Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · May 2001
Multicenter StudyAcupuncture for chronic low back pain: diagnosis and treatment patterns among acupuncturists evaluating the same patient.
There is increasing need to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture and other alternative therapies for common conditions. However, little attention has focused on the variability in acupuncturists' assessment, diagnosis, and treatment patterns. ⋯ Seven acupuncturists agreed considerably in the diagnoses for the same patient with chronic low back pain, but treatment recommendations varied substantially. Clinicians and researchers must recognize treatment recommendation variations and the challenges they present for study design and interpretation.
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Southern medical journal · May 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialNew polyethylene glycol laxative for treatment of constipation in adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of a new polyethylene glycol (PEG) laxative (MiraLax, Braintree Laboratories Inc, Braintree, Mass) in 23 patients reporting a history of constipation. ⋯ Daily therapy with 17 g of PEG laxative for 14 days resulted in a significant improvement in bowel movement frequency in constipated patients relative to placebo by the second week of treatment.
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Southern medical journal · May 2001
Maternal morbidity and mortality associated with intrauterine fetal demise: five-year experience in a tertiary referral hospital.
Risk factors for and management of intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) have been investigated, but the maternal morbidity has not been evaluated. ⋯ Maternal morbidity and rarely mortality can follow IUFD, but this morbidity is similar to that observed without IUFD.
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Southern medical journal · May 2001
Case ReportsProtective helmets for children with special health care needs.
An illustrative case of a second traumatic brain injury in the same child raises the issue of the criteria by which protective helmets for disabled children should be prescribed. There is a dearth of data substantiating criteria for helmet prescription for special needs children and assessing potential adverse side effects of routinely wearing a helmet. Further studies seem warranted to determine whether protective helmets truly reduce the frequency and severity of secondary trauma and whether there are adverse effects that outweigh benefits.