September 1, 2006

Most patients with cirrhosis remain asymptomatic until the occurrence of decompensation, characterized by ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, or variceal bleeding from portal hypertension. Liver biopsy should be considered only after serologic…

Major complications of cirrhosis include ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, portal hypertension, and variceal bleeding. Therapy includes sodium restriction, diuretics, and abstention from alcohol, with empiric prophylaxis against spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and variceal…

Although avian influenza A (H5N1) is not yet capable of efficient human-to-human transmission, it could become the source of the next human influenza pandemic. Pandemic preparedness involves increasing global influenza surveillance and developing strategies for containing…

Ensuring adherence to a medication regimen is difficult, especially when the patients are children. Simple strategies can be used by family physicians and parents to encourage adherence in young and school-age children and in teenagers.

The Annual Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is again upon us. This year’s Assembly begins September 25 and continues through October 1 in Washington, D.C., and will offer several thousand family physicians, residents, and students the…

Senators Contest Proposed Five-Year Medicaid Cuts of $12.2 Billion | CMS Proposes Policy, Payment Changes for Physicians’ Services in 2007 | House Reviews Bill Proposing Medicare Physician Payment Reform | Labor-HHS Bill Includes $50 Million in Funds for Primary Care Training…

Will the early bird remember to get the worm? A study that appears in Current Biology suggests that getting enough sleep may be crucial to memory, and persons who do not sleep enough each night are apt to forget learned facts. Forty-eight participants were assigned to one of…

In this issue of American Family Physician, Juckett provides an excellent review of the background, history, and clinical presentation of avian influenza.1 He also gives practical tips for preparing for a potential pandemic. With surveillance measures currently in place…

A 72-year-old woman is brought into the office by her daughter, who complains that her mother has become increasingly forgetful over the past two years. On a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) she scores 20 out of 30 points, and after an appropriate evaluation you diagnose…

Antibiotics for Exacerbations of COPD

Antioxidants and Minerals for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

What are the effects of oral drug and nondrug treatments? What are the effects of local injections?

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

Assuming that medical causes of weight gain (e.g., hypothyroidism, hypercortisolism) have been ruled out, the physician should consider social, psychological, and environmental factors that may explain the patient’s weight gain and his apparent indifference.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has published a position statement containing evidence-based recommendations for diabetes care, treatment goals, and tools to evaluate the quality of care.

CDC Releases Report on Early- and Late-Onset Neonatal GBS Infection

AGA Releases Position Statement on Management of Hepatitis C

Cirrhosis (say: sih-ROH-sis) is a disease of the liver. Normally, your liver does many things. It helps your body digest fat and break down cholesterol, gets rid of poisons like alcohol and drugs, and stores energy. It also helps your body form blood clots and scabs if you are…

There are many things you can do to make medicines taste better to your child. Put liquid medicines in the refrigerator before giving them to your child. If your child will not take a medicine because of the taste, it may be okay to mix the medicine with a small amount of…

The body is made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells grow, divide, and die. Sometimes cells begin to grow and divide more quickly than normal cells. Rather than dying, these cells clump together to form tumors. If these tumors are cancerous, they can kill your body’s…

The sun’s rays, which are called ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays (UVA and UVB rays), damage your skin. This leads to early wrinkles, skin cancer, and other skin problems.

It’s a good idea to check your skin each month for signs of skin cancer. The sooner skin cancer is found, the greater the chance that it can be cured.