Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “PUERTO RICO”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The experiences of ataques de nervios: towards an anthropology of emotions in Puerto Rico.

Ataques de nervios are an idiom of distress used by Puerto Ricans and other Latinos to express dislocations in the social world of the family. This paper contributes to the growing study of the "anthropology of the emotions". Through detailed interviews with 121 people in Puerto Rico, 78 of whom had had an ataque de nervios, we are developing a thick description of both the prototypical models for ataques de nervios and the varied individual experiences of ataques. The interview used in this study is a version of the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue specifically adapted for use in a community study of ataques de nervios in Puerto Rico. Responses to questions on the experience of ataque de nervios were analyzed using a team of reviewers who represented differing knowledge and experience with Puerto Rican culture and mental health practice. The experience of ataques de nervios involves a loss of control in several important domains of experience: emotional expressions, bodily sensations, action dimensions and alterations in consciousness. That loss of control is closely linked to important social contexts relating to major life problems and the experience of suffering.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Analysis of survival of young and old Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidac) from Puerto Rico and Thailand.

It generally is assumed that the daily probability of survival of wild adult mosquitoes is independent of age. To test this assumption we conducted mark-release-recapture studies in Puerto Rico and Thailand to determine if estimated daily survival rates between two different age cohorts of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti (L.) were the same. Survivorship was estimated with nonlinear regression analysis using bootstrapping to obtain estimates of errors. Initial recapture success of the younger cohort was greater than the older cohort at both locations. Our analysis revealed a significantly greater survival rate for the younger cohort of females in Puerto Rico, and no significant differences between age cohorts in Thailand. For comparison, a traditional approach for analyzing these type of data, linear regression of log-transformed captures over time (exponential model), was used to calculate the probability of daily survival based on slopes of linear regression lines for recaptured mosquitoes. With this method, the estimated daily survival rate of older females (13-23 d old) was significantly greater than survival of younger ones (3-13 d old) in Puerto Rico and Thailand. In addition, short-range movement of mosquitoes was observed in Puerto Rico; maximum dispersal distance detected was 79 m. Survival rates of adult Ae. aegypti may be age-dependent and nonlinear regression analysis is a sensitive approach for comparing patterns of mosquito survival based on mark, single release, multiple recapture data.

Aedes↗
PubMed1997

[Eradication of malaria in Puerto Rico].

For decades, malaria was a serious public health problem in Puerto Rico. In 1962, that country became the first tropical territory in the Americas, and possibly in the world, to receive certification from WHO for having eradicated malaria and having declared itself free of the disease. This report chronicles the tremendous effort that was dedicated to the eradication campaign in Puerto Rico, which took place in the first part of this century.

Antimalarials↗
PubMed2003

An overview of reported youth violence in Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper is to describe the prevalence of school and youth violence in Puerto Rico based on several representative samples surveyed in the Island during the 1990's. BACKGROUND: Reviewing the available data on youth violence is necessary in order to decide the best strategies to follow in developing new ways to prevent and monitor it. METHODS: Three surveys were reviewed in this paper: The Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control (1991, 1995, 1997); The Methods for the Epidemiology of Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders Study (1991); and the Youth Survey (1997-98). RESULTS: It was found that the prevalence of reported school violence in Puerto Rico tends to be somewhat lower than the prevalence reported in other sites of the U.S.A. Age and gender has a dramatic influence in the reports of youth violence in Puerto Rico. Male students are three times as likely to carry weapons than females and almost twice as likely to report hurting someone than females. Less than 10% of the male students ages 12-13 report carrying a weapon while fully 30% of those 18 year olds reported carrying a weapon. Being arrested also increases from only 3% in the youngest students surveyed to 10% on the oldest group (18 or older). CONCLUSION: The CDC has recently reported that since the early 90's there has been a decrease in reported school violence in the U.S.A. This analysis of youth surveys replicated a similar tendency for Puerto Rican youngsters. Implications for prevention programs are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Eye diseases in Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the major causes of eye diseases leading to visual impairment and blindness in a sub-urban population in Puerto Rico. DESIGN: A population-based study of eye diseases in Puerto Ricans living in the San Juan metropolitan area of Puerto Rico. PARTICIPANTS: Nine thousand two hundred ninety-eight patients aged from 40 to 79 years-of-age from the San Juan metropolitan area. METHODS: A chart review of 9,298 patients was done. Patients carrying diagnosis such as cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), and diabetic retinopathy were evaluated. Descriptive statistics and chi square analysis were used to evaluate findings. RESULTS: 2,056 patients out of 9,298 had cataracts (22.1%); 3,963 patients (42.6%) had glaucoma; 199 patients had ARMD (2.1%); and 700 patients (7.5%) had diabetic retinopathy. The prevalence of cataracts was higher in the population study than in the Hispanic population of the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES) (p<0.001). The prevalence of glaucoma was higher in our patients than in Hispanic population studied by the LALES (p<0.0001). The prevalence of ARMD and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was lower than expected when compared to Hispanic population of LALES study (p<0.0001 in both instances). CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based study, the prevalence of cataracts and glaucoma was higher than the results found in the Hispanic populations reported in the LALES. However, in our study, we found a lower prevalence of ARMD and diabetic retinopathy. Various factors may lead to this significant difference in the prevalence of eye diseases between the PR population and Hispanic population in the continental USA. Further studies are needed to evaluate the prevalence of eye diseases in Puerto Rico.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Healthcare reform in Puerto Rico. Managed care in a unique environment.

