Gentrification and access to housing in Mexico City during 2000 to 2022.

We conducted a spatial and temporal analysis of housing patterns in Mexico City by utilizing an extensive database of 16,000 prices for flats and houses, covering the period from 2000 to 2022. Our findings reveal a striking trend: The average housing prices have quadrupled over a 20-y period, without considering inflation. In contrast, the per capita labor income of Mexican citizens has declined relative to inflation. As a result, the average family encountered four times greater challenges in accessing housing in 2015 as compared to 2005. Furthermore, our research demonstrates that areas that have undergone significant gentrification or super-gentrification contribute to a widespread increase in land value on neighboring zones, leading to the emergence of clusters of highly expensive neighborhoods.

Weather deviations linked to undocumented migration and return between Mexico and the United States.

As the world's climate continues to change, human populations are exposed to increasingly severe and extreme weather conditions that can promote migration. Here, we examine how extreme weather influences the likelihood of undocumented migration and return between Mexico and the United States. We used data from 48,313 individuals observed between 1992 and 2018 in 84 Mexican agricultural communities. While controlling for regional and temporal confounding factors, we related individual decisions to migrate to the United States without documents and subsequently return to Mexico with lagged weather deviations from the historical norm during the corn-growing season (May to August). Undocumented migration was most likely from areas experiencing extreme drought, and migrants were less likely to return to their communities of origin when extreme weather persisted. These findings establish the role of weather shocks in undocumented Mexican migration to, and eventual settlement in, the United States. The findings also suggest that extreme weather conditions, which are likely to increase with climate change, promote clandestine mobility across borders and, thus, expose migrants to risks associated with crossing dangerous terrain and relying upon smugglers.

Deportations and departures: Undocumented Mexican immigrants' return migration during three presidential administrations.

This study examines changes in the sociodemographic patterns of deportation and voluntary return of undocumented immigrants from the United States to Mexico during three US presidential administrations (2001 to 2019) with different immigration policies. Most previous studies examining these migration flows for the United States as a whole have relied exclusively on counts of deportees and returnees, thereby ignoring changes over the past 20 y in the characteristics of the undocumented population itself, i.e., the population at risk of deportation or voluntary return. We estimate Poisson models based on two data sources that permit us to compare changes in the sex, age, education, and marital status distributions of both deportees and voluntary return migrants with the corresponding changes in the undocumented population during the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations: the Migration Survey on the Borders of Mexico-North (Encuesta sobre Migración en las Fronteras de México-Norte) for counts of deportees and voluntary return migrants and the Current Population Survey's Annual Social and Economic Supplement for estimated counts of the undocumented population living in the United States. We find that whereas disparities by sociodemographic characteristics in the likelihood of deportation generally increased beginning in Obama's first term, sociodemographic disparities in the likelihood of voluntary return generally decreased over this period. Despite heightened antiimmigrant rhetoric during the Trump administration, the changes in deportation and voluntary return migration to Mexico among the undocumented during Trump's term were part of a trend that began early in the Obama administration.

US foreign aid restrictions and maternal and children's health: Evidence from the "Mexico City Policy".

This paper analyzes the link between foreign aid for family planning services and a broad set of health outcomes. More specifically, it documents the harmful effects of the so-called "Mexico City Policy" (MCP), which restricts US funding for nongovernmental organizations that provide abortion-related services abroad. First enacted in 1985, the MCP is implemented along partisan lines; it is enforced only when a Republican administration is in office and quickly rescinded when a Democrat wins the presidency. Although previous research has shown that MCP causes significant disruption to family planning programs worldwide, its consequences for health outcomes, such as mortality and HIV rates, remain underexplored. The independence of the MCP's implementation from the situation in recipient countries allows us to systematically study its impact. Using country-level data from 134 countries between 1990 and 2015, we first show that the MCP is associated with higher maternal and child mortality and HIV incidence rates. These effects are magnified by dependence on US aid while mitigated by funds from non-US donors. Next, we complement these results using individual-level data from 30 low- and middle-income countries and show that, under the MCP, women have less access to modern contraception and are less exposed to information on family planning and AIDS via in-person channels. Moreover, pregnant women are more likely to report that their pregnancy is not desired. Our findings highlight the importance of mitigating the harmful effects of MCP by redesigning or counteracting this policy.

