Skin & Allergy News articles from March 2006

Skin & Allergy News archives from March 2006

Cancer screening scores home run.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... KAPALUA, HAWAII -- Here are some baseball stats that don't make the daffy sports pages. Since 1999, almost 13,000 Major League Baseball players, coaches, staff, and family members have been screened for skin cancer under a program with the...

Dermatology board closes book on recertification: proctored exam mandated by ABMS.(American Board of Medical Specialties)(American Board of Dermatology )
March 1, 2006... PARK CITY, UTAH -- The American Board of Dermatology plans to replace its open-book, Internet-based test for recertification with a closed-door, proctored examination, according to Dr. Stephen B. Webster, the board's associate executive...

Guidelines to standardize, validate PDT protocols.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2006... KAPALUA, HAWAII -- A consensus panel of nine expert practitioners has published what are believed to be the first guidelines on the use of photodynamic therapy in dermatology. The guidelines recommend photodynamic treatment of actinic...

Dendritic cells tied to psoriasis.(News)
March 1, 2006... NAPLES, FLA. -- Recent research implicates dendritic cells in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and suggests new targets for prevention and treatment, Dr. Andrew Blauvelt said at a symposium sponsored by the Dermatology Foundation. In the...

CA-MRSA puts pro sports teams on the defensive.(News)
March 1, 2006... KAPALUA, HAWAII -- Bars of soap and the sharing of personal items such as razors and towels have been banned from the New York Yankees clubhouse as a prophylaxis against the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. ...

Paging Dr. Dolittle: nasty Staph travels between pets and people.(News)
March 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- As if there weren't already enough reasons to be worried about methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the troublesome organism is now turning up in the pet population and appears to be able to move readily between animals...

Community-acquired variety tops MRSA worries.(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)(Disease/Disorder overview)
March 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- As many as 2.3 million people in the United States carry methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Dr. Daniel B. Jernigan reported at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. The...

New package insert rule takes aim at errors.
March 1, 2006... Prescription drug package inserts soon have a new format that U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials believe will reduce the risk of medical errors. A goal of the "major revisions" recently announced by the FDA is to prioritize...

FDA considering changes in hydroxyurea labels.(News)
March 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing proposed label changes for Hydrea and Droxia (hydroxyurea capsules) that warn of cutaneous vasculitic toxicities. Bristol-Myers Squibb has notified health care professionals about revisions to...

Brazilian diet pills contaminated with prescription drugs.(News)
March 1, 2006... Two popular diet pills from Brazil that are being marketed as natural dietary supplements may be laced with prescription and controlled substances, according to a warning being issued by the Food and Drug Administration. Tests of the two...

Registry hassles prompt calls for iPLEDGE delay.(News)
March 1, 2006... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- At a meeting last month of the Food and Drug Administration's Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee, the American Academy of Dermatology requested that the full implementation of the iPLEDGE program be delayed...

Psoriasis drug shows "stunning" promise in early trial.(News)
March 1, 2006... KAPALUA, HAWAII -- After phase II results that investigators are describing as far superior to anything seen before in psoriasis, a monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 is about to be tested in a phase III trial....

Avian influenza confirmed in Nigerian poultry.(News)
March 1, 2006... As many as 40,000 Nigerian poultry have died in Africa's first reported outbreak of avian influenza, the World Organization for Animal Health has confirmed, and "the most immediate public health need is to reduce opportunities for human...

Low-fat diets: no cancer risk reduction seen.(News)
March 1, 2006... Eating a low-fat diet did not affect rates of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, or colorectal cancer in the largest-ever long-term randomized trial of a dietary intervention in postmenopausal women. The study showed a...

Rapid avian influenza test approved by FDA.(News)
March 1, 2006... A rapid test to detect human infection with avian influenza gives preliminary results in 4 hours instead of the standard 2-3 days, according to officials with the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....

The future of dermatology.(Guest Editorial)
March 1, 2006... Dermatology is at a crossroads. We have an exciting and vibrant specialty, and we have new drugs, techniques, and equipment to aid us in caring for patients, but we are facing a shortage of dermatologists caused by an expanding population...

