In-depth characterization of a new patient-derived xenograft model for metaplastic breast carcinoma to identify viable biologic targets and patterns of matrix evolution within rare tumor types.

Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a rare breast cancer subtype with rapid growth, high rates of metastasis, recurrence and drug resistance, and diverse molecular and histological heterogeneity. Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) provide a translational tool and physiologically relevant system to evaluate tumor biology of rare subtypes. Here, we provide an in-depth comprehensive characterization of a new PDX model for MBC, TU-BcX-4IC. TU-BcX-4IC is a clinically aggressive tumor exhibiting rapid growth in vivo, spontaneous metastases, and elevated levels of cell-free DNA and circulating tumor cell DNA. Relative chemosensitivity of primary cells derived from TU-BcX-4IC was performed using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) oncology drug set, crystal violet staining, and cytotoxic live/dead immunofluorescence stains in adherent and organoid culture conditions. We employed novel spheroid/organoid incubation methods (Pu·MA system) to demonstrate that TU-BcX-4IC is resistant to paclitaxel. An innovative physiologically relevant system using human adipose tissue was used to evaluate presence of cancer stem cell-like populations ex vivo. Tissue decellularization, cryogenic-scanning electron microscopy imaging and rheometry revealed consistent matrix architecture and stiffness were consistent despite serial transplantation. Matrix-associated gene pathways were essentially unchanged with serial passages, as determined by qPCR and RNA sequencing, suggesting utility of decellularized PDXs for in vitro screens. We determined type V collagen to be present throughout all serial passage of TU-BcX-4IC tumor, suggesting it is required for tumor maintenance and is a potential viable target for MBC. In this study we introduce an innovative and translational model system to study cell-matrix interactions in rare cancer types using higher passage PDX tissue.

Disgust as an emotional driver of vaccine attitudes and uptake? A mediation analysis.

Research on the drivers of vaccine acceptance has expanded but most interventions fall short of coverage targets. We explored whether vaccine uptake is driven directly or indirectly by disgust with attitudes towards vaccines acting as a possible mediator. An online cross-sectional study of 1007 adults of the USA via Amazon's Mechanical Turk was conducted in January 2017. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: (1) items assessing attitudes towards vaccines and vaccine uptake, (2) revised Disgust Scale (DS-R) to measure Disgust Sensitivity, (3) Perceived Vulnerability to Disease scale (PVD) to measure Germ Aversion and Perceived Susceptibility, and (4) socio-demographic information. Using mediation analysis, we assess the direct, the indirect (through Vaccine Attitudes) and the total effect of Disgust Sensitivity, Germ Aversion and Perceived Susceptibility on 2016 self-reported flu vaccine uptake. Mediation analysis showed the effect of Disgust Sensitivity and Germ Aversion on vaccine uptake to be twofold: a direct positive effect on vaccine uptake and an indirect negative effect through Vaccine Attitudes. In contrast, Perceived Susceptibility was found to have only a direct positive effect on vaccine uptake. Nonetheless, these effects were attenuated and small compared to economic, logistic and psychological determinants of vaccine uptake.

Metaboloepigenetics: providing alternate hypotheses for regulation of gene expression in the early embryo

The metabolic and epigenetic landscapes of the pre-implantation embryo change and evolve rapidly as the embryo travels through the reproductive tract. The maternal and paternal genomes combine, rapid cell division is initiated, potency is re-established and eventually differentiation begins, all in the absence of a vascular supply delivering oxygen, nutrients and a functional waste removal system. In recent years, it has become clear that environmental challenges to the developing embryo, including maternal diet, stress and inflammation, alter its long-term trajectory, although the exact signaling molecules, which are recognised by the embryo, and the mechanisms by which these signals are translated into long-term outcomes, remain elusive. Recently, it has become apparent that energy or fuel-sensing metabolic pathways interact with important epigenetic regulators of chromatin structure, to regulate gene expression. While this has not yet been explored in the pre-implantation embryo, the interaction between these two key cellular systems, - metaboloepigenetics - is a plausible mechanism by which gene-environment interactions occur, and by which the embryo’s trajectory is established. This review explores the metabolic and epigenetic plasticity of the early embryo, and how the two systems intertwine to propagate the next generation.

