Skin & Allergy News articles from June 2006

Skin & Allergy News archives from June 2006

Superhero derm stresses sun safety.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... Educating the public about skin cancer and sun safety is a necessary, noble pursuit, and one of the specialty's true hallmarks. But is it a job for a superhero? Phoenix, Ariz., area-based dermatologist Ruskin R. Lines III thinks so and uses his...

Heart disease and psoriasis link grows stronger: new studies indicate elevated risk for MI.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Mounting evidence suggests that patients with psoriasis are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to several large epidemiologic surveys presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative...

Light therapy may ease postradiation dermatitis.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... BOSTON -- A light-based therapy commonly used in cosmetic dermatology minimizes the occurrence and symptom intensity of radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment, according to the results of a recent...

Tumor site, SLN status chart course for head, neck melanoma.(News)
June 1, 2006... Sentinel lymph node status was the most important predictor of recurrence in head and neck melanoma, while tumor site was the most important predictor of overall survival, according to a study by Dr. Stanley P. Leong of the University of...

Top 10 diagnoses by dermatologists in 2005.(table)(Table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Top 10 Diagnoses by Dermatologists in 2005 Acne 12.8% Actinic keratosis 11.7% Malignant neoplasm 9.6% Dermatitis 6.4% Viral warts 5.6% Benign...

Synthetic melanin promising as sun protectant.
June 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Fair-skinned volunteers injected with synthetic melanin readily acquired tans and showed minimal epidermal damage following exposure to ultraviolet light in a study unveiled at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Tumor thickness could be prognostic factor for Merkel cell carcinoma.(News)
June 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Tumor thickness correlates with sentinel lymph node status in Merkel cell carcinoma and merits further investigation as a prognostic factor, Dr. Michael D. Alvarado reported in a poster at a symposium sponsored by the Society of...

Contact lens solution pulled in wake of infections.(News)
June 1, 2006... Federal, state, and local health officials are investigating at least 109 cases of Fusarium keratitis in which the use of a contact lens solution may have played a role. Bausch & Lomb, which had stopped shipment of the product, ReNu with...

Late-onset anaphylaxis to omalizumab reported.(News)
June 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Two patients developed anaphylaxis to the popular allergic asthma medication omalizumab after months of successful treatment, Dr. Kursteen Price reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy,...

Hand hygiene blamed for neonatal MRSA cases.(News)
June 1, 2006... Outbreaks of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among healthy, term newborns in Chicago and Los Angeles County hospitals probably originated in the newborn nursery and illustrate the critical importance of...

Part B drug acquisition program on the horizon.(News)
June 1, 2006... Starting next month, physicians will have an alternative to billing for Medicare Part B drugs under the average sales price system. Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are launching the Competitive Acquisition...

Defective epidermal barrier targeted in new study.(News)
June 1, 2006... The most effective treatments for psoriasis, eczema, and other inflammatory skin disorders will "both enhance epidermal barrier recovery and suppress immune response," according to the investigators of a new genetic study that underlines the...

New year, same story: CMS planning to cut physicians' pay by 4.6% in 2007.(News)
June 1, 2006... In a not unexpected, but definitely unwelcome move, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that it will cut physician pay by 4.6% for 2007. The federal health program said the scheduled decrease in physician fees is...

WHO releases new avian flu guidelines.(News)
June 1, 2006... The death of a 21-year-old Chinese man hospitalized with avian influenza marks the country's 12th death from the virus, officials there have confirmed. The Ministry of Health in China reported that the man--who was from Hubei Province where no...

Let's get physical.(Under My Skin)
June 1, 2006... My first exposure to clinical dermatology consisted of a month of Friday morning skin clinics during my second year of pediatric residency. Then, as now, skin disease was judged too unimportant to be taught to medical students. Three...

AAD initiative 'was severely flawed'.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... Since we were instrumental in convincing the American Academy of Dermatology's Board of Directors to terminate the Dermatology Workforce Initiative following its initial 3 years, we would like to respond to Dr. David Pariser's guest editorial...

