Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with a significant risk of cardiovascular mortality. The use of statins for lipid modulation and the prevention of cardiovascular disease in this population also may impart pleiotropic anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Our aim was to identify studies that compared the use of statins…
Objectives: Shear wave elastography (SWE) is an emerging technology that assesses hepatic fibrosis. The aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of General Electric (GE) Healthcare’s LOGIQ E9 SWE in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus using liver biopsy as the reference standard. Methods: The liver stiffness…
To the Editor: When I visit public spaces near hospitals, I am not disturbed by the sight of people in scrubs who are eating lunch at a nearby table or waiting in line to purchase coffee. One of the reasons for my nonchalance surely has something to do with my…
Approximately 750,000 US adults per year experience a stroke. On average, the annual risk for future ischemic stroke (secondary stroke) after an initial ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack is approximately 3% to 4%. Cardioembolic strokes account for 20% to 25% of all strokes, with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) considered…
To the Editor: Zika, an arbovirus belonging to the family Flaviviridae, is similar to the arboviruses dengue and West Nile virus.1Zika virus infection in humans can be detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing (RT-PCR), the M-antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, or the plaque reproduction neutralization test. The virus…
: Depression has a high lifetime prevalence and recurrence rate, with more than one-third of affected patients experiencing treatment-refractory depression. These individuals should benefit from additional treatment options such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), a research-grade intervention. DBS is being investigated for its efficacy in treatment-refractory cases. We reviewed the…
Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacist–physician collaboration in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with severe insulin resistance, using 500 U/mL concentrated regular insulin (U-500) in a primary care clinic that is not staffed by an endocrinologist. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted searching for patients…
With the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL 111–148), historically inconspicuous components of healthcare systems have gained more salience as healthcare spending and reimbursement shifts from individual, fee-for-service to population-based, pay-for-performance. The paradigm is to improve the health of populations and positively enhance patients’ experience while…
To the Editor: I am thankful for the critical response elicited by the article I coauthored with my colleague, Bahinah Callahan, regarding the regulation of scrub attire among healthcare professionals.1 The thoughtful letters that were submitted to the Southern Medical Journal have demonstrated to me that more research should be…
Objectives: Improvement in life expectancy with the use of combination antiretroviral therapy has come with the recognition of the complications associated with chronic human immunodeficiency virus infection. Vitamin D has been of particular interest because of its effect on bone health and immune functions. The purpose of this study was…
Objectives: Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected patients with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is associated with a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD). Treatment with efavirenz is associated with vitamin D deficiency. We compared the effects of efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (EFV/FTC/TDF) with the effects of raltegravir, darunavir, and…
Suppose that this year a dangerous, highly contagious disease sweeps across the world. One-fourth of the population catches it, and at least 200 million die in only a few months. In the United States alone, 80 million people become sick and 1.25 million die.1–3 Could it be possible that within…
To the Editor: I enjoyed reading Callahan and Seifi’s article entitled ‘‘The Scrub Revolution: From Hospital Uniform to Public Attire’’ in the May 2016 issue of the Southern Medical Journal,1 and I congratulate the authors for their thoughtful discussion of such a controversial issue. I respectfully disagree with portions of…
Major depressive disorder is a chronic, disabling, and potentially life-threatening disorder that has a lifetime prevalence of 15% to 20%. A 2015 article published in Lancet evaluating the global burden of disease ranked major depressive disorder as the second leading cause of disability in 2013, contributing to 51,784 disability-years.1 Although…
Objectives: To describe the survival outcomes of patients with histologically proven primary pancreatic cancer based on geographic location and sex. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records from 2009 through 2013 of patients with pancreatic cancer using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 157.9 and International Statistical…
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