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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Prevalence of antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I/II in people of Caribbean origin in Toronto.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I/II (anti-HTLV-I/II) in people from an HTLV-I/II-endemic area (the Caribbean) living in a nonendemic region (Canada). DESIGN: Cross-sectional household survey. SETTING: Households in Toronto in 1989. PARTICIPANTS: A modified quota sampling method was used to recruit subjects of Caribbean origin as well as other Canadians. Of 2900 people invited to participate in the study 1323, 743 of Caribbean origin, were interviewed about their background and possible exposure to HTLV-I/II. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood samples were analysed for anti-HTLV-I/II by means of an enzyme-linked immunoassay, the result being confirmed by the Western blot technique and radioimmunoprecipitation assay. The samples were also analysed for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and for surrogate markers of non-A, non-B hepatitis. RESULTS: A total of 853 blood samples (64.5%) were analysed, 483 (56.6%) from subjects of Caribbean origin. The proportion of subjects who agreed to give a blood sample was similar for the Caribbean and non-Caribbean strata. Eleven subjects, all of Caribbean origin (2.3% of the Caribbean stratum), were confirmed to be positive for anti-HTLV-I/II. There were no significant differences between the antibody-positive and antibody-negative subjects with respect to sex, age, racial origin or residence in the Caribbean for at least 22 years. All anti-HTLV-I/II-positive subjects were negative for anti-HIV and HBsAg, and four (36.4%) were positive for antibody to HBsAg and to hepatitis B core antigen. CONCLUSIONS: Except for origin, an association between antibody positivity and other factors could not be demonstrated. The findings suggest that blood donor screening might include place of origin in addition to the usual lifestyle or behavioural factors. However, the need to ensure safety of transfusion must be balanced against the need for participation of all groups in the blood transfusion program.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Co-ordinated countermeasures of Caribbean countries against the illicit drug traffic: recent developments and prospects.

The illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances presents a growing threat to the Caribbean countries and territories. The geographical location of the Caribbean subregion between the areas in South America producing illicit drugs and lucrative illicit markets in North America and Europe is an important factor contributing to an increasing involvement of the subregion in illicit drug trafficking operations. In addition, the archipelagic configuration of many of the countries and territories of the Caribbean makes it easier for traffickers to escape law enforcement action, thus providing a further stimulus to international drug trafficking. The Caribbean Governments have therefore initiated law enforcement countermeasures to combat drug trafficking and taken legal and administrative action to prevent and eradicate illicit cultivation of narcotic crops, as well as to prevent and reduce illicit demand for drugs. The Governments have also made increasing efforts to improve international and bilateral co-operation to combat drug trafficking and drug abuse. The decisive efforts of Caribbean Governments, however, are impeded, on the one hand, by the limited availability of trained professional manpower and of the technical and economic resources required to combat drug trafficking effectively, and, on the other hand, by the superior financial and technical capacity of the international drug trafficking organizations. The provision of technical and financial assistance by the international community to the countries and territories of the Caribbean is therefore needed to help overcome these constraints and to enable them to cope with the increasing drug problems in the subregion.

Cannabis↗

PubMed1991

Second generation Afro-Caribbeans and young whites with a first admission diagnosis of schizophrenia.

A study of young Afro-Caribbeans and whites diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia on a first admission suggests that the over-representation of Afro-Caribbeans with this diagnosis is not explained by mis-diagnosis. The Afro-Caribbeans were more likely to live alone and to be in contact with the police or prison services before admission. They were also more likely to be admitted compulsorily, especially on forensic orders. They were less likely to make and maintain voluntary contact with the services. There was little difference in the physical treatment given to both groups but the Afro-Caribbeans were more likely to be re-admitted in subsequent years and one third of the Afro-Caribbean males were treated at some time in forensic units. Results are discussed with reference to previous literature and some recommendations made.

