Articles

Ambulatory Devices for Chronic Gait Disorders in the Elderly

FREDERICK W. VAN HOOK, DALE DEMONBREUN, BARRY D. WEISS

Devices such as canes, crutches, and walkers assist with ambulation by enhancing the patient's balance and ability to bear weight. Physicians who know how to select a device can give appropriate assistance to their patients who are in need of ambulatory assistance.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Sick Sinus Syndrome

VICTOR ADÁN, LOREN A. CROWN

Sick sinus syndrome, which comprises a variety of conditions involving sinus node dysfunction, typically affects elderly patients.

Premenstrual Syndrome

LORI M. DICKERSON, PAMELA J. MAZYCK, MELISSA H. HUNTER

Premenstrual syndrome is characterized by emotional and physical symptoms that consistently occur during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Women with more severe affective symptoms are classified as having premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Valerian

SUSAN HADLEY, JUDITH J. PETRY

Valerian, a traditional herbal remedy for mild to moderate insomnia, is safe and well tolerated. It may be useful in the treatment of mild anxiety states and as an aid in benzodiazepine withdrawal.

Inside AFP

An Update on Bioterrorism

Janis Wright

We will soon publish some reading that you may want to add to your “must do”list—watch for an upcoming update on bioterrorism in the May 1 issue of AFP. This article reviews the six biologic disease agents considered of highest priority by the Working Group on Civilian...

Quantum Sufficit

Sarah Evans, Heather McNeill

1–2–3. It may be that easy to tell if someone is having a stroke. As reported in The New York Times, a study presented at a conference of the American Stroke Association showed that stroke can be identified using a three-step test that takes only a minute to conduct. Patients...

Newsletter

Matthew Neff

HHS Report Shows U.S. Life Expectancy Reached New High of 77.2 Years | Health-Related Issues Receive Emphasis in Senate's Agenda for 2003 | President Bush Approves $7 Billion Budget for HRSA | Bilingual Helpline Created to Connect Hispanic Families with Health Services |...

Editorials

ACS Guideline for the Early Detection of Cervical Cancer

MARTIN C. MAHONEY, DEBBIE SASLOW, CARMEL J. COHEN

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently published updated recommendations1 for the early detection of cervical cancer; this topic was last reviewed in 1987. The guidelines are based on a literature review combined with expert opinion when sufficient evidence was not...

Diary from a Week in Practice

“I have good news and bad news,” TA reported to her 45-year-old patient. “The good news is that your lipid profile looks fantastic. The bad news is that you'll have to continue your diet.” For more than a year now, she had been treating this patient for severe hyperlipidemia,...

Cochrane for Clinicians

Is Oral Sucrose an Effective Analgesic in Neonates?

JASMINE CHEN GATTI

The use of oral sucrose, with or without pacifiers, has been shown to relieve pain in neonates, as assessed by physiologic and behavioral pain indicators and pain scores.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Screening for Cervical Cancer: Recommendations and Rationale

Fluconazole Is More Effective for Treating Thrush in Infants

RICHARD SADOVSKY

Opioids in the Palliative Treatment of Dyspnea

KARL E. MILLER

Paroxetine Effective in Treatment of Social Anxiety

KARL E. MILLER

Practice Guidelines

CDC Releases Guidelines for Treating Adverse Reactions to Smallpox Vaccination

Carrie A. Morantz

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines for diagnosing and treating adverse reactions to smallpox vaccination in the preoutbreak setting. Smallpox vaccine is made from live vaccinia virus but does not contain variola virus, which causes...

Clinical Briefs

Carrie Morantz, Brian Torrey

Smallpox Vaccine in Persons with Eczema | FDA Statement on Counterfeit Procrit | CDC Report on Pregnancy-Related Mortality | AAP Statement on Emergency Care of Children

Letters to the Editor

Anticoagulant Use in Patients with Risk of Falling

Letters to the Editor

The Importance of Taking an Occupational History

Information from Your Family Doctor

What You Should Know About Sick Sinus Syndrome

Sick sinus syndrome is the name for several conditions in which the sinus node does not work the right way. The sinus node is a natural pacemaker in your heart that helps your heart beat steadily. An electric current starts in one of the upper chambers (called the atria) of...

Coronary Artery Disease: How Your Diet Can Help

The vessels that bring blood to the heart are called the coronary arteries. They are like narrow tubes. A fatty substance called plaque (say this: plak) can build up in these arteries and make them narrow, so less blood gets to the heart. This is called coronary artery...

Coronary Artery Disease: Reducing Your Risk

Coronary artery disease (it's called CAD, for short) is sometimes called coronary heart disease. A coronary artery is a blood vessel that carries blood to your heart. An artery is like a narrow tube.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a substance that is in all of us. Our bodies make cholesterol. It is also in meat and dairy foods. Plant foods do not have cholesterol. Most of the cholesterol in your body is made by your liver from saturated fat in the food you eat.

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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Legend

CME	Continuing Medical Education Credit
POC	Point-of-Care Resource
FREE	Free Access
Alg	Algorithm
DDx	Differential Diagnosis
PtEd	Patient Education