Skin & Allergy News articles from January 2009

Skin & Allergy News archives from January 2009

Diet or sun? Source for vit. D debated.(NEWS)
January 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS -- It goes without saying that protection from excessive ultraviolet light throughout life is advocated by dermatologists to prevent skin cancer and photoaging, noted Dr. James M. Spencer. "We dermatologists basically tell...

Safety of eyelash lengthener gets FDA panel backing: new indication sought for bimatoprost.(NEWS FROM THE FDA)
January 1, 2009... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- A federal advisory panel unanimously agreed that the benefits of the glaucoma drug bimatoprost outweighed its risks when used to increase the length and fullness of eyelashes in people with hypotrichosis of the eyelashes. ...

Case of the month.(psoriasis )(Case study)
January 1, 2009... A 53-year-old woman being treated with 25 mg/wk of methotrexate for psoriasis presented with a solitary 1.5-cm, circular ulcerated plaque on her thumb joint 4 weeks after being scratched by a stray kitten in rural Utah. She denies any direct...

Obama sparks hopes of health care reform.(NEWS)
January 1, 2009... Early signals from the incoming Obama administration have many physicians feeling optimistic about the chances for comprehensive health reform. "For the first time in nearly 20 years, political momentum is building around a centrist...

Vital signs.(NEWS)
January 1, 2009... Percentage of Physicians Who Are Women (Active physicians by specialty, 2007) Pediatrics 55.4% Geriatric Medicine 43.7% Dermatology 38.2% Internal Medicine 32.2%...

Calciphylaxis is 'akin to a myocardial infarction'.(NEWS)
January 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS -- An evolving understanding of the pathogenesis of calciphylaxis in hospitalized patients may lead to antithrombotic treatment strategies focused on vascular occlusion as well as dialysis- and parathyroid-specific interventions. ...

Dermatopathologist Bernie Ackerman dies at 72.(NEWS)(Obituary)
January 1, 2009... Dr. Albert Bernard "Bernie" Ackerman, 72, who trained more than 400 dermatopathologists during a career devoted to intellectual precision and ethical rigor, died of heart failure at his New York City home Dec. 5. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

His many contributions remembered.(NEWS)(Biography)
January 1, 2009... Dr. Ackerman changed the face of dermatopathology, and had a profound influence on both dermatology and pathology. His landmark textbook set a standard for medical publishing, and for the establishment of a logical method for diagnosis. ...

Fluoroquinolone for conjunctivitis gets backing.(NEWS FROM THE FDA)
January 1, 2009... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted 9-0 that an ophthalmic formulation of besifloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone, should be approved for treating bacterial conjunctivitis in people aged 1 year and older. At a...

Asian patients on phenytoin at high skin infection risk.(NEWS FROM THE FDA)
January 1, 2009... The Food and Drug Administration is investigating preliminary data indicating that people with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele HLA-B*1052 may be at greater risk of developing Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal...

Panel votes in favor of MRSA antimicrobial.(NEWS FROM THE FDA)
January 1, 2009... COLLEGE PARK, MD. -- Clinical trial data indicate that the antibiotic telavancin is safe and effective for treating complicated skin and skin structure infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the...

FDA considers revision of tanning bed warning.(NEWS)
January 1, 2009... The Food and Drug Administration is considering changing the warning label on indoor tanning beds to be shorter and more forceful, according to a report that the agency submitted to Congress and posted on its Web site in early December. ...

Gifts.(UNDER MY SKIN)(Personal account)
January 1, 2009... As a senior medical student, I spent an outpatient January in the office of a suburban pediatrician who cared for the children of many doctors. After the holidays, he mused about the onslaught of gifts that he received from people to whom...

Physician assistants are our responsibility.(Editorial)
January 1, 2009... Should dermatologic surgeons teach nonphysicians to perform dermatologic surgery? I think the question is no longer relevant. This question was debated at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, with...

Address acne, but with gentle touch.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... There was much that was wonderful about the advice from Dr. Alfred T. Lane, especially the concept of "touching" patients with acne ('Acne Treatments Reviewed, Starting With Touch," September 2008, p. 40). However, I have to strongly...

E-prescription for trouble.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... I have been trying to use an e-prescription program, but there are several problems ("Feds Push E-Prescribing With Medicare Bonuses," December 2008, p. 8): * Controlled medications cannot be issued through an electronic prescription. ...

Diet plays a role in acne.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... I was surprised by the article, "South Beach Diet May Help Clear Acne, Survey Finds" (September 2008, p. 1). Although it was correctly noted in the article that there is a "widely held perception that acne is not associated with diet,"...

