• Articles

    Acute Ankle Sprain: An Update

    DOUGLAS IVINS

    Initial treatment of acute ankle injury should focus on reducing swelling and pain and preventing further ligament injury. Functional rehabilitation with range-of motion and strengthening exercises is preferred over immobilization.

    Diagnosis and Management of Granuloma Annulare

    PEGGY R. CYR

    This papular eruption is asymptomatic but can have a dramatic appearance. The localized form usually is self-limited and resolves within one to two years, whereas the generalized formcan last for three to four years or longer. Although treatment is not always necessary,...

    Testicular Torsion

    ERIKA RINGDAHL, LYNN TEAGUE

    Testicular torsion must be diagnosed quickly and accurately to avoid testicular loss. Treatment involves rapid restoration of blood flow to the affected testis, optimally within six hours after the onset of symptoms.

    Update on Exercise Stress Testing

    GERALD F. FLETCHER, WESLEY C. MILLS, WALTER C. TAYLOR

    Exercise stress testing is an important diagnostic tool for evaluating suspected or known cardiac disease. This article discusses the 2002 revision of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines on exercise stress testing.

    Genetic Risk Assessment and BRCA Mutation Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility

    TRACY A. WOLFF, JANE E. WILSON

    A 46-year-old woman comes to your office to discuss breast cancer screening. She heard a physician on television who mentioned a genetic test that can tell if a woman will get breast cancer. She asks if she should have that test. She has no family history of breast or ovarian...

    Inside AFP

    AFP Patient Information: What You Should Know

    JOYCE A. MERRIMAN, CARRIE ARMSTRONG

    Reader feedback shows that many of you like the patient education handouts that accompany some AFP review articles. A recent survey shows that 60 percent of readers use AFP patient education material several times a month. The quality of the handouts (i.e., level of writing,...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    LIZ SMITH

    AAFP Adopts New Physician Workforce Policy to Counter FP Shortage | CMS Proposes Allowing Use of Part D Data for Research Initiatives | AAFP Speaker Testifies on Payment System Reform, Medical Homes | Code Change for Fecal Occult Blood Tests Takes Effect January 2007 | CMS...

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    SHERRI DAMLO

    A glass of carrot juice each day may keep Alzheimer's disease away! According to a study in the American Journal of Medicine, consuming fruit and vegetable juices may delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease, particularly in patients at high risk for the disease. Researchers...

    Editorials

    Preventing Burns in Older Patients

    AMY R. EHRLICH

    For older adults, burns and fire-related injuries are the second leading cause of death from accidental injury in the home.1 Cigarette smoking and alcohol use contribute to many of these injuries. However, the role of dementia as a risk factor for burns and fires is not clear...

    Point-of-Care Guides

    Predicting Prognosis in Patients with End-stage Liver Disease

    MARK H. EBELL

    Two scoring systems are widely used to predict prognosis in patients with end-stage liver disease: the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score.

    Photo Quiz

    A Mottled Rash on the Torso

    KEVIN HOLLOWAY, JOSHUA E. LANE

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

    STEPS

    Tetravalent Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Menactra) for the Prevention of Meningococcal Disease

    STEPHEN J. RITZ

    MCV4 is as effective and as safe as the older MPSV4. It is recommended by the ACIP for children 11 to 12 years of age, college freshmen living in dormitories, and other high-risk populations. MCV4 should provide effective and longer-lasting immunity, but at significant...

    POEMs

    Pravastatin Is Cost-effective in High-Risk Patients

    ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

    Balance Exercise Program Prevents Ankle Sprains

    HENRY BARRY

    Lowering Homocysteine Levels Does Not Improve Cognition

    MARK EBELL

    Can ACE Inhibitors Prevent Aortic Aneurysm Rupture?

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Antibiotic Timing in Community-Acquired Pneumonia

    KARL E. MILLER

    Practice Guidelines

    Partnership for Prevention Ranks Preventive Services

    AMBER HUNTZINGER

    The Partnership for Prevention conducted a study to accurately rank 25 preventive health care services. These rankings represent the most valuable preventive services and should be used to help physicians prioritize which services to emphasize with patients.

    Practice Guideline Briefs

    Practice Guideline Briefs

    SHERRI DAMLO

    ACIP Updates Mumps Vaccination Schedule

    Practice Guideline Briefs

    SHERRI DAMLO

    Noncontraceptive Uses of the Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System

    Letters to the Editor

    The Changing Role of Family Physicians in HIV Care

    MEGAN R. MAHONEY, RONALD H. GOLDSCHMIDT

    Connection Between Religion and Health Is Complicated Issue

    Tips from Other Journals

    Physicians Need Better Strategies for Alcohol Counseling

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Risk of Developing CIN3 in Women with ASCUS or LSIL

    KARL E. MILLER

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Ankle Sprains: What You Should Know

    Ligaments connect bones in your ankle. If you turn or twist your ankle in an unusual way, the ligaments can stretch or tear. This is called an ankle sprain (see drawing).

    Exercising Your Ankle After a Sprain

    Exercising can help make it stronger and move better.

    Testicular Torsion: What You Should Know

    Testicular torsion (tess-TICK-you-ler TOR-shun) is when a testicle gets twisted and the blood supply to the stalk is blocked (see drawing).

    Corrections

    Corrections

    Corrections



    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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