non-Puerto Rican Research Articles

Ethnicity-Based Variations in Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling in Glioblastoma Gene Expression: A Study of the Puerto Rican Hispanic Population.

Glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive form of brain cancer, has a higher incidence in non-Hispanics when compared to the US Hispanic population. Using data from RT-PCR analysis of 21 GBM tissue from Hispanic patients in Puerto Rico, we identified significant correlations in the gene expression of focal adhesion kinase and proline-rich tyrosine kinase (PTK2 and PTK2B) with NGFR (nerve growth factor receptor), PDGFRB (platelet-derived growth factor receptor B), EGFR (epithelial growth factor receptor), and CXCR1 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 1). This study further explores these correlations found in gene expression while accounting for sex and ethnicity. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlations with an r value > ±0.7 were subsequently contrasted with mRNA expression data acquired from cBioPortal for 323 GBM specimens. Significant correlations in Puerto Rican male patients were found between PTK2 and PTK2B, NGFR, PDGFRB, EGFR, and CXCR1, which did not arise in non-Hispanic male patient data. The data for Puerto Rican female patients showed correlations in PTK2 with PTK2B, NGFR, PDGFRB, and EGFR, all of which did not appear in the data for non-Hispanic female patients. The data acquired from cBioPortal for non-Puerto Rican Hispanic patients supported the correlations found in the Puerto Rican population for both sexes. Our findings reveal distinct correlations in gene expression patterns, particularly involving PTK2, PTK2B, NGFR, PDGFRB, and EGFR among Puerto Rican Hispanic patients when compared to non-Hispanic counterparts.

Steel syndrome: Report of three patients, including monozygotic twins and review of clinical and mutation profiles

Steel syndrome (MIM# 615155) is an autosomal recessive skeletal disorder, characterized by dislocations of the hips and radial heads, carpal coalition, short stature, facial dysmorphism, and scoliosis. Until date 47 patients have been reported. However, disease causing variants have been identified only in twenty Puerto Rican and nine non-Puerto Rican families. Here we report two monozygotic twins and a boy from two families with novel missense variants, c.295G > A p.(Ala99 Thr), c.3056C > A p.(Pro1019His) and c.2521G > A p.(Gly841Arg) in COL27A1. We describe for the first time, cleft palate and delayed carpal bone ossification as features of Steel syndrome. We reviewed clinical features in all mutation-proven Steel syndrome patients. Short stature and dislocation/subluxation of hip joint are consistently observed. Other features include dislocated radial heads, scoliosis, lordosis, carpal coalition, facial dysmorphism, hearing loss, bilateral fifth finger clinodactyly, knee deformities and developmental delay. Seven missense variants and eight null variants are reported in COL27A1 until date. We also looked into the genotype-phenotype correlation in Puerto Rican and non-Puerto Rican patients.

The Other US Border: Health Insurance Coverage Among Latino Immigrants In Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico is a US territory and a popular destination for Latino immigrants in the Caribbean. Even with few language and cultural barriers, however, many Latino immigrants in Puerto Rico are uninsured. Using data from the 2014-19 Puerto Rico Community Survey, we examined inequities in health insurance coverage for non-Puerto Rican Latinos ages 18-64 living in Puerto Rico according to citizenship status and Latino subgroup (Dominican, Cuban, Mexican, and other Latino). After controlling for potential confounders, we found that noncitizen Dominicans had a significantly lower probability of having any health insurance (57.2percent) and having any private insurance (31.5percent). Regardless of similarities in culture and language, Latino immigrants on the island, particularly Dominicans, experience major health insurance coverage inequities. Considering that Puerto Rico's immigration system is regulated by US federal statute, both federal and local policy makers should acknowledge and focus on reducing these immigrant disparities in health insurance coverage.

