• Articles

    Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

    GILBERT R. UPCHURCH, JR, TIMOTHY A. SCHAUB

    Most abdominal aortic aneurysms are asymptomatic. Major risk factors for this type of aneurysm are advanced age, male sex, and smoking 100 cigarettes or more in a lifetime.

    Diagnostic Approach to Pleural Effusion in Adults

    JOSÉ M. PORCEL, RICHARD W. LIGHT

    Pleural effusion, an excess of fluid in the pleural space, can have many different causes. For diagnosis, physicians must determine whether the effusion is a transudate or an exudate.

    Dementia with Lewy Bodies: An Emerging Disease

    DOUG NEEF, ANNE D. WALLING

    One out of five cases of dementia is believed to result from dementia with Lewy bodies. The emerging consensus is that dementia with Lewy bodies is a distinct pathologic entity sharing features with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

    Vulvodynia: Diagnosis and Management

    BARBARA D. REED

    The diagnosis of vulvodynia depends on a consistent history, lack of a documented infectious or dermatologic cause, and pain when gentle pressure is applied to the vulva, introitus, or hymenal areas. Although evidence for treatment options is limited, several therapies have...

    Inside AFP

    Reflecting on the Breadth of Family Medicine

    JOYCE A. MERRIMAN

    Last week, I witnessed firsthand the versatility of family physicians. On a visit to my family physician, I noticed the waiting room contained men, women, and children whose ages spanned at least eight decades. Then, during my physical, my physician addressed a variety of...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    Newsletter

    LIZ SMITH

    Selected policy and health issues news briefs from AAFP News Now.

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    LISA GRAHAM

    One popular book series may help keep children injury free. A study published in the British Medical Journal found that on two weekends books in the popular Harry Potter series were released, the number of children admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, England,...

    Editorials

    Screening and Management of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: The Best Evidence

    CRAIG FLEMING

    Deaths related to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) account for less than 1 percent of deaths annually in U.S. men 65 years and older.1 What sets AAA apart from more common causes of death is that it is a preventable problem. Ultrasonographic screening for aortic aneurysms is...

    Graham Center Policy One-Pager

    Family Physicians Help Meet the Emergency Care Needs of Rural America

    Ensuring access to emergency care in rural areas remains a challenge. High costs and low patient volumes make 100 percent staffing of rural emergency departments (EDs) by emergency medicine residency-trained physicians (EPs) unlikely. As rurality increases, so does the...

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Glucosamine Treatment for Osteoarthritis

    JASMINE CHEN GATTI

    This review shows that, compared with placebo, glucosamine sulfate produces a moderate, clinically significant reduction in pain and improvement in function for patients with osteoarthritis. However, study results were not consistent. Most studies in the review used...

    Benzodiazepines for Alcohol Withdrawal

    MARK H. EBELL

    Benzodiazepines are safe and effective for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, particularly for the prevention of withdrawal seizures, although their superiority to anticonvulsants has not been demonstrated convincingly. There is no clear benefit of one benzodiazepine over...

    Inhaled Beta Agonists for Chronic, Nonspecific Cough in Children?

    MARK H. EBELL

    The single clinical trial on this topic found that inhaled beta agonists do not reduce cough frequency or improve symptoms in children with chronic, nonspecific cough.

    Clinical Evidence Handbook

    Herniated Lumbar Disk

    JO JORDON, TAMARA SHAWVER MORGAN, JAMES WEINSTEIN, KIKA KONSTANTINOU

    What are the effects of surgery and drug and nondrug treatments?

    FPIN's Clinical Inquiries

    Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis

    BETH ANNE FOX, EVAN D. SCHMITZ, RICHARD WALLACE

    Glucosamine reduces pain and improves function in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis.

    Photo Quiz

    “Wood-Grain” Skin

    DAVID W. BRAY, BRIAN P. GREEN

    A 79-year-old man complained of a two-month history of a minimally pruritic rash on his abdomen, flanks, and buttocks. It had appeared initially over several days. He denied any recent travel or prolonged outdoor activities. His medical history included a smoking history of...

    POEMs

    Prescribing Antibiotics Does Not Save Time

    ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

    Second Steroid Injection Not Needed for Carpal Tunnel

    DAVID SLAWSON

    PET Best for Diagnosing Chronic Osteomyelitis

    HENRY BARRY

    Pelargonium Effective for Acute Bronchitis Symptoms

    ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

    Intensive Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Reduces Cardiac Events

    MARK EBELL

    After Stroke: 2 Percent Rate of Annual MI and Death

    HENRY BARRY

    Curbside Consultation

    Confronting a Colleague Who Covers Up a Medical Error

    HOWARD BRODY

    In the past, physicians had no formal medical ethics training and learned that the best way to deal with medical errors and possible malpractice lawsuits was to say as little as possible, deny everything, and never to apologize or acknowledge error. Today, physicians receive...

    Practice Guidelines

    NAMDRC Recommendations for Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

    AMBER HUNTZINGER

    The National Association for Medical Direction of Respiratory Care (NAMDRC) has developed recommendations for the assessment and management of patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation.

    Practice Guideline Briefs

    AAN Releases Guidelines for the Use of Serum Prolactin Assays in Diagnosing Epileptic Seizures

    LISA GRAHAM

    The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has released evidence-based recommendations for the use of serum prolactin tests in differentiating between epileptic and nonepileptic seizures.

    CDC Reports on Trends in Cholesterol Screening and Awareness

    LISA GRAHAM

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published a report on the prevalence of cholesterol screening and awareness using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

    Letters to the Editor

    Transmission of Herpes Simplex Virus via Oral Sex

    Tips from Other Journals

    Amnioinfusion Not Effective in Meconium Aspiration Syndrome

    CHUCK CARTER

    Self-Management Programs Help Patients with Chronic Disease

    KENNETH W. LIN

    Spironolactone Therapy for Patients with Heart Failure

    JILL GIORDANO

    Glyburide vs. Insulin Therapy in Women with Gestational Diabetes

    KARL E. MILLER

    Antibiotic Prescribing in Children with Sore Throat

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Levothyroxine Starting Dose in Primary Hypothyroid Treatment

    KARL E. MILLER

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): What You Should Know

    The main blood vessel in your body is the aorta (say: a-OR-ta). It carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. It is a long blood vessel that reaches from your chest into your abdomen. The part of the aorta in your abdomen is called the “abdominal aorta.”

    Dementia with Lewy Bodies

    Dementia (duh-MEN-shuh) with Lewy bodies is the second most common form of dementia (behind Alzheimer’s disease). People who have dementia with Lewy bodies have trouble with everyday activities. They may get lost or confused in familiar places and see things or people that...

    Vulvodynia: What You Should Know

    Vulvodynia (say: vull-voh-DIN-ee-uh) is often present when the area around the opening of the vagina hurts for many months or years. If you have vulvodynia, the area may hurt when you have sex, use tampons, ride a bicycle, or wear tight clothes. You also might hurt for no...

    Corrections

    Correction



    Disclosure

    All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


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