June 15, 2011

The goal of treating Alzheimer disease is to slow the progression of symptoms and improve patients' cognition and activities of daily living. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are considered first-line agents, and may be combined with the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist…

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common cause of megaloblastic anemia, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and elevated serum homocysteine levels. No major medical organizations have published guidelines on screening asymptomatic or low-risk adults, but high-risk persons may warrant…

The diagnosis of herpes zoster is usually based on the appearance of the classic rash. Antiretroviral therapy can decrease symptoms, although it is unclear whether the therapy prevents postherpetic neuralgia. Adjunct medications are often needed to control pain during the acute…

Long-term complications of human immunodeficiency virus infection can be related to the virus itself or to adverse effects of antiretroviral therapy. Each drug class has adverse effects, and patients should be regularly monitored for drug toxicities. Long-term morbidity…

AAFP Urges CMS to Modify Changes to Accountable Care Organization Proposal | HHS to Award $100 Million in Community Grants to Help Combat Chronic Diseases | Women Make Up More Than 40 Percent of Full-Time Family Medicine Faculty | CMS Checklist Useful in Examinations for…

The factor most strongly associated with appropriate aspirin use is a conversation between the patient and physician. The National Committee for Quality Assurance has proposed that health plans measure their members' use of aspirin, as well as the extent to which physicians…

A policy of generalized aspirin use in adults for the primary prevention of CVD is probably not warranted. Instead, the benefits and risks of aspirin therapy for primary prevention need to be considered on an individual basis, and should be reserved for persons at highest long…

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends the use of aspirin in men 45 to 79 years of age when the potential benefit of a reduction in myocardial infarctions (MIs) outweighs the potential harm of an increase in gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage.

Case study: K.T., a 48-year-old man, presents for a routine office visit. He is worried about cardiovascular disease (CVD) and asks whether he should take daily aspirin to lower his risk. His blood pressure is 120/60 mm Hg, and his total cholesterol is 180 mg per dL (4.66 mmol…

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

What are the effects of medical and surgical interventions to induce and maintain remission in adults with small bowel Crohn disease? What are the effects of medical interventions to maintain remission after surgery in adults with Crohn disease? What are the effects of…

A six-month treatment regimen with an antifungal agent decreases the recurrence of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Epiduo is a combination of topical adapalene 0.1% and benzoyl peroxide 2.5% in a gel formulation. It is labeled for the treatment of acne vulgaris in patients at least 12 years of age.1 Benzoyl peroxide releases oxygen free radicals to oxidize bacterial proteins and decrease…

Food allergy can be difficult to diagnose. Because diagnosis and management options vary, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) helped develop guidelines to provide physicians with “best practices” for diagnosing and treating patients with food…

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major morbidity in very preterm infants that negatively affects neurodevelopmental outcomes and is resistant to therapeutic interventions. A 2002 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement determined that the routine use of…

Alzheimer (ALTZ-hi-mer) disease is a condition that affects the brain. It is the most common cause of dementia, which is a loss of brain function that can affect memory, attention, language, and problem solving. It is not completely clear what causes Alzheimer disease. Some…

Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a painful rash caused by the chickenpox virus. The chickenpox virus is also called varicella-zoster. Most people get chickenpox as a child. When the infection is over, the virus stays in the body. Your immune system may weaken as you get older…

The HIV virus can cause heart, kidney, bone, liver, bone marrow, and metabolic problems. These problems can also be side effects of medicines for HIV (called antiretroviral therapy, or ART). Side effects can also occur because of interactions between ART and other medicines…