Skin & Allergy News articles from June 2008

Skin & Allergy News archives from June 2008

Constructing the ideal derm office.(News)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Let there be light--even if you have to fight for it. That was the first piece of advice offered by Dr. James Zalla who recently underwent the planning and building of a new dermatology...

Case of the month.
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A boy with a history of congenital lupus erythematosus and no evidence of recurrent disease at age 5 years, presented at age 15 with widespread rash, headaches, myalgia, arthralgia, and fatigue. He exhibited atrophic...

Severe psoriasis linked to higher risk for stroke: study controlled for traditional stroke risks.(News)
June 1, 2008... KYOTO, JAPAN -- Severe psoriasis appears to be a potent risk factor for stroke independent of the traditional stroke risk factors, Dr. Rahat S. Azfar said at an international investigative dermatology meeting. She presented a case-control...

Procedural certification proposal under review.(News)
June 1, 2008... Dermatologists may soon be able to seek board certification in procedural dermatology under a proposal from the American Board of Dermatology. But the proposal has already been criticized for having the potential to divide dermatology and...

Drug-induced lupus attacks skin.(News)
June 1, 2008... LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND -- Drug-induced lupus that occurs in patients taking tumor necrosis factor-blocking drugs typically manifests cutaneously rather then systemically. The induction of autoantibodies in patients being treated with tumor...

Top 10 drugs prescribed by dermatologists.(VITAL SIGNS)
June 1, 2008... Minocycline 4.6% Doxycycline 3.9% Triamcinolone acetonide 3.7% Clobetasol 3.5% Clindamycin ...

Robotic system dispenses customized dressings.(News)
June 1, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- Imagine being able to touch a screen to custom order a wound dressing that ~ meet the individual needs of a patient, and receiving it in less than 2 minutes without leaving the clinic. During a poster session at the annual...

AAD: seal of recognition program moving forward.(News)
June 1, 2008... Officials at the American Academy of Dermatology are moving forward with their plan to offer a "seal of recognition" to a wide variety of sun protection products. The AAD board of directors voted in April to continue the program without...

Skin cancer screening tour underway.(News)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The Skin Cancer Foundation's "Road to Healthy Skin Tour" is sponsored in part by Aveeno and aims to educate the public about the importance of sun protection to prevent skin cancer. The tour features a customized recreational vehicle that will...

Skin cancer is common after heart transplant.(News)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Nearly half of patients who undergo cardiac transplantation will develop skin cancer over the subsequent few decades, according to findings of a study of 312 patients. The occurrence and features of skin cancer have been...

Adhesive tape test can distinguish melanoma cells from atypical nevi.(News)
June 1, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- Melanoma proved genetically distinguishable from atypical nevi when cells were collected from the stratum corneum using a custom-designed adhesive tape in a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for...

Most skin cancer patients found vitamin D deficient.(News)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Nearly all patients undergoing Mohs surgery for nonmelanoma skin cancer were found to be vitamin D deficient, according to findings from a recent pilot study. Vitamin D deficiency has important clinical implications, said...

Taclonex Scalp Topical Suspension.(New Approved)
June 1, 2008... Taclonex Scalp Topical Suspension (calcipotriene 0.005% and betamethasone dipropionate 0.064%, LEO Pharma) A topical suspension combining a vitamin [D.sub.3] analogue and steroid approved for treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis...

Gabapentin slashes zoster neuralgia risk.(News)
June 1, 2008... WAIKOLOA, HAWAII -- A week of oral antiviral therapy combined with 4-8 weeks of gabapentin markedly reduces the postherpetic neuralgia rate in patients with herpes zoster, reported Dr. Stephen K. Tyring. "We've followed 138 patients out to...

CDC: adults 60 plus need zoster vaccine.(News)
June 1, 2008... People aged 60 years and older should receive the herpes zoster vaccine to prevent the development of shingles, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends. A single dose of the...

Pain relievers.(Opinion)(Cartoon)
June 1, 2008... "For years your teachers kept telling you to settle down and sit still. You can stop now." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Global warming? Don't sweat it!(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... A little historical perspective might be in order regarding the article about Dr. Lise Van Susteren and global warming ("Why I Serve in Mother Earth's Cavalry," The Rest of Your Life, March 2008, p. 69). First, the temperature of the...