Acculturation↗

PubMed1992

Development of a culturally appropriate food guide for pregnant Caribbean immigrants in the United States.

Communities with large Caribbean immigrant populations in Boston, Mass, have alarmingly high rates of both infant mortality and low-birth-weight infants. Although the federally funded Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been shown to increase infant birth weight and reduce fetal mortality, observations made in this study show that pregnant Caribbean immigrants who enrolled in WIC did not receive comprehensive, culturally appropriate nutrition counseling. Public health nutritionists and other health care providers used the Basic Four food group model as the basis for their dietary recommendations. The Basic Four model, however, is culturally biased and does not accommodate the food habits of the Caribbean immigrant. Furthermore, it does not adequately address the needs of pregnant women who are either lactose malabsorbers or vegetarians. Using ethnographic and nutrition science research methods, two culturally appropriate food guides were developed to accommodate the food practices of pregnant women from Haiti and the English-speaking Caribbean. The guides group foods into three categories: growth, protection, and energy. The guides not only include cultural foods but allow for the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for calcium to be met by nondairy sources and the RDA for protein to be met by vegetable sources. This study suggests that the Basic Four system is an inadequate model for Caribbean immigrants and that it is possible and necessary to construct culturally appropriate food guides that meet the US RDAs.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Epidemiology of human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infections in a subpopulation of Afro-Caribbean origin in England.

Epidemiological studies on neurological diseases in residents of Afro-Caribbean origin in the West Midlands region of England have identified eight patients with tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP), all of whom were found to be infected with human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type 1 (HTLV-1). The husband of one of the patients with TSP was also infected with HTLV-1 and had a T-cell lymphoma. In addition, six asymptomatic HTLV-1-infected first-degree relatives of the TSP patients have been found. By anonymous testing of over 700 sera obtained from individuals of Afro-Caribbean, African, or Asian ethnic origin, seven HTLV-1-infected individuals were detected, who were all immigrants from the Caribbean. Overall, these numbers yielded a seroprevalence of HTLV-1 infections of 3.4% among the immigrant population of Afro-Caribbean origin, which is comparable with the prevalence of HTLV-1 in Jamaica in an equivalent age and sex cohort. Sera were tested for HTLV-1 antibody by means of three different procedures: passive particle agglutination test (Serodia), indirect enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Dupont), and indirect immunofluorescence test (in-house, using HTLV-1-infected MT2 cells). The results of all three tests correlated very well with each other. HTLV-1 antibody titres in TSP patients were on the whole significantly higher than those of asymptomatic carriers, but some of the apparently healthy first-degree relatives and one anonymously tested individual had titres as high as most of the TSP patients.

Black or African American↗

PubMed1987

Historical review of the changing pattern of infant feeding in developing countries: the case of Malaysia, the Caribbean, Nigeria and Zaire.

Prolonged lactation and early supplementation have been traditional practices among low-income mothers in Malaysia, the Caribbean, Nigeria and Zaire. Early supplementation is still the norm but there have been some substantial changes in the types of supplement offered. Thus, except in Zaire, there is now widespread use of processed milks as supplements for very young infants. The use of processed milks began in the 1920s in Malaysia and the Caribbean, but not until the 1960s in Nigeria. Processed milks are, as yet, rarely used in Zaire. The use of processed milks has not, however, led to the abandonment of traditional paps. The latter are still given as supplements to young infants in Nigeria and to older infants in Malaysia and the Caribbean. Breast-feeding duration has declined in Malaysia and the Caribbean although initiation is almost universal. In Nigeria and Zaire most low-income mothers continue to breast-feed for at least 12 months. The changes in the types of supplements used and in breast-feeding duration are analogous to the changes observed in industrialised countries from the mid-19th century, and many of the associated factors are similar: urbanisation; female participation in the labour force; increased availability of processed milks and their promotion both by companies and the health sector; and the regimentation of breast-feeding. This review highlights the negative role played by the health sector in the past, and discusses its future role in promoting and supporting breast-feeding.

