Skin & Allergy News articles from April 2005

Skin & Allergy News archives from April 2005

Melanoma Dx: it's time to evolve.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... Screening for cutaneous melanoma needs to change to encompass selected lesions that fall below the 6-mm threshold set by the ABCD criteria, according to Robert J. Friedman, M.D. "We realize now the importance of being able to identify...

Black box warning to be added to Elidel and Protopic: FDA cautions against off-label prescribing.(Dermatologic Therapy)
April 1, 2005... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- The Food and Drug Administration is adding a black box warning to the health professional labels of pimecrolimus and tacrolimus and is recommending that the topical formulations be prescribed only as directed and only as...

Training academic derms among top AAD priorities.(Practice Trends)(American Academy of Dermatology)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Training a nucleus of academic dermatologists, decreasing the incidence of skin cancer, and bolstering the revenues of SkinPAC are among the top priorities of the American Academy of Dermatology, incoming President Clay...

Pimecrolimus cream fast and thorough for inverse psoriasis.(News)
April 1, 2005... KOHALA COAST, HAWAII -- Pimecrolimus cream 1% did a better and faster job of clearing inverse psoriasis in a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study of 57 patients, according to Mark Lebwohl, M.D. The patients applied either the...

Public support for various health reforms.(VITAL SIGNS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Public Support for Various Health Reforms Required publication of negative drug trial results 72% Change patent laws to favor generics 59% Expand tax-free health savings accounts 57% Legalize...

Early West Nile case may bode ill for Western U.S.(News)
April 1, 2005... Los ANGELES -- The first human case of West Nile virus infection this year was diagnosed in Los Angeles in early February, perhaps setting the stage for an early and virulent season for the far western United States. "Since West Nile virus...

FDA's new drug safety board under scrutiny: critics allege lack of independence and authority and speculate about insufficient resources.(News)
April 1, 2005... Many questions surround the authority of a new drug safety board that would oversee the management of drug safety and provide emerging information to physicians and patients about the benefits and risks of medicines on the market. Such a...

ACIP plan sets priorities for flu vaccination.(News)
April 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- Influenza vaccine recommendations for the 2005-2006 season will seek to minimize disruption in the event of another shortage and will strongly urge annual vaccination of health care workers against influenza. A risk-based...

FDA warns that imported test kits may be unreliable.(News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about possible false results from several unapproved home-use diagnostic test kits marketed in the United States via the Internet by Globus Media of Montreal. The test kits are not...

Assessing scleroderma risk in Raynaud's patients.(News)
April 1, 2005... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- The most significant predictor of progression to systemic scleroderma in a patient with new onset Raynaud's phenomenon is the presence of capillary abnormalities at the proximal nail fold, according to David H. Collier, M.D....

New study links lupus and skin cancer risk.(News)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANs -- Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have a 50% increased risk of also having skin cancer, compared with people who don't have lupus, according to findings from a study involving nearly 500,000 people. This is the...

Does every physician's office need an automated external defibrillator?(Pro & Con)
April 1, 2005... [YES] Much like a fire extinguisher, an automated external defibrillator belongs in every physician's office in America. While it may be used more frequently in a cardiologist's office than in a dermatologist's office, an AED is useful and cost...

Federal adoption initiatives.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I thought your readers might be interested in learning of federal initiatives to increase the number of children being adopted into loving homes ("How to Prepare for Adoption," The Rest of Your Life, December 2004, p. 66). In July 2002,...

Pain relievers.(Opinion)(Cartoon)
April 1, 2005... "I knew we shouldn't have invited only our physician friends. All they're talking about is the cost of medical malpractice insurance." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Is it cancer yet?(Under My Skin)(skin cancer diagnosis)
April 1, 2005... It took me a while to catch on. My first hint came at a free skin cancer screening years ago at our city hall. I noticed that not all the patients who came were the uninsured with no medical access. Many had dermatologists. Many had me. ...

5-FU for BCC: well tolerated but underused.(Dermatologic Therapy)(basal cell carcinoma)
April 1, 2005... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Although 5% 5-fluorouracil cream received Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma nearly 4 decades ago, the cream is underused for that indication today, even though it is...

Long-term use of Aldara safe in AK patients.(Dermatologic Therapy)(actinic keratoses)
April 1, 2005... NEw ORLEANS -- There is a low incidence of new actinic keratoses after topical imiquimod 5% cream treatment, according to data from a long-term follow-up study. No long-term safety issues or concerns with imiquimod (Aldara) 5% cream were...