A grimm scabies tale.(Under My Skin)
March 1, 2006... Once upon a time, in the b little village of Dunkelkratz, there lived a woman named Mabel. Mabel taught third grade at Groovy Acres Elementary School. One day Mabel had an itch. Nobody at home was itchy, just Mabel. She went to her...

Crossing the quality chasm in health care.(Guest Editorial)
March 1, 2006... The safety and quality of health care today are far below the level we can and should achieve. The Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academies, is a private organization that offers advice and recommendations to policy makers,...

Patient expectations play a role in botox effects.
March 1, 2006... NAPLES, FLA. -- Ascertain and address patient expectations before injecting botulinum toxin, Dr. Stephen H. Mandy advised during a symposium sponsored by the Dermatology Foundation. Inform patients up front how long they can expect the...

Home peels, devices gain popularity with patients.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2006... Las VEGAS -- The cosmeceuticals market is growing, and newly available products as well as those in the pipeline will help physicians tailor their recommendations to their patients' needs, Dr. Mary P. Lupo said at the Fall Clinical Dermatology...

The 16 skin types.
March 1, 2006... Helena Rubinstein is credited with classifying four different skin types during the early 1900s, and her classification has essentially gone unchallenged since that time. Skin has thus been classified as dry, oily, combination, or...

Minoxidil foam promises efficacy, more patient satisfaction.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2006... NAPLES, FLA. -- A new thermolabile foam vehicle for minoxidil, expected on the market soon, is as effective as the solution, with less residue and greater patient satisfaction, according to Dr. David E. Cohen. "What is a contact derm guy...

Etanercept improves fatigue, depression in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2006... Etanercept improved fatigue and symptoms of depression in addition to reducing plaque severity in a large clinical trial of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, reported Dr. Stephen Tyring of the University of Texas Health Science...

Match biologic therapy to psoriasis patients' needs.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2006... MONTREAL -- Recommendations from the Canadian Psoriasis Expert Panel can help dermatologists optimize their use of biologic agents to treat psoriasis, said Dr. Yves Poulin. If a patient has arthritis, for example, "you would lean toward...

Chondroitin may improve psoriasis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2006... BOSTON -- Daily therapy with oral chondroitin sulfate significantly improved psoriatic plaques in 10 of 11 osteoarthritis patients with long-standing, treatment-resistant psoriasis, a study has shown. "Clinically, all but one of the...

5-FU effective for some giant keratoacanthomas.(fluorouracil )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Intralesional 5-fluorouracil can be used successfully to treat some giant keratoacanthomas, Dr. C; William Hanke said at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American College of Mohs...

Meropenem for tough diabetic skin infections.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Diabetic patients with severe skin infections had greater improvement when treated with meropenem than with imipenem-cilastatin, Dr. John M. Embil reported in a poster presented at the annual Interscience Conference on...

Derm drug interactions: top ten to watch for.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- There's no doubt that systemic drugs used in dermatology practice can interact in myriad ways, with results ranging from rashes to death, but some commonly held assumptions about drug interactions are either untrue or controversial....

Anti-inflammatory doxycycline reduces rosacea lesions.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2006... KAPALUA, HAWAII -- A formulation of doxycycline that is anti-inflammatory without being antibiotic significantly reduced rosacea lesions in two phase III trials, according to Dr. James Q. Del Rosso, the principal investigator. Dr. Del...

Photodynamic therapy's efficacy draws strong testimonials.(dd)(Disease/Disorder overview)
March 1, 2006... LOS CABOS, MEXICO -- Advances in photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) have led dermatologists to increasingly extol its virtues as a practical, versatile, and highly effective therapy for actinic keratoses, nonmelanoma...

ALA-PDT may render acne medications obsolete.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2006... LOS CABOS, MEXICO -- Dr. Mitchel E Goldman doesn't accept insurance and says he believes that his cash-only ache patients get more for their money with one to three photodynamic therapy sessions than they do with years of prescriptions for...

