Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Apr 2020
Rate of Food Insecurity Among Households with Children with Sickle Cell Disease is Above the National Average.
Despite studies demonstrating the negative impact of food insecurity on health in children, limited research has been done to assess the prevalence and sequelae of food insecurity in sickle cell disease (SCD). We tested the hypothesis that food insecurity is common in children with SCD and is associated with increased SCD morbidity. ⋯ In a tertiary care medical center in Tennessee, one in five households with children with SCD were assessed as food insecure, with a substantial discordance between caregiver and child assessment of food insecurity.
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Southern medical journal · Apr 2020
Maternal Cotinine Levels and Red Blood Cell Folate Concentrations in the Periconceptual Period.
Studies have examined the association between tobacco use and folate levels in pregnancy, yet few have assessed this relation using objective and accurate measures of both smoking and folate. In this study, we evaluated the association between maternal cotinine levels and periconceptional red blood cell (RBC) folic acid reserves in a cohort of low-income pregnant mothers. ⋯ Low RBC folate is associated with perinatal factors, including high maternal cotinine levels, body mass index, stress, and depression. The effect of low folate levels among smokers cannot be overemphasized, considering that tobacco products not only reduce folate levels but also decrease the bioutilization of folate.
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Significant attention has been directed at evaluating reimbursement rates to orthopedic surgeons for various surgical procedures. To evaluate patients' understanding of the surgeon reimbursement process, studies using patient surveys have been conducted to determine patients' perceptions of orthopedic surgeon compensation. To date, there has been no systematic review to consolidate the data of these studies. ⋯ Patients consistently overestimate how much orthopedic surgeons are reimbursed for common orthopedic procedures. The results of this systematic review suggest that patients may value these procedures more than what Medicare reimburses. Such information may help educate the public, direct policy, and increase transparency between orthopedic surgeons and patients.
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Southern medical journal · Apr 2020
Hispanic Health Paradox at the Border: Substance, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use among Latinx Immigrants Seeking Free or Reduced-Cost Care in Southernmost Texas.
Although substantial research has explored the Hispanic health paradox (HHP) and suggests that Latinx immigrants experience positive health outcomes relative to those born in the United States, less research has assessed the role of immigration status. Our aim was to examine this role in Latinx health. ⋯ Despite facing potentially adverse social environments, undocumented Latinx immigrants experience positive health outcomes relative to US-born/naturalized citizen peers.
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Southern medical journal · Apr 2020
Adherence to Guideline-Based Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Gynecology among Alabama Providers.
Surgical site infection (SSI) is a preventable cause of postoperative morbidity. The appropriate use of perioperative antibiotics for prevention of SSIs is a well-established quality metric. Little is known about the adherence to guidelines-based antibiotic prophylaxis among Alabama obstetricians and gynecologists. Our aims were to determine their adherence to guidelines-based antibiotic prophylaxis and identify the factors that are predictive of nonadherence. ⋯ Alabama gynecologic surgeons can and should improve their compliance with guidelines-based antibiotic prophylaxis. More research is needed to determine which interventions would improve adherence in this provider population; our study suggests that the implementation of a standing antibiotic protocol may be a reasonable first step.