Skin & Allergy News articles from September 2004

Skin & Allergy News archives from September 2004

Vascular care paper may snub derms.(role of dermatologists in vascular medicine)
September 1, 2004... For the first time, a report details the knowledge and skills needed to be considered a competent specialist in vascular medicine or catheter-based peripheral vascular interventions, but it doesn't mention the kinds of procedures done by...

Case of the month.(necrobiotic xanthogranuloma)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... A 72-year-old woman presented with a painful lesion on her right arm after working in a rose garden. Her forearm lesion had yellow indurated plaque with an atrophic center. She also had a diffuse, indurated lesion covering a fairly large area...

FDA approves new combo modality for clearing AKs; MAL-PDT approved for use in United States; available abroad for AKs, BCC.(Food and Drug Administration)(Actinic Keratosis)(Basal Cell Carcinoma)(methyl aminolevulinate cream)
September 1, 2004... Another product officially dined the ranks of actinic keratosis treatments when the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of methyl aminolevulinate cream in combination with photodynamic therapy (MAL-PDT) for the treatment of...

Botox gains FDA approval for axillary hyperhidrosis; off-label use has been fairly common.(Food and Drug Administration)(botulinum toxin type A)
September 1, 2004... Dermatologists and patients searching for answers to primary axillary hyperhidrosis have a new Food and Drug Administration--approved option: botulinum toxin type A. In July, the FDA approved the use of botulinum toxin type A (Botox) for...

Physicians can comment on drug benefits before Medicare implements new rules.(Medicare prescription drug benefit)
September 1, 2004... Want to give the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services a piece of your mind on how it should implement the new Medicare prescription drug benefit? Now's your chance. CMS released its proposed regulations on the drug benefit in late...

Advanced melanoma answers to Allovectin-7.(leukocyte antigen)
September 1, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Interim results from a phase II trial indicate that Allovectin-7 is an active, well-tolerated treatment for advanced metastatic melanoma patients, Dr. Alain Rolland reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Gene...

Incentives identified to spread adoption of EHR.(electronic health records)
September 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- A new report from the Department of Health and Human Services outlines 12 strategies aimed at bringing electronic health records into clinical practice, interconnecting physicians, personalizing care, and improving population...

FDA asks antidepressant makers to label possible adverse effects.(Food and Drug Administration)
September 1, 2004... Warnings about the potential for suicidality and worsening of depression during treatment with antidepressants for major depressive disorder have begun to appear in the label of antidepressant drugs, in response to a request made by the Food...

Hyperpigmentation reported in long-term imiprimine users.(research report)(Adrenergic agents)
September 1, 2004... VICTORIA, B.C. -- Bluish-gray hyperpigmentation has been reported in 11 patients taking the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine, Dr. Andrei Metelitsa said at the annual conference of the Canadian Dermatology Association. In all of those...

Tacrolimus topped pimecrolimus in large study.(Immunosuppressive agents)
September 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Tacrolimus proved to be more efficacious and no more irritating than pimecrolimus in the first large head-to-head comparison of the two topical immunomodulators in patients with atopic dermatitis, Dr. Man B. Fleischer Jr. said at...

Filler approved to treat HIV facial lipoatrophy.(injectable polymer)
September 1, 2004... The Food and Drug Administration last month approved an injectable polymer to correct facial lipoatrophy in patients with HIV, and the filler may offer a promising treatment for those who have delayed or stopped antiretroviral drug therapy to...

Candida-related diaper dermatitis Rx in pipeline.(Antifungal agents)
September 1, 2004... ROME -- After almost 2 decades of rejection by the Food and Drug Administration, a topical treatment for Candida-associated diaper dermatitis may be on the horizon, Dr. Mary Spraker said at the 10th World Congress of Pediatric Dermatology. ...

Uncovering diaper rash etiology may lead to optimal treatment.(News)
September 1, 2004... ROME -- Although diaper dermatitis is exceedingly common, its etiology is only partially understood, and treatment options in the United States remain limited, Dr. Linda De Raeve said at the 10th World Congress of Pediatric Dermatology. ...

