The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had many downstream effects, including, for some women, altering the wish to become pregnant. This study examines the effects on pregnancy intention and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score at the initiation of prenatal care in a low-income population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Endocrine disorders often coexist with mental health issues. Little is known about patient beliefs regarding endocrinologists' involvement in mental health screening. We studied the beliefs of patients with endocrine disorders regarding endocrinologists' asking about mental health and whether patients perceive that endocrinologists are capable of recognizing mental health concerns.

Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related death in the pediatric and adolescent population. This epidemiologic study describes the trends in emergency department (ED) visits for pediatric drowning injury in North Carolina and the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on incidence rate.

Hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis (HFTC) is a rare, autosomal recessive condition characterized by fibroblast growth factor 23 signaling pathway dysregulation, hyperphosphatemia and ectopic calcifications (which manifest as joint motion limitations), inflammatory bony pain, and disability. Given the rarity and multiorgan involvement of HFTC, a multidisciplinary approach including Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Dentistry, Nephrology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Genetics is necessary for diagnosis and treatment. We present a multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment approach for a patient with HFTC due to a gene mutation with unique imaging highlighting the extent of calcinosis seen in HFTC. In this case study, a 34-year-old female patient found to have HFTC was first evaluated at an outpatient academic dermatology center in October 2020 and studied for 1 year. Genetic testing revealing a homozygous c.1319C > A variant in predicted to result in a missense mutation p.Ala440Glu. HFTC should be considered for patients presenting with diffuse calcinosis cutis-like features, and a multidisciplinary evaluation should be pursued.

Current guidelines recommend dexamethasone 6 mg/day for up to 10 days in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requiring supplemental oxygenation or mechanical ventilation. The practice has significant variation, however, and dexamethasone has been used for >10 days for many patients with severe COVID-19. The aim of this study was to assess the benefits and risks associated with standard versus extended use of dexamethasone in patients with severe COVID-19.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention tool. Expanding PrEP access and utilization is made possible by incorporating it into primary care practice. This study explored the barriers in and attitudes toward prescribing PrEP to adults among primary care providers (PCPs) in Alabama, a priority HIV jurisdiction with low PrEP uptake.

Free clinics provide care to underserved populations nationwide. The Birmingham Free Clinic offers dermatology care and operates an onsite dispensary. Little is known about specialty care services and medication optimization in the free clinic setting. This study analyzed dermatologic diagnoses and medication distribution patterns to optimize the dermatologic formulary at a free clinic.

This study used a qualitative research approach to grounded theory to identify factors that contributed to resident distress during 2021-2022 in multiple different specialties and at different postgraduate years of residency. By better understanding these contributors to distress, the aim was to inform the design of optimal interventions to reduce burnout and other emotional distress.

Communication skills are increasingly recognized as a crucial component of medical training; however, little is known about the efficacy of various training methods when considering diverse student backgrounds, such as gender and prior training experience (ie, year of residency). This study explores medical learners' perceptions of effective communication in conducting goals of care (GOC) discussions with patients after receiving communication training as well as assessing for differences in preparedness for GOC discussions by gender and prior training experience.

The level of knowledge about contraceptives overall is low in the United States. This qualitative study adds to the literature that explores gendered differences in contraceptive knowledge. Specifically, we examined knowledge regarding different contraceptive methods, directions on use, mechanism of action, efficacy, and adverse effects. We also looked at men's perspectives on their partner's knowledge.

The healthcare industry is grappling with escalating expenses, partially attributed to the inefficient use of medical resources, particularly by ordering unnecessary laboratory tests. Such practices not only increase costs but also result in extended hospital stays, patient discomfort, and potential clinical complications such as iatrogenic anemia. Blood tests, although essential for guiding medical decisions, are associated with significant clinical and financial costs. This quality improvement project aimed to decrease unnecessary laboratory testing at Wellstar Spalding Medical Center, a community hospital with a newly established residency program.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately affected Black and Latinx communities. Ecologic analyses have shown that counties with a higher percentage of Latinx and Black people have worse COVID-19 outcome rates. Few ecologic analyses have been published at the neighborhood (census tract) level. We sought to determine whether certain sociodemographic neighborhood ecologies were associated with COVID-19 case and death rates in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia.

During the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, numerous comorbidities were identified as risk factors for increased morbidity and mortality. Few studies have examined human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and COVID-19 co-infection and the impact of HIV on COVID-19 outcomes. In this study, we compared outcomes of people living with HIV with COVID-19 with a control group to examine outcomes.

Frail patients are at greater risk of experiencing adverse clinical outcomes in any critical illness due to decreased physiologic reserves, greater susceptibility to the adverse effects of treatment, and greater needs for intensive care. In this study, we sought to assess the prevalence of frailty and associated adverse in-hospital outcomes among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations using the 2020 California State Inpatient Database (SID).

The incidence of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is reported to be <25 times lower than that of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli, which occur in 70 to 270/100,000 cases in the general population. Current guidelines recommend initial treatment with therapeutic low-molecular-weight heparin followed by a transition to a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) or a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) in patients with cirrhosis who develop SVT without severe liver dysfunction. This, however, is based on observational data. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anticoagulant therapy in patients with cirrhosis who present with SVT and receive either a DOAC or a VKA.

The reasons for and incidence of delay in screening colonoscopies during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are of major public health interest. The risks and reasons for delay likely vary between public and private institutions. This research sought to analyze data regarding the completion of screening colonoscopies after a positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the reasons for a delay in obtaining these results at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The goals were to evaluate the institutional resilience and analyze the problems associated with this major healthcare crisis.

Lymphedema commonly affects females with Turner syndrome (TS), although it may be underrecognized and untreated. The objective of this study was to better understand self-reported lymphedema prevalence, knowledge, and experience in TS.

With the number of medical school applicants more than doubling during the past 30 years, there has been an increased need to mentor premedical undergraduate students. The Vertically Integrated Training Program at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, was created to provide direct mentoring for college students interested in a career as a physician. Online surveys were distributed at the beginning and end of the Fall 2023 semester to gain insight into the success of the program's events from the undergraduate perspective. Data suggest a trend toward positive change in terms of increased confidence of undergraduate students regarding the process of applying to and finding success in medical school. This article reviews the development of the Vertically Integrated Training Program, evaluates the success of the program, and suggests next steps for the organization.

As hospital medicine (HM) has grown as a specialty, it has been paralleled by an increase in HM fellowship training programs. Limited data are available surrounding clinical exposure for HM fellows. Using data from a large academic medical center with a long-standing HM fellowship program, we reviewed the types of clinical shifts and distribution of shift data completed by HM fellows from 2013 to 2023.