Ancient inhabitants of the Basin of Mexico kept an accurate agricultural calendar using sunrise observatories and mountain alignments.

In the hot dry spring of monsoon-driven environments, keeping an accurate calendar to regulate the annual planting of crops is of critical importance. Before the Spanish conquest, the Basin of Mexico had a highly productive farming system able to feed its very large population. However, how they managed to keep their farming dates in synchrony with the solar year is not known. In this paper, we show that the observation of sunrise against the Basin's eastern horizon could have provided an accurate solar calendar and that some important sunrise landmarks coincide well with the themes of seasonal festivities described in early codices. We also show that a long stone causeway in the summit of Mount Tlaloc aligns perfectly with the rising sun on February 23 to 24, in coincidence with the Basin's new year in the Mexica calendar. Third, we demonstrate that, when viewed from the sacred Mount Tepeyac in the bottom of the Basin, sunrise aligns with Mount Tlaloc also on February 24. The importance of Mount Tlaloc as a calendric landmark seems to be corroborated by illustrations and texts in ancient Mexica codices. Our findings demonstrate that by using carefully developed alignments with the rugged eastern horizon, the inhabitants of the Basin of Mexico were able to adjust their calendar to keep in synchrony with the solar year and successfully plan their corn harvests.

The first Cyclospora cayetanensis lineage A genome from an isolate from Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Cyclospora cayetanensis is a protozoan parasite that causes intestinal illness in humans worldwide. Despite its global distribution, most genomic data for C. cayetanensis has been obtained from isolates collected in the United States, leaving genetic variability among globally distributed isolates underexplored. RESULTS: In the present study, the genome of an isolate of C. cayetanensis obtained from a child with diarrhea living in Mexico was sequenced and assembled. Evaluation of the assembly using a lineage typing system recently developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that this isolate is lineage A. CONCLUSIONS: Given that the only other whole genome assembly available from Mexico was classified as lineage B, the data presented here represent an important step in expanding our knowledge of the diversity of C. cayetanensis isolates from Mexico at the genomic level.

Borrelia turicatae from Ticks in Peridomestic Setting, Camayeca, Mexico.

We conducted surveillance studies in Sinaloa, Mexico, to determine the circulation of tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes. We collected argasid ticks from a home in the village of Camayeca and isolated spirochetes. Genomic analysis indicated that Borrelia turicatae infection is a threat to those living in resource-limited settings.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Children along the US‒Mexico Border, 2017-2023.

Rocky mountain spotted fever (RMSF) causes significant illness and death in children. Although historically rare in California, USA, RMSF is endemic in areas of northern Mexico that border California. We describe 7 children with RMSF who were hospitalized at a tertiary pediatric referral center in California during 2017-2023. Five children had recent travel to Mexico with presumptive exposure, but 2 children did not report any travel outside of California. In all 7 patients, Rickettsia rickettsii DNA was detected by plasma microbial cell-free next-generation sequencing, which may be a useful diagnostic modality for RMSF, especially early in the course of illness, when standard diagnostic tests for RMSF are of limited sensitivity. A high index of suspicion and awareness of local epidemiologic trends remain most critical to recognizing the clinical syndrome of RMSF and initiating appropriate antimicrobial therapy in a timely fashion.

Plasmodium vivax Infections among Immigrants from China Traveling to the United States.

Beginning in 2023, we observed increased Plasmodium vivax malaria cases at an institution in Los Angeles, California, USA. Most cases were among migrants from China who traveled to the United States through South and Central America. US clinicians should be aware of possible P. vivax malaria among immigrants from China.