Metaboloepigenetics: providing alternate hypotheses for regulation of gene expression in the early embryo

The metabolic and epigenetic landscapes of the pre-implantation embryo change and evolve rapidly as the embryo travels through the reproductive tract. The maternal and paternal genomes combine, rapid cell division is initiated, potency is re-established and eventually differentiation begins, all in the absence of a vascular supply delivering oxygen, nutrients and a functional waste removal system. In recent years, it has become clear that environmental challenges to the developing embryo, including maternal diet, stress and inflammation, alter its long-term trajectory, although the exact signaling molecules, which are recognised by the embryo, and the mechanisms by which these signals are translated into long-term outcomes, remain elusive. Recently, it has become apparent that energy or fuel-sensing metabolic pathways interact with important epigenetic regulators of chromatin structure, to regulate gene expression. While this has not yet been explored in the pre-implantation embryo, the interaction between these two key cellular systems, - metaboloepigenetics - is a plausible mechanism by which gene-environment interactions occur, and by which the embryos trajectory is established. This review explores the metabolic and epigenetic plasticity of the early embryo, and how the two systems intertwine to propagate the next generation.(AU)

Cost-effectiveness of a community-based weight control intervention targeting a low-socioeconomic-status Mexican-origin population.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of our study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a community-based intervention designed to improve physical activity levels and dietary intake and to reduce diabetes risk in a largely Hispanic population residing along the U.S.-Mexico border. METHOD: We forecasted disease outcomes, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained, and lifetime costs associated with actual and projected attainment of 2% and 5% weight loss taking a societal cost perspective. We extrapolated changes in beverage calorie consumption between baseline and 6-month follow-up to attain projected weight loss measures. Outcomes were projected 5, 10, and 20 years into the future and discounted at a 3.0% rate. RESULTS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $57,430 and $61,893, respectively, per QALY gained when compared with usual care for the 2% and 5% weight loss scenarios. The intervention was particularly cost-effective for morbidly obese participants. Cost-effectiveness improves when using 3-year weight loss projections based on changes in sugar-sweetened beverage caloric consumption to $49,478 and $24,092 for the 2% and 5% weight loss scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis demonstrates that a culturally sensitive community-based weight loss and maintenance intervention can be cost-effective even when healthy weight individuals participate.

Opportunity costs associated with caring for older Mexican-Americans.

Long-term care use among older Mexican-Americans is poorly understood, despite the adverse effects on health and economic disadvantage in this vulnerable population. This study examines gender-based risk of long-term care use in 628 women and 391 men, age 70 and over in the 2000-2001 and 2004-2005 waves of the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly. Logistic regression models are employed to assess the impact of the opportunity cost implications of family support (kin availability and co-residence) relative to health care needs (quality-adjusted life years (QALY) weighted scores and functional limitations) on women's risk of entry into a nursing home. A small percentage (~5%) of men and women had entered a long-term care facility. Women had lower weights for QALY weights and greater disability than men, but on average were more likely to live with or in closer proximity to an adult child. Higher disability rates (p < 0.01) increased the risk of institutionalization regardless of gender because disability increases time burdens. Families with fewer adult children faced higher time burdens per child in caring for elderly parents; particularly for elderly mothers. Demographic trends suggest that the number of adult children available to share the caregiving load may decrease long-term care use.

Management of breast abscesses in Jamaican women is there need for a paradigm shift?