Get real about operative experience.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... As an elderly, retired, rural surgeon, I have followed the issue of restricted work hours for residents to reduce management errors seemingly related to sleep deprivation ("IOM Committee Reviews Residents' Work Hours," February 2008, p. 84)....

Correction.(Letters)(Correction notice)
June 1, 2008... In the March 2008 issue (p. 32) the headline for the article on new peptides should have read, "Expert in Favor of Peptides Recommends Combining Old and New Therapies."

'I Googled You'.(Under My Skin)(Column)
June 1, 2008... When I started my practice, patients found me through the Yellow Pages. "I recognized your address," they said, or "You were convenient." It seemed a little impersonal, but what could I expect? I was new. Later, patients found me on HMO...

New teen STD data reinforce annual screening.(Guest Editorial)
June 1, 2008... Physicians need to do a better job of assessing sexual activity in adolescent patients, screening sexually active teens for sexually transmitted diseases, and counseling them about how to avoid becoming infected in the future. Recently, a...

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma incidence rising.(Cutaneous Oncology)
June 1, 2008... WAIKOLOA, HAWAII -- The incidence of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma has risen dramatically since the early 1970s for reasons that are not known, Dr. Joan Guitart said at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by Skin Disease Education...

Women's Derm Society outreach.(Cutaneous Oncology)
June 1, 2008... The Women's Dermatologic Society has launched a campaign in conjunction with the Ladies' Professional Golf Association to promote proper skin protection during outdoor activities. The campaign, "Play Safe in the Sun," is part of a 3-year...

Modified flap replaces graft need in melanoma.(Cutaneous Oncology)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- The modified Keystone Island skin flap avoids the need for skin grafting in most patients with lower limb primary melanoma, a prospective study from Australia suggests. The flap, which takes its name from architectural...

Bleeding disorders are not a barrier to Mohs.(Cutaneous Oncology)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Some patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery have undiagnosed bleeding disorders, but careful history taking, vigilance during surgery, and tailored management can prevent complications in most cases, according to...

Study affirms safety of local anesthesia for Mohs surgery.(Cutaneous Oncology)
June 1, 2008... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- A new study finds that the local anesthesia used for Mohs surgery appears to be safe, with serum levels of lidocaine remaining well below the threshold for toxicity and an absence of any drug-related adverse events. ...

Use of TNF blockers may raise skin cancer risk.(Cutaneous Oncology)
June 1, 2008... NEW YORK -- The greatest malignancy risk in patients receiving tumor necrosis factor antagonists is skin cancer, Dr. Jeffrey Greenberg said at a rheumatology meeting sponsored by New York University. However, data conflict as to how great...

Cranial neuropathy signals skin cancer return.(Cutaneous Oncology)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Cranial neuropathy may be the first sign or symptom of a skin cancer recurrence, and as such it is often misdiagnosed, a dermatologist/otolaryngologist said. Neurotropic skin cancer is an uncommon but aggressive form of...

Aggressive skin cancers: on rise and easily missed.(Cutaneous Oncology)
June 1, 2008... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- There are four aggressive skin cancers that are increasing in incidence and can be easily overlooked, warned Dr. Marc D. Brown during the Harold O. Perry lecture at the annual meeting of the Noah Worcester Dermatological...

Immunostaining may help predict nodal metastasis risk.(Cutaneous Oncology)
June 1, 2008... Positive immunostaining with monoclonal antibody D2-40, together with younger patient age and lesion ulceration, might identify which melanoma patients are likely to have nodal metastasis and should undergo sentinel node biopsy, according to...

Triterpenoids.(Cosmeceutical Critique)
June 1, 2008... Triterpenoids, to which squalene is the immediate biologic precursor, include steroids and, thus, sterols, and represent the largest group of terpenoids, the most abundant group of botanical constituents and the most common ingredient class...

Venturing to the glabella and beyond with Botox.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... NEW ORLEANS -- Botox is not just for wrinkles anymore. Botulinum toxin injections can correct nasal tip droop, a gummy smile, flat eyebrows, and more, according to a dermatologic surgeon. "Botox has revolutionized the treatment of the aging...

Fraxel beats pulsed dye for scar treatment.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Fractional photothermolysis is superior to pulsed dye laser treatment for improving the cosmetic appearance of Mohs surgical scars and was preferred by all patients, despite being more painful, according to the first study...

Isotretinoin, dark skin not a hair removal barrier.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- Dark-skinned patients who undergo hair removal with a 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser while taking isotretinoin do not appear to experience any long-term complications, according to a retrospective study of 11 patients. The...

