February 15, 2012

Although acute low back pain is often nonspecific and benign, a comprehensive clinical approach is important to identify rare serious etiologies. Strong evidence for the many treatment options is lacking; however, patient education and medications such as nonsteroidal anti…

AARON SAGUIL, MD, MPH, and MATTHEW FARGO, MD, MPH Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome present with acute onset, profound hypoxemia, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, and the absence of left atrial hypertension. Management is supportive and includes mechanical…

Common causes of hirsutism include polycystic ovary syndrome and certain medications. Evaluation should include a medical history and physical examination beginning with a determination of the distribution and degree of hair growth. Treatment, such as hair removal methods and…

In the Practice Guidelines, “ACIP Releases 2012 Immunization Schedule,” (February 1, 2012, page 281) the accompanying 2012 catch-up immunization schedule was clarified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after publication. In Figure 3, the second bulleted item…

The online version of the Cochrane Briefs, “Instruments for Assisted Vaginal Delivery,” (July 1, 2011, page 26) has been updated because the last sentence of the “Practice Pointers” section did not represent a conclusion from the Cochrane review of instrumental delivery. The…

Attributes of PCMH Model of Care Translate to Lower Mortality in Primary Care | AAFP Position Paper on Collaboration Between Family Physicians and Pharmacists | CDC Toolkit to Help Control and Prevent Norovirus Outbreaks in Health Care Settings | SAMHSA Reports One in Five U.S…

By identifying and reporting adverse drug events, conscientious physicians may influence drug labeling or alerts that impact prescribing practices and help protect the public's health.

Prolia is an expensive method of preventing osteoporotic hip fractures, and is associated with significant adverse effects. Safer, less expensive options exist for preventing fracture in high-risk women.

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

What are the effects of treatments for primary dysmenorrhea?

Pregnant women with a primary or recurrent episode of genital HSV infection who are later than 36 weeks of gestation should be treated with acyclovir (Zovirax) or valacyclovir (Valtrex) for viral suppression.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for bladder cancer in asymptomatic adults.

Case study: K.J., a 62-year-old white man, presents for a preventive visit. He has not seen a physician for three years because he is generally healthy. After his 65-year-old neighbor was diagnosed with bladder cancer, K.J.'s wife convinced him to be screened.

The use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) has increased from 1.3 to 5.5 percent over the past decade. There are three LARCs available in the United States: the etonogestrel single-rod implant and two types of intrauterine devices (IUDs; copper T380A and…

Acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, is a serious illness that causes shortness of breath, fast breathing, and difficulty getting oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. ARDS occurs when the air-filled sacs in the lungs called alveoli [al-VEE-oh-LIE] fill with…