A paradigm shift from operative to non-operative management of breast abscesses has occurred in surgical centres worldwide. The recent experience in managing these patients at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) was examined. Data were obtained retrospectively from dockets retrieved from the UHWI medical records department, and were analysed using the SPSS version 11.0 software package for Windows. Seventy-seven patients with breast abscesses presented during the 66-month study period, but complete data were unavailable for seventeen cases. The mean age of the remaining sixty patients was 32 years. There was one male patient. There were no cases of bilateral disease, and the majority was right-sided. Mean white blood cell count at presentation was mildly elevated at 11.9 x 10(9)/L, and had no relationship to method of management or length of stay. There were two cases treated with aspiration and antibiotics only. All other cases were treated with incision and drainage. Culture results were available in forty-four cases, and in 80%, Staphylococcus aureus was identified, with one case of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The mean delay to the operating theatre was one day after presentation and the mean length of stay was 4.5 days. Seventeen patients had a 'non-cosmetic' incision. The traditional management of breast abscess provides challenges in terms of delay to the operating theatre and prolonged hospital stays. There is increased expense, as well as loss of productive work hours, associated with this line of treatment. Non-operative management has not traditionally been undertaken in our institution, but it is documented elsewhere to be safe, practical, and results in improved cosmetic outcomes. Prospective protocol-based trials are necessary to identify the patients most suitable for this line of management in a setting with limited resources.

Missed opportunities for diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia in a Mexican American population, Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, 2003-2008.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia are common chronic diseases among Hispanics, a group projected to comprise 30% of the US population by 2050. Mexican Americans are the largest ethnically distinct subgroup among Hispanics. We assessed the prevalence of and risk factors for undiagnosed and untreated diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia among Mexican Americans in Cameron County, Texas. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional baseline data collected from 2003 to 2008 in the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, a randomly selected, community-recruited cohort of 2,000 Mexican American adults aged 18 or older, to assess prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia; to assess the extent to which these diseases had been previously diagnosed based on self-report; and to determine whether participants who self-reported having these diseases were receiving treatment. We also assessed social and economic factors associated with prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment. RESULTS: Approximately 70% of participants had 1 or more of the 3 chronic diseases studied. Of these, at least half had had 1 of these 3 diagnosed, and at least half of those who had had a disease diagnosed were not being treated. Having insurance coverage was positively associated with having the 3 diseases diagnosed and treated, as were higher income and education level. CONCLUSIONS: Although having insurance coverage is associated with receiving treatment, important social and cultural barriers remain. Failure to provide widespread preventive medicine at the primary care level will have costly consequences.

Management of breast abscesses in jamaican women: is there need for a paradigm shift? / Tratamiento de abscesos mamarios en mujeres jamaicanas: ¿es necesario un cambio de paradigma?

A paradigm shift from operative to non-operative management of breast abscesses has occurred in surgical centres worldwide. The recent experience in managing these patients at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) was examined. Data were obtained retrospectively from dockets retrieved from the UHWI medical records department, and were analysed using the SPSS version 11.0 software package for Windows. Seventy-seven patients with breast abscesses presented during the 66-month study period, but complete data were unavailable for seventeen cases. The mean age of the remaining sixty patients was 32 years. There was one male patient. There were no cases of bilateral disease, and the majority was right-sided. Mean white blood cell count at presentation was mildly elevated at 11.9 x 10(9)/L, and had no relationship to method of management or length of stay. There were two cases treated with aspiration and antibiotics only. All other cases were treated with incision and drainage. Culture results were available in forty-four cases, and in 80%, Staphylococcus aureus was identified, with one case of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The mean delay to the operating theatre was one day after presentation and the mean length of stay was 4.5 days. Seventeen patients had a 'non-cosmetic' incision. The traditional management of breast abscess provides challenges in terms of delay to the operating theatre and prolonged hospital stays. There is increased expense, as well as loss of productive work hours, associated with this line of treatment. Non-operative management has not traditionally been undertaken in our institution, but it is documented elsewhere to be safe, practical, and results in improved cosmetic outcomes. Prospective protocol-based trials are necessary to identify the patients most suitable for this line of management in a setting with limited resources.

