Latest Articles
- 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?
Laryngopharyngeal reflux: More questions than answersMost 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Risks of travel, benefits of a specialist consultBefore going abroad to risky areas, most people ought to visit their primary care physicians, and many should be referred to a specialist in travel medicine.
- Bony bridge of a bifid rib
A 21-year-old man presents with 3 days of cough and hemoptysis. A chest x-ray reveals a congenital anomaly.
- The Courvoisier sign
A 60-year-old woman has had jaundice, dark-colored urine, and light-colored stools for the past several days. On examination, her gallbladder is palpable.
- When should serum amylase and lipase levels be repeated in a patient with acute pancreatitis?
In general, repeating these measurements has no value once the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is made.
- Breaking the cycle of medication overuse headache
Some migraine patients fall into a trap by overusing their headache medications. Fortunately, we can break the cycle.
- New tools for detecting occult monoclonal gammopathy, a cause of secondary osteoporosis
Osteoporosis can be the presenting sign of a monoclonal gammopathy, which in some people may precede a diagnosis of multiple myeloma.