Breast Feeding↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Age at menarche of European, Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Pakistani schoolgirls living in London.

Age at menarche is reported for 1,365 European, 530 Afro-Caribbean and 282 Indo-Pakistani schoolgirls taking part in a cross-sectional anthropometric survey in the London Area Health Authorities of Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster, and Brent and Harrow, in 1980-81. Mean ages at menarche are 13.59 +/- 0.37 years (European), 13.18 +/- 0.11 years (Afro-Caribbean) and 13.06 +/- 0.20 years (Indo-Pakistani). The European value is significantly higher than those for Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Pakistani girls, and for Europeans living in the same areas of London in 1966. Social class has an effect on age at menarche in Afro-Caribbean and European girls, but not Indo-Pakistani girls, whilst family size has an effect on age at menarche in Europeans and Indo-Pakistanis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Management of first episode psychotic illness in Afro-Caribbean patients.

We studied retrospectively a consecutive series of 40 Afro-Caribbean patients and compared them with 40 non-Caribbean patients matched for age, sex, and diagnosis. There was no overall difference in initial or cumulative doses of neuroleptic medication in the early treatment of psychosis. However, a small subgroup of Afro-Caribbean patients received higher peak dosages. Clearly recorded episodes of behavioural disturbances were more frequent in Afro-Caribbean patients generally. They were more likely to be admitted compulsorily, discharged earlier, and prescribed depot medication.

Acculturation↗

PubMed1991

From Ganja to crack: Caribbean participation in the underground economy in Brooklyn, 1976-1986. Part 1. Establishment of the marijuana economy.

The involvement of Caribbean youth in drug distribution (marijuana from the mid-1960s to 1981; cocaine hydrochloride powder and crack from 1981 to 1987, the time of writing) throughout the Circum-Caribbean area and in North America is described. Social, economic, and cultural outcomes of these engagements are highlighted, and the relationship between the underground economy of drugs and the corporate, capitalist economy is explored. Responding to high rates of unemployment and to other problems of migrant adaptation, young Caribbean African males established a multimillion dollar marijuana (ganja) trading network which linked cultivators on the islands with exporters/importers and street-level distributors in North American cities. By 1976, its participants had become Rastafarians, or followers of an ideology of self-reliance and indigenous development. Following its precepts, they reinvested marijuana revenues to revive cottage industry and agriculture. In Caribbean or minority neighborhoods, therefore, marijuana was a "positive vibration" and its distributors were lionized.

Cannabis↗

PubMed1991

Is serious research possible in the Caribbean?

This essay describes the rich tradition of research in the English-speaking Caribbean and the possibilities for meaningful collaboration between Caribbean researchers and scientists from developed countries. Significant contributions include work related to the human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), Jamaican vomiting sickness, veno-occlusive disease of the liver, J-type diabetes, and the role of skin sepsis and streptococcal infection in the etiology of glomerulonephritis. In the fields of malnutrition, human metabolism, child development, and sickle cell anemia, the Caribbean has been at the forefront of medical research internationally. Many characteristics of the Caribbean population, including the disease profile, offer advantages and unique opportunities for significant research, despite difficulties related to the "brain drain" and weaknesses of the infrastructure.

Academies and Institutes↗

PubMed1986

Community participation in veterinary public health and animal health in the Caribbean--results of a preliminary survey.

