Adult, Aged, Emigrants and Immigrants, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Young Adult, Acculturation, Fusobacterium isolation purification, Mexican Americans, Microbiota physiology, Mouth microbiology, Prevotella isolation purification, and Streptococcus isolation purification

The oral microbiome has been linked to a number of chronic inflammatory conditions, including obesity, diabetes, periodontitis, and cancers of the stomach and liver. These conditions disproportionately affect Mexican American women, yet few studies have examined the oral microbiota in this at-risk group. We characterized the 16S rDNA oral microbiome in 369 non-smoking women enrolled in the MD Anderson Mano a Mano Mexican American Cohort Study. Lower bacterial diversity, a potential indicator of oral health, was associated with increased age and length of US residency among recent immigrants. Grouping women by overarching bacterial community type (e.g., "Streptococcus," "Fusobacterium," and "Prevotella" clusters), we observed differences across a number of acculturation-related variables, including nativity, age at immigration, time in the US, country of longest residence, and a multi-dimensional acculturation scale. Participants in the cluster typified by higher abundance of Streptococcus spp. exhibited the lowest bacterial diversity and appeared the most acculturated as compared to women in the "Prevotella" group. Computationally-predicted functional analysis suggested the Streptococcus-dominated bacterial community had greater potential for carbohydrate metabolism while biosynthesis of essential amino acids and nitrogen metabolism prevailed among the Prevotella-high group. Findings suggest immigration and adaption to life in the US, a well-established mediator of disease risk, is associated with differences in oral microbial profiles in Mexican American women. These results warrant further investigation into the joint and modifying effects of acculturation and oral bacteria on the health of Mexican American women and other immigrant populations. The oral microbiome presents an easily accessible biomarker of disease risk, spanning biological, behavioral, and environmental factors.

Cross-Sectional Studies, Depressive Disorder psychology, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 complications, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 psychology, Humans, Kidney Failure, Chronic therapy, Male, Mexican Americans statistics numerical data, Middle Aged, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, Depressive Disorder complications, Kidney Failure, Chronic complications, Kidney Failure, Chronic psychology, Mexican Americans psychology, Quality of Life psychology, and Renal Dialysis psychology

Health-related quality of life (QOL) and depression burden of Mexican Americans with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are not known. This observational cross-sectional study assessed QOL and depression and examined their inter-relatedness in Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes and ESRD on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) treatment. Prevalent Mexican Americans on HD (N = 40) completed the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form (KDQOL-SF) and the Beck Depression Inventory II. The overall median scores for the mental component summary and the physical component summary scales in the KDQOL-SF were 40.9 and 34.0, respectively. The prevalence of severe depression was 40%. The most significant differences between depressed and non-depressed groups were symptom/problem list, cognitive function, and emotional well- being (P < 0.0001 for all). Mexican Americans with depression endure a more dismal QOL compared to non-depressed peers. Significant negative correlations between depression and several QOL scales underscore plausible interactions between the two conditions which warrants further evaluation.
(© 2017 International Society for Apheresis, Japanese Society for Apheresis, and Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy.)

Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Emigrants and Immigrants psychology, Female, Humans, Indiana, Male, Mexican Americans psychology, Modems, Emigrants and Immigrants statistics numerical data, Mexican Americans statistics numerical data, Patient Acceptance of Health Care statistics numerical data, and Preventive Dentistry statistics numerical data

Background: Mexican immigrants in the United States suffer from poor oral health. The objective of the current study was to explore the utility of applying theory-based factors associated with seeking preventive dental care in a sample of Mexican American adults.
Methods: Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of a sample of 157 people of Mexican origin (64% female; age 34 ± 11 years) recruited primarily from church congregations and lay community organizations in Central Indiana. Using the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction as the guiding framework, structural equation modeling was used to test factors associated with intention to seek preventive dental care.
Results: Attitude towards seeking preventive dental care (estimate = 0.37; p < .0001) and self-efficacy for seeking preventive dental care (estimate = 0.68; p < .0001) were associated with intention to seek preventive dental care. The association between dental beliefs and intention to seek preventive dental care was mediated by attitude and self-efficacy (indirect effect = 0.26, p = .002), and the association between past behavior and intention to seek preventive dental care was mediated by self-efficacy (indirect effect = 0.26, p = .003).
Conclusions: These findings suggest that interventions to increase preventive dental care seeking behavior among Mexican Americans should focus on changing attitudes toward seeking preventive dental care and on increasing self-efficacy to seek preventive dental care. Findings also support the use of interventions to influence dental beliefs.

Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Saliva chemistry, Acculturation, Circadian Rhythm physiology, Health Status, Hydrocortisone metabolism, Mexican Americans, Stress, Psychological ethnology, and Stress, Psychological metabolism

Background: The assessment of acculturative stress as synonymous with acculturation level overlooks the dynamic, interactive, and developmental nature of the acculturation process. An individual's unique perception and response to a range of stressors at each stage of the dynamic process of acculturation may be associated with stress-induced alterations in important biological response systems that mediate health outcomes. Evidence suggests the cortisol awakening response (CAR) is a promising pre-clinical biomarker of stress exposure that may link acculturative stress to self-reported health in Mexican Americans.
Purpose: The aim of the current study was to examine whether alterations in the CAR mediate the relationship between acculturative stress and self-reported health in Mexican Americans.
Methods: Salivary cortisol samples were collected at awakening, 30, 45, and 60 min thereafter, on two consecutive weekdays from a sample of adult Mexican Americans. Acculturative stress and self-reported health were assessed. Data were aggregated and analyzed (n = 89) using a mixed effects regression model and path analysis.
Results: Poorer self-reported health was associated with attenuated CAR profiles (primarily due to a diminished post-awakening rise in cortisol) predicted by both moderate and high levels of exposure to acculturative stress. Stress-induced alterations in the CAR mediated the relationship between exposure to acculturative stressors and self-reported health.
Conclusions: Findings demonstrate that different levels of acculturative stress are associated with distinct CAR profiles and suggest the CAR is one possible biological pathway through which exposure to culturally unique stressors may be linked to health disparities.

Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognition, Cognition Disorders psychology, Cognitive Dysfunction epidemiology, Dementia psychology, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Mexican Americans statistics numerical data, Parkinson Disease psychology, Prevalence, Risk Factors, United States epidemiology, Cognition Disorders epidemiology, and Mexican Americans psychology

Objective: To identify distinct trajectories for global cognition, memory, and non-memory domains among Mexican American adults 75 years of age and older.
Methods: The final sample included 1336 participants of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly observed during four Waves from 2004-2005 to 2012-2013. Latent class growth curve models were used to identify distinct trajectories for global cognition, memory, and non-memory.
Results: Three trajectory classes were identified for global cognition, memory, and non-memory domains. Nearly 31% of the final sample maintained high global cognition (persistent high), 52.6% experienced slight decline (decline but high), and 15% experienced severe decline in global cognition (decline to low). Over 95% of participants classified in the decline to low trajectory for global cognition were also classified as decline to low for memory and non-memory. This high level of consistency for memory and non-memory domains was observed for the decline but high (97.0%) and persistent high (93.7%) trajectory classes.
Conclusions: These results indicate that the majority of Mexican American older adults will experience varying degrees of cognitive decline. However, a substantial proportion of older Mexican Americans are able to maintain high cognitive functioning into advanced age despite the high prevalence of risk factors for cognitive decline in this population. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
(Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Aged, Cognitive Dysfunction complications, Cohort Studies, Depression complications, Female, Humans, Inflammation complications, Logistic Models, Male, Memory Disorders complications, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Risk Factors, United States epidemiology, Cognitive Dysfunction ethnology, Depression ethnology, Inflammation ethnology, Memory Disorders ethnology, and Mexican Americans

