The surgical unsupersizing of America
For years, "fat surgery" was viewed with skepticism by many internists. The tide is turning, but there is still no free lunch.
B.F. MANDELL

Health care worker, vaccinate thyself: Toward better compliance with influenza vaccination
At our hospital, workers can decline to be vaccinated, but everyone must go to our Web site and be counted.
S.M. GORDON

Bariatric surgery: Part of the answer to the obesity epidemic
Bariatric surgery is not the total answer to obesity, but it can be an integral part of a comprehensive weight-management program.
W.T. CEFALU

The controversy over long-acting beta agonists: Examining the evidence
Asthma drugs that contain salmeterol (Serevent, Advair) or formoterol (Foradil) now carry a warning about an increased risk of asthma-related death. This paper critically examines the evidence.
D.M. LANG

Risks and benefits of bariatric surgery: Current evidence
The risks are not trivial, but they are acceptably low. The benefits: patients lose weight and keep it off, and many are cured of obesity-related diseases, notably type 2 diabetes.
S.A. BRETHAUER, B. CHAND, and P.R. SCHAUER

Improving influenza vaccination rates among adults
The medical profession must and can do a better job of vaccinating people against influenza every year. All we need is a plan.
K.L. NICHOL

Which agents should we use to treat and prevent influenza in 2006-2007?
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are the treatments of choice this year, but vaccination remains the primary preventive measure.
S.B. MOSSAD

Endocrinology update 2006
Recent studies have shed light on diabetes management, the therapeutic range of thyroid hormones, the possible role of thyroxine in cancer, and the possible role of vitamin D in preventing type 1 diabetes.
S.S.K. REDDY

Does this patient have primary progressive aphasia?
Primary progressive aphasia is a distinct clinical entity in which the patient develops language deficits while other cognitive domains remain relatively preserved until late in the illness.
S.J. KANTER, R.M. FACTORA, and T.T. SUH

A 48-year-old man with acute, 'knife-like' rectal pain
He has lost 90 pounds in the last 9 months and has had white oral plaques, chronic diarrhea, low-grade fever, and anorexia. What is the most likely diagnosis?
D.Z. ROSE, N. KEDIA, J.T. JACOB, and J. WALTON TOMFORD

Antibiotics are slightly effective for purulent rhinitis

MRSA is common in abscessed skin infections