Objectives: The influence of obesity on postoperative complications after various surgical interventions remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of overweight and obesity on the occurrence of postoperative complications for patients undergoing elective resection for rectal carcinoma. Methods: We conducted a retrospective data analysis of…
Objectives: The rate of treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in human immunodeficiency virus-hepatitis C virus (HIV-HCV) co-infected patients remains historically low. We undertook a retrospective study to review our treatment rate and factors that have negatively influenced this rate. In those treated, we reviewed outcomes and compared results…
Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent and is increasingly associated with the development of medical conditions both related and unrelated to bone metabolism. The purpose of this study was to examine vitamin D deficiency in patients of a pediatrics subspecialty practice. Methods: The study consisted of a retrospective chart review…
Objectives: To determine whether stage of cancer diagnosis was associated with the socioeconomic status (SES) of the census tract where the patient resides, and to assess whether this is modified by race, ethnicity, or urban/rural residence, other factors known to affect cancer diagnosis stage. Methods: Using 2004–2008 data from the…
Purpose: To characterize rates of initial misclassification of type 1 diabetes mellitus as type 2/unspecified diabetes mellitus in a cohort of children/adolescents and to examine the impact of misclassification on the risk of diabetes-related complications. Methods: An 11-year dataset (1996–2006) was analyzed. Inclusion criteria included age 17 years and younger,…
“Prevalence and Impact of Initial Misclassification of Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus” addresses an interesting and timely topic: the frequency and consequences of misdiagnosing type 1 diabetes mellitus in the pediatric population.1 The study breaks new ground by reviewing International Classification of Diseases-9 diagnoses from a state Medicaid database, permitting…
Objectives: Patients’ perception of quality is a critical primary outcome of medical care. Important downstream effects of perceived quality include a more trusting attitude toward the physician, more adherence to treatment, and better treatment outcomes. Patients’ satisfaction issues are important to address during dermatology residency training. The aim of the…
Objectives: Florida has the second highest incidence of melanoma in the United States, and more than 600 Floridians die from melanoma annually. Given the lack of population-based data on skin cancer screening among the different US geographic regions, we compared skin cancer screening rates among Floridians to those in the…
Objective: To determine the change in total medical expenditures, total pharmacy expenditures, and subcategories of medical and pharmacy expenditures in obese individuals following weight loss surgery (WLS), and to compare these costs with expenditures in obese individuals not receiving WLS. Methods: Louisiana Office of Group Benefits (OGB), the state-managed health…
Objectives: Our objective was to assess patients’ understanding of emergency department (ED) wait times and why patients may leave the waiting room before seeing a provider. Methods: Survey of patients in the ED waiting room of an urban tertiary care military hospital where civilian and military patients are treated. Results:…
In our overburdened healthcare system, prolonged wait times for care, particularly in emergency and outpatient settings, should be anticipated. As an unfortunate but predictable consequence, patient dissatisfaction is often high and it is not uncommon for individuals who truly require care to sometimes leave rather than endure the wait. The…
We set out to determine whether expanding Medicaid managed care in Texas is the solution to the challenges faced by the state of meeting the healthcare needs of a rapidly growing Medicaid population while addressing its own fiscal limitations. We reviewed the Texas Medicaid program, the potential effects of federal…
Computed tomographic colonography (CTC) is a relatively new imaging modality for the examination of patients for colorectal polyps and cancer. It has been validated in its accuracy for the detection of colon cancer and larger polyps (more than likely premalignant). CTC, however, is not widely accepted as a primary screening…
In this issue of the Southern Medical Journal, Iqbal and colleagues present an extensive review of the burgeoning role of computed tomography colonography (CTC) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening.1 The evidence is convincing that screening for CRC with fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, optical colonoscopy, and CTC can detect early-stage…
Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common clinical condition with presentations that may vary from asymptomatic subsegmental emboli to massive vascular obstruction and shock with high risk of death. Identifying patients at highest risk for death is critical to select those who would benefit most from thrombolytic therapy. New and…
Membership grants access to journals, courses and a slew of premium benefits.
Please consider supporting us by choosing an option below:
View Membership Options Make A Tax-Deductable Donation
No Thanks, take me to the site and don't show me this again.