In February of this year the New York City Department of Health released a new policy paper indicating that they will no longer use the PPD as a screening tool for tuberculosis in their clinics.They have switched to the QuantiFERON-TB Gold, (QFT-G), a …
Category: Systems
Clinical Correlations
Statin Pleiotropy: Unique Roles for a Common Medication
April 26, 2007
By: Melissa Freeman, MD, PGY1
For over a decade now, statins, or 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, have facilitated millions of patients in the management of their atherosclerosis. Statins are known for their ability to reduce hepatic lipoproteins, up-regulate …
How Do You Estimate Stroke Risk After a Transient Ischemic Attack?
April 24, 2007
By: Alana Choy-Shan, MD PGY-3
Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are known to be a harbinger of stroke, however it is difficult for physicians to estimate individual stroke risk. Previously, the two systems used to predict short-term risk of stroke after a …
Quick Thinking Part 4-The Conclusion
April 20, 2007
Welcome to Quick Thinking. A case is presented in short sections to a faculty expert who will comment on their approach to the patient as the case unfolds. These posts will focus on determining the initial differential diagnoses and diagnostic workups of complicated patient presentations.
Part …
New Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism-Part 2
April 19, 2007
Commentary By: Margaret Horlick, MD, PGY-3
New guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) were recently jointly issued by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Physicians. The guidelines are based on a systematic …
Don’t Pass the Olives…
April 18, 2007
This week, olives from several different companies were found to contain Clostridium Botulinum. No cases of botulism have been reported to date, but this is an opportunity to review the pertinent clinical findings.
Botulism is caused by exposure to the botulinum neurotoxin …
New Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism-Part 1
April 12, 2007
Commentary By: Margaret Horlick, MD, PGY-3
New guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) were recently jointly issued by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Physicians. The guidelines are based on a systematic …
Does Screening for Lung Cancer Improve Mortality?
April 10, 2007
Commentary By: Anna Dvorak, MDPGY-3
Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer mortality in both men and women. Screening patients at risk for lung cancer might reduce mortality if it helps find cancers at an early stage while they are …