Creative customization makes offices Mohs ready.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Most Mohs surgeons don't have the luxury of designing an ideal office from scratch--they must work with their preexisting office space, said Dr. James Del Rosso at a meeting sponsored by the American Society for Mohs Surgery. ...

Regulatory diligence today may keep OSHA inspectors away.(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
March 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- The best way to avoid safety and quality violations is to stay abreast of guidelines prescribed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, Dr. Richard Hoang said at a...

Rule out lacrimal gland prolapse in blepharoplasty.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Lateral orbital fullness noted during upper blepharoplasty is usually caused by orbital fat that can be resected, but the finding can be a result of lacrimal gland prolapse, Dr. Hanspaul Makkar said at the joint annual meeting of the...

Proper technique delivers optimal filler effects.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2006... NAPLES, FLA. -- Proper technique is paramount to optimize outcome and avoid complications with either calcium hydroxyapatite or poly-L-lactic acid fillers, according to a presentation at a Dermatology Foundation-sponsored symposium. ...

Prolonged sedation is safe for in-office facial plastic surgery.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2006... The duration of anesthesia does not correlate with morbidity or mortality in facial plastic surgery performed in an office-based facility, reported Dr. Nell A. Gordon of Yale University, New Haven, and Dr. Marc E. Koch of the State University...

Lifelong follow-up recommended for melanoma patients.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Patients who have been diagnosed and treated for melanoma should receive lifelong follow-up because of their risk for disease recurrence or a new primary melanoma, according to Dr. Lynn Proctor Shipman. "Many clinicians,...

Thick melanoma lesions increasing in Hispanics.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... A significant annual increase in invasive melanoma, especially in the occurrence of tumors more than 1.5 mm thick in California Hispanics points to a "developing epidemic" of the cancer in that population, Myles Cockburn, Ph.D., and associates...

Don't delay biopsy or diagnosis of skin lesions in pregnant patients.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- A pregnant patient's suspicious or changing skin lesion should be investigated as promptly and as thoroughly as the same lesion in a nonpregnant patient, Dr. Dina Massry said at a melanoma update sponsored by the Scripps Clinic....

Node dissection should rise to standard of melanoma care.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Immediate complete lymph node dissection after the discovery of a positive sentinel lymph node should be the standard of care for melanoma patients, according to Dr. Merrick I. Ross, professor of surgery, University of Texas M.D....

Severe side effects can be at HAART of HIV tx.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... NAPLES, FLA. -- Although physicians see fewer direct cutaneous manifestations of HIV infection in this era of highly active antiretroviral treatment, the drugs themselves can cause important dermatologic reactions, according to a presentation...

Valganciclovir reduced oral shedding of herpesvirus 8 by 79% in crossover trial.(Clinical report)
March 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- The first randomized, controlled clinical study of an antiviral medication's effects on human herpesvirus 8 found a 79% reduction in viral shedding in the oropharynx of 26 men taking 900 mg/day of valgancidovir, Dr. Corey...

HAART can trigger immune reconstitution.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... NAPLES, FLA. -- Monitor patients who are starting effective highly active antiretroviral treatment for signs of immune reconstitution syndrome, Dr. Andrew Blauvelt said at a symposium sponsored by the Dermatology Foundation. Watch for...

Pediatric MRSA cases are increasing in number and becoming more pervasive: studies have shown that infections are emerging in children without established risk factors.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... STOWE, VT. -- The incidence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in children is increasing with each passing year, and although sensitivities vary by region, the problem is not limited to areas of the...

National data: MRSA colonization is uncommon.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... Nearly a third of the United States population aged 1 year and older are colonized with Staphylococcus aureus, but only about 1% are colonized with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), according to prevalence estimates from the National...

Henna tattoo ingredient is Allergen of the Year.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... KAPALUA, HAWAII -- Paraphenylenediamine, a chemical found in permanent hair and fur dyes and temporary henna tattoos, has been chosen as the American Contact Dermatitis Society's 2006 Allergen of the Year. "All these little kids who become...

Rash and fever? Look to the rash for answers.(differential diagnosis of skin diseases)
March 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- The differential is extensive for the patient who presents with rash and fever, but the diagnostic challenge can be made manageable by focusing on the morphology of the lesion, Dr. Mark Lebwohl said at a meeting on medical and...

Treating tough drug-aggravated derm diseases.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... STOWE, VT. -- Most dermatologists are adept at recognizing cutaneous drug reactions, but they can easily be blindsided by drug-aggravated dermatologic diseases, which are far more elusive and less common, said Dr. Peter W. Heald at a...

Consider infliximab for treatment of diabetic polymyalgia.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... VIENNA -- Infliximab appears to be a useful first-line therapy in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica complicated by comorbid diabetes and/or osteoporosis, according to Dr. Alberto Migliore of San Pietro Hospital, Rome. The tumor necrosis...

Orencia, Boniva injection.(New & Approved)
March 1, 2006... Orencia (abatacept, Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co.) A novel biologic agent that inhibits activation of T cells, approved for reducing signs and symptoms, inducing major clinical response, slowing progression of structural damage, and...

Manage expectations in treating pattern hair loss.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... NAPLES, FLA. -- Patient expectations drive management of male or female pattern hair loss and determine satisfaction with the outcome, Dr. Jerry Shapiro said at a symposium sponsored by the Dermatology Foundation. Start with patient...

Continuous OC found effective in two studies.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... Two studies have demonstrated a positive response to an investigational low-dose continuous oral contraceptive in terms of suppression of both ovulation and premenstrual symptoms and in return to normal ovulation, according to investigators at...

Small BSC metastasizes after 14-year latency.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... LOS CASOS, MEXICO -- A small and seemingly routine nonmelanoma skin cancer apparently metastasized to a lymph node 14 years after excision, serving as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of a rare and poorly understood entity, basosquamous...

Key clues can distinguish nail melanomas from benign lesions.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- A longitudinal pigmented streak beneath the nail could either be a benign melanonychia striata or a far-from-benign subungual melanoma, but despite the vast difference in prognosis, the two conditions are very difficult to tell...

Mobility limitations in diabetes.(Clinical Capsules)
March 1, 2006... Adults with diabetes were significantly more likely to have limited mobility than were nondiabetics (27% vs. 16%), according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2002. Approximately 4,700...

Puberty feeds body dissatisfaction.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Pubertal changes were more likely to trigger body dissatisfaction in white girls than in African American girls in a study of 331 girls, reported Tiffany Floyd, Ph.D., in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for...

Risks of episodic HIV therapy.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)
March 1, 2006... A large, international HIV-1 trial was stopped prematurely because patients who received episodic antiretroviral therapy had more than twice the risk of disease progression and a higher rate of major complications as those who received...

Gender gap closing in drinking-driving patterns.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. -- Longitudinal data from a large national alcohol abuse survey suggest that the gender gap is narrowing with regard to drinking and driving: Women's rates of risky alcohol-related driving behaviors are actually increasing...

Alcohol dependence.(Drug Update)
March 1, 2006... The medications approved to treat alcohol dependence are severely underused despite evidence of their efficacy. It's estimated that less than 1% of people with alcohol dependence and abuse receive medication as part of their treatment. That's...

Penalties for faux-tox.(cases of trademark infringement)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The case involving distribution of counterfeit Botox for use in humans came to a close in a Florida courtroom in January when U.S. District Court Judge James I. Cohn handed down frees and jail sentences. Naturopaths Chad Livdahl and Zarah Karim...

Vitamin D controversy.(Policy & Practice)
March 1, 2006... It's unsafe and unnecessary for people to expose themselves to harmful doses of ultraviolet radiation in an effort to maintain the proper levels of vitamin D, according to a literature review published in the February issue of the Journal of...

Ben Franklin's psoriasis.(Policy & Practice)
March 1, 2006... Psoriasis Cure Now, a patient advocacy group, has named Benjamin Franklin as its "greatest American with psoriasis" in an effort to raise awareness of the disease and increase federally funded psoriasis research. The group arranged for a...

