Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome: Simple to Diagnose, Potentially Deadly if Overlooked
May 2nd 2012Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) shares clinical symptoms with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) such as daytime sleepiness, headaches, and memory problems. Both the symptoms and their sequelae, however, can be much more severe in OHS. Here, guidance on what to look for and how to manage OHS.
Diabetes Quiz: A 79-Year-Old With Elevated AlC Who Has Had a Stroke: How Would You Treat?
May 1st 2012The elderly patient has had type 2 diabetes for 15 years is now home bound after a stroke. Her HbA1c is 9.6 and she takes only metformin. Review the rest of her laboratory results and propose a management plan.
Antiretroviral Therapy: Short-Term, Earlier Interventions Show Promise
April 20th 2012New guidelines on the use of antiretroviral therapy, together with recently published studies, highlight the benefits of early, short-term treatment on outcomes, clinical signs of the disease, morbidity and mortality, and secondary transmission.
Update on HIV in Children and Adolescents
April 18th 2012A recent approval of an antiretroviral for children with HIV highlights the difficulties in treatment for pediatric HIV, which is not entirely eliminated in the US and tragically abundant elsewhere. It's also important for HIV among adolescents, which remains a concern in the US.
Podcast: Dental X-Rays and Brain Tumors-A Sensible Response
April 14th 2012A new study that showed a link between a yearly dental x-ray and meningioma must have sent a shiver down many a spine. Here, oral medicine specialist Dr Jeff Burgess offers guidance about what to think, and how to respond when a concerned patient asks.
Corticosteroids for Asthma and Rhinitis: Safety and Efficacy Today
April 14th 2012Despite widespread concern about the use of these drugs for patients with asthma and allergies, a review of the evidence shows that (used as recommended) there is very little risk from introducing a steroid into the upper respiratory system on a fairly regular basis, even for a child.
Podcast: Guide to the New NIH Online Directory of Genetic Tests
April 13th 2012With genetic tests rapidly entering medical practice, and some patients even ordering them on their own, the NIH has launched a Genetic Testing Registry to help doctors interpret and follow up on these tests. In this interview, the director of the new Genetic Testing Registry tells why you need it, and what's there for your reference.
AAAAI Weighs In On Possibly Unnecessary Tests
April 11th 2012As one of 17 medical organizations collaborating in the nationwide "Choosing Wisely" campaign to help doctors and patients work together to reduce unwarranted testing, the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology has made five suggested topics for discussion. Your patients with asthma and allergies may begin to raise the subject.
Parotid Gland Deformities in HIV Seropositive Patients: The Best Choice for Cosmetic Control
April 10th 2012More than half of people with HIV infection in the United States develop head and neck lesions. Common among these is enlargement of the parotid gland, which causes disfigurement and therefore distress. This review discusses the evidence for radiation treatment as the best option, as well as the dangers of choosing the wrong treatment for this benign comorbidity of HIV-positive status.
Podcast: New Codeine Guideline and More Help With Pharmacogenomics
April 6th 2012A consortium called CPIC has issued a new guideline on genetic tests that can mean the difference between toxic reactions or unrelieved pain for some patients on codeine. Dr. Mary Relling tells why primary care doctors need good information right now about the links between genes and drug response, and where you can find it.
An Elderly Woman With IgA Lambda Multiple Myeloma and Kidney Disease
April 5th 2012A 92-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of progressively worsening fatigue, weight loss, generalized bone pain, and dyspnea on exertion. A skeletal survey found lytic lesions in the pelvis, sacrum, and calvarium (shown here).
Podcast: Hip Replacement Failure Risk-What To Tell Your Patients
April 4th 2012The FDA will launch an intensive review of data on the safety of metal-on-metal hip implants in June, responding to yet more evidence that they present a high risk of failure and revision surgery. Listen as orthopedic surgeon William Maloney of Stanford University School of Medicine discusses the risks and the realities of hip replacement today.