• Articles

    Clinical Utility of Common Serum Rheumatologic Tests

    STEPHEN K. LANE, JOSEPH W. GRAVEL, JR

    Selective ordering can improve the utility and cost-effectiveness of serum rheumatologic tests. These tests are generally most useful for confirming a clinically suspected diagnosis.

    Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Evaluation and Treatment

    TIMOTHY CRAIG, SUJANI KAKUMANU

    Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disabling illness characterized by persistent fatigue, and treatment should be tailored to each patient.

    Is Thrombolytic Therapy Effective for Pulmonary Embolism?

    KHALID ALMOOSA

    Thrombolytic therapy is potentially lifesaving when used in conjunction with standard anticoagulation, but its significant side effects demand extreme caution with use.

    Smoking Cessation: Integration of Behavioral and Drug Therapies

    ROBERT MALLIN

    The five-stage transtheoretic model for readiness to change can be applied to an addictive behavior such as smoking. Combined nicotine replacement and bupropion therapy can increase the chances of successful smoking cessation.

    Osteosarcoma: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment

    JAMES C. WITTIG, JACOB BICKELS, DENNIS PRIEBAT, JAMES JELINEK, KRISTEN KELLAR-GRANEY, BARRY SHMOOKLER, MARTIN M. MALAWER

    With present-day chemotherapy and surgical techniques, 90 to 95 percent of patients with osteosarcoma can be treated with limb-sparing resection and reconstruction, rather than amputation.

    Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infections

    CAROLINE M. RUDNICK, GRANT S. HOEKZEMA

    Physicians should be aware of the risks of herpes simplex virus infections in pregnant women. Potential consequences include premature birth and devastating neonatal herpes infections.

    Punch Biopsy of the Skin

    THOMAS J. ZUBER

    Punch biopsy of the skin is considered the primary method of obtaining diagnostic full-thickness skin specimens. This article provides details of the procedure.

    Inside AFP

    Highlights of Ongoing Article Series in AFP

    Janis Wright

    AFP offers a variety of article series developed to cover core curriculum topics in family medicine, while drawing from a pool of unsolicited articles to balance the topics. Since it's not possible to put articles from each series into any single issue, it's easy to lose...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    Matthew Neff

    Jeffrey Koplan Resigns as Director of the CDC | White House Budget to Cut All Funding for FP Training Programs | HHS Budget for HIV/AIDS Research Increases 8 Percent | Report Shows Improved Health Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities | Physicians with Heart Completes Aid...

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Heather McNeill, Sarah Morgan

    The ill effects of diabetes start early. Study results published in Pediatrics show that complications from type 1 diabetes mellitus cause longer hospital stays and higher medical charges for nonwhite and poor children. Children from the National Inpatient Sample data set,...

    Editorials

    Children, Physical Activity, and Public Health: Another Call to Action

    MARK STEPHENS

    Children living in the United States are less active and more obese than ever before.1 They are, therefore, at increased risk for negative health outcomes such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, which are associated with sedentary lifestyles. Multiple...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    A 59-year-old woman came into the office today with pain in her left foot along with some leg and knee discomfort that has been ongoing for about two months. There was no history of injury, but the patient was moderately overweight. She had previously been seen by a physician...

    U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

    Screening for Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnancy: Recommendations and Rationale

    This statement summarizes the current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for screening pregnant women for bacterial vaginosis and the supporting scientific evidence.

    Practice Guidelines

    AAP Issues Recommendations for the Management of Sinusitis in Children

    Elaine Kierl Gangel

    The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued recommendations for physicians to diagnose, evaluate, and treat patients between one and 21 years of age who present with uncomplicated acute, subacute, and recurrent acute bacterial sinusitis.

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Elaine Kierl Gangel

    Garlic Supplements and HIV Medication | Report on Management of Diabetes | Updated ADA Position on Needle Reuse | Cigarette Smoking in Adults | National Poison Hotline Number | Consumer Assessment of Health Care | Expert Consensus Guidelines for Managing Epilepsy |...

    Curbside Consultation

    A Group Practice Disagrees About Offering Contraception

    FRANK A. CHERVENAK, LAURENCE McCULLOUGH

    This case concerns the justification of moral constraints that a physician group decides to apply to itself in the provision of patient services. Family physicians confront this issue with regard to reproductive medical services and state laws such as those in Oregon...

    Letters to the Editor

    Athletic Screening Provides Opportunity to Detect Many Conditions

    Mark W. Boyce

    Value of Preparticipation Physical Examination

    SCOTT A. SWEENEY

    More on Sports Physical Examinations

    Tips from Other Journals

    Adjuvant Therapy for Gastric Adenocarcinoma

    BILL ZEPF

    Review of Bacterial Meningitis in the Older Patient

    BILL ZEPF

    Recognition and Treatment of Tourette's Syndrome

    BILL ZEPF

    Reliability of Clinical Examination of a Painful Knee

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Warfarin vs. Aspirin for Nonembolic Stroke Prevention

    BILL ZEPF

    Insomnia and Cognitive Function in the Elderly Patient

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Metoprolol Is a Safe Treatment in Patients With Severe CHF

    KARL E. MILLER

    Fondaparinux vs. Enoxaparin in Hip Fracture Repair

    BILL ZEPF

    Sperm Analysis Values: Which Indicate Infertility?

    BILL ZEPF

    Computerized Reminders to Increase Preventive Care

    BILL ZEPF

    Toxicity of Cough and Cold Medications in Children

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Management of Patients with Cephalosporin Allergy

    BILL ZEPF

    Fluid Treatment for Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Children

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Does Inhaled Albuterol Increase the Risk for GERD?

    KARL E. MILLER

    Transfusion for Anemia in Myocardial Infarction

    BILL ZEPF

    Early Surgery vs. Antibiotics for Infectious Endocarditis

    BILL ZEPF

    Strongyloides stercoralis Infection Can Be Fatal

    BILL ZEPF

    Which Statin Is the Best Choice for Which Patient?

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: How to Help Yourself

    No one is sure what causes chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The symptoms may be caused by an immune system that isn't working well. They may be caused by a kind of virus. Researchers are looking for a cause of CFS.

    How to Stop Smoking

    Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health.

    Osteosarcoma

    Osteosarcoma is a kind of bone cancer. It most often starts in a leg bone (either the femur or the tibia) in the area of the knee or in the upper arm bone (the humerus) near the shoulder. Osteosarcoma can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body, most often to the...

    Herpes During Pregnancy—What It Means, What to Expect

    Genital herpes infections are sexually transmitted diseases. Symptoms can include painful sores in the genital area, itching, painful urination, vaginal discharge and tender lumps in the groin. With the first episode, many people have a fever and general aches, like the flu....

    Punch Biopsy of the Skin

    Punch biopsy is a commonly performed diagnostic procedure on abnormal skin growths or skin tumors. It is performed using a local anesthetic (numbing medicine). A pencil-like instrument is used to remove a small, thin cylinder of tissue. The small hole in the skin then may be...



    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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