Correction.(Correction notice)
June 1, 2006... The April 2006 issue featured several articles from the annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar sponsored by Skin Disease Education Foundation. The dateline should have indicated that the meeting was held in Koloa, Hawaii.

Treatment tip provides radiofrequency option: with new smaller electrode, RF device significantly reduced eyelid hooding and tightened eyelid skin.
June 1, 2006... BOSTON -- Monopolar radiofrequency energy delivered to the eyelids through a shallow treatment tip is an effective noninvasive option for rejuvenating both upper and lower eyelid skin, Dr. Brian S. Biesman said at the annual meeting of the...

Small anesthetic changes can have big impact on blepharoplasty results.
June 1, 2006... ORLANDO -- The difference between acceptable and unacceptable results for a blepharoplasty can be as little as a millimeter, so small improvements in anesthestic control and precision can have a large effect, Dr. Marc Cohen said at the annual...

Flashlamp demonstrates hair removal versatility.(Dermatologic Surgery)
June 1, 2006... BOSTON -- The ability to shift wavelength emissions "on the fly" makes infrared flashlamp technology a safe and effective option for hair removal in all skin types, Dr. E. Victor Ross said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser...

Thread procedure is convenient facelift alternative.(Dermatologic Surgery)
June 1, 2006... PARK CITY, UTAH -- Contour threads offer a minimally invasive alternative to plastic surgery for patients who cannot opt for a full facelift, Dr. William H. Truswell said at a symposium sponsored by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic...

Hit early and hard to stop Merkel cell recurrence.(Dermatologic Surgery)
June 1, 2006... PARK CITY, UTAH -- Treat Merkel cell carcinoma aggressively--recurrences are always fatal, Dr. Mary E. Maloney told physicians at a clinical dermatology seminar sponsored by Medicis. "You have one chance to cure this disease. When treating...

Tangential excision a solid option for many BCCs.(Basal cell carcinomas)
June 1, 2006... STOWE, VT. -- Tangential excision is a reliable, expedient alternative to conventional excision for most basal cell carcinomas on the trunk, Dr. Glenn Goldman said at a dermatology conference sponsored by the University of Vermont. ...

Facial surgical pearls string from preop to postop.(Dermatologic Surgery)
June 1, 2006... PARK CITY, UTAH -- Facial reconstruction after tumor removal should be guided by the surgical defect rather than presurgical clinical appearance, Dr. Andrew J. Kaufman advised at a symposium sponsored by the American Society of Ophthalmic...

Drops approved for chronic eczematous otitis.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- Fluocinolone acetonide oil 0.01% ear drops have recently become the first-ever drug to earn a Food and Drug Administration indication for the treatment of chronic eczematous external otitis, Dr. Lawrence F. Eichenfield said at...

Tuberculin test promising for wart Tx.(Dermatologic Therapy)
June 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- The results of an open-label, controlled study suggest that the tuberculin skin test could be an effective treatment for warts, Dr. Abdulmajeed Alajlan reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. ...

New foam spares the sting in atopic dermatitis Tx.(Dermatologic Therapy)
June 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- Desonide 0.05% foam is a new alcohol-free formulation of a low-potency topical steroid that overcomes what Dr. Sheila Fallon Friedlander calls "the Yikes! factor" in treating pediatric atopic dermatitis. "The Yikes! factor...

Oral prednisone has niche role for acute AD.(Dermatologic Therapy)
June 1, 2006... Oral prednisone has niche role for acute AD KOLOA, HAWAII -Oral prednisone for acute severe atopic dermatitis is the one therapy the experts don't like to discuss, but under audience pressure they relented and did so at the annual Hawaii...

Cyclosporine worthwhile as AD rescue therapy despite side effects, interactions.(Dermatologic Therapy)
June 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- Several months of oral cyclosporine followed by a switch to methotrexate remains the premier approach in children with severe atopic dermatitis that won't clear with intensive topical therapy, Dr. Elaine C. Siegfried said at...

