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 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.
