Original Article

CME Article: Teen Driving Behaviors in a Rural Southern State

Objectives: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Alabama ranks fourth in the United States for teen crash fatalities. We sought to describe risky driving behaviors among teens in the rural areas of the state’s most populous county. Methods: A questionnaire was adapted from the Youth…

Original Article

Cholecystectomy for Biliary Dyskinesia in Gastroparesis: Mimic or Misfortune?

Objectives: Biliary dyskinesia and gastroparesis are associated with upper abdominal discomfort and dyspeptic symptoms in the absence of structural abnormalities. We hypothesized that the similarity in symptoms would trigger testing and surgical treatment for biliary abnormalities in a significant number of patients, with refractory symptoms ultimately demonstrating impairment of gastric…

Review Article

Can α-Lipoic Acid Mitigate Progression of Aging-Related Decline Caused by Oxidative Stress?

Aging is progressively deteriorating physiological function that leads to increasing risks of illness and death. Increases in life expectancy and the aging of a large segment of the population have made age-related disability and morbidity increasingly important issues. Supplements such as α-lipoic acid may have antiaging effects by positively affecting…

Letter to the Editor

Eosinophilia in HIV-Infected Cases

To the Editor: The authors of the article, “Eosinophilia and Associated Factors in a Large Cohort of Patients Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus” noted that “eosinophilia is not an infrequent occurrence among ART (antiretroviral therapy)-naïve HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-infected patients.”1 In fact, the prevalence and cause of eosinophilia in HIV-infected…

Author Response

Authors’ Response

To the Editor: In our article we found that the prevalence of eosinophilia in our cohort of ART (antiretroviral therapy)-naïve patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was 9.7%.1 This is slightly higher than similar rates reported in other studies performed in developed countries (Switzerland 6.3%,2 the Netherlands 6.3%,3…

Original Article

EMS Patients and Walk-In Patients Presenting With Severe Sepsis: Differences in Management and Outcome

Objectives: Sepsis is a significant problem. The differences between patients with sepsis who walk into the emergency department (ED) and those who are transported via emergency medical services (EMS) have not been clarified. The aim of the study was to determine whether there was a difference in outcome between patients…

Invited Commentary

Commentary on “Edmonton Symptom Assessment System for Outpatient Symptom Monitoring of Sickle Cell Disease”

The application of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) to patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) reporting to a dedicated clinic1 reveals and explicates symptoms other than pain. The study responds to the need for a more organized approach to SCD and supports the value of the tool by its…

Original Article

Edmonton Symptom Assessment System for Outpatient Symptom Monitoring of Sickle Cell Disease

Objectives: Although the extension of palliative care methodology to sickle cell disease (SCD) care has been proposed, there is no current standard for symptom assessment. Our goal was to assess the feasibility of integrating the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) into the outpatient management of SCD. Methods: Seventy-five adult patients…

Original Article

Association between Orthopaedic In-Training Examination Subsection Scores and ABOS Part I Examination Performance

Objectives: The Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE) is administered yearly to assess a resident’s progression, compare his or her performance with that of other residents, and evaluate the educational structure of a residency program. The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) Part I examination is used to ensure competence in orthopedic…

Acknowledgment

Where Are the Rest of Us? Improving Representation of Minority Faculty in Academic Medicine

Objectives: Low numbers of underrepresented minority faculty members in academic medicine (black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American/Alaskan) continue to be a concern for medical schools because there is higher attrition and talent loss among this group. Although much has been written on this topic, there has not been a systematic…

Invited Commentary

Commentary on “Cholecystectomy for Biliary Dyskinesia in Gastroparesis: Mimic or Misfortune?”

Functional syndromes of the gastrointestinal tract can be challenging in both diagnosis and management. This is yet another example of the crossroads of art and science in medicine. Gastroparesis is a syndrome that can be objectively defined by delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanic obstruction.1 Gastroparesis also can…

Invited Commentary

Commentary on “Where Are the Rest of Us? Improving Representation of Minority Faculty in Academic Medicine”

The article by Rodríguez and colleagues1 in this issue of the Southern Medical Journal reminds me of what Dr Martin Luther King Jr said, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable.”2 Rodríguez et al show that despite seeing an increase in the number (25%) of underrepresented minorities attending medical school,…

Original Article

Metformin Use and the Risk of Esophageal Cancer in Barrett Esophagus

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor for total cancer incidence and mortality. Metformin, a commonly used antidiabetic drug, has been shown to be protective against different types of cancers; however, its role in esophageal cancer is unknown. The goal of this study was to determine whether the use…

Original Article

CME Article: Airway Assessment of Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Procedures

Objectives: In advance of endoscopic procedures, an evaluation to assess the risk of sedation is performed by the gastroenterologist. Based on regulations, gastroenterologists are required to perform an airway assessment. At this time, data supporting this regulation are limited; therefore, we evaluated airway assessment accuracy by gastroenterologists before endoscopic procedures….

Letter to the Editor

Limb Salvage Is a Viable Option in Managing Diabetic Foot Ulcers

To the Editor: Limb salvage has become an important modality in treating diabetic foot ulcers as a result of advancements in surgical techniques and wound healing. Why the renewed interest in salvage procedures? Elderly patients with multiple comorbidities who have diabetes mellitus have differing expectations than younger, more active patients….

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