• Articles

    Evaluation of Syncope

    THOMAS H. MILLER, JERRY E. KRUSE

    Syncope has a complex presentation that must be differentiated from otherconditions that can cause a loss of consciousness or falling. It can be classedas cardiac, reflex-mediated, orthostatic, or cerebrovascular.

    Supporting Self-management in Patients with Chronic Illness

    MARY THOESEN COLEMAN, KAREN S. NEWTON

    Physicians can support patient self-management in a variety of ways includingadopting a partnership role with patients, making office system changes, andlinking patients to community resources.

    Subclinical Thyroid Disease

    GEORGE R. WILSON, R. WHIT CURRY, JR.

    Subclinical hyperthyroid and hypothyroid disease are laboratory diagnoses. Theirmanagement is controversial because there is limited evidence that early treatmentcan alter their clinical course.

    Genital Herpes: A Review

    JOHN G. BEAUMAN

    The number of lifetime sex partners is the strongest predictor for this recurrent,lifelong disease. Treatment is aimed at controlling outbreaks, and patients should becounseled about the risk of transmission and to address psychosocial concerns.

    Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Treatment Challenge

    NIPA SHAH

    The diagnosis of this painful, debilitating disease often is overlooked. Availabletreatment options include antibiotics, retinoids, corticosteroids, local excision,radiation, and laser therapy, although none has proved effective for all patients.

    Inside AFP

    Academy Responds to Natural Disaster

    JOYCE A. MERRIMAN

    As we Americans watched the news reports of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, I’m sure most of us thought about what we could do to help. Some of us helped by sending money to relief organizations, others helped by loading bottled water onto trucks destined for the...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    CARRIE MORANTZ

    Hurricane Katrina May Stall Pay-for-Performance Legislation | Medicare Deadline Flexible for Patients With ‘Creditable Coverage’ | Research Finds Low EHR Adoption Rates for Physician Groups | 2005 Match Results Point to Greater Diversity | New AHRQ Booklet Explains Breast...

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    MEREDITH DESMOND

    Watching television is often a mindless experience, but can it actually make kids more mindless? According to a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, it might. Researchers examined 1,800 children six and seven years of age and found that...

    Editorials

    Planned Visits to Help Patients Self-manage Chronic Conditions

    THOMAS BODENHEIMER

    As the medical community becomes increasingly aware of the ubiquitous prevalence of chronic illness, more and more physicians are realizing that most decisions determining the outcome of a chronic condition are made not by the physician, but by the patient.

    Graham Center Policy One-Pager

    Physician Workforce: Legal Immigrants Will Extend Baby Boom Demands

    The baby boom generation will place large demands on the Medicare program and the U.S. health care system. These demands may be extended by a large legal immigrant population that will become Medicare-eligible soon after the baby boom generation does. The U.S. health care...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary

    KATHY SOCH

    “Yes, yes, yes … yes, yes,” the woman chanted in her high-pitched, singsong voice. During rounds, we were checking in on a patient who is truly beloved by the nursing home staff, the residents, and me. Marta has a number of medical problems, including chronic paranoid...

    U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

    Screening for Genital Herpes: Recommendation Statement

    This statement summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening for genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and the supporting scientific evidence and updates the 1996 recommendations contained in the Guide to Clinical Preventive...

    STEPS

    Topiramate (Topamax) for Migraine Prevention

    JANE HUNTINGTON, CARRIE L. YUAN

    Topiramate is more effective than placebo for migraine prevention. Its effectiveness appears to be similar to that of other antiepileptic drugs and beta blockers. Because of the high cost of topiramate and the relative frequency of adverse effects, other approaches to...

    Photo Quiz

    Newborn with a Scalp Lesion

    TAMARA BUCHEL, WENDY DEVAUL, KEITH FREY

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

    POEMs

    Routine Invasive Strategy for Acute Coronary Syndrome

    DAVID SLAWSON

    Orlistat Improves Weight Management in Obese Adolescents

    DAVID SLAWSON

    Can the Use of DTaP Produce Pertussis Antibodies in Adults?

    DAVID SLAWSON

    Use of Hair Dye May Slightly Increase the Risk of Cancer

    DAVID SLAWSON

    Tips from Other Journals

    Extremely Preterm Children More Likely to Be Impaired

    CHUCK CARTER

    Inappropriate Prescriptions Associated with Poor Outcomes

    KARL E. MILLER

    Inhaled Corticosteroids and Nonvertebral Fracture Risk

    KARL E. MILLER

    High Doses of Vitamin E Increase Mortality Rates

    KENNETH W. LIN

    Increased Risk of Oral Contraceptive Failure in Obese Women

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Office FOBT Not Reliable Detector of Colorectal Cancer

    KENNETH W. LIN

    Probiotics for Diarrhea in Infants Attending Day Care

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Estrogen Supplementation with Depot Medroxyprogesterone

    KARL E. MILLER

    Ultrasonography for First-Trimester Bleeding

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Practice Guidelines

    ACCP Releases Consensus Statement on Outpatient Treatment for CAP

    LAURA COUGHLIN

    The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) recently issued a clinical position statement on outpatient management of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

    Practice Guideline Briefs

    CDC Updates 2005–2006 Influenza Vaccine Recommendations

    CARRIE A. MORANTZ

    CDC Updates 2005–2006 Influenza Vaccine Recommendations

    AHRQ Releases Updated Guide to Clinical Preventive Services

    LIZ SMITH

    The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has published an updated version of evidence-based clinical guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

    Fertility Treatment and Multiple Birth Rates

    AMBER HUNTZINGER

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its report on assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures conducted in the United States in 2002.

    FDA Advisories: Label Information Updated for Erectile Dysfunction Drugs

    AMBER HUNTZINGER

    FDA Advisories: Label Information Updated for Erectile Dysfunction Drugs

    Letters to the Editor

    Tinidazole for Treatment of Trichomonas Vaginalis

    Suggest Vegetarian Diet to Patients with Dysmenorrhea

    Safety of and Contraindications for Use of Intrauterine Devices

    RUTH LESNEWSKI, LINDA PRINE, MARJI GOLD

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Genital Herpes: What You Should Know

    Genital herpes (say: HER-pees) is a disease caused by a virus known as the herpes simplex virus. It causes painful blisters on the thighs or genitals. These blisters break open and turn into sores. The virus can also cause fever blisters or cold sores around the mouth. Once...

    Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Treatment Challenge

    Hidradenitis suppurativa (say: hi-dra-dun-I-tis sup-you-ra-TI-va) is a disease that causes painful bumps or sores in the armpits, groin, and anal area.

    Prenatal Diagnosis: Amniocentesis and CVS

    Prenatal diagnosis is a way for your doctor to tell if your baby has a problem such as Down syndrome while you’re still pregnant. Amniocentesis (say: AM-nee-oh-sen-TEE-sis) and chorionic villus sampling (say: CORE-ree-on-ik VILL-us SAM-pling, or CVS, for short) are tests that...

    Toxoplasmosis in Pregnancy

    Toxoplasmosis (say: tox-oh-plas-MOH-sis) is an infection caused by a parasite. This parasite lives in the intestines of cats and is spread through cat feces, usually into litter boxes and garden soil. You can get the parasite by handling cat litter or soil where there is cat...

    Respiratory Infections During Pregnancy

    When a viral infection attacks your air passages, it can affect your breathing and cause other symptoms. These infections can be passed to and from other people. The flu and common cold are two kinds of viral respiratory infections. Other respiratory viruses are:



    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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