September 1, 2005

Examination of tendinopathies should include assessment for swelling, asymmetry, and erythema of involved tendons; range-of-motion testing; palpation for tenderness; and maneuvers that reproduce pain. Surgery is an effective treatment that should be reserved for patients who…

Chasteberry has been used since ancient times to treat gynecologic conditions. Modern physicians have used the herb to treat cyclical breast discomfort and premenstrual syndrome.

Prader-Willi syndrome is a genetic disorder that usually involves chromosome 15. Diagnosis often is delayed because the clinical findings are relatively nonspecific and the dysmorphism often is subtle.

Intertrigo, an inflammatory condition that affects opposing surfaces of skinfolds, is commonly complicated by secondary bacterial or fungal infections. Physicians should treat the infection and instruct patients to take preventive measures.

Mohs micrographic surgery is the treatment of choice for removing skin cancers in critical sites, large or recurrent tumors, tumors in sites of radiation therapy, and tumors with aggressive histologic features.

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures are somatic manifestations of psychologic distress. Early recognition can prevent morbidity from inappropriate treatment.

The Annual Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians is just around the corner. During the last week of September, several thousand family physicians, residents, and students will gather in San Francisco to hear presentations on the latest clinical…

HHS Outlines Principles for Reauthorization of Ryan White CARE Act | CDC Finds Record Immunization Coverage Rates in U.S. Children | Registration Open for STFM’s Conference on Patient Education | Bill Would Stop Medicare Pay Cuts, Institute Pay-for-Performance | National…

Could laughter be the newest weight loss fad? Investigators at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville say that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes each day can burn 10 to 40 calories, depending on a person’s body weight. Long considered “the best medicine,” laughter…

A growing part of the U.S. population, together with many health professionals, have become concerned about problems in our health care system. Health care costs continue to rise, unabated, several times faster than the cost of living, rendering medical insurance and health…

In the past quarter century, the number of office visits to physicians in the United States increased from 581 million per year to 838 million per year, with slightly more than one half of total visits since 1980 being made to primary care physicians. Most visits to primary…

Lorraine’s right leg was approximately three times the size of her left one. Astonishingly, it caused her no pain. Her lower legs and feet have been slightly swollen for years, but this massive edema was a new development. “I traveled out-of-state two days ago and sat in the…

For patients with type 2 diabetes, regular insulin and short-acting insulin analogues are equally effective in the treatment of diabetes and in lowering A1C levels. For patients with type 1 diabetes, short-acting analogues produce a slightly greater reduction of A1C levels than…

In children with typical hearing and language development, immediate placement of tympanostomy tubes for OME does not improve important long-term outcomes compared with a period of watchful waiting and placement of tubes only if there is no improvement.

Based on limited evidence, it appears that mortality is lower in infants resuscitated with room air than in those given 100 percent oxygen. However, these results should be treated with caution because one fourth of studies used back-up supplementary oxygen.

What are the effects of treatment of acute urinary tract infection in children? What are the effects of interventions to prevent recurrence?

Based on current evidence, statin therapy should be offered to all patients with type 2 diabetes who are known to have coronary artery disease.

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

The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and the American College of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology (ACAAI) have released recommendations to guide physicians in choosing aerosol devices and drug formulations for patients with pulmonary disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new data on trends for human immunodeficiencognizedy virus (HIV) testing among men who have sex with men.

Continued exposure to ambient heat that is close to body temperature contributes to a significant number of deaths from hyperthermia, especially among older adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated statistics on the rates of hyperthermia…

A scientific statement on the effectiveness of off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for myocardial revascularization has been released by the American Heart Association (AHA).

Data on the use of electronic medical records in health care is available from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). According to the NCHS, electronic medical records were used most frequently in the emergency department, followed closely by outpatient departments.

Intertrigo (say: in-ter-TRY-go) is caused by wetness and soreness in skinfolds—areas where skin rubs against skin. Intertrigo leads to an itchy rash that can get infected with germs or yeast.