Skin & Allergy News articles from February 2004

Skin & Allergy News archives from February 2004

Online derm drugs are Rx for trouble: internet sales.
February 1, 2004... The Internet offers a wealth of health information, but it can also pose dangers to dermatology patients in search of quick cures and easy access to some of the specialty's most powerful drugs. The National Psoriasis Foundation recently...

Isotretinoin, pay issues top derms' health policy list: AADA pushes for reforms: but Congress' priorities may put some dermatology issues on the back burner.(American Academy of Dermatology Association)
February 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Three issues will likely top dermatology's legislative wish list for this year: reimbursement, isotretinoin access, and medical liability reform. But dermatologists may have to wait until 2005 to get everything they ask for. ...

CellCept gaining niche in treating skin disorders: being used as second- or third-line agent: psoriasis, bullous disease treated off label.
February 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Off-label use of mycophenolate mofetil as a second- or third-line treatment for blistering autoimmune diseases or psoriasis is increasing, but concerns linger about its long-term safety. "It's probably the most rapidly growing...

Better melanoma vaccine responders predicted: phase III study.(News)
February 1, 2004... MIAMI -- An allogenic melanoma vaccine slightly improved overall survival after 2 years, compared with observation only in a study of patients with resected, intermediate-thickness, node-negative disease. Longer survival was associated with...

U.S. troops in Iraq should defer blood donations: leishmaniasis concern.(News)
February 1, 2004... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- Troops returning from Iraq should be deferred from blood donation for a year because of potential exposure to leishmaniasis, the Food and Drug Administration's Blood Products Advisory Committee voted at a hearing. The...

New warnings added to nafcillin label: pediatric precaution.(News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Food and Drug Administration's Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program stated on the MedWatch Web site that serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactoid) reactions have been reported in patients on...

New treatments improve cutaneous leishmaniasis healing: combination regimen.(News)
February 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- Two new therapies for cutaneous leishmaniasis healed skin lesions faster or with less treatment, according to two separate reports at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. The risk...

U.S. needs melanoma screening push: long overdue.(News)
February 1, 2004... MIAMI -- The United States is overdue for a national melanoma screening program, according to a presentation at a conference on melanoma sponsored by Imedex. A 5-year plan to increase screening could decrease the mortality from the only...

Peptide vaccine for metastatic melanoma shows promise: immune response in 38%.(News)
February 1, 2004... MIAMI -- Preliminary results of a phase II trial point to a higher immune response rate than most previous peptide vaccine trials for metastatic melanoma. Vaccines can activate and expand specific CD8 T cells that destroy tumor cells in...

Topical tacrolimus tops steroids for AD therapy: large study.(News)(atopic dermatitis)
February 1, 2004... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- Tacrolimus ointment proved superior to mid- to high-potency topical corticosteroids in adults with atopic dermatitis in the first large double-blind clinical trial to compare the topical immune modulator with standard...

Standard patch test kits miss contact dermatitis: relevant allergens missing.(News)
February 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- Two widely used, commercially available allergy patch test kits identified only 16% and 28% of patients who had contact allergies, and many of the allergies they did pick up were clinically irrelevant, according to a New York...

Touting tort reform may build AMA membership: number of members dropped 3.8%.(News)
February 1, 2004... HONOLULU -- In the complicated calculus that governs membership in professional societies, winning--whether the win is in state houses or on Capitol Hill-is the only thing. Medicare reform counts as a big win on the scoreboard for the...

FDA raises bar on silicone breast implant approval: more rigorous investigation.(News)
February 1, 2004... The Food and Drug Administration has revised its guidelines for manufacturers seeking approval to market silicone gel breast implants, curbing the hopes of the California company that seemed closest to this goal. The new FDA guidance...

Under my skin: Omigod!(Opinion)(Column)
February 1, 2004... Cynthia showed me the small nevi and cherry angiomas on her chest. They'd been there forever. 'At my physical, the doctor stared at them," she said. "He seemed so concerned, that even though they don't seem to have changed, I started to...

Are you treating psoriasis patients in your office with biologics?(Talk Back Online)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... Are you treating psoriasis patients in your office with biologics? NO 50% YES 50% To Talk Back, visit www.eskinandallergynews.com Note: Table made from pie chart.

A burden we don't need.(Guest Editorial)(clinical skills assessment examination)
February 1, 2004... Would you like some cheese with that whine?" This appears to be the message that the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) is sending to medical students who criticize the implementation of the new clinical skills assessment examination...

