Table of Contents

December 2, 2003; 139 (11)

Articles

  • Test Performance of Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography for Mediastinal Staging in Patients with Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

    • Michael K. Gould,
    • Ware G. Kuschner,
    • Chara E. Rydzak,
    • Courtney C. Maclean,
    • Anita N. Demas,
    • Hidenobu Shigemitsu,
    • Jo Kay Chan,
    • and Douglas K. Owens
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:879-892

    Positron emission tomography with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose is more accurate than computed tomography for mediastinal staging. However, it is more sensitive but less specific when computed tomography shows enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes.

  • Clinical Impact of Bleeding in Patients Taking Oral Anticoagulant Therapy for Venous Thromboembolism: A Meta-Analysis

    • Lori-Ann Linkins,
    • Peter T. Choi,
    • and James D. Douketis
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:893-900

    The authors found that anticoagulant-related major bleeding has a major impact in patients with venous thromboembolism, a factor that clinicians should take into account when deciding about long-term oral anticoagulant therapy in an individual patient.

  • Albuminuria and Cardiovascular Risk in Hypertensive Patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: The LIFE Study

    • Kristian Wachtell,
    • Hans Ibsen,
    • Michael H. Olsen,
    • Knut Borch-Johnsen,
    • Lars H. Lindholm,
    • Carl Erik Mogensen,
    • Björn Dahlöf,
    • Richard B. Devereux,
    • Gareth Beevers,
    • Ulf de Faire,
    • Frej Fyhrquist,
    • Stevo Julius,
    • Sverre E. Kjeldsen,
    • Krister Kristianson,
    • Ole Lederballe-Pedersen,
    • Markku S. Nieminen,
    • Peter M. Okin,
    • Per Omvik,
    • Suzanne Oparil,
    • Hans Wedel,
    • Steven M. Snapinn,
    • and Peter Aurup
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:901-906

    An increased urine albumin–creatinine ratio (UACR) is associated with increasing cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. The authors found no UACR values where risk was not affected by UACR.

  • Patient-Centered Communication, Ratings of Care, and Concordance of Patient and Physician Race

    • Lisa A. Cooper,
    • Debra L. Roter,
    • Rachel L. Johnson,
    • Daniel E. Ford,
    • Donald M. Steinwachs,
    • and Neil R. Powe
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:907-915

    When patients and physicians are of the same race, patients are more satisfied with care in the office setting. The authors found that having the same race did not affect patient-centered communication during the office visit, eliminating it as the factor responsible for differences in patient satisfaction. Increasing ethnic diversity among physicians may be the most direct strategy to improve health care experiences for members of ethnic minority groups.

Perspectives

  • The Discrepancy between Observational Studies and Randomized Trials of Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Did Expectations Shape Experience?

    • Nananda F. Col and
    • Stephen G. Pauker
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:923-929

    Differences between observational and randomized studies of the effects of menopausal hormone therapy (HT) on coronary heart disease (CHD) have been attributed to the fact that women who choose to use HT tend to be healthier than those who do not. Although this bias should affect all clinical outcomes with modifiable risk factors, estimates for stroke and pulmonary embolism were unaffected. Beliefs held by patients, clinicians, and investigators might have affected the detection of CHD outcomes in observational studies.

Clinical Guidelines

  • Screening for Obesity in Adults: Recommendations and Rationale

    • U.S. Preventive Services Task Force*
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:930-932

    The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that clinicians screen all adult patients for obesity and offer intensive counseling and behavioral interventions to promote sustained weight loss for obese adults. The Task Force concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against moderate- or low-intensity counseling or counseling in any form when coupled with behavioral interventions.

  • Screening and Interventions for Obesity in Adults: Summary of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

    • Kathleen M. McTigue,
    • Russell Harris,
    • Brian Hemphill,
    • Linda Lux,
    • Sonya Sutton,
    • Audrina J. Bunton,
    • and Kathleen N. Lohr
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:933-949

    This systematic review describes the evidence that led the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to its position on screening and interventions for obesity in adults.

