• Articles

    Preventing Bacterial Endocarditis: American Heart Association Guidelines

    KATHRYN A. TAUBERT, ADNAN S. DAJANI

    The American Heart Association's recently revised guidelines for the prevention of bacterial endocarditis are intended to more clearly define when prophylaxis is and is not recommended, as well as to improve practitioner and patient compliance.

    The Injured Ankle

    RANDELL K. WEXLER

    Of the 1 million ankle injuries that occur annually in the United States, 85 percent are sprains of the lateral ligaments. Milder sprains respond to rest and immobilization, while more serious sprains may require casting or surgery.

    Hospice Care in the Nursing Home

    TIMOTHY J. KEAY, RONALD S. SCHONWETTER

    The Medicare Hospice Benefit allows hospice programs to provide valuable and effective interdisciplinary services to support the family physician's palliative care of terminally ill nursing home residents.

    Transcervical Amnioinfusion

    DAVID G. WEISMILLER

    Amnioinfusion has been shown to decrease variable decelerations and, correspondingly, to decrease operative intervention associated with a nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing. Dilution of thick meconium with amnioinfusion can potentially reduce the risk of meconium aspiration.

    Newer Antiepileptic Drugs: Gabapentin, Lamotrigine, Felbamate, Topiramate and Fosphenytoin

    WILLIAM J. CURRY, DAVID L. KULLING

    New choices in antiepileptic therapy provide improved seizure control, but a thorough understanding of drug interactions and possible life-threatening side effects is imperative for physicians who employ these medications.

    Family Practice International

    ANNE D. WALLING

    (Australia—Australian Family Physician, August 1997, p. 917.) Several Web sites relate to health care issues and offer resources for those with chronic diseases. Recommendations for sources of information on diabetes mellitus include the Diabetic Gourmet (http:/...

    Inside AFP

    Tips from Other Journals

    JANIS WRIGHT

    One of our readers' favorite AFP departments continues to be “Tips from Other Journals.” It's one of our favorites too. Also known as “Tips,” this department consists of practical summaries of research and review articles from other medical journals. In this issue, you'll...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    Newsletter

    Rosemarie Sweeney, Verna L. Rose

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

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Monica A. Preboth, Rachel Richards

    The Tobacco Institute was the subject of one of Science & Government Report's recent “Non-Profit Pay Checks” reports. The boring part was that in 1996, the Institute reported $46.5 million in revenues from its 12 “corporate sponsors” (companies that manufacture cigarettes...

    Editorials

    The Integration of Hospice Programs in Nursing Homes

    AUBREY L. KNIGHT

    A renewed interest in the United States in appropriate health care and decision making at the end of life has focused attention on hospice programs. Additionally, the aging of our population along with efforts of third-party payers to shorten inpatient lengths of stay have...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Not one of us has been in practice for more than a week before we've heard the words, “Oh, by the way . . .” One of the benefits of family practice, however, is the fact that we also, as physicians, get the opportunity to turn the tables sometimes and utter, “Oh, by the way ....

    Photo Quiz

    Unilateral Deformity of the Chest

    MARC S. BERGER

    Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

    Tips from Other Journals

    Approval of Tizanidine for Treatment of Spasticity

    BARBARA APGAR

    Rates of Mortality and Use of Postmenopausal HRT

    KATHRYN M. ANDOLSEK

    Contraindications to Metformin Therapy

    JAMES NUOVO

    Long-Distance Medicine by Way of Telecommunications

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Intervention to Reduce Use of Restraints in Nursing Homes

    GRACE BROOK HUFFMAN

    Effect of Physical Activity on Breast Cancer in Women

    KATHRYN M. ANDOLSEK

    Fluoxetine for Depression in Alcohol-Dependent Patients

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Effect of Dermatologic Drugs on Pregnancy and Lactation

    BARBARA APGAR

    Relationship Between Oral Potassium and Blood Pressure

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Side Effects of Medications in Children with ADHD

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Copayments and Emergency Care for Myocardial Infarction

    KATHRYN M. ANDOLSEK

    Improper Dosing of OTC Medications by Caregivers

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Special Medical Reports

    ACC/AHA Panel Prepares Guidelines for Exercise Testing

    SHARON SCOTT MOREY

    The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Task Force on Practice Guidelines has developed guidelines for cardiovascular exercise testing. The entire guidelines are published in the July 1997 issue of the Journal of the American College of...

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    VERNA ROSE

    Because as many as 70 percent of pregnant women in the United States undergo ultrasound examination at various times during gestation, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) undertook an analysis of the literature to determine the benefit or lack of...

    Physician's Bookshelf

    Book Reviews

    LEN SCARPINATO, JANET L. CHENE, MARK EBELL, GREGG K. VANDEKIEFT

    CD-ROM

    Letters to the Editor

    Doxycycline and Community-Acquired Pneumonia

    Physician-Assisted Suicide and ‘Moral Neutrality’

    Guidelines for Opportunistic Infections in HIV

    SUSAN LOUISA MONTAUK

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    How to Care for Your Ankle Sprain

    The injury that occurs when your foot “rolls,” or turns in on itself, is called an ankle sprain. In this injury, the ligaments that hold the ankle and foot bones in place are stretched and weakened.

    Hospice Care in the Nursing Home

    Hospice is the name for a special program of care for terminally ill (dying) patients and their families. Rather than trying to cure an illness, hospice efforts are directed toward making the patient comfortable, easing pain and other troublesome symptoms, and supporting the...



    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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