Skin & Allergy News articles from July 2006

Skin & Allergy News archives from July 2006

Tailor cosmesis to patients of color.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- People of color make up an increasing proportion of patients seeking skin rejuvenation treatments. The changing face of the clientele for cosmetic procedures means that clinicians must adapt their skin management approaches for...

Case of the month.(cases of cutaneous Rosai Dorfman disease)(Disease/Disorder overview)
July 1, 2006... A 23-year-old African American woman was referred for what was thought to be a keloid on her right posterior thigh. She reported that she had been bitten by a spider 10 months earlier. At that time, a biopsy performed at a community hospital...

Prescribing down as derms' iPLEDGE angst continues: FDA chief hears complaints from senators.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2006... The number of phone calls coming into the American Academy of Dermatology about the iPLEDGE mandatory risk management program for isotretinoin prescribing has decreased significantly since the program became mandatory in March, but out in the...

Psoriatic arthritis biologic holds up in phase IV trial.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... STOCKHOLM -- The real-world efficacy of etanercept to treat skin and joint symptoms of psoriatic arthritis is similar to that shown in the clinical trials, according to the results of a phase IV open-label study presented at an international...

Sun avoidance campaigns have minimal effect on teen behavior.(News)
July 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Kids! You can't tell them anything, at least when it comes to sun avoidance. Data from a national study evaluating the impact of skin cancer prevention and sun avoidance campaigns indicate that, by and large, teenagers are...

Vital signs.(top 10 drugs prescribed)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Top 10 Drugs Prescribed by Dermatologist in 2005 Differin 1,005 BenzaClin 783 Retin-A Micro 652 Valtrex 568 Aldara 565 Duac 541 Tazorac 510 Elidel 500...

Health insurance, consumer ads top AMA agenda.(News)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Individual health insurance mandates and direct-to-consumer advertising topped the list of issues addressed at the annual meeting of the American Medical Association's House of Delegates. On the heels of Massachusetts' new...

Policy issues limiting genomics implementation: 'Gene Dean" says Congress has repeatedly failed to act on a bill to guarantee nondiscrimination.(News)
July 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Genomic science is advancing rapidly on many fronts, but without solid federal policy to prevent genetic discrimination, it will be very difficult for physicians and patients to harvest the fruits of researchers' labors, said Dr....

Panel issues interim immunization criteria for mumps outbreak.(News)
July 1, 2006... All health care workers should receive two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine if they don't have evidence of immunity, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted during a...

Protein correlates with melanoma thickness.(News)
July 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Overexpression of flotillin-2, a 41.7-kD protein produced by epidermal keratinocytes, correlates strongly with melanoma thickness and aggressiveness, suggesting that this protein may be useful as a prognostic marker in patients...

Bystander vaccine for melanoma activates T cells.(News)
July 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- An experimental "bystander" vaccine halted cancer progression in 6 of 10 patients with advanced metastatic melanoma in a small phase I trial, Dr. Sophie Dessureault reported at a symposium sponsored by the Society of Surgical...

New topical antifungal penetrates nail plate.(News)
July 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- A novel broad-spectrum topical antifungal for the treatment of onychomycosis is now in early-stage clinical trials, and so far the data look favorable. Several papers covering various aspects of the new drug, AN2690, were...

Target 65-year-olds to make zoster vaccine cost effective.(News)
July 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- An attenuated herpes zoster virus vaccine effectively prevents herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia, according to a presentation by Dr. Samuel Cykert at the annual meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine. The...

HPV vaccine approved for females 9-26 years old.(News)
July 1, 2006... The recombinant vaccine that protects against infection from four types of human papillomavirus, including the two that cause about 70% of cervical cancers, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The vaccine, which is being...

Ketek's role in hepatic events under investigation.(News)
July 1, 2006... As a Senate committee delves further into an investigation of approval and postmarketing experience of the antibiotic Ketek, the Food and Drug Administration reportedly has compiled a growing number of cases of severe liver toxicity associated...

Desensitization tames clopidogrel allergy.(News)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- A rapid desensitization protocol appears to provide a safe and effective cure for clopidogrel hypersensitivity reactions, Dr. Nicholas E. Walker said at the annual meeting of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and...

