Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Mar 2021
Historical ArticleHow Does Black History Help Doctors? Addressing Cultural Competency through Cinemeducation at a Diverse Medical School.
Racial minorities will account for >50% of the United States population by 2045, yet race and ethnicity persist as leading predictors of morbidity. Although minorities achieve better outcomes when treated by racially concordant providers, the number of minority physicians is disproportionately low compared with the rapidly growing minority population. This imbalance creates a cultural gap between many minority patients and their healthcare providers. Research suggests that educational initiatives addressing health inequity through a historical lens can help providers better understand the root causes of disparities; however, extensive clinical demands severely limit the time providers can dedicate to non-medical learning. ⋯ These findings suggest that brief videos focused on the history of culturally distinct populations may be a successful pedagogical strategy to introduce physicians to the communities they serve and improve provider knowledge.
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Southern medical journal · Mar 2021
Sex Differences in Stroke Hospitalization Incidence, 30-Day Mortality, and Readmission in a Regional Medical Center in the Southwestern United States.
This study explores sex differences in ischemic stroke hospitalization incidence, 30-day mortality, and 30-day readmission in a southwestern US medical center. ⋯ Men experienced higher stroke hospitalization incidence, although women exhibited higher 30-day mortality. Age composition explained sex differences in mortality, but higher male stroke hospitalization incidence represents a larger public health issue that suggests the need for behavioral change at the population level. No meaningful sex differences emerged in treatment, mortality, or readmission.
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Southern medical journal · Mar 2021
Observational StudyEpidemiology, Clinical Features, and Outcomes of Hospitalized Adults with COVID-19: Early Experience from an Academic Medical Center in Mississippi.
To describe the demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of hospitalized adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in an academic medical center in the southern United States. ⋯ Our study adds evidence that Black patients appear to be overrepresented in those hospitalized with and those who die from COVID-19, likely a manifestation of adverse social determinants of health. These findings should help guide preventive interventions targeting groups at higher risk of acquiring and developing severe COVID-19 disease.
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Southern medical journal · Mar 2021
Alpha-Gal Allergy as a Cause of Intestinal Symptoms in a Gastroenterology Community Practice.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) is a recently appreciated cause of allergic reactions to mammalian meat and dairy. In eastern North America Lone Star tick bites are the dominant mode of sensitization. Classically the alpha-gal syndrome manifests with urticaria, gastrointestinal symptoms, and/or anaphylaxis, but increasingly there are reports of isolated gastrointestinal symptoms without other common allergic manifestations. The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the frequency of IgE to alpha-gal in patients presenting with unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms to a community gastroenterology practice, and to evaluate the symptom response to the removal of mammalian products from the diet in alpha-gal-positive individuals. ⋯ Clinicians practicing in the region of the Lone Star tick habitat need to be aware that patients with IgE to alpha-gal can manifest with isolated abdominal pain and diarrhea, and these patients respond well to dietary exclusion of mammalian products.