Skin & Allergy News articles from February 2006

Skin & Allergy News archives from February 2006

Back to business in New Orleans.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2006... For Dr. Mary Lupo, a New Orleans dermatologist displaced after Hurricane Katrina, the beginning of 2006 means going home to her devastated city and beginning to rebuild her practice. In the first few days of the New Year, Dr. Lupo started...

iPLEDGE program moving forward despite the delays: liability reduction seen as silver lining.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2006... New YORK -- Despite bugs in the system that have delayed implementation of the iPLEDGE isotretinoin registry and dermatologists' dismay at the increased red tape and monitoring they are facing, the program is moving forward--and ultimately may...

FDA approves black box for Elidel and Protopic.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2006... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month approved updated health-professional labels for pimecrolimus and tacrolimus that include a new black box warning about a possible risk of cancer associated with the drugs. The boxed warnings...

Head lice treatment uncovered.(News)
February 1, 2006... An over-the-counter skin cleanser may have potential in treating head lice, according to recent disclosure from a California dermatologist. Dr. Dale L. Pearlman of Menlo Park, Calif., announced in December that the dry-on suffocation...

Multiresistant Acinetobacter has disastrous potential.(News)
February 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The United States may be poised on the brink of the next drug-resistant infection epidemic, with outbreaks of Acinetobacter baumannii already appearing in hospitals here, according to experts speaking at the annual Interscience...

Once-daily topical for psoriasis adds choice and convenience.(News)
February 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration in January approved Taclonex, a new topical therapy for psoriasis. The combined steroid and vitamin [D.sub.3] analogue ointment adds both choice and convenience to the currently available first-line...

Gene signature helps predict melanoma outcome.(News)
February 1, 2006... TAMPA, FLA. -- An array analysis of more than 11,000 filtered genes identified a 60-gene signature predictive of distant metastasis among patients with cutaneous primary melanomas, Dr. Alain Spatz reported at a conference on melanoma sponsored...

Can statins stave off melanoma? A definite maybe.(News)
February 1, 2006... The jury is still out, but for now there is no clear evidence that statins or fibrates can decrease the risk of melanoma, according to a new review of studies conducted by The Cochrane Collaboration. Investigators for the international...

Cardiopulmonary failure linked to imaging agent.(News)
February 1, 2006... Palatin Technologies, the manufacturer of NeutroSpec, is voluntarily suspending the sales and marketing of the radiodiagnostic agent in the United States, according to a public health advisory issued by the Food and Drug Administration. ...

FDA recalls lot of contaminated Methotrexate.(News)
February 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration's MedWatch program has announced a voluntary recall of one lot of Methotrexate for Injection (preservative free) because of the presence of low levels of ethylene glycol. Bedford Laboratories, a division of...

CDC issues update for TB prevention guidelines.(News)
February 1, 2006... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention closed out the year 2005 by updating its 1994 guidelines for preventing Mycobacterium tuberculosis in health care settings. The exhaustive guidelines were updated in an effort to respond to...

HPV vaccine prevents genital warts, cervical Ca.(News)
February 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- A human papillomavirus vaccine developed by Merck & Co. is 100% effective in preventing genital warts in women in addition to preventing cervical cancer, Dr. John T. Schiller reported at the annual meeting of the Interscience...

Many clinicians are missing the latest HPV information.(News)
February 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- When it comes to human papillomavirus, U.S. clinicians who see the most patients with it are aware of the basics but aren't always up on the latest information, Dr. Nidhi Jain reported in a poster at the annual Interscience...

FDA panel backs shingles vaccine for ages 60 plus: the vaccine was found safe and effective for this age group, but approval for those 50-59 still being sought.(News)
February 1, 2006... BETHESDA, MD. -- The available data clearly support the safety and effectiveness of a herpes zoster vaccine for people ages 60 and older, the age group that made up most of the participants in clinical trials, a 14-member federal advisory panel...

Development of Staphylococcus aureus vaccine in limbo.(News)
February 1, 2006... StaphVax, a vaccine in development to combat Staphylococcus aureus, failed to meet the primary end point in a second pivotal trial although it had been successful in one late-stage trial. The vaccine's development has now been put on hold,...

