Skin & Allergy News articles from February 2003

Skin & Allergy News archives from February 2003

School will create doctor-investigators. (Addressing Researcher Shortage).
February 1, 2003... Are you an accomplished, enthusiastic physician-investigator who can inspire medical students to chase their dream of advancing biomedical research and clinical practice? If so, you might fit the bill to be a guest lecturer for students on...

'Fat-dissolving' substance injects CCs of controversy: despite growing U.S. interest, Lipostabil's safety remains uncertain, experts warn. (Lipostabil Injections).
February 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Injections of phosphatidylcholine aimed at reducing fat deposits in the lower eyelids, thighs, and jowls seem to have captured the fancy of New York media mavens, but many dermatologists and plastic surgeons are nervous about the...

FDA approves azelaic acid gel 15% for rosacea: gel offers an alternative to metronidazole. (Mild to Moderate Disease).
February 1, 2003... The Food and Drug Administration has approved azelaic acid gel 15%, marketed by Berlex Laboratories as Finacea, for the topical treatment of inflammatory papules and pustules of mild to moderate rosacea. The decision was finalized Dec. 24,...

Novel ultrasound-based machines may give quantitative skin analysis. (Study of 76 People).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Two new ultrasound machines may, offer dermatologists the ability to quantitatively measure properties of the skirt altered by dermatologic conditions, Dr. Levon Nazarian said at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of...

Refinancing deal brings Apligraf back to market. (Hot Line for Questions).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Apligraf, a living skin substitute, is once again available to physicians after Organogenesis Inc., the manufacturer, struck a marketing and refinancing deal with distributor Novartis Pharma AG. Novartis has established a hot line to answer...

Efalizumab makes bid for psoriasis Tx approval. (Application Filed with FDA).
February 1, 2003... Another biologic therapy for psoriasis has taken a step closer to market: Efalizumab's manufacturers in late December 2002 submitted an application to the Food and Drug Administration for the approval of efalizumab to treat moderate to severe...

Azelex competitor costs less for acne patients. (Price Disparity).
February 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Acne patients might be well advised to shop around when purchasing azelaic acid cream 20%, manufactured by Allergan under the brand name Azelex and by Berlex Laboratories as Finevin. The Food and Drug Administration approved...

Etanercept supply shortage comes to an end. (Waiting List Eliminated).
February 1, 2003... The etanercept shortage is over. Amgen Inc. gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a new manufacturing plant on Dec. 23, 2002, and immediately began shipping the drug. Dr. Kenneth Gordon, director of the psoriasis...

Genital herpes vaccine trial still seeking volunteers. (Women Aged 18-30 Years).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... As a major trial for a promising genital herpes vaccine gears up, researchers face the daunting task of recruiting enough volunteers. The trial, a partnership between the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and...

Calling all hairdressers. (Under My Skin).
February 1, 2003... Patient: "Doctor, I'm worried about my hair." Doctor: "Is it falling out? Does it feel thinner?" Patient: "No." Doctor: "Then why are you worried?" Patient: "My hairdresser said she sees a lot of my scalp." While the comments...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... Financial Assistants I was pleased by Dr. Alan Rockoff's honesty that he got into lasers to make more money ("Confessions of a Laser Guy," Under My Skin, November 2002, p. 8). Many of our colleagues are doing the same, but at least the...

Dermatologists and free care. (Guest Editorial).
February 1, 2003... I've practiced dermatology for 40 years in San Francisco. Our city is, in some ways, unique. It has been called the People's Republic of San Francisco, the Capital of the Left Coast, and the Home of the Latte Liberals. We have a...

Dermatologic surgery pearls: from Botox to lasers. (Use Botox in Combination Tx).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Renowned jeweler Mikimoto had serious competition at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology where surgical pearls...

Mohs patients forget surgery consent info. (Retention Rate Low).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Physicians must improve their informed consent protocol for elective Mohs patients if they are to improve the unacceptably low retention rate of information among these patients, said Dr. Mark Fleischman of the University of Oklahoma...

Experts don't delegate to nurses or PAs. (Cosmetic Procedures).
February 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Leaders in techniques such as Botox injections, vein sclerotherapy, chemical peels, and laser treatments do not delegate these procedures to nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or registered nurses, Dr. William P. Coleman...

Confocal microscopy sees tumor margins well. (Nearly as Good as Mohs).
February 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- In small but important tests of new, noninvasive imaging technology, confocal microscopy came close to matching results of Mohs surgery in determining tumor clearance, and it accurately determined which basal cell carcinomas were...

Dermabrasion with grafting benefits CHILD syndrome. ('Excellent' Outcome).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- A novel surgical approach consisting of dermabrasion followed by split skin grafting resulted in an "excellent" outcome in a patient with CHILD syndrome, Dr. Arne Konig reported. The inflammatory lesion seen in the X...

Diode, Nd: YAG lasers smooth atrophic facial scars. (Fewer Side Effects with ND:YAG).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Both the 1,450-nm diode laser and the 1,320-nm neodymium:YAG laser are effective for the treatment of atrophic facial scars, arid neither was associated with significant side effects in a recent study Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi reported at...

Don't crank power to remove tattoos. (Set Realistic Expectations).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- As long as dermatologists set realistic expectations, tattoo removal is "the most fun you can have with a laser," Dr. Eric Bernstein said at the 11th International Symposium on Cosmetic Laser Surgery. An amateur tattoo...

Cultural considerations key in laser Tx of ethnic skin. (Good Communication Needed).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- There's more to keep in mind than melanocytes when it comes to the laser treatment of ethnic skin: Cultural differences can also play an important role in outcomes, Dr. Brooke A. Jackson said at the joint annual meeting of the...

Varicose veins require treatment at the source. (Early Ambulation is Key).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Treating telangiectasias and varicose veins without identifying the source of the problem is akin to removing a basal cell carcinoma without regard for the margins, Dr. Mitchel P. Goldman said at the joint annual meeting of the...

New imaging tools on the way for sclerotherapy. (In Development).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- A number of imaging tools are available or in development to help with the evaluation and treatment of varicose veins and telangiectasias, Dr. Robert Weiss said at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic...

Try simple solution to fat atrophy complication. (Saline Beats Sword).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... WESTMINSTER, COLO. -- Sometimes the saline is mightier than the sword. Take, for example, this situation familiar to dermatologists: the patient with an unsightly area of fat atrophy caused by accidental leakage of corticosteroids into...

No derms involved in Fla. office surgery deaths. (2 Years of Data).
February 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- No dermatologists were involved in seven deaths directly related to office-based procedures during the first 2 years the state of Florida implemented a mandatory reporting system to track safety in physicians' offices where medical...

Eyelid deformity: steel is mightier than the laser. (Tear Trough Deformity).
February 1, 2003... NEW York -- Steel is more effective than a laser for repairing the tear trough deformity, Dr. Jon Turk said at the 11th International Symposium on Cosmetic Laser Surgery. "I love lasers, but I don't use them for periorbital rejuvenation,"...

Fat is more than just a filler for facial rejuvenation work. ('Think Fat-Lift').
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- When it comes to rejuvenation of the face, think fat. "We're all used to using fat as a volume filler... but it's time to get used to fat as a building foundation of the face. Think fat-lift instead of face-lift," Dr. Patricia...

Go slow on tumescent fluid in facial liposuction. (Rapid Absorption Risks Toxicity).
February 1, 2003... WESTMINSTER, COLO. -- Lidocaine absorption is "extraordinarily rapid" during injection of tumescent fluid into the face, posing a danger of toxicity, Dr. Melvin A. Shiffman cautioned at the World Congress on Liposuction. The epinephrine...

Hydrolipotherapy helps clean up liposuction fibrosis. (In 50 Patients).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Ultrasonic hydrolipotherapy is a useful tool for resolving residual fibrosis as well as for improving symmetry and contour in patients who have recently undergone liposuction, Dr. Jose Leon-Solarte said at the annual...

