Table of Contents
From the Editor
- Our friend and art director Bob Demarest leaves the CCJM
It is with sadness, modified by appreciation, that I report that a long-time friend of the Journal has decided to part company with us and pursue other opportunities.
Editorial
- The case for clinical trials of noninvasive coronary imaging tests
IVUS, CT, and MRI show promise, but new tests, like new therapies, must undergo clinical trials.
- Tonsillectomy in adults: A paucity of data
We need to differentiate recurrent viral pharyngitis from streptococcal tonsillitis before recommending surgery.
Review
- Acne vulgaris: One treatment does not fit all
With a variety of topical and oral agents available, the choice of therapy can range from simple and straightforward to intense and complex.
- Update on contraception: Benefits and risks of the new formulations
We review the new options, with emphasis on the Yasmin pill, the Lunelle injection, the Ortho Evra patch, the NuvaRing, the Mirena IUD, and emergency contraceptive kits.
Patient Information
1-Minute Consult
- When does an adult need a tonsillectomy?
Tonsillectomy may improve quality of life, but hard data are lacking.
- Is there a role for metformin or acarbose as a weight-loss agent in the absence of diabetes?
The evidence so far indicates that neither drug can be recommended for this indication in this situation.
Review
- Hair loss: Diagnosis and management
Alopecia is distressing, and we should not underestimate its importance, either as a cosmetic problem or as a sign of a potentially serious underlying condition.
- Coronary imaging: Angiography shows the stenosis, but IVUS, CT, and MRI show the plaque
New imaging tests can reveal information about coronary artery disease that traditional angiography cannot.
- Treat high blood pressure sooner: Tougher, simpler JNC 7 guidelines
In 2003, a blood pressure of 120/80 isn’t normal anymore—it’s prehypertensive.
Im Board Review
- A 77-year-old man with septic shock
A homeless man is poorly responsive, hypotensive, and febrile—and has a new heart murmur. What is the cause?