Updated STD guidelines coming soon from CDC.(News)
July 1, 2006... BOSTON -- The soon-to-be-released 2006 STD treatment guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention likely will include new recommendations for diagnosis or treatment of gonorrhea, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, herpes...

One-third of girls in the U.S. are sexually active by age 15.(News)
July 1, 2006... BOSTON -- By age 15, more than a third of American girls say they are sexually active, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey. About 26% have had oral sex, 26% have had vaginal intercourse, and another 8% have had oral...

Self and nonself.(Under My Skin)
July 1, 2006... * Two PhD astronomers bring 2-year-old Tyco to show me the mole on his palm. I pronounce it benign and tell the little fellow, "Your boo-boo is okay." Tyco's face darkens. "No boo-boo!" he yells. "No boo-boo!" * At 52, Hortense has many...

The perils of pay for performance.(Guest Editorial)
July 1, 2006... The concept of quality improvement in medical practice is laudable, but the "pay for performance" method--in which physicians are financially rewarded for reaching certain goals set by panels of "experts"--is particularly offensive to our...

My sentiments exactly.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I appreciated Dr. Jerold J. Kreisman's comments in a recent issue ("Defending the Drugmakers," Guest Editorial, April 2006, p. 18). I resent the assumption that, without intrusive bureaucracies and uncountable numbers of regulations, I...

Dividing the house of medicine.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I am outraged that the American Medical Association has conducted secret negotiations with members of Congress, which end up being "on behalf" of all U.S. physicians ("Pay-for-Performance Pact Ruffles Some Feathers," April 2006, p. 64). I...

HSAs a 'viable option' for the uninsured.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... Most evaluations assume that the alternative to the health savings account-compatible high-deductible insurance plan is a comprehensive insurance policy ("Views Mixed on Benefits of Health Savings Plans," April 2006, p. 52). But for...

Provide patients with realistic expectations.(Guest Editorial)
July 1, 2006... The nondermatologists, non plastic surgeons, and nonphysicians promoting cosmetic procedures based on media hype rather than actual evidence of safety and efficacy are promoting a culture of unrealistic expectations among patients. This is...

Should physicians communicate with patients via e-mail? E-mail offers advantages.(Point-Counterpoint)
July 1, 2006... E-mail opens up the bandwidth of communication with our patients. With this medium, patients can initiate contact 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at their convenience, and physicians can reply at a time most convenient for them. Unlike telephone...

Should physicians communicate with patients via e-mail? Yes, but be careful.(Point-Counterpoint)
July 1, 2006... E-mail can be a useful, convenient adjunct to a strong patient-physician relationship. I recently received an e-mail from a long-time patient asking what immunizations and medications he would need before an upcoming trip out of the country. It...

PDT and pressure dressing may avoid Keloid: procedural, topical measures improve efficacy of surgery; communication and prevention are ideal.(Dermatologic Surgery)(photodynamic therapy)
July 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Treatment of keloids or hypertrophic scars with surgery alone is almost guaranteed to fail, but there are theories as to which of the many potential adjunctive therapies might be best, and how best to combine treatments, Dr. Jimmy...

Depth, site differ for two nonmelanoma cancers.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2006... LUCAYA, BAHAMAS -- Whether atypical fibroxanthoma is an entity unto itself or simply a superficial form of malignant fibrous histiocytoma depends upon whether the observer is a clinician or a dermatopathologist. While the two nonmelanoma...

Laser treatment didn't make nevi more malignant.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2006... BOSTON -- Irradiation of benign pigmented nevi with Q-switched laser does not induce malignant transformation of the lesions, said Dr. David J. Goldberg at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. While...

Pulsed dye laser aids vascular, pigmented lesions.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2006... BOSTON -- A modified, high-energy, variable-pulse-duration, pulsed dye laser safely and effectively treated both vascular and pigmentary changes in patients with photoaged skin, a study has shown. The findings suggest that what has...

Multiple RF passes reduce laxity; spare pain.(Dermatologic Surgey)
July 1, 2006... BOSTON -- Multiple passes of low-fluence radiofrequency delivery can significantly improve overall facial laxity with minimal patient discomfort, Dr. Melissa A. Bogle reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and...

Volume replacement tips top periorbital pearls: use patient age, overall fat distribution to guide treatment choices, troubleshoot complications.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Periocular fat injections in thin patients are more likely to capsulize and create unsightly "hot dog" rods in the tear trough that require multiple surgeries to remove, Dr. Cynthia Boxrud said at an international symposium...