Cosmeceutical critique: phosphatidylcholine. (Dermatologic Surgery).
February 1, 2003... Harper's Bazaar, Time magazine, and other media outlets have recently touted the use of phosphatidylcholine injections as the "new liposuction." This procedure was popularized in Brazil and is currently being used illegally in the United...

Topical tacrolimus controls oral lichen planus. (For Moderate Disease).
February 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Topical tacrolimus applied to oral lichen planus lesions three times a day with a cotton swab appears to control the chronic inflammatory disorder in moderately affected patients, Dr. Alison Bruce reported at a dermatology seminar...

Don't expect a cure for oral lichen planus. (Most Agents Ineffective).
February 1, 2003... DANA POINT, CALIF. -- Patients with oral lichen planus and their doctors should be content with achieving symptomatic relief and not expect a cure, Dr. Arnold Schroeter said at the annual meeting of the Noah Worcester Dermatological Society....

Rosacea patients respond to custom compound. (Find a Good Pharmacist).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- One of Dr. Susan C. Taylor's favorite prescriptions for inflamed rosacea carries no brand name, because she has to ask a compounding pharmacist to mix it up. Ask for 0.75% metronidazole powder with 1% hydrocortisone in a...

New antifungals kill fluconazole-resistant Candida. (Echinocandins Work Rapidly).
February 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- A new class of antifungal drugs called echinocandins can kill fluconazole-resistant Candida species rapidly, with less toxicity than other treatments, Dr. John R. Graybill said at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial...

Azelaic acid cuts seborrheic secretions from moderate acne. (Versus Adapalene, Benzoyl Peroxide).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... TRIESTE, ITALY -- Azelaic acid significantly reduced seborrheic secretions from mild to moderate acne, while adapalene cream and benzoyl peroxide each increased secretions, Dr. Giovanni Bragadin said at a joint meeting of the European Society...

Fewer Scleroderma Digital Ulcers with Bosetan. (Multicenter Study).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Bosentan appears to avert destructive vasculopathy associated with scleroderma, Dr. Joseph H. Korn said at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. Bosentan (Tracleer), an endothelin receptor antagonist...

One-two punch knocks out actinic keratoses. (Aminolevulinic Acid, Photodynamic Tx).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- One to two treatments of topical 20% aminolevulinic acid and photodynamic therapy resulted in complete resolution of actinic keratoses in 73% of patients enrolled in phase III trials, Dr. Mark R. Ling reported. At least a 75%...

Melanoma vaccine may double stage IV survival. (Phase II Trial).
February 1, 2003... A vaccine administered after debulking surgery for stage IV melanoma may double the 5-year survival rates achieved with surgery alone, Dr. Eddy C. Hsueh and his colleagues at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, Calif., reported....

Mistletoe may help cancer Tx tolerability. (Adjuvant Therapy).
February 1, 2003... EXETER, ENGLAND -- Adjuvant treatment with mistletoe extract can increase the tolerability of conventional cancer treatment, improve patient quality of life, and lengthen tumor-free survival, Dr. Paul R. Bock reported. In a multicenter,...

Novel therapy may soothe severe itching due to primary biliary cirrhosis. (Liver Support Device).
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Dermatologists may soon have an effective new therapeutic option to offer patients with the toughest cases of refractory pruritus due to primary biliary cirrhosis: Send them to MARS. The molecular adsorbents recirculating system,...

Try anthralin or nitrogen mustard for alopecia areata. (Old-Time Herbals Still Work).
February 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Traditional treatments may still grow hair in patients with alopecia areata, and can pave the way for new therapies. "We're at the threshold of targeted, immunomodulated therapies for alopecia areata," Dr. Jerry Shapiro said...

Dermatology gene research targets hair removal, tailors tumor vaccines. (Future Watch).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Electrolysis and light-based hair removal strategies may one day take a back seat to a far more high-tech solution to unwanted stubble: molecular hair removal derived from a mutated gene found in rare families who suffer genetic...

