• Articles

    Chronic Plaque Psoriasis

    KELLY M. LUBA, DANIEL L. STULBERG

    Initial management of this autoimmune disease includes education and topicaltherapy with steroids and vitamin D derivatives. Options such as light therapy orsystemic therapy are reserved for patients with psoriasis involving more than20 percent of their skin.

    Behavior Disorders of Dementia: Recognition and Treatment

    ABI V. RAYNER, JAMES G. O’BRIEN, BEN SHOENBACHLER

    Nonpharmacologic management of dementia-associated behaviors includes theuse of sensory intervention, removing environmental hazards, and maintainingroutines. Atypical antipsychotics have the greatest effectiveness and are best tolerated,but the axiom start low, go slow...

    Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes: Diagnosis and Management

    TANYA M. MEDINA, D. ASHLEY HILL

    Preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes can cause significant perinatalmorbidity and fetal demise. Treatment options vary with gestational age and mayinclude delivery when rupture occurs at or after 34 weeks gestation.

    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Diagnostic Considerations

    MARVIN DEWAR, R. WHIT CURRY, JR.

    Patients with this disease usually present with a variety of clinical findings, includingelements of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Symptoms alone are not diagnostic,and physicians should consider risk factors, global guidelines, and clinicaltest results when evaluating...

    Inside AFP

    Patient Information Handouts Are Useful Education Tools

    JOYCE A. MERRIMAN

    The patient information handouts accompanying our clinical review articles are used in many ways. Our most recent reader survey shows that 31 percent of readers give an AFP information handout to patients at least once a week. The survey also shows that approximately half of...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    Newsletter

    LIZ SMITH

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

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    MEREDITH DESMOND

    Think smoking only a few cigarettes a day is not as dangerous as more frequent smoking? Think again. In a study published in Tobacco Control, researchers analyzed health data and smoking habits from 43,000 men and women in Norway over 30 years and found that light smoking (i...

    Editorials

    Using COPD Guidelines to Improve Patient Care

    JOHN E. HEFFNER

    The worldwide chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) epidemic affects nearly 600 million people and accounts for more than 2.2 million deaths each year.1 Airflow obstruction makes COPD an even greater health burden because it independently contributes to the morbidity...

    New Standards to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with Diabetes

    ALAN J. GARBER

    Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. This is true whether patients are outpatients or inpatients; diabetes is the fourth most common comorbid condition complicating all hospital discharges. In 1997, diabetes was present in 9.5 percent of all...

    Photo Quiz

    “Nickels and Dimes” with Deafness

    PRASHANT KAUSHIK, PHILIP ALLEN PAULK, VENKATRAMANA R. BANDA, RICHA KAUSHIK

    A 58-year-old woman presented with non-pruritic skin lesions on her hands (see accompanying figure) and back and sensorineural deafness in her left ear that had progressed over the previous four weeks. She did not have any known drug allergies. Her medical, personal, social,...

    STEPS

    Nesiritide (Natrecor) for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

    MARK SHATSKY

    Nesiritide improves short-term hemodynamics in hospitalized patients with acute decompensated heart failure who have not benefited from aggressive treatment with standard care. However, nesiritide may cause renal function to worsen and may increase the risk of death within 30...

    POEMs

    Statins Effectively Prevent Coronary Artery Disease

    HENRY BARRY

    Levalbuterol and Albuterol Equal for Asthma in Children

    ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

    Increased Mortality with Atypical Antipsychotics for Dementia

    DANIEL L. STULBERG

    Steroids Before Cesarean Delivery May Reduce RDS

    DANIEL L. STULBERG

    Surgery Usually Prevents Rerupture of Achilles Tendon

    HENRY BARRY

    Watchful Waiting Enough for Children Who Swallow Coins

    ALLEN F. SHAUGNESSY

    Interferon Gamma-1b and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

    MARK EBELL

    Helical CT Identifies Urgent Nonspecific Abdominal Pain

    HENRY BARRY

    Tips from Other Journals

    Is Influenza Vaccination Safe for Pregnant Women?

    KARL E. MILLER

    Correct and Consistent Use of Condoms in Preventing STDs

    KARL E. MILLER

    Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation in Older Patients

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Maternal Smoking Increases Risk of Childhood Asthma

    KARL E. MILLER

    Wells Clinical Prediction Rule for DVT in Primary Care

    KENNETH W. LIN

    Is Diagnosing Asymptomatic Hematuria in Children Useful?

    KARL E. MILLER

    Treatment of Depression After Myocardial Infarction

    KARL E. MILLER

    Diagnosis of Appendicitis in Children Without Use of CT

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Practice Guidelines

    ACOG Releases Guidelines for Management of Abnormal Cervical Cytology and Histology

    CARRIE A. MORANTZ

    The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has released evidence-based guidelines for management of abnormal cervical cytology and histology. Cervical cytology screening has been associated with a dramatic reduction in cervical cancer incidence and mortality.

    Practice Guideline Briefs

    CDC Report on Barriers to Children Walking to School

    LISA GRAHAM

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report on the barriers to children walking to and from school in the United States in 2004. The CDC believes that comprehensive initiatives that include behavioral, environmental, and policy strategies are...

    Preventing CVD in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

    AMBER HUNTZINGER

    A report that identifies ways to improve prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in persons with type 1 diabetes has been released by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney...

    CDC Releases Data on ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment in Children

    LIZ SMITH

    A report analyzing the rate of diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children and adolescents has been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    Letters to the Editor

    Obstructive Sleep Apnea Associated with Leg Edema

    ROBERT P. BLANKFIELD

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Psoriasis: What You Should Know

    Psoriasis (say: sore-EYE-uh-sis) is a skin condition that causes pink or red areas on the skin with thick, silvery scales. It usually shows up on the lower back, elbows, knees, scalp, and nails.

    Behavior Problems in a Family Member with Dementia: What You Should Know

    People with dementia (say: duh-MEN-shuh) can have changes in their personality and the way they act. They might be confused about what is real, and they might see things that are not there. If someone you know has these problems, it does not mean that he or she is mentally...

    Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes: What it Means to You

    During pregnancy, the word “membranes,” also called the “water bag,” refers to the sac that grows around the baby and protects it from germs. The water bag is a cushion for the baby and holds the fluid that helps the baby’s lungs grow. Preterm PROM is when the water bag...

    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: What You Should Know

    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (or COPD, for short) is a lung disease that causes you to have less air when you breathe. There are two main illnesses in COPD: chronic bronchitis (say: bron-KIE-tiss) and emphysema (say: em-fa-SEE-ma).

    Corrections

    Correction

    The Clinical Evidence Concise article “Urinary Tract Infection in Children” (September 1, 2005, page 858) contained an error in the editor’s note on page 860. The editor’s note stated “Co-trimoxazole is called trimethoprim and nitrofurantoin is called sulfamethoxazole in the...



    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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