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Articles

Diagnosis and Management of Gout

JOEL R. PITTMAN, MICHAEL H. BROSS

Clinical manifestations of gout include acute and chronic arthritis, tophi, interstitial renal disease and uric acid nephrolithiasis. The diagnosis of this disease is based on the identification of zuric acid crystals in joints, tissues or body fluids.

Safety of Radiographic Imaging During Pregnancy

KEVIN S. TOPPENBERG, D. ASHLEY HILL, DAVID P. MILLER

Radiographic imaging during pregnancy is often necessary for the health of the mother and has an acceptable safety profile. Nonurgent radiologic testing, however, should be avoided between 10 and 17 weeks of gestation, the most sensitive time for central nervous system...

Chronic Abdominal Pain in Childhood: Diagnosis and Management

ALAN M. LAKE

Some common presentations of chronic abdominal pain in children are reviewed, with special emphasis on etiology and management of functional abdominal pain, constipation and peptic disease.

Health Screening in Older Women

CHARLES P. MOUTON, DAVID V. ESPINO

In addition to screening for cancer, cerebrovascular disease and cardiovascular disorders, women over 65 years of age should undergo recommended health screening for hearing and vision loss, functional impairment, osteoporosis, depression and other conditions that contribute...

Adhesive Capsulitis: A Sticky Issue

LORI B. SIEGEL, NORMAN J. COHEN, ERIC P. GALL

Adhesive capsulitis is an idiopathic condition that restricts shoulder movement. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy and local injections remain the mainstay of treatment and may improve the functional outcome.

Caring for Infants with Congenital Heart Disease and Their Families

REBECCA B. SAENZ, DIANE K. BEEBE, LARAMIE C. TRIPLETT

Feeding difficulties in association with tachypnea, sweating and subcostal recession, or severe growth impairment should raise the index of suspicion for congenital heart disease.

Topical Therapies for Glaucoma: What Family Physicians Need to Know

PETER R. LEWIS, T. GRANT PHILLIPS, JOSEPH W. SASSANI

Topical agents remain the mainstay of glaucoma therapy. Dorzolamide, brinzolamide, brimonidine and latanoprost are promising new agents.

Multiple Myeloma: Recognition and Management

ENITZA D. GEORGE, RICHARD SADOVSKY

Multiple myeloma is the most common primary bone cancer in adults. Patients with multiple myeloma commonly present with bone pain, but a pathologic fracture is the presenting feature in up to 30 percent of cases.

Chronic Critical Limb Ischemia: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis

JAMIE D. SANTILLI, STEVEN M. SANTILLI

Ischemic rest pain is typically described as burning pain in the arch or distal foot that occurs while the patient is recumbent. An ankle-brachial index of 0.4 or less suggests the presence of critical limb ischemia.

Insomnia

MARK EDDY, GORDON S. WALBROEHL

Despite a variety of potential etiologies, insomnia can be successfully treated with pharmacologic or behavior interventions.

Inside AFP

Caring for the NSO Family

JANIS WRIGHT

Dr. Jay Siwek, AFP's editor, and his wife, Linda, posing in front of the Emperor's palace in the Forbidden City, Beijing, during a recent tour with the National Symphony Orchestra.

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

Black physicians tend to die an average of eight years earlier than white physicians, according to information cited in Family Practice News. The main causes of death in black physicians are myocardial infarction, stroke, cancer, homicide, alcohol and drug abuse, accidents...

Editorials

Preventive Care for the Elderly: Getting By in the Absence of Evidence

PAUL S. FRAME

Providing appropriate preventive care for elderly persons is a growing challenge for family physicians. In the year 2000, persons over age 65 will constitute 12.7 percent of the total U.S. population, and persons over age 85 will make up 1.5 percent of the population.1 Among...

Diary from a Week in Practice

Diary from a Week in Practice

A local family physician who is a tai chi master has taught WLL and some of our patients about the health benefits of this ancient Chinese martial art. WLL became interested in tai chi after one of his elderly patients had several falls and a broken hip. Her daughter had read...

Photo Quiz

A Pelvic Mass

Marc S. Berger, JAMSHID MIAN

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

Family Practice International

Family Practice International

Anne D. Walling

(Australia—Australian Family Physician, November 1998, p. 1041.) The cough reflex generates blasts of air with a velocity of up to 800 km per hour to clear the trachea and large bronchi. The reflex is activated by mechanical or chemical irritation of the respiratory...

Curbside Consultation

Dealing with Your Own Parent's Illness

THOMAS L. CAMPBELL

Larry faces a challenging and increasingly common dilemma. As the population ages and extended families are scattered far apart, many of us will have aging parents who become ill while living a long distance away. I recently had an experience similar to Larry's as I cared for...

Special Medical Reports

CDC Issues Revised Guidelines for the Prevention of Human Rabies

Verna L. Rose

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its recommendations for the prevention of human rabies in the United States. The previous recommendations on rabies prevention were published in 1991....

