Skin & Allergy News articles from December 2003

Skin & Allergy News archives from December 2003

Derm savors a Supreme victory: seen as free speech issue.
December 1, 2003... Dr. Marcus Conant is glad that he didn't get his day in court. On Oct. 14, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it had declined to take up the case of Conant v. Walters, in which Dr. Conant was the lead plaintiff. The case revolved around...

Efalizumab earns FDA nod to join psoriasis Tx race: $14,000 annual cost: the biologic can be self-administered and is being offered as a pharmacy benefit.
December 1, 2003... The Food and Drug Administrations approval of efalizumab expands the list of biologic agents for treating psoriasis and could offer patients and physicians a more user-friendly option, some dermatologists say. Efalizumab can be...

First procedural derm fellowships debut in July: office-based programs eligible: accreditation reviews will start in March.
December 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Accreditation of fellowship programs in dermatology's new surgery-related subspecialty, procedural dermatology, will soon be underway. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Residency Review...

CDC urges physicians to get yearly flu shots: medicare paying more for vaccine.(News)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention )
December 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Getting more physicians and other health care professionals vaccinated against the flu is a key element in efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent transmission of the disease to vulnerable patients....

Illegal skin-lightening steroids wreak havoc: widespread use.(News)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- The use of super-potent topical steroids as skin-lightening agents has reached "epidemic" proportions in South Africa and parts of the Caribbean, and may be increasing in popularity in American cities as well, speakers said during an...

Few patients willing to pay higher premiums for higher quality care.(Vital Signs)(Illustration)
December 1, 2003... Few Patients Willing to Pay Higher Premiums for Higher Quality Care Would not pay 60% Not sure 23% Would pay significantly more 16% Note: Based on a nationwide online survey of 2,357 adults...

Experts still baffled by two renal failure--related skin diseases: NFD and calcific uremic arteriolopathy.(News)
December 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- More questions than answers currently exist regarding two recently recognized skin disorders restricted to patients in renal failure. Among the key unresolved issues surrounding the new cutaneous disorders--nephrogenic...

No increase in SCC risk seen with etanercept: long-term exposure studied.(News)(squamous cell carcinoma )
December 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Etanercept was not associated with a greater-than-expected incidence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in a clinical trial involving more than 4,000 patient-years of exposure. These findings should help dispel concerns...

Dermatitis in adults tied to higher Ca risk: Danish study.(News)
December 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- New Danish National Cancer Registry data raise a cautionary flag regarding the use of topical immune modulators to treat atopic dermatitis in adults, but not children. "Is there a cancer risk associated with the new...

Percent change in the number of top skin surgery procedures, 2001-2003.(Data Watch)(Illustration)
December 1, 2003... DATA WATCH Percent Change in the Number of Top Skin Surgery Procedures, 2001-2003 2001 2003 % Change Skin cancer treatment 1,536,814 1,611,014 +5% Laser and light...

Jury still out on use of IVIG for Stevens-Johnson: calls for a randomized controlled trial.(News)(intravenous immunoglobulin )
December 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- It's far too premature to crown intravenous immunoglobulin as the new standard of care in the treatment of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, Dr. Robert S. Stern reported at the 12th Congress of the...

Receptor on macrophages key to TNF regulation: brain's role in inflammatory diseases.(News)(tumor necrosis factor )
December 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- Valuable new mechanistic insight has been gained into a phenomenon clinicians have long known to be true: The nervous system can regulate inflammation, Dr. Kristian Thestrup-Pedersen said at the 12th Congress of the European...

Beware eruptive xanthomas with olanzapine Tx: tied to hypertriglyceridemia.(News)
December 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- Physicians can expect to increasingly encounter eruptive xanthomas occurring in association with olanzapine therapy, Dr. Jeffrey P. Callen predicted at the 12th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and...

Apoptotic markers aberrant in keloids but not in normal scars: key role by caspase 14 gene.(News)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Differences in 14 of 96 genes associated with apoptosis were found in biopsy samples taken from keloid scars and adjacent normal skin, with a potentially important role implicated for the caspase 14 gene, Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd...

Bug tales.(Under My Skin)
December 1, 2003... "The bugs have gotten into my refrigerator," said Harriet, with a sheepish, sweet-old-lady smile. From her purse she withdrew the expected plastic bag. Inside was a perfect ear of yellow corn. "This is an ear of corn," I observed. ...

The side effects of TV makeovers.(Guest Editorial)(ethics of reality television programs on plastic surgery)(Editorial)
December 1, 2003... Television programs that promise a new face or body through multiple cosmetic and dermatologic procedures have contributed to raising public awareness about the newer and safer methods of cosmetic surgery. On the plus side, this may lead to an...