Midface fat augmentation is linchpin of full-face rejuvenation.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Augmenting volume in the midface area can range from rewarding to frustrating, but it's a necessary part of facial rejuvenation, Dr. Suzan Obagi said at an international symposium sponsored by the American Academy of Facial Plastic...

Predictability, cost, and results favor chemical over laser peels.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- When it comes to facial peels, Dr. Devinder S. Mangat has traveled full circle--going from chemical peels to using lasers and back again. After 16 years of doing chemical facial peels, Dr. Mangat switched to laser peels...

Resistant P. acnes prompts shift in prescribing.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Prescribing has been gradually moving away from antimicrobial agents and toward increased use of retinoids in the treatment of acne vulgaris. The shift may in part be explained by a growing awareness of antibiotic-resistant...

CNTO 1275 for psoriasis holds steady in phase II.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Impressive improvement in plaque-type psoriasis 12 weeks after receiving a human monoclonal antibody generally were sustained in nearly two-thirds of patients through 24 weeks of a phase II trial, Dr. Gerald G. Krueger and his...

Regular infusions tied to lasting infliximab success.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- To maintain improvement in plaque psoriasis from infliximab therapy, treat patients every 8 weeks with a maintenance dosage of 5 mg/kg infliximab, Dr. Alice B. Gottlieb and her associates reported in a poster presentation at...

Chemopreventive tretinoin dose can be increased: lower dose may not stave off BCCs and SCCs; irritation caused by higher dose proves transient.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- High-dose topical tretinoin is generally well tolerated for chemoprevention of basal and squamous cell carcinomas, Dr. Amy Geng said at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. Daily application of...

Imiquimod's 3-year data for basal cell Ca look promising.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- If 5-year outcomes from treatment of basal cell carcinoma with imiquimod are like the 3-year data compiled so far, dermatologists will be pleased, Dr. Marc D. Brown said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

5-FU cream for BCC: elderly and scar-avoidant may benefit most.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- Topical 5% 5-fluorouracil cream is a highly effective yet underutilized treatment option for superficial basal cell carcinomas, Dr. Leon H. Kircik said at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by Skin Disease...

Persimmon.(COSMECEUTICAL CRITIQUE)
July 1, 2006... There are two predominant species of persimmon: Diospyros kaki, found in Japan, Korea, and China, and Diospyros virginiana, native to North America. The former is more often studied for potential medical benefits, but the latter species was...

Trial finds azithromycin ineffective for pityriasis rosea.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Azithromycin had no influence on the clinical course of pityriasis roses, according to a small randomized controlled trial presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies. The etiologic agent for...

Medication vehicles may drive contact dermatitis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- Next time a patient's skin disease isn't improving despite what ought to be effective topical medication, consider the possibility of occult allergic contact dermatitis caused by a chemical in the vehicle base, Dr. David E....

Atopic children vexed by no-tears shampoos.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Atopic children may be more likely to have contact allergy to a chemical commonly found in no-tears baby shampoo, Tace Steele said at the annual meeting of the American Contact Dermatitis Society. She and her associates...

Recalcitrant chronic urticaria may respond to sulfasalazine.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Oral sulfasalazine appears to be a good steroid-sparing alternative for patients whose chronic idiopathic urticaria does not respond to antihistamines, Dr. Laura McGirt reported in a poster that was presented at the annual...

Medicinal leeches helped save boy's outer ear, glans penis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Medicinal leeches proved useful in saving tissue on a young boy's outer ear and glans penis, according to a presentation by Dr. Adam J. Mamelak at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Mamelak, of...

Gestational hormone ratio tied to psoriasis relief.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... STOCKHOLM -- Psoriasis improves considerably for some women during pregnancy, and now there are data pointing to the ratio of estrogen to progesterone as a possible explanation for this improvement, according to the results of a study presented...

Coffee may improve psoriasis treatment response.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Patients with psoriasis who drink coffee frequently respond better to treatment with methotrexate and sulfasalazine, Dr. Yolanda Helfrich reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. That...

Onychocryptosis: a hazard of biologic therapy.(clinical reports)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2006... GLASGOW, SCOTLAND -- Onychocryptosis poses a particular risk to patients with rheumatoid arthritis being treated with biologics, because of these patients' susceptibility to infection, so vigilance should be practiced in the foot care of these...

