Skin & Allergy News articles from January 2006

Skin & Allergy News archives from January 2006

Skin may signal crystal meth use.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... The next time a referring physician sends a patient with a possible case of recalcitrant scabies, look carefully and ask questions. What primary care physicians think is scabies actually may be a manifestation of addiction to...

Early dissection of nodes validated in primary melanoma: procedure identified regional metastases.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... TAMPA -- Interoperative lymphatic mapping and selective sentinel lymphadenectomy can accurately identify occult nodal metastases in melanoma patients that will lead to more advanced, palpable nodal disease if left in situ, Dr. Mark B. Faries...

FDG-PET offers advantages in later-stage melanoma.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... TAMPA -- Positron emission tomography using [sup.18]fluorodeoxyglucose is ideally suited for preoperative planning and post-treatment surveillance in later-stage malignant melanoma patients, Dr. Abass Alavi said at a conference on melanoma...

SSRI effective for pruritus relief.(News)
January 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- The SSRI sertraline improved pruritus from cholestatic liver disease in a small double-blind crossover study of 12 patients, Dr. Marlyn J. Mayo said at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver...

Top 10 drugs mentioned by dermatologists in 2004.(Table)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Top 10 Drugs Mentioned by Dermatologists in 2004 Percentage of All Mentions Liquid nitrogen 6.5% Sunscreen 4.2% Accutane 2.4% Retin-A Micro 2.2% Elidel...

More deep infections seen in community-acquired MRSA.(News)
January 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was more likely to cause skin and soft tissue disease or joint infections if acquired in the community rather than in a hospital, according to preliminary data from a large...

Syphilis rate increases driven by male-to-male sex.(News)
January 1, 2006... The rate of syphilis infection in the United States continues to rise, with an overall increase in the number of reported cases of 8% in 2004, compared with 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. In 2004, the...

Contraceptive patch gets new FDA warning.(News)
January 1, 2006... The Ortho Evra contraceptive patch exposes women to higher steady state estrogen levels than do most birth control pills, and concerns that such exposure could increase the risk for blood clots prompted an update to the product's label. ...

Year in review: top dermatology stories of 2005: several editorial advisory board members offer perspective on the specialty's chief developments.(News)
January 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration's actions on isotretinoin registries, and proposed black box warnings for pimecrolimus and tacrolimus dominated the news in dermatology last year. Other key issues and trends in the specialty for 2005...

Tamiflu deemed safe for children despite reports: FDA panel looks at oseltamivir, eight other drugs as part of a mandated 1-year postexclusivity review.(News)
January 1, 2006... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- Tamiflu appears to have played "no role" in the deaths of 12 children in Japan and in 32 reported cases of neuropsychiatric events, 31 of which also occurred in Japan, in children who received the drug after a diagnosis of...

Sumatriptan, fluconazole also called safe.(News)
January 1, 2006... Sumatriptan and fluconazole were among the drugs that received a green light for routine adverse event monitoring by the Food and Drug Administration's Pediatric Advisory Committee. The committee gave the thumbs-up after the FDA reported...

Trileptal now indicated for use in young children.(News)
January 1, 2006... The antiepilepsy drug oxcarbazepine has a new indication from the Food and Drug Administration as adjunctive therapy for partial seizures in children aged 2-4 years. Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal, Novartis Inc.) reduced seizures in young...

Derm layspeak II.(discussion)(Discussion)
January 1, 2006... Good morning, Doctor. I went to another dermatology office, but I'm not going back there. Too risky." "Too risky?" "They had a staff infection." "Let's review your history. Do you have any medical issues?" "Just my...

Should nonphysician extenders be used in cosmetic dermatology practices?(Pro & Con)
January 1, 2006... YES Nonphysician extenders provide a valuable service in cosmetic dermatology practices, bringing a nursing component to care and spending the time necessary to make patients happy. This is particularly important in the cosmetic arena,...

Science, medicine, and decision making.(Guest Editorial)
January 1, 2006... When physicians advise their patients about medications or medical devices, whether prescription or over the counter (OTC), they rely on the information provided on the product labels and package inserts. They trust that information to be...