Degrees of skill.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... Dr. William Coleman III made an incorrect statement when he said that no assistant "can be as competent as a dermatologist" ("Physician Extenders: Pushing the Limits?" October 2003, p. 1). The fact is that hundreds of dermatology physician...

Correction.(Letters)(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2003... In the article, "How to Nail Nondermatophytic Mold Infections" (October 2003 issue, p. 22), ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer should have been identified as a treatment that is currently available in the United States.

Many problems, one solution.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... It looks like critics of a single-payer plan have it backward ("Physicians Try to Reignite Single-Payer Plan Debate," September 2003 issue, p. 64). We would not "be trading one problem for a whole set of others," as American Medical...

HIPAA just helps the HMOs.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... In the article "Pro & Con: Is HIPAA helping in any way?" Both Dr. Richard Sacks-Wilner and Dr. David Kibbe seemed to skirt the real issues (October 2003, p. 12). They made certain rather blatant points, but then missed the forest for the...

Cosmeceutical critique: hyaluronic acid.(Dermatologic Therapy)
December 1, 2003... Hyaluronic acid is the most abundant glycosaminoglycan found in human dermis. It was discovered in 1934 by Karl Meyer and John Palmer, who isolated it from bovine vitreous humor (J. Biol. Chem. 107:629-34, 1934). The name reflects its...

Experts: fit the biologic therapy for psoriasis to the patient: consider speed, self-administration.(Dermatologic Therapy)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Asking dermatologists which biologic therapy for psoriasis is best is like asking painters which color is best. Each has attributes that please different individuals. Pick the drug on the basis of its potential side effects and...

Panel assesses calcineurin inhibitors in children: FDA advisory panel.(Dermatologic Therapy)
December 1, 2003... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- Topical calcineurin inhibitors' labeling needs to be changed to include a box warning reiterating that these agents should not be used in children younger than 2 years, according to a Food and Drug Administration advisory...

FDA panel: docs don't consider adrenal suppression in kids on topical steroids: in kids with atopic dermatitis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
December 1, 2003... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- Educational materials and perhaps a black box warning in the patient package insert are needed to alert physicians and parents that use of topical steroids to treat pediatric atopic dermatitis may result in asymptomatic,...

Open studies may inflate toe onychomycosis cure rates: cure rates lower in randomized trials.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- The literature on oral antifungal therapy provides a vivid illustration of a general medical dictum: Open studies often substantially overestimate cure rates, Dr. Aditya K. Gupta observed at the 12th Congress of the European...

Anatomy boosts risk of adrenal suppression: in children.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- Children are more likely than adults to absorb high levels of topical corticosteroids because of their large ratio of body surface area to total body mass, according to speakers at a meeting of the pediatric subcommittee of...

Trial and error necessary for eliminating warts: from duct tape to bleomycin.(Dermatologic Therapy)
December 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Since 1966, approximately 6,170 papers on the treatment of warts have appeared in the medical literature--yet successful treatment of warts is still a question of trial and error, Dr. Theodore Rosen said. Many of those studies...

For better outcome, gear rosacea Tx to phenotype: still unclear why certain Tx work.(Dermatologic Therapy)
December 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- To treat rosacea effectively, you've got to determine which type the patient has and be willing to consider using certain drugs off label when necessary, according to Dr. Guy F. Webster. There are at least three rosacea...

Inspra (eplerone, Pfizer).(New & Approved)
December 1, 2003... A selective aldosterone blocker approved for improving the survival of stable patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction below 40%) and clinical evidence of congestive heart failure after acute MI. The first member...

Cubicin (daptomycin, cubist pharmaceutical).(New & Approved)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... A novel cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic for complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by susceptible strains of these gram-positive microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant strains), Streptococcus...

Presentation key to neutrophilic dermatoses Dx: histology isn't enough.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Sweet's syndrome can be easily confused with other neutrophil-rich dermatoses if the diagnosis relies too heavily on histology, Dr. Jacqueline Junkins-Hopkins said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Dermatopathology....

IL-12 is a key melanoma response marker: immunotherapy.(Clinical Rounds )(Interleukin-12)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Enhanced interleukin-12 gene expression from peripheral blood monocytes may predict which stage IV melanoma patients are responding to active specific immunotherapy, while rising interleukin-10 gene expression appears to portend a...

Melanoma mitotic rate and tumor vascularity associated: possible prognostic indicator.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Tumor mitotic rate in cutaneous melanoma appears to correlate with the tumor's vascularity, and may eventually be a prognostic indicator, Dr. Kapil Gupta reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Society of...

Web clipping: AvantGo.(Digital Assistance)
December 1, 2003... Overview: AvantGo is a free Web-clipping application for Palm and Pocket PC computers that permits downloading and viewing of specified Internet content during synchronization. A wide variety of medical and nonmedical content channels (Web...