To reduce healthcare costs, Puerto Rico has adopted an innovative managed-care program to replace its old public healthcare system. Under the new program, healthcare funding for the medically indigent is being transferred from government-run hospitals and clinics to contracted private insurers who provide a wide range of services on a capitated payment plan. This well-planned initiative addresses the need to cut healthcare costs in Puerto Rico, but whether it will successfully meet the healthcare needs of beneficiaries in the long run is up for debate.

Health Care Reform↗
PubMed1987

A profile of knowledge and attitudes toward tobacco usage of first and fourth year medical students at the University of Puerto Rico.

A questionnaire entitled "Attitude toward tobacco usage among health professionals in Puerto Rico" was administered to medical students completing their first and fourth years respectively at the University of Puerto Rico Medical School. Percent of each group currently smoking was found to be 18.5 and 10.8 with an average of 24.2% and 13.5% for 1st and 4th year male students and 9.1% and 3.2% for 1st and 4th year female students. A trend toward beginning smoking at an earlier age was noted as compared to a survey taken 20 years ago. Both groups demonstrated adequate knowledge of the risks and consequences of smoking, however, 4th year students had a wider awareness of smoking hazards. Attitude toward tobacco was highly dependent upon the smoking status of the respondent with non smokers being predictably more strongly opposed to tobacco usage. Although cultural differences exist between Puerto Rican and mainland health professionals, they both share similar knowledge and attitudes toward tobacco usage.

Adult↗
PubMed1962

Population dynamics of Australorbis glabratus in Puerto Rico.

This report on the population dynamics of Australorbis glabratus in Puerto Rico is based on observations made over about two years at 50 collecting-sites in a representative range of snail habitats. In some places a marked predominance of Tropicorbis was noted. No continuous or seasonal propagation of Australorbis was apparent. Dense populations seldom prevailed for more than a few months, and in most places very low population levels occurred at irregular intervals, and colony decimations were fairly common. A variety of pressures is exerted on Australorbis in Puerto Rico by a multiplicity of natural factors; detailed knowledge of this snail's natural history in the field is necessary for effective bilharziasis control and for a full understanding of the regional epidemiology of this disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Use of Medicare services by elderly residents of Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVES: We describe hospitalization rates among Medicare beneficiaries resident in Puerto Rico compared to beneficiaries in the mainland U.S., in 1999. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis using Medicare Denominator and hospitalization files. RESULTS: The rate ratio (PR/U.S.) of age, gender-adjusted hospitalizations among elderly Medicare beneficiaries with Part A coverage was 0.78, compared with 0.92 among beneficiaries with both Part A and Part B coverage. Among the latter, the rate ratios were 0.78 for surgical admissions, 1.08 for low-variation medical conditions, and 0.97 for high variation medical conditions. They were higher for younger elderly beneficiaries. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of hospitalization in Puerto Rico may be lower, the same or exceed those of the mainland U.S. depending on the age of the beneficiary and the type of hospitalization.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

The migratory impact of minimum wage legislation: Puerto Rico, 1970-1987.