Conceptual Framework for Community-Based Prevention of Brown Dog Tick-Associated Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a severe tickborne disease that can reach epidemic proportions in communities with certain social and ecologic risk factors. In some areas, the case-fatality rate of brown dog tick-associated RMSF is up to 50%. Because of the spread of brown dog tick-associated RMSF in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, the disease has the potential to emerge and become endemic in other communities that have large populations of free-roaming dogs, brown dog ticks, limited resources, and low provider awareness of the disease. By using a One Health approach, interdisciplinary teams can identify communities at risk and prevent severe or fatal RMSF in humans before cases occur. We have developed a conceptual framework for RMSF prevention to enable communities to identify their RMSF risk level and implement prevention and control strategies.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Mimicking Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Hospitalized Children, Sonora, Mexico.

We describe 5 children who had Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and manifested clinical symptoms similar to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in Sonora, Mexico, where RMSF is hyperendemic. Physicians should consider RMSF in differential diagnoses of hospitalized patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome to prevent illness and death caused by rickettsial disease.

Unraveling the gut microbiota of Mexican pinnipeds: the dominance of life histories over phylogeny.

Studying how phylogeny influences the composition and functions of microbiotas within animal hosts is essential for gaining insights into the connection between genetics, ecology, and health in the animal kingdom. However, due to limited comprehensive studies, this influence remains unclear for many wild mammals, including Mexican pinnipeds. We employed 16S rRNA gene deep-sequencing to investigate the impact of phylogeny on the gut microbiota of four pinniped species inhabiting Mexican shores: the Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii), the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), and the Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus philippii townsendi). Our results indicated that factors such as diets and shared life histories exerted more influence on microbiota composition than phylogeny alone. Notably, otariid species sharing similar life histories displayed greater microbiota similarity than phocids, which have distinct life histories and fewer microbiota similarities. Furthermore, harbor seals have more microbial similarities with the two otariid species than with elephant seals. Of particular concern, we observed a higher abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Photobacterium damselae and Clostridium perfringens) in harbor seals and Guadalupe fur seals compared to other pinnipeds. This finding could pose health threats to these species and nearby human populations.IMPORTANCEPinnipeds in Mexico host microbial communities that remain understudied. While several factors can influence microbiota composition, the role of phylogenetic relationships among these pinnipeds remains unclear due to limited knowledge of the microbiota in certain species. This study aimed to fill this gap by characterizing the composition and function of the gut microbiota in the four pinniped species that occur in Mexico. Our analysis reveals that shared diets and life histories contribute to similarities in the composition of gut microbial communities. This study also highlights the potential differences in the metabolic capabilities and adaptations within the gut microbiota of pinnipeds. Understanding how phylogeny impacts microbial communities enhances our insights into the evolutionary dynamics of marine mammals.

Expanding Hepatitis C Virus Treatment in the New Mexico State Prison System: Using the ECHO Model for Provider and Prison Peer Education.

It is critical to address hepatitis C virus (HCV) in carceral settings to achieve worldwide elimination of the virus. We describe New Mexico's (NM) experience expanding HCV treatment in state prisons, supplemented with Project ECHO (ECHO; virtual mentorship through guided practice) and the NM Peer Education Program (NMPEP). We describe how using these programs may be a model for expanding treatment in prisons globally. ECHO, NM Corrections Department (NMCD) and Wexford Health Services (WHS) collaborate to treat HCV in state prisons and increase HCV knowledge among incarcerated persons using NMPEP. Each person arriving in prison is tested for HCV and those with active infection receive baseline labs, which are reviewed. Patients not meeting criteria for simplified treatment are presented to ECHO for expert guidance. Otherwise, patients are treated by WHS without consultation. NMPEP provides patient-to-patient education in prisons, addressing HCV myths and exploring treatment refusals. From December 2020 to June 2023, 3603 people had HCV viremia. In this study, 1685 people started treatment: 1280 were treated using the simplified algorithm and 405 were presented to ECHO. Of the 988 people who completed treatment and had sustained virologic response (SVR) labs drawn, 89.2% achieved SVR (i.e., cure). Most of the 107 people who did not achieve SVR had presumed reinfection. NMPEP trained 148 peer educators who educated 3832 peers about HCV prevention and treatment. HCV treatment in prisons can be expanded by implementing simplified treatment algorithms, use of the ECHO model for patients with advanced disease and peer education.

