More articles from Review
- Managing aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: It takes a team
There is no silver bullet, but systematic application of small advances maximizes the patient’s chance of recovery.
Left atrial appendage closure: An emerging option in atrial fibrillation when oral anticoagulants are not toleratedCan patients undergo a percutaneous procedure to reduce their risk of stroke and avoid lifelong anticoagulation treatment?
- Is triglyceride therapy worth the effort?
Levels do matter, but no trials of triglyceride-lowering have been done. Weight loss and exercise are encouraged.
- Cystic lung disease: Systematic, stepwise diagnosis
One can arrive at the likely diagnosis in most cases on the basis of the clinical and radiographic features.
- Genetics and hepatitis C: It’s good to be ‘CC’
In hepatitis C, people born with the IL28B CC genotype can count themselves luckier than those born with CT or TT.
- Enterovirus D68: A clinically important respiratory enterovirus
Seasonal peaks of viral respiratory illnesses are common during late summer and early fall and have often been attributed to human rhinovirus. In the fall of 2014, the number of children hospitalized with severe lower respiratory symptoms and asthma suddenly increased, and the children tested positive by sequencing for enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). As the outbreak unfolded, a possible association was also observed between EV-D68 infection, polio-like acute flaccid paralysis, and cranial neuropathy in children.
- Selecting antithrombotic therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation
When considering anticoagulant therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation, one must balance the reduction in risk of thromboembolism that this therapy offers against the risk of bleeding that it poses. The American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and Heart Rhythm Society updated their atrial fibrillation guidelines in 2014. This review outlines a rationale for clinical decision-making based on the new guidelines and summarizes the currently approved drugs.
- Quitting smoking: Still a challenge, but newer tools show promise
Smoking continues to be a major public health problem with devastating consequences in terms of morbidity and mortality. Physicians are strongly encouraged to engage patients in a serious, concerted, and consistent effort to overcome nicotine addiction. Brief counseling in combination with medications has been shown to be effective. This article provides physicians guidelines for helping patients to quit this addictive disorder.
- Rule out pulmonary tuberculosis: Clinical and radiographic clues for the internist
As tuberculosis rates decline in the United States, clinicians are less likely to consider it early in a patient’s illness. Certain clinical and radiographic features increase the likelihood of tuberculosis. This review covers the clinical and radiographic features of tuberculosis, the initial evaluation of the patient, the use of airborne infection isolation, and the utility of new molecular techniques in diagnosing tuberculosis.
- Identifying statin-associated autoimmune necrotizing myopathy
Unlike simple myalgia or myositis, this condition can persist or even arise de novo after the statin is stopped.