Pulse dosing lengthened for onychomycosis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
April 1, 2005... FLORENCE, ITALY -- Terbinafine can cure onychomycosis in patients who take it for only 1 week every 2-3 months for up to a year, Martin N. Zaias, M.D., reported at 13th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. "From...

Red clover.(Cosmeceutical Critique)
April 1, 2005... Native to the regions surrounding the Mediterranean and Red seas, red clover (Trifolium pratense) is cultivated worldwide. The plant is similar to soy; it is used as a phytoestrogen and to treat conditions such as asthma, pertussis, cancer, and...

Botulinum toxin A quells axillary hyperhidrosis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
April 1, 2005... KOHALA COAST, HAWAII -- Underarm injections of botulinum toxin type A reduced underarm sweating by at least 75% in 80%-84% of patients for a median of 7 months in a yearlong study of 322 patients with hyperhidrosis, said Dee Anna Glaser, M.D....

Consider combo therapy in cosmetic procedures.(Dermatologic Surgery)
April 1, 2005... MIAMI BEACH -- Combine drug and device to maximize safety and efficacy for cosmetic dermatology patients, Mark Steven Nestor, M.D., said at a symposium sponsored by the Florida Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. Assess each...

Delegate surgical tasks to trim hair restoration surgery time.(Dermatologic Surgery)
April 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Hair restoration surgery can be a lucrative addition to a cosmetic surgery practice, but efficiency and speed are crucial, E. Antonio Mangubat, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. Hair...

Sculptra tips: preparing both product and patient.(Dermatologic Surgery)(poly-L-lactic acid)
April 1, 2005... MIAMI BEACH -- Although most U.S. dermatologists have limited experience with poly-L-lactic acid, this filler can be used successfully to correct lipoatrophy, Susan H. Weinkle, M.D., said at a seminar sponsored by the Skin Disease and Education...

Common sense liposuction tips.(Dermatologic Surgery)
April 1, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- Beware of the patient who considers liposuction just another type of "extreme makeover," Richard L. Schloemer, M.D., said at the World Congress on Liposuction Surgery. "You cannot stress enough that liposuction is a major...

Demanding behavior may belie psychiatric ills.(Dermatologic Surgery)
April 1, 2005... MIAMI BEACH -- Demanding cosmetic dermatology patients who are never satisfied might have underlying psychiatric conditions to identify and treat, according to a presentation at a symposium sponsored by the Florida Society of Dermatology and...

Dermabond provides quick, waterproof incision closure.(Dermatologic Surgery)
April 1, 2005... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- The tissue adhesive Dermabond has gained popularity, especially in pediatric and emergency settings, because of its short application time and improved cosmesis over older adhesives, and despite its limitations, the product...

How to protect yourself from melanoma claims.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Misdiagnosis of melanoma, usually a false negative, accounted for 13% of all malpractice claims from 1995 to 2001, Ashfaq Marghoob, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Marghoob, a...

Dysplastic nevi may mimic melanoma.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... BOSTON -- Dysplastic nevi on the back may exhibit histopathologic changes of focal regression similar to melanoma, according to a retrospective study. Physicians who rely on the histopathologic features of regression could mistake...

Careful Dx can shed light on trio of photosensitivity diseases.(Clinical Rounds; diagnosis)
April 1, 2005... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Photosensitivity diseases can often be confused with other dermatologic conditions, but a few key observations can often shed some light on a correct diagnosis, according to David R. Bickers, M.D. Photosensitivity...

SPF system useful, but not comprehensive.(Clinical Rounds; sun protection factor )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- No matter what sun protection factor sunscreen you recommend, remember that the SPF system has its limitations, Shanna Meads, M.D., advised at a melanoma update sponsored by the Scripps Clinic. For one thing, SPF measures only...

Sunless tanning tied to decreased tanning bed use.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Sunless tanning preparations are linked with a decrease in the use of tanning beds and a slight increase in the use of sunscreens, Daniel Sheehan, M.D., said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy...

Biologic agents for psoriasis.(Drug Update)
April 1, 2005... A National Psoriasis Foundation survey in 2001-2002 reported that half of all people with moderate to severe psoriasis were very dissatisfied with the care they had received. Seventy-eight percent of all responders said they did not use...

Risk of sepsis death soars with antibiotic delays.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... PHOENIX, ARIZ. -- Risk of death from sepsis increases by 6%-10% with every hour that passes from the onset of septic shock until the start of effective antimicrobial therapy, according to a review of more than 2,600 consecutive cases at 15...

Advise Sjogren's patients against overwashing.(Clinical Rounds; Sjogren's Syndrome )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Skin manifestations of Sjogren's syndrome may not be unique to the disease, but they require specific interventions and close monitoring, Darren L. Casey, M.D., said at a meeting sponsored by the Sjogren's Syndrome...