Stochastic processes and changes in evolutionary rate are associated with diversification in a lineage of tropical hard pines (Pinus).

The study of the patterns of polymorphism and molecular evolution among closely related species is key to understanding the evolutionary forces involved in the diversification of lineages. This point is a big challenge in species with slow evolutionary rates, long life cycles, and ancient, shared polymorphisms such as conifers. Under the premise of divergence in a stepwise migration process, we expect clinal geographical patterns of purifying selection efficiency, and genetic structure related to latitude or longitude. If migration is accompanied by changes in the environment, we could further expect a role of positive selection in driving species divergence. Here, we infer patterns of polymorphism, efficiency of purifying selection, and molecular evolution using a dataset of 161 nuclear genes (∼71 Kb) in a lineage of hard pines from North America, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America presumed to have migrated from North America toward lower latitudes with tropical conditions. Under the premise of differences in selective pressures, we also look for possible signals of positive selection. To test our hypothesis, first we estimated different indices to infer patterns of polymorphism and efficiency of purifying selection (Ka, Ks, Ka/Ks, dN, dS, dN/dS, and dxy) and compared these metrics across five clades. Also, we investigated possible clinal patterns in these indices and morphological traits (needle length and cone length). Then we inferred genetic structure and environmental differences among species to test for possible signals of positive selection using phylogenetic methods in specific clades. We found differences among clades using Ka, Ks, and Ka/Ks with a relaxation of purifying selection, especially in the Elliotti and Patula clades. We also found environmental differences related to geographic distance, and among clades suggesting differences in selective pressures. The indices Ks, dxy, and needle length had relationships with geography but not ovulate cone length. Finally, we found that most analyzed genes are under purifying selection, but there was an exception of faster evolutionary rate in some pine species, suggesting the possible action of positive selection in divergence. Our study indicated that stochastic processes have played a key role in the diversification of the group, with a possible input of positive selection in pines from Mexico and Central America.

Incidence of hip fractures in Mexico 2006-2019: increasing numbers but decreasing rates.

This study, characterizing the incidence of hip fractures in Mexico, showed not only that the crude number of fractures has increased, but also there has been a decrease in fracture rates. Nonetheless, as the population ages in the coming decades, the current declines rate of could be expected to reverse. PURPOSE: This study is to examine the incidence, rates, and time trends of hip fractures from 2006 to 2019 in Mexico. Additionally, an analysis of the follow-up of the birth cohorts was carried out. METHODS: Hip fractures registered during the period of the study were obtained through the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) national discharge records. The incidence per 100,000 individuals was calculated from the IMSS population at risk. A time trend analysis was conducted using linear regression, and the identification of breakpoints in linear trends. RESULTS: There was an increase of hip fractures for both sexes ≥ 60 years (43% for women and 41%, for men). However, the rates diminished from 167.8/100,000 in 2006 to 138.5 /100,000 in the population 60 and over (1.9% and 0.9% per year in women and men respectively). When the information was analyzed by age groups, hip fracture rates were similar in both sexes but higher in women. The most significant contribution to the total number of fractures is due to the groups ≥ 70 years; people born before 1937 are accounting for the burden of fractures over the total data. In contrast, the younger generations appear to have lower rates. CONCLUSION: Rates of hip fracture have steadily declined in Mexico since 2006; however, with the population aging in the coming decades, current rates declines could be expected to reverse.

Maternal and Offspring Fatty Acid Desaturase Variants, Prenatal DHA Supplementation, and Dietary n-6:n-3 Fatty Acid Ratio in Relation to Cardiometabolic Health in Mexican Children.

