Journal of general internal medicine
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The prevalence of torture among foreign-born patients presenting to urban medical clinics is not well documented. ⋯ Among foreign-born patients presenting to an urban primary care center, approximately 1 in 9 met the definition established by the UN Convention Against Torture. As survivors of torture may have significant psychological and physical sequelae, these data underscore the necessity for primary care physicians to screen for a torture history among foreign-born patients.
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Diet books dominate the New York Times Advice Best Seller list and consumers cite such books as an important source of nutrition information. However, the scientific support for nutrition claims presented as fact (nutrition facts) in diet books is not known. ⋯ Consumers obtain nutrition information from diet books. We found that over 67% of nutrition facts in a best-seller diet book may not be supported in the peer-reviewed literature. These findings have important implications for educating consumers about nutrition information sources.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Factors associated with the hospitalization of low-risk patients with community-acquired pneumonia in a cluster-randomized trial.
Many low-risk patients with pneumonia are hospitalized despite recommendations to treat such patients in the outpatient setting. ⋯ Hospital admission appears justified for one-third of low-risk inpatients based upon the presence of one or more contraindications to outpatient treatment. At least one-fifth of low-risk inpatients did not have a contraindication to outpatient treatment or an identifiable risk factor for hospitalization, suggesting that treatment of a larger proportion of such low-risk patients in the outpatient setting could be achieved without adversely affecting patient outcomes.
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To evaluate the evidence of the supplements vitamin C and vitamin E for treatment and prevention of cancer. ⋯ The systematic review of the literature does not support the hypothesis that the use of supplements of vitamin C or vitamin E in the doses tested helps prevent and/or treat cancer in the populations tested. There were isolated findings of benefit, which require confirmation.
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English proficiency may be important in explaining disparities in health and health care access among older adults. ⋯ Provision of language assistance services to patients and training of providers in cultural competence are 2 means by which health care systems could reduce linguistic barriers, improve access to care, and ultimately improve health status for these vulnerable populations.