Un cambio de paradigma de tratamiento operatorio a tratamiento no operatorio de los abscesos mamarios, se ha producido en los centros quirúrgicos a nivel mundial. Se examinó la experiencia reciente en el tratamiento de estos pacientes en el Hospital Universitario de West Indies (HUWI). Se obtuvieron datos tomados retrospectivamente de listas de casos archivados en el Departamento de Historias Clínicas de HUWI, los cuales fueron analizados usando la versión 11.0 del software SPSS para Windows. Durante el período de 66 meses de estudio, se presentaron setenta y siete pacientes con abscesos de mama, pero en diecisiete casos no pudo disponerse de todos los datos. La edadpromedio de los otros sesenta pacientes fue 32 anos. Hubo un paciente varón. No hubo ningún caso de enfer-medad bilateral, y la mayoría se trataba del lado derecho. El conteo promedio de leucocitos a la hora de la presentación fue ligeramente elevado en 11.9 x 10(9)/L, y no guardaba ninguna relación con el método de tratamiento o duración de la estancia. Hubo dos casos tratados con aspiración y antibióticos solamente. Todos los otros casos se trataron con incisión y drenaje. Los resultados del cultivo se hallaban disponibles en cuarenta y cuatro casos, y en el 80% se identificó el estafilococo dorado, con un caso de Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina. La demora promedio para entrar al salón de operaciones fue de un día después de la presentación y la duración promedio de estancia eran 4.5 días. Diecisiete pacientes tenían una incisión 'no cosmética'. El tratamiento tradicional del absceso mamario presenta retos en términos de demora para ingresar al salón de operaciones y estadía prolongada en el hospital. Esta línea de tratamiento conlleva un aumento de los gastos así como pérdida de horas de trabajo productivo. El tratamiento no operatorio no ha sido tradicionalmente practicado en nuestra institución, pero sí en otras partes donde se documenta que es seguro, práctico, y produce mejores resultados cosméticos. Se requieren ensayos protocolares prospectivos a fin de identificar a los pacientes más convenientes para esta línea de tratamiento en un contexto de recursos limitados.

Trauma: the burden of a preventable problem.

Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries and we reviewed the demographics and cost of trauma in a Jamaican population. This is a retrospective, descriptive analytical study of all trauma patients aged 25 to 29-years who presented to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) during the study period, January 2001 to December 2005. Data were extracted from the Trauma Registry and analysed. Seven hundred and fifteen patients were included in the specified age group over the five-year period. The median age of the patients was 27 years and the median hospital stay was 3 days. There was a 4:1 ratio of males to females and 49.7% of injuries were caused by penetrating wounds. Motor vehicle accidents occurred in 22.4% of cases. Head injuries occurred in 13.6% of cases, long bone fractures in 16.5% and internal injury to chest or abdominal organs in 15.9% of cases. Craniotomy or thoracotomy was undertaken in 4% of cases, Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) or bone immobilization in 11% and laparotomy in 8% of cases. The mean injury severity scores (ISS) was 4 while 5% of patients had ISS greater than 15. More than 60% of patients underwent diagnostic X-rays, 8% had abdominal imaging (CT scan or ultrasound) and 9.5% underwent head CT scan. The in-hospital mortality was 4.2%. The median hospital bill charged was US$320.00 and the median amount paid by the patients was US$50.00. At the start of the new millennium, penetrating trauma accounted for almost 50% of cases at UHWI with the majority of costs associated with trauma-care being state funded.

Socioeconomic status and prevalence of obesity and diabetes in a Mexican American community, Cameron County, Texas, 2004-2007.

INTRODUCTION: Mexican Americans are at increased risk for obesity and diabetes. We established a cohort on the United States-Mexico border to determine the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in this Mexican American population and to see whether minor economic advantages had any effect on health. METHODS: We randomly selected and extensively documented 810 people aged 35 to 64 years. Weighted data were analyzed to establish prevalence of obesity and diabetes and other markers of poor health such as elevated glycated hemoglobin levels. RESULTS: Rates of obesity (body mass index > or = 30 kg/m(2)) were 57% in the first (lower) of 4 socioeconomic strata by income and were 55.5% in the third (higher). People in the higher socioeconomic stratum were significantly less likely to have undiagnosed diabetes (2% vs 9%). Among people aged 55 to 64 years, rates of diabetes were significantly higher among those in the lower socioeconomic stratum than among those in the higher stratum. Rates of undiagnosed diabetes had similar differences. Approximately three-fourths of the respondents reported having no health insurance, and we found no difference between people in different socioeconomic strata. CONCLUSION: Rates of obesity and diabetes in this border community are among the highest in the United States. Belonging to the lower socioeconomic stratum significantly increased the likelihood of having undiagnosed diabetes and, in patients too young to be eligible for Medicare, the overall risk of developing diabetes. Modest improvement in income has a beneficial effect on health in this racial/ethnic minority community.