Laser may be better for hidradenitis suppurativa.(Aesthetic Dermatology)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- The 1,064-nm neodymium: YAG laser is effective for treating and preventing the recurrence of hidradenitis suppurativa lesions, according to the results of a randomized, controlled study of 22 patients with the disease. ...

Single treatment with fractional laser reduces perioral wrinkles.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- A single treatment with a microfractional 2940-nm erbium:YAG laser resulted in perioral wrinkle reduction of greater than 40% and an improvement of 2-3 grades on the Fitzpatrick wrinkle assessment scale in a recent study. ...

Radiofrequency ablation helps relax glabellar frown lines.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- Focal radiofrequency ablation of the neural innervation of the glabella muscle complex provided an effective and possibly more durable alternative to botulinum toxin in a series of 10 patients with concerns about glabellar...

Energy plus phototherapy clears acne in dark skin.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- Combined radiofrequency energy and indocyanine green--mediated pulsed light phototherapy proved highly effective for the treatment of acne in a study of 14 Fitzpatrick skin type IV patients with substantial facial acne. ...

Acne scars may respond to fixed array fractional erbium laser.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- Treatment with a fixed array fractional 1540-nm erbium laser was effective for improving acne scars, a review of 181 patients found. At 3-month follow-up, the patients who underwent three treatments at 4-week intervals...

Over 75% had diminished scarring after Fraxel TX.(Aesthetic Dermatology)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- A novel fractional C[O.sub.2] resurfacing device significantly and safely improved moderate to severe acne scarring in a recent study. More than 75% of the patients studied sustained moderate to significant improvement...

Surgical scars found to improve after fractional photothermolysis.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- Fractional photothermolysis is a promising treatment for surgical scars, including those that have failed to fully respond to other treatments, a small study suggests. In 13 patients with various types and ages of...

Nonablative fractional laser works best for scars.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- A second-generation erbium-doped 1550-nm laser is highly effective for fractional nonablative treatment of acne and surgical scars, and for moderate photoaging, data from a review of 877 cases revealed. All patients had...

C[O.sub.2] laser is safe, effective for neck rejuvenation.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- Fractional C[O.sub.2] laser treatment is highly effective for neck rejuvenation, offering substantial improvement in skin laxity, rhytids, texture, and pigmentation with a favorable adverse events profile, reported Dr. Lori...

Skin resurface healing is faster with YSGG laser.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- A new 2,790-nm yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet laser provides an option for skin resurfacing that appears to require less downtime than does resurfacing with either C[O.sub.2] or er:YAG lasers. This was the finding in...

Lack of HIV testing behind minority infection rate.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... WASHINGTON -- Widespread testing would likely blunt the high HIV infection rate among African Americans and Latinos, but little money and effort have been put into prevention, experts said at the National Minority Quality Forum's 2008...

Resource on health care innovations.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has launched a new Web resource called the Health Care Innovations Exchange to share examples of both successful and unsuccessful attempts at innovation in health care. It initially is starting out...

HIV-infected children facing new challenges: patients experience drug resistance, complications of therapy, and issues related to mental health.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... BOSTON -- The increased survival among HIV-infected children seen with effective prevention of perinatal transmission and the widespread adoption of highly active antiretroviral therapy has been accompanied by the emergence of a new generation...

Risk behaviors driving force of HIV epidemic in U.S. youth.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... BOSTON -- The adolescent HIV-1 epidemic as reflected in a multisite cohort of U.S. youth is changing from one of vertically transmitted infection to one where infection is acquired through risk behaviors, posing new challenges for providers and...

Patient-held records improve vaccination rates.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... Patient-held vaccination records were associated with improved childhood immunization rates in an analysis of National Immunization Survey data. The rate of up-to-date vaccinations was 84% for children with a patient-held vaccination...

More-educated parents wary of HPV vaccine.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. -- A study of 61 parents of infants and children up to 10 years of age suggests that parents may favor the idea of giving the human papillomavirus vaccine at a very young age rather than during adolescence. The study...

WoundStat superior in hemostatic comparison.(Wound Healing)
June 1, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- WoundStat, a hemostatic agent approved in August 2007, is superior to other combat hemostatic agents used for combat and civilian trauma, results from a swine study demonstrated. The product, marketed by TraumaCure Inc.,...