"This study examines the impact of minimum wage setting on labor migration. A multiple time series framework is applied to monthly data for Puerto Rico from 1970-1987. The results show that net emigration from Puerto Rico to the United States fell in response to significant changes in the manner in which minimum wage policy was conducted, particularly after 1974. The extent of commuter type labor migration between Puerto Rico and the United States is influenced by minimum wage policy, with potentially important consequences for human capital investment and long-term standards of living."

Americas↗
PubMed1996

A common mutation site in the beta-galactosidase gene originates in Puerto Rico.

Several mutation sites have been found in the beta-galactosidase gene of patients with GM1 gangliosidosis. In a previous report we found a common point mutation site in American patients with GM1 gangliosidosis resulting in a 208Arg --> Cys amino acid substitution. From the patients' family history, we suggested that this mutation may have come to South and North America via Puerto Rico. Four new patients with infantile GM1 gangliosidosis have been analyzed with allele-specific hybridization. Two siblings from Puerto Rico of Spanish ancestry are homozygous for this mutation. Another patient also from Puerto Rico is heterozygous for this allele, and another black patient does not have this mutation. These results support our initial hypothesis that this mutation has probably arisen in Puerto Rico.

Alleles↗
PubMed1999

Increase of leptospirosis in dengue-negative patients after a hurricane in Puerto Rico in 1996 [correction of 1966].

Leptospirosis has rarely been reported in Puerto Rico, although in the period from 1948 to 1952, 208 cases of leptospirosis and an island-wide seroprevalence of antibody to Leptospira of 14% were documented. In Puerto Rico in October 1996, following rainfall and a period of flooding generated by Hurricane Hortense, serum specimens of 4 patients with suspected dengue fever that were negative for dengue tested positive for Leptospira-specific IgM antibodies in a dipstick assay. Subsequently, we used an island-wide dengue laboratory-based surveillance system to determine the increase in leptospirosis after hurricane-generated floods. All anti-dengue IgM-negative patients (n = 142) with disease onset from August 8 to October 6, 1996 from prehurricane and posthurricane groups were investigated for leptospirosis. Laboratory-confirmed leptospirosis cases were defined as microscopic agglutination test titers > or = 1 :400 to 1 or more serovars, or positive immunohistochemistry in autopsy tissues. Four (6%) of 72 prehurricane and 17 (24%) of 70 posthurricane patients had laboratory-confirmed cases of leptospirosis (relative risk [RR] = 4.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6-12.4). The mean age of case-patients was 34 years (range = 13-64). Eighteen (86%) of 21 confirmed case-patients were males, including one patient who died (31 years old). Patients were located in 18 (38%) of 48 municipalities that submitted serum samples. Clinical features significantly associated with leptospirosis were eye pain (RR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.3-1.9), joint pain (RR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.6), diarrhea (RR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2-2.5), and jaundice (RR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.5-7.2). This study demonstrates the utility of a dengue laboratory-based surveillance system for the detection of an increase of leptospirosis, which most likely would have gone unrecognized. Leptospirosis is treatable with antibacterial agents; knowledge of this diagnosis may significantly reduce morbidity and mortality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Cancer incidence by municipalities in Puerto Rico].

This study consist of the trends of those malignant tumours in Puerto Rico diagnosed 1960 to 1988 that we considered more related with some environmental factors. For this purpose 160,288 cancer cases analyzed included 16,286 of squamous and basal cell carcinomas of the skin diagnosed from 1950 up to 1975 only. We have darkened in the map and mentioned below in this summary those municipalities with incidence greater than Puerto Rico's average.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1991

[How one achieves the practice of medicine in Puerto Rico--1990].

We have gathered information of particular interest to students of medicine and recent graduates about the law that regulates the practice of medicine in Puerto Rico. We have also reviewed the current information about how to obtain the examination of the Puerto Rico Board of Medical Examiners, and the requirements to obtain the provisional licenses for postgraduate training (internship and residency), for the compulsory year of government service and for the regular license. We have compared 1980, 1986, and 1990 as to the number of internships in the 28 programs available. At present it is quite likely that physicians with marginal credentials will have a difficult time finding a place in fully accredited programs. Since July 1980 the unauthorized practice of practice medicine is considered a serious offense. The increasing number of malpractice suits and the recent changes in the law have made the practice of medicine in Puerto Rico increasingly risky.

