Table of Contents
From the Editor
- Rare but serious adverse effects in commonly used drugs
Some adverse effects come to light only after millions of people have taken a drug.
1-Minute Consult
- What are ‘tissue ACE inhibitors,’ and should they be used instead of other ACE inhibitors?
Improvement in surrogate end points may not necessarily translate into improvement in “hard” clinical end points.
- Can angiotensin II receptor blockers be used in patients who have developed a cough or angioedema as a result of taking an ACE inhibitor?
The new drugs have a lower side effect profile, but caution is indicated when giving them to patients with a history of ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema.
The Clinical Picture
Review
- Making the most of cholesterol-lowering margarines
These new “functional foods” reduce serum cholesterol and LDL levels modestly when used instead of regular margarine, butter, or oil. Are they worth it?
Im Board Review
- A 35-year-old man with recurrent aseptic meningitis
What is the cause of this patient’s symptoms? A self-test on a clinical case.
Current Drug Therapy
- Phenylpropanolamine and stroke: The study, the FDA ruling, the implications
The FDA, after a recent study, asked manufacturers to pull dozens of products from the shelves.
Review
- The challenge of irritable bowel syndrome: Creating an alliance between patient and physician
The key to treating irritable bowel syndrome is to establish a therapeutic physician-patient relationship.
Patient Information
Medical Grand Rounds
- Evolving cardiovascular applications for magnetic resonance imaging
Improvements in MRI have increased its value in existing cardiovascular applications and opened the door to new uses.
Cancer Diagnosis and Management
- Managing menopause after breast cancer: Balancing risks and benefits
One of the most complex issues facing breast cancer survivors and their physicians is how to manage menopause.
Heart Failure Update
- Management of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction
Heart failure can have an insidious onset, and the best time to intervene with ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers is early.
Review
- Shedding: How to manage a common cause of hair loss
Shedding is not a disease, but it sometimes is a sign of a disease.