Southern Medical Journal back issues from November 2003:
Southern Medical Journal featured CME topic: allergy.(Featured CME Topic)
Nov 01, 2003 ... Date of Original Release: November 1, 2003 Term of Approval: 1 Year * Credit Expires: November 1, 2004 Estimated Time for Completion: 1 Hours The following section was designed for physicians in all specialties, especially those in primary care. The ...
Introduction.(Featured CME Topic: Allergy)(Editorial)
Nov 01, 2003; ... The increasing prevalence of allergic diseases throughout the world has been established by the publication of more than 10 national and multinational epidemiologic studies during the past 10 years. (1) The prevalence for allergic rhinitis ranges from 3 to 40% of the population, depending ...
Molecular mechanisms of allergic disease.(Featured CME Topic: Allergy)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: Interaction of allergen with T-cells is associated with patterns of cytokine release by immunocompetent cells characterized as T-helper Th1 or Th2 T-immune responses. The Th2 pattern of inflammation induced by this cytokine release is associated with allergic diseases. The ...
Rhinosinusitis.(Featured CME Topic: Allergy)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: History, physical examination, and allergy testing may distinguish the syndromes of rhinitis, classified as allergic, infectious, perennial, nonallergic, and miscellaneous. All may be associated with sinusitis, probably on the basis of obstruction of the osteomeatal complex ....
Asthma.(Featured CME Topic: Allergy)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: This article is a comprehensive review of asthma that discusses risk factors, diagnosis, and management. Guidelines for choosing appropriate asthma therapy are discussed. Key aspects of patient education are described. Reasons for the failure of asthma therapy with potential ...
Atopic dermatitis.(Featured CME Topic: Allergy)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: Atopic dermatitis is a common, chronic skin condition characterized by xerosis, pruritus, and inflammation. Numerous factors place individuals at increased risk for developing this disease. T-helper cells and their cytokines, in addition to immunoglobulin E and eosinophils, play ...
Allergic reactions to insect stings and bites.(Featured CME Topic: Allergy)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: Insect stings are an important cause of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can also occur from insect bites but is less common. Insect venoms contain several well-characterized allergens that can trigger anaphylactic reactions. Effective methods to diagnose insect sting allergy and assess ...
Allergic and nonallergic drug reactions.(Featured CME Topic: Allergy)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: Allergic drug reactions may be difficult to distinguish from nonallergic reactions. In this article, we review a pragmatic approach to the management of adverse drug reactions on the basis of knowledge of the classification and patterns of these reactions. Algorithms for ...
Selected ongoing clinical trials *.(Featured CME Topic: Allergy)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Activation and Function of Eosinophils in Conditions with Blood or Tissue Eosinophilia Sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, this observational study will attempt to determine how eosinophils become activated and how they function in immune ...
Selected community resources *.(Featured CME Topic: Allergy)(Directory)
Nov 01, 2003; ... * American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Resources 800-822-2762 http://www.aaaai.org/patients/resources/ http://www.aaaai.org/patients/resources/fastfacts/default.stm ...
Selected books *.(Featured CME Topic: Allergy)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Clinicians * Allergic Diseases: Diagnosis and Treatment. Lieberman P, Anderson JA. (September 2000). 474 pages. Humana Press. $99.50. * Allergic Diseases of the Eye. Abelson MB, Tilden DA. (May 2000). 270 pages. W.B. Saunders Co. $85. * Allergy in Primary ...
The three R's: radiation for restenotic renals?(Editorial)(Editorial)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Revascularization of renal artery stenosis in an effort to control hypertension and preserve renal function is becoming more widely accepted. Peripheral intervention of atherosclerotic renal arteries by balloon angioplasty with stenting is the preferred means of revascularization. Stenting ...
Transitions in health status in older patients with heart failure.(Original Article)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Background: We aimed to determine transitions in health perception and functional status in older Medicare patients with heart failure. Methods: We used 1991 to 1994 data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, a database that combines Medicare claims with yearly ...
Evaluation of lactate and C-reactive protein in the assessment of acute myocardial infarction.(Original Article)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of lactate and C-reactive protein as early markers of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in conjunction with established markers, such as creatine phosphokinase (CPK)-MB and troponin I. Methods: The study population ...
Clinical predictors of 30-day cardiac events in patients with acute coronary syndrome at a community hospital.(Original Article)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Objective: We sought to determine predictors of coronary events (cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction, and urgent revascularization) within 30 days after admission. Methods: We prospectively collected data on 400 patients admitted through our emergency room for unstable ...
