Racial and ethnic disparities in the incidence and mortality from septic shock and respiratory failure among elective neurosurgery patients.

Objectives: Septic shock (SS) and respiratory failure (RF) are serious complications after neurosurgical procedures. Research is limited in studying racial/ethnic disparities in incidence and mortality of SS and RF. The study aimed to determine the racial variation in incidence and mortality from SS and RF among elective neurosurgical patients in California.

Organ failure associated with acute pancreatitis in African-American and Hispanic patients.

Objective: We studied the relationship between acute pancreatitis and organ failure in African-American and Hispanic patients.

Methods: The medical records of 760 (417 African-American and 343 Hispanic) patients aged 19-85 years diagnosed with acute pancreatitis over 15 years were reviewed retrospectively. We abstracted and analyzed data related to demographics, etiology, type of pancreatitis, organ failure and mortality.

Organic colonic lesions in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Background: To determine whether IBS patients develop organic lesions compared to those without IBS, and to determine type and frequency of these organic colonic lesions.

Material/methods: Retrospective review of medical records of 622 IBS patients, ages 19-91 years, over fifteen years that underwent colonoscopy for new gastrointestinal symptoms during the course of their illness. Records of 642 non-IBS patients, who had colonoscopy for gastrointestinal complaints, were reviewed retrospectively as a comparison group.

Racial and ethnic differences in unmet need for vision care among children with special health care needs.

Objective: To examine racial and ethnic differences in unmet need for vision care among children with special health care needs.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs were analyzed. The analytic sample was 14,070 children with special health care needs who needed eyeglasses or vision care in the previous year.

A profile of chronic mental and physical conditions among African-American and Latino children in urban public housing.

Objective: This study provides a profile of chronic mental and physical conditions among African-American and Latino children in urban public housing communities in Los Angeles, California.

Methods: The study focused on 187 African-American and Latino households with children, 65% of a random sample of 287 households in three urban public housing communities.

Results: The findings suggest that minority children residing in public housing are one of the more severely health-compromised groups among under-served communities.

Dyspepsia in African-American and Hispanic patients.

Dyspepsia is a common disorder with a prevalence of up to 40% in the general population. The presence of alarm features (age >50 years, loss of appetite, early satiety, loss of weight, dysphagia, abdominal mass, gastrointestinal bleeding, and/or anemia) increase the likelihood of an organic etiology. Despite a plethora of information written on this subject, the literature is sparse in minority populations.