Future doctors in training: translanguaging in an evolution course

ABSTRACT As the de facto language of science, English proficiency often serves as a gatekeeper for aspiring medical students in Puerto Rico because they encounter English-language instruction, textbooks, and high-stakes standardized tests throughout their studies. Employing ethnographic research methods, this case study documents the language practices in an Evolution course at a bilingual Puerto Rican university, which was cotaught by two non-Puerto Rican professors, neither of whom use English as their native language. Using interviews, a focus group, and video-recorded data, this study analyzes the language practices and pedagogies of both professors as they teach the same course and attempt to make the content comprehensible for their students. Our findings document the nonpurist linguistic behavior of the professors and how they built on their students’ linguistic repertoires. Findings also point to how they adopted a nonprescriptive pedagogy that challenges pervasive monolingual ideologies in STEM.

Hepatitis C incidence and prevalence among Puerto Rican people who use drugs in New York City

ABSTRACT Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality among people who use drugs (PWUD). Health disparities related to race/ethnicity and immigration status also increase the risk of HCV infection and decrease the probability of linkage to care. Effective, curative treatment is now available for HCV infection and, alongside prevention, may eliminate HCV epidemics. Methods: We examined HCV incidence, prevalence and associated risk factors among 5459 Puerto Rican (both PR-born and U.S.-born) and non-Puerto Rican (only U.S.-born) entrants to Mount Sinai Beth Israel drug treatment programs in New York City, from August 2005 to January 2018, to assess the need for HCV screening, prevention and treatment in this population. Results: HCV incidence and prevalence among Puerto Rican PWUD was significantly greater than the non-Puerto Ricans PWUD. Among people who inject drugs (PWID), there was no difference in injection risk behaviours by ethnicity/birth place. Conclusions: Findings suggest HCV treatment is a necessary component of a strategy to eliminate HCV epidemics among PWUD. Findings also underline the interconnectedness of epidemics across regions, such that to eliminate the HCV epidemic in one location may depend on eliminating the HCV epidemics in other locations.

African-American, Puerto-Rican, and Other Hispanic Fathers’ Differential Responses to a Parenting Intervention

ABSTRACTDespite the recognized importance of fathers to children’s well-being, there is a lack of research exploring the impact of parenting interventions on young fathers. Further, little work has been done to identify whether fatherhood interventions differentially benefit specific subgroups of fathers, including Hispanic subgroups.This research examines a 15-week fatherhood intervention for African American, Puerto Rican, and non-Puerto Rican Hispanic young fathers. Data were collected from 312 fathers ages 15-24 at baseline, post-intervention (15 weeks), and at 8 months, 12 months, and 16 months post-baseline follow-up. Latent growth models were used to examine differential shapes of change for the three groups. Results suggest different intervention responses across the three groups on risky parenting attitudes, African American fathers in the study indicated more risky parenting attitudes than Hispanic and Puerto Rican fathers. The practice and research implications of disaggregating data for minority fathers, particularly for Latino subgroups, are discussed.

Contribution of previable live births to disparity in infant mortality of US-born Puerto Ricans compared with infants of other Hispanic origins.

Although US-born Hispanics experience infant mortality rates (IMRs) which are lower than the national rate, within the Hispanic population, infants of Puerto Rican origin experience higher IMRs than other Hispanics. We aimed to describe the contribution of deaths among previable live-born infants to disparity in IMRs comparing Puerto Rican infants to infants of other Hispanic origins. Retrospective, descriptive analysis. We analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER online database representing linked US live births and infant deaths from 2005 to 2014. Data were stratified by race and ethnicity as well as by Puerto Rican and non-Puerto Rican Hispanic origin. Live births <23 weeks of gestation were classified as previable. Ten-year IMRs were calculated as the number of deaths divided by the number of live births for each group over the entire decade. Puerto Rican IMR of 7.34 (per 1000 live births) was higher than the US rate of 6.34 as well as the non-Puerto Rican Hispanic IMR of 5.15. Approximately 22% of US deaths were attributable to previable live births compared with 27% among Puerto Ricans and 20% among non-Puerto Rican Hispanics. The contribution to IMR of previable births among Puerto Ricans measuring 1.96 per 1000 total live births was 42% higher than the US rate of 1.38 and 90% higher than the non-Puerto Rican Hispanic rate of 1.03. Further research is needed to develop interventions to reduce disparity in previable birth rates, particularly among infants of Puerto Rican origin.

