Publications by authors named "Gregory A Talavera"

Background: Previous research has yielded inconsistent results on associations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with thyroid hormones, which has been implicated in diabetes development. Studies specifically investigating associations with hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) homeostasis parameters or associations in postmenopausal women are limited.

Methods: Using baseline examination data between 2008 and 2011, we studied 1073 men and 716 postmenopausal women participating in an ancillary study of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

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Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) increases risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite the high prevalence of MASLD among Hispanic populations, there is a scarcity of research on the associations between non-invasive markers of liver disease and incident CVD and all-cause mortality. In this study we investigated the association of liver related biomarkers with CVD events and all-cause mortality in a population based Hispanic/Latino cohort.

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The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing among the Hispanic/Latino population. Type 2 diabetes incidence rates vary between neighborhoods, but no single aspect of the neighborhood environment is known to cause type 2 diabetes. Using data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos cohort of 16,415 Hispanic/Latino adults in four major US cities, we conducted a neighborhood environment-wide association study to identify neighborhood measures or clusters of measures associated with diabetes incidence.

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Background: Hereditary transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy is commonly caused by the Val122Ile variant, a mutation found in non-Hispanic individuals of West African descent but understudied among the Hispanic/Latino (H/L) population, despite their admixed genetic ancestry (African ancestry [AA], European ancestry [EA], and Amerindian ancestry) and heterogeneous AA proportions within disaggregated backgrounds.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine Val122Ile variant prevalence among community-dwelling H/L adults and disaggregated background groups; to evaluate associations with genetic continental ancestry; and to characterize echocardiographic phenotype.

Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 12,687 H/L adults (aged 18-74) in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos cohort (2008-2011), who consented to genome-wide studies and continental ancestry ascertainment.

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Often, studies will aggregate all participants identified as Hispanic/Latino, despite genetic and environmental substructures, preventing the meaningful interrogation of the roles of genetics and environment in human health. Using the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), we examined how self-identified background group and genetic ancestry influence gene-environment interactions between body mass index (BMI) and a polygenic score for BMI (PGS). Participants (n = 7,075) identified with six background groups: Central American, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and South American.

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Background: Hispanic/Latino populations have been reported to have high rates of both metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and infection. Several observational studies, predominantly from Asian populations, have suggested a link between these conditions. Thus, the primary objective of the current study was to examine the association between and MASLD and secondarily, to assess its association with related conditions in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

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Due to the paucity of longitudinal DNA methylation data (DNAm), especially among Hispanic/Latino adults, the association between changes in epigenetic clocks over time and cognitive aging phenotypes has not been investigated. This longitudinal study included 2671 Hispanic/Latino adults (57 years; 66% women) with blood DNAm data and neurocognitive function assessed at two visits approximately 7 years apart. We evaluated the associations of 5 epigenetic clocks and their between-visit change with multiple measures of cognitive aging that included a global cognitive function score at each visit, between-visit change in global cognitive function score, MCI diagnosis, and presence of significant cognitive decline at visit 2 (V2).

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Background: Lp(a) (lipoprotein[a]) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, its association with cerebrovascular disease is not as well established.

Methods: Data from a population-based cohort of Hispanics/Latinos included 16 333 individuals with baseline Lp(a) levels (nmol/L) and self-reported prevalent stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). A subset of 2642 individuals with brain magnetic resonance imaging was also included.

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Background And Objectives: Better cardiovascular health (CVH), measured using the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score, is associated with improved cognitive function. However, its effect on brain imaging in Hispanics/Latinos has not been reported. We investigated the association of LS7 score with brain MRI outcomes in a diverse Hispanic/Latino population.

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Background: Domestic and international migrants along the United States-Mexico border are at increased risk for diabetes due to structural and psychosocial adversities.

Objectives: This study assessed the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in a low-income United States-Mexico border community; examined the relationships between depression, anxiety, andadverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and diabetes prevalence and glucose regulation; and explored indirect effects of social support on these relationships. Results.

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Background: Modifiable risk factors play a central role in the development and course of neurodegenerative disorders of later life, including dementias. Although past research has focused on independent associations of modifiable risk factors, including cardiovascular disease risk factors using Framingham cardiovascular risk score, physical activity, dietary quality, body mass index, and sleep, on neurodegeneration, the impact of all 5 factors simultaneously in a multimodal model has not been studied. We examined independent associations and an overall combined model with 5 modifiable risk factors with white matter injury, a recognized risk factor for dementia, ≈10 years later in a diverse Hispanic/Latino population.

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Socioeconomic position (SEP) in childhood and beyond may influence the gut microbiome, with implications for disease risk. Studies evaluating the relationship between life-course SEP and the gut microbiome are sparse, particularly among Hispanic/Latino individuals, who have a high prevalence of low SEP. We use the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a population-based cohort study conducted in four field centers in the United States (U.

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Objective: Previous research on depressive symptoms with incident hypertension has yielded mixed results, and this relationship has not been studied in a diverse group of Hispanic/Latino adults.

Methods: We studied 5927 Hispanic/Latino adults aged 18-74 years from four U.S.

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Objective: Examine the association of household ties with diabetes awareness and self-care behaviors among Hispanic/Latinos.

Research Design And Methods: Data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos were used (Visit 2; 2014-2017; n = 11,071). Household ties (none, extended, and close), sex, and loneliness were used in a cluster analysis to derive the household clusters.

