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  • Articles

    Outpatient Diagnosis of Acute Chest Pain in Adults

    JOHN R. McCONAGHY, RUPAL S. OZA

    Electrocardiography is typically the test of choice in the initial evaluation of patients with chest pain. In most cases, clinical impression, which is shaped by the presenting symptoms, physical examination, initial electrocardiography, and the patient's risk of acute...

    Hereditary Hemochromatosis

    BRIAN K. CROWNOVER, CARLTON J. COVEY

    Hereditary hemochromatosis causes a toxic accumulation of iron in vital organs, and can lead to cirrhosis, cardiomyopathy, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Most patients are homozygous for the HFE gene mutation C282Y. Diagnosis requires elevated serum ferritin levels and...

    Guillain-Barré Syndrome

    ANNE D. WALLING, GRETCHEN DICKSON

    Guillain-Barré syndrome causes progressive, relatively symmetrical weakness with decreased myotatic reflexes. Although the disease is uncommon, respiratory compromise and disability occur in some patients. Early diagnosis and hospitalization significantly improve outcomes.

    Clarification

    Clarification

    Treatment recommendations updated to be consistent with new CDC guidance. The article “Diagnosis and Management of Gonococcal Infections” (November 15, 2012, p. 931) noted that first-line antibiotic therapy for uncomplicated gonococcal infections includes intramuscular...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    MedWatch: FDA Warns Against Combining CNS Depressants with Xyrem | CDC Study Documents New HIV Infections Based on Race and Ethnicity | Proposed Rule Would Expand Veterans' Access to Non-VA Physicians | Researchers Evaluate Medical Education Debt and Students' Choice of Specialty

    Close-ups

    Confronting Guillain-Barré Syndrome

    WILLIAM VENTRES, CYNTHIA HAQ

    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.

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Impact of Breastfeeding Support

    DEAN A. SEEHUSEN, CHRISTOPHER LEDFORD

    Proactive support in many forms, provided by health care professionals or laypersons, increases the duration of any breastfeeding (including partial and exclusive) and exclusive breastfeeding. Face-to-face support is superior to telephone-based interventions. Support for...

    POEMs

    Hyaluronic Acid Ineffective for Knee Osteoarthritis

    ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY, JAY SIWEK

    Hyaluronic acid injection does not improve pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis but may result in serious adverse effects.

    Physician-, Biomarker-, and Symptom-Based Adjustment of Inhaled Steroids All Similar for Adult Asthma Control

    DAVID SLAWSON

    Symptom-based dose adjustment of inhaled steroids resulted in similar treatment outcomes compared with a dosing strategy based on physician assessment using widely distributed standard national guidelines, and compared with a biomarker-based strategy using exhaled nitric oxide.

    Practice Guidelines

    ACIP Releases 2013 Immunization Schedules

    JAMIE LOEHR

    Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Releases 2013 Immunization Schedules. First, the format of the routine child and adolescent schedules has changed and the two previous age-based schedules (0 to six years and seven to 18 years of age) have been merged into...

    STEPS

    Fidaxomicin (Dificid) for Clostridium difficile Infection

    DHIREN PATEL, JENNIFER D. GOLDMAN-LEVINE

    Fidaxomicin (Dificid) is an oral macrolide antibiotic labeled for the treatment of Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea in adults. It primarily exhibits activity against species of clostridia, mainly C. difficile, while having no or limited activity against normal...

    Graham Center Policy One-Pager

    Is NIH Research Funding to Medical Schools Associated with More Family Physicians?

    ERICA C. BRODE, STEPHEN M. PETTERSON, ANDREW W. BAZEMORE

    National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to family medicine departments is very low and has an inverse association with the production of family physicians at these medical schools. Clinical and Translational Science Awards and other efforts to include primary care in NIH...

    Photo Quiz

    Intermittent Sudden Dyspneic Episodes

    ENRIQUE C. FERNANDEZ

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

    Editorials: Controversies in Family Medicine

    Does Widespread Calcium Supplementation Pose Cardiovascular Risk? Yes: The Potential Risk Is a Concern

    IAN R. REID, MARK J. BOLLAND

    Use of calcium supplements produces small, beneficial changes in blood pressure and circulating lipid levels.1,2 To determine whether these changes lead to fewer acute myocardial infarctions (MIs) and strokes, we prespecified cardiovascular outcomes as secondary end points in...

    Does Widespread Calcium Supplementation Pose Cardiovascular Risk? No: Concerns Are Unwarranted

    RAJIB K. BHATTACHARYA

    Calcium supplements are widely used in the United States and other developed nations, most commonly to reduce the risk of fracture in women with low bone mineral density.1–3 However, concern has been expressed that calcium supplementation may increase the risk of...

    Letters to the Editor

    Proper Technique for Reduction of Metacarpophalangeal Dislocations



    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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