Acydovir cuts postherpetic neuralgia in pilot study.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... Intravenous acyclovir significantly reduced postherpetic neuralgia in half of the older patients who received it in an open-label pilot study, reported Dr. Dianna Quan and her associates at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center,...

Scleroderma sans skin involvement not all that rare.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma should be considered in a patient with the common internal manifestations of scleroderma but not the sclerodactyly, digital ulcers, or other cutaneous features of the disorder, Dr. Richard...

Acne Tx may spur systemic immunologic changes.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Long-term antibiotic therapy for patients with acne induces complex immunologic and microbial changes that can have surprising clinical consequences not only for the patients but also for their close contacts, Whitney P. Bowe...

Four signs can chart eye tumors.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... A review of 240 patients revealed four features that help predict whether small choroidal melanocytic lesions will grow: thickness of at least 2 mm, location close to the foveola, the presence of symptoms, and orange pigment. Other...

Azilect, Cesamet.(NEW & APPROVED)
July 1, 2006... Azilect (rasagiline, Teva Pharmaceuticals) An irreversible monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor for treating the signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease as initial monotherapy and as adjunct therapy to levodopa. * Recommended...

Probiotic displaces pathogenic bacteria.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Certain strains of Streptococcus salivarius, a benign organism found in the oropharynx, produce a substance that can inhibit the growth of group A streptococci and Propionibacterium aches, Whitney R Bowe said at the annual...

Poor antibiotic compliance is global malady.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... NICE, FRANCE -- Although many people are concerned about antibiotic resistance, far fewer understand how their actions contribute to the problem, according to a global patient survey. Results from the COMPLy (Compliance, Modalities by...

Antibiotic prescribing patterns vary by specialty.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... NICE, FRANCE -- Family practitioners prescribe penicillins most often, whereas surgeons prescribe fluoroquinolones more frequently than any other specialty. These are some of the findings from a 3-year study that examined prescribing...

1- and 3-year data rank extended-regimen OC: more breakthrough bleeding with 91-day regimen; other parameters comparable with traditional OCs.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Seasonale Lo, the 91-day extended regimen low-dose oral contraceptive, was effective and well tolerated, compared with a 28-day low-dose oral contraceptive, after both 1 year and 3 years of use. The Seasonale Lo data from a...

Medroxyprogesterone use increases obese teens' weight, insulin levels.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... BOSTON -- The use of medroxyprogesterone may impair insulin and glucose metabolism in obese adolescents, thus increasing the long-term health risks of young women in an already vulnerable population, Dr. Nancy E. Fritz said at the annual...

Vaginal gel safe and effective for contraception, HIV prevention.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Cellulose sulfate, a new vaginal gel that is being developed both as a contraceptive and as a means of preventing human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infections, is as effective as nonoxynol-9 in preventing...

Organ recipients don't realize skin cancer risk.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Fewer than 50% of organ transplant recipients said they received information about skin cancer risk associated with immunosuppression at the time of their transplant surgery, Dr. James Q. Del Rosso reported at the annual...

Turmeric induces apoptosis in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Curcumin, the compound that puts the pungent yellow punch in turmeric, can induce apoptosis in both T cells and Sezary cells taken from patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, according to Dr. Chun-Lei Zhang of the M.D....

Face transplant surgeon recounts procedure.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- The world's first partial face transplant to a 38-year-old French woman in November 2005 began as collaboration among three old friends. "We were three surgeons, perhaps three mavericks," who ultimately recruited a...

Paget's disease of bone.(drug therapy)(Disease/Disorder overview)
July 1, 2006... Paget's disease of bone can be focal or multifocal and affects both men and women. A patient with Paget's may be asymptomatic or may present with musculoskeletal pain or disability. The disease occurs in 2% of people older than age 60, and is...

Steroids may raise fibrillation risk.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)
July 1, 2006... High-dose corticosteroid therapy appears to raise the risk of atrial fibrillation six-fold, reported Dr. Cornelis S. van der Hooft of Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and his associates. Their finding...

Multiple vaccines pose minimal risk.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)
July 1, 2006... The measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine can be given concomitantly with other childhood vaccines, reported Dr. Henry Shinefield of the University of California, San Francisco, and his colleagues. The researchers conducted an...