Drug update: prevention of nephropathy.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... Up to 40% of patients with type 2 diabetes develop nephropathy, and as many as 5%-7% develop end-stage renal disease. Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the United States. Until recently, there wasn't much that a...

Genetic susceptibility locus found for vitiligo: links documented with five diseases.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- One of the most exciting recent developments in the field of dermatology is the announced identification of a strong genetic susceptibility locus for vitiligo, Dr. Jean-Paul Ortonne said at the 12th Congress of the European...

Combo therapy yields synergistic benefit in vitiligo vulgaris cases: topical tacrolimus plus excimer laser.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- The combination of topical tacrolimus and excimer laser therapy exerts a synergistic effect that provides unprecedented therapeutic efficacy in vitiligo, Dr. Jean-Paul Ortonne said at the 12th Congress of the European...

Implant and cardiac stent allergies very rare: risk less than 1%.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- The true risk of an allergic reaction to a metal implant or cardiac stent is unknown but it is probably low, Dr. Joseph Fowler said at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference. For patients with a positive patch test to a...

Color aids in granuloma differential diagnoses: blue vs. red.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- When diagnosing a collagenolytic granuloma, take your cues from color. Biopsies of these lesions will show areas of altered collagen and will stain either blue or red. Mucin and neutrophils or nuclear dust will stain blue;...

Keys to transplant success? Hydration and patience: follicular unit transplantation.(Dermatologic Surgery)
December 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Graft hydration and careful manipulation topped the list of tips for successful follicular unit hair transplantation presented by an expert panel at the annual meeting of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. ...

Pioneer cautions that follicular unit extraction isn't right for everyone: despite popularity.(Dermatologic Surgery)
December 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- A year after he introduced the novel technique of follicular unit extraction for hair transplantation, Dr. William R. Rassman said that it cannot currently be considered a substitute for strip excision in obtaining donor hairs. ...

Finasteride may improve transplant outcome: first randomized study.(Dermatologic Surgery)
December 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Treatment with finasteride in conjunction with hair transplantation led to significantly superior results, Dr. Matt Leavitt said at the annual meeting of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. In the first...

Phosphatidylcholine improved fat pad herniation: small, open-label study.(Dermatologic Surgery)
December 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Phosphatidylcholine injections showed promise for correcting infraorbital fat pads in a small open-label study, but the investigators urged caution regarding the use of the controversial substance until it has been evaluated in...

Patient selection tips can improve nonablative Tx: botox, laser, IPL.(Dermatologic Surgery)
December 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- When patients ask you about the possible benefits of Botox, intense pulsed light, or another nonablative technology for facial rejuvenation, start by asking them their wishes and expectations, Dr. Michael I. Kulick advised at the...

Side effects mar Myobloc as hyperhidrosis Tx: pilot study.(Dermatologic Surgery)
December 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Myobloc was an effective treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis in a randomized controlled pilot study, but the side-effect profile left a dry taste in the mouth. More precisely, the treatment led to extremely dry mouth in more...

Focus on front-office issues to improve practice: tips for greater efficiency.(Practice Trends)
December 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- A fresh approach to front-office issues ranging from time clocks to employee perks can help you run a more efficient practice, Dr. Scott Dinehart said at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference. Dr. Dinehart offered some...

Motivate office staff with prizes: collection pearls.(Practice Trends)
December 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Want to increase the number of copayments your office collects? Looking for ways to increase revenue? Motivate your staff by using competition and awards, Dr. George C. Xakellis Jr. suggested at the annual meeting of the American...

Mastering 'seasonality.'.(Managing Your Dermatology Practice)
December 1, 2003... Does your office seem less busy now during the holiday season? Most offices are. You may have noticed a cyclical waxing and waning of activity, or "seasonality," in your practice. All businesses have a seasonality, and medical practices...

Lesion removal fees affected by CPT changes: performance measurement codes added.(Practice Trends)
December 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Medicare will likely be adopting a more balanced view of benign and malignant dermatologic lesions next year, at least in terms of paying for their removal, Emily Hill said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Family...

Good people skills may deter malpractice suits: consider firing noncompliant patients.(Practice Trends)
December 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Dr. Edward Zurad has developed a new skill in his office-based practice: "firing" patients. Although it's not something he does frequently, Dr. Zurad, a family physician in Tunkhannock, Penn., said he has "gotten really good...

Despite cost, employers don't tighten networks: 13.9% increase in 2003.(Practice Trends)
December 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Although the cost of health insurance continues to rise, workers are resisting the idea of joining tighter provider networks to save money, according to a recent study released by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and the...