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Background: Few studies have examined how cancer incidence varies by the country of origin among US Hispanic/Latino adults. In this study, we describe the incidence rates (IR) of cancer overall and for screen-detectable, tobacco-related, and obesity-related cancers among 16,415 participants in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, an ongoing population-based cohort study of Hispanic/Latino adults from diverse backgrounds.

Methods: Cohort participant records were linked to the state cancer registries in New York, Florida, California, and Illinois to ascertain cancer incidence from baseline (2008-2011) through 2021.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on understanding apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels in the Hispanic/Latino community and their relationship to cardiovascular disease risk.
  • Participants were part of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), which included a diverse range of individuals across four major US cities.
  • Results indicated that the average apoB concentration was higher in males compared to females, highlighting potential gender differences in cardiovascular risk among Hispanic or Latino populations.
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Background: Previous studies have demonstrated associations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with sex-related hormones; however, findings were inconsistent. Sex-specific impacts and pathways through which adiposity influences associations are not completely understood. We sought to evaluate sex-specific associations of POPs serum concentration with sex-related hormones and to explore pathways through which adiposity may modify associations.

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Article Synopsis
  • Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a risk factor for stroke and Alzheimer’s disease, particularly among Hispanic/Latino adults, highlighting the need for research on its impact on brain health in this demographic.
  • This study, based on the Hispanic Community Health Study, analyzed the association between SDB and brain MRI measures in a diverse group of Hispanic/Latino adults, using data from 2,667 participants with neuroimaging conducted about 10 years after initial sleep assessments.
  • Results indicated that higher respiratory event index (REI) correlated with larger hippocampal volumes, while lower oxygen levels during sleep were related to expanded white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes, suggesting complex relationships between SDB, oxygen
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Background: Many present analyses of Hispanic/Latino populations in epidemiologic research aggregate all members of this ethnic group, despite immense diversity in genetic backgrounds, environment, and culture between and across Hispanic/Latino background groups. Using the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), we examined the role of self-identified background group and genetic ancestry proportions in gene-environment interactions influencing the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and a polygenic score for BMI (PGS).

Methods: Weighted univariate and multivariable generalized linear models were executed to compare the effects of environmental variables identified by McArdle et al.

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Purpose: The current study examined associations of social and built features of neighborhood environments with psychological distress 6 years later and whether these associations were explained by stress and social factors, among Hispanic/Latino adults from the HCHS/SOL and SOL CASAS Ancillary Study.

Methods: In the SOL CASAS Ancillary Study, HCHS/SOL San Diego participants' baseline (2008-2011) home addresses were geocoded, neighborhoods were defined using 800 m radial buffers, and variables representing neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation, social disorder, walkability, and greenness were created. Psychological distress (anxiety and depression symptoms) and proposed pathway variables chronic stress, social support, and family cohesion were assessed at HCHS/SOL Visit 2 (2014-2017).

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Background: Hispanics/Latinos of Dominican background living in United States (US) have the highest hypertension prevalence compared with other Hispanic/Latino persons.

Objective: To understand cardiovascular health among Dominicans, we evaluated hypertension prevalence and risk factors among Dominicans from the US and Dominican Republic (DR) using data from Hispanic Community Health Study/ Study of Latinos [HCHS/SOL] and the Prevalencia de Hipertension Arterial y Factores de Riesgo Cardiovasculares en la República Dominicana al 2017 (ENPREFAR-HAS 17) study.

Methods: Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg, self-reported hypertension, or antihypertensive use.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focused on the Hispanic/Latino population, one of the largest groups in the U.S. at high risk for dementia, examining how cognitive performance relates to brain health over time.
  • - Researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,000 participants across two visits, finding that lower scores in episodic and working memory were linked to more severe brain changes, like increased white matter hyperintensity and decreased hippocampal volume.
  • - The results suggest that understanding cognitive risk profiles in this group could help with early detection and intervention for neurodegenerative conditions, potentially influencing their progression.
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Objectives: The validity of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire has not been thoroughly evaluated among Hispanics/Latinos. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the concurrent validity and correlates of discordance of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire by comparing it to accelerometry in estimating sedentary behavior, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and meeting United States physical activity guidelines by sociodemographic, behavioral, and health characteristics.

Design: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos is a 4-site cohort study of United States adults aged 18-74 years enrolled from 2008 to 2011.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the impact of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on cognitive changes in Hispanic/Latino adults in the U.S., as previous research has not focused on this demographic.
  • Using data from 1837 participants, researchers measured levels of various POPs and administered neurocognitive tests at two different time points, between 2008-2011 and 2015-2018.
  • Findings indicate that higher levels of certain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are linked to significant declines in cognition, particularly affecting verbal learning abilities over a seven-year period.
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Context: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted endocrine disorder with reproductive and metabolic dysregulation. PCOS has been associated with inflammation and metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, the moderating effects of inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP) and menopause on the PCOS-MetS association have not been studied in Hispanic/Latinas with PCOS who have a higher metabolic burden.

Objective: We studied the cross-sectional association between PCOS and (1) MetS in 7316 females of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), (2) subcomponents of MetS including impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and elevated triglycerides (TGL), and (3) effect modification by menopausal status and CRP.

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