The invisible exit sign.(Disease/Disorder overview)
February 1, 2006... On the wooden door that leads from my examining room corridor out to the waiting room, a big red sign at eye level reads EXIT. This sign is invisible. Time and again, patients trying to leave walk up to the door, stare at the sign, then turn...

Should patients be required to take part in comparative clinical trials?(Pro & Con)
February 1, 2006... YES Although some studies raise the concern of whether patients are put at too much risk, we must also ask if research safeguards are sometimes overly protective of people who might enter clinical trials. As I wrote in the...

A case of Medicare-induced dyspepsia.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2006... Our real problem with Medicare is that patients are unaware that they are not allowed to pay what they can for medical services ("Physicians Make Final Appeal to Fix Fee Schedule," December 2005, p. 8). The prohibition on balance billing...

Do iPLEDGE tests in the office.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2006... I read with interest your article on the iPLEDGE conundrum ("Dermatologists Fume Over iPLEDGE Isotretinoin Rules," November 2005, p. 1). I would like to point out that, by calling the iPLEDGE info desk, I learned that physicians with a...

Enough already.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2006... SKIN & ALLERGY NEWS missed the point in the recent article about the American Medical Association's opposition to voluntary Medicare reporting ("AMA Opposes Voluntary Reporting Program," January 2006, p. 56). The federal government and...

Connecting the musical docs.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2006... I was surprised to see the recent article on music, since I had just returned from playing in the 30th year of the Chicago "Do-It-Yourself Messiah" concerts--I play the trumpet ("Physicians of Notes Share Their Love of Music," The Rest of Your...

Article helped guide treatment.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2006... I am a pediatrician in a rural area, and a few days after I read Dr. Laurie J. Smith's advice, a 9-year-old girl with known peanut allergy walked in with a swollen face and itchy skin ("Treat Acute IgE-Mediated Events Aggressively," November...

Patient's granuloma annulare clears with infliximab.(Dermatologic therapy)
February 1, 2006... LONDON -- Complete clearing of recalcitrant generalized granuloma annulare following three infusions of infliximab was seen in a 66-year-old man, Dr. Antonio Costanzo reported in a poster presentation at the 14th Congress of the European...

Bosentan blocks scleroderma ulcers; does not hasten healing.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- A second randomized clinical trial has confirmed that treatment with bosentan can help prevent the formation of digital ulcers in patients with scleroderma, Dr. James R. Seibold reported at the annual meeting of the American...

Polypodium leucotomos.(Cosmeceutical Critique)
February 1, 2006... Polypodium leucotomos extract, derived from a tropical fern, has been used to treat inflammatory conditions and has also been demonstrated to exhibit immunomodulating activity in vitro and in vivo. This plant extract has shown antioxidant and...

New skin typing system may empower patients.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2006... Dermatologists may begin seeing better-informed, better-prepared patients because of a new book due out this month that categorizes readers into 1 of 16 specific skin types, according to its author, Dr. Leslie S. Baumann. The...

Careful timing eases transition to biologics in PA.(Psoriatic Arthritis)(Disease/Disorder overview)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- When switching a patient from a traditional systemic drug for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis to a biologic agent, keep in mind the time to onset of major effect of the newer drugs and taper accordingly, Dr. Mark Lebwohl...

Consider risks for OCs as ache Tx in women.(Dermatologic Therapy)
February 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Oral contraceptives can be effective for the treatment of ache in women, but should be used as an adjunct to an existing therapy regimen instead of first-line or stand-alone therapy, Dr. Julie C. Harper said at the Fall Clinical...

Mohs map stakes out surgeon's course of action.(Mohs surgery requires meticulous mapping)
February 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Mohs surgery requires meticulous mapping. A Mohs map preserves the integrity between the surgical wound and the histologic findings on the slides, Dr. Howard Steinman said at a meeting sponsored by the American Society for Mohs...

Assessing patients for Mohs surgery is both an art and a science.(Dermatologic Surgery)
February 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- The decision for or against Mohs surgery must be based on a combination of criteria that includes histology, anatomy, type of patient, and type of tumor, Dr. Lynn Proctor Shipman said at a meeting sponsored by the American Society...

Adequate body peel prep aids Tx, enhances results.
February 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Pretreatment preparation is key to uniform application and a good outcome with the Cook body peel, Dr. Sue Ellen Cox said at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American College of Mohs...

