May 1, 2010

Dietary factors that influence lipid levels include modification of nutritional components, consumption of specific foods, use of food additives and supplements, and major dietary approaches. Aerobic exercise also has beneficial effects. Recent evidence sheds light on which…

Most women with pelvic organ prolapse can be fitted with a pessary regardless of the stage or site of predominant prolapse. Other management options include observation, pelvic floor muscle training, and surgery.

Tight control of blood glucose levels and the use of sliding-scale insulin do not show a mortality benefit and increase the risk of hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients. Home treatment regimens for diabetes mellitus should be continued for most patients, including those…

Traditional sliding-scale insulin should no longer be the only method of glycemic control in hospitalized patients. Instead, physiologic subcutaneous insulin protocols with basal, nutritional, and correctional components should be used.

Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening set of symptoms usually caused by the use of multiple serotonergic agents. Symptoms may include mental status changes, autonomic instability, and neuromuscular hyperactivity.

Readers hoping for clear protocols about glucose control in nonintensive care hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus may note conflicting recommendations in this issue of American Family Physician. Nau and colleagues recommend stopping home oral diabetes medications…

DEA Issues Interim Final Rule Allowing E-Prescribing of Controlled Substances | FDA Issues Regulations Restricting Tobacco Sales and Marketing to Children | IRS to Refund Pre-2005 FICA Payroll Taxes for Some Medical Residents | IOM's Call for Increased Hepatitis Screening…

The core issue is whether the patient possesses decisional capacity and can provide informed consent.

Compared with placebo, the benefits achieved from opioid therapy are modest in terms of pain relief and improvement in function, and do not outweigh the increase in adverse effects. No single opioid stands out as more effective or safer than the rest.

Compared with placebo, risperidone improves symptoms based on some disease-specific symptom scores for schizophrenia. However, it does not appear to improve symptoms on a more important Clinical Global Impression scale.

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

As the general population ages and life expectancy increases, erectile dysfunction (ED) is anticipated to be a major health care burden. Therefore, the American College of Physicians (ACP) created a guideline on hormone testing and pharmacologic treatment of ED.

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Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is “bad” cholesterol. The more LDL you have in your blood, the higher your risk of heart disease. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is “good” cholesterol. This type lowers your risk of heart disease.

Prolapse is when organs in your pelvis, such as the uterus, vagina, or bladder, protrude or sag through the opening of your vagina. It may feel like a bulge or a pouch.