organizers and participants. Exposure to the programs was associated with increased dengue-related knowledge, increased proportion of tires protected from rain, decreased proportion of water storage containers positive for mosquito larvae, and increased indoor use of aerosol insecticides. Exposure to the elementary school program was associated with slightly lower indices of residential mosquito infestation. The programs have resulted in high levels of awareness, some behavior change, and limited change in larval indices. Greater emphasis on the skills necessary for community members to keep containers free of mosquito larvae would increase program effectiveness.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Results of living-related kidney transplantation in Puerto Rico.

A total of 103 kidney transplantations from living-related donors were performed in the Puerto Rico Kidney Transplant Program between January 1977 and June 1984. The majority of these patients were male, 76% were between 21 and 50 years of age, 33% were indigent, and 38% were either black or of mixed race. Rigid exclusion criteria were established in the selection of kidney donors. All donor operations were at least 2-antigen-compatible. Surgical technique and posttransplant management were standard, except that in 1980 the immunosuppressive policy was changed as follows: posttransplant prednisone was very rapidly tapered to 20 mg/day at two weeks after transplantation and antilymphocyte globulin was used to treat all rejections. The overall 3-year patient survival for the 7 1/2 years is 91.6%, but after 1980 it increased to 98% perhaps a reflection of the changes in immunosuppressive policy. Eight of ten deaths were due to sepsis, most of them related to rejection treatment. The 3-year kidney survival was 77%. All kidney losses were due to rejection. A low incidence of urological complications is reported. There were no technical losses. A relatively low incidence of cancer is reported. Cutaneous mycosis is highly prevalent in our patients, but systemic fungi are virtually absent.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1990

Albinism and Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome in Puerto Rico.

Five types of oculocutaneous albinism and two types of ocular albinism were found among 349 Puerto Rican albinos. The most prevalent type of albinism was the Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS). HPS was observed in five of every six albinos in Puerto Rico. The prevalence of HPS was highest in the northwestern quarter of the island, affecting approximately one in 1,800 persons, and approximately one in 22 are carriers of the gene. HPS is an autosomal recessively inherited triad of a tyrosinase-positive type of albinism, a hemorrhagic diathesis due to storage pool deficient platelets and accumulation of ceroid in tissues. The pigmentary phenotype of HPS albinos resembled that of any other type of oculocutaneous or ocular albinism. The most reliable method of diagnosing HPS is by a deficiency of platelet dense bodies observed by electron microscopy. The accumulation of ceroid in the tissues is associated with fibrotic restrictive lung disease and granulomatous enteropathic disease. The enteropathic disorder resembles Crohn's disease and with few exceptions, had its onset after 13 years of age. The major causes of death were fibrotic restrictive pulmonary disease, hemorrhagic episodes and sequelae of granulomatous enteropathic disease. Menometrorrhagia was common in women with HPS. No immune deficiency was found in HPS patients. The majority of patients with HPS had visual acuities of 20/200 or worse and consequently were legally blind. Albinos of all types, including HPS, lacked binocular vision due to nearly complete crossing of the optic tracts.

Albinism, Ocular↗