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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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