Latest Articles
- Avian influenza: A wake-up call from birds to humans
We can hope that a pandemic does not occur—or we can take proactive steps to prevent one. In particular, we must improve vaccination rates among patients and health care workers.
- Perioperative nutrition support: Who and how
Although nutrition support can decrease postoperative morbidity and mortality, some patients do worse with total parenteral nutrition than with standard care.
- Head injury: Which patients need imaging? Which test is best?
There is often uncertainty about which patients with a head injury need an imaging test, especially if the injury appears to be minor.
- Minimally invasive surgery for morbid obesity
The new technique appears to be as effective as conventional open surgery in taking weight off and keeping it off.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A review for the treating practitioner
There are a variety of treatments for this severe form of premenstrual syndrome. Caution is needed with alternative therapies.
- For low platelets, how low is dangerous?
The answer depends on the cause of the thrombocytopenia and on whether surgery or childbirth is planned.
Antioxidant studies need a change of directionA major flaw of the studies to date is that they failed to measure changes in levels of oxidative stress.
- When and how is it appropriate to terminate the physician-patient relationship?
This should be a last resort, done only in extreme cases, and only after trying to work things out, giving fair warning, and making sure you are not abandoning the patient.
- Spondyloarthropathies: Using presentation to make the diagnosis
Spondylitis is easy to miss and is often falsely assumed to be “just back pain.” Inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor show promise as treatments, but data are still limited.
- Hearing loss is often undiscovered, but screening is easy
Does your patient need a hearing aid? Primary care physicians—the gatekeepers of audiologic care—can play a more active role in improving the hearing of their adult patients.
