Evidence-Based Prenatal Care: Part I. General Prenatal Care and Counseling Issues

COLLEEN KIRKHAM, SUSAN HARRIS, STEFAN GRZYBOWSKI

Routine prenatal interventions are controversial, but fetal heart auscultation,urinalysis, and assessment of maternal weight, blood pressure, and fundal height generally are recommended. Women should be offered screening for anemia and ABO and Rh blood typing during the first...

Evaluation of the Patient with Muscle Weakness

AARON SAGUIL

A comprehensive evaluation of patients with muscle weakness includes a thorough examination and coordinated laboratory, radiologic, electrodiagnostic, and pathologicstudies.

Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Adults

LINDA L. MANNING-DIMMITT, STEVEN G. DIMMITT, GEORGE R. WILSON

The clinical evaluation of gastrointestinal bleeding depends on the hemodynamic status of the patient and the suspected source of the bleed. Several diagnostic tools are available depending on these variables.

Methadone Treatment for Pain States

JAMES D. TOOMBS, LEE A. KRAL

Methadone may be used to treat cancer and neuropathic pain states. It may bean appropriate replacement for other opioids when side effects have limitedfurther use.

Looking Toward the Future with AFP

JOYCE A. MERRIMAN

After nearly 15 years of publishing clinical information in various forms for a nursing organization, I knew the move to the AAFP and this journal would be a big step, but it's one I took with enthusiasm and confidence. Not only are the Academy and AFP well known to family...

Newsletter

LIZ SMITH

AAMC Calls for 15 Percent Increase in Medical School Enrollment | Graham Center Report Emphasizes Quality Not Quantity | Family Medicine Residency Matches Continue to Increase | CHiT Survey Concludes EHRs Approaching Affordability | AAFP Consolidates News Publications and...

Quantum Sufficit

AMBER HUNTZINGER, LAURA COUGHLIN

Is a visit to the dentist’s office an important part of prenatal care? Research has shown that pregnant women with gum disease are more likely to give birth prematurely, according to a report in the University of Minnesota publication Pictures of Health. Now researchers from...

Prenatal Care: Examining the Evidence for an Evolving Paradigm

YINKA OYELESE

The chief objective of prenatal care is to ensure good pregnancy outcomes. The concept evolved significantly in the 20th century, when advances in medical knowledge and practice contributed to a dramatic reduction in maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity rates....

Diary

JOHN O’HANDLEY

This week, I returned to Palenque in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, for a mission with the Franciscan Sisters of Stella Niagra. The team consisted of two family physicians, one internal medicine/pediatric resident, a pediatric nurse practitioner, an interpreter/physical...

Antibiotics for Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

MICHAEL SCHOOFF, KRISTA HILL

Prophylactic antibiotics can reduce the number of recurrent UTIs in nonpregnant women while they are taking the medication (relative risk [RR], 0.21; number needed to treat [NNT], 2). No antibiotic was significantly better than others at decreasing the number of UTIs, and all...

Cochrane Briefs

CLARISSA KRIPKE

Effects of Discontinuing Epidurals in Late Labor

Cochrane Briefs

CLARISSA KRIPKE

Comparison of Short-Term Treatments for GERD

Venous Leg Ulcers

E. ANDREA NELSON, NICKY CULLUM, JUNE JONES

What are the effects of treatments and interventions to prevent recurrence?

Screening for Thyroid Disease

JANELLE GUIRGUIS-BLAKE, CRAIG M. HALES

Case study: LF, a 50-year-old woman, requests a “thyroid blood test.” You review the symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism with her and find that she has none of them.

St. John’s Wort for Depression

WAIL MALATY

Does St. John’s wort relieve depression in adult patients?

Pruritic Rash During Pregnancy

JOHN WALTERS, DWAYNE C. CLARK

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

Acupuncture Effective for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

Implantable Defibrillators and Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy

DAVID SLAWSON

Trial of Labor Carries Small but Real Increase in Risk

MARK EBELL

Raloxifene Reduces the Risk of Breast Cancer

HENRY BARRY

Can Patients with Cancer Postpone Death for Important Events?

DAVID SLAWSON

Bariatric Surgery Effective for Long-Term Weight Loss

MARK EBELL

Decision Rule for Spinal Manipulation for Low Back Pain

ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

Is Meloxicam as Safe as Other NSAIDs?

LINDA FRENCH

IDSA Releases Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Infections

KAREN HELLEKSON

Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic foot infections have been developed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). In persons with diabetes, foot infections can cause substantial morbidity and are the most common nontraumatic cause of amputations.

Practice Guideline Briefs

MATTHEW J. NEFF

Antioxidant Vitamin Supplements and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction

Practice Guideline Briefs

MATTHEW J. NEFF

Medication Guide for Amiodarone

Alternative to the Traditional Bilateral Neck Exploration

Hemolytic Anemia Manifesting As Improved A1C Values

Kai Ming Chow

Patient Autonomy: Reflections from a Developing Country

WARIS QIDWAI

Defending the Use of EBM and Shared Decision Making

BRIAN S. ALPER, JENNIFER L. HOOCK

Case Report: Insect Bite Reveals Botfly Myiasis in an Older Woman

NAEEM SAJJAD, GREGORY BIEDERMAN

Impact of Community-Based Yoga on Quality of Life

CAROLINE WELLBERY

Behavioral Patterns Associated with Toilet Training Difficulties

CAROLINE WELLBERY

Association Between Illness and Suicide Risk in Older Adults

KARL E. MILLER

Update on Hepatitis A Infection in Children

RICHARD SADOVSKY

Selecting a Topical Treatment for Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis

ANNE D. WALLING

Can Statins Benefit Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis?

ANNE D. WALLING

Psychotherapy Effective for Depressed Adolescents

KARL E. MILLER

Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine in Patients with COPD

KARL E. MILLER

Asthma: Intramuscular vs. Oral Methylprednisolone

KARL E. MILLER

Vaginal Tape vs. Surgery for Stress Incontinence

ANNE D. WALLING

Statins Modulate Outcomes in Acute Coronary Syndromes

RICHARD SADOVSKY

Modifiable Lifestyle Factors That May Affect Hot Flashes

CAROLINE WELLBERY

Adding Aspirin to Clopidogrel Therapy: Benefit vs. Risk

ANNE D. WALLING

Early Epidural Analgesia and Labor Progression

KARL E. MILLER

Association of Multivitamins with Asthma and Allergies

CAROLINE WELLBERY

Depression: Psychologic and Pharmacologic Therapy

KARL E. MILLER

Pregnancy: Keeping Yourself and Your Baby Healthy

You can help make sure that you and your baby will be as healthy as possible by making some lifestyle changes while you are pregnant. It is important to check in with your doctor regularly. Tell him or her about any prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medicines that...