Essentials of Skin Laceration Repair

RANDALL T. FORSCH

Although the emergency department treats most acute trauma, physicians should be familiar with common laceration repair techniques as well as proper follow-up care. Sutures, tissue adhesives, staples, and skin-closure tapes are options in the outpatient setting.

Vacuum-Assisted Vaginal Delivery

CHRISTINA D. HOOK, JAMES R. DAMOS

Operative vaginal delivery with forceps or vacuum is a vital skill for family physicians who provide maternity care; however, vacuum is rapidly replacing forceps as the predominant instrument. Operative vaginal delivery should be considered where there is a prolonged second...

Systemic Sclerosis/Scleroderma: A Treatable Multisystem Disease

MONIQUE HINCHCLIFF, JOHN VARGA

Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disease associated with autoimmunity, vasculopathy, and fibrosis. Although no disease-modifying therapy has been proven effective, complications are treatable.

Musculoskeletal Injections: A Review of the Evidence

MARK B. STEPHENS, ANTHONY I. BEUTLER, FRANCIS G. O'CONNOR

Injections can be used for definitive treatment, pain relief, or symptom relief in the management of musculoskeletal conditions. The level of evidence supporting injection and place of injection in the treatment hierarchy vary depending on the diagnosis and patient-specific...

Substance Abuse Screening Recommended for Adolescents

KENNETH T. MOON

Anxiety Level Predicts Myocardial Infarction Risk in Older Men

ANNE D. WALLING

URIs Frequently Complicated by Development of Otitis Media

KENNETH T. MOON

Are Antibiotics Necessary to Treat Common Respiratory Infections?

ANNE D. WALLING

Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Improve Glycemic Control

AMY CRAWFORD-FAUCHER

Does Vitamin D Deficiency Increase Risk of CVD?

AMY CRAWFORD-FAUCHER

AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

Primary Care Physicians Urge Congress to Repair Broken Medicare Payment System | Presidential Candidates Offer Contrasting Proposals for Reforming Health Care | Retail Health Clinics Provide Acute Care to Patients Without a Primary Care Physician | Onerous PQRI Reporting...

Influenza Vaccine: Got It? Give It!

JONATHAN L. TEMTE

As children return to school, another sometimes unrecognized cycle begins in primary care practices throughout the country. The rate of acute respiratory infections typically reaches its annual nadir in the weeks before schools open, then starts the slow climb to its maximum,...

Changing Patient Health-Risk Behavior Requires New Investment in Primary Care

MARTEY S. DODOO, LENARD I. LESSER, ROBERT L. PHILLIPS, JR, ANDREW W. BAZEMORE, STEPHEN M. PETTERSON, IMAM XIERALI

Evidence supports the effectiveness of primary care interventions to improve nutrition, increase physical activity levels, reduce alcohol intake, and stop tobacco use. However, implementing these interventions requires considerable practice expense. If we hope to change...

Without Judgment

AMY CRAWFORD-FAUCHER

I was admitted to the hospital in the spring of 2002 through the emergency department. I didn't have a personal doctor at the time, so I was at the mercy of whomever the hospital assigned to me. It was a confusing and anxiety-ridden experience because I had always been...

Recurrent Miscarriage

KIRSTEN DUCKITT, AYSHA QURESHI

Recurrent miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of three or more consecutive pregnancies in the first trimester, with the same biological father. It affects 1 to 2 percent of women, in one half of whom there is no identifiable cause.

Convoluted Vessels in the Eye

SWATI HANDA, REBECCA YK CHEW, KAH-GUAN AU EONG

A 39-year-old woman presented with a 10-year history of impaired vision in her right eye. Her best corrected visual acuity was 20/50 and 20/20 in the right and left eyes, respectively. Ophthalmic examination revealed a moderate nuclear sclerotic cataract in her right eye....

Conivaptan (Vaprisol) for the Treatment of Hyponatremia

KRISTINE WILLETT

Conivaptan (Vaprisol) is an antagonist of arginine vasopressin receptors V1A and V2 (10-fold higher affinity to V2 than V1A) that produces a water diuresis, with electrolyte-sparing effects on the kidney.1 It is labeled for the treatment of euvolemic and hypervolemic...

CDC Updates Recommendations on Influenza Immunization for 2008–09 Season

CARRIE ARMSTRONG

Guideline source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

Case Report: CHD as a Potential Cause of Chest Pain in Adult Patients

WAYNE TSUANG, ASHIF AHMED, DAN ECKERT, TAREK HELMY, PAUL GRUNENWALD

Taking Care of Healing Cuts

Your doctor may close large cuts, called lacerations, with stitches or staples. Stitches are also called sutures. For smaller cuts, your doctor may use skin glue called tissue adhesive or tape to close the wound.

Scleroderma: What You Should Know

Scleroderma (sklair-uh-DUR-muh) is a disease that makes your skin harden. It happens when collagen builds up in your body. Collagen is a protein that normally helps connect the tissue in your body. Extra collagen can damage your skin and organs. It is unclear what causes this.

Correction

The article “Iron Deficiency Anemia,” (March 1, 2007, page 671) contained incorrect data in Table 1 on page 672. The table that appeared, “Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia in the United States,” actually provided data on the prevalence of iron deficiency in the United...