More articles from Medical Grand Rounds
- Kuru and mad cow disease: Understanding the prion theory
With the recent controversy in England over mad cow disease, there is a growing understanding that prions are not just a medical curiosity, but a grave public health threat. With an illustration explaining how proteins can mutate and become infectious.
- Cardiovascular disease myths and facts
Physicians need to overcome the myths that cardiovascular disease is going away and is a good way to die, as these myths are undermining research and prevention efforts.
- Antimicrobial resistance: An ecological approach to a growing threat
Instead of confidently awaiting the next generation of antibiotics to conquer antibiotic resistance, physicians must take a humbler view. With an illustration explaining how bacteria acquire resistance.
- Primary biliary cirrhosis: Ursodiol effective, but think transplantation sooner
Ursodiol may slow the progression of primary biliary cirrhosis, but treatment is still mainly palliative, and liver transplantation is the only definitive therapy.
- Diagnosing Marfan syndrome is still based on clinical characteristics
Despite new genetic findings, the best way to diagnose Marfan syndrome is still the classic clinical findings.
- The herbal medicine boom: Understanding what patients are taking
One in three people take herbal medicines. A guide to common herbal preparations, their effects, side effects, and interactions.
- Understanding culture clashes in the clinical setting
Although conflict between people is common, some conflicts are the result of different cultural assumptions. These disagreements can complicate good communication between physician and patient.
- Detecting and managing subclinical hyperthyroidism
With physicians using TSH assays more often, they are encountering subclinical thyroid disease more frequently.
- New strategies for detecting and treating problem drinking
Alcohol use is now seen as a continuum from total abstinence to alcohol dependence, rather than an all-or-nothing condition.
- New guidelines streamline diabetes diagnosis
Recent changes in the screening guidelines for diabetes should simplify the diagnostic process and identify more people who are at risk.