BACKGROUND: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genes may modify dietary fatty acid requirements and influence cardiometabolic health (CMH). OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the role of selected variants in maternal and offspring FADS genes on offspring CMH at the age of 11 y and assessed interactions of genotype with diet quality and prenatal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation. METHODS: We used data from offspring (n = 203) born to females who participated in a randomized controlled trial of DHA supplementation (400 mg/d) from midgestation to delivery. We generated a metabolic syndrome (MetS) score from body mass index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and fasting glucose and identified 6 distinct haplotypes from 5 offspring FADS SNPs. Dietary n-6 (ω-6):n-3 fatty acid ratios were derived from 24-h recall data (n = 141). We used generalized linear models to test associations of offspring diet and FADS haplotypes with MetS score and interactions of maternal and offspring FADS SNP rs174602 with prenatal treatment group and dietary n-6:n-3 ratio on MetS score. RESULTS: Associations between FADS haplotypes and MetS score were null. Offspring SNP rs174602 did not modify the association of prenatal DHA supplementation with MetS score. Among children with TT or TC genotype for SNP rs174602 (n = 88), those in the highest n-6:n-3 ratio tertile (>8.61) had higher MetS score relative to the lowest tertile [<6.67) (Δ= 0.36; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03, 0.69]. Among children with CC genotype (n = 53), those in the highest n-6:n-3 ratio tertile had a lower MetS score relative to the lowest tertile (Δ= -0.23; 95% CI: -0.61, 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: There was evidence of an interaction of offspring FADS SNP rs174602 with current dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid intake, but not with prenatal DHA supplementation, on MetS score. Further studies may help to determine the utility of targeted supplementation strategies and dietary recommendations based on genetic profile.

Examining the Role of Aguas Frescas in Assessment of Sugary-Drink Intake among Mexican and Mexican American Adults.

BACKGROUND: Aguas frescas are Mexican drinks that are typically made with water, sugar, and fruit. Aguas frescas may be a significant component of sugary-drink intake among Mexican and Mexican-American (MA) adults. However, it is unclear whether survey respondents report aguas frescas consumption when it is not specifically queried in standardized beverage frequency instruments. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the prevalence of aguas frescas consumption, the sociodemographic correlates of aguas frescas intake, and how specifically querying aguas frescas intake affects sugary-drink estimates among Mexican and MA adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional, online surveys were conducted in 2021 with 5377 Mexican and 3073 MA adults as part of the International Food Policy Study. Past 7-d consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), sugary drinks, and aguas frescas were assessed along with relevant covariates. Weighted analyses included logistic and linear regression, including models with correlation structure. RESULTS: An estimated 61.7% of Mexican and 28.7% of MA adults consumed aguas frescas. In Mexico, consumption was associated with females, low education, perceiving oneself as having about the right weight, being good to excellent health, and consuming an unhealthy amount of sugary drinks. For MAs, intake was associated with being younger, speaking Spanish, and perceiving oneself as being underweight or about the right weight. Among Mexican adults who consumed aguas frescas but did not report them unless specifically queried, the volume of SSB intake was 67.9% higher for females and 64.3% higher for males when aguas frescas were included. Among MAs, SSB intake was 56.9% higher for females and 44.1% higher for males. Most participants (79.9%-85.2%) remained in the same sugary-drink tertiles when including compared with excluding aguas frescas. CONCLUSIONS: Aguas frescas should be queried during beverage intake assessments, as they contribute a nontrivial amount of added sugars to the diets of many Mexican and MA adults.

Neurocysticercosis: The duration of its preclinical phase relies on the parasite location.