Negative pressure beats moist Tx for foot ulcers.(Wound Healing)
June 1, 2008... A greater percentage of diabetic foot ulcers achieved complete closure with negative pressure wound therapy than with advanced moist wound therapy in a randomized controlled study of more than 300 patients. There were also significantly...

New silver barrier dressing proves effective.(Wound Healing)
June 1, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- A new absorbent silver barrier dressing may help prevent and manage complications of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy sites, according to the results of a small study. In a poster presented at the annual meeting of the Wound...

Electrical stimulation promising for limb salvage.(Wound Healing)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- High-voltage, pulsed electrical stimulation is an effective adjunct to multidisciplinary attempts at limb salvage in diabetic patients with complex lower extremity wounds, results from a small study demonstrated. Of 45 wounds...

Recombinant human thrombin controls bleeding of most wounds.(Wound Healing)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Spray recombinant human thrombin achieved hemostasis within 20 minutes in 91.5% of patients following burn wound excision in a prospective safety study in 71 patients. Recombinant human thrombin (rThrombin) was also minimally...

Supplemental fluids may not improve subcutaneous oxygen.(Wound Healing)
June 1, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- Although fluid intake can be safely increased in nursing home residents who have, or are at risk for, pressure ulcers and do not routinely ingest the prescribed amount of fluid, levels of subcutaneous oxygen may remain low, results...

Biobrane dressing speeds pediatric burn recovery.(Wound Healing)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- Use of Biobrane wound dressing in pediatric burn patients resulted in a short hospital stay and follow-up as an outpatient with few complications, results from a single-center study demonstrated. Researchers reviewed the...

New agents found to help control external bleeding.(Wound Healing)
June 1, 2008... CORONADO, CALIF. -- Two novel technologies are helping to control external bleeding when conventional methods such as direct pressure and gauze dressings fail. These include products that contain chitosan or zeolite, Dr. Brant A. Putnam...

Cost analysis gives nod to foam dressing for stage II pressure ulcers.(Wound Healing)
June 1, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- Treatment of stage II pressure ulcers with a self-adhesive polyurethane foam dressing was more cost effective than was treatment with standard saline-soaked gauze, according to a multicenter, randomized trial. "The current...

Postburn outcomes found to be worse in regular smokers.(Wound Healing)
June 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Burn victims who are regular smokers prior to their injuries have poorer outcomes than do nonsmokers, data presented at the annual meeting of the American Burn Association suggest. In a retrospective analysis of 240 patients,...

For assessing wounds, PUSH tool outperforms judgment.(Wound Healing)
June 1, 2008... SALT LAKE CITY -- The Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing proved superior to assessment by experienced nurses in determining status and progression of long-term care residents" wounds, researchers reported at the annual symposium of the American...

Insulin may reduce burn infections, study shows.(Wound Healing)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... CINCINNATI -- Control of blood glucose levels through intensive insulin therapy has been shown to reduce morbidity in both surgical and medical ICU patients, as well as mortality in surgical ICU patients. Results of a retrospective study now...

Pediatric pearls--from Langerhans to Kawasaki: consider Langerhans cell histiocytosis in children with refractory atopic or seborrheic dermatitis.(Pediatric Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... WAIKOLOA, HAWAII -- Consider Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the child with crusted papules on the palms and soles who has been unsuccessfully treated for scabies or who is mite negative under the microscope, a pediatric dermatology expert...

Nickel adding to contact dermatitis diagnosis conundrum.(Pediatric Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... NEW ORLEANS -- Increases in nickel allergy have done nothing to make the diagnosis of contact dermatitis a more exact science, according to a pediatric dermatologist. In her update on contact dermatitis, Dr. Lisa Garner, a private...

Be alert to signs of physical abuse in children.(Pediatric Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... MIAMI BEACH -- An unbelievable or inconsistent explanation for bruises, fractures, head trauma, or burns in a child is among the red flags that raise suspicion of physical abuse, said Dr. Joseph A. Zenel. Bruises left by abuse can appear on...

Early atopy without wheezing doesn't predispose to asthma.(Pediatric Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Young children who have atopic dermatitis without recurrent wheezing do not face an increased risk of developing asthma by school age. This is a question that often is asked by worried parents who have read about the...

'DVD anesthesia' helpful during skin procedures.(Pediatric Dermatology)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... WAIKOLOA, HAWAII -- "DVD anesthesia" is an effective distraction technique when performing biopsies, excisions, and other office dermatologic procedures in children, Dr. Elizabeth Alvarez Connelly said. The concept is straightforward:...

