July 15, 2006

Physicians can encourage smoking cessation by assessing the patient’s smoking status at every office visit, implementing office-based interventions, and providing support during cessation attempts. Interventions include counseling, physician referral to self-help resources, and…

Physicians can improve care for lesbians and bisexual women by acknowledging the potential barriers to care, working to create a therapeutic physician-patient relationship, and being aware of the range of health-related behaviors and medicolegal issues pertinent to these…

Rheumatic causes of musculoskeletal pain in children include juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the spondyloarthropathies, acute rheumatic fever, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy may be useful early interventions, but…

Sickle cell disease can cause infection, stroke, and pulmonary hypertension. Preventive strategies include use of pneumococcal vaccine, antibiotic prophylaxis, transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, recognition of acute chest syndrome, and hydroxyurea therapy.

Lara Johnson, M.D., and Laurie MacDonald Crain, M.D., have served as the John C. Rose medical editing fellows for AFP since last July. This fellowship is a unique opportunity to experience a wide range of responsibilities related to medical editing in addition to teaching…

AMA Announces New Policies on DTC Advertising, Price Transparency | AAP Supports Recommendations of IOM Emergency Care Report | CDC Urges Awareness of Measles in Travelers to World Cup | FDA, ISMP Launch Campaign to Reduce Errors Caused by Abbreviations | CMS Proposes Changes…

Canadians are healthier than their American neighbors, according to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health. Even though Americans spend almost twice as much per capita on health care as Canada, Canadians have fewer unmet health needs, better access to…

The alert by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on use of long-acting beta2 agonists for the treatment of asthma1 has made headlines since it was issued on November 18, 2005. The advisory suggests that these agents should be reserved for patients whose asthma is not…

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

Insulin detemir (Levemir) joins insulin glargine (Lantus) as the only other long-acting insulin analogue approved as basal therapy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. It is indicated for use in adults and children in combination with short-acting insulin for type 1 diabetes…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidelines on antimicrobial agents for the treatment and postexposure prophylaxis of pertussis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report on influenza vaccination coverage of children younger than two years during the 2003 to 2004 influenza season.

Many people try to quit smoking four or five times before they are able to stop. The following tips can help you quit for good. Ask your doctor which are best for you.

For you to get the best care and advice, you and your doctor should be able to talk openly. For example, if your doctor does not know about your life partner, your doctor cannot consult your loved one in a medical emergency. If your doctor does not know your sexual practices…

Sickle cell disease is a type of blood disease that children inherit from their parents. It causes red blood cells (see picture) to make abnormal hemoglobin (say: HEE-mo-globe-in). Hemoglobin is the part of the blood that carries oxygen in the body. To tell if your child has…