Family Medicine

This is a 23-year-old female admitted for the first time who provides the history of congenital right chest wall deformity, right hypoplastic breast and absent right pectoralis muscles (1). Preliminary upright PA, lateral and right posterior oblique radiographs were obtained to evaluate the osseous and soft tissues of the thorax prior to cosmetic surgery and repair. No past history was made available.

The American Academy of Family Physicians is launching a 3-year public relations and lobbying campaign to "tackle issues ranging from payment reform to workforce development," the organization announced. Discussing the plan at his inaugural address to the AAFM Assembly Oct. 22, Robert Wergin, MD, the group's new president, said the slogan for the effort will be "Health Is Primary."

The new Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis medications that were recently approved will help with treatment for patients but are not a cure for the condition.

Hypersomnia may not receive the amount of attention as other sleep disorders like sleep apnea, but it affects up to 5% of the population and left untreated can significantly diminish a patient's quality of life.

The area of sleep study is only around 30 years old but there are still new advancements that can help improve the daily life of a patient.

As part of the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians new information was rolled out on the "Live Well" Campaign aimed at helping patients with COPD.

AstraZeneca today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved once-daily Xigduo XR (dapagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride extended-release) for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Results from a phase 2 trial, published recently in The New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that treatment with 150 mg of nintedanib slowed lung-function decline and decreased acute exacerbations in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Family practice has a reputation for being a low-tech, hands-on specialty. But speaking in a keynote address at the American Academy of Family Physicians Assembly Oct. 26 , Eric Topol, MD told his audience they would do well to use more technologically sophisticated devices.

Research and real-world experience has shown interventions such as constraint therapy, botulinum toxin therapy, and interactive computer play to be effective in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.

"All kinds of obesity cause asthma," declared Akshay Sood, MBBS, FCCP during his presentation at CHEST 2014. In the scope of synergistic epidemics, the question of what kind of obesity causes asthma is a rather relevant one.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the approval of Trumenba, the first vaccine licensed in the US to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B.

Carpal tunnel syndrome pain is effectively reduced using topical menthol gel, according to a study from Denmark.

Pain and depression, but not disability, stem from sleep disturbances in patients with osteoarthritis, suggests a study published in Arthritis Care & Research.

In a presentation delivered at CHEST 2014, Edward Kerwin, MD, discussed the safety and efficacy of the twice-daily COPD treatment SUN-101, a glycopyrrolate inhalation solution delivered via nebulizer.

Stephen Rennard, MD, and his team focused their study on the assessment of long-term efficacy and safety of aclidinium bromide 400µg BID, an approved treatment option for patients afflicted with moderate to severe COPD.

For many people smoking may be a leading cause of being diagnosed with COPD. That may not always be the case which can require additional testing and treatment.

PET scans can determine if psychodynamic therapy will be an effective treatment for depression patients, according to a study published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

Vaccines do not contribute to multiple sclerosis or other central nervous system demyelinating syndrome onset, according to a study published in JAMA Neurology.

While the survival rate for lung transplantation may be low compared with other transplant surgeries, advances in technology have helped increase the success rate.

Research presented at the 43rd Annual Child Neurology Society Meeting suggests neurological differences associated with autism spectrum disorders may be identifiable by as early as 6-9 months of age.

With Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms growing in popularity, physicians are facing more pressure from patients to incorporate these tools into practice. This can be a difficult decision; however, for some the benefits will greatly outweigh the risks.

Data show a significant increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the US over the last 15 years. More work is needed to identify the genetic and environmental factors associated with increased ASD risk.

With the approval of two new drugs for the treatment of IPF, patients who otherwise would have only had lung transplantation as a treatment option now have a new way to improve their quality of life.

Research has shown that comorbid epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder is fairly common, with several factors appearing to influence risk.

Richard ZuWallack, MD, a specialist in pulmonary rehabilitation from St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, CT, presented results from 2 studies highlighting lung function improvement in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

As hospitals in the United States receive patients with suspected cases of Ebola virus infection, health care professionals are learning more about treatment of the virus and how best to protect themselves.

During a presentation at CHEST 2014, Marcos Restrepo, MD, FCCP, reviewed the data showing a link between inhaled corticosteroids and the risk of pneumonia. He also discussed the types of inhaled corticosteroids and the dose that is associated most with the development of pneumonia, as well as what impact they may have on clinical outcomes.

Over the past few decades, knowledge of COPD has grown exponentially, including new approaches to treating the condition. Doctors now have more options beyond surgery and anticipate having even more in the future.

For patients diagnosed with occupational asthma, sometimes taking a step as simple as leaving work can improve their condition. For others, finding relief may be a much more involved process that requires more comprehensive treatment.