July 1, 2005

Falls, which are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, are a common threat to the independence of older persons. Strategies that involve multifactorial risk assessment and interventions are most effective in preventing falls.

Diabetes has become the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the United States. Early treatment delays or prevents the onset of diabetic nephropathy, but there is insufficient evidence to determine whether tight blood sugar control and use of angiotensin-converting…

Garlic has long been used medicinally, most recently for its cardiovascular, antineoplastic, and antimicrobial properties. Side effects generally are mild and uncommon.

Fragile X syndrome is caused by a mutation in the Fragile X mental retardation 1 gene that can lead to mental retardation. Premature ovarian failure and ataxia may be present in some relatives of persons with fragile X syndrome. It is important to diagnose affected patients as…

In a patient presenting with symptoms that suggest acute coronary syndrome, the initial assessment requires a focused history (including risk factor analysis), a physical examination, an electrocardiogram, and, frequently, serum cardiac marker determinations.

This issue of AFP presents some new features that are intended to meet readers’ needs and increase the value of the publication. Please feel free to tell us how you like them; you can e-mail us atafpedit@aafp.org or mail the comment card included in every issue.

Five States Pass Medical Liability Reform Legislation | Physician Supply Increases in States with Caps on Malpractice Awards | HHS Approves Second Multistate Drug Purchasing Pool | AMA Primer Aims to Help Physicians Improve Immunization Rates | AHRQ Awards $8 Million in Grants…

When choosing a doctor, does a patient’s race influence the decision? Researchers surveyed more than 3,500 white, black, and Latino patients and found that many black and Latino patients believe racism exists in the health care system, and those who have this perception are…

Although genetic testing includes the analysis of DNA, RNA, chromosomes, proteins, and certain metabolites, it is DNA- and RNA-based molecular genetic testing that has catapulted into mainstream medicine during the past decade.1,2 Molecular genetic testing is now available on a…

Competitive sports can bring out the best in people, but once in a while, athletics also bring to light something unexpected. “This is going to sound weird, but my heart’s not right,” Hailey disclosed in a previous visit. She began having episodes of rapid heart-pounding…

LMWH is safer and more effective than unfractionated heparin for initial treatment of venous thromboembolism.

Two small trials of antibiotic treatment in acute laryngitis do not support routine use of antibiotics in these patients. Most patients will feel better in five to seven days, and it is unlikely that they will experience a clinically important benefit from antibiotics.

The best available evidence supports clinical breast examinations every three to six months for five years and annual mammography for asymptomatic breast cancer survivors. More intensive follow-up and subspecialist visits do not improve survival.

What are the effects of treatments for uncomplicated infections in men and nonpregnant women? What are the effects of treatments for uncomplicated infections in pregnant women? What are the effects of treatments for disseminated gonococcal infection?

Raloxifene (60 mg daily for three years) will prevent one vertebral fracture, including asymptomatic fractures, for every 46 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or presence of previous vertebral fractures. Raloxifene has not been shown to prevent nonvertebral fractures. It…

Case study: MS, a 26-year-old woman, has arrived for her first prenatal visit. She is in the eighth week of her third pregnancy. Her previous pregnancies were uncomplicated with normal-term deliveries. Although she has never had any sexually transmitted diseases or symptoms of…

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

People living outside metropolitan areas, especially those living in rural counties, depend on family physicians. Resolving the disparities in physician distribution nationwide will require solutions to make rural practice a viable option for more health care workers.

Recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of urinary incontinence in women have been released by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has released guidelines on the clinical management of women with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

The American Heart Association has published a science advisory on selecting patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Older people who fall can hurt themselves badly. Injuries from a fall can range from bruises and cuts to more serious problems like a broken hip. Falls may keep an older person from living alone. Some older people may not do certain things because they are afraid of falling.

Diabetes can affect many parts of the body, including the kidneys. Blood vessels in the kidneys clean the blood. These vessels can be damaged if diabetes is not controlled. This can cause kidney disease, also called nephropathy (say: nef-RAH-puh-thee). If the damage is bad…