Phil. Journal of Internal Medicine (Vol.37 No.6) Volume 37 Number 6 November - December 1999 Issue C O N T E N T S EDITORIAL Internal Medicine: A Peak Into the Future Mary Ann Lansang, M.D. CLINICAL STUDIES The Economic Impact of Smoking in the Philippines Antonio Dans, M.D., Leonora Fernandez, M.D., Liberty Fajutaro, M.D., Maria Lourdes Amarillo, MSPH, Jose Felipe Hernandez, M.D., Ethel Tangarorang, M.D., Maria Vanessa Villaruz, RN, Sheila Marie Jadioc, RN, Ramon Navarra and Joselito Pascual A Review of Paragonimiasis in the Philippines: Lung Flukes or Tubercle Bacilli? Vicente Y. Belizario, M.D. The Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Physicians on Early Cancer Detection Gerardo H. Cornelio, M.D., Susano B. Tanael, M.D., Corazon A. Ngelangel, M.D., Elisa Patricia May R. Malvar-Cornelio, M.D., Mary Cherryllyn S. Fernando, M.D., and Gracieux Y. Fernando, M.D. Prevalence of Isolated Systolic Hypertension Among Filipino Patients Over 55 Years old Seen in a Primary Care Practice Setting Ramon F. Abarquez, Jr., M.D., and Esperanza I. Cabral, M.D. Rilmenidine Effectivity and Aceptability Trial: (H.E.A.T.I) in Mild-to-Moderate Essential Hypertension Esperanza A. Icasas-Cabral, M.D. Evaluation of the Serologic Test Cobas Core Anti-H. Pylori EIA in the Diagnosis of Helicobacter Pylori Infection Venancio I. Gloria, M.D., Ma. Lourdes O. Daez, M.D., Arnold Fernandez, M.D., and Andrew Dimacali, M.D. A Randomized, Double-Blind-Placebo-Controlled Study on the Efficacy of Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) Infusion on the Clinical Improvement of Patients with Hepatic Encephalopathy Venancio I. Gloria, M.D., and Eulenia R. Nolasco, M.D. Outpatient Percutaneous Needle Liver Biopsy: The Cebu Doctor’s Hospital Experience Lamberto H. Garcia, M.D., Nicolas Aviles, M.D., Ronald Nonato, M.D., and Bernadette Moscoso, M.D. CASE REPORT Familial Adenomatous Polyposis with Adenocarcinomatous Progression Rhoderick Ian G. Reyes, M.D., Ofelyn Yoro, M.D., Nerissa Rico, M.D., Wilzon Manuela, M.D., Sunny Tumangday,M.D., Rene Belmaceda, M.D., and Ernest Que, M.D.