Anemia is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is a risk factor for poor disease outcome. Anemia acts as a risk multiplier, significantly increasing the risk of death in anemic versus nonanemic CKD patients with similar comorbidities. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) are a mainstay for the treatment of…
Numerous studies have analyzed data from administrative claims databases to determine persistence and compliance with bisphosphonate therapy for osteoporosis; several of these studies have also examined how persistence and compliance with therapy affect fracture outcomes. All of the studies included in this review demonstrated that patients who were persistent or…
Infectious complications related to IV drug use represent an important source of morbidity and mortality among this population. We report an informative case of endogenous endophthalmitis related to injection of cocaine mixed with lemon juice. Clinicians should remember that any visual change among patients using injection drugs warrants aggressive workup,…
A patient is described who presented with the acute onset of widely distributed necrotic papules mimicking pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta. A skin biopsy revealed granulomatous inflammation and spirochetes were demonstrated. Serologic testing confirmed infection with the Treponema pallidum. Syphilis is still a great imitator and its persistence as an…
Based on arguments from theology and the philosophy of science, a miracle may be defined as: (1) a real, individual event, the occurrence of which must be (or must have been), at least in principle, susceptible to empirical verification; (2) an event which must be extremely unusual or historically unprecedented…
Phenomena considered to be miracles have been present in human culture since its origins. There have been astronomical, meteorological, and biological occurrences, and they have attracted the attention of ordinary people, artists, and thinkers. Each of these groups has tried to explain the curious phenomena or to express amazement in…
This editorial explains the development of the annual Southern Region Burn Conference. In 1985, the American Burn Association (ABA) established 10 regions in the United States. These regions were patterned after the same regions the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma have for their regional organization. Region IV (the…
Physicians play a very important role in the theological processes known as beatification canonization in the Catholic Church. In the first millennium of the Christian era, martyrs and other individuals who lived exemplary lives of Christian perfection in the opinion of the faithful in their locale were venerated as holy…
We argue that the use of publicly funded medical facilities for patients who are waiting for a miracle amounts to discrimination against atheists, agnostics and advocates, of faiths that do not accept miracle claims. The only exception is when this use can be justified by considerations that demonstrate that waiting…
In situations of critical illness, when healthcare professionals have declared that survival or recovery is extremely unlikely, people of faith usually pray. They may pray for continued life, or they may pray for peaceful death. Not surprisingly, even people whose faith has lapsed often return to their old faith, hoping…
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant problem in the United States, and its incidence is increasing at an alarming rate. Nearly 20 million Americans are affected by CKD and some 20 million more are at risk of developing it.1,2 While a diagnosis of CKD can be made by recognizing…
Living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT), reviewed in this issue of the Southern Medical Journal1 does indeed represent a major advance in the treatment of end-stage renal disease. Graft outcomes are superior compared with well-matched cadaveric kidney transplants and pre-emptive transplantation is possible, avoiding the need for dialysis. All of these…
“Keep a watch also on the faults of the patients, which make them lie about their taking of things prescribed. For through not taking disagreeable drinks, purgative or other, they sometimes die. What they have done never results in a confession, but the blame is thrown on the physician.” 1…
This study was planned to determine the effectiveness of the Breese scoring system for the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis and to evaluate its significance in different age groups. The research population was divided into two age groups. Group 1 consisted of children aged three and below and group 2 comprised…
The use of living donor kidneys has dramatically increased the number and success of kidney transplants across the world. But questions remain regarding the subjection of a healthy individual to surgery for the benefit of another. Donors do have medical and financial risks. The stigma of organ brokering remains today,…
Acute bacterial pharyngitis is the third most commonly seen infectious disease and the second most common reason for which antibiotics are prescribed. Children with acute, untreated pharyngitis spread group A streptococci (GAS) by airborne salivary droplets and nasal discharge. Transmission is favored by close proximity, with home and the school…
The clinical diagnosis of probable dementia, although daunting, is really quite simple and should not be too time consuming provided the examiner is focused, organized, and methodical. The criteria for this diagnosis are clearly stated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.1
In a recent systematic review of the use of acupuncture for fibromyalgia,1 the authors conclude that “acupuncture cannot be recommended for fibromyalgia.” I take issue with this broad conclusion on several counts. First, they found only five eligible studies and of those, their own table reports positive results in four,…
Exploring Nanotechnology http://nano.cancer.gov/resource_center/exploring.asp is a subsection of the National Cancer Institute website. It is a gentle educational experience that provides background information and explanations of current nanotechnology. It uses animated cartoons and a video presentation to explain its enthusiastic claim that “In the fight against cancer, nanotechnology introduces unique approaches…
The editor and staff of the Southern Medical Journal would like to extend their appreciation to those who served as reviewers during 2007. The editorial staff apologizes for any omissions or errors.
The search for scholarly articles with the word “miracle” in the title resulted in limited findings. There was a subset of articles addressing miracles from the perspective of saints, religions, or healers. These seemed to be focused on examining the legitimacy of miracles or examining the context in which miracles…
Jewish tradition understands a miracle as a wonder that manifests God’s beneficent power. A miracle (nes in Hebrew) could be supernatural, but it need not be. While God has the ability to act in a manner that goes against the “orders of creation” (sidrei breishit) that He has established, the…
Is it possible to distinguish between authentic religious faith in a miraculous cure and the psychiatric syndrome of denial in the face of serious illness? There are, of course, atheists who consider all religious beliefs delusional, and, therefore, would not accept the meaningfulness of the distinction. Many others, however, including…
As an extension of a concept known as tawheed,* nothing lies outside of The Jurisdiction of Divine Intervention; nor is God the deist’s watchmaker, winding up reality and watching various Newtonian-like mechanized processes play themselves out.† Once this latter deist notion is embraced, and given a particular subtle type of…
Books on Buddhism for general readers rarely mention miracles. Instead, the emphasis is usually on the life of the Buddha, his teachings, and the monastic order, the so-called “Three Treasures.” This is a heritage left by the European scholars who first became interested in Buddhism in the 19th century. Take…
Milk Myths and Misconceptions Although three servings of dairy are suggested for part of a balanced diet, all kinds of myths and misconceptions about milk abound. How could something so simple become so complicated?
Miracles function centrally in Christianity, perhaps more centrally than in any other religious tradition. This is because its holy text, the Bible, tells us story after story, and many of these are about miracles. Indeed, while the Bible includes lists of commands, collections of prophetic or wise sayings, or bits…
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