Background: This study explored the combined impact of depression and inflammation on memory functioning among Mexican-American adults and elders.
Methods: Data were analyzed from 381 participants of the Health and Aging Brain study among Latino Elders (HABLE). Fasting serum samples were collected and assayed in duplicate using electrochemiluminesce on the SECTOR Imager 2400A from Meso Scale Discovery. Positive DepE (depression endophenotype) was codified as any score >1 on a five-point scale based on the GDS-30. Inflammation was determined by TNFα levels and categorized by tertiles (1st, 2nd, 3rd). WMS-III LMI and LMII as well as CERAD were utilized as measures of memory. ANOVAs examined group differences between positive DepE and inflammation tertiles with neuropsychological scale scores as outcome variables. Logistic regressions were used to examine level of inflammation and DepE positive status on the risk for MCI.
Results: Positive DepE as well as higher inflammation were both independently found to be associated with lower memory scores. Among DepE positive, those who were high in inflammation (3rd tertile) were found to perform significantly worse on WMS-III LM I (F = 4.75, p = 0.003), WMS-III LM II (F = 8.18, p < 0.001), and CERAD List Learning (F = 17.37, p < 0.001) when compared to those low on inflammation (1st tertile). The combination of DepE positive and highest tertile of inflammation was associated with increased risk for MCI diagnosis (OR = 6.06; 95% CI = 3.9-11.2, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Presence of elevated inflammation and positive DepE scores increased risk for worse memory among Mexican-American older adults. Additionally, the combination of DepE and high inflammation was associated with increased risk for MCI diagnosis. This work suggests that depression and inflammation are independently associated with worse memory among Mexican-American adults and elders; however, the combination of both increases risk for poorer memory beyond either alone.

Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Child Development physiology, Mexican Americans, Parasympathetic Nervous System physiology, Poverty, Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia physiology, and Self-Control

Parasympathetically-mediated heart rate variability (HRV), commonly indexed via respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), is theorized to support the physiological regulation of emotion; however, little is known about the trajectory of change in resting RSA across early development among high-risk populations for whom emotion regulation is crucial. This study characterized resting RSA change from 6 weeks to 2 years of age among 312 low-income Mexican American infants. RSA was assessed longitudinally at 6, 12, 18, 24, 52, 78, and 104 weeks of age. On average, resting RSA increased as infants aged, and this change accelerated over time. There was significant variance between infants in resting RSA at 6 weeks of age, and in the slope, and acceleration of resting RSA change. Intraclass correlation among infants' resting RSA measures was minimal, indicating that resting RSA may not be "trait-like" during infancy. Results characterize early RSA development among a high-risk sample, which can inform theoretical understanding of the development of emotional, and behavioral self-regulation in a high-risk population, as well as efforts to promote wellbeing across early childhood.
(© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Male, Mexico, Nutrition Surveys, United States, Young Adult, Environmental Exposure analysis, Environmental Pollutants blood, Environmental Pollutants urine, Hispanic Americans, and Mexican Americans

Starting with the 2007-2008 cycle, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) also oversampled Hispanics other than Mexicans (OHISP) making it possible to treat OHISP as a separate demographic group along with Mexican Americans (MAs), non-Hispanic whites (NHWs), and non-Hispanic blacks (NHBs). Yet, more often than not, OHISP have been merged with MA to form an all-Hispanic demographic group (HISP) thus limiting comparisons between NHW, NHB, and HISP. Consequently, for the first time, this study was undertaken to evaluate differences in the observed levels of selected environmental contaminants between MA and OHISP from five groups of environmental contaminants, namely, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), iodine uptake inhibitors (IUIs), environmental phenols (EPHs), priority pesticides (PPs), and perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). Data for 2007-2010 from NHANES were used to conduct this study. OHISP children born in USA had higher levels of selected PAH metabolites than USA-born MA, and Mexican-born MA adolescents had higher levels of selected PAH metabolites than USA-born MA adolescents. USA-born adolescent MA had higher levels of selected parabens than USA-born adolescent OHISP, and OHISP adults born in another Spanish-speaking country had higher levels of selected parabens than USA-born OHISP adults. USA-born MA adults and seniors had higher levels of selected dichlorophenols than Mexico-born MA adults and seniors, respectively. Females had higher levels of selected PAH metabolites, EPHs, and PPs than males among children, adolescents, adults, and seniors, but the reverse was true for the levels of selected IUIs and PFAAs among adolescents and seniors. Smokers had higher levels of almost all PAH metabolites than non-smokers for adolescents, adults, and seniors. The same was true for urinary thiocynate for adolescents, adults, and seniors. OHISP is a multiracial multiethnic demographic group substantially different from MA with possibly different smoking behavior and with possibly differential levels of exposure to certain environmental contaminants and as such should be treated as a demographic group by itself.

