Interaction of Alu Polymorphisms and Novel Measures of Discrimination in Association with Blood Pressure in African Americans Living in Tallahassee

African Americans are 40% more likely to be afflicted with hypertension in comparison to non-Hispanic, white Americans, resulting in a 30% higher instance of mortality due to cardiovascular disease. There is debate about the relative contributions of genetic and sociocultural risk factors to the racial disparity in hypertension. We assayed three Alu insertion polymorphisms located in the angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE), tissue plasminogen activator (PLAT), and with no-lysine kinase 1 (WNK1) genes. We also estimated West African genetic ancestry and developed novel measures of perceived discrimination to create a biocultural model of blood pressure among African- American adults in Tallahassee, FL (n=158). When tested separately, the ACE Alu non-insertion allele was significantly associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In multiple regression analyses, West African genetic ancestry was not associated with blood pressure and reduced the strength of all blood pressure models tested. A gene x environment interaction was identified between the ACE Alu genotype and a new measure of unfair treatment that includes experiences by individuals close to the study participant. Inclusion of the WNK1 Alu genotype further improved this model of blood pressure variation. Our results suggest an association of the ACE and WNK1 genotypes with blood pressure that is consistent with their proposed gene functions. Perceived unfair treatment (to others) shows a threshold effect where an increase in blood pressure is demonstrated at higher values. The interaction between the ACE genotype and unfair treatment highlights the benefits of including both genetic and cultural data to investigate complex disease

Datos normativos sobre aspectos psicológicos del desarrollo y de la escolaridad de la muestra de estandarización de la EIWIN-R de Puerto Rico

El proyecto para la adaptación y la normalización de la Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Niños, Revisada de Puerto Rico se inició en el 1987 y se completó en diciembre de 1991. La información pertinente a las características psicométricas del instrumento se presentan en el Manual de Instrucciones de la escala y en el Informe Final del proyecto EIWN-R de Puerto Rico que redactaron las autoras. (enero de 1992

Cognitive assessment of minority children: New visions and promises

The presentation approaches the cognitive assessment of minority children giving special attention to the situation in Puerto Rico. the problem is discussed within the analysis of the social function of psychological assessment. The authors make a brief presentation of the social and epistemological tensions psychological assessment has created and from which new alternatives have developed. Among the alternatives, Dynamic Assessment is emphasized. It is suggested that the cognitive assessment of minority children debate reflects the maturity of the discipline. It is concluded that the future requires a commitment to create the conditions of a liberating praxis which may generate visions which could lead us to know better and make fairer decisions

Proceso de traducción y adaptación para Puerto Rico de la Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III: Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos, Versión III (EIWA-III)

Éste es el primero de la serie de artículos técnicos sobre la estandarización para Puerto Rico de la Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III(WAIS-III), denominada en Español Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos III (EIWA-III). Se presenta un resumen del proceso de traducción de la WAIS- III, su adaptación a la realidad sociocultural de la población adulta (16-64 años) de Puerto Rico y el desarrollo de la forma experimental que sirvió de base para la normalización de la EIWA-III. Se enfatiza a través de la presentación la importancia del proceso de adaptación cultural. Este componente es visto como el aspecto fundamental para lograr un instrumento de medición con el mismo nivel de validez y de confiabilidad que alcanzan las escalas de inteligencia científicamente sólidas y clínicamente útiles

Ejecución de una muestra de personas con diagnóstico de epilepsia en la Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos Versión III (EIWA-III), normalizada para Puerto Rico

Como parte del proceso de traducción, adaptación cultural y normalización para Puerto Rico de la EIWA-III, se evaluó una muestra de personas adultas con diagnóstico de epilepsia. La ejecución del grupo clínico se comparó con un grupo pareado tomado de la muestra de normalización de la prueba. Los resultados obtenidos son cónsonos con la literatura sobre el funcionamiento cognoscitivo y neuropsicológico de personas con condiciones epilépticas similares a las de la muestra utilizada para el estudio. Estos resultados validan la utilidad de la EIWA-III como instrumento clínico para evaluar el funcionamiento intelectual de personas con desórdenes neurológicos. La prueba ofrece resultados consistentes con lo anticipado para este grupo clínico, y cónsonos con investigaciones previas

Confiabilidad de la Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos Versión III, Puerto Rico (EIWA-III)

En este artículo presentamos los resultados de los estudios de confiabilidad de la EIWA-III, Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos Versión III, Puerto Rico (traducción adaptación y normalización de la WAIS III). Estos estudios psicométricos confirman la solidez de la consistencia interna y la estabilidad temporal de la EIWA-III. Concluimos que la EIWA-III es un instrumento válido y confiable para la medición de inteligencia de la población adulta de Puerto Rico

Interaction of Alu Polymorphisms and Novel Measures of Discrimination in Association with Blood Pressure in African Americans Living in Tallahassee, Florida

African Americans are 40% more likely to be afflicted with hypertension than are non-Hispanic, white Americans, resulting in a 30% higher instance of mortality due to cardiovascular disease. There is debate about the relative contributions of genetic and sociocultural risk factors to the racial disparity in hypertension. We assayed three Alu insertion polymorphisms located in the ACE (angiotensin 1 converting enzyme), PLAT (plasminogen activator, tissue), and WNK1 (lysine deficient protein kinase 1) genes. We also estimated West African genetic ancestry and developed novel measures of perceived discrimination to create a biocultural model of blood pressure among African American adults in Tallahassee, Florida (n = 158). When tested separately, the ACE Alu noninsertion allele was significantly associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In multiple regression analyses, West African genetic ancestry was not associated with blood pressure and reduced the strength of all blood pressure models tested. A gene × environment interaction was identified between the ACE Alu genotype and a new measure of unfair treatment that includes experiences by individuals close to the study participant. Inclusion of the WNK1 Alu genotype further improved this model of blood pressure variation. Our results suggest an association of the ACE and WNK1 genotypes with blood pressure that is consistent with their proposed gene functions. Measures of perceived unfair treatment of others show a threshold effect, with increased blood pressure occurring at higher values. The interaction between the ACE genotype and unfair treatment highlights the benefits of including both genetic and cultural data to investigate complex disease