Skin & Allergy News articles from April 2003

Skin & Allergy News archives from April 2003

Medical spa success isn't built in a day. (Pioneering a New Industry).
April 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Dermatologists who want to get in on the ground floor of the burgeoning medical spa business should take heed: It's a time-consuming commitment, and you won't be buying a yacht with your profits anytime soon. To be sure, the...

Survey: shortage of dermatologists spurs long waits: it's time to enlarge residency programs and start training more dermatologists. (AAD Practice Profile).
April 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- Are there too many dermatologists in America? Despite worries in the 1990s about an oversupply, an ambitious practice profile survey conducted late last year by the American Academy of Dermatology appears. to deliver a...

FDA panel backs Artecoll approval with conditions: nasolabial folds show most improvement. (Permanent Injectable Implant).(expert panel recommends that Food and Drug Administration approve injectable soft tissue filler)
April 1, 2003... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- An expert panel has recommended that the Food and Drug Administration approve the injectable soft tissue filler Artecoll as a cosmetic treatment for wrinkles, but concerns about potential longterm side effects prompted the...

Latex allergy: immediate hypersensitivity is on the decline. (Good News, Bad News).
April 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- There is both good news and bad news regarding current trends in latex allergy among health professionals and others with occupational exposure. The good news: The incidence of type I immediate hypersensitivity to latex...

Soriatane's new label updates risk, safety data. (Pregnancy-Related Issues).
April 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- Newly updated labeling. for Soriatane places more emphasis than ever on pregnancy-related issues. The prominent black box warning at the front of the package insert contains a new requirement that patients of childbearing...

Specialists regain some autonomy. (Managed Care Backlash).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Specialists believe they have more control over clinical decisions now that managed care has eased restrictions on physicians' decision-making authority, the Center for Studying Health System Change reports. Although this gives specialists...

Tales from the spa: not all big bucks and botox. (Beware Expensive Equipment, Shifty Staff).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, NEV. -- Over the course of 3 years, Dr. Greg Chernoff lost $1 million in the medical spa business. He has since turned his financial situation around and now figures that his hard-earned lessons make him something of a...

FDA proposes regulating dietary supplements. (Safety at Issue).(Food and Drug Administration)
April 1, 2003... The Food and Drug Administration has addressed the growing public unease about the safety of dietary supplements by proposing industrywide "current good manufacturing practices." As the popularity of herbs and other natural remedies has...

U.S. Pharmacopeia--certified supplements hit store shelves: $17 billion spent annually on supplement. (News).(Dietary Supplement Verification Program launched)
April 1, 2003... Faltering consumer confidence in dietary supplements should be bolstered by a new U.S. Pharmacopeia verification mark, officials said. The USP's Dietary Supplement Verification Program (DSVP) mark signifies that the product has undergone...

HIPAA starts at last; HHS will help tardy docs. (Regulation Effective April 14).(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 19, Health and Human Services Department)
April 1, 2003... For physicians who haven't made any plans for complying with the new federal privacy regulation that goes into effect April 14, time is almost up-but it's not too late to start. The regulation, part of the federal Health Insurance...

HHS will push more money to disease prevention. ($100 Million Commitment).(Department of Health and Human Services)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... ST. Louis -- Obesity, diabetes, and tobacco-related illnesses are killing hundreds of thousands of Americans at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars every year, and it's time to focus on prevention rather than treatment, Secretary of...

Way below the belt. (Under My Skin).(dermatologist discusses patient anxieties)(Column)
April 1, 2003... Careers take funny bounces, but I never thought dermatology would make me Dear Abner of the male organ. The dermatology forum on the Internet Web site I joined 3 years ago fields 1-2 skin-related questions daily. Of the last 50 queries,...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2003... Phosphatidyicholine Reaction I noticed that the February 2003 edition of SKIN & ALLERGY NEWS had a lot of information about phosphatidylcholine (" 'FatDissolving' Substance Injects CCs of Controversy," p. 1; Cosmeceutical Critique, p. 24)....

Melanoma's public message. (Guest Editorial).(dermatologists need to educate general public about early diagnosis, risk factors for melanoma)(Column)
April 1, 2003... The dermatologic community has worked hard to educate the public about reducing mortality related to melanoma. But some public education messages that we've endorsed may actually be doing more harm than good. The three messages most in...

The HIV prevention challenge. (Guest Editorial).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The need for enhanced HIV prevention efforts by health care providers is greater than ever. An estimated 850,000-950,000 people in the United States are living with HIV or AIDS--more than at any point in the epidemic. Unfortunately, the...

Build trust by opening up. (Guest Editorial).(Editorial)
April 1, 2003... Trust is the glue that binds physician to patient and patient to physician. Having a trusting relationship is critical in a physician's ability to dispense good medical care. A trusting relationship is also a way to minimize malpractice...

Dermoscopy and checklist sharpen melanoma dx: may reduce unnecessary excisions. (Dermatologic Surgery).
April 1, 2003... ST. Julian's, MALTA -- Using dermoscopy to help diagnose malignant melanoma can decrease the number of benign lesions that would otherwise be excised, sparing patients unnecessary surgical intervention, Dr. Guiseppe Argenziano said at an...

Eight herbal medications pose potential derm surgery dangers. (Discontinue Before Surgery).
April 1, 2003... BIG SKY, MONT. -- Eight herbal medications each may have a significant impact on patients undergoing surgery. Results from a 1997 survey indicated that 12% of people in the United States used herbal medications, and recent survey results...

Carruthers: rethink Botox brow lift. (Eyebrow-Raising Theory).
April 1, 2003... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- Dr. Alastair Carruthers has raised eyebrows before, and he is certain to do so again with his latest theory about the effect of botulinum toxin A on the eyebrows. "Everything we've said before about brow lift is...

Starch-iodine test key to hyperhidrosis tx. (With Botulinum Toxin).(using botulinum toxin to treat hyperhidrosis)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- A proper starch-iodine test is key to targeting treatment and follow-up care when using botulinum toxin for hyperhidrosis, Dr. Alastair Carruthers said at a clinical dermatology conference. In both the palm and the...

Thinking about plumping up lips? Think about using autologous tissue. (No Antigenicity Issues).(using scalp tissue for lip augmentation procedures)
April 1, 2003... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- When it comes to plumping up lips, Dr. Michael E. Sachs prefers autologous tissue over any foreign material, no matter how natural the 'substitute may look or. feel. That's because autologous tissue presents no...

Lower eyelid bags aren't all the same. (Multiple Anatomic Factors).(causes of lower eyelid bags)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- Many people complain of lower eyelid bags, but the anatomic reasons behind their "tired-looking eyes" are highly variable, according to researchers at the Jules Stein Eye Institute of the University of California, Los...

Isotretinoin generics' clinical efficacy questioned. (Scattered Anecdotal Reports).
April 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- Be alert to the possibility that acne patients on the new generic version of isotretinoin may not get the same clinical efficacy as with branded Accutane, dermatologists cautioned at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar...

With isotretinoin, triglyceride level may predict risks. (Monitor Acne Patients).(hypertriglyceridemic reaction to acne therapy indicates increased risk of developing hyperlipidemia)
April 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- A hypertriglyceridemic response to isotretinoin therapy for acne is a marker for increased future .risk of developing, hyperlipidemia and other cardiovascular risk factors, Dr. Diane Thiboutot said at the annual Hawaii...

Oral pimecrolimus cleared psoriasis, AD in adults: trial didn't include comorbid patients. (Dermatologic Therapy).(atopic dermatitis)
April 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- The oral formulation of pimecrolimus looks "exceedingly promising" for treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, based upon results of two multicenter phase II clinical trials, Dr. Alice B. Gottlieb said at the annual Hawaii...

Efalizumab's rapid action promising for psoriasis. (Long-Term Maintenance).(Efalizumab is likely to be next biologic agent approved to treat psoriasis)
April 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- Efalizumab, likely to be the next biologic therapy approved for psoriasis, has as its strengths rapid onset of action and efficacy as chronic long-term maintenance therapy according to speakers at the annual Hawaii dermatology...

Tazarotene may outshine lasers for photoaging: cheaper than light devices. (Dermatologic Therapy).
April 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- Tazarotene cream 0.1% for the treatment of photoaged skin yields long-term results comparable with lasers and other big-ticket high-tech therapies, Dr. Emil A. Tanghetti said at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by...

Think topical retinoid for every acne patient: except for those who are pregnant. (Dermatologic Therapy).
April 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- Every patient with facial acne needs to be on a topical retinoid, Dr. Julie C. Harper asserted at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by the Skin Disease Education Foundation. With the obvious exception of those...

Topical 1% cidofovir healed basal cell carcinoma: small but promising series. (Dermatologic Therapy).
April 1, 2003... ST. JULIAN'S, MALTA -- Cidofovir, already shown to be effective against DNA viruses, may also be a valuable weapon against basal cell carcinoma. Although large-scale confirmatory studies are needed, a cream containing 1% cidofovir produced...

Chronic genital dermatoses can defy easy cures. (Set Expectations).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... HOUSTON -- Dr. Elizabeth Edwards has this message for new patients: "Cure is a four-letter word. We don't use it in my office." Many dermatologic conditions can't be cured, but they can be controlled, and dermatoses of the genitalia are no...

Propecia provides hair weight gains over placebo: results of 4-year follow-up study. (Dermatologic Therapy).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- Four years of daily finsteride brought a mean difference in hair weight of 46% between a treated group and a placebo group, Dr. Vera H. Price reported at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by the Skin Disease...

Steroids, antibiotics tackle vulvar lichen planus: high risk of vaginal scarring. (Dermatologic Therapy).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... HOUSTON -- If a patient has erosive lichen planus of the vulva, chances are she's got it in the vagina as well, and it's essential to treat it there to prevent scarring that could close the vagina completely, according to Dr. Elizabeth Edwards....

Choose medical therapy over surgery for pyoderma: aggressive therapy is best. (Dermatologic Therapy).
April 1, 2003... ST. JULIAN'S, MALTA -- Aggressive, continuous medical therapy--not surgery--is the best treatment for pyoderma gangrenosum, a rare and destructive skin condition that causes spreading ulcerative lesions, Dr. Frank Powell said at an...

Zileuton controls idiopathic angioedema in many patients. (Antiasthmatic Agent).
April 1, 2003... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- The leukotriene inhibitor zileuton can successfully control idiopathic angioedema in at least 60% of afflicted patients, Dr. Vincent S. Beltrani said at the annual meeting of the Noah Worcester Dermatological Society. ...

Cosmeceutical critique: aloe vera. (Dermatologic Therapy).
April 1, 2003... A loe vera Linne, commonly known as aloe vera, is the most potent of the more than 200 aloe species and one of the most widely used herbal products throughout the world. The aloe vera plant ("aloe" derived from the Arabic "alloeh," meaning...

Cutaneous infectious disease research pushes on: zoster, fungus, and more. (Dermatologic Therapy).
April 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- What should busy dermatologists know about the latest in infectious disease research? Dr. Richard A. Johnson outlined some of the most interesting studies at a meeting sponsored by the Dermatology Foundation. Highlights of...

Acitretin may help to prevent SCC: beware rebound effect. (Dermatologic Therapy).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... ASPEN, Colo. -- The vitamin A derivative acitretin shows promise in the prevention of squamous cell carcinoma in kidney transplant recipients, but patients may experience a rebound effect when the drug is discontinued, Dr. Gerald Krueger said...

Maggot therapy cleans up unresponsive diabetic ulcers: 20 nonhealing wounds. (Dermatologic Therapy).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The use of medicinal maggots for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers that have been unresponsive to conventional therapy is more effective and efficient than currently prescribed treatment, said Dr. Ronald A. Sherman of the University of...

Screening cuts TB with TNF blockers: prior skin test. (Dermatologic Therapy).
April 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Tuberculin ski testing has risen since the inception of an educational program about screening before initiating therapy with tumor necrosis factor-blocking agents, Thomas F. Schaible, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the...

For early Lyme, try antibiotics short course: 10 days vs. 20. (Dermatologic Therapy).
April 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- In early Lyme disease, 10 days of treatment with oral doxycycline were as effective as 20 days, Dr. Robert Nadelman said at an international conference on tick-borne diseases sponsored by Imedex. Practice guidelines issued by...

Heads up on less common cutaneous cancers: beyond basal cell carcinoma. (Dermatologic Therapy).
April 1, 2003... DORADO, P.R. -- Although basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer, there are others that are important to recognize and treat appropriately, Dr. Elizabeth M. Billingsley said at the Caribbean Dermatology Symposium. "Chances are...

Perianal Crohn's often an extension of intestinal involvement: squamous cell carcinoma. (Dermatologic Therapy).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... HOUSTON -- There are only about 30 published cases of anogenital Crohn's disease, but anecdotal reports of it are relatively common, according to Dr. Peter J. Lynch. Chronic Crohn's disease may damage lymphatic channels and leave patients...

Malignant melanoma: add 'E' to ABCD' mnemonic. (Enlargement).
April 1, 2003... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- It's time for a change in approach to early detection of malignant melanoma, Dr. Robert T. Brodell said at the annual meeting of the Noah Worcester Dermatological Society. This change, which would incorporate an "E" onto...

Dermatologists show tunnel vision regarding 'glove' allergies: scratch test for natural rubber latex. (Clinical Rounds).
April 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- Dermatologists and allergists have specialty tunnel vision when it comes to diagnosing occupational skin disease in health professionals and other glove wearers, Dr. Curtis P. Hamann said. Very few dermatologists perform...

Diagnosis of genital erosions can prove elusive: lichen planus most common. (Clinical Rounds).
April 1, 2003... HOUSTON -- Erosive diseases of the genitalia are a diagnostic challenge because they're often associated with an array of nonspecific symptoms, according to Dr. Elizabeth Edwards. Yet accurate diagnosis and appropriate management are...

Tips can tame stoma-related dermatoses. (Leaks Common).
April 1, 2003... ASPEN, COLO. -- Nearly three-quarters of stoma patients participating in a recent survey reported skin problems that interfered with normal stoma bag use, Dr. Christopher Griffiths reported at a clinical dermatology seminar sponsored by...

Beware immune reconstitution with HAART: usually easily treated. (Clinical Rounds).
April 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Highly active antiretroviral therapy can be a double-edged sword in the treatment of patients with HIV. The evidence is good that such therapy reconstitutes the immune system and leads to the resolution and prevention of...

More liberal interpretation of PASI scores urged: 50% reduction clinically meaningful. (Clinical Rounds).
April 1, 2003... ASPEN, COLO. -- What constitutes a clinically meaningful improvement for patients with psoriasis? When the Food and Drug Administration asked that question in 1998, the medical advisory board of the National Psoriasis Foundation came up...

Sarcoidosis often requires many visits before diagnosis is clinched. (Pulmonary Symptoms Confound).
April 1, 2003... The diagnosis of sarcoidosis is often delayed, said Dr. Marc A. Judson of the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, and his associates. Diagnosing sarcoidosis, a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown cause, usually...

Antibody deficiency common in connective tissue disorders: seen in 20% of patients. (Clinical Rounds).
April 1, 2003... DESTIN, FLA. -- Connective tissue disease was seen in about 20% of patients with unexplained antibody deficiencies in a hematology-oncology practice, Dr. James Barton said at a rheumatology meeting sponsored by Brookwood Medical Center. In...

Kawasaki rash can defy easy categorization: not purpuric, bullous. (Clinical Rounds).
April 1, 2003... SNOWMASS, Colo. -- No single morphologic pattern of skin eruption and no single evolution of rash can be said to be typical of Kawasaki disease, Dr. Dorothy W. Wortmann said at a symposium sponsored by the American College of Rheumatology ...

Pyoderma gangrenosum is diagnosis of exclusion. (No Definitive Test).
April 1, 2003... ASPEN, COLO. -- A great impostor or just a victim of mistaken identity? Pyoderma gangrenosum can be both, and either way, patients pay the price for the ambiguity, Dr. Christopher Griffiths said at a clinical dermatology seminar sponsored...

Photosensitivity's multiple origins can make Dx challenging: rule out lupus, HIV. (Clinical Rounds).
April 1, 2003... DORADO, P.R. -- Diagnose the condition causing photosensitivity in a patient and rule out lupus and HIV infection to determine the appropriate management, Dr. Vincent A. DeLeo said at the Caribbean Dermatology Symposium. Photodermatoses...

