Sex and Drug Risk Behavior Pre- and Post-Emigration Among Latino Migrant Men in Post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans

High rates of sex and drug risk behaviors have been documented among Latino migrant men in the US. Whether these behaviors were established in the migrants’ home countries or were adopted in the US has not been described and has implications for prevention strategies. Quarterly surveys were conducted to gather information on selected sex and drug risk practices of Latino migrant men who arrived in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina seeking work. Both kappa scores and McNemar’s tests were performed to determine if practice of these behaviors in home country was similar to practice post-emigration to the US. Female sex worker (FSW) patronage, same sex encounters (MSM), and crack cocaine use was more likely to occur post- rather than pre-emigration. Of those who ever engaged in these selected behaviors, most adopted the behavior in the US (i.e., 75.8 % of FSW patrons, 72.7 % of MSM participants, and 85.7 % of crack cocaine users), with the exception of binge drinking (26.8 %). Men who were living with a family member were less likely to adopt FSW patronage OR = 0.27, CI = 0.10–0.76, whereas men who earned >$465 per week were more likely to adopt crack cocaine use OR = 6.29 CI = 1.29, 30.57. Interventions that facilitate the maintenance of family cohesion and provide strategies for financial management may be useful for reducing sex and drug risk among newly arrived migrants.     

p-Amminobenzoic Acid as a Protective Agent in Ozone Toxicity

The ability of p-aminobenzoìc acid (PABA) to profeet against ozone toxicity was demonstrated in two experimental systems p-Aminobenzoic acid, and the related compounds p-aminohippuric acid and anthranïlïc acid, inhibited the ozone-induced loss of activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase in human erythrocytes exposed in vitro to 40 ppm of ozone. Protection in vivo was demonstrated In a study in which 15 rats injected intraperitoneally with 2 ml of 20 mM PABA prior to ozone exposure died in a mean of 426 minutes as compared to a mean of 261 minutes for 15 control animals similarly exposed to 15 ppm of ozone. These findings provide additional presumptive evidence of the importance of free radicals in the mechanism of ozone toxicity. They further suggest that PABA and related compounds warrant exploration as possible protective agents in susceptible populations exposed to significant photochemical air pollution.     

Nitrogen Dioxide Inhalation And Lung Antibodies

A self-refrigerated suit using dry ice as cooling agent and allowing the wearer to move about freely is described. Its efficiency during exposure to heat (dry bulb temperature, t_a = 46 C; wet bulb temperature, t_wb = 35 C) and heavy physical work on a treadmill has been demonstrated by experiments on 26 subjects. The heart rate is reduced and the body temperature is decreased. The way in which this self-refrigerated suit reduces the heat load is discussed and the usefulness of its application is emphasized.