A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of asthma in PuertoRicans.

Puerto Ricans are disproportionately affected with asthma in the USA. In this study, we aim to identify genetic variants that confer susceptibility to asthma in Puerto Ricans.We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of asthma in Puerto Ricans, including participants from: the Genetics of Asthma in Latino Americans (GALA) I-II, the Hartford-Puerto Rico Study and the Hispanic Community Health Study. Moreover, we examined whether susceptibility loci identified in previous meta-analyses of GWAS are associated with asthma in Puerto Ricans.The only locus to achieve genome-wide significance was chromosome 17q21, as evidenced by our top single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs907092 (OR 0.71, p=1.2×10-12) at IKZF3 Similar to results in non-Puerto Ricans, SNPs in genes in the same linkage disequilibrium block as IKZF3 (e.g. ZPBP2, ORMDL3 and GSDMB) were significantly associated with asthma in Puerto Ricans. With regard to results from a meta-analysis in Europeans, we replicated findings for rs2305480 at GSDMB, but not for SNPs in any other genes. On the other hand, we replicated results from a meta-analysis of North American populations for SNPs at IL1RL1, TSLP and GSDMB but not for IL33Our findings suggest that common variants on chromosome 17q21 have the greatest effects on asthma in Puerto Ricans.

Scripts of Blackness: Race, Cultural Nationalism, and U.S. Colonialism in Puerto Rico by Isar P. Godreau

Reviewed by: Scripts of Blackness: Race, Cultural Nationalism, and U.S. Colonialism in Puerto Rico by Isar P. Godreau Sharif El Gammal-Ortiz (bio) Godreau, Isar P. Scripts of Blackness: Race, Cultural Nationalism, and U.S. Colonialism in Puerto Rico. Urbana: U of Illinois P, 2015. Once a notion of a people gets ingrained into the collective consciousness, that is, gets written and talked about, fixed, and typecast, it more often than not sticks. As a Puerto Rican-born Egyptian, who has lived in the United States and other countries, I heard everything about Puerto Ricans from they don't wear shoes there, to spaghetti and trains haven't made it to that part of the world, from the typical Puerto Rican doesn't know the meaning of a hard day's work, to all Puerto Ricans are good for is collecting and spending welfare checks. I also heard Puerto Ricans are the happiest people on earth, so it hasn't been all bad, mainly. In regards to the pejorative remarks, it isn't a question of not bothering to waste time on negativity, but a responsibility one should assume to combat racism with a brave, calm heart and a willingness to educate. Whether or not they listen, or change their outlook, is on them to consider. But what if these prejudiced notions stem from an inclination towards self-deprecation and an inner neurosis fueled by self-hatred? For the damnedest thing about these comments, to signpost again to the less flattering remarks, is that they not only issued from non-Puerto Ricans but also from Puerto Ricans talking about other Puerto Ricans—their brothers and sisters and ultimately about themselves. What does this say about who we are in relation to the world? How is this affecting our national identity? Does such an identity—one not grounded in our US colonial status—exist? Why must we create and propagate images of ourselves based on the most noxious strains of loathing and contempt, ones that are mercilessly self-inflicted? These are subtleties and power dynamics Isar P. Godreau explores when writing about San Antón, a community of people of mostly African origin in the municipality of Ponce, on Puerto Rico's southern coast, in her study Scripts of Blackness: Race, Cultural Nationalism, and U.S. Colonialism in Puerto Rico. Why of all places in Puerto Rico San Antón? If one were to define San Antón superficially, that is, be tempted to essentialize and neatly compartmentalize the community according to whatever standard is easiest (most convenient) to affix, one could quote Godreau and write the community off as "one of Ponce's urban low-income barrios . . . a bedrock of Puerto Rico's African heritage since important musical genres [i.e., bomba and plena, the syncretic fusion of African drumming, the ceremonial act of the Taíno areyto, and Spanish décima reciting] developed there" (1). One could continue by adding San Antón is "the birthplace of famous artists, musicians, and baseball and basketball athletes," and "as the birthplace of the plena, residents of Ponce and Puerto Rico consider the community a traditional site of Afro-Puerto Rican folklore," this despite the fact, were one to judge based on the countless interviews Godreau conducted in the community, that "many residents did not assume a 'black' identity, and [she] never heard anyone describe themselves as [End Page 98] afrodescendiente or afro-puertorriqueño" (4). And one could further add, "like other low-income urban neighborhoods and public-housing projects or caseríos, [San Anton] is . . . profiled as a place of urban blackness, drugs, violence, and crime" (17). In other words, San Antón has come to be defined and, yes, misunderstood in many ways. Regarding what lengths San Antón is microcosmic of Puerto Rico, since it is treated as a place apart from Ponce, the municipality that contains it, one could make parallels between this relationship and the relationship the commonwealth of Puerto Rico has with the United States. Aware of the subversives latent in the discursive histories of Puerto Rico, the United States, and other countries like Spain, Godreau does justice to the San Antón people...