Trauma: the burden of a preventable problem / Trauma: la carga de un problema evitable

Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries and we reviewed the demographics and cost of trauma in a Jamaican population. This is a retrospective, descriptive analytical study of all trauma patients aged 25 to 29years who presented to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) during the study period, January 2001 to December 2005. Data were extracted from the Trauma Registry and analysed. Seven hundred and fifteen patients were included in the specified age group over the fiveyear period. The median age of the patients was 27 years and the median hospital stay was 3 days. There was a 4:1 ratio of males to females and 49.7% of injuries were caused by penetrating wounds. Motor vehicle accidents occurred in 22.4% of cases. Head injuries occurred in 13.6% of cases, long bone fractures in 16.5% and internal injury to chest or abdominal organs in 15.9% of cases. Craniotomy or thoracotomy was undertaken in 4% of cases, Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) or bone immobilization in 11% and laparotomy in 8% of cases. The mean injury severity scores (ISS) was 4 while 5% of patients had ISS greater than 15. More than 60% of patients underwent diagnostic Xrays, 8% had abdominal imaging (CT scan or ultrasound) and 9.5% underwent head CT scan. The inhospital mortality was 4.2%. The median hospital bill charged was US$320.00 and the median amount paid by the patients was US$50.00. At the start of the new millennium, penetrating trauma accounted for almost 50% of cases at UHWI with the majority of costs associated with traumacare being state funded.

El trauma es una de las causas principales de morbosidad y mortalidad en los países en vías dedesarrollo. Aquí examinamos la demografía y el costo de los traumas en una población jamaicana. Éste es un estudio retrospectivo, analíticodescriptivo de todos los pacientes traumados de 25 a 29 años de edad que acudieron al Hospital Universitario de West Indies (UHWI) durante el periodo del estudio, a saber, de enero del 2001 a diciembre del 2005. Se extrajeron y analizaron los datos del Registro de Traumas. Setecientos quince pacientes fueron incluidos en el grupo etario especificado en el período de cinco años. La edad mediana de los pacientes fue de 27 años y la mediana de la estadía hospitalaria fue de 3 días. Hubo una proporción 4:1 de varones a hembras, y el 49.7% de lesiones fueron causadas por heridas penetrantes. Los accidentes automovilísticos ocuparon el 22.4% de casos. Las lesiones de cabeza ocurrieron en el 13.6% de casos; las fracturas de huesos largos en el 16.5%; las lesiones interiores del pecho y los órganos abdominales en el 15.9% de los casos. Se requirió craniotomía o toracotomía en el 4% de casos, reducción abierta y fijación interna (ORIF) o la inmovilización de huesos en el 11% de los casos, y laparotomía en el 8% de los casos. El promedio de la puntuación de la severidad de la lesión o puntuación ISS fue 4, mientras que el 5% de pacientes tuvo un ISS mayor de 15. Más del 60% de los pacientes recibieron examen diagnóstico mediante rayos x; el 8% recibió examen abdominal mediante imágenes (TC scan o ultrasonido) y al 9.5% se le practicó un TAC de la cabeza. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue de 4.2%. La mediana de la cuenta a pagar por gastos hospitalarios fue $320.00 USD y la mediana de la cantidad pagada por los pacientes fue $50.00 USD. En el comienzo del nuevo milenio, el trauma penetrante representaba casi el 50% de los casos atendidos en HUWI, con respecto a lo cual cabe señalar que la mayor parte de los costos asociados con la atención a traumas, están subvencionados por el Estado.

International competition and the demand for health insurance in the US: evidence from the Texas-Mexico border region.

