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The article discusses the adverse effects and benefits of transitional care intervention to lessen mortality and hospital readmission for patients who experienced heart failure. Topics include the importance of multidisciplinary clinic intervention and home visiting for patients, the role of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in providing post-hospital discharge transition programs, and the recommendation by American Heart Association for systematic review of heart failure patients.

The article provides an answer to a question of the potential benefits and adverse effects associated with dietary and pharmacologic interventions to prevent recurrence of kidney stones in adult 18 years and older.

Presents questions and answers related to the use of hormone therapy for the prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal women. Advice of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force regarding the routine use of combined estrogen and progestin for prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal women; Risks and benefits of hormone therapy; Effect of hormone therapy on cognitive function.

The article describes the case of a 19-year-old nulliparous woman who sought medical advice on the effectiveness of copper intrauterine device (IUD) as contraceptive option. The comparative advantages and liabilities of the copper IUD against Depo-Provera are elaborated. The results of an analysis of two randomized controlled trials conducted by the Cocharne authors are presented.

The article discusses a study on the effectiveness and tolerability of aripiprazole compared with other second-generation antipsychotics for schizophrenia. It states that the discontinuation rate in the studies was 38 percent, limiting the validity of the results. The American Psychiatric Association recommends the lowest dosage for the treatment of schizophrenia while monitoring adverse effects of medication.

The article discusses research on the potential efficacy of acupuncture as prophylaxis of migraine. It references the study "Acupuncture for Migraine Prophylaxis," by K. Linde and colleagues published in an issue of "Cochrane Database System Review." Research revealed that acupuncture was linked to improved outcomes in patients with migraine compared with prophylactic drugs such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers or valproic acid. Also cited are several drugs for migraine prophylaxis, which are recommended by the National Headache Foundation.

The article examines the use of cranberry products for treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI). It was found over a 12-month period that such products had reduced the incidence of symptomatic UTI, particularly in women with recurrent infections. It is claimed that cranberries contain a substance that can decrease the incidence of UTI by altering the surface properties of Escherichia coli that prevents it from adhering to the wall of the bladder.

The article focuses on the effectiveness of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medications in children and adults. According to it, there is uncertainty as to whether OTC cough medications are effective in reducing cough symptoms in adults as well as in children. It states that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strongly advised against the use of OTC drugs in children younger than two years.

An abstract of the article "Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment for Individuals at Risk of Familial Breast Cancer," by Janelle Guirguis-Blake is presented.

The article comments on the benefit of coronary calcium screening. It states that cardiac computed tomography (CT) is one promising noninvasive technology for screening asymptomatic, intermediate-risk patients. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is developing its recommendation statement for use of nontraditional risk factors in intermediate-risk persons. It suggests that physicians should not order cardiac CT as a screening test in asymptomatic patients until further research is available.

The article discusses the efficacy of influenza vaccines in older patients. Based on observational studies, influenza vaccination in older people reduces pneumonia cases, hospital admissions and influenza-related deaths by 45%. Influenza vaccination also prevents hospitalizations from the disease and other respiratory illness by 25%. Out of 71 case-control studies, 64 of them addressed the effectiveness of influenza vaccines in older persons.

The article discusses the role of screening for prostate cancer in reducing mortality and improving quality of life of patients. There is an insufficient evidence that linked screening with reduce mortality risk and improved quality of life. Based on two trials, the reported relative risk to death from prostate cancer in men who were screened was 0.39. Physicians should base their decision on shared discussion of screening results and the history of the disease in various individuals.

The article highlights the evidence in the inefficiency of patching as treatment for simple corneal abrasion. Eleven trials were conducted on children and adult with corneal abrasion that were divided into groups that used patches and those who did not. It was found that there is no significant difference in the healing time and pain degree of corneal abrasion between the two groups.

Considers the decision of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in March 2005, which found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against screening adults for glaucoma. Evidence associated with screening and treatment of glaucoma; Basis of the recommendation of the USPSTF; Impact of the USPSTF recommendation on family physicians.

