JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants articles from July 2007

JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants archives from July 2007

Majority polled willing to be treated by PAs.(FROM THE AAPA)(physician assistants)(Survey)
July 1, 2007... In April, AAPA, with assistance from an outside communications firm, participated in a national survey that showed high awareness of and strong positive feelings toward the PA profession. Two out of three adults who responded to a nationwide...

CME programs available to military PAs.(FROM THE AAPA)(continuing medical education)(physician assistants)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... During its annual conference, AAPA thanked representatives of the Graduate Education Foundation (GEF) for its partnership in developing a CME service for PAs in the military. AAPA, the PA Foundation, and GEF joined together in March to offer...

AAPA EVP/CEO announces resignation.(FROM THE AAPA)(Steve Crane of the American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... After almost 14 years at AAPA, Executive Vice President/CEO Steve Crane has accepted a new position as executive director of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in New York City. His resignation is effective August 31. ATS is an international...

On the OxyContin scandal: don't abandon patients in pain.(EDITORIAL)
July 1, 2007... Purdue Pharma recently announced a resolution to a 4-year investigation by the United States Attorney's Office in the Western District of Virginia involving the promotion of OxyContin (oxycodone HCl controlled-release) tablets. (1) As part of...

New Drug Information.(Veramyst )(Drug overview)
July 1, 2007... PRODUCT: Veramyst COMPANY: GlaxoSmithKline PHARMACOLOGIC CLASS: Corticosteroid ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Fluticasone furoate 27.5 micrograms/spray; alcohol-free. INDICATION: Seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis. ...

Multiple bumps seen on the heels.(Dermatology Digest)(Case study)
July 1, 2007... CASE A 25-year-old white female was referred to the dermatology clinic by her primary care provider for evaluation of bumps on her heels. The patient reported that the bumps had been on her heels, unchanged and asymptomatic, for "as long...

Treatments of STDS: updated guidelines from the CDC.(Clinical Watch)(sexually transmitted diseases)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
July 1, 2007... Who should read this? All PAs who see patients who are at risk for, or exposed to, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). What's new? More than 18 million cases of STDs are diagnosed annually. Of these, at least half occur in...

Acute Charcot's arthropathy: a difficult diagnosis: typically occurring in a neuropathic foot or ankle, this joint destruction must be treated properly and in a timely manner to prevent development of severe foot deformity.(CME)(Disease/Disorder overview)
July 1, 2007... In 2005, the CDC estimated that 20.8 million people in the United States, or 7% of the population, were riving with diabetes. (1) Peripheral neuropathy, a major complication of diabetes found in nearly 30% of diabetic patients aged 40 years or...

Lumbar artery avulsion after a low-energy Chance fracture.(The Surgical Patient)(Case study)
July 1, 2007... Fractures of the lumbar spine are common, but vascular injuries associated with such fractures are rare. We At describe the case of an elderly woman who sustained a lumbar fracture with an associated lumbar artery avulsion and subsequent...

A rare, opportunistic disease in a patient with AIDS: PML is a demyelinating disease that affects immunosuppressed patients. PML associated with AIDS is difficult to treat, and the prognosis for those afflicted is generally poor.(CASE REPORT)(progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy)(Disease/Disorder overview)(Case study)
July 1, 2007... CASE A 41-year-old African-American man presented to the hospital with slurred speech, left facial droop, and ataxia of 3 weeks' duration. Serologic test results were positive for HIV-1 infection with a [CD4.sup.+] cell count of 31...

What are the best screening instruments for PPD? An accurate and prompt diagnosis is essential to minimizing suffering from postpartum depression. These three instruments can help identify women at risk.(postpartum depression)
July 1, 2007... Each year, 500,000 women in the United States struggle with postpartum depression (PPD). One of every eight postpartum women is affected, making PPD the most common complication of childbirth. (1) Despite this disturbing prevalence, PPD does...

Hypochondriasis: meeting the management challenge: patients who remain convinced they are ill despite all medical evidence to the contrary are among the most difficult to care for in all of medicine.(Disease/Disorder overview)
July 1, 2007... The days when patients used to obtain most of their health information from physicians--and only limited information at that--have long since passed. Now, the medicolegal requirements of informed consent and the pressures of consumer demand...

Posttest Expiration date: JULY 2008.
July 1, 2007... CHARCOT'S ARTHROPATHY 1. A key factor in the development of neuropathic arthropathy is a. Decreased local blood flow b. Loss of hyaline cartilage c. An unrecognized injury d. Synovial proliferation 2. According to the anatomic...

Twenty-year timeline of developments in medicine and the PA profession.(Then and Now)(physician assistant)(Chronology)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... 1987 Approximately 20,000 PAs eligible to practice Medicare coverage for services provided by PAs in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisting in surgery goes into effect 52 accredited PA programs 4 PA programs award master's...

What is the impact of postgraduate education for PAs?(Research Corner)(physicians' assistants)
July 1, 2007... While the discussion over the value and impact of postgraduate PA training programs (PA residences) has persisted for at least three decades, recently the issue has taken on greater importance. The profession has begun an accreditation process...

Q: Should I get the shingles vaccine?(When the Patient Asks)
July 1, 2007... Herpes zoster, or shingles, is caused by the reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) within the sensory ganglia. The term shingles comes from the Latin word cingulum, which means belt or girdle, and refers to the characteristic...

Q: Should I get the shingles vaccine?(Patient Information)
July 1, 2007... WHAT IS SHINGLES? Shingles is a disease caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. It is also known as herpes zoster. After chickenpox is healed, the virus that caused the infection stays dormant, or sleeping, in the cells of the...

Rapid antigen test reduces antibiotic use in adult sore throat.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)
July 1, 2007... Clinical question What is the best strategy for diagnosing strep throat in adults? Bottom line The use of a rapid antigen test reduces antibiotic use in adults with sore throat better than usual care and better than the use of a clinical...

Sertraline is ineffective for hot flushes.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Clinical question Is sertraline an effective treatment for menopausal hot flushes? Bottom line Sertraline is no better than placebo for the treatment of menopausal hot flushes. (Level of evidence = 1b) Synopsis This was a well-designed...

High-protein, low-carb diet is associated with increased mortality in women.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Clinical question Is a diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates beneficial to women's health? Bottom line There is an association between women's mortality risk and a diet that is low in carbohydrates, high in protein, or both. The...

Adding methotrexate to sulfasalazine is better for rheumatoid arthritis.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)
July 1, 2007... Clinical question In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who do not respond to sulfasalazine, does adding methotrexate provide better outcomes than either drug used alone? Bottom line In patients with RA treated with sulfasalazine,...

Sustained-release ropinirole improves symptoms in advanced Parkinson's.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)
July 1, 2007... Clinical question Does sustained-release ropinirole, as adjunctive therapy to levodopa, improve symptoms in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease? Bottom line Sustained-release ropinirole is better than placebo for decreasing...

A man with an unusual sequela of alcoholism.(Diagnostic Imaging Review)(Case study)
July 1, 2007... CASE A 55-year-old male presented to the emergency department with history of vomiting. He appeared acutely ill and complained of experiencing excruciating lower left chest pain. He had a history of coronary artery disease and was an...

Case of the Month.(Case study)
July 1, 2007... CASE A 28-year-old white female presented to her primary-care provider complaining of flashes in her right eye that had started after a flulike illness and a tension headache that had lasted for 2 weeks. The flashes began in the peripheral...