Conventional economic explanations for uninsurance should apply to all geographic regions in the United States. However, the border states of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas have the highest rates of uninsurance in the US, accounting for over 30% of the total US uninsured population. We use survey data from the fourth wave of the Border Epidemiologic Study on Aging (BESA), a survey from a predominantly Mexican American region of South Texas from 2005 to 2006, to analyze how health insurance coverage in the US is related to the use of health care services in Mexico. BESA includes data on the use of health care services in the US and Mexico. We estimate probit models to investigate the association between having insurance coverage in the US and having a regular doctor in Mexico, the independent variable of interest. Separate models are estimated with having private insurance, Medicare Part B insurance, and any type of public insurance as dependent variables. We deal with the endogeneity, due to reverse causality, of having a regular doctor in Mexico by using instrumental variables in a bivariate probit model. The instruments are dental care utilization in Mexico and a variable measuring frequently visiting Mexico. The results show that competition from Mexico lowers the demand for health insurance coverage in the US side of the border.

Management of obstetric anal sphincter injuries at the University Hospital of the West Indies / Tratamiento de las lesiones obstétricas del esfínter anal en el Hospital Universitario de West Indies

Up to 6% of women sustain severe perineal lacerations that involve the anal sphincters during vaginal delivery. When they occur, obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) may be accompanied by significant morbidity. Therefore, it is important to detect these injuries promptly and for experienced staff to perform sound repair. This report retrospectively assesses a series of seven women with OASI who were managed at a tertiary level hospital in Jamaica over a period of 28 months. Unfavourable details of management that may have adversely affected outcomes were sought from the various cases treated. The incidence of OASI was low (0.2%). There were five third degree and two fourth degree lacerations. After these injuries were repaired, three patients (43%) experienced morbidity such as chronic pelvic pain (43%), anal incontinence (29%), dyspareunia (23%) and recto-vaginal fistulae (14%). In order to improve the outcomes at this institution, several aspects of current care can be improved. Operative repair of these injuries should be delayed until senior staff is available to supervise OASI repair. Both methods of sphincter repair are reasonable options but the use of rapidly absorbable sutures is not appropriate. Finally, prophylaxis against wound infections can be achieved by administering a single dose of intravenous second or third generation cephalosporin at the time of induction of anaesthesia.

Hasta el 6% de las mujeres sufren desgarramientos perineales severos que involucran los esfínteres anales durante el parto vaginal. Cuando ocurren, las lesiones obstétricas del esfínter anal (OASI) pueden estar acompañadas por morbilidad significativa. Por consiguiente, es importante descubrir estas lesiones rápidamente, para que el personal experimentado lleve a cabo una buena reparación quirúrgica. Este informe evalúa retrospectivamente una serie de siete mujeres con OASI, tratadas en un hospital de nivel terciario en Jamaica, durante un periodo de 28 meses. Se buscaron detalles desfavorables del tratamiento que puedan haber afectado adversamente la evolución clínica de los varios casos tratados. La incidencia de las OASI fue baja (0.2%). Hubo cinco desgarramientos de tercer grado y dos laceraciones de cuarto grado. Después de que estas lesiones fueron reparadas, tres pacientes (43%) experimentaron morbilidad, tal como dolor pélvico crónico (43%), incontinencia anal (29%), dispareunia (23%) y fístulas recto-vaginales (14%). A fin de mejorar los resultados clínicos en esta institución, pueden mejorarse varios aspectos del cuidado actual. La reparación operativa de estas lesiones debe retardarse hasta que esté disponible un personal de experiencia para supervisar la reparación de la OASI. Ambos métodos de reparación del esfínter constituyen opciones razonables, pero el uso de suturas rápidamente absorbibles no es apropiado. Finalmente, puede lograrse la profiláxis contra las infecciones de las heridas, administrando una sola dosis de cefalosporina intravenosa de segunda o tercera generación en el momento de inducción de la anestesia.

Persistent disparities in the use of health care along the US-Mexico border: an ecological perspective.