Squamous cell carcinoma risk helps refine treatment options.(Dermatology Surgery)
February 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- The art of treating skin cancer involves knowing which lesions are high risk and which are low risk, Dr. Ronald P. Rapini said at a meeting sponsored by the American Society for Mohs Surgery. Patients with high-risk squamous...

Use low-power scanning to find the BCC.(Dermatologic Surgery)
February 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- When it comes to evaluating basal cell carcinomas for Mohs surgery, experience trumps criteria, Dr. Ronald P. Rapini said at a meeting sponsored by the American Society for Mohs Surgery. The more slides that physicians review,...

Nonsurgical side of Mohs can't be neglected: behind every successful surgeon is an office efficiently keeping track of records and scheduling patients.(Dermatologic Surgery)
February 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Organization in both record keeping and patient scheduling is essential to a successful Mohs surgery practice, Dr. Edward H. Yob said at a meeting sponsored by the American Society for Mohs Surgery. Patient care records may...

Results from ultrasound don't justify SLN biopsy.
February 1, 2006... TAMPA, FLA. -- Routine, preoperative ultrasound is not a reliable method for determining which patients with primary cutaneous melanoma should have sentinel node biopsy, Dr. John F. Thompson said at a conference on melanoma sponsored by Imedex....

Melanoma metastasis rate rises with an increasing tumor size.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... For patients with primary choroidal melanoma, the larger the tumor at the time of diagnosis, the greater the possibility of metastasis, reported Marie Diener-West, Ph.D., and her associates in the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study Group. ...

Efforts to grade, define nevi 'misleading'; cloud decision to excise.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... QUEBEC CITY -- The many terms and grading systems for "dysplastic" nevi are so misleading that some clinicians may take no action on lesions that in fact may need to be excised, Dr. Clay Cockerell said at the annual conference of the Canadian...

Valacyclovir clears Epstein-Barr in mononucleosis.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Valacyclovir appears to be an effective treatment for infectious mononucleosis and might also reduce the risk of transmission, Dr. Henry H. Balfour reported at the 45th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and...

Adnexal growth distinguishes DEPS.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- A condition in which large areas of skin are affected by atypical keratinocytes that grow beneath the epidermis and around adnexal structures has been described as proliferative actinic keratoses, but a better term is diffuse...

Infliximab works in ulcerative colitis.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... The chimeric monoclonal antibody infliximab, known to be effective in Crohn's disease, also is efficacious as an induction and maintenance therapy in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, according to two randomized,...

Sun exposure may not provide enough vitamin D.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Physicians may need to rethink their advice to patients to get some casual sun to ensure vitamin D sufficiency, according to new data presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. ...

Avandaryl, Nexavar.(New & Approved)
February 1, 2006... Avandaryl (rosiglitazone maleate and glimepiride, GlaxoSmithKline) A combination pill containing Avandia (rosiglitazone, a thiazolidinedione), and Amaryl (glimepiride, a sulfonylurea), as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic...

Single-day famciclovir Tx speeds up herpes recovery.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- A single-day treatment of famciclovir taken by a patient within 6 hours of a genital herpes outbreak can significantly speed the time to healing, Dr. Fred Y. Aoki reported at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial...

HSV-2 infection linked to increased risk for PID.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in women may be associated with an increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, Dr. Thomas L. Cherpes reported in a poster at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and...

No increase in flare number, severity seen with combo OCs in stable SLE.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... Oral contraceptive use does not increase the number or severity of flares of inactive or mild, stable systemic lupus erythematosus, according to investigators with the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus--National Assessment (SELENA):...

IUD, some oral contraceptives safe for use by patients with stable lupus.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... Women with stable systemic lupus erythematosus can use with relative safety any one of three forms of birth control--a progestin-only contraceptive, a combined oral contraceptive, or the copper intrauterine device--according to the findings of...

Induction plus maintenance effective in Wegener's.
February 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Progress is being made in establishing a safe, effective, global treatment strategy for Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis, but relapses are still common and the optimal maintenance therapy remains to be...

Potentially inappropriate drugs linked to problems, costs in elderly.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... ORLANDO -- Up to 39% of geriatric patients are taking potentially inappropriate medications, and this trend is associated with increased drug-related problems and health care costs, according to a new study. The findings should encourage...

