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Articles

Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

CRAIG C. YOUNG, DARIN S. RUTHERFORD, MARK W. NIEDFELDT

The characteristic sign of plantar fasciitis is heel pain that is most severe with the first few steps taken in the morning.

Plasma Viral Load Testing in the Management of HIV Infection

ELEFTHERIOS MYLONAKIS, MARIA PALIOU, JOSIAH D. RICH

Plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA measurements can help physicians determine when to start or change antiretroviral therapy. Plasma viral load is also useful in assessing the effectiveness of treatment and, in a select group of patients, diagnosing HIV infection.

Detection, Education and Management of the Asplenic or Hyposplenic Patient

MALCOLM L. BRIGDEN

Patients without a functioning spleen have a lifelong increased risk of potentially serious infections and are more susceptible to parasitic infestations of the blood, such as malaria.

Screening for Cancer: Evaluating the Evidence

THOMAS J. GATES

Because even the best screening tests have a low positive predictive value, most positive screening results are false-positives, increasing the likelihood of further testing and patient anxiety.

Inside AFP

AFP Moves Into the Millennium

Janis Wright

A new year usually brings on a lot of changes, and this year's start was no exception. While everyone expects a new year to begin with resolutions and changes, it was impossible for us to have predicted the string of events that would affect AFP at the turn of the millennium....

Quantum Sufficit

Quantum Sufficit

Sarah Morgan, Lori Parry

More doesn't always mean better. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, lower dosages of estrogen are just as effective as higher dosages in reducing bone turnover. A group of 107 women was given a placebo, 1.0 mg of 17-beta...

Newsletter

Newsletter

Rosemarie Sweeney, Toni Lapp

New Medicare Policy Mandates Medical Error Disclosure | Surgeon General Satcher Warns of Children's Mental Health Crisis | Registry Is Established for Two Types of Muscular Dystrophy | Study of State CHIP Programs Finds Access Problems | HHS Issues Rule on Physician Self...

Editorials

Hope for Patients with Asplenia or Hyposplenism

ALAN TICE

In his article on the detection, education and management of asplenic and hyposplenic patients in this issue,1 Brigden reviews important information on the role of the spleen and what can be done when this organ is absent or not functioning.

The Science and Politics of Cancer Screening

LARRY L. DICKEY

The article in this issue, “Screening for Cancer: Evaluating the Evidence,”1 clearly reviews the basic science behind screening tests. Most readers will find this article useful, although it contains little new data. We should have learned this information in medical school...

Diary from a Week in Practice

Diary from a Week in Practice

Many of WLL's patients have tried glucosamine and chondroitin products for osteoarthritis. Although some patients report that glucosamine (with or without chondroitin) seems to help, no patients who have tried chondroitin alone have reported success. Initially, this was a...

Photo Quiz

Pigmented Preauricular Papules

RAJANI KATTA, IDA ORENGO

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

Family Practice International

Family Practice International

Anne D. Walling

(Great Britain—The Practitioner, September 2000, p. 764.) Patients with Peyronie's disease develop thick plaques on the dorsal shaft of the penis, resulting in painful erection. These plaques can also lead to fibrous scarring and curvature of the penis. The condition occurs...

Practice Guidelines

AAP Develops Guidelines for Early Detection of Dislocated Hips

SHARON SCOTT MOREY

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed a clinical practice guideline on the early detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), which includes frank dislocation, partial dislocation, instability and inadequate formation of the acetabulum. Written by...

Clinical Briefs

Clinical Briefs

Monica Preboth

AAP Statement on Pediatric Palliative Care | Weaning Patients from Mechanical Ventilation | Use of EEG to Evaluate First Seizure in Children | ACSM Statement on Exercise During Pregnancy

Curbside Consultation

A “Hopeless” Patient

ALAN DAVID

For all of my professional life, I have been seeing overweight, diabetic, hypertensive patients with severe osteoarthritis in their knees and hips. I admit thinking to myself, “Don't they know how much better they would feel if they would only lose some weight? Don't they...

Multimedia Review

Multimedia Review

ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

Until about 1994, herbal products languished in the backwaters of medicine, far from the mainstream. Pharmacognosy—the branch of pharmacology focusing on natural products—was, at best, an obscure area of study. Clinicians generally had no knowledge of most natural remedies...

Letters to the Editor

Fluoxetine and Side Effects in the Geriatric Population

Treatment of Depression in the Elderly

Tips from Other Journals

Helical CT for the Diagnosis of Colonic Angiodysplasia

JIM NUOVO

Thromboembolism in Pregnancy: Clinical Guidelines

ANNE D. WALLING

Cognitive Behavior Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa

KARL E. MILLER

Mechanical “Bug-Busting” Is Ineffective for Head Lice

ANNE D. WALLING

Thrombolytic Therapy Linked to Intracranial Hemorrhage

ANNE D. WALLING

Fatigue, Tiredness and Lack of Energy: Sleep Apnea?

JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

Estradiol Concentration Levels and Cognitive Impairment

ANNE D. WALLING

Hysterectomy Increases the Risk of Urinary Incontinence

ANNE D. WALLING

Adverse Effects Following Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy

ANNE D. WALLING

Using Clinical Predictors for Aspiration Risk After Stroke

KARL E. MILLER

Is Rizatriptan Effective in Menstrual Migraine?

ANNE D. WALLING

Information from Your Family Doctor

Help for Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis (say: plant-er fash-ee-eye-tis) is a common cause of pain in the heel of your foot. Your heel may hurt, feel hot, swell or turn red. This is called inflammation. The inflammation occurs in the plantar fascia, which is a thin layer of tough tissue that...

Plasma Viral Load Testing and HIV

A plasma viral load test (also called a PVL test) measures how much HIV is in your blood. The amount of virus in your blood is called your viral load. HIV means “human immunodeficiency virus.”

After Your Spleen Has Been Removed: What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself

Your spleen plays an important part in your resistance to infection (immunity). Your spleen is in the upper left side of your abdomen, partly protected by your lower ribs. The spleen may have to be taken out (splenectomy) or may stop working right for many reasons.

Corrections

Correction

The article “Acute Renal Failure” (April 1, 2000, page 2077) contained two errors. The second sentence of the first paragraph should have stated that 0.5 percent of all hospitalized patients (not just those with acute renal failure) require dialysis. Table 3, which lists...



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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