Articles related to Family Medicine/General Practice

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is associated with increased risk for fractures, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and cancer, along with increased mortality. In mild PHPT with modest hypercalcemia and without known morbidities, parathyroidectomy is debated because no long-term randomized trials have been performed related to it.

Drinking beer and spirits is linked to elevated levels of visceral fat, which is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and other health complications. Moderate wine consumption shows no such association with levels of this harmful fat and may even protect against it.

Hyperglycemia is associated with poor clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. Most medical societies recommend less stringent glucose control, in the range of 140 to 180 mg/dL, for critically ill patients. In this population, although glucose management is essential, hypoglycemia is associated with increased mortality. Enhancing the amount of time glucose levels are in the target range and minimizing glycemic variability have been associated with improved outcomes in critically ill patients.

Follow this case study of a 71-year-old man found to have significant, asymptomatic hypokalemia discovered in routine outpatient lab work. How would you manage this patient?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the US continued to rise during the first year of the pandemic. For the first time in seven years, the overall number of reported STD cases was lower than the previous year, but the CDC attributed the drop-off to a decline in reported cases of chlamydia — the nation’s most common STD — that was likely a result of pandemic-related interruptions to screening.

New research into intermittent fasting has found that the practice is generally safe, producing few gastrointestinal, neurologic, hormonal, or metabolic effects. Additionally, the research found that intermittent fasting is on par with traditional calorie-restricted diets for weight loss.