Expert: be more aggressive about collections: every copay counts.(Practice Trends)
December 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Physicians need to get tough about collecting what's owed them, Michael Fleischman said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "Patients may think you're the greatest thing since the public...

Acne treatment pads.(Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Triaz pads contain benzoyl peroxide for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. For more information on this acne treatment product, contact Medicis via e-mail at customer_service@medicis.com, or call 602-808-8800.

Blue light acne therapy.(Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The BLU-U blue light photodynamic therapy illuminator is approved as a standalone therapy for acne vulgaris. For more information, contact DUSA Pharmaceuticals Inc., 877-533-DUSA, press 1, 978-657-7500.

Lice removal kit.(Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The SafeTek Lice Removal Kit includes a pesticide-free conditioning shampoo and a fine-toothed metal nit comb. The kit is available in food, drug, and discount stores and retails for $17.99. For more information, contact Woodridge Labs Inc.,...

Cart moves medical equipment.(Products)
December 1, 2003... The Trolley cart can move medical equipment or small computers from room to room. For more information, contact Anthro Corp. at 800-325-3841, or visit www. anthro, com/_sp_trolley.asp.

Hi-low exam tables.(Products)
December 1, 2003... The 622 and 623 model power exam tables extend from 18 inches to 37 inches above the floor to accommodate elderly and handicapped patients. For more information, contact Midmark Corp. at 800-643-6275, or visit the company's Web site at...

Counseling overweight teens.(Products)
December 1, 2003... The NutriTeen program uses e-mail to teach children and adolescents aged 12-17 years about behavior modification, nutrition, and physical activity aimed at healthy weight loss. For more information, visit the NutriTeen program Web site at...

Hand hygiene video.(Products)
December 1, 2003... The "Hand Hygiene: Cleaning Up Our Act" video reviews new guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Produced with a grant from 3M Health Care, the review is available in VHS, CD-ROM, and DVD formats in English and...

Securing Amevive.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... Physicians who purchase Amevive and fail to get reimbursed from insurers can get a discount credit toward future purchases of the drug courtesy of Biogen's "security program." The program, which began in August, is a change from the company's...

Implanting doubts.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... The Food and Drug Administration should ignore a recent advisory panel's advice to approve silicone gel breast implants, says the panel's own chairman, Dr. Thomas V. Whalen, professor of surgery and pediatrics at Robert Wood Johnson Medical...

Jury's still out on skin cancer interventions.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... Sun safety efforts promoted in primary schools and recreational and tourist settings for adults have had a measurable impact on getting children and adults to engage in safer behaviors such as wearing long-sleeved clothing, seeking shade, and...

AAD ponders advisory board changes.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... The American Academy of Dermatology is considering changing the makeup of its advisory board, which advises the academy on issues of interest to various dermatology societies. Under the proposal, the board would drop from more than 125 members...

Candela spa closes.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... Candela Corp. is permanently closing its Boston spa, the last of the company's skin care centers. The company decided to close the spa business unit because of growing financial losses. In the fiscal year ending June 2003, the Boston spa...

Liability makes a hike.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... Operating costs for medical group practices increased by 7.47% in 2002, due largely to rising professional liability premiums, the Medical Group Management Association reports in its 2003 cost survey. Ob.gyn. practices, for example, experienced...

Case of the month.
December 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- The dermatologist who first saw the patient listed angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia, B-cell lymphoma, pseudolymphoma, and Sweet's syndrome as possibilities. From an infectious disease perspective, leishmaniasis,...

Rosacea patient booklet.(FYI)
December 1, 2003... "Understanding Rosacea" is a patient education booklet that incorporates the new diagnostic guidelines. The guide also identifies features, symptoms, and subtypes. To obtain a copy, contact the National Rosacea Society, 888-NO-BLUSH,...

Household products database.(FYI)
December 1, 2003... The National Institutes of Health now offers an online database of more than 2,000 ingredients contained in more than 4,000 household products. The database provides consumers with information on the potential health effects of these...

Children and medicine.(FYI)
December 1, 2003... The Food and Drug Administration has a Web site with tips for giving medications to children, along with a recommended immunization schedule. For more information, visit http://www.fda.gov/cder/ consumerinfo / sickkids.htm. It is also available...

MRI study of face and bones.(FYI)
December 1, 2003... Participants are being recruited for a study examining the risk factors for facial wasting and avascular necrosis in HIV-infected patients using MRI imaging. Healthy volunteers and HIV-infected patients 18 years and older are eligible....

Cancer Institute Survey.(FYI)
December 1, 2003... The National Cancer Institute is looking for people to participate in telephone interviews. Patients with stage III or IV cancer, current or bereaved friends and family of cancer patients, and physicians who work with patients in advanced...