Brain scans reveal secrets of itch-scratch cycle.(ATOPIC DERMATITIS)
January 1, 2009... CHICAGO -- Neuroimaging of patients with atopic dermatitis has shown that different areas of the brain are activated in the itch versus scratch cycles. The findings provide insight into the the role of peripheral and central neural...

Psychoanalytic theory of eczema shouldn't be discarded.(ATOPIC DERMATITIS)
January 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS -- Most experts in psychodermatology long ago abandoned the psychoanalytic theory of atopic eczema, characterized in 1940 by Dr. Franz Alexander as an outgrowth of a child's emotional angst at being unable to express anger and...

Children with food allergy are more likely to report asthma or other allergic conditions.(DATA WATCH)
January 1, 2009... Children With Food Allergy Are More Likely to Report Asthma or Other Allergic Conditions Food allergy No food allergy Asthma 29.4% 12.4% Eczema or skin allergy 27.2%...

Fluorouracil cream effective for nonfacial AKs.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
January 1, 2009... ORLANDO -- Once-daily application of topical fluorouracil cream 0.5% for 4 weeks significantly reduced the number of visible and palpable actinic keratosis lesions on the posterior scalp, ears, neck, lips, arms, and hands by 8 weeks in an...

Second look at biopsy could avert Mohs surgery.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)(Clinical report)
January 1, 2009... ORLANDO -- Reviewing the original biopsy slides of patients before they undergo Mohs surgery could result in a change of diagnosis, which in some cases could avert unnecessary surgery, according to Dr. Suzy T. Butler. In a retrospective...

MRSA screen before Mohs cuts postop infection rate.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
January 1, 2009... ORLANDO -- Screening and treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage in patients before Mohs surgery lowered postoperative MRSA infection rates, according to a new study. A patient screening and decontamination...

Microscopy helps monitor lentigo maligna treated nonsurgically.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
January 1, 2009... ORLANDO -- Reflectance confocal microscopy can be used as an aid to the clinical exam to help detect either incomplete treatment or recurrence of lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanomas that have been treated with nonsurgical methods, a...

Cleansers.(COSMECEUTICAL CRITIQUE)
January 1, 2009... The use of soap-like substances for cleansing dates back as early as 2,500 BCE, and soap itself is believed to have been invented between 600 and 300 BCE (Soap Technology for the 1900"s, Champaign, Ill., American Oil Chemists' Society, 1990, p....

Aesthetic patients can help practice stay afloat.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
January 1, 2009... ORLANDO -- Consider turning dermatology patients into aesthetic ones, to help stay afloat during these tough economic times. Patients may come into your office needing a medical procedure, but will return for a cosmetic procedure if you...

Higher dose improves filler's safety, efficacy.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)(Clinical report)
January 1, 2009... ORLANDO -- Patients getting an investigational hyaluronic acid gel filler for lip augmentation reported less pain and greater satisfaction with a 24mg/mL dose than with a 20-mg/mL dose, interim study results have shown. Patients who...

Ceftaroline found effective for skin infections.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
January 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- The investigational antibiotic ceffaroline was found to be effective against a range of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms that can cause complicated skin and skin structure infections, according to data from a phase III...

First in new class of antibiotics compares well with linezolid.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)(Clinical report)
January 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- The investigative antibiotic PTK 0796 appears to be comparable to linezolid in terms of efficacy against skin and skin structure infections and safety, based on the results of a phase II study of more than 200 patients. ...

A missing diagnosis may call for empiric treatment.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)(Case study)
January 1, 2009... DESTIN, FLA. -- Don't be afraid to treat infections empirically in patients in whom you have no definitive diagnosis, if you have considered the differential diagnoses and have ruled out more ominous conditions, Dr. Bari Cunningham said. ...

Herpes viral shedding goes beyond 10 years.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
January 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- High rates of both overall and subclinical viral shedding continue even beyond 10 years among people with genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection, suggesting that there is a continued risk of transmission to sexual partners...

Single-day famciclovir found to match 3-day valacylovir.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)(Clinical report)
January 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- Single-day famciclovir therapy was similar in safety and efficacy to a 3-day course of valacylovir in the first head-to-head comparison of the two oral medications for the treatment of recurrent genital herpes. Previous data...

HSV shedding unaffected by outbreak frequency, duration.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
January 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- People infected with the herpes simplex virus shed virus no matter how long they have been infected or how frequently they have outbreaks, according to data from adults aged 18 years and older with newly acquired and long-term...

