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Articles

Acute Ankle Sprain: An Update

DOUGLAS IVINS

Initial treatment of acute ankle injury should focus on reducing swelling and pain and preventing further ligament injury. Functional rehabilitation with range-of motion and strengthening exercises is preferred over immobilization.

Diagnosis and Management of Granuloma Annulare

PEGGY R. CYR

This papular eruption is asymptomatic but can have a dramatic appearance. The localized form usually is self-limited and resolves within one to two years, whereas the generalized formcan last for three to four years or longer. Although treatment is not always necessary,...

Testicular Torsion

ERIKA RINGDAHL, LYNN TEAGUE

Testicular torsion must be diagnosed quickly and accurately to avoid testicular loss. Treatment involves rapid restoration of blood flow to the affected testis, optimally within six hours after the onset of symptoms.

Update on Exercise Stress Testing

GERALD F. FLETCHER, WESLEY C. MILLS, WALTER C. TAYLOR

Exercise stress testing is an important diagnostic tool for evaluating suspected or known cardiac disease. This article discusses the 2002 revision of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines on exercise stress testing.

Genetic Risk Assessment and BRCA Mutation Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility

TRACY A. WOLFF, JANE E. WILSON

A 46-year-old woman comes to your office to discuss breast cancer screening. She heard a physician on television who mentioned a genetic test that can tell if a woman will get breast cancer. She asks if she should have that test. She has no family history of breast or ovarian...

Inside AFP

AFP Patient Information: What You Should Know

JOYCE A. MERRIMAN, CARRIE ARMSTRONG

Reader feedback shows that many of you like the patient education handouts that accompany some AFP review articles. A recent survey shows that 60 percent of readers use AFP patient education material several times a month. The quality of the handouts (i.e., level of writing,...

Newsletter

Newsletter

LIZ SMITH

AAFP Adopts New Physician Workforce Policy to Counter FP Shortage | CMS Proposes Allowing Use of Part D Data for Research Initiatives | AAFP Speaker Testifies on Payment System Reform, Medical Homes | Code Change for Fecal Occult Blood Tests Takes Effect January 2007 | CMS...

Quantum Sufficit

Quantum Sufficit

SHERRI DAMLO

A glass of carrot juice each day may keep Alzheimer's disease away! According to a study in the American Journal of Medicine, consuming fruit and vegetable juices may delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease, particularly in patients at high risk for the disease. Researchers...

Editorials

Preventing Burns in Older Patients

AMY R. EHRLICH

For older adults, burns and fire-related injuries are the second leading cause of death from accidental injury in the home.1 Cigarette smoking and alcohol use contribute to many of these injuries. However, the role of dementia as a risk factor for burns and fires is not clear...

Point-of-Care Guides

Predicting Prognosis in Patients with End-stage Liver Disease

MARK H. EBELL

Two scoring systems are widely used to predict prognosis in patients with end-stage liver disease: the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score.

Photo Quiz

A Mottled Rash on the Torso

KEVIN HOLLOWAY, JOSHUA E. LANE

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

STEPS

Tetravalent Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Menactra) for the Prevention of Meningococcal Disease

STEPHEN J. RITZ

MCV4 is as effective and as safe as the older MPSV4. It is recommended by the ACIP for children 11 to 12 years of age, college freshmen living in dormitories, and other high-risk populations. MCV4 should provide effective and longer-lasting immunity, but at significant...

POEMs

Pravastatin Is Cost-effective in High-Risk Patients

ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

Balance Exercise Program Prevents Ankle Sprains

HENRY BARRY

Lowering Homocysteine Levels Does Not Improve Cognition

MARK EBELL

Can ACE Inhibitors Prevent Aortic Aneurysm Rupture?

ANNE D. WALLING

Antibiotic Timing in Community-Acquired Pneumonia

KARL E. MILLER

Practice Guidelines

Partnership for Prevention Ranks Preventive Services

AMBER HUNTZINGER

The Partnership for Prevention conducted a study to accurately rank 25 preventive health care services. These rankings represent the most valuable preventive services and should be used to help physicians prioritize which services to emphasize with patients.

Practice Guideline Briefs

Practice Guideline Briefs

SHERRI DAMLO

ACIP Updates Mumps Vaccination Schedule

Practice Guideline Briefs

SHERRI DAMLO

Noncontraceptive Uses of the Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System

Letters to the Editor

The Changing Role of Family Physicians in HIV Care

MEGAN R. MAHONEY, RONALD H. GOLDSCHMIDT

Connection Between Religion and Health Is Complicated Issue

Tips from Other Journals

Physicians Need Better Strategies for Alcohol Counseling

CAROLINE WELLBERY

Risk of Developing CIN3 in Women with ASCUS or LSIL

KARL E. MILLER

Information from Your Family Doctor

Ankle Sprains: What You Should Know

Ligaments connect bones in your ankle. If you turn or twist your ankle in an unusual way, the ligaments can stretch or tear. This is called an ankle sprain (see drawing).

Exercising Your Ankle After a Sprain

Exercising can help make it stronger and move better.

Testicular Torsion: What You Should Know

Testicular torsion (tess-TICK-you-ler TOR-shun) is when a testicle gets twisted and the blood supply to the stalk is blocked (see drawing).

Corrections

Corrections

Corrections



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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