Original Article

Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Young Adolescents: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988–2016

Objectives: Lifestyle behaviors relevant to cardiovascular health are learned during childhood and continued into adulthood. Children and adolescents who participate in unhealthy behaviors have a higher lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Public health institutions publish behavior and clinical recommendations designed for adolescents to reduce their lifetime cardiovascular risk….

Posted in: Cardiovascular Disease24

Original Article

CME Article: Descriptive Epidemiology of Pediatric Drowning Patients Presenting to a Large Southern US Children’s Hospital

Objectives: Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, and it is among the leading causes of death for children of all ages. National data show disparities in drowning risk for certain racial groups. This study aimed to describe characteristics of patients presenting after a…

Perspectives

Innocents

While in Florence, Italy last spring, I visited the recently renovated Ospedale degli Innocenti (Hospital of the Innocents). Built in the 15th century, it served as Europe’s first foundling hospital. Funded by the wealthy Guild of Silk Merchants, it served Gettatelli (little throwaways), who had previously been abandoned by the…

Original Article

Grit Does Not Predict Burnout among First-Year Internal Medicine Residents

Objectives: Grit, defined as passion and perseverance for long-term goals, has been associated with the avoidance of burnout among residents in a number of specialties. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between grit and burnout among first-year Internal Medicine residents. Methods: During the 2018–2019 academic year, the authors recruited 75…

Posted in: Mental Health43

Original Article

Consideration of Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases during Differential Diagnosis

Objective: Recognition and reporting of vector-borne and zoonotic disease (VBZD) cases is largely dependent upon the consideration of such diseases by healthcare practitioners during the initial diagnosis and ordering of specific confirmative diagnostic tests. This study was conducted to assess the general knowledge and understanding of VBZD transmission and clinical…

Posted in: Infectious Disease129

Original Article

Adapting Existing Resources for Serious Illness Communication Skills Training for Internal Medicine Residents

Objectives: Goals of care discussions are a vital component of patient care, but Internal Medicine residents receive limited training in these skills. Existing curricula often require simulated patients or faculty development, limiting implementation in many residency programs. Thus, we developed and implemented a curriculum leveraging existing educational resources with the…

Posted in: End-of-life and Palliative Care of the Elderly1

Review Article

Safety of Baricitinib 4 mg for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective: We evaluated the safety of baricitinib 4 mg at 24 weeks for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Multiple databases were searched from inception up to November 26, 2019 for randomized controlled trials comparing baricitinib 4 mg with placebo for the treatment of moderate to…

Posted in: Rheumatology and Orthopedics17

Original Article

Assessing Colorectal Cancer Screening Barriers in Rural Appalachia

Objectives: The age-appropriate colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rate in the rural Appalachian area is low compared with the national rate, which may account for the overall higher incidence of CRC in this area. The purpose of this study was to explore potential barriers to CRC screening in the West Virginia…

Posted in: Colonic And Anorectal Disease8

Original Article

Health Disparities among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Adults in Nashville, Tennessee

Objectives: Health disparities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults are well documented, but LGBT health data at the municipal and county levels are lacking, especially in the southern United States. The objective of this study was to compare access to care, health outcomes, and behavioral risk factors between…

Posted in: Infectious Disease129 Mental Health43 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) And Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection17

Original Article

COVID-19 in a Mississippi Community Hospital

Objectives: Mississippi recorded the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on March 11, 2020. This report describes the initial COVID-19 experience of the single healthcare system serving Jackson County, Mississippi. The intent of this retrospective review of COVID-19 hospitalized patients was to identify any characteristics or interventions amenable to…

Posted in: Infectious Disease129

Original Article

COVID-19 Impact on Orthopedic Surgeons: Elective Procedures, Telehealth, and Income

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the response in orthopedic surgery to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic across the United States by surveying surgeons about their care setting, timing of restrictions on elective surgery, use of telehealth, and estimated economic impact. Methods: A survey was distributed…

Posted in: Infectious Disease129 Rheumatology and Orthopedics17

Perspectives

Ulysses Syndrome and the COVID-19 Pandemic

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused >73 million infections and >1.6 million deaths worldwide. The virus and public health measures to contain it are affecting the mental health of not only at-risk individuals but also the general population (Table).1 It is causing significant disruption in the public…

Posted in: Mental Health43

Original Article

Discharge Summary Completion Timeliness and the Association of 30-Day Readmission

Objective: This study aimed to review the association between timeliness to completion of a discharge summary to 30-day readmission to the hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 109 patients discharged from Mayo Clinic Hospital. Results: Twenty-four of these patients were readmitted within 30 days. The time to…

Perspectives

Implementing a Second-Level Observation Unit at a Large Academic Medical Center

The two-midnight rule, 30-day readmission penalties, and denials related to short-stay hospitalizations have led to the creation of alternative healthcare delivery models.

Errata

Percentage of Black Population and Primary Care Shortage Areas Associated with Higher COVID-19 Case and Death Rates in Georgia Counties: Erratum

In the February 2021 issue of Southern Medical Journal in the article by Baltrus et al, “Percentage of Black Population and Primary Care Shortage Areas Associated with Higher COVID-19 Case and Death Rates in Georgia Counties”, funding sources for the research was not listed. The correct statement for the funding…

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