J Natl Med Assoc
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Infective endocarditis in association with spondylodiscitis is rarely observed. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between rheumatologic diseases and infective endocarditis. We reported a 61-year-old male with Streptococcus viridans endocarditis suffering from low-back pain as initial symptom. ⋯ L4-5 spondylodiscitis was revealed on the lumbar magnetic resonance imaging. He responded to antibiotic treatment. Infective endocarditis should be considered in patients with fever and low-back pain due to spondylodiscitis.
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Comparative Study
Esophageal cancer epidemiology in blacks and whites: racial and gender disparities in incidence, mortality, survival rates and histology.
Esophageal cancer rate disparities are pronounced for blacks and whites. This study presents black-white esophageal cancer incidence, mortality, relative survival rates, histology and trends for two five-year time periods--1991-1995 and 1996-2000--and for the time period 1991-2000. ⋯ Racial disparities in esophageal cancer incidence, mortality, survival and histology exist. Survival rates from this disease have not significantly improved over the decade. These data support the need for advances in prevention, early detection biomarker research and research on new, more effective treatment modalities for this disease.
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Graves' disease is an autoimmune-based hyperthyroidism in which a number of different antibodies directed against thyroid tissue plays a role. Graves' ophthalmopathy is thought to be a consequence of this autoimmune basis and occurs in some patients with Graves' disease. On occasional cases, the disease may present only with ophthalmopathy without hyperthyroidism. A 32-year-old woman with euthyroid Graves' ophthalmopathy and negative thyroid autoantibodies, including TSH receptor antibody, is presented here.
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Comparative Study
Reproductive decision-making among HIV-Infected women.
To describe factors related to reproductive decision-making among HIV-infected women. ⋯ HIV is an important influence on HIV-infected women's reproductive choices, regardless of the decision being made. Reproductive counseling by HIV care providers needs to be sensitive to all the issues faced by these women.
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Editorial
Reducing HIV/AIDS transmission among African-American females: is the female condom a solution?
Rates of HIV/AIDS have increased at an alarming rate among minority women, especially African-American women. Suggestions that have been presented to decrease HIV/AIDS transmission among African-American women include promoting abstinence and the use of the male condom. Little recognition and support have been given for promoting the female condom as a viable solution to combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic.