A Predictive Morphometric Model for the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
C.A. Kushida, B. Efron, and C. Guilleminault
A morphometric model that combines measurements of the oral cavity with body mass index and neck circumference provides a rapid, accurate, and reproducible method for predicting whether patients in an ambulatory setting have the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
Efficacy of Automatic Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy That Uses an Estimated Required Pressure in the Treatment of the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
F. Seriès and I. Marc
For treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, an automatic continuous positive airway pressure device can be used with an estimated reference pressure, making a titration sleep study unnecessary. The positive pressure trend can be used to determine whether treatment failure is caused by inadequate pressure and to determine the appropriate amount of pressure.
Use of Low-Dose Oral Contraceptives and Stroke in Young Women
S.M. Schwartz, D.S. Siscovick, W.T. Longstreth Jr., B.M. Psaty, R.K. Beverly, T.E. Raghunathan, D. Lin, and T.D. Koepsell
In women 18 to 44 years of age in western Washington State, overall risk for stroke was not increased in current users of low-dose oral contraceptives. Larger studies are needed to clarify the relation of risk for stroke to past use of oral contraceptives and the possible association between norgestrel-containing oral contraceptives and hemorrhagic stroke.
Endoscopic Ultrasonography, Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy Guided by Endoscopic Ultrasonography, and Computed Tomography in the Preoperative Staging of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Comparison Study
F.G. Gress, T.J. Savides, A. Sandler, K. Kesler, D. Conces, O. Cummings, P. Mathur, S. Ikenberry, S. Bilderback, and R. Hawes
Endoscopic ultrasonography, alone or with fine-needle aspiration biopsy, provides useful diagnostic information in identifying metastasis to posterior mediastinal or subcarinal lymph nodes in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. These procedures are especially helpful in the preoperative evaluation of patients with suspicious contralateral mediastinal or "bulky" subcarinal nodes.
Granulomatous Disease in Common Variable Immunodeficiency
L.J. Mechanic, S. Dikman, and C. Cunningham-Rundles
Dysregulated T-cell function or macrophage activation may be involved in formation of granulomas and increased illness in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia and common variable immunodeficiency. Delay in the recognition of antibody deficiency may contribute to the severity of illness in these patients.
Peripheral Nerves Regenerated in Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy after Liver Transplantation
S. Ikeda, Y. Takei, N. Yanagisawa, H. Matsunami, Y. Hashikura, T. Ikegami, and S. Kawasaki
In a 34-year-old woman with familial amyloid polyneuropathy, peripheral nerves regenerated after liver transplantation.
HLA-B27-Associated Cardiac Disease
L. Bergfeldt
This review examines the available information on cardiac disease in relation to the immunogenetic marker HLA-B27 and inflammatory disorders associated with it.
The Generalist/Cardiovascular Specialist: A Proposal for a New Training Track
V. Fuster and I.S. Nash
The economic forces reshaping health care in the United States have prompted examination of the appropriate roles of specialist and generalist physicians. This examination has been particularly intense in the field of cardiovascular care, which has recently experienced rapid growth but is now under pressure to reduce its ranks. A new generalist/cardiovascular specialist training track and a reduction in the number of standard fellowship training positions in cardiovascular disease may achieve the seemingly disparate goals of providing high-quality cardiovascular care while increasing the relative supply of generalists.
Smallpox: The Triumph over the Most Terrible of the Ministers of Death
N. Barquet and P. Domingo
Smallpox was one of humankind's greatest scourges until Edward Jenner, at the end of the 18th century, performed an experiment that laid the foundation for its eradication.
Tissue Is the Issue: Is Endoscopic Ultrasonography with or without Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy in the Staging of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer an Advance?
P. White Jr. And D.S. Ettinger
Should endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration replace computed tomography for the evaluation of posterior mediastinal lymph nodes in cases of suspected lung cancer? The data presented by Gress and colleagues in this issue are promising, but the role of this technique in clinical practice has not been fully defined.
Coming to Grips with Large Databases
C. Laine
The supplement that accompanies this issue, "Measuring Quality, Outcomes, and Cost of Care Using Large Databases," may strike some readers as an odd companion to Annals. Why should typical Annals readers—internists devoted primarily to patient care—concern themselves with large health care databases?
The Prison Patient
M.D.S. Klein
Dr. Bennett drove to the state prison in the least moments before dawn.
Charon
C. Parkhurst
Two of Them
J. Coulehan
Transesophageal Echocardiography-Guided Cardioversion: Going for Broke?
A.L. Klein, R.D. Murray, and R.A. Grimm; E.N. Prystowsky
Amiodarone and Thyroid Function
M.L. Isidro, R. Argüeso, and F. Cordido; J.R. Biddle; K.J. Harjai and A.A. Licata
Depression and Primary Care
H.A. Pincus and H. Sacks; K. Kroenke
Over-the-Counter Chromium and Renal Failure
M.F. McCarty; J.N. Hathcock; H.J. Michenfelder, J. Thompson, and M. Shepherd; B. Mennen; W.G. Wasser, S.A. Yusuf, and V.D. D'Agai
Early Detection of Prostate Cancer
T. Ashley and M. Knuth; S.L. Winters; M.J. Barry and C.M. Coley
The Role of Carotid Bruit in Screening for Carotid Stenosis
T. Rea; T.T. Lee, P.A. Heidenreich, and N.A. Solomon
A Physician's Hamlet
P. Gonnella; J.F. Burnum
Correction: Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Correction: Autoimmunity and Aplastic Anemia
Book Notes
Less-Is-More Approach May Work for Detecting Cancer Recurrence