Presents a case study of a woman who was diagnosed with genital herpes. Medical background of the patient; Use of serologic screening for genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection; Symptoms of HSV infection.

Presents an evidence-based continuing medical education case study of an elderly male patient who was screened for abdominal aortic aneurism (AAA). Screening regimens recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force; Risk factors for AAA; Advantage of using abdominal ultrasonography to diagnose AAA.

Presents questions and answers on screening for family and intimate partner violence. Recommendation statement about screening for family violence from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force; Accuracy of screening tools for identifying family and intimate partner violence; Actions which are part of diagnosis or case finding.

Presents several questions about the diagnosis of thyroid disease.

Provides answers to questions on vitamin supplementation to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. Recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on routine vitamin supplementation to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease; Correct statement about beta-carotene supplements for cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention; Counseling message to consider for a patient.

Presents a series of questions concerning counseling for breastfeeding. Counseling intervention for pregnant women; Ways to counsel pregnant mothers on breastfeeding safety.

The article compares the effectiveness and safety of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) with placebo for depression in primary care based on 14 randomized controlled trials of patients 18-65 years old. TCAs showed higher improvement in depression scores and clinical response to remission than placebo. The number of participants who discontinued TCAs due to adverse effects ranged from four to 30. More patients withdrew from SSRI treatment due to side affects but few did due to treatment failure.

The article looks at whether preoperative testing before cataract surgery leads to fewer perioperative complications. Among those that may be included in such tests are screening electrocardiography and chest radiography. It tackles three studies that offered an analysis of rates of these medical adverse events in patients who received routine preoperative medical testing compared with those who did not or those who received selective preoperative testing. The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises not to use routine testing before cataract surgery.

The article discusses research on the effectiveness of anticoagulation for the long term treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients. It references the study "Anticoagulation for the Long Term Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Cancer" by E. A. Akl and colleagues in a 2008 issue of "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews." Adverse events of bleeding and thrombocytopenia were reported for the use of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and oral anticoagulants.

The article presents an answer to a question on the safest and most effective medical treatments in the short-term management of reflux esophagitis.

The article focuses on the treatment for molluscum contagiosum. It is claimed that there is lack of evidence to determine the effectiveness of treatments for molluscum. A definition of molluscum contagiosum is offered. Adverse effects were found in various treatments such as sodium nitrite plus salicylic acid and potassium hydroxide based on five randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of different topical treatments for raised molluscum lesions.

The article discusses the effectiveness of laxatives for the treatment of symptomatic hemorrhoids in adults. Among the hemorrhoid treatment options are medical management, rubber-band ligation and sclerotherapy. Information on gastrointestinal symptoms as the most common side effects with fiber is presented.

The article presents a study which discusses the best treatment of agitation in irreversible demetia. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality conducted a meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of atypical antipsychotics among 5364 patients. Result show that atypical antipsychotics reduces agitation compared to placebo but have notable adverse effects.

Background and Objectives: Efficient and accurate medication refill authorization is an integral service provided by family physicians and an essential skill to teach family medicine residents. The goal of this study was to examine the variation in medication refill protocols, procedures, and resources in family medicine residency practices across a five-state region as a background for development of best practices., Methods: Structured telephone interviews with a key informant at each of 11 clinical practices in a five-state (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) family medicine residency network focused on refill protocols and procedures, which personnel have authorization authority, and other factors related to refill protocols and medication prescribing curriculum. Key themes were abstracted from interview notes., Results: There was marked variation in refill protocols and procedures across the clinical sites. While all practices were able to identify their refill procedure, no two practices' procedures were the same, and only 36.4% had a formal written protocol that could be identified by the key informant. All of the practices with formal protocols routinely reviewed medical records before authorizing refills (100%, four/four) compared to less than half of those without formal protocols (42.9%, three/seven). Practices with formal protocols (75.0%) also transferred refill requests between staff prior to authorization more than those without formal protocols (57.1%)., Conclusions: Refill protocols and procedures were highly variable across these family medicine residency program practices. Surprisingly, formal written refill protocols were uncommon. Further research to identify best practices in medication refill procedures associated with safety outcomes is warranted.