Internal Medicine

Medscape's Ask the Experts allows you to ask members of a panel of leading experts for advice or information. You also have the opportunity to share your own views and insights by clicking the "Discuss this" link at the top of each response.

• The Role of Screening in Patients With Nonhereditary Chronic Pancreatitis What are the current recommendations for screening of asymptomatic individuals for pancreatic cancer in the setting of nonhereditary chronic pancreatitis?
  General Gastroenterology, July 2008
• Insulin: A Last Resort? Why is insulin often seen as a last resort?
  Insulin Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes, June 2008
• Is There a Limit to the Analgesic Effect of Pain Medications? Dr. Sergey Motov explores the ceiling effects of analgesics commonly used in the ED: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and opioids.
  Emergency Medicine Management, June 2008
• What Is the Value of "Baseline Coagulation" Studies in Patients Starting Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin and Warfarin Therapy? Dr. Robert Glatter discusses the role of baseline coagulation studies in patients beginning low-molecular-weight heparin and warfarin therapy.
  Emergency Medicine Management, June 2008
• How Do I Differentiate Normal Aging of the Skin From Pathologic Conditions? I see a lot of geriatric patients. How do I distinguish normal aging of the skin from pathologic conditions?
  Primary Care for Advanced Practice Nurses, June 2008
• Do Incontinence Drugs Affect Cognition in the Elderly? What is the role of anticholinergic bladder control medications in patients taking acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for dementia? Do they affect cognition?
  Pharmacotherapy, June 2008
• Pregnancy and Pulmonary Embolism: Which Imaging Study Should Be Used? An evaluation to rule out PE during pregnancy is especially challenging due to concerns regarding fetal radiation exposure.
  Emergency Medicine Management, June 2008
• Should Anticoagulants Be Discontinued Before a Bronchoscopy? In patients on chronic anticoagulation because of atrial fibrillation, should the anticoagulant therapy be discontinued before undergoing a bronchoscopic procedure with biopsy?
  Pharmacotherapy, June 2008
• Can Opiates Be Administered by Nebulizer? Some clinicians are using nebulized morphine to treat pain and breathlessness in patients with COPD and CHF, but is there evidence to back that up?
  Pharmacotherapy, May 2008
• Roundworm Transmission From Dogs to Humans: Risk and Prevention What are the risks for transmission of roundworm from an infected puppy to humans, and what preventive measures can be taken? An expert infectious disease veterinarian addresses a reader's concern.
  May 2008
• Can Patients With Liver Cirrhosis Take Warfarin? Can patients with liver cirrhosis who already have a prolonged INR receive warfarin therapy if needed for other indications? If so, how do we assess anticoagulant activity?
  Pharmacotherapy, May 2008
• What Should I Do When I Suspect That a Patient Is Suicidal? I work in a primary care setting. What is the best course of action if I suspect that a patient is suicidal?
  Primary Care for Advanced Practice Nurses, May 2008
• How Can We Prevent Functional Deterioration in the Hospitalized Elderly? I work in a long-term care setting and we often find that after a resident is hospitalized, they suffer setbacks in mobility and functional status. Can anything be done to prevent this?
  Geriatrics for Advanced Practice Nurses, May 2008
• What Are the Risks of Contracting MRSA From Domesticated Animals? Is there a risk of contracting MRSA from domesticated animals? An expert answers a reader's question about disease transmission from animals to humans.
  May 2008
• When Do Adults With Otitis Media With Effusion Need an ENT Referral? When should I make a surgical referral for possible tympanostomy tubes in an adult patient with otitis media with effusion?
  Primary Care for Advanced Practice Nurses, May 2008
• Is Surveillance Recommended for Patients With Crohn's Colitis? Should patients with Crohn's colitis undergo the same surveillance as those with chronic ulcerative colitis? Sunanda V. Kane, MD, MSPH, FACG, explores the issues.
  General Gastroenterology, May 2008
• How Does TMS Work in Treating Refractory Depression? What is the pharmacologic mechanism of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?
  Pharmacotherapy, May 2008
• Are Topical Patches Safe During MRI or CT Scans? Staff members at diagnostic clinics often remove patients' topical patches before they undergo an MRI or CT scan. Is this necessary?
  Pharmacotherapy, May 2008
• Treatment Options for Rheumatoid Fibrosing Alveolitis Robert Fox, MD, provides commentary on the treatment options for rheumatoid fibrosing alveolitis.
  Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, and Metabolic Disorders with Autoimmune Features, May 2008
• Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer: What Is the Optimal Sequence? Does the sequence of adjuvant chemotherapy and RT affect outcomes for breast cancer patients? Dr. Thomas Buchholz summarizes the findings of several studies that may shed light on this question.
  Breast Cancer, April 2008

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