Genes hold the key to Kindler syndrome Dx.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... BELFAST -- Identification of the gene mutation responsible for the blistering, mottling, and periodontitis of Kindler syndrome should allow affected patients to take preventive measures such as sun protection and regular dental care beginning...

Thorough skin exam often lacks vulvar check.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- A thorough skin exam should always include a vulvar examination as many dermatologic conditions can affect the genitals and cause everything from transient discomfort to loss of anatomical structures, Lynette J. Margesson, M.D.,...

HPV type, risk should guide wart Tx: high treatment cost and recurrence rate often run counter to patient wishes and legal vulnerability.(Clinical Rounds; human papillomavirus )
April 1, 2005... Houston -- Whether to treat genital warts would seem like a no-brainer, but Peter J. Lynch, M.D., has a list of reasons for not trying to eradicate some vulvar lesions. Many genital warts resolve spontaneously. The underlying cause, human...

HPV in warts: recent detection, but old infection?(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... Houston -- Diagnosis of human papillomavirus infection in a genital wart should not trigger a rush to judgment regarding recent sexual transgression or child abuse, Peter J. Lynch, M.D., said at a conference on vulvovaginal diseases. Only...

Multiphasic OCs spark menstrual migraines.(Clinical Rounds; oral contraceptives)
April 1, 2005... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Fluctuating hormones are believed to be the key culprit behind menstrual migraines, so low-dose monophasic oral contraceptives are generally the best alternative to help such patients, Christine Lay, M.D., said at a...

Frequent AD flares may signal secondary infection.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... KOHALA COAST, HAWAII -- A secondary infection may be at the root of atopic dermatitis flares, Timothy G. Berger, M.D., said at a conference on clinical dermatology sponsored by the Center for Bio-Medical Communications Inc. In many...

Atacand, vaccinia immune globulin IV.(New & Approved)
April 1, 2005... Atacand (candesartan, AstraZeneca) An angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) for treating patients with heart failure (NYHA class II-IV and an ejection fraction of 40% or less), to reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular causes and...

New Rx for chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Saforis has been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of oral mucositis in patients undergoing chemotherapy, Douglas E. Peterson, D.M.D., reported at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by the Cancer Therapy and Research...

Skin and mucosal conditions prevalent in down syndrome.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... FLORENCE, ITALY -- More than 60% of children and young adults with Down syndrome had notable skin and mucous membrane conditions in a study presented at the 13th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. "With...

Patient history sheds light on telogen effluvium.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... STOWE, VT. -- Getting to the root of diffuse hair shedding requires uncovering and eliminating or treating the possible triggers, said Wilma F. Bergfeld, M.D. "The key to optimal management of shedding, or telogen effluvium, is detective...

Onychomycosis lives with skin disorders in nails.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... KOHALA COAST, HAWAII -- Dermatophytes are common copathogens in nails with pseudomonas infection or in abnormal-looking nails with psoriasis, Boni E. Elewski, M.D., said at a conference on clinical dermatology sponsored by the Center for...

Consider infection in pediatric skin emergencies.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... BAL HARBOUR, FLA. -- Infections are a major cause of emergencies in pediatric dermatology, Howard Pride, M.D., said at the annual Masters of Pediatrics Conference sponsored by the University of Miami. Though rare, such conditions must be...

Kawasaki doesn't reduce quality of life.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Health-related quality of life in adolescents and young adults with Kawasaki disease is excellent regardless of coronary sequelae, according to results from a large cross-sectional study of Japanese patients presented at an...

National Rosacea Awareness Month.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The National Rosacea Society has designated April as "Rosacea Awareness Month" to alert the public to its warning signs and to emphasize the importance of seeking medical help. An estimated 14 million Americans have rosacea, and in recent...

Vulvar, vaginal abnormalities easy to misdiagnose.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... HOUSTON -- Developmental abnormalities of the vulva and vagina are often easy to correct, but also easy to misdiagnose, Robert K. Zurawin, M.D., warned at a conference on vulvovaginal diseases sponsored by Baylor College of Medicine. Many...

FDA panel sees role for COX-2s despite risks.(Clinical Rounds; Food and Drug Administration)
April 1, 2005... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- A joint advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration supported keeping all three approved selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors on the U.S. market, with nearly unanimous support for celecoxib but far narrower votes...

Pig whipworm therapy curbs Crohn's disease.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2005... COLORADO SPRINGS -- The "absolutely astounding" recent success in treating Crohn's disease by feeding patients live ova of the pig whipworm opens the door to an exciting new approach to treating autoimmune diseases, J. John Cohen, M.D.,...