California is hardest hit by the West Nile Virus.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... California reported one-third of the 2005 U.S. total of West Nile virus cases through December 1 and 25% of the cases of the viral neuroinvasive disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. A total of 2,744 human cases...

COX-2's GI profile no better than NSAIDs'.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors were found to be no safer than nonselective NSAIDs in averting adverse gastrointestinal events in a large observational study in the United Kingdom. This is important "given that enhanced gastrointestinal safety...

Skin sensitization: sticky situation for ADHD patch.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- A federal advisory panel has supported the approval of a transdermal methylphenidate patch for treating ADHD in children--with a caveat. Because of the patch's potential to cause sensitization to methylphenidate, the...

Migraine prophylaxis.(Drug Update)
February 1, 2006... Headache experts generally recommend that prophylactic treatment of migraines be offered to those patients reporting 4-5 migraine days per month with normal functioning, 3 migraine days per month with some impairment, or 2 migraine days per...

West Nile virus assay approved.(Clinical Capsules)
February 1, 2006... An assay used to screen blood, organ, cell, and tissue donations for West Nile virus recently was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The Procleix West Nile Virus Assay has been used on an investigational basis to screen more...

Imported rubella case seen in N.H.(Clinical Capsules)
February 1, 2006... Consider congenital rubella syndrome in infants with compatible signs, particularly immigrants from countries without rubella control programs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised. In 2004, a 10-week-old infant born to a...

Intranasal flu vaccine.(Clinical Capsules)
February 1, 2006... No unexpected serious adverse events were reported with the appropriate use of live, attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine in the first two seasons after it was approved for use in the United States. About 2.5 million people have received...

PTSD after cancer.(Clinical Capsules)
February 1, 2006... Cancer patients who show elevated dissociative symptoms and acute emotional distress soon after their diagnosis may be at greater risk for posttraumatic stress disorder, reported Maria Kangas and her associates at the University of New South...

Children's severe burns could benefit from rhGH-propranolol combination.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Dual therapy with recombinant human growth hormone and propranolol may speed recovery in severely burned children, without the side effects associated with monotherapy, according to research presented by Dr. Rene Przkora at the...

Herd immunity reduces hepatitis A incidence.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Vaccinating all toddlers against hepatitis A reduced the overall viral incidence by 95% in a single Israeli community, Dr. Beth P. Bell stated at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. In...

Skin lesions rarely present in neonatal herpes.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Most cases of disseminated neonatal herpes and CNS neonatal herpes do not present with skin lesions, Dr. M. Jeffrey Maisels noted at a meeting sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics' California Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 and...

Is allergy control heading under the tongue? Studies suggest that sublingual immunotherapy is safer, but not as effective as subcutaneous therapy.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- Sublingual immunotherapy, widely used for allergy control and prevention in Europe and South America, is beginning to draw the attention of mainstream allergists in the United States, Dr. Jay M. Portnoy said at the annual...

Childhood asthma may lead to permanent lung damage.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... Many young adults who had moderate to severe asthma as children show permanent lung function deficits that are resistant to albuterol and high-dose prednisone, reported Dr. Susan L. Limb and her associates at Johns Hopkins University in...

Physicians may face increased Parkinson's risk.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... Physicians and individuals with 9 or more years of education are at an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study by Dr. Roberta Frigerio of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and her colleagues. Individuals...

Immigrants' use of traditional medicine studied.(Clinical Rounds)
February 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Nearly all Chinese immigrants living in San Francisco have used at least one form of traditional Chinese medicine in the past 12 months, Amy Wu and Dr. Samuel LeBaron reported in a poster session at the annual meeting of the...

HHS seeking: electronic biosurveillance system.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Government officials and health information technology leaders plan to spend this year laying the groundwork for a system that would allow for the electronic transfer of ambulatory, emergency department, and laboratory data to...

New voluntary reporting program costs hit a nerve.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2006... Medicare is attempting to simplify the requirements of a new voluntary reporting system that physicians claim is too burdensome. Under the latest revision from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, physicians participating in the...

Cancer screening record.(Policy & Practice)
February 1, 2006... Officials at the American Academy of Dermatology are hoping for a record-setting year in 2006. AAD officials are recruiting members to participate in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the most skin cancer screenings conducted in a...