Factors influencing minority student decisions to consider a career in evolutionary biology

Without an understanding of evolution, members of the public are unlikely to fully grasp many important issues necessary for the understanding science. In addition, evolutionary science plays an important role in advancing many other STEM disciplines. In stark contrast to the importance of the evolutionary sciences, is its enigmatic acceptance by the general American public. This acceptance is also not uniform within African American, Hispanic, and American Indian populations, who show higher rates of rejection of evolutionary reasoning. In an effort to advance our scientific community, it is imperative that we recruit highly quality students from an ever-increasing diverse population. Thus, the field is failing to attract and maintain the diversity desired in America’s scientific workforce with the above-mentioned minority groups, which are even further underrepresented in evolutionary science. To examine why underrepresented minorities may not choose careers in evolutionary sciences, we surveyed 184 people who have chosen to pursue a career in science. The two questions we examined were: (1) what factors influence the career choices of underrepresented minorities (URMs) interested in science? and (2) what factors influence these URM students to choose careers in other sub-disciplines in biology rather than careers in evolutionary science? A survey was created from previously published research, and our analysis examined statistical differences between different racial/ethnic groups. Our data suggest there are significant differences among racial/ethnic groups in factors that appear to influence their career paths, specifically African Americans and non-Puerto Rican Hispanic/Latino(a)s place greater emphasis on the presence of people of similar racial/ethnic background. Additionally we found differences between the URM groups in terms of their interest in, and understanding of, evolutionary biology; which appears to result in less likelihood of choosing careers in evolutionary science. And for some African Americans, reluctance to pursue evolutionary biology may be tied to holding misconceptions about evolution and higher levels of religiosity. Our current work is preliminary, but once there is a better understanding of why URMs do not pursue evolutionary science, strategic steps can be taken to overcome these barriers. When an inclusive culture is at work, a diverse scientific team becomes capable of producing a broad range of original and engaging ideas not possible among homogenous groups. Educators, researchers, and equality advocates will be able to target the specific causes of underrepresentation in the evolutionary sciences and improve representation of racial and ethnic minorities in evolutionary science, to the ultimate benefit of the greater scientific community and the world at large.

Acculturation Determines BMI Percentile and Noncore Food Intake in Hispanic Children1–3