SkinPAC raises $185,000.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Dermatologists raised $185,000 in the last election cycle as part of the American Academy of Dermatology Association's political action committee. SkinPAC, which raised the money from 205 AADA members, distributed the funds to 68 congressional...

Bioterrorism referral list.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The American Academy of Dermatology is asking dermatologists with an interest or expertise in cutaneous manifestations of bioterrorism to add their names to a list of volunteers who might be called on to help in the evaluation and treatment of...

Lip cancer awareness.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The public is still unaware of the risks of lip cancer from sun exposure, according to a recent survey. While 94% of people surveyed said they were aware that unprotected sun exposure can damage the skin, only 70% said they knew about the risks...

Eczema impact.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A majority of atopic eczema patients are in a state of constant concern over when their disease will flare up next, according to the results of a multinational survey called the International Study of Life With Atopic Eczema (ISOLATE). The...

Fiscal 2006 budget request.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The president's 2006 budget request got mixed reviews from health care groups. Although some groups objected to a lack of appropriate funding for health professions programs, others decried the $60 billion in proposed cuts to Medicaid over the...

States meet their match.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... States have been known to recycle payments returned by health care providers to draw down additional federal dollars for Medicaid, and the reds are tired of it. The administration's budget request seeks to curb such tactics by only matching...

Asian American gays surveyed.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... More than three-fourths of Asian Pacific American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people have experienced discrimination based on their sexual orientation, according to a study by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, an...

Cost of new drug benefit.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... National health care spending costs will remain stable during the next 10 years, though public programs will account for half of total spending, in part because of the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, according to a report by the...

NIH unveils strong ethics policy for employees.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2005... Officials at the National Institutes of Health are tightening restrictions on outside consulting arrangements with industry after more than a year of investigations turned up potential conflicts of interest. "Nothing is more important to me...

Program aims to treat disruptive physicians.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2005... More than 4 years ago, Raymond M. Pomm, M.D., started to see a pattern of disruptive behavior occurring in physicians across Florida, where he is the medical director for the state's Impaired Professionals Program. Hospitals were reporting...

Senator pushes for individual insurance rule.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- The real social crisis facing America fight now isn't fixing Social Security but tackling the problem of the uninsured, former Sen. John Breaux said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. "The crisis...

Residents' dermatopathology training measures up.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Dermatologists are well qualified to interpret skin specimens based on their dermatopathology training, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Researchers from Wake...

Seniors look to doctors for Medicare drug info: in a poll, 38% of respondents said they'd ask their doctor about enrolling in the Medicare drug plan.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Older patients are choosing their physician over the phone or using electronic resources to help them understand the complexities of the new prescription drug law. Many beneficiaries don't understand what the new law does, and...

Message to Congress: fix formula before pay for performance.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Congress should fix Medicare's payment formula before taking on any new reforms to pay physicians on the basis of quality, medical organizations testified at a hearing of the House Ways and Means health subcommittee. If...

Brand power: medication is more than chemistry.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- The branding of pharmaceuticals--the creation and manipulation of product identity through such media as direct-to-consumer advertising--exerts a potent influence on the way patients think and feel about their medication and their...

Prevent computer abuse.(Managing Your Dermatology Practice)
April 1, 2005... As I discussed last month, the rapid evolution of electronic medical records and electronic claims filing has greatly increased the role of computers in our offices, and this trend will continue for the foreseeable future, largely because the...

CMS to launch pay-for-performance project.(Practice Trends)(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
April 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is experimenting with "pay-for-performance" programs, and observers say it looks as if the agency is really serious about it this time. "This is not the first time that CMS has...

Standardizing helps ease referral communication.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- A simple form could be all that you need to help ease the flow of communication with your primary care referrers, Wake Forest University researchers wrote in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Dermatologists best other physicians at skin lesion Dx.(Practice Trends; diagnosis)
April 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Dermatologists diagnosed nearly twice the number of neoplastic and cystic skin lesions correctly as did nondermatologist physicians, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology....

Hearing examines ways to bolster drug safety: Congress considering boosting FDA's authority; agency would have more clout over product labeling.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Congress is considering giving the Food and Drug Administration more authority over the pharmaceutical companies it deals with, but some legislators are warning against doing too much too fast. "Changes to drug safety... must...

Bouncing back from serious illness.(The Rest of Your Life)
April 1, 2005... In 1989, Ken Duckworth, M.D., had just started his fellowship in child psychiatry at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center when he was diagnosed with an early stage of testicular cancer. "I felt a lump and "pow!" My life changed in a short...