Latest Articles
- Do patients with prosthetic joints require dental antimicrobial prophylaxis?
The authors contend that the available evidence does not support routine prophylaxis before dental procedures.
- Series Introduction
To keep our readers up to date on progress in palliative medicine, we are presenting a series of articles on the topic.
- Managing bloodstream infections in patients who have short-term central venous catheters
Should a potentially infected catheter be removed? Which empiric antibiotic therapy should be started? And how should therapy be tailored to the specific pathogen?
- Symptom management: An important part of cancer care
In addition to diagnosing and managing the cancer itself, the physician’s duty is also to recognize and effectively manage the many associated symptoms.
- The homocysteine hypothesis: Still relevant to the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease?
Elevated homocysteine is a risk factor, and vitamins lower homocysteine levels. But does vitamin supplementation prevent cardiovascular events?
- Should alpha-blockers ever be used as antihypertensive drugs?
They are not first-line drugs, but they can be second-line or third-line add-on drugs if blood pressure is not under control.
- Cornflake-like scales on the ankles and feet
An 81-year-old woman presents with slowly growing, asymptomatic lesions on both feet and ankles. Which test should be ordered to establish the diagnosis?
- Why is fixing the plumbing so difficult?
For carotid stenosis, a catheter-based procedure would seem safer than endarterectomy, but reality is not always so simple.
- Managing gout: How is it different in patients with chronic kidney disease?
The goals are the same, but the choice and dosage of drugs may need to be modified.
Understanding the CREST resultsFor patients with carotid artery stenosis, percutaneous intervention with stenting is as good as surgery—with some qualifications.