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Articles

Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer: Evaluating the Evidence

VIBHA BHATNAGAR, ROBERT M. KAPLAN

Controversy surrounds the management options for localized prostate cancer. Because of the uncertain efficacy and risk of long-term complications of conservative management, prostatectomy, and radiation therapy, physicians should engage patients in the decision-making process.

Management of Pregnancy Beyond 40 Weeks' Gestation

DONALD BRISCOE, HAYLEY NGUYEN, MELANIE MENCER, NEETA GAUTAM, DANIEL B. KALB

Physicians should be familiar with the risks and benefits of intervention and expectant management to counsel women with pregnancies beyond 42 weeks' gestation. Antenatal surveillance is used to monitor post-term pregnancies, but there is no evidence that this monitoring...

Evaluation of Poststreptococcal Illness

RICARDO G. HAHN, LYNDA M. KNOX, TODD A. FORMAN

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis, scarlet fever, and asymptomatic carrier states are associated with poststreptococcal suppurative and nonsuppurative complications, including rheumatic fever, pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with...

Childhood Asthma: Treatment Update

A. URSULLA COURTNEY, DANIEL F. MCCARTER, SUSAN M. POLLART

Acute care of asthma in children relies on inhaled beta2 agonists and anticholinergics, while chronic care focuses on the use of corticosteroids, leukotriene inhibitors, and nedocromil to control the underlying airway inflammation.

Inside AFP

A Tribute to Four Decades of Service

JOYCE A. MERRIMAN

When I recently wrote about the complexities of gettingAFP to you, I had no idea that one of the key people in that process soon would be announcing her retirement. Kathy Mayfield, production director, is retiring after nearly 41 years of service to AAFP in the publications...

Newsletter

Newsletter

CARRIE A. MORANTZ

AAFP Urges Members to Use Vaccine Prebooking Plan for Next Flu Season | NIH Starts Global Network for Research Training on Trauma and Injury | Healthy People 2010 Achieves Goal of Reducing Foodborne Illnesses | CDC Requesting Family Physicians to Participate in Flu Care...

Quantum Sufficit

The Quantum Sufficit

AMBER HUNTZINGER, LAURA COUGHLIN

Can people really be scared to death or die of a broken heart? Yes, according a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers found that sudden stress such as shock, anger, fear, or grief can cause severe but reversible left ventricular dysfunction in...

Editorials

The Liability of Giving Patients a Choice: Shared Decision Making and Prostate Cancer

STEVEN H. WOOLF, ALEX KRIST

In the early 1990s, guidelines on screening for prostate cancer were in sharp conflict. The American Urological Association, American Cancer Society, and other groups advocated screening, while conservative organizations such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the...

Diary from a Week in Practice

Diary

PAUL GROSS

When Maude Johnson, a serene 71-year-old woman with schizophrenia, congestive heart failure, and hyperlipidemia, begins her visit by handing me a letter, my curiosity is piqued. “Dear Dr. Gross,” it begins, “I am writing to let you know that I have an understanding with God....

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Screening for Idiopathic Scoliosis in Adolescents: Recommendation Statement

This statement summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening for idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents and the supporting scientific evidence and updates the 1996 recommendations contained in the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services,...

Point-of-Care Guides

Evidence-Based Adjustment of Warfarin (Coumadin) Doses

MARK H. EBELL

A previous Point-of-Care Guides article,1 presented several validated approaches to the initiation of anticoagulation therapy with warfarin. Once a patient is receiving warfarin, it is important to have a systematic approach to the management of anticoagulation and adjustment...

Photo Quiz

Persistent Cough and Worsening Dyspnea

JEFFREY M. EDMONDSON, DANA RENTA

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

POEMs

PEG 3350 vs. Lactulose for Constipation in Children

MARK EBELL

False-Positive PSA Associated with Increased Worry, Fears

ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

Intravenous Treatment of Cellulitis Preferred in Home

ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

Probiotic Useful for Preventing Relapse of Ulcerative Colitis

ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

Revascularization Not Helpful Before Major Vascular Surgery

MARK EBELL

Practice Guidelines

Management of Bacterial Meningitis: New Guidelines from the IDSA

LIZ SMITH

Bacterial meningitis is a neurologic emergency; progression to more severe disease reduces the patient’s likelihood of a full recovery. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has issued new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis.

Practice Guideline Briefs

Improving the Quality of Care for Patients with Hypertension

LAURA COUGHLIN

Improving the Quality of Care for Patients with Hypertension

Use of Antiretrovirals to Prevent HIV Infection from a Nonoccupational Source

LAURA COUGHLIN

Use of Antiretrovirals to Prevent HIV Infection from a Nonoccupational Source

Letters to the Editor

Atropine and Scopolamine For the Treatment of Sialorrhea

Missed Subtarsal Foreign Body in Patient Presenting with Ocular Injury

Krishnappa C. MADHUSUDHANA, Partha CHAKRABORTY

Procedural Advice for Performing Anal Pap Smears

Atomoxetine in the Treatment of Patients with ADHD

Tips from Other Journals

Menorrhagia and Screening for von Willebrand Disease

ANNE D. WALLING

Impact of Antidepressants on Somatic Symptoms

CAROLINE WELLBERY

Use of Benzodiazepines and Fractures in Older Persons

KARL E. MILLER

Drug Therapy for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

BILL ZEPF

Varying Mortality Reduction Among ACE Inhibitors

RICHARD SADOVSKY

Information from Your Family Doctor

Early Prostate Cancer: What You Should Know

The prostate is a gland that only men have. It surrounds a part of the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body (see figure below). Prostate cancer happens when cells in this gland grow out of control and clump together to form tumors. These tumors can kill...

Post-term Pregnancy: What You Should Know

A pregnancy is called post-term when the baby is two weeks past its due date. One out of every 10 to 20 pregnancies is post-term.

Treating My Child’s Asthma

Asthma is when the tubes that bring air into the lungs get irritated and swollen. This makes the tubes get smaller, and it becomes hard to breathe.



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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