• Articles

    Diagnosis and Treatment of the Acute Scrotum

    LARIS E. GALEJS, EVAN J. KASS

    Testicular torsion must be treated in a timely manner if the testis is to be saved. Other causes of scrotal pain or swelling include torsion of a testicular appendage, epididymitis, trauma, hernia, hydrocele, varicocele and Schönlein-Henoch purpura.

    Liver Disease in Pregnancy

    CHRISTINE M. HUNT, ALA I. SHARARA

    Rare liver diseases result in increased maternal and fetal mortality. Treatment may involve prompt delivery, whereupon the liver disease usually reverses.

    Evaluating Patients for Return to Work

    DANIEL O. WYMAN

    The family physician is often instrumental in the process of returning a patient to work after injury or illness. Helpful sources of information include discussions with the patient's supervisor, job demand analysis evaluations and the Dictionary of Occupational Titles.

    ‘Common’ Uncommon Anemias

    SIMEON D. ABRAMSON, NEIL ABRAMSON

    The most common types of unusual anemia are the anemia of renal disease, thalassemia, anemia of chronic disease and myelodysplastic syndrome.

    Evaluation and Treatment of Childhood Obesity

    REBECCA MORAN

    Although the prevalence of childhood obesity has risen in the past several decades, this condition remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. All obese children should be screened for cardiac risk factors and other possible sequelae.

    Neurologic Complications of Systemic Cancer

    HERBERT B. NEWTON

    Brain metastases, the most common neurologic complication in cancer patients, typically present as headaches or altered mental status.

    Surgical Options in the Management of Groin Hernias

    TIM BAX, BRETT C. SHEPPARD, RICHARD A. CRASS

    Most groin hernias require surgical repair. The many herniorrhaphy techniques can be grouped into four categories: open anterior repair, open posterior repair, tension-free repair with mesh and laparoscopic procedures.

    Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula

    DWAYNE C. CLARK

    Esophageal atresia, with or without tracheoesophageal fistula, is a congenital disorder that must be recognized immediately to prevent complications of aspiration and to prepare for timely surgical correction.

    Gout and Hyperuricemia

    MARK D. HARRIS, LORI B. SIEGEL, JEFFREY A. ALLOWAY

    Clinical gout comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by deposition of monosodium urate crystals in and about the joints and tendons. Gout progresses through four clinical phases: asymptomatic hyperuricemia, acute gouty arthritis, intercritical gout ...

    Recognizing Problem Sleepiness in Your Patients

    Problem sleepiness occurs when the amount of sleep is inadequate because of primary sleep disorders, other medical conditions or lifestyle factors.

    Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin in Outpatient Treatment of DVT

    BRYAN F. YEAGER, SAMUEL C. MATHENY

    Low-molecular-weight heparins are as safe and effective as unfractionated heparin in the treatment of deep venous thrombosis, and hospitalization may not be required with the use of these newer agents.

    Topical Psoriasis Therapy

    DANIEL G. FEDERMAN, CATHERINE W. FROELICH, ROBERT S. KIRSNER

    Recent advances in topical therapy for psoriasis offer considerable hope and convenience to patients with this dermatosis. Vitamin D analogs, topical retinoids and new anthralin preparations have expanded physicians' therapeutic armamentarium.

    Family Practice International

    Anne D. Walling

    (Great Britain—The Practitioner, September 1998, p. 627.) Although only a small proportion of men with testicular lumps have testicular neoplasm, accurate diagnosis based on history, physical examination and selected investigations can significantly reduce patient anxiety....

    Inside AFP

    New ‘Practical Therapeutics’ Series

    JANIS WRIGHT

    Many of our readers have seen AFP grow from 12 issues a year to 16 issues a year and now 20 issues per year. With continued growth comes continued change, and with this issue comes yet another change: the frequency of our longstanding “Practical Therapeutics” series has been...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    Newsletter

    Rosemarie Sweeney, Verna L. Rose

    Selected policy and health issues news briefs from AAFP News Now.

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Monica A. Preboth, Shyla Wright

    For people who have trouble swallowing pills, time-release capsules haven't been an option. Instead, these people relied on taking small, frequent doses or using chewable pills, sometimes as often as six times a day. However, researchers at Oregon State University may have...

    Editorials

    Childhood Obesity: Time for Action, Not Complacency

    Dennis Michael Styne

    As Moran1 describes in this issue of American Family Physician, an epidemic of childhood obesity is occurring in the United States; the prevalence of the most severe cases—defined as a body mass index (BMI) for age over the 95th percentile—has virtually doubled over the past...