Triamcinolone 10 mg is best for psoriatic nails: the 10-mg/mL dose was significantly more effective for all parameters, except pitting.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
January 1, 2009... CHICAGO -- Triamcinolone acetonide 10 mg/mL is the best dose for psoriatic fingernails, according to a randomized, dose-comparison study. Varying concentrations of the synthetic corticosteroid are used, but no standardized dose has been...

Maximize efficacy, minimize toxicity with psoriasis drugs.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
January 1, 2009... PARKS -- Nonbiologic systemic drugs can be effective choices for the treatment of psoriasis if chosen properly, according to Dr. Jonathan Barker. "The important message is that standard, traditional systemic drugs work," Dr. Barker said at...

Tailored approach may improve psoriasis care.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
January 1, 2009... PARIS -- Psoriasis therapy should be tailored to the individual patient, not based on a rigid, stepwise approach, said Dr. Peter Van de Kerkhoff. "What is quite clear, based on our current knowledge of psoriasis and our current...

Steroid after surgery prevents recurrence of earlobe keloids.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
January 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS -- When it comes to managing earlobe keloids, surgical excision alone is not enough. To prevent recurrence, Dr. Ibrahim M-Aradi recommends 0.2-cc intralesional administration of a potent steroid such as Kenalog-40 (triamcinolone)...

No dermal atrophy seen with melasma-lightening cream.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
January 1, 2009... ORLANDO -- Concerns about the long-term use of triple combination cream for lightening melasma can be put to rest, Dr. Pearl E. Grimes said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, In a study of 62 patients...

Developmental delay a key to hypomelanosis diagnosis.(PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY)
January 1, 2009... STANFORD, CALIF. -- If a young child exhibits both global developmental delay and stripes or swirls of skin hypopigmentation on the trunk, get a peripheral blood sample for chromosome analysis. Hypomelanosis of Ito presents as developmental...

Reassurance is best Rx for 'no worries' dermatoses.(PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY)
January 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS -- Too often faced with worrisome hemangiomas, grim genetic dermatoses, or serious drug eruptions, Dr. Fred Ghali relishes the chance to tell a family: "No worries." Such is the case with three common but sometimes unrecognized...

Atypical features of scalp nevi also seen in young adults.(PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY)
January 1, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO -- Histopathologic features of scalp nevi in children and adolescents that overlap with features of Clark's or dysplastic nevi also can be seen in scalp nevi in young adults, results of a study of 89 hairline and scalp nevi found....

Silvery hair points to deadly genetic syndromes.(PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY)
January 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS -- Genetic disorders associated with silvery hair are almost uniformly fatal in children, most often as a result of accompanying immunologic or neurologic abnormalities, according to Dr. Carola Durfin-McKinster. Natural light...

The genetics of silvery hair.(PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Dr. Duran-McKinster described the following syndromes: * Chediak-Higasi syndrome. In this rare, autosomal recessive disorder, giant inclusion bodies can be found in all granule-containing cells. Children are immunocompromised because of...

$13 Million accutane verdict.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
January 1, 2009... Hoffmann-La Roche has been ordered to pay $13 million to three plaintiffs who claimed that they developed inflammatory bowel disease from taking Accutane (isotretinoin). The New Jersey State Superior Court jury agreed that Roche did not provide...

FDA sunscreen rules being sought.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
January 1, 2009... The Skin Cancer Foundation, Ciba Corp., Fallene Ltd., and Rep. Nita Lowey (R-N.Y.) join a growing list of organizations, sunblock manufacturers, and lawmakers calling on the Food and Drug Administration to finalize sunscreen standards. "The...

Benzoyl peroxide recall.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
January 1, 2009... CSI USA Inc. is recalling all lots of its over-the-counter 10% benzoyl peroxide ache cream because it's contaminated with Burkholderia cepacia bacteria. The company and the FDA said that consumers--especially those who have cuts, scrapes, or...

MedPAC calls for disclosure.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
January 1, 2009... Congress should pass legislation to require drug, device, and medical supply makers and distributors, along with hospitals, to disclose their financial ties to physicians and physician groups, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has...

Pharmaceutical sales outlook.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
January 1, 2009... The U.S. pharmaceutical market is expected to grow 1%-2% in 2009, resulting in sales of $292 billion to $302 billion, according to analysis from the health care market research Firm IMS Health. This latest projection is down from the 2%-3%...

Dermatopathology billing gets states' attention.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
January 1, 2009... A disagreement within the house of medicine over billing for dermatopathology services has spread to state legislatures around the country. The quarrel centers on client versus direct billing. The American Academy of Dermatology supports...