Editorials

  • New Diagnostic Tests: Breakthrough Approaches or Expensive Add-ons?

    • Richard A. Deyo and
    • Jeffrey J. Jarvik
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:950-951

    Gould and colleagues' state-of-the-art meta-analysis on the accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) scanning for mediastinal staging in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer supports its use. However, the effect of PET scanning on patient outcomes is unknown, which is a major shortcoming of the evidence needed to support its wider use. Improved test sensitivity and specificity alone are not enough.

  • Moving beyond Black and White

    • Tom Delbanco
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:952-953

    Cooper and colleagues found that when patients and doctors were of the same race, they spent more time together during office visits and patients were more satisfied than when doctors were of a different race. These findings move us to the top of a slippery slope. Given that “separate but equal” should never be a goal, any move that segregates some patients and doctors from others could prove ruinous. Let's restate the question: How can we improve the way we work with our patients, no matter what our race or theirs?

Letters

  • Coronary Artery Disease and the Acute Coronary Syndrome

    • Tony J. DeMartini and
    • Henry S. Loeb
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:W-82

  • Peginterferon-Based Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients with Normal Alanine Aminotransferase Levels

    • Stefano Brillanti,
    • Fabio Levantesi,
    • Giovanni Nigro,
    • Susanna Vicari,
    • and Enrico Roda
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:W-83

  • Risk Factors and Secondary Prevention in Women with Heart Disease

    • Saif S. Rathore and
    • Harlan M. Krumholz
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:954

  • Risk Factors and Secondary Prevention in Women with Heart Disease

    • Michael G. Shlipak,
    • Eric Vittinghoff,
    • and Stephen Hulley
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:954-955

  • Diagnostic and Prognostic Testing in Pneumonia

    • Bernard M. Karnath and
    • Join Y. Luh
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:955

  • Diagnostic and Prognostic Testing in Pneumonia

    • Joshua P. Metlay and
    • Michael J. Fine
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:955

  • Helical Computed Tomography as a Test for Pulmonary Embolism

    • Arnaud Perrier and
    • Henri Bounameaux
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:955-956

  • Helical Computed Tomography as a Test for Pulmonary Embolism

    • Menno V. Huisman,
    • Marco J.L. van Strijen,
    • and Peter M.T. Pattynama
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:956

  • Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus Resulting from Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

    • Matthew J. Olnes,
    • Amit Golding,
    • and Peter W. Kaplan
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:956-958

  • A Decree against Inappropriate Medical Care in Italy

    • Aldo Mariotto
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:958

Book Listings

  • Book Listings

    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:0

Medical Notices

  • Medical Notices

    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:0

Summaries for Patients

  • Detecting Spread of Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer within the Chest

    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:I-18

  • Consequences of Serious Bleeding Complications from Warfarin

    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:I-22

  • Microalbuminuria Increases Risk for Heart Attacks and Strokes in Hypertensive Patients

    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:I-26

  • Communication in Health Care Visits when Doctors and Patients Have the Same versus Different Ethnic Backgrounds

    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:I-34

  • Screening for Obesity in Adults: Recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:I-57

Updates from the Annual Session

  • Update in Hematology

    • Edward D. Ball
    Ann Intern Med December 2, 2003 139:916-922

    This year's Update in Hematology focuses on 3 exciting topics in the field: nonablative hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, therapy targeted at specific alterations in cancer cells, and stem-cell plasticity. Groundbreaking research in the first 2 areas is changing standards of hematology care. The third area, hematopoietic stem-cell plasticity, is showing some early potential for future therapy.

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This Issue

December 2, 2003; 139 (11)
  1. Articles
  2. Perspectives
  3. Clinical Guidelines
  4. Editorials
  5. Letters
  6. Book Listings
  7. Medical Notices
  8. Summaries for Patients
  9. Updates from the Annual Session

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