Should you perform sentinel lymph node biopsies for patients with primary cutaneous melanoma?(Pro & Con)
February 1, 2004... YES Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) should be offered routinely to patients with intermediate thickness melanomas. In 2003, the American Joint Committee on Cancer suggested that SLNB should be performed to stage a patient's melanoma...

Rush permanent sections benefit Mohs surgery: for lentigo maligna.(Dermatologic Surgery)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- The use of rush permanent sections with Mobs surgery for lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma was associated with no deaths or recurrences in up to 4 years of follow-up in a recent case series. In 72 patients with...

Confocal image peers inside melanoma: in vivo look.(Dermatologic Surgery)(Confocal microscopy )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... MIAMI -- Confocal microscopy allows researchers to see inside a melanoma lesion in vivo, and the evolving technology may have several useful clinical applications, according to a presentation at a conference on melanoma sponsored by Imedex. ...

Periorbital surgery: account for facial balance: age-related changes.(Dermatologic Surgery)
February 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- The goal of rejuvenation surgery should be to restore the anatomic characteristics of a youthful face, and that requires an appreciation of the anatomic relationships among facial components and how they change with age, Dr....

Negative pressure is positive for some diabetics: avoid limb loss.(Dermatologic Surgery)(negative pressure therapy)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... TORONTO -- A majority of foot ulcers treated with negative pressure therapy alone or negative pressure plus adjuvant therapy significantly decreased in volume in a study of 23 diabetic patients at a tertiary care center, according to a study...

Liposuction results vary in lipohypertrophy Tx: ultrasound-assisted liposuction.(Dermatologic Surgery)(Dorsocervical HIV lipohypertrophy)
February 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Dorsocervical HIV lipohypertrophy of the head and neck appears to respond better to ultrasound-assisted liposuction than does the anterior form, Dr. Jeffrey E. DeWeese reported in a poster session at the annual meeting of the...

Several factors determine best filler candidates: realistic expectations.(Dermatologic Surgery)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- Several factors characterize a good candidate for collagen or other types of cosmetic filler, Dr. Michael B. Stevens said at the International Congress of Aesthetic Medicine. Realistic expectations are important, because...

Bioengineered skin helps epidermolysis bullosa: patient satisfaction high.(Dermatologic Surgery)
February 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- A tissue-engineered skin equivalent is showing promise in the treatment of children with severe epidermolysis bullosa and other nonhealing skin conditions, Dr. Lawrence A. Schachner said at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference....

Acne now accounts for 12% of laser/light procedures.(Data Watch)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... Acne Now Accounts for 12% of Laser/Light Procedures Vascular Lesions 41% Hair Removal 24% Acne 12% Pigmented Lesions 11% Tattoo Removal 9% Other 3% Note: Table made from...

Surgical mesh maker issues warning about counterfeit product: prolene nonabsorbable mesh.(Dermatologic Surgery)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A counterfeit version of Prolene nonabsorbable surgical mesh has been found on the market, according to Ethicon Inc., the manufacturer of the authentic product. In a "Dear Healthcare Professional" letter posted on the Food and Drug...

Combine minigraft, follicular unit for best result: hair transplantation.(Dermatologic Surgery)
February 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Ideal density and growth with hair transplantation can best be achieved through the use of combination grafting, Dr. Michael L. Beehner said at the annual meeting of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. A...

Orbicularis oculi flap corrects eyelid deformities, injuries: report of 23 patients treated.(Dermatologic Surgery)
February 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- A musculocutaneous flap that incorporates a segment of the orbicularis oculi musculature and the overlying skin can be used to reconstruct eyelid deformities due to various causes, Dr. Ted Huang reported in a poster session at the...

Endotine is 'a snap' for endoscopic browplasty: for fixation control.(Dermatologic Surgery)
February 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Use of the Endotine device is the key to successful control of soft-tissue fixation during endoscopic browplasty, Dr. R. Laurence Berkowitz declared at the annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "The...

IVIG, fluid-filled dressings boost TEN survival: eye care important.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- Eighteen of 19 consecutive toxic epidermal necrolysis patients survived after receiving intravenous immunoglobulin at the University of Miami, reported Dr. Francisco Kerdel at a dermatology seminar sponsored by the Skin Disease...

Cosmeceutical critique: lutein.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... Lutein is a non-provitamin A yellow carotenoid pigment that is found in but is not synthesized by the human body. Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach and kale, are recognized as the primary dietary sources of lutein, although it is also...

Topical pimecrolimus effective for irritative facial dermatitis: German study.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- Pimecrolimus cream 1% appears to be an effective treatment for the irritative dermatitis of the face and neck that's particularly common in northern climes during the winter, Dr. Hartwig Mensing said at the 12th Congress of...

