Journal of general internal medicine
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Comparative Study
Validity of the in-training examination for predicting American Board of Internal Medicine certifying examination scores.
To determine whether the results of the Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (ITE) can predict subsequent performance on the American Board of Internal Medicine certifying examination (ABIMCE). ⋯ Performance on the ITE can accurately predict and is highly correlated with performance on the ABIMCE. ITE results may therefore be useful in counseling residents about their educational needs in preparation for the ABIMCE.
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Diabetic acidosis (DA) and the diabetic hyperosmolar state (DHS) are generally considered to be two distinct clinical entities. However, clinical experience and the literature suggest that there may be some overlap. The purposes of this study were 1) to establish the proportion of overlap cases, 2) to identify any occurrence of DHS in diabetic patients under the age of 30 years (likely type I) and any occurrence of DA in diabetic patients over the age of 60 years (likely type II), 3) to describe clinical factors associated with the development of DA and DHS, and 4) to identify factors that influence the prognosis of DHS. ⋯ 1) many patients experience mixed DA (DKA) and DHS rather than either condition alone, 2) both DA (DKA) and DHS occur in young and old diabetic persons, 3) infection is the most common predisposing factor for either condition, and 4) higher osmolarity, older age, and nursing home residence are associated with nonsurvival in DHS.