J Natl Med Assoc
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The objective of the study was to examine racial/ethnic differences in medical expenditures (prescription, office-based, in-patient, out-patient, emergency room, total) over time, overall and by type of expenditure, in a nationally representative sample of adults with diabetes. ⋯ Minority groups with type 2 diabetes were found to have significantly less total expenditures, with the exception of total expenditures for NHB compared to NHW. These findings indicate minorities with type 2 diabetes may be receiving less care than NHW, which has implications for the known disparities in health outcomes and complications in individuals with diabetes.
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Medical students often have limited exposure to providing care to physically and cognitively disabled patients. To address this gap, Involvement with Disability Education and Advancement (IDEA) was started in 2015 at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS). The organization provides NJMS students the opportunity to visit a school dedicated to disabled students and lead educational sessions on health topics. ⋯ IDEA members may have increased comfort interacting with cognitively impaired individuals due to their regular experience and lower levels of comfort providing medical attention to physically disabled patients due to awareness of complex problems specific to the population. The current results warrant continued data collection and further evaluation.
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Case Reports
An Adrenal Incidentaloma Diagnosed as Dopamine-Secreting Pheochromocytoma: A Case Report.
Dopamine-secreting pheochromocytomas are exceedingly rare. ⋯ Patients with dopamine-secreting pheochromocytomas are mostly asymptomatic, leading to a significant delay in diagnosis. There is a large possibility for dopamine-secreting pheochromocytomas to show a malignant tendency than the adrenergic and noradrenergic phenotypes. The a-adrenergic receptor blocker is not indicated for preoperative medical treatment because it can cause hypotension and cardiovascular failure. Calcium channel blockers or metyrosine may be better alternatives. All patients with pheochromocytomas should receive targeted genetic testing based on specific clinical features. SDHB, SDHD, RET, VHL and NF1 mutations are suggested for genetic testing of adrenal dopamine-secreting pheochromocytomas.
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According to the Lancet Commission Report on Global Surgery, it was estimated that in 2010 about 16.9 million lives were lost due to the unavailability of Surgical services. It was further calculated that 77.2 million DALYs could simply have been averted by providing basic surgical inspection and triage. Aiding Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through Humanitarian Outreach Services in Resource-Poor Settings is both challenging and difficult to execute. ⋯ The synergistic Humanitarian diplomacy is more focused in persuading decision-makers and opinion leaders to act, at all times, in the interest of vulnerable people and with full respect for our fundamental principles. Since the inclusion of surgical care in the universal basic health care services play a critical role in addressing the rising epidemic of injuries, non-communicable diseases and improving quality of life, there is a great need to address the inequities in pediatric surgical services in resource-poor settings. Hence the successful practice of GHD and humanitarian diplomacy is indispensable for establishing global partnerships, securing funding and strengthening systems to promote cost-effective and essential surgical care to achieve UHC and economic development.
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Omphalocele is characterized as a ventral wall defect in which there exists a midline herniation of abdominal viscera into the base of the umbilical cord. Fetuses with a diagnosis of this entity are at a significantly increased risk of having an aneuploidy, additional anomalies, or associations with other syndromes such as Beckwith Wiederman. Secondary to these interconnections, there is an elevated risk of fetal loss in affected pregnancies. Detection of concordant abnormalities, appropriate genetic counseling, and involvement of pediatric subspecialties are paramount in affording a prognosis, and providing optimal perinatal management of omphalocele.