Adult, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Southwestern United States ethnology, Young Adult, Acculturation, Family ethnology, Mexican Americans, Postpartum Period ethnology, Poverty ethnology, Social Support, Weight Gain ethnology, and Weight Loss ethnology

Background: Obesity presents a significant health concern among low-income, ethnic minority women of childbearing age.
Purpose: The study investigated the influence of maternal acculturation, family negativity, and family support on postpartum weight loss among low-income Mexican-origin women.
Methods: Low-income Mexican-origin women (N=322; 14% born in the U.S.) were recruited from a prenatal clinic in an urban area of the Southwest U.S. Acculturation was assessed during a prenatal home visit (26-38 weeks gestation), and post-birth family support and general family negativity were assessed at 6 weeks postpartum. Objective maternal weight measures were obtained at five time points across the first postpartum year.
Results: Higher acculturation predicted higher family support and family negativity. Higher family support predicted decreasing weight across the first postpartum year, and higher family negativity predicted higher weight at 6 weeks postpartum and increasing weight across the first postpartum year. In combination, family negativity and support mediated the impact of acculturation on postpartum weight gain.
Conclusions: Cultural and family-related factors play a significant role in postpartum weight gain and loss for low-income Mexican-origin women.

Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nutrition Surveys, Prevalence, Self Report, United States, Young Adult, African Americans, Disabled Persons, European Continental Ancestry Group, Mexican Americans, and Periodontal Diseases epidemiology

Background: Racial minority groups and adults with functional disabilities (FDs) disproportionally experience periodontal diseases. However, little is known about the interactions of these two characteristics in disease prevalence. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between FDs and periodontal experiences, and to identify whether race has a particular influence on this relationship.
Methods: Data were derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012, in a representative sample of adults aged 30 years and older. FDs were defined as experiencing limitations in activities of daily living. The weighted logistic regression models were performed using SAS software.
Results: The incidence of FDs was associated with a poor self-rated perception of teeth and gum health, gum disease, bone loss, and loss of teeth. The racial minority groups with FDs were more likely to report poor teeth and gum health, loose teeth, and a history of gum disease treatment. Mexican Americans with FDs reported poor teeth and gum health, gum disease, and had been previously treated for gum disease. African Americans with FDs were more likely to be diagnosed with bone loss and loose teeth.
Practical Implications: Racial minority groups with FDs were more likely to be associated with periodontal disease and poor oral health. To improve oral health, access to dental care among minority populations is important, particularly for people with FDs in community settings. Dentists should reach out to these underrepresented groups to address their oral health needs.
(Copyright© 2017 Dennis Barber Ltd.)

Aged, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ethnology, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 etiology, Feeding Behavior ethnology, Feeding Behavior psychology, Female, Focus Groups, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Life Style, Mexican Americans psychology, Middle Aged, Obesity complications, Obesity ethnology, Overweight ethnology, Pilot Projects, Weight Loss, Culturally Competent Care methods, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 prevention control, Health Promotion methods, Mexican Americans education, and Overweight complications

Purpose The purpose of the study was to test the preliminary effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of a peer-led, culturally appropriate, Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)-based lifestyle intervention for Latina women at high-risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods Participants (N = 61) were overweight/obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥25) Latina women with no diabetes, at elevated risk either due to midlife age (45-65 years; n = 37) or history of gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 24). The study used a 1-group pretest-posttest design and offered 12 weeks of peer-led education sessions in a community setting. The intervention targeted physical activity and dietary behaviors to facilitate weight reduction and included culturally appropriate content, age-specific health information, and stress/emotion management strategies. Clinical and self-report assessments were conducted at baseline, month 3, and month 6. Results Mean participant age was 47.8 years (SD = 10.8). Most (91.2%) were born in Mexico, and 43.3% had a ninth-grade education or less. At month 6, participants achieved a mean reduction of 4.1% body weight (7 lb [3.2 kg]). Statistically significant improvements were observed for dietary behaviors, stress, and depression symptoms. Attrition was low, 5% (3 women). Focus groups indicated that intervention content increased knowledge, was applicable, highly valued, culturally relevant, and would be recommended to others. Conclusions This culturally tailored DPP adaptation was feasible and acceptable for 2 groups of Latina women at high-risk for T2DM and showed preliminary effectiveness in reducing weight and modifying self-reported dietary behaviors, stress, and depression symptoms. Further research is needed to identify ways to enhance weight loss and diabetes prevention in this at-risk, underserved population.

