Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2024
Diagnosis of Gout as a Correlative Risk for Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Absence of Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors.
We aimed to study the impact of gout as a correlative risk factor in the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) among patients without known MI risk factors. Our study population was obtained from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2011-2018 using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revisions. ⋯ In our study, we found that patients without risk factors for AMI who had gout were more likely to develop AMI compared with those without gout. Furthermore, the same patients were more likely to develop other adverse outcomes. Even with proper management, these individuals should be monitored closely for coronary events.
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2024
Characteristics of Admissions from the Pediatric Emergency Department Observation Unit.
Emergency department observation units (EDOUs) are used to manage common pediatric illnesses and reduce the admission rate to the hospital. Most of these patients require a short duration of observation before a determination can be made whether they need to be admitted to the hospital or safely discharged home. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of admissions from a pediatric EDOU for the top 10 diagnoses admitted to the unit. This will help standardize the disposition of such types of patients from the ED, hence improving the efficiency of the unit. ⋯ The characteristics of admissions from the EDOU may help us to understand historical experience regarding diagnoses, timing, and indications of deterioration, resource utilization, and other metrics that resulted in transfers of EDOU patients to the intensive care unit/operating room/inpatient units.
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2024
Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Effectiveness of Chemoprophylaxis.
Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is associated with pulmonary embolism and other complications, but there are no recommendations for UEDVT prophylaxis. The purpose of this study was to establish incidence and risk factors for UEDVT and to determine efficacy of pharmacologic prophylaxis for UEDVT prevention. ⋯ UEDVT is rare but some patients are high risk. Therefore, UEDVT risk factors should be added to VTE risk assessment models, and patients at high risk for UEDVT should receive chemoprophylaxis.
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In the context of early-phase clinical trials, research subjects often confuse the differences between clinical research and personal treatment. This phenomenon, known as therapeutic misconception, potentially undermines the validity of informed consent. ⋯ This is a notable omission, given that an association between therapeutic misconception and religious belief has been shown to exist. This perspective calls for more research into the nature of the association between therapeutic misconception and religious belief and suggests a framework that may help clinicians and researchers distinguish between the two, thereby bolstering the informed consent process.
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2024
Preservation of Muscle during Treatment for Obesity in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities.
Adults with intellectual disabilities will frequently experience sedentary behavior and excessive weight, which may cause or exacerbate a multitude of medical and behavioral problems. This study examined a program to encourage increased activity and weight loss in an outpatient service for adults with intellectual disabilities. ⋯ If motivation remains high and follow-up is reasonably long, then a multicomponent obesity treatment program can lead to significant weight loss with preservation of muscle in adults with intellectual disabilities.