To the Editor:The article by Tobias et al provided new insight into the relation between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in people with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus.1 Their study suggested that a linear relation exists between BMI and mortality in nonsmokers (increasing BMI associated with increased hazard ratio…
A special series of articles on the topic of obesity is initiated in this issue of the Southern Medical Journal. This public health issue has been popularly termed an ‘‘epidemic’’ in the United States, and that can be understood in the context of motivating public health and healthcare professionals, as…
elatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland, may be a promising treatment option for tinnitus. The primary functions of this hormone are believed to be the initiation and maintenance of sleep because its secretions coincide with circadian rhythms. Some investigators have noted that melatonin may alleviate subjective symptoms of…
Objectives: A physician’s advice is among the strongest predictors of efforts toward weight management made by obese patients, yet only a minority receives such advice. One contributor could be the physician’s failure to recognize true obesity. The objectives of this study were to assess physicians’ ability to recognize obesity and…
When measuring the impact of the electronic health record (EHR), a quotation that has been attributed to a Chinese premier comes to mind. When asked about the impact of the French Revolution, he replied: ‘‘It is too soon to tell.’’ Limited and uneven implementation of the EHR is just one…
Objectives: Aspirin is recommended for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in patients who are at high risk for CVD. The objective of this study was to compare agreement between two American Diabetes Association–endorsed CVD risk calculators in identifying candidates for aspirin therapy. Methods: Adult patients with diabetes mellitus (n = 238)…
Objectives: Earlier studies reported a low incidence of vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity (VAN); however, recent studies have reported higher incidences exceeding 30%. Predictors of nephrotoxicity are not well defined. In this study we aimed to better estimate the incidence and evaluate predictors of VAN in a cohort of patients predominated by long…
Objectives: Latino immigrant workers experience elevated rates of skin disease that result from their working and living conditions. Working in manual occupations exposes workers to a variety of challenges, including occlusive shoes, vigorous physical activity, and wet conditions. These challenges predispose workers to fungal infection. The objectives of this article…
Objectives: To survey internal medicine physicians and residents who have completed residency in three different eras of medical training regarding their experiences during their intern year and their perceptions of duty-hour reform. Methods: An online survey was administered to 268 residents, fellows, and staff physicians who had completed or were…
Objectives: Police crisis intervention teams (CIT) have demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing injury to law enforcement personnel and citizens and the criminalization of mental illness; however, their financial effect has not been fully investigated. The objective of the study was to determine the total costs or total savings associated with…
Tinnitus is a common complaint, affecting >16 million adults in the United States.1 It is typically linked to acoustic trauma, head injury, medications, noise, or natural hearing loss. Tinnitus often is more than just an annoyance to patients; it can significantly affect their sleep, concentration, and mood. The economic burden…
Despite the theoretical and anecdotal benefits of electronic health records (EHRs) that could bring improvements such as communication among healthcare professionals, a decrease in unnecessary testing, and lower healthcare costs, the definitive outcome studies have been inconclusive. Studies that review the pre- and postimplementation of the EHRs regarding expenses and…
Objectives: The purpose of the study was to examine potential differences between two approaches to defining adolescent weight misperception. Specifically, weight status perception was compared with self-reported weight status and actual weight status (based on body mass index percentiles calculated from self-reported and actual weights and heights, respectively). Furthermore, the…
In the article that appeared on page 150 in the March 2014 issue, an author and his affiliation were omitted from the article. The author byline should have read: Frank G. Walter, MD, Uwe Stolz, PhD, MPH, Frank G. Walter, BS, Robert N.E. French, MD, Peter B. Chase, MD, PhD,…
I appreciate the letter from Drs Santhanam and Masannat regarding their analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2011–2012 with respect to the relation between mortality and body mass index (BMI) in individuals with diabetes mellitus and the effect of hypertension. The National Health and Nutrition…
In this issue of the Southern Medical Journal, Burton and colleagues1 examine physician attitudes toward duty-hour reform at their institution. This topic has received strong physician response from all generations since 2003 when the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education implemented work hour restrictions.2 This study by Burton and colleagues…
ancomycin dosing practices to target higher recommended trough concentrations of 15 mg to 20 mg/mL for invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections has resulted in clinical reports of increased incidence of nephrotoxicity.1 In this issue of the Southern Medical Journal, Kheir and colleagues show that the patients in this large study…
Objectives: The dietary habits of baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) undoubtedly will have a substantial impact on their future health; however, dietary information regarding the intake of key chronic disease–related nutrients is lacking for this generation. The objective of this study was to compare the dietary intake…
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