• Articles

    Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery

    DALE A. PATTERSON, MARGUERITE WINSLOW, CORAL D. MATUS

    Spontaneous vaginal delivery at term is considered the preferred outcome for pregnancy. Management guided by screening tests for group B streptococcus, herpes simplex virus, and human immunodeficiency virus, and knowledge of the normal labor process can increase the...

    Radiologic Evaluation of Hematuria: Guidelines from the American College of Radiology's Appropriateness Criteria

    PETER L. CHOYKE

    Hematuria is often associated with significant urinary tract pathology and is a common reason for urinary tract imaging. The American College of Radiology has developed an Appropriateness Criteria Scale to help physicians determine which imaging modalities are best suited for...

    Primary Care Issues in Patients with Mental Illness

    BERNADETTE KIRALY, KAREN GUNNING, JENNIFER LEISER

    Improving the health of patients with mental illness includes pharmacologic treatment, management of comorbidities, and ensuring quality medical care. Patient care should be coordinated between primary care physicians and mental health professionals to prevent medication...

    Choosing a Skeletal Muscle Relaxant

    SHARON SEE, REGINA GINZBURG

    Skeletal muscle relaxants are often prescribed for musculoskeletal conditions. Adverse effects, such as dizziness or drowsiness, are reported with all skeletal muscle relaxants, and the potential for such effects should be communicated clearly to patients. Choice of agent...

    Inside AFP

    AAFP Journals Now Available Online to Developing Countries Through the HINARI Network

    MATTHEW J. NEFF

    In April, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) introduced a restricted access policy for American Family Physician and Family Practice Management content on its Web site. The policy grants exclusive access to the most recent year's worth of content to AAFP members...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    Congress Passes Bill to Stop Medicare Cuts in 2008, Provide Small Increase in 2009 | High Costs and Access Difficulties Force Patients to Forgo, Delay Medical Care | Survey Reveals EHR Adoption Rates Among Physicians Are Lower than Expected | Aligning Forces for Quality...

    AFP Journal Club

    Aripiprazole As Adjunctive Therapy In Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

    MARK A. GRABER, ROBERT DACHS, ANDREA DARBY-STEWART

    Does augmentation with aripiprazole help patients with major depressive disorder who have not responded to initial therapy? Adding aripiprazole to SSRIs or SNRIs did not significantly improve depression in this study. However, this study did not compare the study drug with a...

    Editorials

    Improving Care For Patients with Serious Mental Illness

    KATHERINE J. GOLD, AMY M. KILBOURNE, MARCIA VALENSTEIN

    In this issue of American Family Physician, Kiraly and colleagues highlight common medical comorbidities and potential medication interactions in patients with serious mental illness.1 Primary care physicians commonly care for patients with serious mental illness, who often...

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Arthroscopic Surgery for Knee Osteoarthritis

    NATHAN HITZEMAN, CRYSTAL MASLEY

    Compared with other modalities of treatment such as sham surgery, joint lavage, and joint washout, arthroscopic debridement does not improve outcomes for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

    Cranberry Products for Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection

    JANELLE GUIRGUIS-BLAKE

    Over a 12-month period, cranberry products decrease the incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs), especially in women with recurrent UTIs. Optimal dosage and form of administration (juice, tablets, or capsules) is unclear. There are no studies comparing...

    U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

    Counseling About Proper Use of Motor Vehicle Occupant Restraints and Avoidance of Alcohol Use While Driving: Recommendation Statement

    This statement summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on counseling about the proper use of motor vehicle occupant restraints and avoidance of alcohol use while driving. It also summarizes the supporting scientific evidence, and updates...

    Photo Quiz

    Sudden Onset of Right Lower Quadrant Pain after Heavy Exercise

    YU-PENG LIU, SHIN-LIN SHIH, FEI-SHIH YANG

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

    FPIN's Clinical Inquiries

    Antiepileptic Drug Level Monitoring

    WAIL MALATY, SUE STIGLEMAN, PETER C. SMITH

    Routine monitoring of antiepileptic drug levels does not alter seizure or side effect rates.

    Curbside Consultation

    Ethical Considerations of Patients with Pacemakers

    PARAG BHARADWAJ, KATHERINE T. WARD

    Modern medicine has increasingly become infused with technology intended to extend a person's quantity and quality of life. More than 1 million persons in the United States have implantable pacemakers and the majority of this population is older than 65 years.

    Practice Guidelines

    ACP Guideline Recommends Diagnosis and Management Strategies for COPD

    LIZ HORSLEY

    The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a guideline providing recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

    Letters to the Editor

    Treatment Options for Patients with Bell's Palsy

    Tips from Other Journals

    Association Between Obesity and Disability in Persons 60 Years or Older

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Honey, Dextromethorphan, and No Treatment in Children with Cough

    KENNETH T. MOON

    Higher BMI Increases Cancer Risk in Women

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Labor and Delivery: What You Should Know

    Make plans and discuss them with your doctor. Make sure you know where to go when you are in labor. Many doctors work in groups; therefore, you may want to find out which doctors could deliver your baby.

    Mental Illness: Taking Care of Yourself

    If you have mental illness, you face special challenges in taking care of your health.



    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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