Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2011
Comparative StudyRacial disparities in pediatric intensive care unit admissions.
Racial disparities in therapies and outcomes in adult and neonatal ICUs are well documented; however, little is known regarding racial disparities in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Our objective was to determine whether racial disparities exist in the admission of critically ill children to the PICU. ⋯ Racial differences in admission to the PICU exist with African American children having a greater risk for PICU admission than non-Hispanic white children.
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2011
Comparative StudyCA-125 level is associated with right ventricular echocardiographic parameters in patients with COPD.
A few studies have shown that elevated CA-125 levels are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there are no data concerning the associaton between serum CA-125 levels and right ventricular (RV) function in COPD patients. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between CA-125 level and RV echocardiographic parameters in COPD patients. ⋯ Our results show an independent correlation between CA-125 levels and systolic pulmonary artery pressure in COPD patients. The clinical utility of these results at this point in time is unknown and deserves future research.
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2011
ReviewCannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: literature review and proposed diagnosis and treatment algorithm.
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is characterized by cyclic vomiting and compulsive bathing behaviors in chronic cannabis users. Patients are typically diagnosed with CHS only after multiple and extensive medical evaluations, consequently without a clear etiology of their symptoms or treatment plan leading to symptomatic improvement. Increased healthcare provider awareness of CHS as a cause of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain coupled with an attentiveness to focused history taking-especially noting symptomatic improvement with prolonged exposure to hot showers or baths-can lead to effective treatment through cannabis cessation. We propose a diagnosis and treatment algorithm for physicians to follow when evaluating patients presenting with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain who are suspected to suffer from CHS.
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Accurate and consistent documentation of pain management, including patient responses regarding improvement in pain scores, is essential for improving patient care. The objective of the project was to evaluate the current prescribing patterns and to review the current documentation for opioid-managed, chronic pain patients in an academic continuity of care medicine clinic. ⋯ The results of this evaluation highlight the opportunity for educational intervention and the development of a structured, institution-specific guideline for prescribing and documenting pain management.