Duac Topical Gel.(New & Approved)
February 1, 2004... (clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5%, Stiefel Laboratories) The Food and Drug Administration approved Duac Topical Gel, a once-a-day clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel for treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris in adults and...

Advair Diskus 250/50.(New & Approved)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... (fluticasone propionate 250 [micro]g and salmeterol 50 [micro]g inhalation powder, GlaxoSmithKline) A combination anti-inflammatory and long-acting bronchodilator for maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic...

Don a new string of derm practice pearls for the coming new year: practice tips.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Neither sunshine nor practice pearls were in short supply at the annual meeting of the South Central Dermatologic Congress and the Southeastern Dermatologic Association. Dermatologists delivered a set of helpful tips on...

Pain relievers.(Dermatologic Theraphy)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... "Doctors don's make surgical sites with tattoos, but yopu can ask him." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Grappling with herpes gladiatorum in wrestlers: prophylactic valacyclovir.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Prophylactic valacyclovir greatly reduces outbreaks of primary herpes gladiatorum at intensive wrestling camps, Dr. Bruce J. Anderson reported at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. ...

Topical tacrolimus tackles tough vulvar lichen planus: study of 16 patients.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- Topical tacrolimus is "remarkably" effective in women with recalcitrant genital lichen planus, Dr. Julie A. Byrd reported at the 12th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. In a retrospective...

Photochemotherapy is workhorse for chronic actinic dermatitis Tx: sunscreen of little value.(Dermatologic Therapy)(PUVA therapy)
February 1, 2004... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- Spontaneous resolution is often part of the natural history of chronic actinic dermatitis, Dr. Rik Roelandts said at the 12th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. This was well illustrated by...

Try antimalarial combo in photo-induced autoimmune diseases: two malarials better than one.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- For patients whose photo-induced autoimmune disease does not respond to treatment with hydroxychloroquine, add another antimalarial drug, Dr. Victoria P. Werth said. She routinely starts hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) therapy in...

Respiratory, skin conditions pose risk of adverse antibiotic effects: comorbidities.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Comorbidities in patients with certain respiratory and skin conditions can increase the risk of adverse events from antibiotics, reported Dr. Gregory E Hess of Surveillance Data Inc., Plymouth Meeting, Pa. In a retrospective...

All ad therapies should include emollients: greater use in Britain.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... MONTREAL -- Adequate use of emollients can control up to one-quarter of mild to moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis and can reduce or eliminate the need for corticosteroids, according to Dr. Michael Cork. "Emollients are a very simple...

Early data suggest calcineurin inhibitors are safe for infants: atopic dermatitis therapy.(Dermatologic Therapy)(pimecrolimus cream)
February 1, 2004... CHICACO -- Preliminary data suggest that the calcineurin inhibitors pimecrolimus and tacrolimus may be safely used to treat atopic dermatitis in infants younger than 2 years, Dr. Lawrence E Eichenfield said at a dermatology conference sponsored...

Hydrocortisone cuts irritation associated with tacrolimus: nine-patient study.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- The addition of hydrocortisone butyrate to topical therapy for atopic dermatitis with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment caused significantly less irritation than that associated with tacrolimus alone, according to the findings of an...

Combo Tx may help fight metastatic melanoma: add antisense therapy.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... MIAMI -- Addition of antisense therapy to chemotherapy to fight metastatic melanoma improved progression-free survival, but gains in overall survival were not significant, according to initial results of a phase III study. One reason for...

Kinase inhibitor plus chemo battles melanoma: preliminary results.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... MIAMI -- A kinase inhibitor that previously showed limited antitumor activity as monotherapy for metastatic melanoma showed "striking activity in the majority of patients" when combined with standard chemotherapy, according to preliminary...

Traditional psoriasis treatment paradigm shifts: fewer steps to biologics.(Dermatologic Therapy)(PUVA therapy)
February 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- The traditional stepwise approach to choosing psoriasis treatments is getting shorter. With the number of facilities offering PUVA therapy declining by up to one-half in many areas, and the increasing acceptance of biological...

Use guidelines to reduce skin Ca risk in transplant patients: immunosuppressive dose reductions.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Dosage reduction could reduce morbidity and mortality in certain organ transplant recipients on immunosuppressive therapy who are at high risk of cutaneous malignancy, according to guidelines presented at the joint annual meeting...

Revised guidelines simplify HIV/AIDS therapy: 'preferred' and 'alternative' regimens.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Newly revised guidelines on treating adults and adolescents with HIV and AIDS provide suggestions for regimens that are more definitive than ever before, Dr. Paul Volberding said at a meeting on HIV management sponsored by the...