OBJECTIVES: We examined disparities in health care use among US-Mexico border residents, with a focus on the unique binational environment of the region, to determine factors that may influence health care use in Mexico. METHODS: Data were from 2 waves of a population-based study of 1048 Latino residents of selected Texas border counties. Logistic regression models examined predictors of health insurance coverage. Results from these models were used to examine regional patterns of health care use. RESULTS: Of the respondents younger than 65 years, 60% reported no health insurance coverage. The uninsured were 7 and 3 times more likely in waves 3 and 4, respectively, to use medical care in Mexico than were the insured. Preference for medical care in Mexico was an important predictor. CONCLUSIONS: For those who were chronically ill, old, poor, or burdened by the lengthy processing of their documents by immigration authorities, the United States provided the only source of health care. For some, Mexico may lessen the burden at the individual level, but it does not lessen the aggregate burden of providing highly priced care to the region's neediest. Health disparities will continue unless policies are enacted to expand health care accessibility in the region.

Management of obstetric anal sphincter injuries at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Up to 6% of women sustain severe perineal lacerations that involve the anal sphincters during vaginal delivery. When they occur obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) may be accompanied by significant morbidity. Therefore, it is important to detect these injuries promptly and for experienced staff to perform sound repair. This report retrospectively assesses a series of seven women with OASI who were managed at a tertiary level hospital in Jamaica over a period of 28 months. Unfavourable details of management that may have adversely affected outcomes were sought from the various cases treated The incidence of OASI was low (0.2%). There were five third degree and two fourth degree lacerations. After these injuries were repaired, three patients (43%) experienced morbidity such as chronic pelvic pain (43%), anal incontinence (29%), dyspareunia (23%) and recto-vaginal fistulae (14%). In order to improve the outcomes at this institution, several aspects of current care can be improved. Operative repair of these injuries should be delayed until senior staff is available to supervise OASI repair. Both methods of sphincter repair are reasonable options but the use of rapidly absorbable sutures is not appropriate. Finally, prophylaxis against wound infections can be achieved by administering a single dose of intravenous second or third generation cephalosporin at the time of induction of anaesthesia.

Emergency department thoracotomy in Jamaica: a case controlled study.

Increasing numbers of severely injured patients have been presenting to Emergency Rooms worldwide due to advances in pre-hospital trauma care. Some of these patients may be candidates for Emergency Department Thoracotomy (EDT). Large advisory bodies have identified selection criteria for EDT in Developed Countries, but there are no regional statistics to guide the selection process in Developing Caribbean Nations. This study evaluates outcomes with EDT at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Jamaica in order to determine factors that could predict survival in this setting. A retrospective study was performed over 11 years from January 1995 to January 2006 examining patients who had EDT at the University Hospital of the West Indies. There were 13 procedures performed over 11 years, with two early survivors (15%) and one patient surviving to discharge. The factors that have been found to be significant predictors of mortality include gunshot injuries, extra-thoracic injury location, inadequate pre-hospital resuscitation, prolonged transportation time and the absence of signs of life on arrival to hospital. Several health care limitations have been uncovered in this setting that must be improved if we are to expect improved outcomes. Focused preparation of the Emergency Room is an initial step that can be easily achieved. We also need to define strict management protocols using selection criteria that are tailored to our local environment in order to exclude futile procedures in unsalvageable patients.

Association between tuberculosis and diabetes in the Mexican border and non-border regions of Texas.

The association between tuberculosis and underlying risk factors was evaluated in Texas patients hospitalized in the 15 counties along the Mexico border within the remaining non-border counties. A case control analysis of the hospital discharge dataset from the Texas Health Care Information Council was performed for the years 1999-2001. A discharge diagnosis of tuberculosis identified cases (N = 4,915). Deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and acute appendicitis conditions identified controls (N = 70,808). Risk factors associated with tuberculosis were identified by logistic regression. Diabetes patients were almost twice as likely to have tuberculosis after adjusting by sex, age, and race/ethnicity. The association was strong for the population in the Texas border region, where there are higher incidence rates of tuberculosis (odds ratio [OR](adj) = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.57-2.12) compared with non-border counties (OR(adj) = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.36-1.67).