Hispanic children in the United States are disproportionately affected by obesity. The role of acculturation in obesity is unclear. This study examined the relation between child obesity, dietary intake, and maternal acculturation in Hispanic children. We hypothesized that children of more acculturated mothers would consume more unhealthy foods and would have higher body mass index (BMI) percentiles. A total of 209 Hispanic mothers of children aged 2–4 y (50% female, 35.3 ± 8.7 mo, BMI percentile: 73.1 ± 27.8, 30% obese, 19% overweight) were recruited for an obesity prevention/reversal study. The associations between baseline maternal acculturation [Brief Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (Brief ARSMA-II)], child BMI percentile, and child diet were examined. Factor analysis of the Brief ARSMA-II in Puerto Rican mothers resulted in 2 new factors, which were named the Hispanic Orientation Score (4 items, loadings: 0.64–0.81) and U.S. Mainland Orientation Score (6 items, loadings: −0.61–0.92). In the total sample, children who consumed more noncore foods were more likely to be overweight or obese (P < 0.01). Additionally, children of mothers with greater acculturation to the United States consumed more noncore foods (P < 0.0001) and had higher BMI percentiles (P < 0.04). However, mothers with greater Hispanic acculturation served fewer noncore foods (P < 0.0001). In the Puerto Rican subgroup of mothers, Puerto Rican mothers with greater acculturation to the United States served more noncore foods (P < 0.0001), but there was no association between acculturation and child BMI percentile in this subgroup. These mothers, however, served fewer sugar-sweetened beverages (P < 0.01) compared with non-Puerto Rican mothers, and this may have negated the effect of noncore food consumption on BMI percentile. These data suggest a complex relation between acculturation, noncore food consumption, and child BMI percentile in Puerto Rican and non-Puerto Rican Hispanic children.

Familism and Social Inclusion: Hispanics in New London, Connecticut

This paper analyzes the financial support and inclusiveness within Hispanic families in New London, Connecticut, and the causes of their social exclusion in the larger society. We designed and administered a survey of 114 items that was answered by 148 participants representing 1.3% of the non-Puerto Rican Hispanic population. Using factor analysis, we reduced a large number of items in two familism scores to four latent factors: "Financial Support for Family", "Obligation to Family", "Plan to Return", and "Filial Responsibility". We found that financial support for family and obligation to family are strongly endorsed by participants. Approximately one-half would return back to their home countries where they believe to be happier. One-fifth rejects this option. Three-quarters of participants remit money to family, parents in particular, who reside in countries of origin. In contrast to other studies, remitting money is not affected by any given personal characteristic such as gender, income or level of education. Similarly, participants remit irrespective of their degree of self-reported familism measured by scores on the latent factors. A large incidence of poverty among this population, lack of English proficiency, low skills, immigration status, and a lack of voice and political representation inhibit their social inclusion.

The distribution of pollution and environmental justice in Puerto Rico: a quantitative analysis

This research quantifies the distribution of toxic releases in Puerto Rico to determine whether environmental inequality exists. We calculate an environmental Gini coefficient using Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data from 2000 to 2008. Our findings suggest Puerto Rico has a relatively constant and unequal distribution of releases over this time period. Based on this result, we investigate linkages between toxic releases and several socioeconomic and demographic indicators. We apply a quantile regression model using TRI data and American Community Survey data from 2005 to 2008 to identify important indicators across the distribution of releases. We find municipios (legal division equivalent to US counties) that have a higher percent of non-Puerto Rican Hispanic origin or high school educated population experience higher releases to all media. This also is true for unemployment, but only for municipios with the largest releases (i.e., highest quintile). The results also reveal municipios that are more densely populated or that have a higher percent of college degrees experience lower releases to all media. Higher proportions of certain age groups also suggest lower releases. These results are not constant across the distribution of releases; they are most significant in those municipios with the largest releases. This is even more obvious when we only examine releases to air.

Frequency and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Presenilin 1 Gly206Ala Mutation in Puerto Rican Hispanics with Dementia

The frequency and clinical and pathological characteristics associated with the Gly206Ala presenilin 1 (PSEN1) mutation in Puerto Rican and non-Puerto Rican Hispanics were evaluated at the University of Pennsylvania's Alzheimer's Disease Center. DNAs from all cohort subjects were genotyped for the Gly206Ala PSEN1 mutation. Carriers and non-carriers with neurodegenerative disease dementias were compared for demographic, clinical, psychometric, and biomarker variables. Nineteen (12.6%) of 151 unrelated subjects with dementia were discovered to carry the PSEN1 Gly206Ala mutation. Microsatellite marker genotyping determined a common ancestral haplotype for all carriers. Carriers were all of Puerto Rican heritage with significantly younger age of onset, but otherwise were clinically and neuropsychologically comparable to those of non-carriers with AD. Three subjects had extensive topographic and biochemical biomarker assessments that were also typical of non-carriers with AD. Neuropathological examination in one subject revealed severe, widespread plaque and tangle pathology without other meaningful disease lesions. The PSEN1 Gly206Ala mutation is notably frequent in unrelated Puerto Rican immigrants with dementia in Philadelphia. Considered together with the increased prevalence and mortality of AD reported in Puerto Rico, these high rates may reflect hereditary risk concentrated in the island which warrants further study.

