Table of Contents

VOL 112 / NO 5 / NOVEMBER 2002 / POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE

SYMPOSIUM ON COLON DISEASES

INTRODUCTION TO THE SYMPOSIUM
Andrew S. Warner, MD

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
Diagnosis is based on clinical criteria
How to evaluate this functional bowel disorder and tailor treatment to a patient's predominant symptoms.
Torre Morgan, MD, Kristen M. Robson, MD

COLONIC INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
Medical therapies for colonic Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
Use of sulfa-free 5-ASA products, corticosteroids with fewer side effects, and infliximab, along with traditional therapies.
Jim K. Tung, MD, Andrew S. Warner, MD

RECURRENT CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE COLITIS
Tackling a tenacious nosocomial infection
Clostridium difficile colitis is a common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever in hospitalized patients.
Ann Marie Joyce, MD, David L. Burns, MD

MICROSCOPIC COLITIS
Identical clinical presentations of subtypes create diagnostic challenges
Two recently identified types of microscopic colitis share characteristics but affect different populations.
Amy Barto, MD, Stephen Heller, MD

CLINICAL UPDATES

NEW POTENTIAL IN PNEUMOCOCCAL IMMUNIZATION
Conjugate vaccine may improve disease protection, health of infants and young children
An overview of the vaccine's advantages and limitations and guidelines for its use.
Mark W. Garrison, PharmD, Michael J. Olds, MD

POTENTIAL AGENTS OF CHEMICAL WARFARE
Worst-case scenario protection and decontamination methods
The intentional release of pulmonary agents, cyanides, incapacitating agents, or riot-control agents demands an immediate response.
CAPT Angeline A. Lazarus, MC, USN, CDR Asha Devereaux, MC, USN

CONTINUING FEATURES

GUEST EDITORIAL
Mammography at a crossroad
How do physicians reconcile conflicting study results with the biologic truths of breast cancer?
Barbara L. Smith, MD, PhD

PEARLS IN DERMATOLOGY
Blue jean button dermatitis
Nickel allergy presenting as a periumbilical rash
K. Andrew Cerveny Jr, MD, Robert T. Brodell, MD

CURBSIDE CONSULTS
Best approach to nonsustained ventricular tachycardia?
Nerve irritation following pneumonia?

PATIENT NOTES
Acne

READER SERVICES

Editorial Board, Staff

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