• Articles

    Interventional Radiology in Cancer Patients

    CHARLES E. RAY, JR.

    Interventional radiology procedures in patients with cancer include imaging-guided biopsy and aspiration, transcatheter chemoembolization, tumor ablation and gene therapy. Procedures are also used to control pain, drain obstructed organs and keep vertebrae from collapsing.

    Restless Legs Syndrome: Detection and Management in Primary Care

    Restless legs syndrome is a neurologic movement disorder that is often associated with a sleep complaint and daytime fatigue. Although it is underdiagnosed, it is a common and treatable condition.

    Health Issues in Men: Part II. Common Psychosocial Disorders

    TED D. EPPERLY, KEVIN E. MOORE

    Alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence, midlife crisis and depression are common psychosocial issues in men. Questions directed at identifying these problems should be asked as part of annual health assessments and, when appropriate, other health-related visits.

    Female Sexual Dysfunction: Evaluation and Treatment

    NANCY A. PHILLIPS

    Female sexual dysfunction is a disorder that affects approximately 19 to 50 percent of women. With an understanding of sexual function and application of general medical and gynecologic treatment for sexual issues, family physicians can effectively evaluate and treat sexual...

    Management of Aphthous Ulcers

    DAVID R. MCBRIDE

    Aphthous ulcers, also called canker sores, are a common and painful problem. The physician's goal in recurrent and slow-healing ulcers is to rule out a more serious condition and relieve pain.

    Diagnosis and Management of Acute Pancreatitis

    ABILIO MUNOZ, DAVID A. KATERNDAHL

    Acute pancreatitis is most commonly caused by alcohol use or biliary obstruction. Although the condition is potentially fatal, treatment is usually limited to hydration, resting the gastrointestinal tract and pain control.

    AFP 50 Years Ago

    Lynn P. Carmichael

    This feature is part of a year-long series of excerpts and special commentaries celebrating AFP's 50th year of publication. Excerpts from the two 1950 volumes of GP, AFP's predecessor, appear along with highlights of 50 years of family medicine.

    Inside AFP

    Introducing AAFP Policy Center One-Pagers

    Janis Wright

    On page 22 of this issue, you'll find the first in an ongoing series of brief reports from the AAFP's Center for Policy Studies in Family Practice and Primary Care, Washington, D.C. If you haven't had a chance to familiarize yourself with the Web site of the policy center ...

    Policy Center One-Pager

    The Effect of Accredited Rural Training Tracks on Physician Placement

    Accredited family practice rural training tracks are placing graduates in rural settings at notably high rates: 76 percent overall and 88 percent among programs implemented in the past 10 years. Favorable, immediate results could be expected from their continuation and...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    Newsletter

    Rosemarie Sweeney, Toni Lapp

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

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Jessica Greene

    Here's some news to pass on to your patients. Faster is better. It is better to head for the closest medical facility, regardless of invasive capabilities, than to take the time to travel to a more sophisticated facility farther away. A study of 30,402 heart attack victims...

    Editorials

    Getting the Facts on Restless Legs

    CAROLINE E. WELLBERY

    My experience with the Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Working Group, which produced the document published in this issue of American Family Physician,1 reminded me of how much we can learn from our colleagues. Despite the recent focus on evidence-based medicine, we should not...

    The Importance of Obtaining a Sexual History

    GLORIA BACHMANN

    Regardless of how often practitioners are reminded of the importance of sexual health and the necessity of obtaining a thorough sexual history from all of our patients, this important aspect of the complete medical evaluation is sometimes overlooked.

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    [ corrected] While the physicians in our group love to be involved in our patients' maternity care and thrive on the unique advantage that we have as family physicians in taking care of the whole family during pregnancy, occasionally we are asked to see pregnant women who...