Psoriasis advocates.(Policy & Practice)
February 1, 2006... The patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure Now has singled out three members of Congress for their work to increase funding for federal research on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The group honored Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Rep. Rosa...

Research grant program.(Policy & Practice)
February 1, 2006... The Women's Dermatologic Society is developing a new grant program this year to allow residents and young physicians to conduct clinical and basic research on women's health issues. The new grant, which is being sponsored by Ortho-Neutrogena,...

Food allergen labeling.(Policy & Practice)
February 1, 2006... All food labels now must clearly state if a product contains any ingredients with protein derived from the eight major allergenic foods. Under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA), manufacturers are required...

Rural access to Part B drugs.(Policy & Practice)
February 1, 2006... Access problems may prevent rural providers from participating in the new Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP) for Part B drugs and biologicals, Joan Sokolovsky, a senior analyst with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), said at...

Pay for performance not local yet.(Policy & Practice)
February 1, 2006... Despite the national buzz over pay for performance and the interest in Congress, such initiatives have yet to catch on in many local communities, the Center for Studying Health System Change reported in a study. "While there's been plenty of...

D+ for feds on disaster preparedness report card.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2006... Hospitals in only two states have adequate plans to encourage health professionals to report to work during a major infectious disease outbreak, according to a report from the Trust for America's Health. Hospitals in Rhode Island and South...

How to read an income statement.
February 1, 2006... Last month, I discussed the importance of learning to read and understand financial statements. It is the only way in which you can truly evaluate your practice's financial health. I named the three barometers of financial strength:...

Medicaid's 'one size fits all' idea outdated.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- States should have the flexibility to experiment with innovative measures to improve the Medicaid program, Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) said during a meeting sponsored by the Center for Health Transformation. "One size fits all"...

The challenges of caring for an aging parent.(Disease/Disorder overview)
February 1, 2006... NOW in his fifth year of dementia, 86-year-old Leonard Winakur doesn't know what day it is. If he's not sleeping when his son, Dr. Jerald Winakur, drops by for a visit (as Dr. Winakur does nearly every day), sometimes he'll engage his son in...

Electronic records can yield business payoff.(Practice Trends)
February 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Electronic health records make good business sense for physicians, even for those in small- and medium-sized medical groups, Stefanos Zenios, Ph.D., said at a health care congress sponsored by the Wall Street Journal and CNBC. ...

Diagnosis: erythema ab igne.(Disease/Disorder overview)
February 1, 2006... When asked to demonstrate her typical use of a laptop computer, she held it directly on her bare thighs. "We then turned her computer on for 30 minutes and then tested the surface heat of its underside with an infrared thermometer," said Dr....

Preoperative skin prep available.(Products)
February 1, 2006... ChloraPrep 26-mL preoperative skin prep with Scrub Teal tint contains the amount of chlorhexidine gluconate preferred by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more information, visit Medi-Flex Inc. at www. medi-flex.com or call...

Concentrated LED therapy.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The Revitalight Intense LED Photopulsation system uses a multistage optical lens to concentrate the equivalent of 35 light-emitting diodes to an area 1 cm in diameter for the treatment of skin problems. For more information, contact Skincare...

Single-clinician closure.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The Insorb 1 single user forceps works with the Insorb 20 subcuticular skin stapler to allow a clinician to close an incision without help. For more information, contact Incisive Surgical Inc. by calling 877-246-7672 or by sending an e-mail to...

Terminal estimates payment due.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The MedCom Terminal System helps clarify a patient's maximum financial responsibility for an office visit and facilitates payment. The system has access to over 300 payers and plans. For more information, visit www.MedComUSA. com or call...

Kit spells it out.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The Joint Commission Resources' "Spell It Out!" kit includes items to remind physicians and staff about the list of do-not-use abbreviations and the rationale for spelling out the terms. The kit costs $49 and can be ordered by visiting...

New label submission procedure.(FYI)
February 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration is requiring drug manufacturers to submit prescription drug label information in a new electronic format. The new labels are the primary source of medication information for "DailyMed," a new interagency...

Helping elderly talk with physicians.(FYI)
February 1, 2006... The National Institute on Aging has updated the "Talking With Your Doctor" publication. The new edition includes work sheets and offers tips and suggestions for improving patient communication. To order a free copy, visit...