From the Associate Editor's Desk

Marie“Tonette” Krousel-Wood

As an academic healthcare organization, Ochsner is committed to promoting health and preventing disease in patients and to investigating new approaches to achieving these goals. This issue of The Ochsner Journal features two articles outlining approaches to and benefits of therapies for preventing adverse health events and highlights the research conducted by Ochsner investigators that was presented at the Fifth Annual Research Night on May 13.

In the first article, Dr. Artham and colleagues review the evidence available from observational epidemiologic studies and controlled clinical trials regarding the potentially beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids (ie, fish oil) on primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The side effects of fish oil and current treatment recommendations are also presented. Next, Ms. Gamble, a registered dietician, acknowledges the key role that physicians and other healthcare providers play in influencing healthier choices and lifestyles for their patients. To that end, she provides evidence-based, practical tips for nutritional counseling for healthcare providers. A Guess the Case article pertaining to orthopedics follows from Drs. Licini and Richardson.

The remainder of this issue is devoted to the publication of more than 75 abstracts from Ochsner's Fifth Annual Research Night. The abstracts represent recent work that has been conducted by Ochsner researchers and other collaborating investigators: 52 original research works and 25 case reports. Staff physicians, residents and fellows, basic scientists, nurses, pharmacists, and epidemiologists comprise our investigator pool. The original research reflects results from epidemiological studies and clinical trials with children and adults and spans a breadth of concentrations, including anesthesia, infectious diseases, hypertension, and surgery, to name a few. Over the years, the interest in Research Night has escalated. This year, the poster presentation exhibit was opened to the community and local schools in an effort to generate interest in scholarly works and scientific investigation.

I hope you find this issue—highlighting health promotion, disease prevention, and current research—motivating. The Editorial Board continues to seek articles that will be of interest to our readers. Please let us know which articles you find most useful and consider submitting some of your own scholarly works. We welcome your participation in future issues of The Ochsner Journal.