HIV Testing and Mistaken Beliefs about Immigration Laws.

Evidence suggests that migrants may underutilize USA health care because of misconceptions about immigration-related consequences of health care use. This study aimed to explore whether common misconceptions about the immigration consequences of seeking health care, receiving an HIV test, and being diagnosed with HIV were associated with participant self-report of never having received an HIV test. The study sample comprised 297 adult, sexually active, documented and undocumented Spanish-speaking Latino migrants. Participants completed a cross-sectional survey via ACASI. In multiple logistic regression analyses controlling for sociodemographic variables and HIV stigma, misconceptions about laws emerged as a strong predictor of never having received an HIV test (p < .001). Associations between participants' endorsement of misconceptions and their HIV testing history suggest that incorrect perceptions of laws do deter some subgroups of USA Latino migrants from HIV testing. Identifying misconceptions about negative immigration consequences of engaging in important health behaviors should be a community health research priority.

Boar sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the presence of egg yolk soluble and low density lipoprotein fractions during cooling.

Increased protein tyrosine phosphorylation and the appearance of a phosphorylated protein of 32 kD (p32) are reported among the capacitation-like changes in cryopreserved boar sperm. Egg yolk freezing extenders are composed by two fractions: insoluble granules and soluble plasma, which contains the low density lipoproteins (LDL) proposed as responsible for the egg yolk cryoprotective action. The aim of this work was to analyze the effects of complete egg yolk and its insoluble, soluble and LDL fractions on boar sperm quality and protein tyrosine phosphorylation after the first stage of a standard cryopreservation protocol. Semen samples in Androstar® Plus diluent were centrifuged and resuspended in the different egg yolk extenders. Temperature was decreased from 17 °C to 5 °C and sperm quality, protein tyrosine phosphorylation and protein pattern were analyzed. Results showed that complete egg yolk as well as soluble and LDL egg yolk fractions maintained sperm quality after temperature decrease. Cooling without any lipid component or in the presence of the insoluble fraction, significantly reduced sperm motility. About sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation analysis, the p32 band appeared before treatments or after cooling in Androstar® Plus diluent. Complete egg yolk and its insoluble fraction interfered with sperm tyrosine phosphorylation even after cells were extensively washed. Analysis of extenders revealed a high amount of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in the insoluble fraction, which may have co-precipitate with sperm in experiments. Samples submitted to temperature decrease from 17 °C to 5 °C in the presence of soluble and LDL egg yolk fractions in Androstar® Plus diluent did not show any change in the p32 band associated with sperm capacitation. However, a tyrosine-phosphorylated protein of 33 kD present in clarified egg yolk was also observed in sperm treated with this extender. Protein transference from plasma and LDL egg yolk extenders was also observed in sperm protein profile. Results suggested that soluble and LDL fractions might have a protective action preventing sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation during cooling from 17 °C to 5 °C. Further studies are needed to expand the knowledge of the LDL protection mechanism as well as to determine the possible benefits of clarified egg yolk in freezing protocols.

The Development and Psychometric Properties of the Immigration Law Concerns Scale (ILCS) for HIV Testing.

To develop, pilot test, and conduct psychometric analyses of an innovative scale measuring the influence of perceived immigration laws on Latino migrants' HIV-testing behavior. The Immigration Law Concerns Scale (ILCS) was developed in three phases: Phase 1 involved a review of law and literature, generation of scale items, consultation with project advisors, and subsequent revision of the scale. Phase 2 involved systematic translation- back translation and consensus-based editorial processes conducted by members of a bilingual and multi-national study team. In Phase 3, 339 sexually active, HIV-negative Spanish-speaking, non-citizen Latino migrant adults (both documented and undocumented) completed the scale via audio computer-assisted self-interview. The psychometric properties of the scale were tested with exploratory factor analysis and estimates of reliability coefficients were generated. Bivariate correlations were conducted to test the discriminant and predictive validity of identified factors. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor, 17-item scale. subscale reliability ranged from 0.72 to 0.79. There were significant associations between the ILCS and the HIV-testing behaviors of participants. Results of the pilot test and psychometric analysis of the ILCS are promising. The scale is reliable and significantly associated with the HIV-testing behaviors of participants. Subscales related to unwanted government attention and concerns about meeting moral character requirements should be refined.

Análisis micrográfico y fitoquímico de muestras comerciales de "canela" / Micrographic and phytochemical analysis of commercial samples of "cinnamon"

Cinnamomun verum J.S. Presl (Lauraceae) ("canela") es una especie aromática empleada con frecuencia en alimentación. Se utiliza la corteza desprovista del súber y con una concentración no menor de 1,3 % de aldehído cinámico. También se emplea en medicina por sus propiedades carminativa, antiulcerosa, estomacal, antivomitiva y estimulante. Estas propiedades se deben a la presencia de aceites esenciales. El objetivo de este trabajo es comprobar la calidad de las muestras comercializadas en la ciudad de Buenos Aires. Se adquirieron muestras del comercio (en polvo, trozadas y enteras). Se compararon con descripciones bibliográficas. Se analizaron mediante reducción a polvo, disociación con OHNa al 5 %, reacciones histoquímicas y determinación cualitativa de aceites esenciales. En el análisis micrográfico se observó la presencia de esclereidas, radios floemáticos, fibras y almidón en todas las muestras. Solo en las muestras enteras y trozadas se halló súber. En cuanto a la determinación de aceites esenciales las muestras enteras y trozadas presentaron aldehído cinámico, eugenol y limoneno, entre otros, mientras que en las muestras en polvo no se detectó aldehído cinámico. Las muestras comerciales en polvo cumplen con la monografía de la Farmacopea Argentina 7ª edición, en cuanto al análisis micrográfico. La ausencia de aldehído cinámico en estas muestras se podría deber a las operaciones unitarias en la obtención del polvo. Las muestras enteras y trozadas presentan súber, el cual según la definición, no debería encontrarse aunque su perfil cromatográfico se corresponde con los componentes descriptos en la bibliografía. Sobre la base de los resultados obtenidos se puede concluir que ninguna de las muestras analizadas cumple estrictamente los requisitos de Farmacopea Argentina exigidos para la denominación de "canela de Ceilán". (AU)