Community Health Workers education, Diabetes Mellitus ethnology, Diabetes Mellitus therapy, Health Promotion, Healthy Lifestyle, Humans, Interinstitutional Relations, Self-Management, Community Health Workers organization administration, Diabetes Mellitus prevention control, Health Education organization administration, Mexican Americans, and Rural Population

Diabetes disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities, rural, and impoverished populations. This case study describes the program components and key lessons learned from implementing Vivir Mejor! (Live Better!), a diabetes prevention and management program tailored for the rural, Mexican American population. The program used workforce innovations and multisector partnerships to engage and activate a rural, mostly Hispanic population. Community health worker (CHW) roles were designed to reach and support distinct populations. Promotoras focused exclusively on health education and patient navigators individually coached patients with chronic disease management issues for the high-risk patient population. To extend diabetes health education to the broader community in Santa Cruz County, promotoras trained lay leaders to become peer educators. Multisector partnerships allowed the program to offer health and social services around diabetes care. The partners also supported provider engagement through continuing education workshops and digital story screening to encourage referrals to the program. Multisector partnerships, including partnering with critical access hospitals, for diabetes management and prevention, as well as using different types of CHWs to implement programs that target high- and low-risk populations are innovative and valuable components of the Vivir Mejor!

Age Factors, Aged, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Southwestern United States, Survival Analysis, Survival Rate, Cholinergic Antagonists therapeutic use, and Mexican Americans

Aim: Studies examining the association between mortality and anticholinergic burden in the geriatric population are conflicting and are absent in the Mexican American population. The present study aimed to determine whether higher anticholinergic burden increases mortality in a cohort representative of community-based older Mexican Americans in the USA.
Methods: This retrospective cohort database study used the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly cohort. The primary outcome, mortality, was assessed beginning at the second interview in 1995 until the fifth interview in 2005. Medications were classified for anticholinergic burden according to the modified-Anticholinergic Drug Scale and were summed across all reported medications creating a measure of total anticholinergic burden. Anticholinergic burden was tested for association with mortality using survival analysis.
Results: The 1497 older adults reporting medication usage were included. Survival analysis showed a statistically significant (P < 0.05) relationship between anticholinergic burden and increased mortality.
Conclusions: Anticholinergic burden is associated with increased mortality in Southwestern Mexican American older adults who report taking prescription or non prescription medications. These findings suggest that anticholinergic burden might be a risk factor for mortality in this selected population, with additional studies required to further define the risk. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1515-1521.
(© 2016 Japan Geriatrics Society.)

Hispanic Americans, Adolescents, College Attendance, Predictor Variables, Mental Health, Psychological Patterns, Cultural Influences, Multiple Regression Analysis, Life Satisfaction, School Counselors, Surveys, Acculturation, Mexican Americans, Rating Scales, Questionnaires, High School Students, Statistical Analysis, Measures (Individuals), Depression (Psychology), Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale

A quantitative, predictive design was used to explore how positive psychology, mental health, and cultural factors influenced Latina/o adolescents' college-going beliefs. By using multiple regression analysis, findings indicated that hope and life satisfaction were significant predictors of college-going beliefs. We provide a discussion regarding the importance of these findings as well as recommendations for school counselors.