Use low-tech approaches to treat xerostomia: few data on immunosuppression.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... DESTIN, FLA. -- In treating xerostomia, stick to the low tech and tried and true, Athena S. Papas, D.M.D., advised at a rheumatology meeting sponsored by the Brookwood Medical Center. Immunosuppressive drugs have been suggested as...

Povidone-iodine effective for conjunctivitis in children: extremely inexpensive.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2004... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- Povidone-iodine appears to be an effective treatment for bacterial and chlamydial conjunctivitis in children, Dr. Sherwin J. Isenberg reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. A 1.25%...

Drug update: oral antifungal drugs.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2004... Oral antifungals are used to treat both skin and systemic infections. For skin infections, oral antifungals are most commonly used to treat patients who have not responded to topical formulations, although an oral drug is sometimes used from...

Noteworthy study nuggets for your file drawer: clinical dermatology articles.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2004... COLUMBUS, OHIO -- It's not an easy task to pick out some of the most interesting articles of the past few years in clinical dermatology, but Dr. Kenneth J. Tomecki managed to cull numerous gems from his file drawer at the annual meeting of the...

Top 15 invasive cancer sites in females, 2000.(Data Watch)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... Top 15 Invasive Cancer Sites in Females, 2000. Rate per 100,000 Kidney and Renal Pelvis 8.4 Colon and Rectum 47.0 Urinary Bladder 9.8 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 15.4...

Patch-test primer offers derms easy how-to's: diagnosing contact dermatitis.(Clinical Rounds)(Skin Disease Education Foundation)(thin-layer rapid-use epicutaneous)
February 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- Dermatologists who specialize in contact dermatitis shared their patch-testing pearls during a dermatology seminar sponsored by the Skin Disease Education Foundation. For the uninitiated, here are some experts' tips about how...

Botanic allergens can sow seeds of dermatitis: composite plants are common culprits.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2004... HERSHEY, PA. -- A patient's history of working with plants and signs of dermatitis around the hands and fingers should point toward patch testing for a specific plant or wood contact allergy, Dr. Kathryn A. Zug said at a meeting on contact...

Contact dermatitis treatment may reveal bacitracin sensitivity: contact allergen of the year.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- Bacitracin, one of the nation's most commonly used topical antibiotics, was named "contact allergen of the year" by the American Contact Dermatitis Society, Dr. David E. Cohen announced at a dermatology seminar sponsored by the...

Emotional trauma may slow wound healing: very small study.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2004... WAIKOLOA, HAWAII -- A very small but well-designed German study raises intriguing questions about the potential long-term effects of emotional trauma on the body's ability to heal. Dr. Rupert Conrad and his associates at the University of...

Old world disease a threat in the new: African tick bite fever.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Rickettsia africae, the agent of African tick bite fever that is transmitted by Amblyomma variegatum ticks, has been confirmed in three islands in the West Indies and is an emerging threat in the United States, Dr. Matthew L. Lim...

Abrasions, sweat may spread hepatitis C virus: chapped, cracked skin is risk factor.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2004... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- Hepatitis C virus actively replicates in the healthy epidermis and sweat glands of chronically infected patients--and more important, is secreted in their sweat, Dr. M. Isabel Longo said at the 12th Congress of the European...

Derms can man the front lines of STD education: public knowledge is limited.(Clinical Rounds)(sexually transmitted diseases)
February 1, 2004... COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Examinations and discussions of sexually transmitted diseases too often fall by the wayside in the doctor's office, even though STDs continue to be a major health problem in the United States, Dr. Ted Rosen said at the annual...

STD screening subpar in primary care Medicaid HMOS: internists, pediatrician most behind.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- A significant proportion of primary care providers who contract with Medicaid HMOs don't follow recommended guidelines for screening and treating sexually transmitted diseases, Nadereh Pourat, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting...

Amelanotic melanoma can mimic dermatofibroma: case study.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- A seemingly benign skin lesion that initially presented as a possible dermatofibroma turned out to be an unusual amelanotic melanoma, Sarvenaz Zand reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Society of...

ABCLabData, PDA styli.(Digital Assistance)
February 1, 2004... ABCLabData is an expansive laboratory test reference program for Palm OS and Pocket PC handheld computers. Originally published (in hard copy) by Dr. Seymour Bakerman in 1983, the ABC's of Interpretive Laboratory Data has become a trusted...

Trichotillomania poorly understood, often hidden: among African American women.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Trichotillomania among African American women often involves pulling of the pubic hair as well as pulling of hair from the scalp, eyelashes, or eyebrows, which may add to the profound sense of shame patients feel, Angela...