Scientific evidence supports hair-loss pharmaceuticals. (Adjunct to Surgery).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Hair transplant surgeons have pharmacologic allies in the hair-loss war, Dr. Robert Haber said at the annual meeting of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery Scientific evidence supports the ability of several...

Alopecia areata: older children more tolerant. (Kids Viewed Photo).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Children become more tolerant in their attitudes and perceptions about alopecia areata as they get older, Dr. Jeffrey J. Miller said at a meeting sponsored by the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. Physicians should be...

Start with steroids in infant Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. (Interferon Second Line).
February 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- Few situations in medicine are as stressful as when an infant with life-threatening Kasabach-Merritt syndrome does not respond to therapy, Dr. Ramon Ruiz-Maldonado said at the Congress of the European Society for Paediatric...

Oral pristinamycin offers effective alternative for erysipelas treatment. (Advantages Over Penicillin).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Oral pristinamycin was more effective in treating erysipelas than was a combination of intravenous and oral penicillin, said Dr. Philippe Bernard of Hopital RobertDebre, Reims, France, and his colleagues in the French Erysipelas Study Group....

Total contact casting is best for foot ulcer Tx. (Offloading Strategies).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Total contact casting is the optimal method for healing neuropathic foot ulcers, David Sinacore, Ph. D., said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association. "From my point of view, it's not what we...

Pentoxifylline best when used with compression. (Venous Leg Ulcers).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Pentoxifylline may be most effective in treating venous leg ulcers when used in addition to compression treatment, according to a study conducted by Andrew Jull, R.N., of Auckland (New Zealand) Hospital, and his colleagues. About 30% of...

Ceftriaxone lacking as Tx for post-Lyme fatigue. (Study of 55 Patients).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... DENVER -- Twenty-eight days of intravenous ceftriaxone isn't a reasonable answer to the chronic fatigue and cognitive dysfunction that trouble a minority of patients after standard antimicrobial therapy for Lyme disease, Dr. Lauren H. Krupp...

Inability to metabolize allergens tied to dermatitis. (Cytochrome P-450 System).
February 1, 2003... CLEVELAND -- Patients who do not fully metabolize some allergens are more likely to develop allergic contact dermatitis, according to a presentation at a meeting on contact dermatitis. Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), an ingredient in topical...

Body piercing's popularity may fuel rising nickel allergy rates. ('Astounding' Increase by Mid-1990s).
February 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- An "astounding" increase in the prevalence of nickel allergy between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s appears to correlate with the explosion in popularity of body piercing, according to Dr. David E. Cohen, president-elect of the...

Confocal microscopy helps distinguish between allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. (Noninvasive Results).
February 1, 2003... CLEVELAND -- Confocal microscopy can distinguish allergic contact dermatitis from irritant contact dermatitis, and the technology sheds light on histologic features of the skin noninvasively and faster than traditional methods do, according to...

Epoxy exposure tied to allergic contact dermatitis. (Airborne Exposure Possible).
February 1, 2003... CLEVELAND -- Occupational exposure to epoxy resins can sensitize a person and cause allergic contact dermatitis, even through airborne exposure. Although some workers also develop an allergy to dental epoxies, that is rare, according to a...

Klippel-Trenaunay stains predict complications. (Study of 40 Patients).
February 1, 2003... ANNAPOLIS, MD. -- Geographic stains in Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome have a high likelihood of occurring in conjunction with lymphatic diseases and are associated with more complications, Dr. Catherine Maari and her associates said in a poster...

Kawasaki-like syndrome seen in carbamazepine user. (In 8-Year-Old Girl).
February 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- In a case that had a surprising happy ending, severe Kawasaki-like syndrome developed in an 8-year-old girl following the initiation of treatment with carbamazepine for partial seizures. The child was hospitalized with a...

