Needs and preferences for the prevention of intimate partner violence among Hispanics: a community's perspective.

Research suggest that Hispanics in the U.S. are disproportionately affected by the consequences of intimate partner violence. Nevertheless, few intimate partner violence prevention interventions have been developed to address the unique needs and preferences of this population. The Partnership for Domestic Violence Prevention is a community-based participatory research project that assessed the needs and preferences for prevention programs for Hispanics in Miami-Dade County. Nine focus groups with domestic violence service providers, victims and general community members were conducted (N = 76). Four major themes emerged from the focus groups. These included immigrants and teens as the highest priority groups to target in prevention efforts, culture as a double-edged sword, the system that helps and hurts the victim, and the need for wide-scale prevention programs that would reach Hispanics systematically. The results from this study have important implications for the development of intimate violence prevention interventions targeting Hispanics in the U.S.

Psychosocial and cultural correlates of depression among Hispanic men with HIV infection: a pilot study.

Depression is a common mental health condition among persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Depression influences quality of life, social relationships and adherence to medication therapy. Little is known about depression among Hispanic men with HIV infection. The purpose of this pilot study was to describe the relationships of depression to other psychosocial factors (self-esteem, Hispanic stress, substance abuse and violence) and cultural factors (familism and Hispanic stress) among a sample of Hispanic men with HIV infection. Using a cross-sectional, descriptive research design a convenience sample of 46 Hispanic men with HIV infection was recruited and surveyed from the South Florida area of the USA. The majority of the participants (65%; n = 30) were depressed. In addition, the majority of participants reported high familism and self-esteem and low Hispanic stress. A history of substance abuse and childhood and adult violence were common. Significant relationships were noted between depression, and self-esteem, Hispanic stress, substance abuse, and adult physical violence. Healthcare providers need to be aware of the high rates of depression, substance abuse and violence that may occur among Hispanic men with HIV infection. More research is needed to further explore the relationship of these factors, as well as to determine the impact that these variables have on adherence to medication therapy among Hispanic men with HIV infection.

Role of nitric oxide of the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) in the alterations of salivary flow, arterial pressure and heart rate induced by injection of pilocarpine into the MnPO and intraperitoneally.

We investigated the effect of L-NAME, a nitric oxide (NO) inhibitor and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO-donating agent, on pilocarpine-induced alterations in salivary flow, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) in rats. Male Holtzman rats (250-300 g) were implanted with a stainless steel cannula directly into the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO). Pilocarpine (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 g) injected into the MnPO induced an increase in salivary secretion (P<0.01). Pilocarpine (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 mg/kg) ip also increased salivary secretion (P<0.01). Injection of L-NAME (40 g) into the MnPO prior to pilocarpine (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 g) injected into the MnPO or ip (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 mg/kg) increased salivary secretion (P<0.01). SNP (30 g) injected into the MnPO or ip prior to pilocarpine attenuated salivary secretion (P<0.01). Pilocarpine (40 g) injection into the MnPO increased MAP and decreased HR (P<0.01). Pilocarpine (4 mg/kg body weight) ip produced a decrease in MAP and an increase in HR (P<0.01). Injection of L-NAME (40 g) into the MnPO prior to pilocarpine potentiated the increase in MAP and reduced HR (P<0.01). SNP (30 g) injected into the MnPO prior to pilocarpine attenuated (100%) the effect of pilocarpine on MAP, with no effect on HR. Administration of L-NAME (40 g) into the MnPO potentiated the effect of pilocarpine injected ip. SNP (30 g) injected into the MnPO attenuated the effect of ip pilocarpine on MAP and HR. The present study suggests that in the rat MnPO 1) NO is important for the effects of pilocarpine on salivary flow, and 2) pilocarpine interferes with blood pressure and HR (side effects of pilocarpine), that is attenuated by NO.

Role of nitric oxide of the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) in the alterations of salivary flow, arterial pressure and heart rate induced by injection of pilocarpine into the MnPO and intraperitoneally

We investigated the effect of L-NAME, a nitric oxide (NO) inhibitor and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO-donating agent, on pilocarpine-induced alterations in salivary flow, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) in rats. Male Holtzman rats (250-300 g) were implanted with a stainless steel cannula directly into the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO). Pilocarpine (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 æg) injected into the MnPO induced an increase in salivary secretion (P<0.01). Pilocarpine (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 mg/kg) ip also increased salivary secretion (P<0.01). Injection of L-NAME (40 æg) into the MnPO prior to pilocarpine (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 æg) injected into the MnPO or ip (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 mg/kg) increased salivary secretion (P<0.01). SNP (30 æg) injected into the MnPO or ip prior to pilocarpine attenuated salivary secretion (P<0.01). Pilocarpine (40 æg) injection into the MnPO increased MAP and decreased HR (P<0.01). Pilocarpine (4 mg/kg body weight) ip produced a decrease in MAP and an increase in HR (P<0.01). Injection of L-NAME (40 æg) into the MnPO prior to pilocarpine potentiated the increase in MAP and reduced HR (P<0.01). SNP (30 æg) injected into the MnPO prior to pilocarpine attenuated (100 percent) the effect of pilocarpine on MAP, with no effect on HR. Administration of L-NAME (40 æg) into the MnPO potentiated the effect of pilocarpine injected ip. SNP (30 æg) injected into the MnPO attenuated the effect of ip pilocarpine on MAP and HR. The present study suggests that in the rat MnPO 1) NO is important for the effects of pilocarpine on salivary flow, and 2) pilocarpine interferes with blood pressure and HR (side effects of pilocarpine), that is attenuated by NO

Serological response to Helicobacter pylori recombinant antigens in Chilean infected patients with duodenal ulcer, non-ulcer dyspepsia and gastric cancer.

We have previously cloned 10 Helicobacter pylori antigen genes from a Chilean strain including: cytotoxin VacA, a truncated region of CagA (called A17), a species-specific protein (Ag26), urease subunits (UreA, UreB), a flagellin, (FlaB), heat shock proteins (HspA and HspB), an adhesin (HpaA) and a lipoprotein (Lpp20). Immunogenicity of these antigens was tested by immunoblot with sera of Chilean infected patients, revealing that HpaA, A17, HspB and VacA were more frequently recognized (86%, 82%, 68% and 68%, respectively). According to the clinical condition, it was determined that Lpp20 was preferentially recognized by sera from non-ulcer dyspepsia patients (80%), A17 and VacA by patients with duodenal ulcer (92% and 83% respectively), and HspB by patients with duodenal ulcer (83%) and gastric cancer (90%). An ELISA was developed with a purified mixture of A17 and VacA antigens to test the different groups of patients. It was found that sera from duodenal ulcer patients showed higher values than those from non-ulcer dyspepsia patients, but this difference was not significant (p<0.2). Moreover, sera from gastric cancer patients showed values lower than those from non-ulcer dyspepsia patients (p<0.019). These results indicate that, in the Chilean population, antibodies raised against VacA and A 7 are not markers either for duodenal ulcer or for gastric cancer.

[Cutaneous infection by mycobacterium marinum: case report]. / Infeccion cutanea por mycobacterium marinum: caso clinico.

A 45 year old male who manipulated tropical fish ponds developed painless nodular plaques in both hands. Biopsy showed mononuclear infiltrate of the dermis with few granulomata. Repeated cultures revealed M. marinum (diagnosis confirmed at the WHO/PAHO Reference Center in Canada). Good initial results were obtained with single agent therapy with ciprofloxacin. The patient suspended therapy after 11 month and a relapse was observed. Definite cure was obtained with oral cotrimoxazole and topic kanamycin.