    Problem Sleepiness: An Often Unrecognized Condition

    BILL ZEPF

    Just as “problem drinking” is a useful term that defines excessive drinking by its repercussions rather than by a specific amount, so is the term “problem sleepiness” meant to refer to sleepiness that causes adverse effects for the person involved. The specific quantity or...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    In a previous “Diary,” we mentioned that aphthous ulcers of the mouth might be prevented in the majority of patients by avoiding toothpaste containing the detergent sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Now, WLL has come across another study in the European literature (Acta Odontol...

    Conference Highlights

    Conference Highlights

    Verna L. Rose

    (26th Annual Meeting of the North American Primary Care Research Group) Results of a survey showed that the use of shared obstetric call groups in family practices allows for a high level of patient satisfaction while offering a viable alternative to physicians who would...

    Tips from Other Journals

    Treating Repetitive Seizures with Rectal Diazepam

    CLARISSA C. KRIPKE

    Use of Colchicine in Patients with Severe Constipation

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Chronic Depression: The Use of Cognitive Behavior Therapy

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Presentation of Abuse-Related Injuries Among Women

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Antibiotics for Bacterial Exacerbations of Bronchitis

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Types of Pituitary Tumors and Management Strategies

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Oral vs. Transdermal HRT to Reduce Lipoprotein(a) Levels

    BARBARA APGAR

    Captopril or Atenolol for Hypertension in Diabetes?

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Folate and Colon Cancer: Data from the Nurses' Health Study

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Acute Sinusitis: Are Expensive Antibiotics More Efficacious?

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Can Valaciclovir Suppress Recurrent Genital HSV?

    KARL MILLER

    Sertraline Is Safe and Effective in Treating Panic Disorder

    KARL MILLER

    Gestational Diabetes: Screening in Low-Risk Women?

    CLARISSA C. KRIPKE

    Evaluating Breast Masses in Women Younger than 40

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Corticosteroids vs. Physical Therapy for Shoulder Pain

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Is Laparoscopic Surgery Safe in Postpartum Women?

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Diagnosis of Delirium By Telephone Assessment

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Shortened Hospitalization for DVT with Use of Ardeparin?

    BARBARA APGAR

    Intolerance to Cow's Milk and Constipation in Children

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    MR Cholangiography for Diagnosing Acute Cholecystitis

    BARBARA APGAR

    Increasing Screening Accuracy in Patients with Dementia

    KARL MILLER

    Effect of Beta Blockers in Chronic Heart Failure

    BARBARA APGAR

    Ductal Carcinoma in Situ of the Breast: Not a Single Entity

    ANNE D. WALLING

    New Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Are They Better?

    BARBARA APGAR

    Comparing Three Therapies for Treatment of Back Pain

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Montelukast for Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Children

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Is Adding Flutamide Beneficial?

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Is the Timing of Contraceptive Injections Important?

    KARL MILLER

    Thromboembolic Events in Association with Atrial Flutter

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Special Medical Reports

    NOF Urges Bone Density Tests for Certain Postmenopausal Women and All Women Over Age 65

    Verna L. Rose

    The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) has issued recommendations for the prevention, risk factor assessment, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, including specific guidelines on the use of bone mineral density tests. “The Physician's Guide to Prevention and...

    NIH Issues Consensus Statement on the Rehabilitation of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury

    Verna L. Rose

    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a consensus development conference statement on the rehabilitation of persons with traumatic brain injury. The conference that culminated in the consensus statement was convened by the NIH to evaluate the scientific data...

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Verna L. Rose

    The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) have issued an expert consensus document with recommendations for the safe and appropriate use of sildenafil (Viagra) when treating sexual dysfunction in patients at clinical risk of...

    Letters to the Editor

    ACOG/AAFP Guidelines for Obstetrics and Gynecology

    Screening for Inborn Errors of Metabolism in Children

    Freezer Burn to the Sacral Area Using a Plastic Cooler Insert

    MARIA D. RODRIGUEZ

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Helping Your Child Keep a Healthy Weight

    Your doctor will use a chart to find out if your child might be overweight. Your child is overweight if he or she is heavier than 85 percent of other children who are the same age and height. If your child has bigger bones, he or she may weigh more because of that, not...

    Helping Your Child Lose Weight

    Not all heavy children have weight problems as adults. However, as children get older, their risk for staying overweight goes up. The risk is even higher if one or both parents also are overweight. It's important to catch weight problems early.

    Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula

    In babies with esophageal atresia, the esophagus doesn't go into the stomach. It just ends in a pouch, so nothing the baby swallows gets into the stomach. (This is how you say these words: ee-sof-ah-gee-all at-tree-see-ah; tray-key-oh-ee-sof-ah-gee-all fist-you-lah.)

    Help for Psoriasis

    Psoriasis (say “sore-eye-a-sis”) is a skin problem. It causes red, silvery scales and flaky skin patches. It can get better or worse, but there's no cure. No one knows what causes psoriasis. It's not caused by something you ate or something you're allergic to. You can't catch...

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    Disclosure

    All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


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