• Articles

    Medical Management of Common Urinary Calculi

    PAUL K. PIETROW, MICHAEL E. KARELLAS

    Although surgical management of urinary calculi has become increasingly tolerable, medical prevention of recurrent calculi is feasible and easily accomplished. Recurrent calculi can be prevented in most patients by a simplified evaluation, reasonable dietary and fluid...

    Initiating Hormonal Contraception

    RUTH LESNEWSKI, LINDA PRINE

    Evidence supports the “quick start” method for initiating hormonal contraceptives: most women may safely begin birth control immediately after an office visit, during or at any point in the menstrual cycle. This strategy eliminates the delay between receiving a prescription...

    Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Children: Part I. Initial Evaluation

    JENNIFER L. JUNNILA, VICTORIA W. CARTWRIGHT

    A logical and consistent approach to diagnosis is recommended, with judicious use of laboratory and radiologic testing. Change in activity, constitutional symptoms, or abnormal examination findings should raise suspicion for rheumatic disease. Complete blood count,...

    Seborrheic Dermatitis: An Overview

    ROBERT A. SCHWARTZ, CHRISTOPHER A. JANUSZ, CAMILA K. JANNIGER

    Greasy scales and erythema are common with seborrheic dermatitis, a condition that can occur from infancy to old age. Effective topical therapies include antiinflammatory agents and keratolytic and antifungal shampoos.

    Inside AFP

    Illustrators Draw on Talent, Expertise

    JOYCE A. MERRIMAN

    As a person with absolutely no artistic talent, I’ve always been intrigued by people who can express a thought or idea in a painting, sculpture, or drawing. Medical illustrators have a particularly unique gift that combines their artistic talent with an extensive knowledge of...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    LIZ SMITH

    FDA Strengthens Efforts Against Unapproved Drug Products | Colorado Governor Vetoes Bill for Health Contract Transparency | NIA Offers Easy-to-Read Booklets on Alzheimer’s and Memory Loss | HHS Posts Information on Medicare Hospital Admissions Payments | SAMHSA Issues Alert...

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    SHERRI DAMLO

    An apple a day — and a year or two of higher education — keeps the doctor away. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that college graduates have less calcium buildup in their coronary arteries. According to researchers, high school dropouts are...

    Editorials

    Physical Examination Before Initiating Hormonal Contraception: What Is Necessary?

    KAREN R. MECKSTROTH

    Unintended pregnancy is a widely recognized public health concern, yet many physicians hold effective contraception hostage, thinking that they are benefiting women by giving them an incentive to obtain important but unrelated health screening.

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Antihypertensive Agents for Prevention of Diabetic Nephropathy

    RICHARD L. DRESSLER

    Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are the only antihypertensive agents with proven effectiveness for the primary prevention of diabetic nephropathy (defined as an albumin excretion of less than 30 mg per day on three serial measurements) caused by type 1 or type...

    Systemic Lidocaine or Mexiletine for Neuropathic Pain

    MARK H. EBELL

    Intravenous lidocaine and oral mexiletine provide a modest reduction in neuropathic pain with no indication of serious adverse effects. However, safety data are limited because most studies were of relatively short duration and fewer than 400 patients have been studied in...

    Planned Early Birth vs. Expectant Management for PROM

    REBECCA ROSEN

    Induction of labor in patients with PROM does not increase the rates of cesarean delivery or operative vaginal delivery. Among patients who are induced there is a slightly lower incidence of chorioamnionitis (relative risk [RR] 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56 to 0.97...

    Clinical Evidence Handbook

    Peripheral Arterial Disease

    KEVIN CASSAR, PAUL BACHOO

    What are the effects of treatments for persons with chronic peripheral arterial disease?

    FPIN's Clinical Inquiries

    A1C Testing in the Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus

    TAE JOON LEE, SARAH SAFRANEK

    A1C testing is highly specific compared with a two-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or a fasting plasma glucose test. However, because A1C testing is not sensitive enough to rule out diabetes if levels are normal, the test should not be used for diagnosing diabetes.

    Photo Quiz

    Reaction After Smallpox Vaccination

    JOHN W. ALDIS, MARK G. KORTEPETER, JANICE M. RUSNAK

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

    POEMs

    Rifaximin Reduces Flatulence, Bloating with IBS

    MARK EBELL

    Humidity Treatments for Croup Produce Similar Results

    DAVID SLAWSON, SHAHRZAD SARIRIAN

    Antiphospholipid Antibodies Increase Thrombotic Events

    DAVID SLAWSON

    Glucosamine Plus Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis

    MARK EBELL

    Itopride Modestly Effective for Functional Dyspepsia

    MARK EBELL

    Antidepressant Drugs Increase Suicidality in Children

    DAVID SLAWSON

    Droperidol Better Antiemetic, but It Causes Akathisia

    HENRY BARRY

    Curbside Consultation

    Discussing Terminal Illness with a Patient

    JOHN W. FINN

    Communication training stresses that “breaking bad news” is more about listening and asking questions than it is about relaying information.

    Practice Guidelines

    AHA/ACCF Statement on the Evaluation of Syncope

    LAURA COUGHLIN

    The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) recently released a scientific statement on the evaluation of syncope (i.e., transient loss of consciousness).

    Practice Guideline Briefs

    Diagnosis and Treatment of Antiphospholipid Syndrome

    LIZ SMITH

    The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has developed guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome.

    AGA Releases Updated Recommendations on Dyspepsia

    AMBER HUNTZINGER

    The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has released a position statement to reflect new evidence on the evaluation of dyspepsia. The AGA defines dyspepsia as chronic or recurrent pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen.

    Letters to the Editor

    Genetic Predisposition of Familial Mediterranean Fever

    Tips from Other Journals

    Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on the Incidence of Cancer

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Water-Based Speculum Lubricant Does Not Affect Pap Screening

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Improved Health Care Delivery vs. Drug Investments

    KENNETH W. LIN

    Intranasal Flu Vaccine Not Associated with Serious Events

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Sildenafil for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

    CHUCK CARTER

    Patient Self-management of Anticoagulation Therapy

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Clopidogrel Plus Aspirin Reduces Mortality from MI

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Kidney Stones: What You Should Know

    Kidney stones are hard lumps that your body makes from waste products in your urine. If these lumps are big enough, they can get stuck in your bladder or urinary tract (see drawing). This can be very painful.



    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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