From the Editor's Desk

David E. Beck

This issue of The Ochsner Journal covers the spectrum of medical practice. Dr. Carl Lavie continues his contributions with an informative update on what's new in cardiovascular disease for those on the front lines.

The Internet is being used for more and more activities in medicine, from electronic medical records and literature searches to social networking. It also offers the ability for distance, or online, education. This method of learning has advantages (cost, accessibility) as well as potential limitations. As any new technology or process also results in variable levels of acceptance or adoption, a study by Dr. Adams about how the medical school admission process currently values online courses proves particularly insightful.

Pain remains a challenging and often frustrating clinical dilemma, especially in anatomically complex areas such as the groin. In this issue, Dr. Richardson and colleagues present an interesting discussion of treatment options.

Case reports are often fascinating to read, but also they represent important contributions to the literature. We are especially pleased to have contributions from international contributors. Two short papers from Dr. Ha and colleagues, from Australia, present an unusual case of arteriovenous fistula in a joint and a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a peritoneal dialysis patient.

Two reviews follow. Our Otolaryngology colleagues address the often confusing problem of vertigo, and then Drs. Reed and Kemmerly cover the increasingly important topic of hospital-acquired infections.

Finally, we have an article on how dietary intake of nuts affects cardiovascular prognosis.

With the support of our readers and contributors, The Ochsner Journal continues to expand and support the missions of the Ochsner Medical System. Please take the time to inform the editorial board and staff as to what you like about the journal as well as areas where you believe we can improve. On behalf of the editorial board, I would like to thank our contributors for their efforts.