Veterinary public health and animal health activities are said to be a good entry point to get the community interested in their own health. Because of the pastoral traditions of veterinary medicine and the accompanying privilege of an intimate link with agricultural community life, veterinary public health and animal health workers are in and ideal strategic position to spearhead community organization and education across a much broader spectrum of health issues. A preliminary study on community participation in veterinary public health (VPH) and animal health (AH) in the Caribbean is herein presented. This study was conducted to pre-test two questionnaires which were developed to determine the extent to which the community is participating in VPH and AH programs in the Caribbean, and to identify ways and means to strengthen intersectoral collaboration between the Ministries of Agriculture, Health and Local Governments. Two questionnaires were designed to collect primary data. Eighty-two staff profile questionnaires were completed by staff belonging to six categories from 12 Caribbean countries and political units. The categories included Animal Health Assistants, Veterinary Public Health Assistants, Veterinarians, Extension Officers, Public Health Inspectors, and Artificial Insemination Officers. This questionnaire sought to obtain basic information on services provided, participation of staff in farmers organization, coordination between agencies, and training. Eighty-seven (87) farm profiles were completed by livestock farmers from eleven Caribbean countries and political units. This questionnaire sought to obtain basic information as to number and types of animals raised, role and services of Government staff, and farmers participation. Analysis of the different responses between the two groups demonstrated the potential value and application of the information that could be obtained from such a study. The results are discussed.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed1983

Antibodies against three purified proteins of the human type C retrovirus, human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus, in adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma patients and healthy Blacks from the Caribbean.

Six black patients of Caribbean origin with adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma, 18 of their healthy family members and relatives, and 337 healthy black individuals from the Caribbean were investigated for the presence of serum antibodies against human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus (HTLV). Three distinct structural proteins of this virus with molecular weights of 24,000, 19,000, and 15,000 were purified, radiolabeled, and used in radioimmune precipitation assays. Five of the patients, three of the family members (two of them spouses), and 11 of the normals had specific antibodies against at least the proteins with molecular weights of 24,000 and 19,000. High antibody titers against these proteins were often associated with antibodies against the protein with a molecular weight of 15,000. In all cases, antibody titers against this protein were considerably lower than those against the proteins with molecular weights of 24,000 and 19,000. HTLV is highly associated with Caribbean adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma and is also endemic among the normal Caribbean population. By comparison of the frequencies of anti-HTLV positives among family members of patients and the normal population, we conclude that infection by HTLV occurs in a horizontal way and at least in the West Indian black and Japanese population probably without a requirement for uncommon genetic factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2025

Hybridization as driving force for cryptic species diversity in the Caribbean coral genus Madracis.

Species boundaries in scleractinian corals remain highly elusive due to conflicting patterns between morphological and molecular phylogenies, often caused by morphological plasticity, occurrence of cryptic species, incomplete lineage sorting or introgressive hybridization. Here, we use an integrated systematics approach, which combines reduced representation genome sequencing (nextRAD), micro-morphometric characterization, SEM analyses and compilation of life history traits, to infer phylogenetic relationships among closely related species in the Caribbean coral genus Madracis. In total, we analyzed 235 Madracis specimens from Curaçao and Bermuda collected from 10-90 m depth. Sequence- and SNP-based analyses for 115 samples generated unprecedented species resolution in Madracis, greatly supporting the morphology-based taxonomy of the current, accepted Caribbean species M. senaria, M. decactis, M. formosa, M. carmabi and M. mirabilis (M. auretenra). The exception was M. pharensis, in which we found evidence for three separate lineages, and for which we found signatures of admixture and introgression. These three M. pharensis lineages showed distinct depth distributions (thus classified as shallow, deep and very deep) and were partially distinguishable on the basis of fine microstructural elements of the collumella, septa and coenosteum. Further taxonomic comparisons are needed to formalize these putative cryptic species. Overall, our integrated systematics approach further resolves species relationships in the Caribbean genus Madracis, supports the morphological descriptions for most of the recognized species, but also reveals the existence of cryptic diversity in groups marked by high admixture, thus suggesting hybridization as a driving force in coral species diversity.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Outcome of schizophrenia in the Afro-Caribbean community.

