Seeking care across the US-Mexico border: The experiences of Latinx and Indigenous Mexican caregivers of children with asthma or respiratory distress.

BACKGROUND: Many Latinx and Indigenous Mexican populations in the United States Southwest live in unincorporated communities in the US-Mexico borderlands called colonias. These environmental justice communities often lack basic infrastructure, including healthcare services, prompting many to seek services across the border. However, due to geopolitical factors more vulnerable caregivers are limited to utilize healthcare services in the US. This paper reports the experiences and healthcare decision-making of caregivers living in colonias in the US-Mexico border region who care for children with respiratory health conditions. METHODS: This study was carried out from September to December 2020. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with Latinx and Indigenous Mexican caregivers of children with asthma or respiratory distress. Qualitative interviews elicited caregivers' perspectives on the environmental factors affecting children's chronic health conditions and use of healthcare services. The analysis employed the concept of structure vulnerability to theorize geography as a structural determinant of health for caregivers faced with making healthcare decisions for their suffering from respiratory health conditions. A survey was administered to collect basic sociodemographic information. RESULTS: A total of 36 caregivers participated in the study. Structural factors including unincorporated community status and government inaction intersected with social determinants of health to prompt caregivers to cross the US-Mexico border to access healthcare services in Mexico for their children. Yet, more vulnerable caregivers (i.e., those without documentation status in the US) and their children, accessing healthcare services in the US was not an option limiting caregivers' ability to meet their children's healthcare needs. In such cases, geography acts as a structural determinant of health. CONCLUSION: This study shows the importance of geography in health. Rural unincorporated colonias located in the borderlands are precariously located and lack basic critical infrastructure including healthcare access. Within such places, historically and socially marginalized populations become invisible, are subject to the health effects of environmental hazards, and are limited depending on their positionality and thus vulnerability to healthcare services.

Latinx and Indigenous Mexican Caregivers' Perspectives of the Salton Sea Environment on Children's Asthma, Respiratory Health, and Co-Presenting Health Conditions.

This research investigated Latinx and Indigenous Mexican caregivers' perspectives of the Salton Sea's environment (e.g., dust concentrations and other toxins) on child health conditions. The Salton Sea is a highly saline drying lakebed located in the Inland Southern California desert borderland region and is surrounded by agricultural fields. Children of Latinx and Indigenous Mexican immigrant families are especially vulnerable to the Salton Sea's environmental impact on chronic health conditions due to their proximity to the Salton Sea and structural vulnerability. From September 2020 to February 2021, we conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with a total of 36 Latinx and Indigenous Mexican caregivers of children with asthma or respiratory distress living along the Salton Sea. A community investigator trained in qualitative research conducted interviews in Spanish or Purépecha, an indigenous language spoken by immigrants from Michoacán, Mexico. Template and matrix analysis was used to identify themes and patterns across interviews and focus groups. Participants characterized the Salton Sea's environment as toxic, marked by exposure to sulfuric smells, dust storms, chemicals, and fires, all of which contribute to children's chronic health conditions (e.g., respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia, co-presenting with allergies and nosebleeds). The findings have important environmental public health significance for structurally vulnerable child populations in the United States and globally.