Mexican Americans, Hispanic American Students, Correlation, Females, College Students, Self Efficacy, Cultural Influences, Social Influences, Parent Influence, Siblings, Teacher Influence, Intimacy, Friendship, Peer Influence, Interpersonal Communication, Social Support Groups, Parent Background, Educational Attainment, Acculturation, and Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans

The present study examined interrelations among sociocultural factors, communication, and academic support from mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, professors, romantic partners, and close friends and Mexican-origin female college students' (n = 205) college self-efficacy. Findings revealed that students communicated the most with their close friends and perceived that mothers provided the most academic support. In general, students who espoused behaviors and values that closely aligned with the Mexican culture were more likely to communicate with others. In addition, higher levels of communication related to higher levels of academic support, but relations between academic support and college self-efficacy differed by source of support. Notably, while academic support from mothers, professors, and romantic partners were positively related to college self-efficacy, academic support from fathers, sisters, brothers, and close friends were not related to college self-efficacy. Findings confirm that a focus on the unique roles of important others is warranted.

Aged, Emigrants and Immigrants psychology, Emigrants and Immigrants statistics numerical data, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Oregon, Physical Exertion, Sex Factors, Caregivers psychology, Caregivers statistics numerical data, Cost of Illness, Cultural Characteristics, Mexican Americans psychology, Mexican Americans statistics numerical data, Stress, Psychological ethnology, Stress, Psychological etiology, Stress, Psychological physiopathology, and Stress, Psychological psychology

Purpose of the Study: Objective (physical) caregiving burden has not often been associated with subjective (emotional) burden among Mexican-origin women caregivers. Yet, many studies show that Latina caregivers suffer from negative psychological outcomes related to caregiving at a higher rate than non-Latino Whites. This study considered whether self-rated intensity of ADL/IADL support explained the relationship between number of care recipient illnesses and caregiver emotional drain among Mexican American women caregivers.
Design and Methods: Participants included Mexican-origin women caregivers (n = 132) in East Los Angeles, CA who completed a survey that asked culturally appropriate questions about their experiences caring for elderly relatives.
Results: Logistic regression models indicated that ADL/IADL supports ranked as difficult were also chosen as causing emotional drain. Mediation models revealed a significant indirect effect of number of care recipient illnesses on caregiver emotional drain for English-speaking caregivers but not for Spanish-speaking caregivers. These results indicate that Mexican-origin women caregivers do experience subjective burden associated with specific objective ADL/IADL supports and suggest that culturally relevant survey design can assist in better understanding the emotional drain among this population.
Implications: Cultural values should be considered when discussing aspects of care provision with Mexican-origin women caregivers in order to elicit an accurate description of their informal caregiving experiences that may contribute to caregiver burden.
(© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Cross-Sectional Studies, Diabetes Mellitus diagnosis, Diabetes Mellitus ethnology, Female, Humans, Hypertension diagnosis, Hypertension ethnology, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Stroke diagnosis, Texas ethnology, European Continental Ancestry Group ethnology, Health Status Disparities, Mexican Americans, and Stroke ethnology

Background and Purpose: We examined the contribution of stroke risk factors to midlife (age 45-59 years) Mexican American and non-Hispanic White ischemic stroke (IS) rate disparities from 2000 to 2010.
Methods: Incident IS cases (n=707) and risk factors were identified from the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi Project, Nueces County, TX (2000-2010). US Census data (2000-2010) were used to estimate the population at-risk for IS, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2000-2010) was used to estimate risk factor prevalence in the stroke-free population. Poisson regression models combined IS counts (numerator) and population at-risk counts (denominator) classified by ethnicity and risk factor status to estimate unadjusted and risk factor-adjusted associations between ethnicity and IS rates. Separate models were run for each risk factor and extended to include an interaction term between ethnicity and risk factor.
Results: The crude rate ratio (RR) for ethnicity (Mexican American versus non-Hispanic White) was 2.01 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71-2.36) and was attenuated in models that adjusted for diabetes mellitus (RR: 1.50; 95% CI, 1.26-1.78) and hypertension (RR: 1.84; 95% CI, 1.50-2.26). In addition, diabetes mellitus had a stronger association with IS rates among Mexican Americans (RR: 6.42; 95% CI, 5.31-7.76) compared with non-Hispanic Whites (RR: 4.07; 95% CI, 3.68-4.51).
Conclusions: The higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension and stronger association of diabetes mellitus with IS among midlife Mexican Americans likely contribute to persistent midlife ethnic stroke disparities.
(© 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.)

Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Texas ethnology, Young Adult, Acculturation, Alcohol Drinking in College ethnology, Marijuana Use ethnology, Mexican Americans, Students, and Substance-Related Disorders ethnology

Although the association between acculturation and substance use among Latino groups is important, it is often understudied, especially within specific Latino groups living in geographically distinct communities, such as the Mexican American population in South Texas. The researchers of this study aimed to better understand the effect of acculturation on substance use and alcohol dependence in a Mexican American college student population. This survey study investigated the correlation between acculturation and substance use and dependence by using the Vancouver Index of Acculturation (VIA), items related to substance use (nicotine, marijuana, and cocaine) in a Mexican American college student sample (N = 1,494), and the Short Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire (SADD; N = 715). The study was conducted in the Texas-Mexico border region. The results suggest that higher levels of acculturation do not predict increased drug use or alcohol dependence in the Mexican American college students. However, acculturation was found to be associated with lower use of cocaine and marijuana. The discussion examines commonalities and differences in drug use and dependence. Specifically, acculturation seems to have an inverse relationship to substance use and may serve as a protective factor to licit and illicit drug use among Mexican American college students.

Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognition, Depression psychology, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Mexican Americans psychology, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales statistics numerical data, Sex Factors, United States, Activities of Daily Living, Cognition Disorders diagnosis, Mexican Americans statistics numerical data, and Mobility Limitation

Objectives: To examine the association between life-space mobility and cognitive decline over a five-year period among older Mexican Americans.
Design: Longitudinal study.
Setting: Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly survey conducted in the southwestern of United States (Texas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and California).
Participants: Four hundred thirty-two Mexican Americans aged 75 and older with normal or high cognitive function at baseline.
Measurements: Socio-demographic factors, living arrangement, type of household, social support, financial strain, self-reported medical conditions, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), depressive symptoms, activities of daily living (ADLs), and Short Physical Performance Battery. Life-space assessment (LSA) during the past 4 weeks was assessed during in-home interview. Scores ranged from 0 (daily restriction to the bedroom) to 120 (daily trips outside of their own town without assistance) and categorized as 0 to 20, 21 to 40, 41 to 60, 61 to 80, and 81 to 120. Because of the small sample size in the category of 81 to 120, the two highest categories were combined into a single group.
Results: The mean LSA score and MMSE score of participants at baseline was 44.6 (Standard Deviation [SD], 20.7) and 25.7 (SD, 3.2), respectively. Mixed Model analyses showed that participants in the highest life-space category (≥61) experienced slower rates of cognitive decline over time compared to participants in the lowest category (0 to 20) (β = 1.03, Standard Error [SE] = 0.29, P = 0.0004), after adjusting for all covariates.
Conclusion: Greater life-space mobility at baseline was predictor of slower rates of cognitive decline over 5 years in older Mexican Americans.
(© 2017, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2017, The American Geriatrics Society.)

Teaching Methods, Racial Factors, Ethnicity, Disabilities, Social Attitudes, Critical Thinking, Student Diversity, Diversity (Faculty), Critical Theory, Race, Social Bias, Assignments, Inclusion, and Mexican Americans

In this article, I argue for pedagogies that explicitly center the embodied perspectives of students and their audiences. Using Stephanie Kerschbaum's concept of "anecdotal relations," or orientations towards disability that inform rhetorical transactions, I analyze my academic experiences as a Chicana with "invisible" disabilities to highlight how race and disability are both highlighted and erased in pedagogical contexts. I present two personal stories from my time as a student and as an instructor, respectively, to show how instructors' orientations towards race and disability are typically based around impressions of deficit even as the importance of race and disability as critical heuristics are overlooked. Then I explain how my students and I attempt to build critical embodiment into our writing to compose more inclusively to suggest how we may all become more attuned to our audiences' embodied needs.