MRSA can cause severe musculoskeletal infections in children.(Pediatric Dermatology)
June 1, 2008... ALBUQUERQUE -- Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is causing a growing number of sudden, severe musculoskeletal infections in otherwise healthy children, according to two reports at the annual meeting of the...

Managing pregnancy in rheumatic disease patients.(Across Specialties)
June 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- The only "sure thing" about the medical management of pregnant women who have a rheumatic disease is that "there are no sure things," according to a physician with particular expertise in lupus. "In an ideal world, pregnancy in...

Talk fertility with rheumatic patients.(Across Specialties)
June 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Fertility preservation options should be presented to patients as early after the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and scleroderma as possible. These rheumatologic diseases often strike both men...

Low levels of vitamin D seen in lupus.(Across Specialties)
June 1, 2008... NEW YORK -- Patients with lupus have "dramatically" low serum levels of the biologically active form of vitamin D, which may contribute to the pathological processes involved in their disease, Dr. Peter E. Lipsky said at a rheumatology meeting...

Smoking found to affect TNF blocker response.(Across Specialties)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND -- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have a history of cigarette smoking are more likely to have a poor response to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy than are those who have never smoked. Recent studies have...

Serious infections with biologics stress need for extra vigilance.(Across Specialties)
June 1, 2008... LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND -- Serious and even fatal infections continue to occur in patients being treated with tumor necrosis factor-blocking agents and other biologics, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance during treatment with these drugs....

Employees cash in by kicking smoking habit: the employer benefit would be increased productivity due to fewer employees taking smoking breaks.(Across Specialties)
June 1, 2008... PITTSBURGH -- Financial incentives for smoking cessation offered by employers in large workplace settings succeed in getting employees to quit, the findings from a government-funded study suggest. The subject is controversial. Two 2005...

Changes in saliva may help detect smoking-related cancers.(Across Specialties)
June 1, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- Smoking-related cell damage may leave molecular footprints in saliva and oral epithelial cells, offering the potential for noninvasive early diagnosis of lung cancer and of head and neck cancers, researchers reported in separate...

Moderate drinking may cut cardiovascular risk.(Across Specialties)
June 1, 2008... COLORADO SPRINGS -- Former non-drinkers who initiated moderate alcohol consumption in middle age experienced a 38% reduction in cardiovascular events over 4 years, compared with continued nondrinkers in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities...

Public Health Service updates tobacco cessation guideline.(Across Specialties)
June 1, 2008... Many new and effective treatment strategies are available that clinicians can employ to help patients quit tobacco use, according to an updated Clinical Practice Guideline released by the U.S. Public Health Service. Use of multiple...

AAD fires back on indoor tanning.(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2008... The American Academy of Dermatology is launching a public service campaign to communicate the risks of indoor tanning. The target audience is 16-to 29-year-old women, according to the AAD. This group is being chosen because the data show that...

Tanning industry ties cited.(Policy & Practice)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The Indoor Tanning Association also recently found its ties to a Boston University researcher, Dr. Michael E Holick, scrutinized by the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Holick has published numerous articles on vitamin D deficiency, including a review...

Stiefel buys Atlean maker.(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2008... Stiefel Laboratories Inc. has acquired ABR Invent and ABR Development, two French companies that developed Atlean, an injectable dermal filler. Atlean is made up of tricalcium phosphate particles suspended in a hyaluronic acid gel. The product...

Generic fluorouracil cream halted.(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2008... Spear Pharmaceuticals Inc. has agreed to at least temporarily cease sales, marketing, and shipment of a generic fluorouracil cream 5%. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, which makes the brand Efudex cream 5%, sued the FDA to challenge the...

Low postmarketing FDA compliance.(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2008... The FDA has issued its annual summary report of how pharmaceutical and biologic manufacturers are doing on meeting their commitments to conduct postmarketing studies. According to the agency, 76% of drug makers and 81% of biologic makers had...

Disciplinary actions decline.(Policy & Practice)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The number and rate of serious disciplinary actions against physicians have decreased for the third consecutive year, according to Public Citizen's annual ranking of state medical boards. The advocacy group said the analysis indicates that many...

Half of health spending wasted.(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2008... Wasteful spending in the U.S. health system could amount to as much as $1.2 trillion of the $2.2 trillion spent annually, according to a report from the PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute. Defensive medicine was identified as the...