J Natl Med Assoc
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Over the last decade, the role of nonoperative management has revolutionized the specialty of trauma. However, this management paradigm has generated substantial controversy in several areas, including penetrating neck and abdominal trauma. ⋯ To prevent the pendulum from swinging too far, there should always exist a high index of suspicion to possible complications associated with the nonoperative approach. Also, the specific choice of management should be institution- and resource dependent.
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Menstrual characteristics may serve as surrogate measures of endogenous estrogen and may be related to breast cancer risk. No previous studies have systematically investigated menstrual factors in relation to the disease in African-American women. This case-control study is aimed to assess the relationship between menstrual factors and breast cancer in African-American women. ⋯ Results by menopausal status revealed an inverse relationship was shown only in postmenopausal women. No significant associations were observed for other menstrual factors. Findings suggest that cycle length has an inverse association with breast cancer in African-American women that may primarily exist for post-menopausal tumors.
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To assess the cardiac disturbances in African-American patients treated with paclitaxel. ⋯ Paclitaxel was not associated with significant symptomatic cardiac disturbances during infusion in our study population. Caution should be exercised in patients with underlying cardiac disease and risk factors for coronary artery disease. However more prospective studies with closer follow-up during paclitaxel infusion are needed to assess its cardiotoxicities.
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Historical Article
National Museum of Dentistry exhibition: the future is now! African Americans in dentistry.
Inspired by recently published NDA II: The Story of America's Second National Dental Association and sponsored jointly by the National Dental Association Foundation and the Colgate-Palmolive Company, an historical exhibit on dentistry in the African-American community was one of the celebrations for the Golden Anniversary of the American Academy of the History of Dentistry. This exhibit premiered on Sept. 27, 2002 in the National Museum of Dentistry located on the medical/dental campus of the University of Maryland in Baltimore. The Museum recently became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. ⋯ Also included were inter-racial relationships, socioeconomic developments, and participation in civil rights endeavors that played a major role in changing out-dated accepted customs. The exhibit's purpose was to celebrate dentistry's ministrations as a health professional among African Americans in particular and the nation at large over the past two centuries. Respect for and progress of black dentists paralleled that of black physicians who were instrumental in including dentist and pharmacists as equal members in the National Medical Association since the latter's inception in 1895.
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Comparative Study
Lower prevalence of intraventricular block in African-American patients compared with Caucasian patients: an electrocardiographic study II.
Electrocardiographic (ECG) differences occur between African-American and white persons. ⋯ The prevalence of intraventricular block is significantly less in African-American patients, compared with white patients--occurring in 8.6% of African-American patients and in 15.2% of white patients. The prevalence of intraventricular block is lowest in African-American women at 6.5% and highest in white men at 16.8%.