October 2013

As Editor-in-Chief of Family Practice Recertification (FPR), it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the launch of the online version of what is, for many of you, an "old friend."

This 44-year-old man presented to a clinic with multiple dark lesions on his lower extremities. When the lesions first appeared eight months ago, they were slightly raised, pink in color, and intensely itchy, but after repeated excoriation, they have become increasingly dark. The patient reports that a biopsy was inconclusive and creams and an oral medication have not helped his condition. In addition to his leg lesions, there is some involvement of the thigh, buttocks, and penis. He denies any past medical history or other medications. What condition does this man have?

Does consumption of omega-3 (n−3) fatty acids reduce cardiovascular outcomes in patients without myocardial infarction who have multiple cardiac risk factors?

Examining the right foot of a 54-year-old male reveals a red, swollen, warm, and exquisitely tender right first toe joint. What is the differential diagnosis?

An analysis on the complication rates associated with IUD placement aimed to determine whether the contraceptive method is appropriate for teenagers.

At what age should solid foods be introduced to infants in order to alter their risk of atopic disorders?

A systematic review of 14 randomized controlled trials found a probiotic Lactobacillus strain taken daily lowers the risk of acute upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) without increasing the risk of adverse events.

Does arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for symptomatic patients with a meniscal tear and knee osteoarthritis results in better functional outcomes than physical therapy?

Though one annual report suggests that a vast majority of healthcare providers will incorporate smartphones and mobile tablets in their practices by 2014, another projects the opposite scenario.

Though the Association of American Medical College (AAMC) has projected that the US will face a shortage of 65,800 primary care providers (PCPs) and family practitioners by 2025, the anticipated growth in the implementation of health information technology (HIT) over the next 18 years may offset the demand for those physicians.

A diagnostic radiologist misinterprets a month-old infant's anterior-posterior (AP) chest radiograph and AP and lateral skull radiographs as being "positive" for bilateral parietal bone fractures.