Southern medical journal
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Clinical research typically gathers sample data to make an inference about a population. Sample data carries the risk of introducing variation into the data, which can be estimated by the standard error of the mean. Data are described using descriptive statistics such as mean, median, mode, and standard deviation. ⋯ This probability is determined by statistical tests. Of these groups of tests, the Student t test and the analysis of variance are the more common parametric tests, and the chi-square test is common for nonparametric tests. This article provides a basic overview of biostatistics to assist the nonstatistician with interpreting statistical analyses in research articles.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2012
ReviewCardiac stress testing for the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease: a reference for the primary care physician.
Choosing the appropriate stress test is important in the workup of patients with possible myocardial ischemia. This choice often is challenging and sometimes confusing because of the plethora of tests and guidelines available. We present a broad overview of commonly available stress tests and indications to help physicians select the most appropriate stress test for their patients.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2012
Comparative StudyMedical student education improvement using a resident-driven student rotation.
Small community-based residency teaching programs are often entrusted with the task of instructing medical students. In these small programs, sufficient teaching instruction for medical students can be hindered by an ever-increasing workload and lack of a structured curriculum. We designed a resident-supervised rotation for medical students in our department while providing a forum for residents to improve their teaching skills.
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Southern medical journal · Jan 2012
ReviewLung volume reduction for advanced emphysema: surgical and bronchoscopic approaches.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the third leading cause of death in the United States, affecting more than 24 million people. Inhaled bronchodilators are the mainstay of therapy; they improve symptoms and quality of life and reduce exacerbations. These and smoking cessation and long-term oxygen therapy for hypoxemic patients are the only medical treatments definitively demonstrated to reduce mortality. ⋯ Interest has been growing in the use of noninvasive, bronchoscopic methods to address the pathological hyperinflation that drives the dyspnea and exercise intolerance that is characteristic of emphysema. In this review, the mechanism by which lung volume reduction improves pulmonary function is outlined, along with the risks and benefits of the traditional surgical approach. In addition, the emerging bronchoscopic techniques for lung volume reduction are introduced and recent clinical trials examining their efficacy are summarized.