Streptococcus bovis - Gundersen Lutheran Health System

editor’S MeSSAGe
Welcome to the Summer issue of the GLMJ ! Thanks to our authors for their
contributions, and to the reviewers for taking time out of their busy schedules to review
and comment on the submissions.
The Journal’s Editorial Board is exploring ways in which it can contribute to Gundersen
Lutheran’s mission: “We distinguish ourselves through excellence in patient care,
education, research, and through improved health in the communities we serve.” In
order to increase awareness of the depth and breadth of our collective scholarly and
research interests, each year we will publish abstracts of professional oral and poster
presentations and of published journal articles. We will note publication of books
and book chapters, as well. The Board is also developing a timeline for implementing
the steps necessary to make successful application to have the Journal indexed in
MEDLINE. Among these steps are expanding distribution of the Journal, increasing
the number and quality of submissions, and recruiting more authors and reviewers from
outside our organization.
In the Original Research section of this issue, Dr Wright and colleagues from the
University of Wisconsin–La Crossse apply the concept of the placebo effect to exercise.
They tested whether groups who believed they were receiving a nutritional ergogenic aid
(in fact, a placebo) experienced improvement in their exercise performance.
My colleagues and I reviewed the efficacy and outcomes for a screening measure for
dysphagia implemented for acute stroke patients for a consecutive 8-year period. Coauthor
Melissa Hunter was my summer fellow in 2007 through the Gundersen Lutheran
Medical Foundation. Her diligent work and assistance saw this project through to
fruition.
This issue’s Case Reports section features several unusual cases. Drs Wade and Aberger
present a case of colonoscopically diagnosed appendicitis in a patient with known
ulcerative colitis, possibly the first such case reported in the literature.
Dr Tandon and colleagues discuss the history and course for a patient with infective
endocarditis who developed neurologic signs and radiographic evidence for multiple
intracranial mycotic aneurysms. Mycotic aneurysms are usually fatal if not diagnosed
and treated in a timely manner.
Mr Ryan and colleagues, representing institutions in Colorado, Minnesota, and
Wisconsin, discuss a case of a giant-cell reaction to a bioabsorbable implant used to
repair a torn supraspinatus muscle in a patient with impingement syndrome.
Drs Raghavendra and Agger offer insights into diagnosis and treatment of postpartum
ovarian vein thrombosis.
Finally, in the History of Medicine section, Drs Berger and Bacon provide an interesting
and detailed history of phantom limb syndrome, while Dr Udermann and colleagues
from the University of Wisconsin–La Crossse provide a comprehensive story of cardiac
rehabilitation in La Crosse since its inception in 1970.
Along with the Editorial Board, I hope that you enjoy this issue of the GLMJ. Your
contributions and suggestions for the Journal are welcomed and encouraged. We
encourage Gundersen Lutheran staff to document their presentations and publications
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