Clinical Inquiries
Clinical Inquiries
Do annual pelvic exams benefit asymptomatic women who receive regular Pap smears?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No evidence exists to support a clinical benefit from annual pelvic examinations for asymptomatic women who receive Pap...
Clinical Inquiries
Which risk factors and signs and symptoms are associated with coccidioidomycosis?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Risk factors for coccidioidomycosis, or valley fever, include lower respiratory tract symptoms lasting longer than 14 days...
Clinical Inquiries
Is immediate-release topiramate an effective treatment for adult obesity?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes. Topiramate (at daily doses of 64-400 mg) produces an average 5.34 kg of additional weight loss compared with placebo (...
Clinical Inquiries
Does any antidepressant besides bupropion help smokers quit?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes, nortriptyline approximately doubles smoking cessation rates, an effect comparable to bupropion. Adding nortriptyline...
Clinical Inquiries
What treatments relieve arthritis and fatigue associated with systemic lupus erythematosus?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine improve the arthritis associated with mild systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—producing...
Clinical Inquiries
Do oral contraceptives put women with a family history of breast cancer at increased risk?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No. Modern combined oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) don’t increase breast cancer risk in women with a family history (...
Clinical Inquiries
What is the best nonsurgical therapy for pelvic organ prolapse?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and pessaries are equally effective in treating symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse (POP...
Clinical Inquiries
Are topical nitrates safe and effective for upper extremity tendinopathies?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Topical nitrates provide short-term relief with some side effects, especially headache. Topical nitroglycerin (NTG) patches...
Clinical Inquiries
Can yoga reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes, yoga can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, systematic reviews of...
Clinical Inquiries
What is the best treatment for impetigo?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Although evidence is lacking to support a single best treatment for impetigo, topical mupirocin, fusidic acid, gentamicin,...
Clinical Inquiries
Do complementary agents lower HbA1c when used with standard type 2 diabetes therapy?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No, there is no high-quality evidence that supports using complementary or alternative agents to lower hemoglobin A1c (...