The American journal of medicine
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Among patients in the emergency department, dyspnea is a common complaint and can pose a diagnostic challenge. Biomarkers are used increasingly to improve diagnostic accuracy and aid with prognostication in dyspneic patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical utility of serum procalcitonin (PCT) for the diagnosis of pneumonia in patients presenting to the emergency department with dyspnea. A secondary objective was to evaluate the prognostic value of PCT for death to 1 year. ⋯ In emergency department patients with acute dyspnea, PCT is an accurate diagnostic marker for pneumonia and adds independent prognostic information for 1-year mortality.
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We tested the noninferiority of a fast-track rule-out protocol for the diagnosis of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction vs noncoronary chest pain based on the single-sampling combined assessment of medium-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and ultra-sensitive copeptin compared with the serial assessment of medium-sensitivity cardiac troponin I. ⋯ A single-sampling strategy of combined ultra-sensitive copeptin and medium-sensitivity cardiac troponin I is noninferior to a 0- and 3-hour serial medium-sensitivity cardiac troponin I sampling in ruling out non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and thus may allow an earlier discharge of patients who are ruled out for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01962506).
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The role of smoking in sciatica is unknown. This study aimed to estimate the effect of smoking on lumbar radicular pain and clinically verified sciatica. ⋯ Smoking is a modest risk factor for lumbar radicular pain and clinically verified sciatica. Smoking cessation appears to reduce, but not entirely eliminate, the excess risk.
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Practice Guideline
An Evidence-based Guide for Obesity Treatment in Primary Care.
On behalf of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, we present a model of obesity management in primary care based on the 5As counseling framework (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, and Arrange). Primary care physicians can use the 5As framework to build and coordinate a multidisciplinary team that: 1) addresses patients' psychosocial issues and medical and psychiatric comorbidities associated with obesity treatment failure; 2) delivers intensive counseling that consists of goal setting, self-monitoring, and problem solving; and 3) connects patients with community resources to assist them in making healthy lifestyle changes. This paper outlines reimbursement guidelines and weight-management counseling strategies, and provides a framework for building a multidisciplinary team to maximize the patient's success at weight management.
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This article presents the results of a national survey addressing issues related to patients with limited English proficiency. ⋯ Internal Medicine residents care for many patients with limited English proficiency. While it seems clear that an effective training curriculum is necessary, such a curriculum was not found to be uniformly present. Additionally, the lack of faculty expertise and faculty development in cultural competency and health care disparities is a significant barrier to the correction of this problem.