• Articles

    DVT and Pulmonary Embolism: Part I. Diagnosis

    DINO W. RAMZI, KENNETH V. LEEPER

    Approximately 75 percent of patients who develop venous thromboembolism have at least one established risk factor. A well-validated clinical prediction rule can be used to determine the probability of deep venous thrombosis. A clinical prediction rule for pulmonary embolism...

    DVT and Pulmonary Embolism: Part II. Treatment and Prevention

    DINO W. RAMZI, KENNETH V. LEEPER

    Unfractionated heparin followed by warfarin is the mainstay of treatment for deep venous thrombosis. Subcutaneously administered low-molecular-weight heparin is as effective as unfractionated heparin. Treatment of pulmonary embolism is similar to that of deep venous thrombosis.

    Spondyloarthropathies

    RAJESH K. KATARIA, LAWRENCE H. BRENT

    The spondyloarthropathies are inflammatory arthritides that share certain genetic predisposing factors and clinical features. Inflammatory back pain is common in affected patients, and enthesitis is the basic pathologic lesion.

    Craniosynostosis

    HAIDAR KABBANI, TALKAD S. RAGHUVEER

    Craniosynostosis can occur alone or as a syndrome, the most common of which are Apert’s syndrome and Crouzon’s disease. The diagnosis relies on physical examination, plain radiography, and computed tomography.

    Metabolic Syndrome: Time for Action

    DARWIN DEEN

    Metabolic syndrome will soon become the number one risk factor for heart disease. Effective interventions include diet, exercise, and judicious use of pharmacologic agents to address specific risk factors such as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and...

    Inside AFP

    New Guidelines for Management of Otitis Media

    Janis Wright

    New Guidelines for Management of Otitis Media

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    Genevieve Ressel

    Robert Graham Center Releases Study of Medical Errors Based on Malpractice Cases | Guideline on Otitis Media with Effusion Urges Watchful Waiting | CDC Launches Autism Awareness Campaign | AAFP Releases Updated Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule | AAMC Report...

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Sarah Evans, Heather McNeill

    Leading-edge treatments for stroke can be delivered and new clot-busting drugs can be tested only if patients understand the warning signs of stroke and seek help immediately. According to a press release from the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas...

    Editorials

    Otitis Media with Effusion Clinical Practice Guideline

    RICHARD M. ROSENFELD, LARRY CULPEPPER, BARBARA YAWN, MARTIN C. MAHONEY

    In 1994, a clinical practice guideline1 on the diagnosis and management of otitis media with effusion (OME) was developed by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (now the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ]). An update2 to this clinical practice...

    Preventing Unintended Pregnancy: Implications for Physicians

    RUTH LESNEWSKI

    The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force,1 Healthy People 2010,2 and the World Health Organization3 all recommend that more attention be focused on prevention of unintended pregnancy. Although unintended pregnancy has declined over the past decade, U.S. rates remain much...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Waiting for patients to come out of the operating room can be stressful for family physicians. KS had seen her 80-year-old patient in the holding room just minutes before he was wheeled into the operating room. He had been diagnosed with colon cancer on routine colonoscopy...

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Calcium Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women

    CHERYL A. FLYNN

    Calcium supplementation has a beneficial effect on bone density and may reduce vertebral fractures. It has no clear effect on nonvertebral fractures, although the number of patients studied may be too small to predict this outcome.

    Cochrane Briefs

    CLARISSA KRIPKE

    Therapy for Speech and Language Delay

    Cochrane Briefs

    MARK H. EBELL

    Neuraminidase Inhibitors for Treatment of Influenza

    U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

    Screening for Coronary Heart Disease: Recommendation Statement

    This statement summarizes the current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening for coronary heart disease and the supporting scientific evidence, and updates the 1996 recommendations contained in the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services,...

    Point-of-Care Guides

    Acute Otitis Media in Children

    MARK H. EBELL

    The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians recently released an evidence-based practice guideline to help physicians provide the most up-to-date care for children with AOM. The subcommittee that developed the guideline included primary...

    STEPS

    Tiotropium (Spiriva) for COPD

    SARAH F. HUTTON

    Tiotropium improves dyspnea, decreases COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations, decreases albuterol use, improves health-related quality of life and increases mean trough FEV1. Tiotropium was more effective than ipratropium and salmeterol in improving TDI scores. It was more...

    Photo Quiz

    Proximal White Finger Nails

    CHRISTOPHER DOLAN, MARK A. HALL, TIM J. CURTIN

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

    POEMs

    Strontium Reduces Risk of Vertebral Fracture

    MARK EBELL

    Sedation Without Somnolence with Antihistamines

    ALLEN F. SHAUGNESSY

    Low Back Pain and Proper Mental Conditioning

    ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

    Lidocaine Plus Naproxen for Endometrial Sampling Pmain

    LINDA FRENCH

    Tips from Other Journals

    Acyclovir Can Reduce Genital Herpes Recurrence at Delivery

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Serologic Testing for Cat-Scratch Disease

    BILL ZEPF

    Antibiotic Therapy for Severe Acute Maxillary Sinusitis

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Continue Breast Cancer Screening After Age 65?

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Vulnerable Older Adults Need Quality-of-Life Attention

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Vertical Incisions for Cesarean Delivery in Obese Patients

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Weight Loss for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

    KARL E. MILLER

    Depression Care in Elderly Patients with Arthritis

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Lowering Diastolic Blood Pressure After Ischemic Stroke

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Which C-Spine Rule Works Best in Trauma Patients?

    BILL ZEPF

    Elevated C-Reactive Protein and Risk of Hypertension

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Rapid Test for Pneumococcal Disease in Children

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Metabolic Markers Predict Insulin Resistance

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Practice Guidelines

    AAP, AAFP, AAO-HNS Release Guideline on Diagnosis and Management of Otitis Media with Effusion

    Matthew J. Neff

    Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of otitis media with effusion (OME) have been released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS).

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Carrie Morantz, Brian Torrey

    Cases of Measles in Adopted Children from China | Report on Causes of Death in the United States | AUA Practice Guideline on Premature Ejaculation

    Letters to the Editor

    Perinephric Abscess Caused by Group B Streptococcus

    DENNIS J. BAUMGARDNER

    Additional Causes of Hypercalcemia in Infants

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Metabolic Syndrome: What Is It and What Can I Do About It?

    Metabolic syndrome (sometimes called syndrome X) is a group of risk factors for heart disease. You may have metabolic syndrome if you are overweight and have high blood pressure and high levels of sugar or fats in your blood. Many patients with adult-onset diabetes also have...



    Disclosure

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


    Tag Legend

    Legend

    CME Continuing Medical Education Credit
    POC Point-of-Care Resource
    FREE Free Access
    Alg Algorithm
    DDx Differential Diagnosis
    PtEd Patient Education