Combo Tx for CTCL may delay need for chemo.(Dermatologic Therapy)
June 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- Dermatologic treatment algorithms for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in 2006 emphasize combination therapy aimed at preventing disease progression and delaying the need for chemotherapy, Dr. John A. Zic said at the annual Hawaii...

CTCL therapy may elevate cholesterol levels.(Dermatologic Therapy)
June 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- A dermatologist who prescribes oral bexarotene for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma of necessity has to learn to become something of a lipidologist, Dr. John A. Zic said at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by Skin...

Clearinghouse consolidates guidelines online.(www.guide line.gov.)(Website overview)
June 1, 2006... The National Guideline Clearinghouse Web site presents clinical practice guidelines with standardized abstracts and tables that allow for comparison of guidelines on similar topics. The clearinghouse was created by the Agency for Healthcare...

Resveratrol.(Cosmeceutical Critique)
June 1, 2006... Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) is a polyphenolic phytoalexin compound present in the skin and seeds of grapes, berries, peanuts, and other foods. The preponderance of data on resveratrol is very recent, with increased research activity...

Presence of birthmarks may predict cancer risk.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- No particular type of birthmark occurred more frequently among children with cancer, but the risk of any type of cancer increased if birthmarks were present, Kimberly J. Johnson reported in a poster presented at the annual meeting...

Online IT tool.(Information Technology)(www.healthit.ahrq.gov.)(Website overview)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has launched a Web site featuring tools and resources designed to help health care providers adopt information technologies. The site offers a library with links to health IT resources, an...

Juvenile scleroderma often not limited to skin.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... ABANO TERME, ITALY -- Juvenile localized scleroderma--traditionally considered a relatively benign condition with manifestations limited to skin and subcutaneous tissue--is not just simply a skin disease in close to one-quarter of affected...

Childhood systemic sclerosis more likely to manifest on skin.(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... ABANO TERME, ITALY -- Childhood-onset systemic sclerosis is different from adult-onset scleroderma, typically being characterized by less internal organ involvement and lower mortality rates, Dr. Francesco Zulian reported at a congress on skin,...

Antibody profile linked to scleroderma phenotype.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... ABANO TERME, ITALY -- Distinct serologic subsets of patients with scleroderma have been identified and their autoantibody profiles correlate with specific clinical phenotypes, Dr. Carlo Maurizio Montecucco said at a congress on skin,...

Consider AD's psychological impact.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- Atopic dermatitis exerts enormous and underappreciated adverse impacts upon personality development, psychological functioning, and family relationships, Dr. Sarah L. Chamlin said at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar...

Atopic dermatitis can wreak havoc with sleep.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- Chronic sleep disturbances are extremely common in young children with atopic dermatitis, and the spillover often wreaks havoc with parental slumber as well, Dr. Sarah L. Chamlin said at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar...

Pediatric facial eruptions flag inadequate nutrition.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... PARK CITY, UTAH -- Consider nutritional deficiencies when diagnosing facial eruptions in infants and children, advised Dr. Beth Drolet. One of the more perplexing cases that she described at a clinical dermatology seminar sponsored by...

Autoimmunity enhances survival in melanoma.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... Melanoma patients who show signs of autoimmunity during or after treatment with interferon alfa-2b have much better relapse-free survival and overall survival than those who don't develop autoimmunity in response to the drug, reported Dr. Helen...

Patient, tumor characteristics help identify high-risk SCC.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... PARK CITY, UTAH -- High-risk squamous cell carcinomas can be identified by a variety of tumor and patient characteristics, Dr. Mary E. Maloney said at a clinical dermatology seminar sponsored by Medicis. Dr. Maloney, director of...

Appearance alone is poor melanoma tip-off.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Pigmented lesions revealed few clues as to their true histologic identities in a 5-year retrospective study, Dr. Roland M. Strauss said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. ...

