JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants articles from January 2005

JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants archives from January 2005

JAAPA has a new publisher.(News of current interest)(Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Academy's peer-reviewed clinical journal, the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, has moved to a new publisher, Haymarket Media, effective with this issue. Haymarket Media is the US branch of Haymarket Publishing, which...

Thirty-seven percent of PAs work in hospitals.(News of current interest)(physician assistants)
January 1, 2005... Data from the AAPA's 2004 Annual Physician Assistant Census survey show that more than one third of all PAs reported that their primary work setting is a hospital. Almost two thirds (64%) of respondents reported seeing patients in at least one...

AAPA members offered membership in American College of Physicians.(News of current interest)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The world's largest internal medicine society, the American College of Physicians (ACP), will allow AAPA members to join their organization under a new affiliate class of membership. The membership is available exclusively to PAs who are fellow...

AAPA launches Legislative Action Center.(News of current interest)(American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... AAPA members can now get in touch with their legislators instantly through the AAPA's new Legislative Action Center. In addition to allowing PAs and PA students to quickly contact their elected officials about issues important to PAs, the...

Nominating Committee announces candidates for general election.(News of current interest)(American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The AAPA Nominating Committee met on December 4, 2004, to review materials submitted by candidates for the 2005 general election for AAPA board members. Four positions are open: president elect, secretary, and two director-at-large positions....

Annual PA conference housing/registration forms now available.(News of current interest)
January 1, 2005... The AAPA Web site is now accepting housing reservations and advance registration for the 2005 Annual Physician Assistant Conference to be held in Orlando, Florida, May 28 to June 2. The 33rd Annual PA Conference provides great value for the...

Opportunity knocks: publishing more of what PAs need to know.(Editorial)
January 1, 2005... Opportunity (as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary) is the right moment to take action toward a definite goal. Since January 1, 2005, JAAPA, the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, has had a new publisher,...

Surgeon general launches new public health campaign: the family history initiative.(In the news: commentary on advances in medicine)
January 1, 2005... "Genes draw your road map, but you still chart your course. And a genetic predisposition is just that: it is not destiny but rather a tendency that can be encouraged or discouraged to express itself by how we live our lives." So said health and...

Oral rehydration therapy in children with acute gastroenteristis: oral rehydration therapy--it's the treatment of choice for dehydration in young children with diarrhea. Which type works best? Why is ORT so effective? How can you administer it to your patients?(Recertification Refresher)
January 1, 2005... Every 14 seconds, a child dies of dehydration secondary to diarrhea. (1) The problem is not isolated to developing countries: Each year in the United States, diarrhea accounts for 300 deaths, more than 200,000 hospitalizations, and 1.5 million...

Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy after the Women's Health Initiative: based on WHI findings, women taking HRT might expect to experience 19 more events per year per 10,000 women than will women who don't take hormones. How do these results apply to your patients?(Women's Health Initiative)
January 1, 2005... Until relatively recently, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was used to relieve a variety of menopausal symptoms and for the prevention of osteoporosis. In addition, HRT was prescribed for prevention of a number of chronic conditions, and many...

CME Post-test.(continuing medical education for physicians' assistants)
January 1, 2005... EXPIRATION DATE JANUARY 2006 Please take this CME Post-test online at www.aapa.org. Ulrickson M. Oral rehydration therapy in children with acute gastroenteritis, JAAPA. 2005; 18(1):24-29. Doty TJ. Postmenopausal hormone replacement...

Acute carbon monoxide exposure: diagnosis, evaluation, treatment: carbon monoxide--odorless, colorless, tasteless ... and deadly. What can you do about this poison? How can you identify and treat the victims?
January 1, 2005... Exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) can cause significant morbidity, including cardiac complications, neurologic disorders, and, in some cases, death. When patients present with acute CO poisoning, they are often unaware that such exposure is the...

Genetic testing: understanding the basics: the most challenging aspect of ordering genetic testing is not understanding the tests themselves, but rather educating patients so that they truly understand the benefits, risks, and limitations of testing.(Genomic Medicine)
January 1, 2005... The AAPA has formally recognized the importance of genetic testing in a recent policy statement: "AAPA believes that practicing physician assistants should be aware of the advantages, limitations and dangers of testing for human genetic...

Widespread rash in a man with leukemia.(Dermatology digest: a derm photo quiz)(genetic testing for factor V Leiden)(diagnosing tuberculoid leprosy)
January 1, 2005... A 75-year-old man from the Texas Gulf Coast was referred to the dermatology clinic at our institution for evaluation. He had developed a generalized skin eruption a couple of weeks after being started on dapsone (Avlosulfon) for a skin...

One day at a time.(In retrospect: reflective essays from PAs)(a physician assistant's view of Alcoholics Anonymous)
January 1, 2005... The AA meeting was held in a stuffy basement filled with circa-1970s multicolored plastic chairs lined up in neat little rows in the middle of the floor. The fluorescent lighting and the color of the walls bathed everything in a yellow hue;...

Chelation therapy for heart disease.(When the patient ask: brief reviews of you and your patient)
January 1, 2005... Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, (1) and many patients are seeking new treatments. One such treatment--IV chelation therapy--has become increasingly popular. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH),...

Chelation therapy for heart disease.(Patient information: from your physician assistant)
January 1, 2005... Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Many people are looking for ways to prevent a heart attack or stroke. Some of them are using a treatment called chelation therapy. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a...

CME calendar.(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... ALABAMA April 1-3 2005 Annual CME Conference. Where: Birmingham. Provider: Alabama Society of PAs. Information: nsmunroe@hiwaay.net. CALIFORNIA February 23-27 14th Annual Winter PA Board Review. Where: Pasadena. Provider: Keck...

Physical therapy adds little to back pain treatment.(POEMs)
January 1, 2005... Clinical question Do patients with back pain who undergo physical therapy benefit more than those simply given advice to remain active? Bottom line Physical therapy sessions do not offer any additional benefit over simple advice to remain...

ACE inhibitors beneficial in diabetics.(POEMs)(angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor)
January 1, 2005... Clinical question Are ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers beneficial in patients with diabetes who have microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria? Bottom line Treatment with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, but not...

Lamivudine slows progression in Hep B with advanced fibrosis.(POEMs)
January 1, 2005... Clinical question Is lamivudine safe and effective for the treatment of hepatitis B in patients with advanced liver disease? Bottom line For every 10 patients with chronic hepatitis B and advanced liver disease who take lamivudine instead...

Optimal oral antiplatelet therapy for vascular disease.(POEMs)
January 1, 2005... Clinical question Which antiplatelet agents, used alone or in combination, are effective in preventing recurrent vascular events? Bottom line Aspirin is the recommended oral first-line antiplatelet therapy for patients with ST-segment...

Ductal lavage ineffective in finding breast cancer.(POEMs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Clinical question Is ductal lavage effective in detecting breast cancer? Bottom line In this small study, ductal lavage is an insensitive test for detecting breast cancer. (Level of evidence = 2b) Khan SA, Wiley EL, Rodriguez N, et al....

Case of the month: diagnostics challenges from your case files.(endometriosis of the colon and rectum)
January 1, 2005... CASE The patient is a 32-year-old black female whose gastroenterologist referred her to our ob/gyn practice with a complaint of mucous coming out of her rectum. She had no significant pain or dyspareunia. Her menstrual cycles have been...