Ensuring equitable care.(Guest Editorial)
January 1, 2006... Eliminating health disparities in this country requires a multipronged approach that includes action by government, communities, medical institutions, and each of us as physicians. While death rates have declined across the board in the...

Avoid aggressive chemo in CD30 skin lymphomas.(Dermatologic Therapy)
January 1, 2006... LONDON -- A key principle in the management of most primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders is to avoid aggressive therapy, Dr. Werner Kempf said at the 14th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. ...

Some cancer procedures call for antibiotic prophylaxis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
January 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Antibiotic prophylaxis is warranted for certain types of skin cancer procedures in specific locations, Dr. Anthony J. Dixon reported at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American...

Pamidronate alters response in scleroderma.(Dermatologic Therapy)
January 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- A single infusion of pamidronate resulted in immunologic changes that, at least theoretically, could lead to a reduction in collagen production and fibrosis in scleroderma, Dr. Kenneth J. Warrington reported at the annual meeting...

Bosentan aids scleroderma-associated PAH survival.(Dermatologic Therapy)(pulmonary arterial hypertension )
January 1, 2006... STOCKHOLM -- Survival of patients with systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension has improved markedly since the introduction of bosentan, Mark H. Williams, M.D., said at the annual congress of the European Society of...

Infections contraindicate TNF inhibitors.(Dermatologic Therapy)
January 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- If a patient on a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor such as infliximab or etanercept presents with the signs and symptoms of infection, stop the drug immediately, Dr. Robert Orenstein advised at a dermatology seminar sponsored by the...

Combo Tx may reduce SCC risk after transplant.(Dermatologic Therapy)
January 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Cyclic photodynamic therapy with 20% 5-aminolevulinic acid may reduce the risk of invasive squamous cell carcinomas in solid organ transplant recipients, Dr. Sheetal Mehta said at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for...

Horse chestnut.(Cosmeceutical Critique)(Clinical report)
January 1, 2006... There are 15 known species of horse chestnut, which is found as both a tree and a shrub in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. Believed to have originated in northern Greece and the Balkan region, the European horse...

CT-guided injections end palmar hyperhidrosis. .(computed tomography)
January 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Computed tomography-guided percutaneous injections can permanently treat palmar hyperhidrosis without the risk and discomfort associated with traditional surgical sympathectomy, Dr. Hugues Brat reported at the annual meeting of the...

New laser system offers another skin Tx option.(treatment of skin diseases)
January 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Fractional photothermolysis for skin rejuvenation provides results similar to those achieved with ablative laser resurfacing, but without the downtime, Dr. Tina Alster said at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for...

Anchored rotation flap for cheek prevents ectropion.(Dermatologic Surgery)
January 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- A novel anchored rotation flap for infraorbital cheek reconstruction allows full defect repair without causing lower-lid ectropion, Dr. Kord Honda said at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and...

Patients' psoriasis improves after single dose of excimer laser.(Dermatologic Surgery)
January 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- A single 10 minimal erythema dose from an excimer laser can safely and effectively treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, Kevin D. Cooper, M.D., said at the 11th International Psoriasis Symposium sponsored by the Skin Disease...

Combo device effective for treatment of acne.(Dermatologic Surgery)
January 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- A new device that combines pulsed light and radiofrequency energy is proving highly effective for the treatment of acne vulgaris, Dr. Neil Sadick reported at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery...

Excimer laser plus minigraft useful in vitiligo.(Dermatologic Surgery)
January 1, 2006... LONDON -- Excimer laser treatment with minigrafting offers a new approach to repigmentation in vitiligo, according to Dr. Ludmila Nieuweboer-Krobotova of the Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders, University of Amsterdam. The excimer...

Lasers, PDT may have niche in cancer treatment.(Dermatologic Surgery)
January 1, 2006... BALTIMORE -- Lasers and light therapies have a limited role in the treatment of skin cancers and pigmented lesions, but their judicious use may be appropriate when standard treatments would be time consuming or provide poor cosmetic results,...

New leg vein Tx combines laser and RF energy.(Dermatologic Surgery)
January 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- A novel technology that combines diode laser and radiofrequency energy may be safe and effective for treating leg veins, Dr. Neil Sadick reported at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the...

Experience is key to tackling tough Mohs cases: collaboration with other surgical specialists may aid treatment of aggressive, unpredictable tumors.(Dermatologic Surgery)
January 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Certain areas of the body are more challenging than others when it comes to Mohs surgery: the nose, ears, and eyelids, as well as urology cases and orthopedic cases on the hands and feet. These are the places where surgeons,...

Consistency is key in surgeon, technician relationship.(Dermatologic Surgery)
January 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Direct, honest, and consistent communication between a Mohs surgeon and his or her technician is necessary for a high-functioning, organized partnership, said Alex Lutz at a meeting sponsored by the American Society for Mohs...

Genetics, environment affect risk for primary biliary cirrhosis.
January 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Two separate studies have produced strong evidence supporting both genetic and environmental risk factors for primary biliary cirrhosis. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the...

Inflammatory syndrome tied to HIV Tx, mycobacterial coinfection.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... LONDON -- Swelling of the lymph nodes in a patient coinfected with mycobacteria and HIV who has recently begun antiviral treatment may signal the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), Dr. Anton L. Pozniak said at the 14th Congress...

Dermoscopy takes guesswork out of melanoma.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... BALTIMORE -- Efforts to learn and practice dermoscopy should pay off in being able to differentiate benign from malignant skin lesions with more confidence and avoid performing unnecessary surgeries, Dr. Robert H. Johr said at a meeting...

U.S. measles cases reached all-time low in 2004.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... Measles cases in the United States have hit an all-time low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. During 2004, just 37 cases of measles were reported to the CDC. This number-the lowest ever reported in 1 year in the...

Focus on technique when taking clinical photos.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Achieving consistent results with medical photography can be a snap if you adhere to some basic guidelines, Dr. Joseph B. Bikowski Jr. said at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference. "The practice of medical photography is an...

Soft tissue sarcoma data show inadequate care for the elderly.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... DENVER -- Older age is an independent risk factor for poor outcome following surgical resection of soft tissue sarcoma of an extremity--yet the elderly were 40% less likely to receive adjuvant radiotherapy and 70% less likely to get...

Survey finds many uninformed on external anogenital warts.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Most clinicians counsel patients appropriately about the cause and prevention of external anogenital warts, but many--including some ob.gyns.--are unaware of the difference between oncogenic and wart-related human...

Proposed changes to labels note condoms" incomplete protection.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... New guidance from the Food and Drug Administration proposes that latex condom labels inform users that condoms greatly reduce, but do not eliminate, the risk of pregnancy and the risk of contracting or spreading HIV or other sexually...

HT use raises risk of breast Ca in all races.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... Women of all ethnicities face the same increased risk for breast cancer related to postmenopausal hormone therapy, a study suggests. The study also found that leaner women taking hormone therapy (HT) had a relatively greater increase in...

Beyond blood count: check iron for unexplained fatigue.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... QUEBEC CITY -- Consider obtaining a serum ferritin level along with a complete blood count to determine iron deficiency in women with fatigue, Kristen H. Reynolds, M.D., said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the North American...

Case suggests malignancy risk in pemphigoid.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... L0ND0N -- Patients with a certain subtype of mucus membrane pemphigoid are at heightened risk of malignancy and should be carefully screened and monitored, especially during times of exacerbation of the skin condition, according to...

Glucosamine, chondroitin fall short in NIH trial.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- A highly anticipated, NIH-sponsored trial evaluating glucosamine and chondroitin in knee osteoarthritis has found an overall lack of efficacy for the popular dietary supplements, although responses were seen among patients with...

Bipolar disorder.(Drug Update)
January 1, 2006... Patients with bipolar I disorder, who typically alternate between mania and depression over several months or years, usually present to primary care physicians in the depressed phase. Misdiagnosis and treatment with an antidepressant alone may...

Etanercept may raise cancer risk in Wegener's.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Adding etanercept to standard immunosuppressive treatment in Wegener's granulomatosis does not increase efficacy and may increase the risks for developing solid tumors, according to Dr. John H. Stone. Most patients with...

Exjade, Tarceva.(New & Approved)
January 1, 2006... Exjade (deferasirox, Novartis) An oral iron chelator approved for treating chronic iron overload due to multiple infusions (transfusional hemosiderosis) in patients aged 2 years and older, the first oral iron chelator approved in the...

Mesotherapy-associated skin rashes.(Clinical Capsules)
January 1, 2006... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with state and local health departments in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, determined that 14 women in the D.C. area had prolonged skin reactions after mesotherapy...

Dalbavancin vs. linezolid.(Clinical Capsules)
January 1, 2006... The investigational antibacterial dalbavancin appears safe and effective for treating patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections. In a phase III trial, 854 patients with such infections were randomized to receive...

HPV in women over age 50.(Clinical Capsules)
January 1, 2006... Women aged 51 years are at least as likely as younger women to become infected with human papillomavirus, a study suggests; the findings indicate that cervical screening should not be discontinued after age 50. For comparison of rates of...

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.(Clinical Capsules)
January 1, 2006... Pruritus was reduced more effectively in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy after treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid, according to a randomized study of 84 symptomatic patients in Lithuania. Dr. Jurate Kondrackiene of...

Handle mass casualties with a certain PRIDE.(Clinical Rounds)(Situational Awareness, Gather a Group and Yell, Plan Rapidly, Issue Directives, and Execute)
January 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Every physician should consider how he or she would manage as the only medical professional in a mass-casualty situation, Lt. Cormac J. O'Connor, MC, USN, said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Family Physicians....

Study sheds light on course of cow's milk allergy.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2006... Half of the children who are allergic to cow's milk at the age of 7 months develop tolerance by 2 years of age, but the children who are IgE positive tend to remain allergic longer, according to a prospective study by Dr. Kristiina M. Saarinen...

2006 outlook.(Policy & Practice)
January 1, 2006... Physician payment under Medicare, medical liability reform, access to isotretinoin, and funding for skin disease research will once again top the agenda for the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA), the lobbying arm of the...

iPLEDGE.(mandatory registry program for prescribing isotretinoin)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Starting this March, dermatologists and other prescribers will need to be registered and activated under the iPLEDGE program in order to prescribe isotretinoin. The new mandatory registry program has come under fire from a number of...

Medical liability reform.(Policy & Practice)
January 1, 2006... AADA will also continue to press members of Congress for meaningful medical liability reform, specifically reform that is modeled after California's Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act of 1975 (MICRA). But officials at AADA said that are...

Reimbursement.(Policy & Practice)
January 1, 2006... Reimbursement for physicians under Medicare is another top priority, according to the AADA. At press time, physicians were facing a 4.4% payment cut under Medicare, although last-minute congressional negotiations were underway for a possible 1%...

Research funding.(Policy & Practice)
January 1, 2006... Last April, the AADA and the Society for Investigative Dermatology released a report that estimated the burden of skin disease to be about $37 billion. This year, the AADA will continue to seek increased funding for the National Institutes of...

Botox guilty pleas.(Policy & Practice)
January 1, 2006... Several of the major players in a scheme to distribute counterfeit Botox for use in humans pleaded guilty in federal court last November. The defendants who include two physicians, two naturopaths, and four companies--are alleged to have...

More on drug-only treatment.(Policy & Practice)
January 1, 2006... The number of patients entering treatment for both alcohol and drug abuse problems has declined, but the number of patients getting substance abuse treatment alone has increased, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health...

CMS e-prescribing rule presents big challenge.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2006... Without the proper technology, physician practices may find it difficult to participate in Medicare's new "e-prescribing" standards under the Part D drug benefit, physician groups claim. "Most primary care physicians will be unable to...

FDA restructuring aims to address drug safety.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2006... Officials at the Food and Drug Administration are planning to reorganize its Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in an effort to improve the agency's approach to drug safety and to help improve drug development. The FDA plans to...

MedPAC attempting to measure quality of care.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Researchers with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission are measuring the quality of care delivered by physicians as part of an overall analysis of physician resource use. "We hope to look at variation in quality...

How to read a balance sheet.(Managing Your Dermatology Practice)
January 1, 2006... A balance sheet provides an essential picture of your practice's financial health, yet, amazingly, few physicians can make heads or tails of one. Medical schools don't teach that stuff, of course, but most doctors don't see a reason to learn...

Overbooking, physician extenders boost office efficiency.(Managing Your Dermatology Practice)
January 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- One of the best ways to improve your office efficiency is to train and retain good staff, Dr. David M. Pariser advised at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference. "You spend more time with your staff than you spend with your...

