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.

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

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

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...

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.

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

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...

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...

Topiramate (Topamax) for Migraine Prevention

JANE HUNTINGTON, CARRIE L. YUAN

Topiramate (Topamax) is an antiepileptic drug recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prevention of migraine headache in adults. Its exact mechanism of action is uncertain, but it is known to affect neuronal hyperexcitability,1 which is one...

Newborn with a Scalp Lesion

TAMARA BUCHEL, WENDY DEVAUL, KEITH FREY

Shortly after an uncomplicated pregnancy and birth, a term female newborn was noted to have a midline lesion on the posterior aspect of her scalp (Figure 1). The lesion was hairless, measuring 0.5 cm in diameter, with a slightly denuded appearance and a rolled edge (Figure 2)...

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

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

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). “Management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the Home” was published in the May 2005 issue of Chest and can be...

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

AHRQ Releases Updated Guide to Clinical Preventive Services

Fertility Treatment and Multiple Birth Rates

AMBER HUNTZINGER

Fertility Treatment and Multiple Birth Rates

FDA Advisories: Label Information Updated for Erectile Dysfunction Drugs

AMBER HUNTZINGER

FDA Advisories: Label Information Updated for Erectile Dysfunction Drugs

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

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: