Dermatology Times back issues from February 2006:
General meeting information simplified
Feb 01, 2006; ... The lowdown on the basics If you've already received your program for the 2006 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting in San Francisco, you know that it's a very detailed, very descriptive, very big book. It's chock-full of valuable information on the sessions, schedules ...
AAD changes some meeting procedures
Feb 01, 2006; ... A few things to keep in mind while attending As always, each new year for the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) meeting brings changes to the agenda, how the meeting is run and other details that reflect the evolution of technology. This year's 64th Annual Meeting is no ...
Taking a closer look at Cable cars, Golden Gate Bridge, The Presidio
Feb 01, 2006; ... San Francisco is well known for a multitude of cultural and historic reasons, some notorious - for instance, Alcatraz and earthquakes - but most more welcoming. Dermatology Times decided to take a closer look at three famous San Francisco attractions. Cable cars It's hard to ...
shopping
Feb 01, 2006; ... Splurge after the show With so many shops beckoning, and so little time, a little planning could go a long way toward giving your credit cards a proper workout. San Francisco has great shopping around every corner, but here are a few hot spots you should be sure not to ...
CME... EXAMINED
Feb 01, 2006; ... Diversified learning opportunities abound ... One of the nice things about the annual American Academy of Dermatology meeting, aside from the fact that you get to see a fantastic city, pow-wow with your peers and immerse yourself in all aspects of dermatology, is that you can get all this ...
A city like no other
Feb 01, 2006; ... A stroll through San Francisco reveals a city unmatched in culture, character and charm This year's attendees of the American Academy of Dermatology's Annual Meeting are lucky enough to take in the beauty of one of the most liberal and individualistic cities in the country. With its cool ...
Rich in history
Feb 01, 2006; ... San Francisco has had its share of calamities, notables, wonders, history-making events San Francisco has a history rich with Indian lore, disasters, inventions, breathtaking scenery, the Gold Rush and diverse cultures (it even had an emperor!) - and it is now one of the most ...
Asian threads create patterns in city's cultural tapestry
Feb 01, 2006; ... Chinatown, Japantown offer many pleasing sights, scents Asian influence is hard to miss in the diverse city of San Francisco, where about a third of the estimated 744,000 residents have Asian roots (2004 estimate, U.S. Census Bureau). It seems fitting that San Francisco's City Hall faces ...
walking tours
Feb 01, 2006; ... Stretch your legs, see the sites See the city at your own pace and guide yourself through San Francisco like a pro. Walking Tour No. 1 Fisherman's Wharf (Distance: approximately 35 blocks) If you're a first-time visitor, hop the Powell-Hyde cable car ...
Biologics may be less toxic than other medications
Feb 01, 2006; ... National report - Biologie agents will not necessarily be more effective than current drugs used for dermatological conditions, but will produce less toxicities, says the professor and chairman of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N. C. "It's not a ...
New certification guidelines spur debate
Feb 01, 2006; ... The Leading Newsmagazine for Dermatologists National report - Some dermatologists are welcoming new regulations governing the duration of medical board certification - but others are less than enthusiastic about the changes. These changes are coming about after decades of ...
Stress & illness link alive and well
Feb 01, 2006; ... Study shows how natural defenses are inhibited National report - Chronic stress plus exposure to UVB radiation substantially increases the susceptibility to squamous cell carcinoma; the chronic stress also suppresses the production of immunological molecules, such as gamma interferon, ...
One mistake; license permanently revoked
Feb 01, 2006; ... Dr. AI was a well-respected dermatologist. He was liked by both his patients and his peers. He prided himself in the loyalty of his patients - even in the era of managed care. It was a well known fact that Dr. Al had undergone a difficult divorce several years before. He openly discussed ...
Mohs surgery for Bowen's disease?
Feb 01, 2006; ... Although effective, this aggressive therapy may be overkill Adviser Editorial In the June 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD 52:997-1002,2005) Leibovitch et al report on the successful treatment of carcinoma in situ (Bowen's disease) with Mohs ...
News: News Brief
Feb 01, 2006; ... MALPRACTICE LOSSES LOWER Washington-A new study by a consumer group shows that malpractice insurance losses reported to state regulators were much larger than losses actually paid during a nine-year period, the Washington Post reports. The study by the Foundation for Taxpayer and ...
Pressure builds for 'pay for performance'
Feb 01, 2006; ... Pressure is building in Washington to move forward with the federal government's proposed pay-for-performance Medicare reimbursement program. In a new report from the prestigious Institute of Medicine (IOM), a special committee has urged establishment of "a comprehensive, universally ...
Physician perspective on thread lifts
Feb 01, 2006; ... As might be expected with any new cosmetic procedure, suture suspension, popularly known as "thread lift," has engendered significant media attention. Thread lift has been promoted on "Oprah," "Today" and "Good Morning America" as a "lunch-time facelift." More recently, articles in The New York ...
Clinical Dermatology: QUOTABLE
Feb 01, 2006; ... "I think there are patients and doctors who feel there's no way to treat this (rosacea), My message is that people who have rosacea should know that there igj treatment available, even ...
Points, practicalities of most practiced procedures
Feb 01, 2006; ... New dermatologists should expect Botox, fillers to be high in demand Editor's note: Every month in Residents' Forum, a dermatologist in practice or academia will discuss clinical and practice management issues affecting residents. If you're a resident and would like to see specific ...
Clinical Dermatology: News Briefs
Feb 01, 2006; ... ONE-DAY HERPES TREATMENT New York - Reuters Health reports that a single day treatment with the anti-viral drugfamciclovir is effective in treating recurrent genital herpes. The medication has to be started within six hours of the onset of a recurrence. Patients in the study ...
Toll-like receptors: Inflammation's missing link
Feb 01, 2006; ... New London, N.H. - New insights regarding the regulation of inflammation are leading researchers to evaluate toll-like receptors (TLRs) as potential targets for the development of new therapies in chronic inflammatory disease. The biochemical mechanisms behind TLR activity are a passion ...
How do you stay current?
Feb 01, 2006; ... Dermatologists use print media, meetings, CDs, Internet Both personal and professional factors affect how dermatolo gists keep up with the latest developments in their field. Although they like to stay educated about what is going on, they also like to assure themselves of a ...
DT Extra: 'No evidence of link'
Feb 01, 2006; ... On the basis of the malignancy rates in the general population of the United States for tacrolimus and the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on the basis of the person-years of exposure for pimecrolimus, there is no evidence of increased incidence of lymphoma with the short-term or ...
Dermatologist says topical therapies safe for atopic dermatitis tx
Feb 01, 2006; ... DIRECTING THE immune response Portland, Ore. - Recently concerns have arisen regarding chronic use of the calcineurin inhibitors, Elidel cream (Novartis) and Protopic ointment (Astellas), in treating atopic dermatitis because of their potential association with infection and ...
Changing future course of AIDS epidemic
Feb 01, 2006; ... Global teamwork, more relevant public programs needed London - Success in stemming the continued growth of the AIDS epidemic during the next 25 years will require an aggressive crash program-including international cooperation to design and implement socially relevant education and ...
Cosmetic Dermatology: QUOTABLE
Feb 01, 2006; ... "When they've chosen a single feature to highlight, it isn't always a realistic or appropriate thing to do ...I explain to patients it would be the equivalent of dressing a ...
TWO VIEWS on biologics
Feb 01, 2006; ... Opposing vantage points examine the pros and cons There has been much buzz in the news recently about the use of biologies for the treatment of psoriasis. But what are the pros and cons of these treatments, and how should they fit into physicians' armamentaria? Dermatology Times asked ...
Psoriasis support groups augment doctors' care, satisfy patient needs
Feb 01, 2006; ... National Report - Dermatologists can help psoriasis patients to take charge of their disease by encouraging them to attend support groups. To discover the benefits of psoriasis support groups, Dermatology Times interviewed Charlene Berger, R.N., a dermatology nurse and support group ...
Helioplex, Tinosorb, UVA radiation
Feb 01, 2006; ... Q & A Q What is Helioplex? A Helioplex is a new patented sunscreen combination developed by Neutrogena for use in its broad-spectrum sunscreens using ingredients that are approved for use in the United States. The product was first introduced in November 2005 in ...
Patient consult crux of successful treatment
Feb 01, 2006; ... Las Vegas - While the marketplace is chock-full of fillers and is expanding every day, the greatest challenge dermatologists face is not necessarily in picking the right products, but in choosing the right patients - and keeping those patients' expectations in check, says Ranella Hirsch, M.D., ...
Consider silicone approach
Feb 01, 2006; ... Worthwhile option for lip, skin augmentation Sherman Oaks, Calif. - The entirely ideal filler for lip and skin augmentation may remain elusive, but the case can be made that liquid silicone is as good as any for providing permanent, natural-looking and long-lasting results, Allan S ....
Developing a 'vaccine' for melanoma
Feb 01, 2006; ... 'Reverse translation' study shows importance of interplay among basic, translational research, clinical trials Pittsburgh - One of the hottest areas of cancer research today is "vaccines," or immunotherapy, to stimulate and direct the body's own anti-cancer activity. Most of the ...
DT Extra: NMSC raises risk
Feb 01, 2006; ... Post-menopausal women with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer have a roughly 70 percent greater risk of developing melanoma than women without such history, according to a study published in the journal Cancer. Researchers analyzed 67,030 Caucasian women from around the United ...
DT Extra: Clue to skin color
Feb 01, 2006; ... Penn State researchers have found a gene that may indicate why some people have lighter-colored skin than others. Investigators researching zebra fish found that a change in just one amino acid in one gene plays a major role in ...
Careful, caring IPL treatment clears 'untreatable' rosacea
Feb 01, 2006; ... New York - When rosacea sufferer Alice Barker (not her real name) scheduled a consultation appointment with Manhattan dermatologist Harvey Jay, M.D., it wasn't a second or even third opinion she was seeking. It was a fourth. Alice's history "Alice came to me in 2000 after having ...
Model shows melanoma's microenvironment critical
Feb 01, 2006; ... Chicago - Scientists need to develop melanoma therapies that target both tumor cells and their microenvironment, according to Mary Hendrix, Ph.D. This hypothesis, an outgrowth of research presented in the November 2005 issue of Cancer Research, is one of several founded on a new laboratory model ...
Dermatologic Surgery: QUOTABLE
Feb 01, 2006; ... "I don't believe dermatologists are famous because of Mohs surgery or hair transplants, which we invented .... People go ti dermatologists because th want treatments tha are quick, ...
Creative closures can reduce scarring
Feb 01, 2006; ... Melbourne, Fia. -As the incidence of skin cancer soars, dermatologie surgeons can serve their patients better by thinking more creatively about surgical flaps and grafts, according to Terence Cronin, M.D., at the Cronin Skin Cancer Center here. Physicians excising skin cancers are learning that ...
Knowledge of facial anatomy critical
Feb 01, 2006; ... Dermatologic surgeons need keen understanding of nerve, vascular structures LaJolla, Calif. - As surgical abilities expand in dermatology, so too has the need for a thorough understanding of the surgical anatomy of the face by dermatologists, Hugh Greenway, M.D., ...
Consider 'wow' factor in new cosmetic practices
Feb 01, 2006; ... M.D. offers step-by-step approach, points to consider San Francisco - With the growing patient interest in cosmetic procedures and the ever-decreasing insurance reimbursements, there are always dermatologists considering expansion of their practices into the cosmetic field. Barry A.S ....
Multi-faceted approaches repair various acne scars
Feb 01, 2006; ... London - While approximately 90 percent of teenagers experience chronic inflammatory acne, it usually disappears by the time they reach their mid 20s. About 5 percent of patients, however, develop a severe form of acne which can lead to permanent scarring. Luigi Rusciani, M.D., professor ...
DT Extra: Change your scripts
Feb 01, 2006; ... Instruct staff to ask patients, "How will you be paying today, Ms. Smith?" or "Will you be paying by credit card, cash or check today, Ms. Smith?" For further emphasis, teach your staff to start writing out the payment receipt as they ask for payment ....
Coping with recalcitrant pediatric eczema
Feb 01, 2006; ... Managing maladies requires systematic approach (ProQuest Information and Learning: ... denotes text missing in the original.) Las Vegas - Treating difficult eczema cases requires starting with the basics and advancing to approaches such as combination therapies and compounded ...
No. 1 physician financial mistake?
Feb 01, 2006; ... Last of two parts A flawed relationship with professional advisers Last month in part one of this two-part series, we noted the staggering percentage of physicians who get substandard advice from their CPAs, attorneys and financial advisers. We went on to explain the ...
Skin replacement and surgery; skin substitutes
Feb 01, 2006; ... Q & A One of the biggest changes in the 2006 CPT book involves the grafting section of the Integumentary System. There were many deletions, a host of new codes and a significant number of amendments to the rules and guidelines that govern these complex surgical ...
Special Report: QUOTABLE
Feb 01, 2006; ... "The biologics are expensive drugs. However, we should not make an excuse that expensive drugs should not be used for appropriate patients with psoriasis ....
Media spin: How to benefit from exposure
Feb 01, 2006; ... Expect, prepare for interviews Chicago - The best time to prepare for a media interview is not when a microphone and television camera are thrust in front of your face as a reporter runs through a list of questions. A better option, says Patricia A. Clark, is to do your homework ...
New fabric gives relief from itchy skin conditions
Feb 01, 2006; ... Spartanburg, S.C. - Milliken & Company, in partnership with Hill Dermaceuticals of Sanford, Fla., has introduced DermaSmart, a collection of garments made of fabric that helps reduce itching and the appearance of dryness, scaling and peeling that is characteristic of many chronic skin ...
Updates on psoriasis
Feb 01, 2006; ... A closer look at biologics, anti-IL-12, more New York - Dermatologists may think twice about prescribing the gold standard cyclosporine for psoriasis treatment since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the biologies infliximab and adalimumab for psoriatic arthritis in ...
News makers
Feb 01, 2006; ... Dr. Hickman heads Va. academy Lynchburg, Va. - Janet G. Hickman, M.D., a dermatologist here, is the new president of the Lychburg Academy of Medicine. The organizations major function is to act as a forum for addressing ...
Navigating a brave new world
Feb 01, 2006; ... Where do cosmetic procedures and ethics collide? The rise of cosmetic dermatology has been well described and is nothing short of incredible. The success of journals such as Dermatologie Surgery, the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy and Cosmetic Dermatology are obvious examples of ...
DT Extra: Ethnic patients seek more care
Feb 01, 2006; ... Older, ethnically diverse patients are increasingly requesting treatments to repair sundamaged skin, according to a study in Dermatologic Surgery. Racial and ethnic minority groups now seek about 20 percent of all cosmetic procedures, including skin rejuvenation treatments ...
Self-reliance, determination build passion for dermatology, state-of-the-art practice
Feb 01, 2006; ... Per ardua ad astra - "Through adversity to the stars" Motto of the British Royal Air Force It is a perfect fall Sunday afternoon in Northeast Ohio. The sun glints off jewel-toned leaves and sends a spectrum of color flooding into the well-appointed office of Helen M ....
Combination laser smooths, tightens, study finds
Feb 01, 2006; ... Washington - One of the newer nonablative combination lasers is getting some good preliminary marks not only on smoothing wrinkles, but also for tightening the skin. Tina Alster, M.D., and seema Doshi, M.D, from the Washington Institute of Dermatologie Laser Surgery, recently published ...
Dermatologists not go-to source for advice on skincare, survey shows
Feb 01, 2006; ... Most women turn first to family, friends, ads for guidance National report - A national survey of women's knowledge of skincare shows more women are likely to seek the advice of friends or family before seeking the advice of a physician or esthetician. "I think the results are ...
Cosmetic Dermatology: News Brief
Feb 01, 2006; ... TOXIN TREATS TENNIS ELBOW New York- Botulinum toxin may successfully treat the chronic pain of tennis elbow, Reuters Health reports. Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Prince of Wales Hospital recruited 60 adults who had ...
Cutaneous Oncology: QUOTABLE
Feb 01, 2006; ... In the past, the question was, are (patients) clinically better or worse? Now, we are so far beyond that, unfortunately, it takes a long time to accumulate data, but the tools are here now. Patients are trying ...
Exploring role of elective lymph node dissection in managing high-risk CSCC
Feb 01, 2006; ... Durham, N.C.-The jury is still out on whether patients with high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) whose lymph nodes are clinically node-negative (NO) may benefit from elective neck dissection (END), according to Jonathan L. Cook, M.D., associate professor of medicine and director of ...
Variant nature of CTCL diagnostic challenge
Feb 01, 2006; ... New Haven, Conn. - Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) can vary widely in their morphology, distribution and severity, and they can often mimic more common cutaneous diseases, which can lead to a delay in proper diagnosis. "CTCL can go misdiagnosed for months to years before the primary ...
Dermatologic surgery need not be complex
Feb 01, 2006; ... Safe, simple surgeries can expand dermatology practice San Francisco - Learning a variety of safe and relatively simple procedures can help medical dermatologists expand their practices into the surgical arena, according to Robert T. Brodell, M.D. "I don't believe dermatologists ...
DT Extra: Surgeries on the rise
Feb 01, 2006; ... Surgeries on the rise An estimated 5 million skin surgeries were expected to be performed in the United States in 2005, representing a 32 percent increase in four years, according to a survey by the American Society for Dermatologie Surgery (ASDS). The major reason for the sharp jump is ...
Practice Management: QUOTABLE
Feb 01, 2006; ... "Trust every aspect of your finances, including personal investments, to your computer. The financial reports and analyses that off-the-shelf programs such as Quicken or Money can ...
Imiquimod confers no short-term cosmetic benefit for surgical wounds
Feb 01, 2006; ... National report - Daily topical treatment of surgical excision sites with imiquimod 5 parcent cream is well-tolerated, but at least in the short-run, it does not appear to have any benefit for enhancing cosmetic outcomes, according to Brian Berman, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology and ...
Evaluating a billing service
Feb 01, 2006; ... Looking for ways to reduce overhead and improve quality? Want to free up office staff so they can spend more time managing patient flow or helping in other areas? If so, it may be time to look at outsourcing your dermatology practice's billing and collections processes. Or, if you've already ...
Standardized EHR moving forward
Feb 01, 2006; ... San Francisco -A project aimed at providing a high-quality, standardized, public domain electronic health record (EHR) system for doctors' offices is expected to complete beta testing this fall, according to one of its developers. At press time, VistA-Office EHR (VOE), a joint project ...