Head lice incidence rising in African Americans: debunking a myth.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- While African American children are far less likely to have pediculosis capitis than are white or Hispanic children, it is a myth that head lice do not exist in African American children, Dr. Andrea Beth Trowers said at an...

Negotiating with payers should not be a criminal offense: expert opinion.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Physicians should not be criminally prosecuted for negotiating collectively with insurance companies, attorney Jack Bierig said at a hearing on health care law sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of...

Sharpening the saw.(Managing Your Dermatology Practice)(Column)
February 1, 2004... You've invested a lot of money in your medical equipment, so you're careful to maintain it with regular service and anything else you need to keep it in good working order. Your computers are important to your practice, so you back up your...

Data standard called crucial to patient safety; federal intervention and financial aid are key: information-sharing network.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2004... Physicians agreed with an Institute of Medicine panel's assessment that federal intervention and financial support are key elements to the development of national, uniform standards on patient safety information. "Patient Safety: Achieving...

Medicare patients not getting preventive care: needed services not performed.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2004... Relatively few Medicare beneficiaries get all of the preventive services they need at the physician's office, the General Accounting Office reports. Most beneficiaries visit a physician several times a year and get some preventive...

Rate of increase in health insurance premiums outstrips inflation, earnings.(Data Watch)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... DATA WATCH Rate of Increase in Health Insurance Premiums Outstrips Inflation, Earnings Overall Health Insurance Premiums Workers' Earnings Inflammation 1989...

FDA: anthrax vaccine safe.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... FDA: ANTHRAX VACCINE SAFE The anthrax vaccine is safe and effective regardless of the route of exposure, the Food and Drug Administration says. The FDA issued a final ruling on this issue shortly after the U.S. District Court for the District...

Smallpox assessment.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... SMALLPOX ASSESSMENT There are gaps and redundancies in the draft indicators being developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to measure preparedness for a smallpox attack and other bioterrorist threats, the Institute of...

Fee schedule increases.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... FEE SCHEDULE INCREASES Rural physicians in some areas of the country may see their Medicare payments go up by as much as 4.8% under a provision in the new Medicare law that changes how the federal government adjusts payments to recognize area...

Wish list.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... WISH LIST By year's end, at least one-third of all physicians will be routinely using an electronic health record, and one-third of hospitals will have adopted computerized physician order entry systems. That's just one of the many items on the...

Studying the physician supply.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... STUDYING THE PHYSICIAN SUPPLY The Association of American Medical Colleges has established a new unit, the Center for Workforce Studies, to assess the supply, demand, use, and distribution of physicians in this country. The center will collect...

Spending slowdown.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... SPENDING SLOWDOWN Spending on physician services was the slowest growing category of health care spending during the first half of 2003, the Center for Studying Health System Change reports. While spending on physician services increased by...

Quality report card.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... QUALITY REPORT CARD Progress in improving health care quality and eliminating disparities has been mixed, the Department of Health and Human Services" Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality says. The "National Healthcare Quality Report" and...

Medical education should prep doctors on CAM: effective communication.(Practice Trends)(complementary and alternative medicine)
February 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Physicians need to be able to talk to their patients about complementary and alternative medicines, but finding room for these subjects in the medical school curriculum is tough to do. The broad objective of integrating...

Help, don't hinder online patient research: responsible self-management.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- A digital divide between patients and physicians may be creeping into some offices, Roe A. Roberts, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association. Encouraging patients to be informed and...

PBM changes may mean mail-order Rx surge: consolidation, lawsuits.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2004... The recent consolidation among pharmaceutical benefit managers may mean more mail-order prescriptions in physicians' futures, several experts said. "Doctors will dearly notice they're writing prescriptions for longer duration, which is...

Partner with patients to improve compliance: hands-on approach.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- A partnership with the patient can help improve compliance, Dawn Oetjen, Ph.D., said at the annual conference of the Medical Group Management Association. The paternalistic model in which the patient follows the physician's...

Case of the month.(Extraskeletal osteosarcomas )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- Extraskeletal osteosarcomas are uncommon, accounting for a mere 4% of all osteosarcomas. Rarer yet are primary cutaneous osteosarcomas. Indeed, only three prior cases have been reported in the literature. But that's the...

Laser treatment for wrinkles.(Products)(Smoothbeam diode laser)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Smoothbeam diode laser has received expanded clearance as a noninvasive treatment of wrinkles on the face. For more information, contact Candela Corp., 800-733-8550, www.candelalaser.com.