• Articles

    Barrett’s Esophagus

    MARK D. SHALAUTA, RICHARD SAAD

    Barrett’s esophagus is a premalignant metaplastic process that may be suspected on endoscopic evaluation of the esophagus but is confirmed by biopsy. Current treatment guidelines include relief of the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease with medical or surgical measures.

    Diagnosis and Treatment of Acne

    STEVEN FELDMAN, RACHEL E. CARECCIA, KELLY L. BARHAM, JOHN HANCOX

    Numerous topical and systemic medications are available for the treatment of acne. Patients should be counseled about appropriate treatment options and expected outcomes.

    Polycythemia Vera

    BRIAN J. STUART, ANTHONY J. VIERA

    Polycythemia vera leads to hyperviscosity of the blood that predisposes patients to potentially fatal thrombosis. Treatment includes phlebotomy, with or without myelosuppressive agents.

    Health Care Screening for Men Who Have Sex with Men

    DANIEL KNIGHT

    Men who have sex with men are at an increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases and psychologic and behavioral disorders. Various obstacles may hinder optimal care of these patients.

    Evaluation of the Patient with Chronic Cough

    ROBERT L. HOLMES, CLARE T. FADDEN

    A sequential approach is helpful in determining the cause of chronic cough. In immunocompetent adults, the most common causes of chronic cough are postnasal drip syndrome, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Respiratory tract infections, asthma, and gastroesophageal...

    Inside AFP

    Continuing the Tradition of Patient Information in AFP

    Janis Wright

    In each issue of AFP, you will find patient information handouts that complement many of the review articles, and most issues also offer a patient information collection on a selected topic. Readers often tear out the patient information handouts and keep them in a file,...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    Genevieve Ressel

    Family Medicine Residency Match Numbers Are Up Slightly | Future of Family Medicine Project Releases Recommendations | HHS Announces Medicare Discount Drug Card Sponsors | Congress Okays Reimbursement to Organ Donors for Nonmedical Expenses | National Library of Medicine Adds...

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Sarah Evans, Heather McNeill

    A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found depression to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular death (as well as all-cause mortality) in older women without a history of cardiovascular disease. The Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study...

    Editorials

    Endoscopy for Barrett’s Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

    Nicholas Shaheen

    In this issue of American Family Physician, Shalauta and Saad1 describe endoscopic screening for Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma in patients with reflux symptoms. This type of screening has been proposed in an effort to decrease the rate of death from...

    Screening for Barrett’s Esophagus

    Kenneth R. Devault

    In Barrett’s esophagus, the normal squamous lining of the distal esophagus is replaced with a metaplastic, intestinal, columnar epithelium. Barrett’s esophagus represents the end stage of severe, uncontrolled gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, Barrett’s...

    Medicine and Society

    Functional Health Literacy: Improving Health Outcomes

    Allen L. Hixon

    In an article published in 2002,1 Schillinger and colleagues reported that patients with diabetes who had low literacy levels had poorer diabetic outcomes as measured by hemoglobin A1C levels. This finding is extremely important when we consider that approximately 44 million...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Smoke signals—the protruding front pocket on the left side of the shirt, nicotine-stained fingertips, and the scent of cologne mingled with traces of cigarette smoke. I must have told Emmett a hundred times to stop smoking. The 69-year-old man has averaged two packs of...

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Vaginal Estrogen Preparations for Relief of Atrophic Vaginitis

    Melissa Nothnagle, Julie Scott Taylor

    Vaginal estrogen preparations are safe and effective as short-term treatment in patients with vaginal atrophy who are not candidates for systemic hormone therapy. Compared with estradiol products, conjugated equine estrogen creams may be associated with a higher incidence of...

    Clinical Evidence Handbook

    Atrial Fibrillation (Acute)

    Gregory Y. H. Lip, Bethan Freestone

    What are the effects of interventions to prevent embolism? What are the effects of interventions for conversion to sinus rhythm? What are the effects of interventions to control heart rate?

    Photo Quiz

    Skin Mass on Neck

    MARK WEINER, JAMES RICHARDS

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

    Patient Information Collection

    Vaginal Yeast Infections

    Vaginal Discharge

    Bacterial Vaginosis

    POEMs

    Finasteride, Doxazosin, or Both for BPH?

    Mark Ebell

    Exercise Training Reduces Heart Failure Mortality

    Allen F. Shaughnessy

    Memantine Plus Donepezil for Alzheimer’s Disease

    David Slawson

    Hypertension Management: Three vs. Six Months?