    Photo Quiz

    More Than Just a Comet…

    MANUEL A. GARCIA, CRAIG EICHLER

    A 90-year-old woman presented with a history of rash under her breasts (Figure 1) and axillae that progressively worsened over a period of two months. She described the eruption as red, irritated, painful and prone to bleeding. No pruritus or scaliness was present. She had...

    Family Practice International

    Family Practice International

    Anne D. Walling

    (Australia—Australian Family Physician, February 2000, p. 123.) The prevalence of depression among adults 18 to 24 years of age is estimated to be 15 to 40 percent. In this age group, nonclassic symptoms such as aggression or risk-taking/self-destructive behaviors may be as...

    Practice Guidelines

    ACIP Issues Recommendations for the 2000–2001 Influenza Season

    Monica Preboth

    The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released recommendations for the prevention and control of influenza during the 2000–2001 influenza season. The liaison representative to ACIP from the American...

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Monica Preboth

    The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has issued a Medication Safety Alert on mix-ups of Hespan and heparin. In two 1998 issues of the safety alert, the ISMP cautioned medical institutions about reported mix-ups between the two medications. The errors are thought...

    Curbside Consultation

    A Daughter Who Won't Let Her Mother Go

    MICHAEL D. FETTERS

    The family physician submitting this case is to be commended for wrestling with a very difficult problem. The patient's family physician has taken an appropriate first step in the management of this situation by setting boundaries through a verbal contract about limits in...

    Resident and Student Voice

    My Experiences at an ‘Orphan’ School: The Importance of Finding ‘Parents’

    JENNIFER DEVOE

    The anticipation before starting medical school is immense: fears about gross anatomy, wondering about classmates, anxiety about moving to a new place, and excitement about starting a life-long career of service to humanity. Most first-year medical students have some ideas...

    Putting Prevention Into Practice

    Screening for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

    MARTIN C. MAHONEY

    Case study: MP is a 16-year-old male who presents to your office for his annual health assessment and sports physical. During the course of his examination, you note a mild convexity in the thoracic region of his spine with forward flexion at the hips. Based on your clinical...

    Letters to the Editor

    Responses to ‘Bending the Rules to Get a Medication’

    Tips from Other Journals

    Can Lipid-Lowering Drugs Be Used to Increase HDL Levels?

    KARL E. MILLER

    AIDS Society Recommendations for Antiretroviral Therapy

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Treatment Guideline for Eating Disorders

    KARL E. MILLER

    Reducing Children's Anxiety with Midazolam Nasal Spray

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Ipratropium Therapy in Adults with Acute Asthma

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Influenza Morbidity in Children: Is Vaccination Warranted?

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Intermittent Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Risk

    KARL E. MILLER

    Patient Compliance in Filling New Prescriptions

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Mini-Dose Aspirin and Renal Function in the Elderly

    KARL E. MILLER

    Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the Care of Infectious Disease

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Treating Vigorous Infants Born in Meconium-Stained Fluid

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Penicillin for Sore Throat: Seven vs. Three Days

    ANNE D. WALLING

    How Common Are Various Causes of Dizziness?

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Paroxetine Use in Lactating Women

    BARBARA APGAR

    Strategies for Removal of Esophageal Coins in Children

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Monitoring Patients with Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis

    KARL E. MILLER

    Effects of Different Contraceptive Methods on Vaginal Microflora

    KARL E. MILLER

    Do COX-2 Inhibitors Cause Less Mucosal Damage than NSAIDs?

    KARL E. MILLER

    Is Preoperative Medical Testing Needed for Cataract Surgery?

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Sex Isn't Working for Me. What Can I Do?

    When you have problems with sex, doctors call it “sexual dysfunction.” Men and women can have it. There are four kinds of sexual problems in women.

    Canker Sores – What Are They and What Can You Do About Them?

    Canker sores are shallow, painful sores in your mouth. They are usually red. Sometimes they have a white coating over them. You might get them on the inside of your lips, the insides of your cheeks or under your tongue. Canker sores are different from fever blisters, which...



    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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