Accreditation↗
PubMed1996

Public health surveillance during the XVII Central American and Caribbean Games--Puerto Rico, November 1993.

To provide medical services at mass gatherings for scheduled special events (e.g., world fairs, music festivals, and athletic competitions such as the Olympics), organizers must have information to anticipate both routine and uncommon situations. In November 1993, approximately 9500 athletes and staff from 31 countries participated in the XVII Central American and Caribbean Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. To monitor injury- and illness-related morbidity among participants, the schools of public health and medicine at the University of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee established a public health surveillance system designed specifically for this event. This report summarizes selected results from the system, which underscore the usefulness of this approach in planning prevention, medical, and emergency services for similar events.

Anniversaries and Special Events↗
PubMed2005

A multicenter hospital surveillance of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae, Puerto Rico, 2001.

Although antimicrobial resistance to Streptococcus pneumoniae has been increased dramatically worldwide, there is limited information of pattern of susceptibility for this pathogen in Puerto Rico. Hospital-based surveillance for invasive pneumococcal infections was begun among 38 hospitals island-wide in Puerto Rico from January to December, 2001. One hundred ninety-two cases of invasive pneumococcal disease were identified. Of the 177 isolates available for susceptibility testing, 50.3% were susceptible to penicillin and 49.7% were nonsusceptible (intermediate (I) and resistance (R)) (19.2% I, 30.5% R). Resistance was documented for expanded spectrum cephalosporins and macrolides. All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, smoking and bronchial asthma were the most common risk factors associated with invasive pneumococcal disease of the adult population. Bronchial asthma was the most common disease in the pediatric population with a fatality rate of 21%. There was no increased mortality detected among patients infected with penicillin resistant strains. Most of the isolates serotypes are represented in the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (78%) and 7-valent conjugate vaccine (62%). Penicillin-resistant isolates (47%) were 14, 19F, 6B, 6A, 9V, 23F, 19A and 35B serotype. Our data indicated a high prevalence for drug-resistant strains of S. pneumoniae in Puerto Rico. Continue surveillance for this common but serious pathogen is needed. Asthma is an important risk factor for pneumococcal disease. The pneumococcal vaccine should be recommended for all age groups with this risk factor.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Serologic evidence for West Nile virus transmission in Puerto Rico and Cuba.

During the spring of 2004, approximately 1,950 blood specimens were collected from resident and Nearctic-Neotropical migratory birds on the Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico and Cuba prior to northerly spring migrations. Eleven birds and seven birds, collected in Puerto Rico and Cuba, respectively, showed evidence of antibody in a flavivirus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Confirmatory plaque-reduction neutralization test results indicated neutralizing antibodies to West Nile virus in non-migratory resident birds from Puerto Rico and Cuba, which indicated local transmission.

Animal Migration↗
PubMed1995

Prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus infection among women attending prenatal clinics in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from 1989-1990.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among pregnant women in Puerto Rico. METHODS: An anonymous serosurvey was conducted in four prenatal clinics in San Juan, Puerto Rico, involving women presenting consecutively for their first prenatal visit. RESULTS: Nineteen of 997 pregnant women (1.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-3.0) tested positive for HCV antibody (anti-HCV), and eight (0.8%, 95% CI 0.4-1.6) were HIV seropositive. Of the 992 women for whom serum samples were tested for HBV markers, 91 (9.2%, 95% CI 7.5-11.2) had evidence of past or current HBV infection, and four (0.4%, 95% CI 0.1-1.1) were HBV carriers. The age-specific HBV prevalence ranged from 4.1% among women 15-19 years old to 18.5% among those at least 30 years old (P < .001, chi 2 test for trend). Anti-HCV prevalence was also higher among women at least 30 years old compared to younger women (3.1 versus 1.9%; prevalence ratio 1.6, 95% CI 0.6-4.9), although the difference was not statistically significant. Anti-HCV prevalence was higher among women with past or current HBV infection than among women who were not infected (7.7 versus 1.3%; prevalence ratio 5.8, 95% CI 2.3-14.3). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of chronic HBV and HCV infection among pregnant women tested in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is comparable to that among pregnant women in the United States. The prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women in San Juan is higher than among childbearing women in the United States.

Adolescent↗