Incentives are needed to promote electronic Rx.(Electronic Prescribing)
September 1, 2004... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Reimbursement for the use of electronic prescribing programs is needed to spur faster adoption, according to a report from the Electronic Prescribing Project of the eHealth Initiative. "Doctors are concerned about...

Where does drug info come from, daddy?(Under My Skin)(First Data Bank)
September 1, 2004... Jessica was on the phone. "I stopped the cefadroxil you prescribed," she said. "The pharmacist told me it would interfere with my birth control pill. It said so right on the patient information sheet." I groaned. I've looked into this...

Should the FDA consider cost-effectiveness when approving new drug applications?(Pro & Con)(Food and Drug Administration)
September 1, 2004... [YES] If incorporated appropriately, the review of economic factors by the Food and Drug Administration could help facilitate a new drug's entrance into the market. A new drug isn't going to get far in the marketplace if managed care...

Vascular, pigmented lesions need laser finesse.(Dermatologic Surgery)(pulsed dye lasers)
September 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Newer pulsed dye lasers, with longer wavelengths and extended pulse directions, may limit the amount of postprocedure purpura, but the drawback is that patients may require additional treatments, Dr. Lance H. Brown said at the...

Acne persisted after treatment with pulsed dye laser in split-face study.(Dermatologic Surgery)(research report)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Contrary to other published reports in the medical literature, treatment of acne vulgaris with the pulsed dye laser did not significantly improve the condition, according to results from a randomized, split-face trial. "The fact that our...

Pediatric wound healing: soak, grease, and cover.(Dermatologic Surgery)
September 1, 2004... MANCHESTER, VT. -- The best advice for managing acute and chronic skin wounds in children is all wet, according Dr. Ronald C. Hansen, chief of pediatric dermatology at Phoenix (Ariz.) Children's Hospital. "Unless a wound is crusted and...

Facial fillers: start slowly and proceed carefully.(Dermatologic Surgery)(dermal fillers)
September 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Patients' desire for noninvasive cosmetic procedures will keep dermal fillers in high demand, offering dermatologists a ready market for a relatively easy-to-learn treatment, said Dr. Martin N. Zaiac at the annual meeting of...

Incidence of various tumors in patients undergoing Mohs surgery, 2000.(Data Watch)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 1, 2004... DATA WATCH Incidence of Various Tumors in Patients Undergoing Mohs Surgery, 2000 Basal cell carcinoma 68.26% Squamous cell carcinoma 28.79% Basosquamous cell carcinoma 1.18% Keratoacanthoma ...

SLN biopsy? Consider patient's age, mitotic rate.(Dermatologic Surgery)(sentinel lymph node biopsy)
September 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- While investigators are still determining when and in which instances patients with thin melanomas should have a sentinel lymph node biopsy, Dr. Vernon Sondak gave his recommendations to physicians attending the annual meeting...

Go easy on epinephrine with local anesthetic.(Dermatologic Surgery)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- When using epinephrine with a local anesthetic, it is always better to be conservative than to use too much, Dr. Marguerite Germain said at a symposium on skin cancer sponsored by the American Society for Mohs Surgery. ...

IGF-I decreases visceral fat in HIV lipodystrophy.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Somatotropin-releasing hormone)
September 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Growth hormone-releasing hormone has the potential to be a new treatment for the lipodystrophy that occurs in up to 80% of patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy, Dr. Polyxeni Koutkia said at the annual...

Tumor-stage MF resists stem cell treatment: treatment success in systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma does not translate to advanced mycosis fungoides.(Dermatologic Therapy)(mycosis fungoides)
September 1, 2004... BELFAST -- Autologous stem cell transplantation is beneficial in only a minority of patients with advanced mycosis fungoides and is unlikely to be widely adopted as a treatment for this rare, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Dr. Robin Russell-Jones said...

Rituximab shows promise in systemic lupus erythematosus.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Antineoplastic agents)
September 1, 2004... BERLIN -- The last 20 years have witnessed numerous initially promising potential therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus that were eventually disillusioning. But Dr. David A. Isenberg is convinced that rituximab-based B-cell depletion...

Tindamax: (tinidazole, Presutti Laboratories).(New & Approved)(Antiprotozoan agents)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... An antiprotozoal for treating trichomoniasis. Also approved for treating giardiasis, intestinal amebiasis, and amebic liver abscess. * Recommended Dosage: Trichomoniasis: single 2-g oral dose for patient and her sexual partner(s)....

Medicinal leeches: (hirudo medicinalis, Ricarimpex SAS).(New & Approved)
September 1, 2004... Approval of this brand of leeches for medicinal use. Leeches from other companies are commercially marketed, but Ricarimpex, a French company, is the first to apply for Food and Drug Administration approval of leeches as a medical device. ...

Infliximab up for approval as first-line RA therapy.(Dermatologic Therapy)(rheumatoid arthritis)(Antirheumatic agents)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Infliximab as first-line therapy for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis may soon have the green light from the Food and Drug Administration. An advisory committee to the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products has...

Isotretinoin can alleviate severe acne scarring.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Antiacne agents)
September 1, 2004... ROME -- Isotretinoin can be a safe, effective treatment for acne in prepubertal and young pubertal children who are unresponsive to topical therapy or systemic antibiotics, and who have a risk of severe scarring or a family history of severe...

Imiquimod offers alternative for select superficial BCCs: cure rates, however, are not comparable to such simple destructive techniques as electrodesiccation and curettage.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Basal Cell Carcinoma)
September 1, 2004... Despite lower cure rates than surgery and a 6-week course of therapy, imiquimod for superficial basal cell carcinoma can provide an effective, safe alternative to surgery--and that may appeal to some patients. Imiquimod will be useful for...

Beyond AKs and BCC: imiquimod treatment tried in 40 conditions.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Actinic Keratosis)(Basal Cell Carcinoma)
September 1, 2004... VICTORIA, B.C. -- The list of uses for imiquimod keeps growing. At present, the immune modulator's use in about 40 different conditions has been reported on in some form or another in the medical literature, Dr. Ronald B. Vender said in a...

New intranasal flu vaccine may be best preventive measure in young asthmatics.(Dermatologic Therapy)
September 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- The trivalent, cold-adapted influenza virus vaccine is more efficacious than trivalent influenza vaccine in asthmatic children and adolescents aged 6-18 years, Dr. William Gruber reported in a poster session at the annual...

Tuberculosis testing is essential before starting TNF-antagonist.(Dermatologic Therapy)(tumor necrosis factor antagonist therapy)
September 1, 2004... TORONTO -- Tuberculosis skin testing should be standard before starting a psoriasis patient on tumor necrosis factor antagonist therapy, stressed Dr. Richard Langley at the 10th International Psoriasis Symposium sponsored by the Skin Disease...

Topical therapies clear some actinic keratoses: as many as 16% of untreated AK lesions will progress to squamous cell carcinoma over 10 years.(Dermatologic Therapy)
September 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Management of actinic keratosis is a multipronged effort, Dr. Roger I. Ceilley said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Both actinic keratosis (AK) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are on the rise...

Infant experiences influence atopic dermatitis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
September 1, 2004... ROME -- A pediatric atopic dermatitis treatment plan isn't complete without a psychological element, Dr. Caroline Koblenzer said at the 10th World Congress of Pediatric Dermatology. "Without adding a psychological component to treatment,...

Emollient cuts steroid use in atopic dermatitis.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Exomega Milk)
September 1, 2004... ROME -- Children who used a nonprescription emollient containing omega-6 fatty acids and oat kernel extract decreased the amount of class II and III topical corticosteroids they used by 32%, compared with a reduction of only 12% in children who...

Think combo for acne care.(Dermatologic Therapy)(combination therapy)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Combination therapy is often better than single-agent treatment of mild, moderate, and severe acne, Dr. Larry E. Millikan said at the annual meeting of the Florida Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. ...

Serologic test lessens need for MTX liver biopsies.(Dermatologic Therapy)(methotrexate)
September 1, 2004... BELFAST -- Serial serologic measurements of a small peptide fragment can markedly diminish the need for routine liver biopsy in patients with psoriasis who are being treated with methotrexate, Dr. Robert G.J. Chalmers said at the annual meeting...

Azithromycin failed to cure some syphilis.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging clinicians to use caution when prescribing azithromycin for incubating syphilis or syphilis infection because several treatment failures have been reported. At least eight treatment...

Caffeine.(Cosmeceutical Critique)(role of topical caffeine application as a cancer inhibitor)
September 1, 2004... Green tea has garnered much attention in recent years for evidence that it possesses strong antioxidant activity. Green tea polyphenols (GTP) are considered the primary components responsible, but it is green tea, as a beverage and component in...

Be aware of patient's IgA status before IVIg treatment.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Immunoglobulin G and A)
September 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Intravenous immunoglobulin can be an effective approach for some dermatologic conditions, but dermatologists should select treatment candidates carefully, said Dr. Rokea A. el-Azhary at the annual meeting of the Florida Society...

Rare disorder responds to Anakinra treatment.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Muckle-Wells syndrome)
September 1, 2004... BELFAST -- A case report of a 26-year-old man with Muckle-Wells syndrome successfully treated with anakinra suggests that interleukin-1 receptor antagonism may provide a means of controlling this otherwise untreatable condition. ...

Desloratadine improves urticaria in clinical setting.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... VICTORIA, B.C. -- An open label trial of Canadian patients seen in regular clinics and offices has confirmed that desloratadine treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria is highly effective--a result that previously had been shown only in...

Cyclosporine calls for a less-is-more approach: careful patient selection, intermittent dosing, and close monitoring key to successful treatment courses.(Dermatologic Therapy)
September 1, 2004... BELFAST -- Successful use of cyclosporine for dermatologic disorders depends on careful patient selection, intermittent dosing, and tailored monitoring, Dr. John Berth-Jones said at the annual meeting of the British Association of...

Subungual melanoma in nail streaks often missed.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2004... SEA ISLAND, GA. -- Subungual melanomas seem to travel under the radar screen of many physicians, and are diagnosed relatively late in the course of disease partly because of their relatively low incidence and an appearance that can commonly be...

Persistent aphthous ulcers are often the canary in a diagnostic coal mine.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2004... VICTORIA, B.C. -- In patients with recurrent, persistent canker sores, physicians should look seriously for an underlying condition, because many of them may have an identifiable cause that needs to be treated, Dr. Roy Rogers said at the annual...

Exotic pets play host to serious disease pathogens.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- A growing number of Americans choose exotic animals as pets not knowing that even handling these unusual creatures may cause serious dermatologic diseases, Dr. Ted Rosen said at the annual meeting of the Florida Society of...

Hygiene helps curb community-acquired MRSA.(Clinical Rounds)(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
September 1, 2004... BETHESDA, MD. -- Methods to manage outbreaks of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are similar whether they occur on sports teams, in prisons, or among men who have sex with men, Dr. Elizabeth Bancroft said at the...

Adrenal suppression ensued from skin lightener.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2004... BELFAST -- Trouble came in a tube to a 24-year-old Nigerian woman seeking to lighten her skin. She presented at a dermatology outpatient department with a 6-week history of an unusual lesion on her left cheek that resembled tinea faciale,...

Cutaneous drug reactions dropped in breast-fed kids.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... VICTORIA, B.C. -- A prospective study of cutaneous drug reactions in hospitalized children suggests that children who are not breast-fed may have a greater risk of a drug reaction, Dr. Danielle Marcoux said at the annual conference of the...

Obesity.(Drug Update)
September 1, 2004... Withdrawal of the popular obesity drugs fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine (Redux) from the U.S. market in 1997 left Americans hungry for new obesity drugs with long-term efficacy. They're still waiting, as their waistlines continue to grow. ...

Gluten-free diet tames dermatitis herpetiformis.(research report)
September 1, 2004... ROME -- Although dermatitis herpetiformis usually occurs in the third or fourth decade of life, the disease does occur in children and is always a sign of gluten in tolerance, Dr. Antonio Torrelo said at the 10th World Congress of Pediatric...

Localized oxidative stress implicated for the first time in lichen sclerosis.(research report)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... BELFAST -- The lesions of lichen sclerosis may result from localized oxidative stress in the dermis, Dr. C.S. Sander said at the annual meeting of the British Association of Dermatologists. Skin biopsy specimens from 16 patients with...

