Skin & Allergy News back issues from July 2006:
Tailor cosmesis to patients of color.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Jul 01, 2006; ... LAS VEGAS -- People of color make up an increasing proportion of patients seeking skin rejuvenation treatments. The changing face of the clientele for cosmetic procedures means that clinicians must adapt their skin management approaches for best results, a panel of experts said ...
Case of the month.(cases of cutaneous Rosai Dorfman disease)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Jul 01, 2006; ... A 23-year-old African American woman was referred for what was thought to be a keloid on her right posterior thigh. She reported that she had been bitten by a spider 10 months earlier. At that time, a biopsy performed at a community hospital was consistent with a bite and she was ...
Prescribing down as derms' iPLEDGE angst continues: FDA chief hears complaints from senators.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... The number of phone calls coming into the American Academy of Dermatology about the iPLEDGE mandatory risk management program for isotretinoin prescribing has decreased significantly since the program became mandatory in March, but out in the field, many dermatologists are struggling to ...
Psoriatic arthritis biologic holds up in phase IV trial.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... STOCKHOLM -- The real-world efficacy of etanercept to treat skin and joint symptoms of psoriatic arthritis is similar to that shown in the clinical trials, according to the results of a phase IV open-label study presented at an international conference on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis ....
Sun avoidance campaigns have minimal effect on teen behavior.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... PHILADELPHIA -- Kids! You can't tell them anything, at least when it comes to sun avoidance. Data from a national study evaluating the impact of skin cancer prevention and sun avoidance campaigns indicate that, by and large, teenagers are not getting the message, Dr. Vilma ...
Vital signs.(top 10 drugs prescribed)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Jul 01, 2006 ... <Pre> Top 10 Drugs Prescribed by Dermatologist in 2005 Differin1,005 BenzaClin 783 Retin-A Micro 652 Valtrex 568 Aldara565 Duac 541 Tazorac 510 Elidel...
Health insurance, consumer ads top AMA agenda.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... CHICAGO -- Individual health insurance mandates and direct-to-consumer advertising topped the list of issues addressed at the annual meeting of the American Medical Association's House of Delegates. On the heels of Massachusetts' new mandate that all individuals must obtain ...
Policy issues limiting genomics implementation: 'Gene Dean" says Congress has repeatedly failed to act on a bill to guarantee nondiscrimination.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... WASHINGTON -- Genomic science is advancing rapidly on many fronts, but without solid federal policy to prevent genetic discrimination, it will be very difficult for physicians and patients to harvest the fruits of researchers' labors, said Dr. Francis S. Collins, director of the National ...
Panel issues interim immunization criteria for mumps outbreak.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... All health care workers should receive two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine if they don't have evidence of immunity, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted during a special meeting held by telephone in response to ...
Protein correlates with melanoma thickness.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... PHILADELPHIA -- Overexpression of flotillin-2, a 41.7-kD protein produced by epidermal keratinocytes, correlates strongly with melanoma thickness and aggressiveness, suggesting that this protein may be useful as a prognostic marker in patients with malignant melanoma, said Dr. Sean D ....
Bystander vaccine for melanoma activates T cells.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... SAN DIEGO -- An experimental "bystander" vaccine halted cancer progression in 6 of 10 patients with advanced metastatic melanoma in a small phase I trial, Dr. Sophie Dessureault reported at a symposium sponsored by the Society of Surgical Oncology. She announced that phase II ...
New topical antifungal penetrates nail plate.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... PHILADELPHIA -- A novel broad-spectrum topical antifungal for the treatment of onychomycosis is now in early-stage clinical trials, and so far the data look favorable. Several papers covering various aspects of the new drug, AN2690, were presented as posters at the annual meeting of the ...
Target 65-year-olds to make zoster vaccine cost effective.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... LOS ANGELES -- An attenuated herpes zoster virus vaccine effectively prevents herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia, according to a presentation by Dr. Samuel Cykert at the annual meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine. The vaccine (Zostavax, Merck & Co.), which ...
HPV vaccine approved for females 9-26 years old.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... The recombinant vaccine that protects against infection from four types of human papillomavirus, including the two that cause about 70% of cervical cancers, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The vaccine, which is being marketed as Gardasil, was approved for ...
Ketek's role in hepatic events under investigation.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... As a Senate committee delves further into an investigation of approval and postmarketing experience of the antibiotic Ketek, the Food and Drug Administration reportedly has compiled a growing number of cases of severe liver toxicity associated with the drug. In some cases, the toxicity has ...
Desensitization tames clopidogrel allergy.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... CHICAGO -- A rapid desensitization protocol appears to provide a safe and effective cure for clopidogrel hypersensitivity reactions, Dr. Nicholas E. Walker said at the annual meeting of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. Clopidogrel is a widely ...
Updated STD guidelines coming soon from CDC.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... BOSTON -- The soon-to-be-released 2006 STD treatment guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention likely will include new recommendations for diagnosis or treatment of gonorrhea, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, herpes simplex virus, and human papillomavirus, ...
One-third of girls in the U.S. are sexually active by age 15.(News)
Jul 01, 2006; ... BOSTON -- By age 15, more than a third of American girls say they are sexually active, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey. About 26% have had oral sex, 26% have had vaginal intercourse, and another 8% have had oral sex without intercourse. The proportion that ...
Self and nonself.(Under My Skin)
Jul 01, 2006; ... * Two PhD astronomers bring 2-year-old Tyco to show me the mole on his palm. I pronounce it benign and tell the little fellow, "Your boo-boo is okay." Tyco's face darkens. "No boo-boo!" he yells. "No boo-boo!" * At 52, Hortense has many facial brown spots for me to laser off. ...
The perils of pay for performance.(Guest Editorial)
Jul 01, 2006; ... The concept of quality improvement in medical practice is laudable, but the "pay for performance" method--in which physicians are financially rewarded for reaching certain goals set by panels of "experts"--is particularly offensive to our professional identity. Are we, like ...
My sentiments exactly.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2006; ... I appreciated Dr. Jerold J. Kreisman's comments in a recent issue ("Defending the Drugmakers," Guest Editorial, April 2006, p. 18). I resent the assumption that, without intrusive bureaucracies and uncountable numbers of regulations, I would engage in irresponsible and ...
Dividing the house of medicine.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2006; ... I am outraged that the American Medical Association has conducted secret negotiations with members of Congress, which end up being "on behalf" of all U.S. physicians ("Pay-for-Performance Pact Ruffles Some Feathers," April 2006, p. 64). I am very troubled by the whole concept of ...
HSAs a 'viable option' for the uninsured.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2006; ... Most evaluations assume that the alternative to the health savings account-compatible high-deductible insurance plan is a comprehensive insurance policy ("Views Mixed on Benefits of Health Savings Plans," April 2006, p. 52). But for individuals who cannot afford a more ...
Provide patients with realistic expectations.(Guest Editorial)
Jul 01, 2006; ... The nondermatologists, non plastic surgeons, and nonphysicians promoting cosmetic procedures based on media hype rather than actual evidence of safety and efficacy are promoting a culture of unrealistic expectations among patients. This is particularly the case with freestanding ...
Should physicians communicate with patients via e-mail? E-mail offers advantages.(Point-Counterpoint)
Jul 01, 2006; ... E-mail opens up the bandwidth of communication with our patients. With this medium, patients can initiate contact 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at their convenience, and physicians can reply at a time most convenient for them. Unlike telephone consultations and office visits that have to ...
Should physicians communicate with patients via e-mail? Yes, but be careful.(Point-Counterpoint)
Jul 01, 2006; ... E-mail can be a useful, convenient adjunct to a strong patient-physician relationship. I recently received an e-mail from a long-time patient asking what immunizations and medications he would need before an upcoming trip out of the country. It took only a few minutes to get the ...
PDT and pressure dressing may avoid Keloid: procedural, topical measures improve efficacy of surgery; communication and prevention are ideal.(Dermatologic Surgery)(photodynamic therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... LAS VEGAS -- Treatment of keloids or hypertrophic scars with surgery alone is almost guaranteed to fail, but there are theories as to which of the many potential adjunctive therapies might be best, and how best to combine treatments, Dr. Jimmy J. Brown said. Dr. Brown and two ...
Depth, site differ for two nonmelanoma cancers.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Jul 01, 2006; ... LUCAYA, BAHAMAS -- Whether atypical fibroxanthoma is an entity unto itself or simply a superficial form of malignant fibrous histiocytoma depends upon whether the observer is a clinician or a dermatopathologist. While the two nonmelanoma skin cancers behave very differently from ...
Laser treatment didn't make nevi more malignant.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Jul 01, 2006; ... BOSTON -- Irradiation of benign pigmented nevi with Q-switched laser does not induce malignant transformation of the lesions, said Dr. David J. Goldberg at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. While the use of lasers to treat melanocytic ...
Pulsed dye laser aids vascular, pigmented lesions.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Jul 01, 2006; ... BOSTON -- A modified, high-energy, variable-pulse-duration, pulsed dye laser safely and effectively treated both vascular and pigmentary changes in patients with photoaged skin, a study has shown. The findings suggest that what has typically been considered a "vascular" laser ...
Multiple RF passes reduce laxity; spare pain.(Dermatologic Surgey)
Jul 01, 2006; ... BOSTON -- Multiple passes of low-fluence radiofrequency delivery can significantly improve overall facial laxity with minimal patient discomfort, Dr. Melissa A. Bogle reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. The findings validate the ...
Volume replacement tips top periorbital pearls: use patient age, overall fat distribution to guide treatment choices, troubleshoot complications.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Jul 01, 2006; ... LAS VEGAS -- Periocular fat injections in thin patients are more likely to capsulize and create unsightly "hot dog" rods in the tear trough that require multiple surgeries to remove, Dr. Cynthia Boxrud said at an international symposium sponsored by the American Academy of Facial Plastic ...
Midface fat augmentation is linchpin of full-face rejuvenation.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Jul 01, 2006 ... LAS VEGAS -- Augmenting volume in the midface area can range from rewarding to frustrating, but it's a necessary part of facial rejuvenation, Dr. Suzan Obagi said at an international symposium sponsored by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. "If ...
Predictability, cost, and results favor chemical over laser peels.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Jul 01, 2006 ... LAS VEGAS -- When it comes to facial peels, Dr. Devinder S. Mangat has traveled full circle--going from chemical peels to using lasers and back again. After 16 years of doing chemical facial peels, Dr. Mangat switched to laser peels "because that's what the public was ...
Resistant P. acnes prompts shift in prescribing.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Prescribing has been gradually moving away from antimicrobial agents and toward increased use of retinoids in the treatment of acne vulgaris. The shift may in part be explained by a growing awareness of antibiotic-resistant Propionibacterium acnes, wrote Dr. Suganthi ...
CNTO 1275 for psoriasis holds steady in phase II.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Impressive improvement in plaque-type psoriasis 12 weeks after receiving a human monoclonal antibody generally were sustained in nearly two-thirds of patients through 24 weeks of a phase II trial, Dr. Gerald G. Krueger and his associates reported. He and his ...
Regular infusions tied to lasting infliximab success.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- To maintain improvement in plaque psoriasis from infliximab therapy, treat patients every 8 weeks with a maintenance dosage of 5 mg/kg infliximab, Dr. Alice B. Gottlieb and her associates reported in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of ...
Chemopreventive tretinoin dose can be increased: lower dose may not stave off BCCs and SCCs; irritation caused by higher dose proves transient.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... PHILADELPHIA -- High-dose topical tretinoin is generally well tolerated for chemoprevention of basal and squamous cell carcinomas, Dr. Amy Geng said at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. Daily application of 0.1% tretinoin does cause some ...
Imiquimod's 3-year data for basal cell Ca look promising.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- If 5-year outcomes from treatment of basal cell carcinoma with imiquimod are like the 3-year data compiled so far, dermatologists will be pleased, Dr. Marc D. Brown said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Approximately 90% of 137 ...
5-FU cream for BCC: elderly and scar-avoidant may benefit most.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... KOLOA, HAWAII -- Topical 5% 5-fluorouracil cream is a highly effective yet underutilized treatment option for superficial basal cell carcinomas, Dr. Leon H. Kircik said at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by Skin Disease Education Foundation. It makes particularly ...
Persimmon.(COSMECEUTICAL CRITIQUE)
Jul 01, 2006; ... There are two predominant species of persimmon: Diospyros kaki, found in Japan, Korea, and China, and Diospyros virginiana, native to North America. The former is more often studied for potential medical benefits, but the latter species was traditionally used by some Native Americans to ...
Trial finds azithromycin ineffective for pityriasis rosea.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Azithromycin had no influence on the clinical course of pityriasis roses, according to a small randomized controlled trial presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies. The etiologic agent for pityriasis rosea, an acute inflammatory skin ...
Medication vehicles may drive contact dermatitis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... KOLOA, HAWAII -- Next time a patient's skin disease isn't improving despite what ought to be effective topical medication, consider the possibility of occult allergic contact dermatitis caused by a chemical in the vehicle base, Dr. David E. Cohen urged at the annual Hawaii Dermatology ...
Atopic children vexed by no-tears shampoos.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Atopic children may be more likely to have contact allergy to a chemical commonly found in no-tears baby shampoo, Tace Steele said at the annual meeting of the American Contact Dermatitis Society. She and her associates reviewed the charts for 25 children--16 ...
Recalcitrant chronic urticaria may respond to sulfasalazine.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... MIAMI BEACH -- Oral sulfasalazine appears to be a good steroid-sparing alternative for patients whose chronic idiopathic urticaria does not respond to antihistamines, Dr. Laura McGirt reported in a poster that was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, ...
Medicinal leeches helped save boy's outer ear, glans penis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Jul 01, 2006; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Medicinal leeches proved useful in saving tissue on a young boy's outer ear and glans penis, according to a presentation by Dr. Adam J. Mamelak at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Mamelak, of the department of dermatology at Johns ...
Gestational hormone ratio tied to psoriasis relief.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... STOCKHOLM -- Psoriasis improves considerably for some women during pregnancy, and now there are data pointing to the ratio of estrogen to progesterone as a possible explanation for this improvement, according to the results of a study presented at an international conference on psoriasis ...
Coffee may improve psoriasis treatment response.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... PHILADELPHIA -- Patients with psoriasis who drink coffee frequently respond better to treatment with methotrexate and sulfasalazine, Dr. Yolanda Helfrich reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. That should be good news for patients who like ...
Onychocryptosis: a hazard of biologic therapy.(clinical reports)(Clinical report)
Jul 01, 2006; ... GLASGOW, SCOTLAND -- Onychocryptosis poses a particular risk to patients with rheumatoid arthritis being treated with biologics, because of these patients' susceptibility to infection, so vigilance should be practiced in the foot care of these patients, reported Heidi J. Davys. ...
Acydovir cuts postherpetic neuralgia in pilot study.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... Intravenous acyclovir significantly reduced postherpetic neuralgia in half of the older patients who received it in an open-label pilot study, reported Dr. Dianna Quan and her associates at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver. These "promising" results will ...
Scleroderma sans skin involvement not all that rare.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma should be considered in a patient with the common internal manifestations of scleroderma but not the sclerodactyly, digital ulcers, or other cutaneous features of the disorder, Dr. Richard T. Meehan said at a meeting sponsored by the ...
Acne Tx may spur systemic immunologic changes.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... PHILADELPHIA -- Long-term antibiotic therapy for patients with acne induces complex immunologic and microbial changes that can have surprising clinical consequences not only for the patients but also for their close contacts, Whitney P. Bowe said at the annual meeting of the Society for ...
Four signs can chart eye tumors.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... A review of 240 patients revealed four features that help predict whether small choroidal melanocytic lesions will grow: thickness of at least 2 mm, location close to the foveola, the presence of symptoms, and orange pigment. Other features that have been posited to aid in ...
Azilect, Cesamet.(NEW & APPROVED)
Jul 01, 2006; ... Azilect (rasagiline, Teva Pharmaceuticals) An irreversible monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor for treating the signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease as initial monotherapy and as adjunct therapy to levodopa. * Recommended Dosage: For monotherapy, 1 mg ...
Probiotic displaces pathogenic bacteria.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... PHILADELPHIA -- Certain strains of Streptococcus salivarius, a benign organism found in the oropharynx, produce a substance that can inhibit the growth of group A streptococci and Propionibacterium aches, Whitney R Bowe said at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative ...
Poor antibiotic compliance is global malady.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... NICE, FRANCE -- Although many people are concerned about antibiotic resistance, far fewer understand how their actions contribute to the problem, according to a global patient survey. Results from the COMPLy (Compliance, Modalities by Population, Lifestyle and Geography) survey ...
Antibiotic prescribing patterns vary by specialty.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... NICE, FRANCE -- Family practitioners prescribe penicillins most often, whereas surgeons prescribe fluoroquinolones more frequently than any other specialty. These are some of the findings from a 3-year study that examined prescribing patterns of oral antibiotics according to ...
1- and 3-year data rank extended-regimen OC: more breakthrough bleeding with 91-day regimen; other parameters comparable with traditional OCs.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... WASHINGTON -- Seasonale Lo, the 91-day extended regimen low-dose oral contraceptive, was effective and well tolerated, compared with a 28-day low-dose oral contraceptive, after both 1 year and 3 years of use. The Seasonale Lo data from a randomized, multicenter study were ...
Medroxyprogesterone use increases obese teens' weight, insulin levels.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... BOSTON -- The use of medroxyprogesterone may impair insulin and glucose metabolism in obese adolescents, thus increasing the long-term health risks of young women in an already vulnerable population, Dr. Nancy E. Fritz said at the annual meeting of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. ...
Vaginal gel safe and effective for contraception, HIV prevention.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... WASHINGTON -- Cellulose sulfate, a new vaginal gel that is being developed both as a contraceptive and as a means of preventing human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infections, is as effective as nonoxynol-9 in preventing pregnancy, and also appears to be safer, ...
Organ recipients don't realize skin cancer risk.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Fewer than 50% of organ transplant recipients said they received information about skin cancer risk associated with immunosuppression at the time of their transplant surgery, Dr. James Q. Del Rosso reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. ...
Turmeric induces apoptosis in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... PHILADELPHIA -- Curcumin, the compound that puts the pungent yellow punch in turmeric, can induce apoptosis in both T cells and Sezary cells taken from patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, according to Dr. Chun-Lei Zhang of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. Turmeric ...
Face transplant surgeon recounts procedure.(Clinical Rounds)
Jul 01, 2006; ... LAS VEGAS -- The world's first partial face transplant to a 38-year-old French woman in November 2005 began as collaboration among three old friends. "We were three surgeons, perhaps three mavericks," who ultimately recruited a multidisciplinary team of 50 surgeons and other ...
Paget's disease of bone.(drug therapy)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Jul 01, 2006; ... Paget's disease of bone can be focal or multifocal and affects both men and women. A patient with Paget's may be asymptomatic or may present with musculoskeletal pain or disability. The disease occurs in 2% of people older than age 60, and is more common in individuals of Northern European ...
Steroids may raise fibrillation risk.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)
Jul 01, 2006 ... High-dose corticosteroid therapy appears to raise the risk of atrial fibrillation six-fold, reported Dr. Cornelis S. van der Hooft of Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and his associates. Their finding indicates that patients should undergo ECG and ...