AAP Updates Its Guidelines for Evaluation of Sexual Abuse

Sharon Scott Morey

The Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated the 1991 guidelines for the evaluation of children in whom sexual abuse is suspected. The guidelines are published in the January 1999 issue of Pediatrics. The following...

Clinical Briefs

Clinical Briefs

Verna L. Rose

Data from San Francisco's annual behavioral survey among men who have sex with men and disease reports from sexually transmitted disease clinics in San Francisco from 1994 to 1997 document significant increases in self-reporting of unprotected anal intercourse and in rates of...

Resident and Student Voice

Fulfilling a Social Contract: Alliance of Health Professional Students

KEVIN CHUNG, DAVID TUPPONCE, BERNARD BIRNBAUM

A few years ago, in his president's address to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Dr. Jordan J. Cohen shared his vision of the future of academic medicine. Among the points he stressed were the importance of establishing true partnerships between medical schools...

Physician's Bookshelf

Physician's Bookshelf

DAVID M. KLEMM, KENNETH G. DAVIS, CAROLINE WELLBERY, RICHARD SADOVSKY

Book Reviews | Book Reviews | Book Reviews | Book Reviews | Also Received

Letters to the Editor

Prevention of Relapse in Alcohol Dependence

Management of Gastroenteritis in Breast-Fed Children

Tips from Other Journals

Pathogens Associated with Infected Dog and Cat Bites

JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

Fluoxetine for Treatment of Panic Disorder

BARBARA APGAR

Beer, Wine or Liquor and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction

RICHARD SADOVSKY

Oral Cephalexin or Topical Mupirocin for Wound Infections

GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

Adherence to Treatment to Prevent Depression Relapse

JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

Steroids and Response to Flu Vaccine in Pediatric Asthma

JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

Can Echinacea Prevent Upper Respiratory Infections?

JIM NUOVO

The Role of Phototherapy for Jaundice in Breast-fed Infants

JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

High- vs. Low-Dose Albuterol for Treatment of Acute Asthma

JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

Challenges in Diagnosing the Cause of Breast Pain

ANNE D. WALLING

Is Early Surgery Preferable to US for Small Aortic Aneurysms?

ANNE D. WALLING

Aspirin in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and CAD

GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

Brief, Practical Screening for Dementia in Outpatients

GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

Testosterone Therapy in Boys with Delayed Puberty

RICHARD SADOVSKY

Niacin and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

RICHARD SADOVSKY

Blood Pressure Control by Physicians is Inadequate

JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

What Is the Appropriate ACE Inhibitor Dosage in CHF?

KARL MILLER

Use of Haloperidol in Alzheimer's Disease

BARBARA APGAR

Osteoporosis and Risk of Fracture: When to Treat?

GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

Sleep Apnea, Nasal CPAP and Improved Quality of Life

JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

How Should Physicians Counsel Patients About Cannabis Use?

ANNE D. WALLING

Acupuncture for Treatment of Back Pain: A Meta-Analysis

BARBARA APGAR

Infant Circumcision and Risk of Urinary Tract Infection

ANNE D. WALLING

Do ‘Health Products’ Really Help Athletic Performance?

BARBARA APGAR

Prophylactic Mastectomy to Prevent Breast Cancer

JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

Allergic Rhinitis: Intranasal Steroids or Antihistamines?

ANNE D. WALLING

Cessation of Breast Feeding in Infants with Atopic Eczema

RICHARD SADOVSKY

Information from Your Family Doctor

Gout, and What to do About It

Gout is a kind of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in the joints. The acid causes joint pain.

The Safety of X-rays During Pregnancy

Yes, x-rays are generally safe in pregnancy. If your doctor finds you need x-rays for a medical problem or injury, it's OK to have them. It's better for your baby that you be healthy. In fact, your medical problem may be more harmful to your baby than the x-rays.

Adhesive Capsulitis

If you can't move your shoulder around like you used to, you could have adhesive capsulitis (say: add-he-sive cap-sool-eye-tis). When it hurts to move your shoulder or you don't have as much movement in your shoulder as before, your shoulder may become “frozen.” Because of...

Coping with Congenital Heart Disease in Your Baby

A congenital heart disease is one that a baby is born with.

Using Glaucoma Eyedrops

Glaucoma eyedrops are generally safe, but be sure to tell all your doctors that you're using them. These eyedrops are medicines. Like most medicines, they can have side effects (like dizziness or troubled breathing), or they might not work well with other medicines you may...

What is Multiple Myeloma? How Is It Treated?

Multiple myeloma (say: mull-tip-ul my-el-oh-ma) is a kind of cancer. It's caused when cells in the bone, called “plasma cells,” grow too much. When this happens, the plasma cells kill the bone around them. The plasma cells also make too much of something called ...

Insomnia: What to Do When You Can't Sleep

This handout describes some simple things that you can do to help your insomnia. Follow these tips each night. Don't be worried if it takes a week or two before you can tell a difference.

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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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