E-prescribing pilots.(Policy & Practice)
March 1, 2006... Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are launching pilots to study new e-prescribing standards that will be implemented in 2008. Under the Medicare Modernization Act, the initial e-prescribing standards must be tested...

'Fair share' for health care.(Policy & Practice)
March 1, 2006... Large employers in the state of Maryland will have to pay a "fair share" for health care under a new state law. Last April, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Fair Share Health Care Fund Act, which requires that employers with more than...

Providers called to account on health disparities.(d)
March 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Health disparities won't go away until the people and institutions that play a role in creating them are held accountable, Dr. Anne C. Beal said at a meeting sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office...

FDA guidance backs early clinical drug testing.(Food and Drug Administrationd)
March 1, 2006... Researchers now have a pathway for conducting early clinical testing of drugs in a small number of human subjects under new guidance from the Food and Drug Administration. Officials at the FDA finalized guidance on exploratory...

New appeal process for Medicare Part B denials.(Practice Trends)
March 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- On Jan. 1, Medicare officials implemented a new five-step process for appealing Medicare Part B claims. The changes apply to Part B initial claim determinations issued and mailed on or after that date, Edward R. Gaines III,...

Slashing accounts receivable, Part II.(Managing Your Dermatology Practice)
March 1, 2006... I knew my December 2005 column, which suggested asking each patient for a credit card number and billing balances to the card account as they come in, was an idea whose time had come. But I was quite unprepared for the huge volume of...

Medicare invests in pay-for-performance demo projects.(Practice Trends)
March 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Provider groups are behind the curve when it comes to anticipating acceptance of pay-for-performance programs, Jeff Flick said at a health care congress sponsored by the Wall Street Journal and CNBC. Take, for instance, the...

Tips for securing your financial future.
March 1, 2006... For as long as he can remember, Dr. Robert M. Doroghazi has been prudent with money. "It was difficult to come by," said Dr. Doroghazi, who was raised in Granite City, Ill., as the son of a steelworker. At age 8, he began to earn an...

Physician assistants make their mark in surgery.(Practice Trends)
March 1, 2006... Among other changes engendered y the 80-hour workweek restrictions, more hospitals appear to be allowing physician assistants, nurse-midwives, and other midlevel staff to take over some duties from residents in the operating room. "I...

Computerized drug orders can reduce hospital errors.(Practice Trends)
March 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Aiming for computerization of physician order entry at health care institutions isn't the right course to take, Dr. Stephen T. Lawless said at a health care congress sponsored by the Wall Street Journal and CNBC. "That's the...

Wisconsin docs strive to resuscitate damage cap.
March 1, 2006... Wisconsin physicians are continuing to push for the reinstatement of a medical liability damage cap, despite recent legal and legislative setbacks. "I think our legislature dearly understands that something has to be done," said Dr. Susan...

Diagnosis: eosinophilic fasciitis.(medical cases)
March 1, 2006... When the woman was admitted, the differential diagnosis was between scleroderma and eosinophilic fasciitis (also known as generalized morphea profunda), according to Dr. Irwin M. Braverman, who presented the case at the Fall Clinical...

Anti-itch cream for dry skin.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Sarna Ultra Anti-Itch Cream and Skin Protectant contains 1% pramoxine hydrochloride and 0.5% menthol in a 30% petrolatum base to help relieve itching and soothe dry skin'. The cream is available in pharmacies nationwide. For more information,...

Skin care using low pH water.(Products)
March 1, 2006... The Charme Skincare System uses electrolyzed, low pH acidic water to cleanse and hydrate skin at the deepest layers. The system can be used to treat psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, acne, sunburn, diaper rash, and athlete's foot. For more...

Subcutaneous immune globulin.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Vivaglobin (immune globulin subcutaneous [human]) is indicated for subcutaneous injection for the prevention of serious infections in patients with primary immune deficiency diseases. For more information, contact ZLB Behring by visiting...