Table of Contents
From the Editor
- The complexities of vitamin D
Patients with conditions as diverse as systemic lupus erythematosus and congestive heart failure seem to fare worse if they have lower vitamin D levels. But the seeming simplicity of this association belies several levels of complexity, with resultant clinical controversy.
1-Minute Consult
- Does vitamin D deficiency play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure? Do supplements improve survival?
Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure, but whether giving patients supplements improves their survival is not clear.
The Clinical Picture
- A rash on the legs and palms
The patient has been treated with topical and oral corticosteroids with no improvement. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- A rare complication of infective endocarditis
An 85-year-old woman presents with a 2-hour history of dyspnea, dizziness, generalized weakness, nausea, and diaphoresis. What is the cause?
Review
- Preventing and treating orthostatic hypotension: As easy as A, B, C
Easy-to-remember management recommendations, using a combination of effective drug and nondrug treatments.
- Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation: Increasing use in acute care
How this mode has evolved, and its indications and contraindications in specific acute care conditions.
- Making the most of currently available bowel preparations for colonoscopy
The authors review the available regimens, offer an algorithm for choosing an appropriate regimen, and provide instructions for patients.
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux: More questions than answers
Most patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux are given a 2-month trial of a proton pump inhibitor. Yet we still have little or no solid evidence on which to base the diagnosis or the treatment.