Add glanders to list of potential bioterror agents: rotten leg syndrome. (Clinical Rounds).
April 1, 2003... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- Dermatologists, keep your guard up. "You are liable to be the first responders in the event of a biological attack," Dr. Michael J. Franzblau warned at the annual meeting of the Noah Worcester Dermatological Society and...

Serologic testing key in suspected genital HSV: watch for canida in women. (Clinical Rounds).
April 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- "The clinical diagnosis of genital herpes is both insensitive and nonspecific [and] should be confirmed by laboratory testing." So say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's most recent Sexually Transmitted Diseases...

Calendar management: DateBk5. (Digital Assistance).
April 1, 2003... Overview: DateBk5 is a highly compatible, full-featured calendar program for Palm OS handheld devices. Added calendar views, icon capability, advanced color management, and quick entry template lists are a few of the many enhancements provided...

Skin still provides helpful HIV treatment clues: in the era of HAART. (Clinical Rounds).
April 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Skin disorders in people with HIV infection have declined 60% since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy, but patients' skin can still provide valuable clues that help the physician make therapeutic decisions, Dr....

Drug update: genital warts. (Clinical Rounds).
April 1, 2003... Medical treatment of external genital warts falls into two basic categories: patient applied and provider applied. Patient-applied treatments include imiquimod and podofilox. Agents administered by providers include podophyllin resin,...

States cap SCHIP, children are left uninsured. (Beset by Budget Woes).
April 1, 2003... Crippled by mounting budget deficits and dwindling funds, some states have begun to cap enrollment for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Budget problems are making it difficult for states to meet their share of State...

Develop a plan now for HIPAA security provisions: must be implemented by 2005. (Practice Trends).
April 1, 2003... Even though the deadline for complying with new federal health security regulations is 2 years away, physicians need to start planning for it now, according to experts familiar with the regulations. "Doctors shouldn't think that the...

Michigan, Vermont take on drug firms: medicaid prescription costs. (Practice Trends).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Michigan and Vermont--two of the states pushing hardest to control Medicaid prescription drug costs--have announced a partnership to boost their buying power with pharmaceutical companies. Under the plan, which is the first such cooperative...

New HIPAA regulations require encrypted e-mail in patient communication: privacy, security requirements. (Practice Trends).
April 1, 2003... COLORADO SPRINGS -- Physicians using regular e-mail to communicate with patients are strongly advised to switch to a secure messaging service 'that will meet new HIPAA requirements, said Dr. C.T. Lin, senior medical director of informatics at...

Trust fund needed for teaching hospitals: financing more accountable, predictable. (Practice Trends).
April 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Creating a public trust fund for teaching hospitals and their affiliated medical centers would make the financing for these centers more accountable, predictable, and transparent, policy makers announced at a press briefing...

DEA plans physician fee increase. (Controlled Drug RX).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The annual license fee physicians pay to prescribe controlled drugs may double, to $130 a year, under a new initiative by the Drug Enforcement Administration to combat prescription drug abuse. With the extra money brought in from the higher...

Carmol 40 V. Vanamide. (Policy & Practice).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... A competitor's patent infringement lawsuit has put the brakes on Vanamide, Dermik Laboratories' 40% urea cream. Dermik had,, been ready to roll out Vanamide to U.S. clinicians in February. But Bradley Pharmaceuticals in January slapped Dermik...

Scleroderma's day on capitol hill. (Policy & Practice).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Scleroderma may have earned a higher profile in Congress, thanks to a concurrent resolution introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill). The resolution (H. Con. Res. 30) calls on the National Institutes of Health...

A patient's right to sue. (Policy & Practice).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Patients have the right to sue health insurers that refuse to authorize medically necessary treatment, the US. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit has ruled. Dr. Richard Corlin, immediate past president of the American Medical Association,...

Medicare plan under fire. (Policy & Practice).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Bush administration's latest attempt to deliver on a prescription drug benefit for Medicare seniors "is the same old tune and way off key" for beneficiaries, advocacy group Families USA says. An initial proposal failed to provide a drug...