Featured app: CodeMeister.(Digital Assistance)(software)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... As if our days weren't already busy enough with patient encounters, most of us must also make time for a variety of administrative and correspondence tasks. In the "business of medicine" it's now not enough just to diagnose and prescribe. ...

Accessorize: PDA chargers.(Palm Inc.)(Personal digital assistants)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Long hours at the hospital? Cross-country plane trip? Traveling in Europe? Maybe you need a PDA power-boost! Practically speaking, battery life for handheld computers is limited. Palm OS devices hold a charge for 4-7 days (depending on use...

Surf this site: MedicalPocketPC.com.(Digital Assistance)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... If Pocket PCs are your passion, check out www.medicalpocketpc.com. This well-organized and informative site was established by radiology resident Bill Boonn in 2000. Content is focused on use of the Pocket PC in the medical profession. The...

No safety signals seen with pediatric fexofenadine.(Clinical Rounds)(antihistamine)
September 1, 2004... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- Few adverse events were reported for fexofenadine in children and adolescents during a recent 1-year period, despite the fact that a large number of pediatric prescriptions were dispensed during that time, Dr. Jane Filie said...

Daily nasal saline irrigation alleviates chronic sinusitis.(research findings)
September 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Daily saline irrigation improved sinus-related symptoms and decreased medication use in patients with recurrent chronic sinusitis, in a randomized trial presented as a poster at the 100th International Conference of the...

Study links childhood autism and digestive, not respiratory, allergy.(Clinical Rounds)
September 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Children with autism are nearly three times more likely to have allergic disorders of the gastrointestinal system than are developmentally normal controls, Dr. Thomas Webb reported in a poster session at the annual meeting of...

Codes now cover more Mohs procedures.(Practice Trends)(new rules of dermatology)
September 1, 2004... SEA ISLAND, GA. -- Dermatologists who fail to notice new changes in CPT coding for flaps and Mohs surgery will miss out on reimbursement, Dr. Allan S. Wirtzer said at the annual meeting of the Georgia Society of Dermatologists. This year,...

Staying power of medicare act predicted.(Practice Trends)(Medicare Modernization Act)
September 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- The Medicare Modernization Act is here to stay, former Medicare chief Tom Scully said at a conference sponsored by America's Health Insurance Plans. Even if Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) is elected president and the Democrats...

Treat your referrers right.(Managing Your Dermatology Practice)
September 1, 2004... Since one-third of most dermatologists' new patients come from referrals, and subspecialists such as Mohs surgeons depend on them almost entirely, building and nurturing referral patterns should be top priorities for any dermatologist. If...

To get insurance, think like an underwriter.(Practice Trends)(Dermatology)
September 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Dermatology practices will find more options available for malpractice coverage as the profession passes through the back side of a hard liability insurance market, Julie Chase Shumer said at the annual meeting of the Florida...

Lawsuits link steroids with avascular necrosis.(Practice Trends)(Canadian Dermatology Association)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... VICTORIA, B.C. -- The risk of avascular necrosis associated with corticosteroids may not be clearly defined, but it has become a common cause of lawsuits, Dr. Robert N. Richards said at the annual conference of the Canadian Dermatology...

Open source EHRs offer time-intensive option.(Practice Trends)(electronic health records system)
September 1, 2004... Dr. Volker Bradley, a retired surgeon from Claremont, N.H., wasn't willing to spend $200,000 on an electronic health records system. Instead, he spend about $20,000 on hardware, installation, and upgrades to an open source EHR system for...

Incentives intended to boost doctors' use of EBM.(evidence-based medicine)(BlueCross BlueShield)
September 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- In a trade-off designed to encourage Tennessee physicians to use evidence-based medicine, one insurer is paying for phone calls, e-mails, and other services that are not usually reimbursed. In the first phase of the project,...

When the exam room is the grocery store.(handling a patient outside a clinical setting)
September 1, 2004... The next time someone approaches you for medical advice outside of a clinical setting--whether it's at the mall, at the grocery store, or at a party--think twice before offering any. Dr. Sylvia Cruess, an endocrinologist and associate...