Reproduction and genetic causal attribution of epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: This study addresses the contribution of genetics-related concerns to reduced childbearing among people with epilepsy. METHODS: Surveys were completed by 606 adult patients with epilepsy of unknown cause at our medical center. Poisson regression analysis was used to assess the relations of number of offspring to: (1) genetic attribution (GA: participants' belief that genetics was a cause of their epilepsy), assessed via a novel scale developed from four survey items (Cronbach's alpha = .89), (2) participants' estimates of epilepsy risk in the child of a parent with epilepsy (1%, 5%-10%, 25%, and 50%-100%), and (3) participants' reports of the influence on their reproductive decisions of "the chance of having a child with epilepsy" (none/weak/moderate, strong/very strong). Analyses were adjusted for age, education, race/ethnicity, religion, type of epilepsy (generalized, focal, and both/unclassifiable), and age at epilepsy onset (<10, 10-19, and ≥20 years). RESULTS: Among participants 18-45 years of age, the number of offspring decreased significantly with increasing GA (highest vs lowest GA quartile rate ratio [RR] = .5, p < .001), and increasing estimated epilepsy risk in offspring (with 5%-10% as referent because it is closest to the true value, RR for 25%: .7, p = .05; RR for 50%-100%: .6, p = .03). Number of offspring was not related to the reported influence of "the chance of having a child with epilepsy" on reproductive decisions. Among participants >45 years of age, the number of offspring did not differ significantly according to GA quartile or estimated offspring epilepsy risk. However, those reporting a strong/very strong influence on their reproductive decisions of "the chance of having a child with epilepsy" had only 60% as many offspring as others. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings suggest that overestimating the risk of epilepsy in offspring can have important consequences for people with epilepsy. Patient and provider education about recurrence risks and genetic testing options to clarify risks are critical, given their potential influence on reproductive decisions.

Neuropathology of Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Forensic Setting: Novel Application of Ex Vivo Imaging in Analysis of Brain Microvasculature.

Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, there are few published accounts of postmortem SARS-CoV-2 pathology in children. We report 8 such cases (4 infants aged 7-36 weeks, 4 children aged 5-15 years). Four underwent ex vivo magnetic resonance neuroimaging, to assist in identification of subtle lesions related to vascular compromise. All infants were found unresponsive (3 in unsafe sleeping conditions); all but 1 had recent rhinitis and/or influenza-like illness (ILI) in the family; 1 had history of sickle cell disease. Ex vivo neuroimaging in 1 case revealed white matter (WM) signal hyperintensity and diffuse exaggeration of perivascular spaces, corresponding microscopically to WM mineralization. Neurohistology in the remaining 3 infants variably encompassed WM gliosis and mineralization; brainstem gliosis; perivascular vacuolization; perivascular lymphocytes and brainstem microglia. One had ectopic hippocampal neurons (with pathogenic variant in DEPDC5). Among the children, 3 had underlying conditions (e.g., obesity, metabolic disease, autism) and all presented with ILI. Three had laboratory testing suggesting multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). Two were hospitalized for critical care including mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); one (co-infected with adenovirus) developed right carotid stroke ipsilateral to the ECMO cannula and the other required surgery for an ingested foreign body. Autopsy findings included: acute lung injury in 3 (1 with microthrombi); and one each with diabetic ketoacidosis and cardiac hypertrophy; coronary and cerebral arteritis and aortitis, resembling Kawasaki disease; and neuronal storage and enlarged fatty liver. All 4 children had subtle meningoencephalitis, focally involving the brainstem. On ex vivo neuroimaging, 1 had focal pontine susceptibility with corresponding perivascular inflammation/expanded perivascular spaces on histopathology. Results suggest SARS-CoV-2 in infants may present as sudden unexpected infant death, while in older children, signs and symptoms point to severe disease. Underlying conditions may predispose to fatal outcomes. As in adults, the neuropathologic changes may be subtle, with vascular changes such as perivascular vacuolization and gliosis alongside sparse perivascular lymphocytes. Detection of subtle vascular pathology is enhanced by ex vivo neuroimaging. Additional analysis of the peripheral/autonomic nervous system and investigation of co-infection in children with COVID-19 is necessary to understand risk for cardiovascular collapse/sudden death.

Heterotopic Triplet Pregnancy After Clomiphene Citrate.

