Obesity Risk and Comorbidities Among Colombians in New York City and in Colombia

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity and overweight in adults and children continues to increase worldwide, accounting for the mortality and morbidity from several diseases. Obesity disproportionally impacts Latinos in the United States (U.S.), and despite their diversity in origins, ancestry, and culture, it is still unclear the burden of obesity by specific Latino groups. For example, little information is available about how obesity impacts Colombians in the U.S. (the largest South American population). New evidence also indicates that Latino immigrants may no longer be arriving with healthy weight status to the U.S. because Latin American countries are undergoing epidemiologic and nutrition transitions. More obesity research is required to understand the heterogeneity of Latinos in the U.S. and to examine the relationship between migration and obesity, including comparisons of Latino immigrant populations in the U.S. (e.g., Colombians in New York City (NYC)) with their source population in Latin America. Furthermore, Latino children embedded in migrant networks with relatives who live in the U.S. are at increased risk of excess weight. It is unclear if the same findings apply to intraregional migration networks in Latin America, such as Colombian children with migrant parents from South-to-South migration trajectories. Methods: Secondary analysis of data from two public health surveys (i.e., NYC Community Health Survey (NYC CHS) years 2013-2017 and the National Survey of the Nutritional Situation (ENSIN) year 2015) using weighted multivariable logistic regression models. The first study (Chapter 2) estimates how obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2) may differ between adult Colombians and the four largest Latino adult populations in NYC (i.e., Puerto Rican, Mexican, Ecuadorian, and Dominican) controlling for lifestyle behaviors (i.e., daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and PA in the past 30 days), health status (i.e., Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension diagnosis) and socio-demographic factors (e.g., age, gender, education level), using data from the NYC CHS 2013-2017. The second study (Chapter 3) compares obesity prevalence between adult immigrant Colombians residing in NYC and adult nonimmigrant Colombians residing in main Colombia cities and their home country controlling for age, gender, education level, and daily SSB consumption, using data from the ENSIN 2015 and NYC CHS 2013-2017. The third study (Chapter 4) explores the role of migrant parents on excess weight (BMI z-score ≥1) among children in Colombia, controlling for demographics (e.g., age, gender), behavior indicators (e.g., compliance with recommended PA and daily intake of fried food, fruits, and vegetables), urbanicity, and household indicators (e.g., wealth index, family characteristics, reasons for emigration, food insecurity), using data from ENSIN 2015. Results: In Chapter 2, we found that obesity prevalence among Colombians (23.8%; 95% CI 18.8, 29.5) was significantly lower than among Mexicans (36.8%; 95% CI 31.5, 42.4) and Puerto Ricans (36.3%; 95% CI 31.7, 41.3). After full adjustment, the prevalence ratios (PR) of obesity remained significantly lower for Colombians (PR=0.80; 95% CI 0.64-1.00) compared to Mexicans. No significant differences were found in the prevalence of obesity for comparisons between Colombians and Ecuadorians or Dominicans. In Chapter 3, we found that obesity prevalence was 49-62% greater for immigrant Colombians living in NYC when compared to nonimmigrant Colombians living in their home country (PR=1.49; 95% CI 1.08, 2.07) and in main Colombian cities (PR=1.62; 95% CI 1.01, 2.62). Sex strengthened these differences as Colombian immigrant men in NYC were 72% more likely to have obesity compared to nonimmigrant men living in their home country and in main cities (PR=1.72; 95% CI 1.03, 2.87). No significant differences were found in the adjusted models among women. In Chapter 4, we found that most migrant parents returned to Colombia from Venezuela (84%) and reported higher moderate and severe household food insecurity than non-migrant parents (59% versus 32%). Models excluding household food insecurity showed that PRs for excess weight were 48% lower for children with return migrant parents (PR=0.52; 95% CI 0.27, 0.99) compared to children with non-migrant parents. After adjustment for household food insecurity, the PR comparing both groups was no longer significantly different. Discussion: Colombians in NYC experience a higher prevalence of obesity compared to non-Latino Whites. However, Colombians have a lower prevalence of obesity compared to other Latino groups in NYC, such as Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. Any protection among men in Colombia is no longer present after immigration to the U.S., while Colombian women have a similarly high prevalence of obesity both in Colombia and NYC. Colombian children with migrant parents from other South American countries experienced less excess weight than children with non-migrant parents; however, disparities in household food insecurity largely explained the difference. Future research focused on understudied Latino populations in the U.S. may further our understanding of the diversity in the community in terms of obesity, obesity-related risk factors, and migration networks, which will inform public health efforts to combat obesity and other health risks. Collectively, the findings of this dissertation support the need to: disaggregate Latinos into distinct cultural groups in future obesity research; prioritize public health action for adult women in Colombia and both Colombian men and women in the U.S.; prioritize migrant populations in Colombia for public health efforts addressing food insecurity; and support binational obesity initiatives to prevent and avert the long-term consequences of obesity in Latino communities in the U.S. and countries of origin

Advancing system and policy changes for social and racial justice: comparing a Rural and Urban Community-Based Participatory Research Partnership in the U.S.

