August 1, 2007

Stroke survivors have an average of 10 outpatient visits per year. At each visit, physicians should evaluate vascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia) and lifestyle risk factors (e.g., obesity, smoking, alcohol use). Preventive therapy includes…

Cytochrome P450 enzymes can be inhibited or induced by drugs, resulting in clinically significant drug-drug interactions that may cause unanticipated adverse effects or therapeutic failures. Knowledge of the drugs metabolized, as well as the most common inhibiting and inducing…

Every woman of reproductive age who is capable of becoming pregnant is a candidate for preconception care, even if she is not planning to conceive. Most components of preconception care can be performed in the primary care setting.

The clinical manifestations of Turner syndrome vary; however, the syndrome should be considered in girls with short stature or primary amenorrhea. Complications and risk factors associated with Turner syndrome should be managed throughout the patient's life.

A stroke happens when an area of the brain is damaged, this usually happens when blood does not reach certain parts of the brain. You can lose function in the parts of your body that are controlled by that part of the brain. For example, you may not be able to move an arm or a…

This year, the Council of Science Editors (CSE) celebrated its 50th anniversary by looking to the future. In May, at the CSE annual meeting in Austin, Texas, speakers addressed issues such as the future of print journals and the potential impact of new delivery methods. One…

CMS Proposes Medicare Rule That Includes 9.9 Percent Payment Cut | Level Funding Likely in 2008 for Primary Care Training Programs | Family Medicine Alliance Protests CMS Proposal Regarding Education Costs | Family Medicine Organizations Oppose Graduate Education Funding…

Is it love that's in the air? No, it's cocaine, marijuana, caffeine, and nicotine. Researchers sampled the air in areas of Rome and Taranto, Italy, and Algiers, Algeria, and found particles of caffeine and nicotine suspended in the air of each city, as well as cocaine and…

Individual variation in response to drugs is a problem that physicians routinely face in clinical practice. Such variation can result in lack of anticipated response, serious adverse drug reactions, or unexpected drug interactions in patients receiving multiple medications. In…

As family physicians, we often face difficult decisions about ordering tests for the early diagnosis or prevention of disease in healthy-appearing persons. It is hard to convince many patients to think about prevention, and those who come in for health maintenance visits often…

One large study of adults with hypertension showed that a rigorous, systematic program including regular patient review and aggressive antihypertensive drug therapy improved systolic and diastolic blood pressure and reduced all-cause mortality (7.8 to 6.4 percent at five years…

Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors May Reduce the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Antiretroviral Prophylaxis for Occupational Exposure to HIV

What are the effects of interventions to prevent acute renal failure in persons at high risk? What are the effects of treatments for critically ill persons with acute renal failure?

When used to delay the progression of early nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are not superior to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

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

Social norms ingrained from early child-hood usually prescribe a polite “thank you” when a gift is received. However, the social norms that govern the relationship between the physician and patient, called professional boundaries, may require a different and more reasoned…

Guidelines on newborn screening and therapy for congenital hypothyroidism have been released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Congenital hypothyroidism can cause mental retardation unless thyroid therapy is initiated within two weeks of birth.

Cesarean Delivery Rate Hits All-time High

AGA Releases Position Statement on CT Colonography