OBJECTIVES: Neurocysticercosis (NC) is a heterogeneous disease particularly in terms of response to treatment and prognosis. Parasite localization is one of the main factors involved in this heterogeneity. In this study we aim to determine whether differences in the duration of the preclinical phase associated with parasite location, could contribute to said heterogeneity. METHODS: Ninety-nine patients were included, 24 with parasites in the parenchyma (PAR), 56 in the subarachnoid (SA) space and 19 in the ventricular system (IV). A questionnaire designed to assess exposure to classic NC risk factors 5, 10, 15, 20 and more than 20 years prior to diagnosis was applied. The results were compared between the three groups. Also, asymptomatic relatives of patients who had shared their living conditions in childhood or more recently were included and underwent brain scan and blood testing for specific antibodies. RESULTS: Over the course of their lives, exposure to risk factors decreased significantly for all patients, although the decrease was more evident in patients with parasites in the SA space (p < 0.001) compared to patients with PAR (p = 0.011) or IV cysts (p = 0.020). Five years prior to diagnosis, exposure to risk factors was significantly higher in patients with PAR or IV NC than in patients with SA NC (p = 0.04). Furthermore, individuals in close contact with PAR or IV patients in the years preceding diagnosis were more likely to have asymptomatic NC, specific antibodies in sera, particularly IgM, compared to individuals in close contact with SA patients during the same period. CONCLUSIONS: All these findings are highly suggestive of the possibility of a more recent infection of patients affected by parenchymal and ventricular NC than of patients with subarachnoid NC. Consequently, subarachnoid disease could be considered a chronic disease, which, probably contributes to the severity of the disease as well as the minimal response to medical treatment.

Insecticide susceptibility status of Anopheles albimanus populations in historical malaria foci in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Mexico has experienced a significant reduction in malaria cases over the past two decades. Certification of localities as malaria-free areas (MFAs) has been proposed as a steppingstone before elimination is achieved throughout the country. The Mexican state of Quintana Roo is a candidate for MFA certification. Monitoring the status of insecticide susceptibility of major vectors is crucial for MFA certification. This study describes the susceptibility status of Anopheles albimanus, main malaria vector, from historically important malaria foci in Quintana Roo, using both phenotypic and genotypic approaches. METHODS: Adult mosquito collections were carried out at three localities: Palmar (Municipality of Othon P. Blanco), Buenavista (Bacalar) and Puerto Morelos (Puerto Morelos). Outdoor human-landing catches were performed by pairs of trained staff from 18:00 to 22:00 during 3-night periods at each locality during the rainy season of 2022. Wild-caught female mosquitoes were exposed to diagnostic doses of deltamethrin, permethrin, malathion, pirimiphos-methyl or bendiocarb using CDC bottle bioassays. Mortality was registered at the diagnostic time and recovery was assessed 24 h after exposure. Molecular analyses targeting the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel (vgsc) gene and acetylcholinesterase (ace-1) gene were used to screen for target site polymorphisms. An SNP analysis was carried out to identify mutations at position 995 in the vgsc gene and at position 280 in the ace-1 gene. RESULTS: A total of 2828 anophelines were collected. The main species identified were Anopheles albimanus (82%) and Anopheles vestitipennis (16%). Mortalities in the CDC bottle bioassay ranged from 99% to 100% for all the insecticides and mosquito species. Sequence analysis was performed on 35 An. albimanus across the three localities; of those, 25 were analysed for vgsc and 10 for ace-1 mutations. All individuals showed wild type alleles. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that An. albimanus populations from historical malaria foci in Quintana Roo are susceptible to the main insecticides used by the Ministry of Health.

Analysis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases in Northern Mexico reveals genetic variability of Rickettsia rickettsii and the different distribution of genotypes.

Rickettsioses have been reported in parts of Mexico since the last century, with Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) being one of the most prevalent in northern states. Unfortunately, fatality rates for RMSF in Mexico are higher than in other countries, like the USA. The reason for this difference in fatality rates is currently unknown and could be associated with a genotype of the bacterium, but no comparative molecular typing has been conducted in Mexico to date. The purpose of this study was to analyze 47 RMSF samples with different outcomes from several states in northern Mexico to know the genetic variability of Rickettsia rickettsii, as well as to reconstruct its phylogeny, for which the following intergenic regions were sequenced: RR0155-rpmB, cspA-ksgA, RR1240-tlc5, and Spo0J-abc T1, as well as the following partial genes: ompA, ompB, and gltA. We identified 8 genotypes with different distribution and prevalence among the states analyzed, as well as a different association with case outcome; these genotypes were clustered in 2 clades and 5 lineages were revealed, some of them probably exclusive from Mexico.