Louisa Paskert, aide to five CCJM editors, to retire after 34 years
As our editorial assistant, Louisa contributes to every aspect of the Journal.
L.K. HENGSTLER

  Brief answers to specific clinical questions

 What is the appropriate initial dose of corticosteroids to treat giant cell arteritis?
A lower dose than traditionally used may be enough to control symptoms and prevent blindness while minimizing adverse effects.
W.S. WILKE

Maximizing antihypertensive management in the elderly
A checklist of specific considerations when treating hypertension in the elderly.
N. KAPLAN

Palliative medicine: Old dogs and new tricks
Some older drugs can be used for off-label indications, to either substitute for or augment the palliative action of approved drugs.
M.P. DAVIS

In cholesterol lowering, moderation kills
The author's experience indicates that a low-fat, plant-based diet can lower cholesterol to less than 150 mg/dL and reverse coronary artery disease.
C.B. ESSELSTYN, JR.

Of rice, grain, and zeal: Lessons from Drs. Kempner and Esselstyn
Two physicians who successfully motivated their patients to make lifestyle changes were true believers.
N.B. RATLIFF

Update on antiviral therapy for genital herpes infection
After a first episode, should one give continuous prophylactic treatment or treat recurrences as they arise?
T.A. GEERS and C.M. ISADA

Fibrinolytic therapy in the elderly: Making sense of  troubling new findings
Do patients older than 75 years with acute MI benefit from fibrinolytic therapy? For now, we have to live with uncertainty.
G.S. FRANCIS

New options for untreatable coronary artery disease
Angiogenesis and laser revascularization may help the growing group of patients who have run out of other options.
D. MUKHERJEE and S.G. ELLIS

Regional delivery of anticancer drugs: Current applications
For some cancers, an option is to deliver anticancer drugs directly to the involved region.
M. MARKMAN

Rosacea: An update
Early diagnosis and thoughtful management help control the disease and minimize discomfort and emotional distress.
J.K. McDONNELL and K.J. TOMECKI

Long-term outcomes excellent for atrial septal defect repair in adults
It's never too late, generally, to patch a hole in the heart, as shown by 25-year follow-up data.
S.D. MOODIE and R. STERBA