Abstract Background The paper examines the role of community-based participatory research (CBPR) within the context of social justice literature and practice. Methods Two CBPR case studies addressing health inequities related to Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease were selected from a national cross-site study assessing effective academic-community research partnerships. One CBPR partnership works with African Americans in rural Pemiscot County, Missouri and the other CBPR partnership works with African American and Latinos in urban South Bronx, New York City. Data collection included semi-structured key informant interviews and focus groups. Analysis focused on partnerships’ context/history and their use of multiple justice-oriented strategies to achieve systemic and policy changes in order to address social determinants of health in their communities. Results Community context and history shaped each partnership’s strategies to address social determinants. Four social justice approaches (identity/recognition, procedural, distributive, and structural justice) used by both partnerships were identified. These social justice approaches were employed to address underlying causes of inequitable distribution of resources and power structures, while remaining within a scientific research framework. Conclusion CBPR can bridge the role of science with civic engagement and political participation, empowering community members to become political agents who integrate evidence into their social justice organizing strategies.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136166/1/12939_2016_Article_509.pd

CONCIENTIZACIÓN AMBIENTAL SOBRE LOS GEI Y EL CAMBIO CLIMÁTICO EN EL INSTITUTO TECNOLÓGICO METROPOLITANO, INSTITUCIÓN UNIVERSITARIA (ITM)

La preocupación actual por las notables evidencias del cambio climático global está llevando a los países a mitigar sus principales causas: los gases efecto invernadero (GEI), a través de diferentes estrategias, entre ellas y haciendo un gran énfasis esta la educación ambiental.  La huella de carbono es un indicador del impacto ambiental sobre la atmósfera, que cuantifica las diferentes emisiones de GEI, que se pueden estimar de manera aproximada haciendo uso de los aplicativos disponibles en la web. Se presentan en el presente artículo las principales campañas de educación ambiental y experiencias desarrolladas por el semillero de cultura, gestión e investigación ambiental “Cuida Tu Huella”, con relación a la Huella de  Carbono en el Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano (ITM). La estimación de la huella de carbono personal arrojó resultados de 4.22 y 3.87 ton CO2/año para los años 2011 y 2012 respectivamente, siendo aún más importante el impacto que se ha podido lograr en la comunidad académica, que trasciende el espacio geográfico de la Institución, ya que ha permitido lograr la concientización en cuanto a identificar las diferentes actividades que más producen GEI, transformando así los hábitos de vida por otros más ambientalmente sostenibles.

Global Spatial Risk Assessment of Sharks Under the Footprint of Fisheries

Effective ocean management and conservation of highly migratory species depends on resolving overlap between animal movements and distributions and fishing effort. Yet, this information is lacking at a global scale. Here we show, using a big-data approach combining satellite-tracked movements of pelagic sharks and global fishing fleets, that 24% of the mean monthly space used by sharks falls under the footprint of pelagic longline fisheries. Space use hotspots of commercially valuable sharks and of internationally protected species had the highest overlap with longlines (up to 76% and 64%, respectively) and were also associated with significant increases in fishing effort. We conclude that pelagic sharks have limited spatial refuge from current levels of high-seas fishing effort. Results demonstrate an urgent need for conservation and management measures at high-seas shark hotspots and highlight the potential of simultaneous satellite surveillance of megafauna and fishers as a tool for near-real time, dynamic management

Gestión del conocimiento. Perspectiva multidisciplinaria. Volumen 9

El libro “Gestión del Conocimiento. Perspectiva Multidisciplinaria”, volumen 9, de la Colección Unión Global, es resultado de investigaciones. Los capítulos del libro, son resultados de investigaciones desarrolladas por sus autores. El libro es una publicación internacional, seriada, continua, arbitrada de acceso abierto a todas las áreas del conocimiento, que cuenta con el esfuerzo de investigadores de varios países del mundo, orientada a contribuir con procesos de gestión del conocimiento científico, tecnológico y humanístico que consoliden la transformación del conocimiento en diferentes escenarios, tanto organizacionales como universitarios, para el desarrollo de habilidades cognitivas del quehacer diario. La gestión del conocimiento es un camino para consolidar una plataforma en las empresas públicas o privadas, entidades educativas, organizaciones no gubernamentales, ya sea generando políticas para todas las jerarquías o un modelo de gestión para la administración, donde es fundamental articular el conocimiento, los trabajadores, directivos, el espacio de trabajo, hacia la creación de ambientes propicios para el desarrollo integral de las instituciones