Dermatologists shouldn't be afraid to perform liposuction.(Practice Trends)
September 1, 2004... SPOKANE. WASH. -- The enthusiasm for liposuction appears to have waned among dermatologists of late--but with a little training, the procedure can become a lucrative sideline, Dr. Patrick J. Lillis said at the annual Pacific Northwest...

State access measures focus on high-risk pools.(Practice Trends)
September 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- In an era of tight budgets, state legislatures are focusing their efforts to increase access to health insurance on high-risk insurance pools. "The single health care issue that had most states take action was protecting...

Training helps physicians close cultural gap.(Practice Trends)(Harvard Pilgrim Health Care)
September 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Two health plans have come up with innovative approaches to train clinicians in "cultural competency." "We don't have enough physicians who can speak particular languages," Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of America's Health...

Canadian derms debate ethical dilemmas: free conference? Free lunch? Bring the family? Opinions differ on the answers to these questions.(Practice Trends)
September 1, 2004... VICTORIA, B.C. -- Consider this question: You are the local expert on a particular condition. A drug company calls and offers to pay your way to an internationally renowned annual conference. Should you accept? On the one hand, you...

New version of camera system.(Products)
September 1, 2004... The new version of the i-scope camera system assists with dermatologic analyses and can be connected directly to a PC through a USB adapter. For more information, contact Moritex USA Inc., 408-363-2100, sales@moritexusa.com.

Anthrax quick ELISA test.(Products)
September 1, 2004... The quick enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay anthrax test detects the antibodies to Bacillus anthracis. The test can be completed in 45 minutes. For more information, contact Immunetics Inc. at 800-227-4765, or visit them at www.immunetics.com.

Scalp psoriasis shampoo.(Products)
September 1, 2004... Clobex (clobetasol propionate, 0.05%) shampoo is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe scalp psoriasis in patients 18 years and older. The shampoo is available in a 4-ounce bottle. For more information, contact Galderma Laboratories...

Skin lightening cream.(Products)
September 1, 2004... Emlite Cream (6%) works to lighten freckles, sunspots, age spots, and uneven skin pigmentation. For more information, contact Benev Co., 888-4323-638, customerservice@benev.com.

Discounted Medicare training tool.(Products)(Center, Medicare Rights)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Medicare Rights Center offers the "Let's Learn Medicare" training manual and reference guide for physicians caring for older adults and people with disabilities. A $30 discount off the $150 cost is available by visiting...

Medicare consumer reference flyers.(Products)(Medicare Rights Center)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Medicare Rights Center offers a series of five flyers explaining Medicare coverage to patients. Available in bulk only, 5,000 flyers (1,000 of each) cost $800; 2,500 flyers (500 of each) cost $500. For more information, call 212-204-6210.

Cosmetic surgery taxed in New Jersey.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... People undergoing cosmetic surgery in New Jersey will now pay more because of a new law that taxes certain medical procedures. New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey recently signed into law a bill that places a 6% tax on cosmetic surgery...

SkinAnswer pulled from market.(Policy & Practice)(Lane Labs - USA Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... A federal judge recently halted the sale of three products being sold as treatments for skin cancer, HIV, and cancer without approval from the Food and Drug Administration. The judge ordered that Lane Labs-USA Inc., which sold the products,...

Psoriasis and self-esteem.(survey report)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... People with moderate and severe psoriasis say their condition affects their daily interactions and impacts their self-confidence, according to a recent survey. Seventy-four percent of the 502 patients surveyed who had moderate to severe...

Bioterrorism law signed.(Policy & Practice)(The Project Bioshield Act of 2004)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... President Bush signed into law a bill that authorizes $5.6 billion over 10 years for the government to purchase and stockpile vaccines and drugs to fight potential agents of bioterrorism such as anthrax and smallpox. The Project Bioshield Act...

MICRA lowers awards.(Policy & Practice)(California Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The California law that caps noneconomic awards in medical malpractice cases at $250,000 cut payments in successful lawsuits by 30%, according to a study by the Rand Institute for Civil Justice. The California Medical Injury Compensation Reform...