Background: Heterotopic pregnancy is an exceedingly rare condition in which an intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy coexist. Superfetation refers to the coexistence of 2 or more fetuses of different gestational ages as a result of ovulation, fertilization, and implantation during an ongoing pregnancy. We present a case of heterotopic triplet pregnancy with a difference in gestational age by crown rump length of more than 1 week between the twin intrauterine pregnancy and the singleton tubal ectopic. Case Report: A 31-year-old gravida 3, para 2002 presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain at 9 weeks 2 days' gestation dated by last menstrual period, consistent with ultrasound. She was discharged home with a diagnosis of ruptured hemorrhagic cyst but returned 4 days later with ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy measuring 9 weeks' gestation and ongoing twin gestation measuring 10 weeks 1 day. She was taken to the operating room for laparoscopic salpingectomy, and ectopic pregnancy was confirmed on tissue diagnosis. Conclusion: Heterotopic pregnancy presents a diagnostic challenge for obstetricians/gynecologists. Superfetation has never been demonstrably proven in humans but has been suggested in the literature. This report adds to the literature that perhaps superfetation can be artificially induced in humans in the presence of assisted reproductive technologies.

Renal and pulmonary thrombotic microangiopathy triggered by proteasome-inhibitor therapy in patient with smoldering myeloma: A renal biopsy and autopsy case report.

RATIONALE: Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a group of clinical syndromes characterized by excessive platelet activation and endothelial injury that leads to acute or chronic microvascular obliteration by intimal mucoid and fibrous thickening, with or without associated thrombi. It frequently involves the kidney but may involve any organ or system at variable frequencies depending on the underlying etiology. Among its numerous causes, drug toxicities and complement regulation abnormalities stand out as some of the most common. A more recently described association is with monoclonal gammopathy. Lung involvement by TMA is infrequent, but has been described in Cobalamin C deficiency and post stem-cell transplantation TMA. PATIENT CONCERNS: This is the case of a patient with smoldering myeloma who received proteasome-inhibitor therapy due to retinopathy and developed acute renal failure within one week of therapy initiation. DIAGNOSES: A renal biopsy showed thrombotic microangiopathy. At the time, mild pulmonary hypertension was also noted and presumed to be idiopathic. INTERVENTIONS: Given the known association of proteasome-inhibitor therapy with thrombotic microangiopathy, Bortezomib was discontinued and dialysis was initiated. OUTCOMES: Drug withdrawal failed to prevent disease progression and development of end-stage renal disease, as well as severe pulmonary hypertension that eventually lead to the patient's death. LESSONS: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pulmonary involvement by TMA associated with monoclonal gammopathy which appears to have been triggered by proteasome-inhibitor therapy. Clinicians should be aware of this possibility to allow for more prompt recognition of pulmonary hypertension as a potential manifestation of monoclonal gammopathy-associated TMA, especially in patients also receiving proteasome-inhibitors, so that treatment aiming to slow disease progression can be instituted.

A Case of Massive Hepatic Infarction in a Patient with HELLP Syndrome.

Background Hepatic infarction is an exceedingly rare complication of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome. Few cases have been described in the medical literature and the true incidence remains unknown. It can lead to fulminant liver failure, liver transplant, or death if not promptly addressed. Case Report A 22-year-old primigravida presented with right upper quadrant and epigastric pain at 28 weeks' gestation. She had severely elevated blood pressures requiring intravenous antihypertensives as well as proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, and mild transaminitis. Within 6 hours of admission, her rapidly rising liver function tests (LFTs) necessitated urgent delivery by primary cesarean section. Her liver enzymes continued to rapidly worsen postoperatively and immediate postpartum computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis revealed massive hepatic infarction, 11 × 10 × 15 cm, of the right lobe of the liver. Her transaminases peaked at alanine transferase of 2,863 IU/L and aspartate transferase of 2,732 IU/L. She received supportive multidisciplinary intensive care, and LFTs returned to normal by postoperative day 20. Conclusion Hepatic infarction is an extraordinarily rare complication of pre-eclampsia. Early recognition and prompt multidisciplinary management are vital to prevent catastrophic bleeding, hepatic failure, and death.