Happy New Year and welcome to 2019! I hope your year
is starting well and thanks for reading our first issue of
the year. This issue contains excellent articles of value for
the practicing physician. The lead article on Hepatitis C
provides a review of a chronic disease process that has
undergone...
From the Editor
Letters to the Editor
8-9
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To the Editor: "Hi, Doctor Kamajian! I finally got health insurance that I can use to come to see you with my son.”
I looked at the chart and realized it had been three years since I had
seen her very familiar face. So, before the exam, we chatted and
got reacquainted. It is remarkable...
From the President's Desk
10-11
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Along with the ACOFP Board of Governors and Past Presidents, I would like to recognize the important work and years of dedication of our recently-retired Executive Director, Peter Schmelzer, MBA, CAE. Pete’s accomplishments include winning the American Osteopathic Association’s Bob E. Jones, CAE Ex...
Review Articles
12-19
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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis with at least 185 million people infected worldwide, causing 399,000 deaths annually. HCV is transmitted through blood or body fluids. Transmission most commonly occurs thr...
20-26
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Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) has become a common diagnosis in the primary care setting. It is characterized by intermittent abdominal pain lasting for at least six months. The list of causes in the differential diagnosis is extensive. The costs associated with diagnostic workup is an exp...
28-32
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Skin and soft tissue Infections (SSTIs) encompass a broad range of pathologies and represent a significant reason for outpatient visits. It is important to distinguish between complicated and uncomplicated SSTIs, which differ in terms of its presentation, severity, and treatment options....
33-37
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Treat the Whole Not Just the Hole
Holistic Wound Care Approach
The key to successful wound care lies in the provider’s ability to accurately identify etiology of the wounds and recognize factors that may contribute to their chronicity. Some of the most commonly encountered and clinically significant barriers include macro- or micro-angiopathic disea...
Brief Reports
38-42
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Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder affecting 36,000 – 60,000 Americans. This article reviews the incidence, presentation, immune system markers and various treatment options for this illness. Family physicians must be aware of this disorder as they may be the first health profes...
Clinical Images
43-44
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This article was designed to be read as a PDF. Please download the PDF for the best reading experience. A 13-year-old obese (BMI >95% for age) African American male
presented with dark brown papules on the trunk that had been
present for several months. The rash began on the central chest
and...
Patient Education Handouts
47
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WHAT IS MRSA?
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA is a type of bacteria (germ) that can cause
a very serious and difficult to treat infection. People carry many types of bacteria in their body
and on their skin. The immune system is usually able to control these bacteria, so they ...
Abdominal pain is a very
common concern for patients
of all ages and may become
chronic if your symptoms
fail to improve over a
period of several months.
Abdominal pain can be due
to many causes, including
constipation, a urinary tract
infection, gallbladder dise...
The Hepatitis C virus is a leading cause of chronic liver disease.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are
about 71 million people with chronic hepatitis C infection.
There are about 2.4 million people in the US according to the US
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
...