Winning the insurance claim game.(MANAGING YOUR DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE)
January 1, 2009... A dermatologist in the Midwest wrote to me for advice on dealing with everyone's worst nightmare, the burglary and arson of his office. Filing an insurance claim was his first priority, of course. We all buy insurance hoping we will never...

Neuropeptide antiaging cream.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... The skin care brand Kinerase is set to release a new Pro+Therapy [C.sup.8] Peptide Intensive Treatment this month. Like other products in the Kinerase Pro+Therapy collection, this cream features zeatin--a next-generation plant-based technology...

Nail strengthening formula.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... Citra Formaldehyde Free, by Nail Tek Inc., is a nail-strengthening product that contains no formaldehyde, DBP, or toluene. It is available in three formulations for varying nail types. Nail Tek www.nailtek.com

Tx for eye skin elasticity.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... Eye Silk is the first product to improve elasticity, fine lines, and coarse wrinkles around the eyes by increasing functional elastin content. It uses a patent-pending Zinc Firming Complex that works at the cellular level to promote the...

Moisturization capsules.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... EmerginC Hydra-Repair Topical Infusion Capsules are designed to improve lipid content and hydration of skin on the face, neck, and upper chest. The capsules can be applied alone or in combination with a moisturizer, resulting in a rapid...

Eco-friendly skin care.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... The Beauty Garden range of face and body products is certified organic, which means that 95% of the ingredients are of natural origin, and at least 10% come from organic farms. The product collection currently includes Make-Up Removing Fluid...

Elastin-based antiaging cream.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... Ultra Emollient addresses the causes of aging skin, including elastin breakdown, loss of moisture, and decreased collagen. Its formula combines a Zinc Firming Complex with vitamins A and C, peptides, and extracts. The Zinc Firming Complex has...

Mangosteen-based skin care.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... Glimpse Intuitive Skin Care products are based on ingredients from the fruit of the mangosteen, a tropical evergreen tree. The products are toxin free, and rich in xanthones. They calm skin inflammation, promote collagen production, and protect...

Acne device for home use.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... The Claro handheld device delivers intense pulsed light to the skin to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation in mild to moderate ache. Claro is available by prescription. It delivers a series of pulses in three wavelengths for 6 seconds: Blue...

Three-in-one laser system.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... The CoolLipo Trio allows physicians to perform three kinds of procedures: laser-assisted lipolysis and skin tightening with CoolLipo, nonablative skin rejuvenation with CoolBreeze, and endovenous ablation with CTEV. The system is based on a...

Skin renewal system.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... The mesoeclat Immediate-Effect Skin Rejuvenation Treatment is a multifunctional clinical care plan designed to counteract the signs of sun damage and reduce skin discoloration. The mesoeclat method involves three products--a salicylic and...

Moisturizer for eczema/dry skin.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... Hill Moisture Riser is a blend of refined peanut oil, mineral oil, and other moisturizing ingredients. It is designed to ease dry skin or the itching and dryness associated with eczema. When applied to premoistened skin, it penetrates the skin...

Passion for firefighting still smolders.(THE REST OF YOUR LIFE)(Viewpoint essay)
January 1, 2009... Dr. Bobby Ridgeway's experience as a volunteer firefighter in the early 1970s sparked his interest in medicine. He joined the volunteer fire fighter department in his home town of Pinewood, S.C., when he was 14 years old, responding to calls on...

Health insurance industry proposes guaranteed coverage.
January 1, 2009... As a new administration prepares to tackle health care reform, the health insurance industry is offering a few suggestions. America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), which represents about 1,300 companies covering more than 200 million...

PHR pilot program to launch.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
January 1, 2009... Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries living in Arizona and Utah will be among the first to test drive a pilot program that allows them to access their personal health records online starting this month. They also will be able to add pertinent...

Who funds clinical trials?(DATA WATCH)
January 1, 2009... Who Funds Clinical Trials? Universities/organizations 16,488 Industry 8,298 NIH/other federal agency 5,881 Other 830 Note: Table made from bar graph.

Medicaid spending likely to outpace economy.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
January 1, 2009... The price tag for medical assistance under Medicaid is expected to reach nearly $674 billion over the next decade, with the federal government picking up more than $383 billion of the cost, according to projections from the Centers for Medicare...

Reproductive health law changes expected.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
January 1, 2009... When President-elect Barack Obama takes office this month, observers expect that one of his early moves may be to stop action on a controversial federal abortion regulation. The regulation, issued during the final weeks of the Bush...