Occult Castleman's disease can accompany pemphigus in children. (Adolescent Case Report).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- The child or adolescent with severe oral mucositis associated with cutaneous lichenoid lesions may be harboring occult Castleman's disease. Such was the case in a 14-year-old girl admitted to the hospital with fever and...

Phthalates in cosmetics not tied to birth defects. (Yearlong Review).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A cosmetics review panel has found no link between phthalates in cosmetics and birth defects in males. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review, a Washington, D.C.-based organization, launched a yearlong review of the safety of phthalates in...

Research focuses on genetic causes of melanoma. (Risk Factors in Teens).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- A number of the most exciting advances in melanoma research over the past year or so have focused on genetic clues to melanoma susceptibility and a better understanding of risk factors in adolescents, Dr. Darrell S. Rigel said at...

No smoking, no acne inversa? Wrong. (Recurrences Common).
February 1, 2003... PORTO, PORTUGAL -- Although smoking is a major triggering factor for the development of acne inversa, quitting does not appear to benefit the postoperative course of the disease, Dr. M. Hagedorn said at the 23rd Congress of the International...

Aquagenic urticaria still a challenging condition. (Reaction Within Minutes).
February 1, 2003... PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC -- Treatment of aquagenic urticaria--a condition in which some patients react strongly within minutes of exposure to water--remains challenging, according to cases presented at the 11th Congress of the European Academy of...

Skin, joint disease common extraintestinal signs of IBD. (Large European Cohort).(inflammatory bowel disease )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Skin and joint disease were the two most common extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease in a large European patient cohort. A history of extraintestinal manifestations, past or present, was associated...

Coding applications: STAT E&M coder. (Digital Assistance).
February 1, 2003... Overview: STAT E&M Coder is a Palm OS handheld computer application that assists health care providers in the enumeration of clinical encounter elements to determine appropriate evaluation and management (E/M) codes. Practitioners of any...

Is macrolide-resistant pharyngeal GAS rising? (Surveillance Ongoing).(group A streptococci )
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Is macrolide resistance rising among pharyngeal group A streptococci? Currently the answer depends on whom you ask, what time of year you're looking, and how close you are to Pittsburgh. Results from two studies presented at the...

Backup antibiotic prescriptions work with patients. (To Cut Antibiotic Usage).
February 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Evidence from a survey of patients seen for acute rhinosinusitis in a family medicine clinic suggests that the trick of providing a backup antibiotic prescription can significantly reduce antibiotic usage without antagonizing the...

Prick the skin to search for necrotizing fasciitis. (Skin Anesthesia is an Early Sign).
February 1, 2003... ST. LOUIS -- Cutaneous anesthesia is one of the few early signs of necrotizing fasciitis, Dr. Sebastian Faro said at the 12th International Pelvic Reconstructive and Vaginal Surgery Conference. When a patient's skin looks normal but she has...

Delay pregnancy in diffuse scleroderma patients. (Stabilize Disease Before Pregnancy).
February 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Women with diffuse scleroderma, including those with a previous renal crisis, should delay pregnancy until their disease has stabilized, Dr. Virginia Steen said at the Third International Conference on Sex Hormones, Pregnancy,...

Temporal triangular hair loss often missed. (Case Report).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A case of misdiagnosis in a 3-year-old African American highlights the challenge of correct identification of temporal triangular alopecia. Distinguishing temporal triangular alopecia (TTA) from alopecia areata, traction alopecia, and other...

Primary and secondary syphilis rates on the rise. (Increases Among Gay, Bisexual Men).
February 1, 2003... For the first time in more than a decade, primary and secondary syphilis rates increased slightly Dr. Ronald O. Valdiserri said during a teleconference sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence of primary...

Lipid modification for secondary prevention of coronary events. (Drug Update).
February 1, 2003... Current consensus is that virtually everyone with known coronary disease ought to be on an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, regardless of LDL cholesterol level. These well-studied drugs, commonly known as statins, cut risk by lowering LDL...

Female hair loss not always androgen dependent. (Account for Hair Loss Patterns).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- When treating women with pattern hair loss, take androgen status and hair loss patterns into account, Dr. Elise Olsen said at the annual meeting of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. Female pattern hair loss...

