High adenovirus 36 seroprevalence among a population of Hispanic American youth

Infection with adenovirus 36 (Ad36) has been associated with risk of obesity in youth in some studies, but the seroprevalence of this virus has not been examined among all populations. As Hispanic-American youth are of greater risk for obesity than other American youth, we sought to determine the proportion of Ad36 seropositive (Ad36+) students in an urban middle school serving a Hispanic population. We further examined if Ad36+ students were more likely to have obesity, and if Ad36 serostatus impacted changes in weight status following a health intervention. We determined body mass index (BMI) at the beginning and end of a 16-week health intervention among 40 Hispanic-American middle-school students. Ad36 serostatus was determined by enzyme-linked immunsorbent assay (ELISA). Seventy percent of the students were Ad36+. Ad36+ and Ad36 seronegative (Ad36−) did not differ before or after the intervention in body weight measures. The odds of being classified as obese was 1.4 times greater among Ad36+ than Ad36− at baseline, and 2.4 times greater post-intervention, but these were not statistically significant. We report a high seroprevalence of Ad36 among a population of Hispanic-American students. Ad36 seropositivity was associated with a trend for a greater likelihood of having obesity, but did not impact response to a health intervention.

Hispanic American Students' Cultural Orientation: Does Geographic Location, Institutional Type, or Level of Stress have an Effect?

This article looks at 370 Hispanic college students from institutional locations where Hispanics are significantly present in the population and from areas were Hispanics are not a critical mass. The Bicultural Orientation Model was used as a framework to determine whether geographic location influenced the students’ level of acculturation and/or level of ethnic identification. The findings indicate that students in areas where Hispanic Americans do not have a critical mass adjusting to the majority culture at a higher level than students in critical mass locales. No difference was found in their level of ethnic identity. Cultural orientation was not found to be associated with institutional type or scores on the College Stress Inventory.

Reliabilities of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills for Hispanic- and Anglo-American Students

Cronbach alpha reliabilities were computed separately for 425 Hispanic-American and Anglo-American students in Grades 3 to 6 on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary subtests. Anglo-American students' scores showed significantly higher reliabilities than Hispanic-American students' scores in Grades 4 and 5.

Depression and Suicidal Ideation in African-American and Hispanic American High School Students

21 Hispanic American students in an urban New Jersey high school obtained higher depression and suicidal ideation scores than 42 African-American students.