• Articles

    Left Lower-Quadrant Pain: Guidelines from the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria

    NANCY A. HAMMOND, PAUL NIKOLAIDIS, FRANK H. MILLER

    Acute sigmoid diverticulitis should be suspected in patients with left lower-quadrant pain, fever, and leukocytosis. Imaging is helpful in evaluating left lower-quadrant pain, and is generally guided by the clinical presentation.

    Dermatologic Emergencies

    RICHARD P. USATINE, NATASHA SANDY

    Family physicians may be the first to see patients with life-threatening dermatologic conditions such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, necrotizing fasciitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Early recognition of these conditions and immediate...

    Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: Diagnosis and Management

    SCOTT E. OLITSKY

    Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is a disorder of abnormal blood vessel formation that manifests as telangiectasias and arteriovenous malformations. Genetic testing may be performed if a first-degree relative has the disease. Treatment depends on each patient's unique...

    Counseling Patients About Hormone Therapy and Alternatives for Menopausal Symptoms

    D. ASHLEY HILL, SUSAN R. HILL

    When counseling menopausal patients about hormone therapy and alternative treatments, physicians should understand the benefits and risks and the key differences among various delivery systems.

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP Among Organizations Protesting Proposed Tax Law Change | HHS Expands Medicare's Coverage of Counseling for Tobacco Cessation | Vaccination Rates Continue to Increase for U.S. Teens, According to CDC Survey | Medical Journal Editors Update Author Disclosure, Conflict of...

    Editorials: Controversies in Family Medicine

    Bone Density Testing to Monitor Osteoporosis Therapy in Clinical Practice

    E. MICHAEL LEWIECKI

    The bottom line in caring for patients with osteoporosis is that monitoring for treatment effect is appropriate and desirable. A statistically significant BMD loss may lead to further evaluation and possibly a change in treatment. The strategy of monitoring therapy with BMD...

    Monitoring Osteoporosis Treatment: DXA Should Not Be Routinely Repeated

    HERBERT MUNCIE, LEANNE L. LEBLANC

    Unless the physician knows how to adjust therapy based on repeat DXA, monitoring osteoporosis treatment via DXA is unlikely to be clinically necessary or beneficial. Currently, we assume that if the patient has not had a fracture and the BMD significantly increases, then no...

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Influenza Vaccination of Health Care Personnel Working with Older Patients

    NATHAN HITZEMAN, ALISHA DYER

    Currently, there is no high-quality evidence to support the immunization of health care personnel in long-term care facilities to reduce the spread of seasonal influenza to older residents. Immunization of personnel did reduce influenza-like illness and all-cause mortality in...

    Photo Quiz

    Acute Onset Vesicular Rash

    OMAR A. IBRAHIMI, GREG K. SAKAMOTO, JENNIFER J. LEE

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

    Close-ups

    I Believe in You

    STEVEN M. SCHWARTZ, MARIKA R. ALOIS

    The personal side of medicine told from the patient's perspective. The patient's story is followed by commentary from a physician and a list of resources.

    Tips from Other Journals

    Does Valproate Prevent Relapse in Patients with Bipolar I Disorder?

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Patient Preference in Treating Depression in Persons with ACS

    KENNETH T. MOON

    High Soy Food Intake May Improve Breast Cancer Survival

    AMY CRAWFORD-FAUCHER

    Long-Term Antibiotic Use Benefits Patients with Crohn Disease

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Practice Guidelines

    CDC Updates Guidelines for Influenza Vaccination for 2010–2011 Season

    CARRIE ARMSTRONG

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

    Letters to the Editor

    Looking at the Benefit of Statins from a Different Perspective

    T. GRANT PHILLIPS

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

    Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT; HEM-or-RAJ-ick tell-AN-jee-eck-TAY-zhuh) is a genetic disorder of the blood vessels. It is also called Osler-Weber-Rendu disease. People with HHT have abnormal blood vessels that tend to burst open and bleed.

    Treating Menopausal Symptoms

    Menopause (MEN-oh-pawz) is when a woman's ovaries make less estrogen and other hormones. It is a normal part of aging. This usually starts around age 50, but can also happen earlier or later. It may take several years for menopause to occur because the ovaries may slowly make...



    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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