It has been suggested that atypical psychoses of good prognosis might account for the high rates of schizophrenia in the Afro-Caribbean community in Britain. In this study 39 Afro-Caribbean admitted with RDC schizophrenia were followed up in the community, as were matched white subjects. Psychological and social impairments were similarly severe in both groups, showing that schizophrenia among Afro-Caribbeans in Britain is not marked by a favourable outlook. This finding has major implications both for our understanding of the aetiology of schizophrenia, and for the provision of psychiatric services.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Screening for cervical and breast cancer among Caribbean immigrants.

The yield of abnormal Pap tests was 13.3/1000 women screened; the yield of breast cancer was 2.2/1000 women examined. Approximately half of the Haitian immigrants (N = 361) had no prior Pap test, compared to one-quarter of the English-speaking Caribbean immigrants (N = 228) and one-tenth of the U.S.-born Black women (N = 264). Only 47% of Haitian women had a regular source of health care compared to 74% of the English speaking Caribbean women and 83% of the U.S.-born Black women. Haitian women were much less likely to practice breast self-examination or to use contraception than were U.S.-born Black women. This program reveals significant needs for preventive health services among low-income Caribbean immigrant women, and demonstrates that selective neighborhood-site programs can be effective in reaching those in need.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed1992

Characterisation of HLA DQ alpha for forensic purposes. Allele and genotype frequencies in British Caucasian, Afro-Caribbean and Asian populations.

Allele and genotype frequencies for British Caucasian, Afro-Caribbean and Asian populations were determined for a total of over 600 unrelated individuals at the HLA-DQ alpha locus. These were analysed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the DNA followed by hybridisation to allele specific oligonucleotide probes in a reversed dot-blot test. Six different alleles were detected and the allele distributions for the 3 populations analysed displayed significant differences. However, the British Caucasian genotypes were statistically very similar to previously published data from US Caucasians as were British Afro-Caribbean genotype frequencies with US Black data. In Caucasians the allele frequencies ranged from 5.2% to 26.9% with a power of discrimination of 0.93. DQ alpha genotype frequencies of Caucasian and Afro-Caribbean populations do not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. However, the Asian data displayed significant deviation due to excess homozygotes.

Alleles↗

PubMed1991

HTLV-1 envelope sequences from Brazil, the Caribbean, and Romania: clustering of sequences according to geographic origin and variability in an antibody epitope.

We sequenced the envelope genes of Human T-cell leukemia type I viruses (HTLV-I) derived from five Brazilian, two Caribbean, and one Romanian case of adult T-cell leukemia after amplification of the complete env gene by PCR. A comparison with previously reported HTLV-I sequences revealed that, although highly homologous, no two env sequences were identical. All envelope sequences differed from each other by 0.3-2.1% nucleotide differences. The five Brazilian sequences clustered together and were about as different from each other (0.5-0.75% nucleotide difference) as were three previously reported Japanese sequences (0.7-0.95%). In contrast, sequences of Caribbean origin were less homogeneous (0.5-1.9% nucleotide differences within this group). The Romanian sequence was not significantly more divergent than any of the others and was closest to our two Caribbean sequences. We observed two changes in a region (aa 176-209) which has previously been shown to contain a linear antibody epitope recognized by most human sera from seropositive individuals. One of these changes affects the binding of monoclonal antibodies to this epitope demonstrating the variability of an antibody epitope in the HTLV-I envelope.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1988

A prospective study of severe mental disorder in Afro-Caribbean patients.

Several previous studies have reported increased rates of schizophrenia among Afro-Caribbean immigrants, although doubt has been cast upon the value of case-note diagnoses and retrospective case-finding. A prospective study was therefore undertaken, including all patients of Afro-Caribbean ethnic origin with a first onset psychosis presenting to the psychiatric services from a defined catchment area. Utilizing several diagnostic classifications, rates for schizophrenia were found to be substantially increased in the Afro-Caribbean community, and especially in the 'second generation' British born. Mode of onset and symptom profiles of psychoses suggest that atypical syndromes, and by implication 'misdiagnoses', do not account for reported higher rates of schizophrenic illness in these patients.

Adolescent↗