September 1, 2008

Because the incidence of conditions such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, breast cancer, and colon cancer increases after menopause, physicians should address preventive health care measures with postmenopausal patients and encourage appropriate screening…

Accurate serial height measurements documented over time on a growth chart are key in detecting abnormal growth patterns in children. The diagnostic evaluation is based on a patient history, physical examination, and targeted laboratory studies.

Diagnosis of shoulder osteoarthritis can bemade with a patient history, physical examination, and radiography. Mild degenerative shoulder disease can be treated with pharmacotherapy and physical therapy, whereas severe cases may require surgery.

Patients with Hodgkin lymphoma often present with painless lymphadenopathy, but they may have numerous other symptoms. Complications include recurrence of lymphoma and treatment-related problems.

San Diego, Calif., is the site of the 2008 AAFP Scientific Assembly, the premier family medicine gathering, September 17 through 21. This year's program promises to be interesting and invigorating. Attendees will have a chance to get hands-on experience in new clinical…

Congress Fails to Renew Medicare Bonus Payments for Physician Scarcity Areas | New Combination Vaccines for Children May Create Additional Work for Physicians | CMS Finalizes Payment Plans for Three-Year Medical Home Demonstration Project | Physicians Urge Congress to Give…

How good is chest CT at identifying pulmonary embolism? It might have higher false-positive and false-negative rates than previously thought.

A growing body of evidence suggests that many synthetic chemicals once considered safe can be harmful to the developing fetus, infant, and child. There is particular concern about the developmental effects of substances known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which can…

In postmenopausal women, a 10-mg daily dose of alendronate is effective for secondary (number needed to treat [NNT] = 16) and primary (NNT = 50) prevention of vertebral fractures. It is also effective for secondary prevention of nonvertebral fractures, including hip or wrist…

Fetal or neonatal deaths in women who delivered after their due date and before 42 weeks occur at a rate of less than 0.5 percent, regardless of whether labor is induced or spontaneous. Compared with awaiting spontaneous labor, inducing labor between 41 and 42 weeks is…

We found no studies that measure, or even estimate, any increase in pregnancy rates in women taking antiepileptic drugs. Antiepileptic drugs known to induce the hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP450) isoenzyme cause decreased sex hormone levels in women taking oral contraceptives…

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

Transgender persons are those who consider their gender to be different from their biological sex. Hence, a male-to-female person is a biologic male who identifies as a female, and a female-to-male person is a biologic female who identifies as male.

The Guidelines for Adolescent Depression in Primary Care (GLAD-PC) Steering Group developed the first evidence-based, expert consensus-derived guidelines for the management of adolescent depression by primary care physicians.

Menopause is when a woman stops having her period and her ovaries stop working. This means she can no longer become pregnant.

Shoulder osteoarthritis (OSS-tee-oh-arth-RYE-tis) is a disease that causes the cushion layer between the bones in your shoulder to wear away. It may cause pain and stiffness in your shoulder. You may also have trouble moving your shoulder. This is the most common type of…

Hodgkin lymphoma (lim-FOE-mah), also called Hodgkin disease, is a type of cancer that affects your lymph nodes. Lymph nodes make and store cells to fight infection and are a normal part of your body, but they get bigger when you have this disease.