Plant diversity patterns in neotropical dry forests and their conservation implications

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from American Association for the Advancement of Science via the DOI in this record.Seasonally dry tropical forests are distributed across Latin America and the Caribbean and are highly threatened, with less than 10% of their original extent remaining in many countries. Using 835 inventories covering 4660 species of woody plants, we show marked floristic turnover among inventories and regions, which may be higher than in other neotropical biomes, such as savanna. Such high floristic turnover indicates that numerous conservation areas across many countries will be needed to protect the full diversity of tropical dry forests. Our results provide a scientific framework within which national decision-makers can contextualize the floristic significance of their dry forest at a regional and continental scale.This paper is the result of the Latin American and Caribbean Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest Floristic Network (DRYFLOR), which has been supported at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh by a Leverhulme Trust International Network Grant (IN-074). This work was also supported by the U.K. Natural Environment Research Council grant NE/I028122/1; Colciencias Ph.D. scholarship 529; Synthesys Programme GBTAF-2824; the NSF (NSF 1118340 and 1118369); the Instituto Humboldt (IAvH)–Red colombiana de investigación y monitoreo en bosque seco; the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI; Tropi-Dry, CRN2-021, funded by NSF GEO 0452325); Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR); and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). The data reported in this paper are available at www.dryflor.info. R.T.P. conceived the study. M.P., A.O.-F., K.B.-R., R.T.P., and J.W. designed the DRYFLOR database system. K.B.-R. and K.G.D. carried out most analyses. K.B.-R. R.T.P., and K.G.D. wrote the manuscript with substantial input from A.D.-S., R.L.-P., A.O.-F., D.P., C.Q., and R.R. All the authors contributed data, discussed further analyses, and commented on various versions of the manuscript. K.B.-R. thanks G. Galeano who introduced her to dry forest research. We thank J. L. Marcelo, I. Huamantupa, C. Reynel, S. Palacios, and A. Daza for help with fieldwork and data entry in Peru

Insights from a cross-sectional binational study comparing obesity among nonimmigrant Colombians in their home country and Colombian immigrants in the U.S.

Abstract Background Latinos in the United States (U.S.) represent a heterogeneous minority population disproportionally impacted by obesity. Colombians in the U.S. are routinely combined with other South Americans in most obesity studies. Moreover, most studies among Latino immigrants in the U.S. solely focus on factors in the destination context, which largely ignores the prevalence of obesity and contextual factors in their country of origin, and warrant transnational investigations. Methods Using 2013-17 data from the New York City Community Health Survey (NYC CHS, U.S.) and the National Survey of the Nutritional Situation (ENSIN, Colombia), Colombians that immigrated to the U.S. and are living in NYC (n = 503) were compared to nonimmigrant Colombians living in their home country (n = 98,829). Prevalence ratios (PR) for obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) by place of residence were estimated using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Results The prevalence of obesity was 49% greater for immigrant Colombians living in NYC when compared to nonimmigrant Colombians living in in their home country (PR = 1.49; 95% CI 1.08, 2.07). Colombian immigrant men in NYC were 72% more likely to have obesity compared to nonimmigrant men living in their home country (PR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.03, 2.87). No significant differences were found in the adjusted models among women. Conclusions Colombian immigrants in NYC exhibit a higher prevalence of obesity compared to their nonimmigrant counterparts back home and sex strengthens this relationship. More obesity research is needed to understand the immigration experience of Colombians in the U.S. and the underlying mechanisms for sex difference. Public health action focused on women in Colombia and both Colombian men and women immigrants in the U.S. is warranted to avert the long-term consequences of obesity

In vitro antifungal evaluation and structure-activity relationships of a new series of chalcone derivatives and synthetic analogues, with inhibitory properties against polymers of the fungal cell wall.

[EN]Here we report the synthesis, in vitro antifungal evaluation and SAR study of 41 chalcones and analogues. In addition, all active structures were tested for their capacity of inhibiting Saccharomyces cerevisiae beta(1,3)-glucan synthase and chitin synthase, enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of the major polymers of the fungal cell wall. Compounds of the general structure 1 were synthesized and examined or their antifungal properties with cellular and enzymatic assays. Many chalcone derivatives displayed potent activites against dermatophytes. A structure–activity relationship (SAR) study supported by theoretical calculations aided to identify the minimal structual requeriments for the antifungal action. Regarding the mode of action, all active structures inhibited β(1,3)-glucan synthase and mainly chitin synthase-1, enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of the two majors polymers of the fungal cell wall.SAZ (Agencia de Promociones Cientı́ficas y Tecnológicas de la Argentina), SNL, RDE (Univ. Nac. San Luis), Iberoamerican Project PIBEAFUN, Iberoamerican Program of Science and Technology for the Development (CYTED