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Family Medicine

Osteoporosis in men: How to treat this condition in the atypical patient

August 19, 2010

Prevention and treatment guidelines for osteoporosis frequently overlook that the disease can affect men. In fact, men fare much worse than women after a fracture.

Modifiable risk factors cause most strokes

August 10, 2010

Targeted interventions could substantially reduce the burden of stroke.

Hyperkeratotic plaques span from head to toe

Joshua Weingartner, Pamela S. Allen, MD, FAAD, and Heather Hennigan, PA-C August 10, 2010

Five months of treatment with corticosteroids and antibiotics did not relieve the scaly plaques on a man's scalp, cheeks, trunk, genitals, and legs.

Sun-sensitive drugs may lead to cataracts

August 04, 2010

The active ingredients in a broad range of medications may make a person more vulnerable to age-related cataracts.

HbA1c not reliable for diagnosing diabetes

August 03, 2010

A new analysis found that this measure is inferior to the oral glucose tolerance test for screening.

Triple regimen for lowering BP

July 26, 2010

An investigational triple regimen of olmesartan medoxomil (OM), amlodipine besylate (AML), and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) may result in significantly greater mean reductions in...

Helicobacter pylori infection: Update on diagnosis and management

July 15, 2010

The sequelae of H. pylori infection are causative factors in gastric cancer. Eradication of the bacteria, however, is difficult because of it's...

Recurrent erosions on the neck and axillae

William Sargent Kaufman and Julia R. Nunley, MD July 15, 2010

A woman presented with erythematous plaques that waxed and waned throughout the year, but were more symptomatic in the summer.

CVD prevention: tighter aspirin recs for diabetics

July 15, 2010

In a joint statement, published online, the American College of Cardiology Foundation, American Diabetes Association, and American Heart Association updated their recommendations for primary-prevention aspirin use in people with diabetes.

Mild cognitive impairment: The transition to Alzheimer's disease

Andrea Pace, MSBS, PA-C; Karen Graham, MPAS, PA-C July 13, 2010

Cholinesterase inhibitors are the most promising agents for slowing progression to Alzheimer's disease. But for how long can this progression be delayed?

Diabetes, high LDL speed Alzheimer's decline

July 13, 2010

A history of diabetes or high cholesterol (especially LDL) can speed cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Glucose control may improve upper GI symptoms

July 07, 2010

Diabetics prone to upper gastrointestinal difficulties may find relief with better glycemic control.

Nonpitting edema in the pretibial area

June 30, 2010

A middle-aged woman with Grave's disease presented with asymptomatic, firm, nonpitting, flesh-colored nodules on her lower legs and feet.

High milk intake raises PCa risk

June 29, 2010

Dairy products, especially milk, may be involved in the etiology of prostate cancer, researchers say.

Erectile dysfunction and cardiac disease strongly linked

June 23, 2010

Identifying patients with erectile dysfunction offers an opportunity for reducing their risk of cardiovascular events.

A pair of patients with purple lesions

Noah S. Scheinfeld, MD, JD June 08, 2010

Differing purple eruptions in two patients: one presents with a dimpled papule on the leg and the second with a pruritic, polished lesion on the penile shaft.

Attacking Alzheimer's through diet

June 04, 2010

Following a diet that limits intake of high-fat dairy products, red meat, organ meat, and butter may cut a person's risk of Alzheimer's disease, a recent study says.

Nocturia may increase mortality risk

June 04, 2010

Nocturia, defined as two or more urinations per night, is associated with an increased risk of death, even after adjusting for comorbidities known to...

Statin therapy initiated in a hepatitis C patient with elevated cholesterol

June 03, 2010

Given a family history of premature coronary disease, the patient became concerned after...

Atrophic rash in a patient with hepatitis C

Laura McGevna, MD, and Robert Scott Nelson, MD June 03, 2010

A 44-year-old man presented with a pruritic, occasionally painful rash of several months' duration. Atrophic, purplish plaques were visible on the face, anterior and posterior trunk, and dorsum of both hands. The plaques had initially...

Prostatitis: A multifaceted and complex diagnosis

June 01, 2010

In the United States alone, "prostatitis" accounts for at least 2 million office visits per year—with 15% of all primary-care office visits associated with this diagnosis. See what our expert has to say about the difficulties in diagnosis and treatment—and efforts to better characterize this family of conditions.

Fatigue and hypersomnia in a depressed alcoholic

May 20, 2010

Our patient had a history of depression, peptic ulcer disease, and alcoholism. For several months, she had complained of fatigue and daily bifrontal headaches. She was referred to a neurologist after a brain MRI showed questionable white-matter changes. However...

Eyes wide open: Update on sleep disorders

Sharon Schutte, MD, and Karl Doghramji, MD May 20, 2010

Illness, medications, shift work, and other factors may interfere with normal sleep patterns. New techniques can indicate the best treatment.

Insomnia: An initial guide for patient care

May 19, 2010

Chronic insomnia is the most common sleep complaint which health-care practitioners must confront. Most insomnia patients are not, however, seen by sleep specialists but rather by a variety of primary-care physicians. Here's our primer on where to begin sorting through this pervasive problem.

Streptococcal pharyngitis

By Brian S. Alper, MD, MSPH, and Matthew Brier, MD, MPH May 17, 2010

Strep throat symptoms may include fever (often >101°F), chills, myalgias, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

What's causing drastic weight loss and bone deformities in an infant?

May 17, 2010

Between the age of six and eight months, this baby dropped from the 50th percentile to the 25th percentile in weight. During this time, he had been breastfed and given a large variety of complementary foods.

New drug options for neurologic disorders

May 11, 2010

A thorough understanding of the therapies available to patients with dementia or Parkinson's disease is essential to improving outcomes.

Psychiatric screening tools for primary-care

May 11, 2010

Mood and anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric conditions seen in primary care, but they are largely underdetected and undertreated. Here are three valid, efficient, and feasible screening tools that you can use with ease in the office.

Traditional Chinese herbs linked to nephrotoxicity

May 04, 2010

Botanical products containing aristolochic acid—typically sold as traditional medicines in the Far East—have been associated with an increased risk for end-stage renal disease.