    Allen F. Shaughnessy

    Practice Guidelines

    Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership Releases Report on Adult Chronic Rhinosinusitis

    Genevieve Ressel

    Chronic rhinosinusitis is a group of disorders characterized by inflammation of the mucosa of the nose and paranasal sinuses lasting for at least 12 consecutive weeks. The Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership has released a report to help physicians diagnose this disease more...

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Carrie Morantz, Brian Torrey

    NAMS Statement on Hormone Therapy | Registration Deadlines for AAFP Scientific Assembly | Anti-Infective Agents for Intra-Abdominal Infections | Cancer Statistics, 2004 | IDSA Guideline for Candida Infections

    Curbside Consultation

    The Right to Know—But at What Cost?

    Because my father lives in another state, I usually am not involved in his medical care. Recently, though, I was contacted when he was hospitalized for pancreatitis. I knew that my father’s medical history included metabolic syndrome—diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension...

    Letters to the Editor

    The Use of Emergent Lateral Canthotomy to Restore Vision

    Mark D. Benton

    Psychotherapy and Medication Options for Depression

    Allan Abbass, David M. Gardner

    Tips from Other Journals

    Is There a Wider Role for Virtual Colonoscopy?

    Bill Zepf

    Early Mobilization vs. Usual Care in Patients with CAP

    Karl E. Miller

    Child Safety Restraint Systems for Commercial Airplanes

    Karl E. Miller

    Sumatriptan Treatment of Menstrually Related Migraine

    Anne D. Walling

    Antibiotic-Impregnated Catheters in ICU Patients

    Karl E. Miller

    Optimal Exercise Duration and Intensity in Women

    Caroline Wellbery

    Aspirin and ACE Inhibitors in Congestive Heart Failure

    Karl E. Miller

    Metformin Helps Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

    Anne D. Walling

    Use of Letrozole After Tamoxifen for Breast Cancer

    Bill Zepf

    Limiting Opiates in the Treatment of Chronic Pain

    Bill Zepf

    Sibutramine Treatment for Binge-Eating Disorder

    Karl E. Miller

    Cholesterol and In-Hospital Mortality in Elderly Patients

    Karl E. Miller

    Trial of Cold Gel Therapy for Soft Tissue Injuries

    Karl E. Miller

    Predicting Left Main Stenosis in Resting Angina Pectoris

    Richard Sadovsky

    Combination Treatment for Bipolar Depression

    Karl E. Miller

    Benefits and Risks of OCPs Beyond Contraception

    Bill Zepf

    Bronchodilators Often Are Not Useful in Bronchiolitis

    Richard Sadovsky

    Efficacy of Inhaled Fluticasone Plus Salmeterol in COPD

    Karl E. Miller

    Therapy Options for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

    Karl E. Miller

    Use of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography

    Richard Sadovsky

    Is Varicella Vaccination Safe During Lactation?

    Anne D. Walling

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Barrett’s Esophagus—What Should I Know About It?

    Your esophagus (say: ee-saw-fuh-gus) is a tube that goes from your throat to your stomach. When you swallow food, it goes through this tube and into your stomach. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (also called GERD) is a health problem you get when stomach acid goes up into...

    Acne

    Acne happens when the inside of a hair follicle becomes sticky and forms a plug. Every strand of hair grows from a follicle under your skin.

    Polycythemia Vera

    Polycythemia (say: polly-sigh-thee-me-ah) vera (PV) is a disease in which your body makes too many red blood cells. Your blood may become too thick, causing serious health problems. PV may cause shortness of breath, dizziness, itchy or flushed skin, fatigue, and headaches....

    Chronic Cough

    Coughing is good because it helps to clear foreign objects and mucus from your lungs and breathing tubes. However, a cough that lasts a long time can be the sign of a health problem. A chronic cough is a cough that lasts longer than eight weeks.

    Corrections

    Correction

    An item in the STEPS department, titled “Tegaserod (Zelnorm) for Irritable Bowel Syndrome” in the January 15, 2004, issue (page 363), contained an error in the author’s affiliation. G. Robert DeYoung, Pharm.D., BCPS, is a clinical pharmacist with Advantage Health Physicians...



    Disclosure

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


    Tag Legend

    Legend

    CME Continuing Medical Education Credit
    POC Point-of-Care Resource
    FREE Free Access
    Alg Algorithm
    DDx Differential Diagnosis
    PtEd Patient Education