• Articles

    Aesthetic Procedures in Office Practice

    REBECCA SMALL

    As patient demand for aesthetic treatments increases, family physicians should be familiar with minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. The most common procedures are botulinum toxin and dermal filler injections, laser hair reduction and photorejuvenation, microdermabrasion,...

    Drug-Eluting Coronary Artery Stents

    GREGORY J. DEHMER, KYLE J. SMITH

    The use of stents in the treatment of coronary artery disease has dramatically improved the results of percutaneous coronary interventions. This article describes the types of stents available, indications for their use, potential complications, and current recommendations...

    Sex-Based Differences in Drug Activity

    HEATHER P. WHITLEY, WESLEY LINDSEY

    Physiologic differences between men and woman can affect pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, which in turn may affect medication dosages. Women generally have greater sensitivity to beta blockers, opioids, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and typical antipsychotics...

    Diagnosis and Management of Von Willebrand Disease: Guidelines for Primary Care

    BARBARA P. YAWN, WILLIAM L. NICHOLS, MARGARET E. RICK

    Diagnosis of the coagulation disorder von Willebrand disease is based on the patient's clinical and family histories and on laboratory tests to rule out more common causes of bleeding. Treatment, which focuses on the subtype of disease, is initiated before a surgical...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP Commends Congress on Passage of Affordable Health Care for America Act | AMA Delegates Adopt Comprehensive Measure Supporting Health Care Reform | CMS Tightens Rules for Physician Ordering and Patient Referring | FDA Working to Revise Prescribing Information for Diabetes...

    Editorials

    The CDC's EGAPP Initiative: Evaluating the Clinical Evidence for Genetic Tests

    ALFRED O. BERG

    Family physicians cannot have missed the rapid increase in the number of available genetic tests, which have potential application to screening, disease risk assessment, diagnosis, management, and prognosis. Although most genetic tests are promoted for use in the context of...

    Influenza Management Guide 2009–2010

    MINA MATIN, RONALD H. GOLDSCHMIDT

    The extensive spread of 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1, also referred to as novel H1N1 2009 or swine flu, and the arrival of seasonal influenza present critical public health and clinical challenges. Key steps for the primary care physician are prevention efforts (e.g.,...

    Close-ups

    The Relief of Getting a Diagnosis

    SUMI SEXTON, ROBERT LOFLIN, III

    The personal side of medicine told from the patient's perspective. The patient's story is followed by commentary from a physician and a list of resources.

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Interventions to Help Patients Reduce or Eliminate the Use of Smokeless Tobacco

    WILLIAM E. CAYLEY, JR.

    Although the studies of behavior interventions were heterogeneous in this Cochrane review, behavior interventions such as mailings, oral or dental screenings, group discussions, workplace interventions, and telephone support showed the best evidence for smokeless tobacco...

    Preoperative Testing for Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery

    JANELLE GUIRGUIS-BLAKE

    Routine preoperative testing before cataract surgery does not reduce intraoperative or postoperative complications.

    U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

    Screening for Lipid Disorders in Adults: Recommendation Statement

    Screening men: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) strongly recommends screening men 35 years and older for lipid disorders.

    Putting Prevention Into Practice

    Screening for Lipid Disorders in Adults

    KENNETH W. LIN, THEODORE R. BROWN

    Case study: E.B. is a 50-year-old black woman who comes to your office for weight-loss counseling. She reports that her brother recently had a heart attack at 58 years of age. She does not smoke and takes no medications other than a daily multivitamin.

    Photo Quiz

    Dyspnea and a Lung Opacity on Radiography

    ALLAN J. GOODY, JOHN DAVID KOLTER

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

    Practice Guidelines

    Guidelines for the Use of Opioid Therapy in Patients with Chronic Noncancer Pain

    AMBER HUNTZINGER

    The American Pain Society and American Academy of Pain Medicine recently released a guideline for the use of opioids in patients with chronic noncancer pain. Chronic opioid therapy is controversial because of the potential for adverse effects and abuse.

    Letters to the Editor

    Improving the Management of Patients with Mental Illness

    JOHN R. FREEDY

    Understanding Rating Systems When Interpreting Evidence

    KENNETH S. FINK

    Tips from Other Journals

    Is MRSA Coverage Necessary for All Infections in Children?

    AMY CRAWFORD-FAUCHER

    Prostate Cancer: To Screen or Not to Screen

    KENNETH T. MOON

    Bruise Patterns as Predictors of Abuse in Older Persons

    KENNETH T. MOON

    New Severity Score for Community-Acquired Pneumonia

    KENNETH T. MOON

    Is Red Yeast Rice Effective in Statin-Intolerant Patients?

    KENNETH T. MOON

    Treating Bell Palsy: Steroids, Not Antivirals

    KENNETH T. MOON

    Improving Outcomes in Very Low–Birth-Weight Infants

    AMY CRAWFORD-FAUCHER

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Common Cosmetic Procedures

    Cosmetic procedures can help your skin look younger or healthier. These treatments can reduce wrinkles, sun damage, and unwanted hair. Most treatments need to be repeated for long-lasting results. The most common of these procedures are botulinum toxin injections (brand names...

    Coronary Artery Disease and the Use of Stents

    Coronary artery disease, or CAD, is the buildup of fatty deposits (also called plaque) inside the small arteries that supply blood to your heart. This buildup narrows your arteries, decreasing the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart.

    Von Willebrand Disease: A Bleeding Disorder

    It is a bleeding disorder that is similar to hemophilia. VWD is more common than hemophilia and not as serious. The von Willebrand factor is a protein that helps your blood clot. It does not work normally in people with VWD.



    Disclosure

    All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


    Tag Legend

    Legend

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