Clinical, Molecular, and Cellular Features of Non-Puerto Rican Hermansky–Pudlak Syndrome Patients of Hispanic Descent

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome is an autosomal recessive condition characterized by a bleeding diathesis and hypopigmentation of the skin, hair and eyes. Some HPS patients develop other complications such as granulomatous colitis and/or a fatal pulmonary fibrosis. Eight genes have been associated with the condition, resulting in subtypes HPS-1 through HPS-8. The HPS gene products are involved in the biogenesis of specialized lysosome-related organelles such as melanosomes, platelet delta granules and others. HPS1 and HPS4 form a stable complex named BLOC-3, and patients with BLOC-3 or AP-3 deficiency develop pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, it is important to subtype each HPS patient. HPS type 1 (HPS-1) occurs frequently on the island Puerto Rico due to a founder mutation. Here, we describe seven mutations, six of which are previously unreported, in the HPS1, HPS4 and HPS5 genes among patients of Mexican, Uruguayan, Honduran, Cuban, Venezuelan and Salvadoran ancestries. Our findings demonstrate that the diagnosis of HPS should be considered in Hispanic patients with oculocutaneous albinism and bleeding symptoms. Moreover, such patients should not be assumed to have the HPS-1 subtype typical of northwest Puerto Rican patients. We recommend molecular HPS subtyping in such cases, since it may have significant implications for prognosis and intervention.

Nutrient and food intakes differ among Latina subgroups during pregnancy

To document nutrient and food group serving intakes from food sources among Latina subgroups living in the same geographical area. A cross-sectional study. Nutrient and food group serving intakes were assessed by means of a 24 h recall administered immediately after a prenatal survey. Hartford, CT, USA. A total of 233 low-income pregnant Latinas. For analyses, Latinas were classified into two groups on the basis of self-reported ethnic identity: Puerto Ricans and non-Puerto Rican Latinas. Puerto Rican Latinas were more likely than non-Puerto Rican Latinas to be more acculturated and to consume foods (i.e. processed meat, cheese, soft drinks) and higher levels of nutrients (i.e. fat, SFA, MUFA, trans fatty acids) that have been implicated in the development of chronic diseases. By contrast, non-Puerto Rican Latinas were more likely to consume foods (i.e. fruits, dark green/yellow vegetables, tomatoes, non-starchy vegetables) and higher levels of nutrients (i.e. fibre, vegetable protein, folate, β-carotene) that promote health when compared with Puerto Rican Latinas. Findings suggest that acculturation may play a role in dietary intake. Clinicians and dietitians need to be aware of these differences to encourage healthy eating patterns among more acculturated pregnant Latina clients.

