Primary Care Management of Skin Abscesses Guided by Ultrasound.

Background: Primary care providers often manage skin abscesses in the outpatient setting. Estimating the size and depth of an abscess, and distinguishing abscess from cellulitis by clinical examination can be challenging due to surrounding firm tissue induration. Definitive treatment of abscess requires incision and drainage, and the approach chosen may be altered by abscess size, depth, and surrounding neurovascular structures.

Use of Ultrasound by Internists to Improve Diagnostic Small Joint Aspiration.

Background: Primary care internists are often the first to see patients with an initial episode of crystalline arthritis. Timely aspiration of the affected joint for definitive diagnosis and treatment in the office is desirable but can be difficult, especially if the joint is small, surrounded by soft tissue swelling distorting landmarks, and is very painful to move or palpate.

Methods: We compared the likelihood of successful aspiration of the great toe metatarsophalangeal joint by primary care internists for the diagnosis of potential crystalline arthritis by either landmark identification of the joint space or by employing ultrasound to identify the joint space.

Changes in body composition in women following treatment of overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism.

Objective: To determine changes in weight, body composition, and bone density after treatment of overt hyperthyroidism (OH) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (SCH) in women.

Methods: Women with OH and SCH referred to the Mayo Clinic Thyroid Clinic were recruited. Hyperthyroid patients and euthyroid control women were matched for age (within decade) and body mass index.

Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy in hypoadrenal women: protein anabolism and skeletal muscle function.

Objective: To determine whether dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) replacement therapy in hypoadrenal women improves performance, muscle protein accretion, and mitochondrial functions.

Participants And Methods: Thirty-three hypoadrenal women were enrolled in the study from May 1, 2002, through May 31, 2003. Twenty-eight completed a 12-week, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study with either daily placebo or 50 mg of DHEA with a 2-week washout period and then crossed over to the other treatment.