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Articles

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: Screening for Colorectal Cancer

BRETT ANDREW JOHNSON

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a valuable screening procedure that family physicians can perform in their practices.

Cervical Spine Radiographs in the Trauma Patient

MARK A. GRABER, MARY KATHOL

Trauma patients with neck pain, tenderness on neck palpation, numbness or weakness in the extremities, other distracting injuries, a history of loss of consciousness, or altered mental status due to trauma, alcohol or drugs, should undergo a series of cervical spine...

Hepatitis C: Part II. Prevention Counseling and Medical Evaluation

LINDA A. MOYER, ERIC E. MAST, MIRIAM J. ALTER

The second of a two-part series, this article discusses the prevention of hepatitis C virus infection in many settings, as well as various counseling approaches and current treatment options for patients with hepatitis C.

Alcohol-Related Problems: Recognition and Intervention

SANDRA K. BURGE, F. DAVID SCHNEIDER

Family physicians can help prevent serious consequences of alcohol-related problems in many patients with simple screening and brief intervention strategies.

Primary Care of Infants and Young Children with Down Syndrome

REBECCA B. SAENZ

Home living, proper health maintenance and newer surgical techniques to correct cardiac and gastrointestinal anomalies have greatly improved the functional prognosis for infants with Down syndrome.

Ordering and Understanding the Exercise Stress Test

MARK D. DARROW

The clinical utility of an exercise stress test is enhanced by a clear understanding of its indications and the implications of the test results.

Manifestations of Food Allergy: Evaluation and Management

SCOTT H. SICHERER

The diagnosis of food allergy requires a careful search for possible causes of the patient's symptoms. Once the diagnosis is established, treatment consists of the elimination of causal foods and the medical management of symptoms.

Family Practice International

Anne D. Walling

(Canada—Canadian Family Physician, July 1998, p. 1481.) Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with more than 90 percent of duodenal ulcers and 80 percent of gastric ulcers. If the organism is successfully eradicated, the 12-month rate of ulcer recurrence is...

Inside AFP

A Sigmoidoscopic Gallery

JANIS WRIGHT

As you can see by the reproduction of the montage below, AFP's cover takes a different twist this issue: a collection of 16 color images seen through a flexible sigmoidoscope. Intermingled are views of normal rectal folds, mucosal vasculature and haustra, and views of...

AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

Newsletter

Rosemarie Sweeney, Verna L. Rose

Selected policy and health issues news briefs from AAFP News Now.

Quantum Sufficit

Quantum Sufficit

Monica A. Preboth, Shyla Wright

Low-fat dairy products can reduce the risk of colon cancer, according to a study in JAMA. Researchers studied 70 people who were at risk for colon cancer. The control group continued regular diets, while the experimental group increased their consumption of low-fat dairy...

Editorials

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: The Unkept Promise of Cancer Prevention

WM. MACMILLAN RODNEY

The authors of the article on flexible sigmoidoscopy in this issue of American Family Physician1 have crafted an excellent review of what many had hoped would become a diagnostic tool frequently used by generalist physicians. Gastrointestinal symptoms and colorectal cancer...

Hepatitis C: Who Should We Be Treating?

JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) was first identified by molecular cloning in 1988. It was subsequently determined that this agent caused the majority of cases of transfusion-related hepatitis (formerly known as non-A, non-B hepatitis). Identification of the virus spawned the...

Diary from a Week in Practice

Diary from a Week in Practice

TBS struggles daily with the demands of being a mother of three-year-old twins and the responsibility of caring for patients. Today, TBS brought her girls along to the hospital for what was anticipated to be a brief check on two patients who had been admitted earlier in the...

Conference Highlights

Conference Highlights

Verna L. Rose

(50th Annual Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians) A case report of an infant born with ankyloglossia indicates that a frenotomy can be performed safely and effectively in an outpatient setting with excellent results in infants born with...

Special Medical Reports

ACSM Revises Guidelines for Exercise to Maintain Fitness

Sharon Scott Morey

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has updated its position stand on the quantity and quality of exercise to maintain cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. The revised ACSM guidelines include for the first time a recommendation for flexibility training as a...

ACOG Urges a Cautious Approach to Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery

Verna Rose

While strongly supporting the concept of vaginal birth after previous cesarean (VBAC) delivery, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued an updated practice pattern that recommends a more cautious approach and consideration of individual risk...

Clinical Briefs

Clinical Briefs

Verna L. Rose

A revised policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on screening for elevated blood lead levels in children recommends the use of targeted blood screening instead of universal screening. In the new guidelines, published in the June 1998 issue of...

Letters to the Editor

Nonsurgical Treatment of Pain in Lumbar Spine Stenosis

Over-the-Counter Melatonin Products and Contamination

Tips from Other Journals

Loratadine and Fluticasone Nasal Spray: Added Benefit?

GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

Diagnosing Osteitis Pubis: A Case Report and Review

GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

Endometrial Cells on Pap Smear and Endometrial Cancer

KARL MILLER

Review of Current Treatment Strategies in Heart Failure

ANNE D. WALLING

Effect of Beta Blockers on Mortality Following MI

JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

A Program of Foot Care to Reduce Diabetes-Related Amputations

GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

White Coat Hypertension: Not a Benign Condition

ANNE D. WALLING

Should Blood Screening Be Routine for Vaginal Delivery?

ANNE D. WALLING

Alternatives for Intrapartum Prophylaxis of Group B Strep

ANNE D. WALLING

Underdosage of ACE Inhibitors for Congestive Heart Failure

RICHARD SADOVSKY

Drainage of Large Pericardial Effusion Without Tamponade?

GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

Valaciclovir for Suppression of Recurrent Genital Herpes

ANNE D. WALLING

Efficacy of Beta Blockers in Elderly Patients with MI

GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

Use of Opioids for the Chronic Pain of Rheumatic Diseases

KARL MILLER

Postmenopausal Women With CHD: What's the Role of HRT?

GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

Information from Your Family Doctor

What You Should KnowAbout Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

In this exam, your doctor uses an instrumentcalled a “flexible sigmoidoscope” (say: sig-moydo-scope) to look for problems in your rectumand lower colon. The rectum and lower colonare parts of the large intestine, or bowel.

When You Have Hepatitis C

Your blood test for hepatitis C was positive. This means that you are infected with the hepatitis C virus (called HCV for short). You're not alone—almost 4 million people in this country have HCV. You got HCV through contact with the blood of another person with HCV. HCV...

Is Alcohol a Problem for You?

Experts define “one drink” in this way:

Finding Out Your Child Has Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by an extra chromosome number 21. It's named after the doctor who discovered its cause.

Caring for a Child with Down Syndrome

Just like any other newborn, your baby will need to be fed, dressed, diapered, cuddled, held, talked to, played with and loved. However, your baby will probably have some health problems that will require some extra care.

Food Allergies—Just the Facts

Many of the things we think we know about food allergy are really just myths—stories that are commonly known but aren't based on science. This handout will help you learn the facts about food allergies.



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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