Health care worries. (Policy & Practice).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... It isn't the fear of terrorist attacks that keeps Americans up at night, it's health care costs, a Kaiser Family Foundation poll of 1,201 adults has determined. Nearly 4 in 10 Americans; or 38% surveyed, say they are very worried about the...

Health spending to double. (Policy & Practice).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Rising health care costs show no signs of abating, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports. U.S. health care spending is projected to reach $3.1 trillion in 2012, up from $1.4 trillion in 2001. As a percentage of the gross...

Resource for quality measures. (Policy & Practice).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... A new Web site launched by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offers a "one-stop shop" for physicians, hospitals, health plans and others interested in health care quality measures. "Ultimately, this interactive online resource will...

Washington's malpractice moves please the AMA. (Health Legislation).
April 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The undercurrent in the hotel ballroom ranged from "Right on!" and "You said it!" to a standing ovation and a loud roar of approval. It seemed that no matter what politicians from the White House and Capitol Hill said, the members...

Medical malpractice crisis breeds fear, distrust of lawsuit culure: 83% of physicians don't trust system. (Practice Trends).
April 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Physicians are running scared from a legal system they no longer trust. A Harris Interactive poll of 300 physicians showed that 83% did not trust the current system of justice to achieve a "reasonable result" if sued. ...

Aging populace set to raise health costs. (Demographic Transition).
April 1, 2003... The aging U.S. and world populations are expected to bring many challenges to health care, including more chronic and degenerative diseases and higher costs, according to an analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The...

Round-the-clock phone advice may cut ER visits. (Doctor on Call Program).
April 1, 2003... It's the middle of the night and a young man has just noticed blood in his ejaculate. He's terrified, and he and his partner wonder whether he might have cancer or a sexually transmitted disease. They can't decide whether to rush to the...

How to handle a colleague impaired by substance abuse: never confront the person alone. (Practice Trends).
April 1, 2003... Last year, Dr. Dana Ware was stunned when a fellow physician arrived for work clearly impaired. "If he came into the ER as a patient, you would say, 'this person is under the influence of something,' " recalled Dr. Ware, a family physician...

Medicare gaps affect women more than men: long-term care coverage. (Practice Trends).
April 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Much attention has been paid to the problems caused by the lack of a prescription drug benefit in the Medicare program--a shortfall that affects many beneficiaries. But there are many other gaps that hurt women more than men,...

FDA urges race, ethnicity categories for use in new drug trials. (Standardized Approach).
April 1, 2003... Rockville, Mo. -- A standardized approach to collecting data in people from different ethnic and racial groups in new drug trials has been recommended by the Food and Drug Administration. The proposal reflects the increased awareness that...

New formula for skin adhesive. (Products).
April 1, 2003... High Viscosity Dermabond Topical Skin Adhesive (2-octyl cyanoacrylate) is approved as a topical application to hold closed easily approximated skin edges of wounds from surgical incisions, including punctures from minimally invasive surgery and...

Sun-protective clothing. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Sun-protective clothing is one means to keep children safe from ultraviolet radiation, particularly infants, who cannot have sunscreen applied directly to their skin because their bodies are not able to tolerate the chemicals in sunscreens....

New bandage adhesive. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Curad plastic, sheer, Sensitive, and flex-fabric bandages will feature a new adhesive starting in 2003. The new adhesive is nonirritating and removes painlessly leaving no sticky residue behind. The bandages will also come in sealed,...

Wart removal product. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Wartner, a wart removal product, is available over the counter. It is a nonaerosol mixture of dimethlyether and propane that freezes the wart. Following treatment, a blister forms that falls off in about 10 days, exposing new skin. The product...

Microdermabrasion cream. (Products).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Manual microdermabrasion cream is designed to exfoliate skin with magnesium oxide crystals similar to those used in microdermabrasion machines. The product is geared toward patients who cannot afford microdermabrasion machine treatments....

Case of the month.
April 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Impetigo is a common, contagious, pruritic skin inflammation caused by direct introduction of Staphylococcus aureus or group A streptococci into abrasions or a compromised skin barrier. In the case of the chef, a culture revealed...