Erratum.(Correction Notice)
Nov 01, 2003 ... Hamdy R.C. Antiobiotic resistance: Have we become the dinosaurs? South Med J 2003;96(2):945-946. On page 945 of the October issue of the Journal, the third sentence of the second paragraph should read as follows: Multidrug-resistant ...
Bioimpedance-derived differences in cardiac physiology during exercise stress testing in low-risk chest pain patients.(Original Article)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Background: Little has been written about the utility of thoracic electrical bioimpedance (TEB)-derived cardiac physiologic variables in evaluating patients with low-risk chest pain syndromes. Noninvasive bioimpedance can monitor cardiac physiology while a patient is performing an exercise ...
Reflux esophagitis in the pathogenesis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: results of a pilot study.(Original Article)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Background: We sought to assess whether proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with lone paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) leads to a reduction of PAF-related symptoms. Methods: The records of patients with reflux esophagitis ...
Usefulness of a hypertension education program.(Original Article)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Background: Our objective was to assess knowledge about hypertension, its medical consequences in hospitalized patients with hypertension and in their relatives, and to evaluate the usefulness of a simple education program to improve such knowledge. Method: As part of a cohort ...
Confirmatory chest radiographs after central line placement: are they warranted?(Original Article)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Objectives: This study was designed to determine the ability of physicians to predict complications associated with the placement of central venous access devices and to decide whether a confirmatory chest radiograph is warranted after placement. Methods: Patients receiving ...
Imaging of the vulnerable plaque: new modalities.
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: Atherosclerosis is currently considered to be an inflammatory and thus a systemic disease affecting multiple arterial beds. Recent advances in intravascular imaging have shown multiple sites of atherosclerotic changes in coronary arterial wall. Traditionally, angiography has been ...
Ethacrynic acid can be effective for refractory congestive heart failure and ascites.(Case Report)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: Ethacrynic acid is a loop diuretic little used today because of its side-effect profile and the availability of multiple alternative agents. However, in our clinical experience, ethacrynic acid can alleviate acute congestive heart failure and ascites resistant to other diuretics ....
Fatal cardiac rupture during stress exercise testing: case series and review of the literature.(Case Report)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: Mortality rates of exercise testing are low and cardiac rupture and sudden death are rare. Three cases of fatal cardiac rupture that occurred during exercise stress testing are reported. Once thought to be a fatal complication, there are increasing reports of ante-mortem ...
Acute rheumatic fever presenting as unstable angina.(Case Report)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Key Words: angina, chest pain, rheumatic fever ********** The most common presentation of acute rheumatic fever in adults is a febrile illness with an additive or migratory polyarthritis that is present on average in 92% of patients (range, 43-100%), or tenosynovitis ...
Endocarditis during pregnancy.(Case Report)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: The incidence of infective Endocarditis during pregnancy has been reported to be 0.006%. The maternal mortality rate can reach 33%, with most deaths related to heart failure or an embolic event. The rate of fetal mortality can reach 29%. Heart diseases are the most important non ...
Embolus in transit.(Case Report)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: A patient who presented with recurrent syncopal episodes was discovered to have a right-sided heart mass, which was revealed as an embolus in transit resulting in a lethal pulmonary embolic event. The initial focus of etiology on tumor rather than thrombus was misleading. A ...
Innominate artery compression of the trachea: an unusual cause of apnea in a 12-year-old boy.(Case Report)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: Innominate artery compression of the trachea is a common cause of airway obstruction in infants and young children. The clinical significance of this lesion, even when compression is documented endoscopically or radiographically, is controversial. Obstructive respiratory symptoms ...
Erratum.(Correction Notice)
Nov 01, 2003 ... Mulla ZD, Leaverton PE, Wiersma ST. Invasive group A streptococcal infections in Florida. South Med J 2003;96:968-973. Because of an editing error, the table citation in line 9 at the end of the second full sentence in the second column on page 972 of the October issue of the ...
Endovascular brachytherapy for the treatment of renal artery in-stent restenosis using a [beta]-emitting source: a report of five patients.(Case Report)
Nov 01, 2003; ... Abstract: We report five cases of renal artery in-stent restenosis treated with endovascular brachytherapy. This procedure has been previously used extensively for the treatment of coronary artery in-stent restenosis with successful results. Therefore, it follows logically that noncoronary ...