LRRK2 G2019S mutations may be increased in Puerto Ricans

We read with interest the article by Shino et al. that reported a higher familial aggregation of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) among Hispanics1. In their evaluation of incident PD cases in Northern California, they propose that there is an increased rate of genetic and/or shared environmental factors in this group. We are interested in identifying genetic risk factors among Hispanics in the United States, and performed a pilot study of the LRRK2 G2019S mutation in Hispanic, non-Hispanic, and non-Jewish Caucasian subjects participating in genetics research at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, who were seen initially as patients or self-referred for genetic studies. Our pilot work suggests that there may be a higher rate of G2019S mutations in Puerto Ricans, and supports that further evaluation of this population is warranted. We analyzed G2019S mutations in 104 individuals who met strict criteria for idiopathic PD2. 19 were of Hispanic descent, and 8 of these were of Puerto Rican background. 85 were non-Hispanic non-Jewish Caucasians. Three cases with the LRRK2 G/A mutation (2.85%) were identified. Two were of Puerto-Rican descent, constituting 25% (2/8) of all Puerto Ricans sampled. Both Puerto Rican cases were women, with onset at ages 53 and 42 years respectively. The latter had an uncle with PD and the former did not have a family history of parkinsonism. They were not known to be related. The third case was a man of Irish/German background, with onset at age 58 and a brother with PD. The frequency of mutations was greater in Puerto Ricans than non-Puerto Ricans, (25.0% vs. 1.0% Fischer’s exact, p=0.01). Mean age at onset and gender did not differ between groups (Table 1). In a logistic regression model adjusting for age at onset of PD, the odds of carrying a G2019S mutation was still greater in the Puerto Rican PD cases compared with non-Puerto Ricans, although the confidence intervals were broad (OR=28.24, 95% CI: 2.16–368.67, p=0.011). While there was a trend, the difference in PD between all Hispanics (11.1%) and non-Hispanic Caucasians (1.16%) was not significant. Table 1 Demographics and Mutation Frequency Puerto Ricans may be of a Spanish, Taino and Black African descent, and genetic admixture is not uncommon.3 The relative admixture in our cases was not known. Spanish colonization and immigration to Puerto Rico as well as Ashkenazi Jewish influence may contribute to the increased rate of G2019S mutations, as this mutation is increased in Spaniards4 as well as in Ashkenazi Jews2. It is of interest that a prior North American screen identified two cases with LRRK2 mutations among twenty Hispanic individuals screened, one with the G2019S mutation and one with the R1441G mutation5. Of note, the Consortium of Risk for Early Onset Parkinson Disease (CORE-PD), a multicenter study of subjects with PD onset younger than 51 years did not report an increased rate of LRRK2 G2019S mutations in Hispanics overall. However, both of their mutation positive cases were Puerto Rican6, and the subtotal of Puerto Rican cases was not indicated. LRRK2 mutations do not appear to be at increased frequency in Mexicans.7 We did not screen for other LRRK2 mutations, including the R1441G mutation, which is increased in Spaniards of Basque origin4. As descendants from the latter group settled in California and the Southwest, it is possible that this other LRRK2 mutation may also account for increased rates in US Hispanics. Further, some of the increased familial aggregation noted in Hispanics may be due to parkin mutations, as these are increased in Hispanics in the US6. The main limitation to our pilot data is the small number of Puerto Ricans sampled. However, our rate of G2019S mutation carriers in non-Jewish Caucasians is similar to that in other such mixed populations that include both sporadic and familial PD and early and late-onset PD. Thus further evaluation for LRRK2 mutations in Hispanic populations in the US should be considered, in both early and late onset cases, as these may constitute an important etiology of PD, particularly among Puerto Ricans.

Disparities in health care utilization among Latino children suffering from asthma in California

Disparities in health care utilization among Latino children suffering from asthma in California Jongwha Chang1*, Isha Patel1*, Sherry T Liu2, Alexander N Ortega3, Jatin Srivastava4, Yoon Shin Park5, Sarah Kirk6, Rajesh Balkrishnan1,7,8 1Department of Social and Administrative Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; 2College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; 3School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA; 4EW Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University, Athens, OH; 5Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; 6Texas Asthma Control Program, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, TX; 7Center for Medication Use, Policy and Economics, 8Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA *Both authors contributed equally to this project.Objectives: To examine any racial and ethnic differences in health care utilization among children with asthma by application of the Aday and Anderson&rsquo;s behavioral model of health care utilization.Methods: The California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) is a noninstitutionalized household survey of California residents conducted biannually since 2001. Cross-sectional survey data were analyzed to identify differences by race and ethnicity among children with asthma. After adjusting for sample weights and design effects, children with asthma comprised a sample size of 400,000 in the 2007 CHIS database. Disparities in health care utilization across all racial and ethnic categories were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: Latino children with asthma were 49% more likely to have visited an emergency department in the previous year (P &lt; 0.05) and 57% less likely to have visited a doctor (P &lt; 0.05) compared with non-Latino children with asthma, after controlling for confounding variables. Furthermore, Puerto Rican children were 72% more likely to have visited an emergency department (P &lt; 0.05) in the previous year and 38% less likely to have visited a doctor (P &lt; 0.07) compared with non-Puerto Rican children.Conclusion: This study provides evidence of disparities in health care utilization among Latino children overall as well as in Latino children belonging to different subgroups suffering from asthma. Examining factors leading to differences within the Latino subgroups could help to guide the tailoring of interventions and health care programs for children with asthma, thereby improving access to health care services for this underrepresented minority.Keywords: racial disparities, Latino children, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, CHIS, Mexican Americans, asthma&nbsp;

Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in mortality among women diagnosed with cervical cancer in New York City, 1995–2006

Though cervical cancer rates have declined due to Pap screening, racial and socioeconomic disparities in cervical cancer incidence and mortality persist. This study assesses the relative impact of race/ethnicity and neighborhood poverty on cervical cancer incidence and mortality in New York City (NYC). Invasive cervical cancer cases in NYC from 1995 to 2006 were identified along with demographic and socioeconomic measures. Odds ratios (OR) of late stage diagnosis were estimated using logistic regression. Hazard ratios (HR) of death were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression. From 1995 to 2006 cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates decreased in NYC, though black and Hispanic women had higher incidence and mortality rates than white women. Puerto Ricans (OR=1.55, 95% CI=1.20-2.01) and blacks (OR=1.34, 95% CI=1.15-1.57) were more likely to be diagnosed with late stage disease than whites. In multivariate analysis, blacks had similar mortality risk (HR 1.07, 95% CI=0.95-1.20) to whites while Puerto Ricans had increased risk (HR=1.31, 95% CI=1.10-1.55), and non-Puerto Rican Hispanics (HR=0.54, 95% CI=0.45-0.63) and Asian/PIs (HR=0.64, 95% CI=0.52-0.78) had reduced risk. Women living in high poverty neighborhoods had higher mortality than women in higher income neighborhoods (HR=1.32, 95% CI=1.16-1.52). Black and Puerto Rican women in NYC are at greatest risk of dying from cervical cancer. Race/ethnicity is predictive of late stage diagnosis, while both race/ethnicity and neighborhood poverty are important predictors of cervical cancer mortality.

Food group intake patterns differ between low‐income Puerto Ricans and Non‐Puerto Rican pregnant Latinas

Latinos are the largest ethnic minority group in the United States. They are a heterogeneous group, represented by people from Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean Islands. A longitudinal study (n=234) was conducted to examine differences in food group intake between low income Puerto Ricans and Non‐Puerto Rican pregnant Latinas. A single 24‐hour dietary recall was collected to assess food group intake. At baseline 94% of the participants were in their second to third pregnancy trimester. Mean age was 24 ± 5y. Puerto Ricans comprised 69% of the sample. Mean length stay in the US was 15 ± 9y for Puerto Ricans and 5 ± 5y for Non‐Puerto Ricans. Puerto Ricans were more likely to be bilingual, have a larger household composition, participate in WIC and the food stamp program and less likely to have a partner. Non‐Puerto Ricans consumed significantly (p&lt;0.05) more servings of dark green‐leafy vegetables, tomatoes, other vegetables, fruits, beans, tortillas and candy/sugars. Puerto Ricans consumed more servings of breakfast cereals, crackers, processed meat, cheese, dairy desserts, soft drinks and sweetened fruit drinks. Acculturation may be playing an important role as Non‐Puerto Ricans had been for a shorter period of time in the US than their Puerto Rican counterparts.Funded by the Connecticut NIH EXPORT Center of Excellence for Eliminating Health Disparities among Latinos (NIH‐NCMHD Grant # P20MD001765).