More anthrax vaccine for stockpile.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)
July 1, 2006... The Department of Health and Human Services is buying 5 million additional doses of Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed from the BioPort Corp., Lansing, Mich. The purchase modifies an existing HHS contract with BioPort awarded in May 2005, also for 5...

Top 10 tips promote efficient patch testing.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Patch testing for delayed-type cutaneous allergy needn't be arduous for the clinician or the patient, Dr. Peter C. Schalock said. He and Dr. Kathryn A. Zug, both of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, N.H,...

Steroids, retinoids may impair children's bones.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Glucocorticoids and retinoids are important treatment mainstays for a variety of dermatologic conditions in children, but their adverse effects on bone health should make clinicians think twice before prescribing them, Dr....

Hemangiomas need treatment early; if at all.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... BAL HARBOUR, FLA. -- If you choose to treat a child with a hemangioma, do it early, said Dr. Elizabeth Connelly at the annual Masters of Pediatrics conference sponsored by the University of Miami. Consider size and location of the...

Interpretation a challenge with dual-energy scan.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Plain x-rays are insufficiently quantitative to assess a child's bone mineral density, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry is usually the best choice, said Dr. Laura K. Bachrach at a meeting of the Society for Pediatric...

Varicella vexes children with poor immunity.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Suspect chronic varicella zoster in all immunocompromised children, not just those with HIV, Dr. Christopher Bohyer said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Test zosterlike lesions in...

Chronic migraine treatment tied to nickel allergy.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... Chicago -- Think "nickel allergy" in patients who complain of new-onset or worsening migraine following percutaneous closure of a patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect, Dr. Jonathan M. Tobis urged at the annual meeting of the Society for...

New Smoking cessation drug outperforms others.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... The newly approved drug varenicline may help a significantly higher percentage of patients quit smoking than bupropion, according to Food and Drug Administration officials and others. The drug was judged from early trials to show such...

AMA to urge extended flu vaccination season.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- This winter's flu season is still months away, but officials from the federal government and the American Medical Association say they will be strongly urging physicians to extend influenza vaccine administration beyond its...

Test again if MRSA cultures show antibiotic discordance.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- The "D test" is a critical second-step test when methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus cultures come back showing erythromycin resistance and clindamycin susceptibility, according to Dr. Jeffrey Starke. "It should be...

Octenidine lowers skin infection risk from catheterization.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... NICE, FRANCE -- Skin disinfection with octenidine dihydrochloride is a safe and promising option to reduce central venous catheter-related infections, Dr. Markus Dettenkofer said at the 16th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and...

Wanted: docs to help craft pay for performance.(Practice Trends)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Physicians need to help design the pay-for-performance programs now being initiated by Medicare and other payers or they may not like the results, Dr. Trent Haywood said at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical...

Call for hearing on tanning beds.(Policy & Practice)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are ca]ling for hearings on the existing federal warning language on tanning beds, saying that it does not sufficiently explain the risks, including the potential for skin cancer. Rep. Carolyn...

Psoriasis biologics coverage in CA.(Policy & Practice)
July 1, 2006... After a year of discussion, Blue Shield of California has agreed to recommendations by the National Psoriasis Foundation to loosen restrictions on biologic therapies for patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The foundation estimates...

Survey: FDA influenced by politics.(Food and Drug Administration)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... A majority of Americans--82%--believe the Food and Drug Administration is greatly influenced by politics when making decisions about the safety and efficacy of new prescription drugs, according to a Wall Street Journal online Harris Interactive...

Sunscreen ads fail to reach men.(Policy & Practice)
July 1, 2006... Advertisements for sun-protection products are targeted primarily at women, and are failing to reach men, travelers, outdoors enthusiasts, and others at high risk for sun exposure, according to a review of such advertisements published in the...

ICD-10 fraud concerns.(Policy & Practice)
July 1, 2006... The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and the Medical Group Management Association are among those objecting to the planned implementation of ICD-10, the newest version of the comprehensive list of diagnostic billing codes used by health...

Clinton, Obama pitch patient safety legislation.(Practice Trends)
July 1, 2006... Two Democratic senators are aiming to move patient safety to the center of the medical liability debate. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) have introduced legislation that would provide grant funding for...