Adolescent biology; psychology increase STD risk.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Adolescents are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted diseases due to biologic, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral factors, as well as poor access to health care, Dr. Robin Recant said at a gynecology conference...

Modified punch biopsy gets new use for HIV: dermatologic tool aids diagnosis and treatment of HIV-associated peripheral neuropathy.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... BETHESDA, MD. -- A modified small skin punch biopsy has proved a useful tool in the diagnosis of HIV-associated small-fiber sensory neuropathies, Dr. Justin McArthur reported at a meeting sponsored by the National Institutes of Health's Pain...

Not all teens need HPV screening.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Screening for the human papillomavirus in adolescent females is not cost effective because of the high rate of infection in that population, Dr. Edyta C. Pirog said at a gynecology conference sponsored by Mount Sinai School of...

Self-administered STD test preferred by 77% of patients.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... NICE, FRANCE -- Self-collected vaginal swabs and urine samples provide clinicians with an opportunity to identify gonorrhea and chlamydia infections that would otherwise go undetected, Dr. Christian Hoebe said at the 16th European Congress of...

Immunosuppressives may obfuscate patch tests.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Immunosuppressive therapies inhibit patch testing reactions, but not necessarily enough to make patch testing useless in evaluating possible contact dermatitis, Dr. Ellen Roh said at the annual meeting of the American Contact...

Ladybug allergies becoming increasingly common among rural residents.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- When allergies crop up in cooler weather, ladybugs may be the culprit. The Asian lady bird beetle (Harmonia axyridis) appears to be an increasing source of indoor allergens during times of infestation--usually the fall,...

Study shows ED underprescribing epinephrine device.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Autoinjectable epinephrine is underprescribed to patients presenting with acute allergic reactions in emergency departments, Dr. Sreenivasrao Amara reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy,...

Patient safety tips.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... The Patient Safety Authority offers a new brochure to help patients avoid medical errors. "Speak Up: Help Prevent Errors in Your Care" provides tips for ensuring quality medical care and avoiding medical errors. To download the brochure, visit...

Relenza, generic zidovudine.(NEW & APPROVED)
June 1, 2006... Relenza (zanamivir for GlaxoSmithKline) An antiviral for prophylaxis of influenza in adults and children aged 5 years and older. Previously approved for treating uncomplicated acute illness caused by influenza A or B virus in patients aged...

Chronic gout.(Drug Update)
June 1, 2006... For the first time since allopurinol [Zyloprim] was introduced in 1964, the medical management of chronic gout may soon include new treatment options. The xanthine oxidase inhibitor febuxostat is expected to be approved by the Food and Drug...

Nocturnal hives traced to bedbug infestation.(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... A 57-year-old woman presented with a complaint of nocturnal hives for 6 months. She displayed numerous red, raised urticarial lesions on her arms, forearms, and upper back. The erythema blanched with pressure. The lesions lasted for hours, and...

Parasitosis delusions can obscure, delay diagnosis.(Disease/Disorder overview)
June 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- When managing dermatitis in a patient with apparent mental illness, be careful not to let the psychiatric overtones cloud the clinical approach to the skin problem, Dr. Lael Desmond said at the annual meeting of the American...

Illegal steroids sold as supplements.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about several manufacturers and distributors that continue to sell illegal steroid products as dietary supplements without the agency's approval. Consumers who have purchased Anabolic...

Injections have limited hip OA effect.(Clinical Capsules)
June 1, 2006... Intraarticular corticosteroid injections into the hip joints of osteoarthritis patients provide significant temporary pain relief but do not provide long-term relief, according to a new study. "I believe that the important message is that...

OTC drugs don't stop DTaP reactions.(Clinical Capsules)
June 1, 2006... Neither acetaminophen nor ibuprofen had a significant preventive effect against localized reactions to the fifth dose of the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine in 372 children aged 4-6 years. Dr. Lisa A. Jackson of the...

Omega-3 fatty acids: no benefit found.(Clinical Capsules)
June 1, 2006... A new systematic review of data on the risks and benefits of omega-3 fatty acids showed no clear benefit for mortality, cardiovascular disease, stroke, or cancer. In a metaanalysis that included 48 randomized, controlled trials and 41...

Health IT 'gifts' could constitute kickbacks.
June 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Suspension of anti-kickback laws to encourage adoption of health information technology could compromise physicians' referral patterns, William Vaughan, senior policy analyst for the Consumers Union testified at a hearing of the...

Dermatologists should step up to level 3 codes.
June 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- The "vast majority" of dermatologic office visits ought to be coded as level 3 services using the CPT evaluation and management codes, Dr. Allan Wirtzer said at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by Skin Disease...

CPT site-specific biopsy codes: undercoding means underpayment.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- Dermatologists throw a lot of money away by undercoding their site-specific biopsies, Dr. Leon Kircik said at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by Skin Disease Education Foundation. The CPT code for skin...

Researching psoriatic arthritis.(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2006... The National Psoriasis Foundation has awarded $120,000 in seed money to researchers trying to understand the mechanism of disease for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The idea behind the program is to fund research that will generate...

Ban tanning ads at teens?(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2006... Researchers at the University of Colorado's dermatology department are calling for a ban on tanning salon advertisements that are directed at adolescents, after a small survey of Denver-area high school newspapers found that ads offering indoor...

Part D formulary override form.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A coalition of physician and pharmacist organizations and insurers, led by the American Medical Association, has developed a form that all physicians can use to request a prior authorization or coverage of a nonformulary drug under Medicare's...

Critics say generics thwarted.(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2006... At least 14 brand name drugs are due to go off patent in the next 5 years, representing $23 billion in potential savings to Medicare Part D, but pharmaceutical manufacturers are doing all they can to block generic competition, claims the...

Polls say seniors satisfied.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Two new polls from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce--say that Medicare beneficiaries who have enrolled in the Part D plan are very satisfied. Kaiser interviewed 517 seniors in early April; 31% had enrolled in a...

Can you afford to hire an associate?(Managing Dermatology Practice)
June 1, 2006... A lot of questions are coming in concerning the financial considerations involved in bringing a new physician into a private practice. Having decided that an associate is needed, many doctors are concerned about the expense. Disposable...

Infusion practices can become more profitable despite low Medicare rates.(Practice Trends)
June 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- In spite of poor Medicare reimbursement, physicians who use infusion therapy can take steps to make their practices more profitable, Steven M. Coplon said at a conference sponsored by Elsevier Oncology. Under Medicare's...

Ideas raised for softening the stress of medicine.(Practice Trends)
June 1, 2006... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Medicine is a high-risk profession for psychiatric morbidities. But several strategies can help reduce the risk of hitting bottom, Dan Shapiro, Ph.D., said at a psychopharmacology conference sponsored by the University of...

Feeling the burnout?(The Rest of Your Life)
June 1, 2006... Dr. Darrell A. Campbell Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and became a surgeon. But the young Dr. Campbell is careful not to follow in his father's footsteps of letting his work consume him to the point of burnout. "I saw it firsthand...

FDA, European agencies extend cooperation pact.
June 1, 2006... Drug regulators in the United States band Europe have announced "intensified" information sharing and dialogue aimed at increasing cooperation in drug approval and surveillance activities in the world's two largest pharmaceutical markets. ...

Diagnosis: alternariosis.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... LONDON -- Culture of a biopsy specimen revealed the presence of the ubiquitous fungus Alternaria alternata, and an indirect immunofluorescence assay found Alternaria antibodies in a titer of 1:640. Histopathologic examination found a...

Advice offered for common office dilemmas.
June 1, 2006... LOS CABOS, MEXICO -- Every community dermatologist dreads the phrase, "Oh, by the way..." It comes, all too often at the end of a harried day, spoken by the young mother with rosacea who waits until the last millisecond to point out her...