Risk assessment is key in acute HIV infection Dx. (Beware of False Positives).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- A 37-year-old gay man presents to your office complaining of malaise, night sweats, and rash for 1 week. He reports a single instance of unprotected insertive anal sex with an anonymous partner 6 weeks previously He reports...

Cosmetic practice: follow tips to get started. (Gradual Growth, Reasonable Expectations).
February 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Dr. Joel Schlessinger's cosmetic dermatology practice and medical spa occupy a dramatically impressive building in suburban Omaha, Neb. Large signs proclaim his name and his Web site address, www.lovelyskin.com. But the...

CPT changes focus on skin lesion removal. (New Coding for 2003).(Current Procedural Terminology )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A new year brings a new look to some of the 2003 Current Procedural Terminology codes for dermatology-related procedures. One change to this year's CPT codes deals with skin lesion removal, said Kent Moore, manager of health care financing...

Medicare pay fix sparks protest at AMA conference. (Aggressive Lobbying Planned).(American Medical Association)
February 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Wearing white lab coats and waving colorful signs, physicians at the interim meeting of the American Medical Association's House of Delegates protested the flawed Medicare payment formula and vowed to lobby Congress to get it...

Office-based surgery regulation. (AMA Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... By Feb. 1, the AMA should convene a work group of specialty societies and state medical associations interested in developing guidelines and model state legislation for ensuring the quality of office-based surgical procedures that require...

CIGNA settlement. (AMA Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The AMA has taken no official position regarding the class action lawsuit Kaiser v. CIGNA et al, or the proposed settlement. In response to widespread confusion on the issue, the delegates agreed to "state [the AMA's position] unequivocally"...

E-mail with patients. (AMA Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Physicians must use the same caution and concern for patient confidentiality when communicating via e-mail as they do when using other forms of communication, the delegates agreed. They adopted recommendations from a Council on Ethical and...

Clinical skills assessment. (AMA Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Clinical skills assessment should fall under the purview of accredited medical schools and should be conducted using a "rigorous and consistent examination," rather than as part of evaluation for licensure, delegates agreed. Plans by the...

Racial and ethnic disparities. (AMA Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Despite advances in health care, racial and ethnic disparities in the quality of care remain a significant problem that should not be tolerated, the delegates said. They concurred with the findings of a Council on Medical Service report...

HIV/STD prevention strategies. (AMA Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Don't stand by while HIV and STD prevention programs are eliminated, delegates urged the AMA. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently removed a condom information sheet and a sex education curriculum from its Web site, and $135...

Governors address malpractice crisis. (Damage Caps, Dispute Resolution).
February 1, 2003... With the help of states in the midst of a malpractice crisis, the National Governors Association has developed a list of ways that states can deal with, or try to stave off, problems of their own. The governors' advice appears in an issue...

Office physicians' medical error rates mirror those of hospital colleagues. (System Failures Faulted).
February 1, 2003... BOSTON -- Physicians in a private practice setting make a similar number and type of medical errors as their colleagues working in a hospital setting, according to findings of a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Health organizations face six new patient safety goals set by JCAHO. (Categories Include 11 Required Actions).(Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)
February 1, 2003... Thousands of health care organizations nationwide are now required to implement a number of patient safety measures or risk citations from the nation's largest accrediting body. The National Patient Safety Goals, developed by the Joint...

Road to universal coverage is long in most states. (Lack of Resources).
February 1, 2003... BALTIMORE -- Although several states have attempted it, no state has successfully implemented a universal coverage program, and the chances of any state doing so in the near future are slim, several speakers said at a meeting on state efforts...

Bioterror funds don't cover states' health cuts. (Public Health Funding Down Overall).
February 1, 2003... Philadelphia -- Stepped-up federal funding for bioterrorism preparedness has yielded some beneficial effects at the state level, notably by helping health officials temper the impact of budget cuts, two state health officials said at the annual...