Curbside consults add up for ID specialists.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Infectious disease specialists at one institution provided over $93,000 worth of curbside consultations without reimbursement, Dr. Christopher J. Grace said at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America....

VA moves forward with patient access to EMRs: Department of Veterans Affairs is ramping up a pilot project intended to go national this spring.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2006... Physicians at the Department of Veterans Affairs have been using an electronic medical record for about 20 years, so officials there are getting ready to take the next step--online patient access to their medical records. Next May, the VA...

Hospital studies: volume may not equal quality.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- The generalization that the more procedures a hospital does, the better it is, may be an oversimplification at best and misleading at worst, according to two studies presented at the annual clinical congress of the American...

States try to expand health coverage.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2006... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- State policymakers are seeking innovative approaches to expand access to health insurance. "There seems to be renewed interest in trying to build on [employer-sponsored insurance]," Sharon Silow-Carroll, senior vice...

Juries deliver differing Vioxx verdicts.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2006... The pharmaceutical industry may be breathing a collective sigh of relief over the latest court verdict involving Merck & Co.'s Vioxx, but it may not be time to pop the cork on the champagne. Experts say the two very different jury decisions...

Steroid lotion approved for kids.(Products)
January 1, 2006... Cutivate (fluticasone propionate) lotion, 0.05%, a midpotency steroid lotion, is approved for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of atopic dermatitis in patients 1 year of age or older. For more information, contact...

Permanent hair reduction.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Starlux Pulsed Light and Laser System delivers permanent hair reduction without having to grow out hair between treatments. The system offers simple touch-screen operation. For more information, contact Palomar Medical Technologies by...

Lab coats inhibit microbial spread.(Products)
January 1, 2006... The Doc's Duds line of lab coats are manufactured with yarn treated with a silver ceramic additive, which inhibits the spread of bacterial and fungal nosocomial infections. Three lab coat designs and colors are available for women (sizes 4-18)....

Medicare prescription benefit guide.(FYI)
January 1, 2006... The Medicare Rights Center has released a free guide for physicians who assist older and disabled Americans with Medicare to better understand the new drug benefit to begin this month. "Medicare Drug Coverage 101: Everything You Need to Know...

Eczema/Dermatitis booklet available.(FYI)
January 1, 2006... "Understanding and Coping with Eczema/ Atopic Dermatitis" is an informational booklet for patients affected by these chronic inflammatory skin disorders. The booklets can be obtained free by calling 866-819-9007. The booklets are provided by...

Emergency resource for PDAs.(FYI)
January 1, 2006... The ".911" emergency response resource for Palm OS and Pocket PC devices--designed for use during infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and bioterrorism threats--has been updated with new recommendations from the Centers for Disease...

Trichomoniasis education booklet.(FYI)
January 1, 2006... The booklet "Trichomoniasis: The Most Common Curable STD" describes the key aspects of this common cause of vaginal infections. The booklet is available free of charge from Presutti Laboratories by calling 888-405-7800 or by sending an e-mail...

Overcoming addiction: three physicians' stories.(The Rest of Your Life)
January 1, 2006... When Dr. Michael W. Sullivan started taking hydrocodone to cope with the pressures of his 100-plus hours a week ob.gyn, residency in Cincinnati in 1996, he knew he was hooked. "It was love at first sight," he recalled. "That...

My stress-induced drug problem.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2006... In the mid-1980s, I was under a lot of stress from a divorce and trying to build a busy medical practice. Back then, it was not uncommon for drug company reps to come m and leave 100 bottles of Xanax in the office. I started taking 3-4...

Alcohol, drugs, and a residency.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2006... I am a juvenile-onset drug addict. As a kid who grew up in Detroit in the 1940s, I had a great deal of difficulty learning and remembering things. When I was 12 years old, a pharmacist dispensed some benzedrine for me and told me that it would...

Diagnosis: follicular B-cell lymphoma.(Case of the Month)
January 1, 2006... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- A biopsy from the scalp of this 88-year-old patient revealed a deep and diffuse lymphoid infiltrate extending into fat. The histopathology of this lesion resembled a follicle from a lymph node, containing a germinal...