August 15, 2002

Most intracranial aneurysms remain asymptomatic until the time of rupture. Because of the morbidity and mortality of surgical intervention, screening for aneurysms remains controversial.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a newer technique for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. This procedure involves the injection of a cement-like substance into the painful fractured vertebral body to stabilize and strengthen the vertebra.

Physicians frequently encounter patients with allergic diseases. Allergy testing can help determine if a patient's problem is caused the allergen.

Maternal use of psychiatric medications has potential risks for and benefits to the health of mother and child. Treatment decisions should be individualized.

Timely and complete removal of ticks is essential to reduce the risk of infection and disease transmission.

If you haven't visited the Web site of the American Academy of Family Physicians lately, you may be pleasantly surprised when you find a new look. A redesigned Web site was launched on July 1 and includes a sleeker home page for AFP. The new site was designed with ease of…

Senate Approves Appointment of Carmona to Surgeon General | HHS Grants to Help Create Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps | AAFP Launches HIPAA Information Web Site | Initiative Seeks to Improve Physician Education on Pesticide Issues | HRSA Awards Funds to Centers for Children…

“Who knew?” Although accidental exposure through ingestion of peanuts and tree nuts is common, a Letter to the Editor in the New England Journal of Medicine says that there have also been several reports of transmission of allergens through kissing. Of 379 patients with self…

Title VII funding of departments of family medicine at U.S. medical schools is significantly associated with expansion of the primary care physician workforce and increased accessibility to physicians for the residents of rural and underserved areas. Title VII has been…

Vertebral injection treatments of fractured or pathologically weakened bone are an important advancement in the management of painful vertebral compression fractures and vertebral metastases. Vertebroplasty introduces a low viscosity cement under relatively high pressure to…

“Her other medical problems include methadone treatment of heroin addiction, hepatitis C, seizures, and chronic depression. Plus, she is under a lot of stress at home because her teenaged son is in a gang,” reported CG. The second-year resident was describing a woman in her…

This statement summarizes the current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for screening for depression and the supporting scientific evidence and it updates the 1996 recommendations in the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, second edition.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has issued its 2002 update of cancer screening. The screening guidelines are organized by site of cancer and include discussions of recent research, recommended tests or procedures, recommended frequency of testing, and updates on the state of…

Resumption of Routine DTaP, MMR Immunizations | FDA Approval of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Tests

About 50 million people in the United States have osteoporosis (a decrease in the amount of bone mass) or have thinning of the bones that puts them at risk for spine fractures (broken bones). Thinning of the bones can occur at any time, but is most common in elderly persons…

If you have a stuffy nose, trouble breathing (especially in the summer), or hives after eating certain foods, you may have an allergy. Allergy tests can help you and your doctor find out if these problems are caused by an allergy and which things you are allergic to. That way…

Any mental problem may occur during pregnancy. These problems include depression, manic-depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia (say: skit-zoh-free-nia).

It is important to remove the tick as soon as possible. Use the following steps: