Skin & Allergy News back issues from February 2007:
MR contrast, renal dermopathy linked.(Clinical Rounds)(magnetic resonance)(Clinical report)
Feb 01, 2007; ... Gadolinium-based contrast agents, when given to patients with renal disease, have been associated with a rare, potentially fatal, sclerodermalike disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis or nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy. On Dec. 22, the Food and Drug Administration issued ...
Average physician fee for the five most popular minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.(VITAL SIGNS)
Feb 01, 2007 ... <Pre> Average Physician Fee for the Five Most Popular Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Procedures Chemical peel $628 Laser hair removal$406 Botox $363 Sclerotherapy $311 Microdermabrasion $177 ...
New cancer drug linked to hand-foot syndrome: sorafenib is used off label for melanoma.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... STOWE, VT. -- A "striking" erythematous, peeling eruption of the distal extremities associated with a new cancer drug will be seen increasingly in dermatologists' offices, Dr. Peter W. Heald predicted at a dermatology conference sponsored by the University of Vermont. The drug, ...
Sentinel node biopsy benefits challenged.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Sentinel lymph node biopsy is becoming the standard of care for melanomas that are ulcerated or thicker than 1 mm, but the value of this approach remains unproven, Dr. David L. Swanson said at a dermatology conference sponsored by Skin Disease Education Foundation. ...
Kaposi's occurring in HIV patients on antiretrovirals.(News)
Feb 01, 2007; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Some HIV-infected patients who are well managed on highly active antiretroviral therapy are developing Kaposi's sarcoma, Dr. Toby A. Maurer said at a meeting on HIV management sponsored by the University of California, San Francisco. In this trend, which has ...
Study equates diagnostic acumen of derms, FPs.(News)
Feb 01, 2007; ... Family physicians' diagnoses and treatments of skin lesions in most cases were in agreement with the diagnoses and recommended treatments offered by two blinded dermatologists, according to a new study. Notably, however, the rate of agreement for less common lesions was lower, ...
FDA seeks to increase fees for drug manufacturers.(News)
Feb 01, 2007; ... The Food and Drug Administration on Jan. 11 proposed greatly increasing the fees its drug division collects from pharmaceutical manufacturers, saying that current fees collected under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act have not kept pace with inflation or the agency's growing workload. ...
Illicit silicone linked to cardiopulmonary events.(News)
Feb 01, 2007; ... CHICAGO -- Illicit subcutaneous injections of liquid silicone are landing patients in the emergency department, and can cause pulmonary emboli and death, Dr. Carlos Restrepo reported at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. As a result, physicians ...
FDA calls for tougher warnings on OTC pain meds.(News)
Feb 01, 2007; ... The Food and Drug Administration is proposing that all over-the-counter analgesic, antipyretic, and antirheumatic drugs carry new, stronger warnings on the potential for hepatic toxicity and gastrointestinal bleeding. The warnings will be carried on products used by both adults ...
Quicker, simpler tests sought for MRSA screening: restrictions on payments for nosocomial infection could lead to universal testing on admission.(News)
Feb 01, 2007; ... Researchers at the Mayo Clinic and elsewhere are racing to develop rapid-detection tests for Staphylococcus aureus, both to better tailor appropriate antibiotic prescribing and to halt the galloping spread of methicillin-resistant strains of the bacteria. The race for quicker, ...
FDA orders halt to manufacture of unapproved quinines.(News)
Feb 01, 2007; ... The Food and Drug Administration has ordered companies making unapproved versions of quinine formulations to stop their manufacture by mid-February and to halt shipment by June or face seizure of their products. The move is the latest in the agency's quest to remove drugs from ...
Peeves.(Under My Skin)(Column)
Feb 01, 2007; ... Life always brings annoyances, major or otherwise. I'm no more peevish than usual; it's just that I've saved up a few smallish peeves, none weighty enough for a column of its own. High-Tech Lists It's an old story that lists are the bane of a dermatologist's life. I ...
Clarification.(Opinion)(Correction notice)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The method for skin grafting surgical defects of the nasal alar region known as the drumhead graft was invented and developed by Dr. J. Michael Wentzell of Billings, Mont. ('Drumhead' Technique May Spare ...
Should PAs be able to screen for melanoma to offset long wait times to see dermatologists?(Point/Counterpoint)
Feb 01, 2007; ... Training will improve PAs' diagnostic accuracy. The delay of treatment of melanoma could be deadly. If we reduce the number of patient providers by restricting the public to see only dermatologists, it would be logical to assume that this would delay patient appointments and ...
Another case for photoprotection.(Guest Editorial)
Feb 01, 2007; ... Over the last few years, the newspapers and the morning talk shows have featured more and more reports about the potential dangers of sunscreen and other photoprotection measures. And most recently, some of my patients have mentioned that their internist or family physician has advised ...
Making progress against STDs.(Guest Editorial)
Feb 01, 2007; ... Nearly a decade has passed since the Institute of Medicine issued its landmark report, "The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases." The institute envisioned a national system for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases to ensure that all Americans have access ...
Is the public health message on secondhand smoke based on science?(Point/Counterpoint)
Feb 01, 2007; ... It's driven by politics, not good science. The news media has parroted the idea that secondhand smoke is harmful, and a recent survey finds that more than 80% of adults now believe that it is. But the secondhand smoke scare is based largely on speculation reminiscent of ...
Short incisions, careful suture choice can improve cosmesis.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- Every dermatologist should be able to perform excisional surgery and leave only a fine line scar on the patient's face, Dr. C. William Hanke said at a meeting on medical and surgical dermatology sponsored by Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dermatologists who are not ...
Nested M-plasty shortens some Mohs closures.(Dermatologic Surgery)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PALM DESERT, CALIF. -- Use of the "nested" M-plasty technique makes it possible to further shorten round wounds when closing Mohs defects, Dr. Ravi Krishnan said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. The technique involves making two Ms, instead ...
CK7 stain aids Mohs in extramammary Paget's.(Dermatologic Surgery)(cytokeratin)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PALM DESERT, CALIF. -An immunoperoxidase stain for cytokeratin 7 can be extremely helpful for reducing recurrences when performing Mohs surgery on patients with extramammary Paget's disease, Dr. John Zitelli said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. ...
Zinc paste may help halt Mohs recurrences, despite its dangers.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... SAN DIEGO -- Dr. Daniel Siegel applies the zinc chloride paste developed by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs to melanomas the day before he removes them as a kind of insurance policy to reduce the risk of recurrence. "The paste is wonderful stuff," Dr. Siegel said at a course on Mohs ...
Initial studies support ablative fractional laser.(Dermatologic Surgery)(Clinical report)
Feb 01, 2007; ... LAS VEGAS -- Ablative fractional resurfacing shows promise for skin resurfacing and tightening, according to the first studies conducted on use of the technology. Considered a more intense treatment than nonablative fractional devices, the ablative fractional laser could ...
Recognizing postsurgical red flags reduces complications.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- The severity of postsurgical complications can be mitigated by knowing the warning signs and best management techniques, Dr. James M. Spencer said at a meeting on medical and surgical dermatology sponsored by Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Some bruising, for ...
Questions raised about efficacy of LED photomodulation treatments.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... TORONTO -- Available data suggest that light-emitting diode devices are of questionable utility for skin rejuvenation, Dr. Ranella Hirsch said at the annual fall meeting of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Light-emitting diode (LED) ...
Thermage with liposuction tightens abdomen.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PALM DESERT, CALIF. -- Thermage radiofrequency treatment can be combined with liposuction to shrink loose skin in the abdomen, Dr. Victoria G. Belo said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. "By virtue of its noninvasive nature combined with its ...
Turn up the volume on facial aging treatment.(Dermatologic Surgery)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PALM DESERT, CALIF. -- The new, overriding concept in cosmetic procedures is that what the aging face often needs is new volume. It is the view that the aging face is a "deflated" face, Dr. Gary D. Monheit said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic ...
C[O.sub.2] insufflation touted for eyelid rejuvenation.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... LAS VEGAS -- Carbon dioxide insufflation of the eyelids provides patients with an improved cosmetic appearance and is the only effective treatment option for vascular pooling, according to a presentation at an international symposium on cosmetic and laser surgery. "After four or ...
New Fraxel laser tip improves eyelid wrinkles.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... LAS VEGAS -- Fine wrinkling of the eyelids seemed to respond "quite nicely" to fractional laser resurfacing with a specially designed tip, Dr. Brian S. Biesman said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. The new ...
Data back Perlane's safety and bolster case for approval.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PALM DESERT, CALIF. -- The larger particle-sized hyaluronic acid product called Perlane has been shown in a trial to be as safe as another approved filler, and the data have been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration as part of the approval process. "Perlane provides ...
New Fraxel laser gaining popularity in practices.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... LAS VEGAS -- A new version of the Fraxel laser penetrates more deeply--yet causes less pain and requires fewer treatments--than does the original Fraxel system, speakers said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. The new ...
Ponder the promises, perils of IPL devices prior to purchase.(Dermatologic Surgery)(intense pulsed light)
Feb 01, 2007; ... CARLSBAD, CALIF. -- At a symposium on laser and cosmetic surgery sponsored by SkinCare Physicians, Dr. E. Victor Ross Jr., shared what he looks for in a good intense pulsed light device. First, he looks for variability in spectral shapes. This allows tailoring and fine-tuning of ...
Carbon plus laser touted for rejuvenation of Asian skin.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... LAS VEGAS -- An aging Asian face can be rejuvenated with application of carbon followed by nonablative laser treatment. "My nonablative toy at the moment is carbon plus a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser," Dr. Ruban Nathan said at an international symposium on cosmetic and laser surgery ....
Phototherapy may alleviate allergic rhinitis.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... RHODES, GREECE -- Targeted ultraviolet B phototherapy--the use of fiber-optic light delivery systems--allows treatment of previously inaccessible body sites such as the scalp and the oral and intranasal mucosa, Dr. Lajos Kemeny said at the 15th Congress of the European Academy of ...
MAL-PDT offers better cosmesis after excision than cryotherapy.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... RHODES, GREECE -- Photodynamic therapy using topical methyl aminolevulinate has efficacy comparable to cryotherapy for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratoses but provides substantially better cosmetic outcomes, according to data presented at the 15th Congress of the ...
Light therapy underwhelming for acne.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... CARLSBAD, CALIF. -- Some acne patients may respond to various light-based treatments, but most of the time the improvement is modest and short-lived, Dr. E. Victor Ross Jr. said at a symposium on laser and cosmetic surgery sponsored by SkinCare Physicians. Most light-based ...
Anticoagulants not precluded before surgery.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... SAN DIEGO -- Dermatologists should ask patients detailed questions about what medications they are taking before performing a procedure, Dr. Rainer E. Sachse said at a meeting sponsored by the American Society for Mohs Surgery. Almost half of patients who undergo a dermatologic ...
Conservatism aids C[O.sub.2] laser success in dark skin.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... RHODES, GREECE -- C[O.sub.2] lasers can be an effective and valuable tool in patients with darker skin types, Dr. Mukta Sachdev said at the 15th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. "A lot of the fears about treating darker skin are unfounded," she ...
Antibiotic prophylaxis has benefits, risks in ear surgery.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PALM DESERT, CALIF. -- Is routine antibiotic prophylaxis necessary for patients who are having a surgical procedure on the ear? Even though almost half of dermatologists surveyed have not adopted this practice, they probably should consider it, according to three experts who ...
Options exist for pemphigus diagnosis, treatment.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Feb 01, 2007; ... LAS VEGAS -- Pemphigus vulgaris can thwart some diagnostic methods, and side effects can complicate some therapies, but there are strategies to help identify and treat the disease, said Dr. Sigfrid A. Muller, a dermatologist in private practice in Las Vegas. Dr. Muller presented ...
Hydroquinone.(Cosmeceutical Critique)
Feb 01, 2007; ... With a track record of safety and efficacy spanning more than 40 years, hydroquinone, a hydroxyphenolic derivative of benzene, is considered the most effective skin-lightening product for treatment of hyperpigmentary disorders (J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol. 2006;20:781-7; Skin Therapy ...
Benefits of imiquimod may not be enough to prevent 'backlash'.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... SAN DIEGO -- Proper use of imiquimod has produced high success rates in treating actinic keratosis and superficial basal cell carcinoma, but some Mohs surgeons caution that skin cancer patients are sometimes inadequately treated with the drug. "I think we are going to see a huge ...
Addition of imexon may improve chemotherapy for melanoma.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Feb 01, 2007; ... NOORDWIJK, NETHERLANDS -- Preliminary data suggest that adding the orphan drug imexon to standard chemotherapy with dacarbazine may increase the efficacy of the alkylating agent in stage III or IV malignant melanoma, according to Dr. Jeffrey S. Weber. Imexon (Amplimexon, ...
Paclitaxel formulation benefits malignant melanoma patients.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Feb 01, 2007; ... NOORDWIJK, THE NETHERLANDS -- An albumin-bound formulation of paclitaxel approved for use in metastatic breast cancer also has demonstrated benefits in malignant melanoma, Dr. Evan Hersh reported at a conference on melanoma sponsored by Imedex. In a phase II open-label study, 37 ...
Imiquimod appears to detect postexcision residual BCC.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Feb 01, 2007; ... RHODES, GREECE -- Imiquimod may detect residual or recurrent basal cell carcinoma following standard excision and electrodesiccation and curettage for the disease, Dr. Marlene T. Dytoc said in a poster presentation at the 15th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and ...
Post-organ transplant SCC calls for retinoids: lifelong regimen should be started 'sooner rather than later' for high-risk patients.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PALM DESERT, CALIF. -- Organ transplant recipients who begin to develop squamous cell carcinomas or large areas of actinic keratoses should be considered for low-dose retinoid therapy, and earlier rather than later, Dr. Fiona O'Reilly-Zwald said at the annual meeting of the American ...
IL-12 vaccine stimulates immunity in melanoma.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Feb 01, 2007; ... NOORDWIJK, NETHERLANDS -- Vaccination with high-dose interleukin-12 successfully boosted the immune response and was associated with clinical benefits in patients with metastatic melanoma, Dr. Jeffrey S. Weber reported. Melanoma is a highly immunosuppressive malignancy, and one ...
Lab tests, vaccinations key in biologics monitoring.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Feb 01, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- Psoriasis patients taking biologic therapies require careful monitoring, including a number of lab tests and vaccinations, Dr. Mark Lebwohl said at a meeting on medical and surgical dermatology sponsored by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Seasonal flu vaccines, ...
Adalimumab shows benefits in psoriatic arthritis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Feb 01, 2007; ... Treatment with adalimumab significantly improved quality of life and functioning among patients with moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis at 24 weeks, reported Dr. Dafna D. Gladman. Previous analyses from the Adalimumab Effectiveness in Psoriatic Arthritis Trial (ADEPT), which ...
Dermatologist shares 35 years of pearl-pourri.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Feb 01, 2007; ... MONTEREY, CALIF. -- In 35 years of practice, Dr. John A. Lenahan has amassed quite a collection of dermatologic pearls, some of which he revealed at the annual meeting of the Pacific Dermatologic Association. After having unsatisfactory results controlling psoriasis with oral ...
Favored "recipe" for wound dressing adds salt.(Dermatologic Therapy)
Feb 01, 2007; ... OTTAWA -- Using salt dressings as part of a wound care protocol can help prepare the wound bed for additional treatment and enhance healing, Virginia Salter, R.N., reported at the annual conference of the Canadian Wound Care Association. "Hypertonic salt dressings complement, ...
Youth, mucosal disease predict pemphigus relapse.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... SORRENTO, ITALY -- Patients with pemphigus who are younger than 40 years at the time of diagnosis and whose first remission is brief are likely to have a more severe course of disease and multiple relapses, Dr. David Mimouni said at the Fifth International Congress on Autoimmunity. ...
Facial hemangioma in infant may be PHACES syndrome.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... WILLIAMSBURG, VA. -- A segmental plaquelike facial hemangioma should be a tip-off to evaluate an infant for PHACES syndrome (posterior fossa malformations, hemangiomas, arterial anomalies, coarctation of the aorta and other cardiac defects, eye abnormalities, sternal defects), Dr. Sharon ...
Look for incontinentia pigmenti signs.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... LAS VEGAS -- If a newborn female develops vesicles or pustules over the trunk and extremities, think incontinentia pigmenti, Dr. Moise L. Levy said at a meeting sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics and its California Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4. "With incontinentia ...
Early aeroallergen testing eyed for high-risk infants.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... More than one-quarter of 1-year-old children born to atopic parents with percutaneous sensitization to aeroallergens tested positive on a skin-prick test for one or more aeroallergens and/or food, results of a large, ongoing study show. The findings suggest that children at high ...
Adalimumab response best yet in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... WASHINGTON -- Treatment of polyarticular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with the tumor necrosis factor blocker adalimumab for nearly i year has resulted in the highest level of response ever recorded for the disease, Dr. Daniel J. Lovell reported at the annual scientific meeting of ...
Squamous cell warning signs indicate need for radiation: patients with larger lesions, satellite lesions, or perineural invasion should be referred.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... SAN DIEGO -- The squamous cell carcinomas that probably warrant consultation with a radiation oncologist are those that are greater than 2 cm in diameter or 4 mm in depth, Dr. David W. Hodgens said at a meeting sponsored by the American Society for Mohs Surgery. Patients with ...
Unnested SCC may mean recurrence risk.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PALM DESERT, CALIF. -- Risk factors for recurrence in squamous cell carcinoma include tumor size, depth of the tumor, and immunosuppression, but add to that list single malignant cells lying in the dermis away from the main body of the tumor or any nests of squamous cell carcinoma, Dr ....
Lower eyelid most common site of periocular malignancies.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... WINNIPEG, MAN. -- The lower eyelid was the most common site of 346 periocular cutaneous malignancies that were treated by Dr. John P. Arlette from 1998 to 2005, he said at the annual conference of the Canadian Dermatology Association. "When a patient presents to you with a ...
UVA mutations tied to malignant melanoma.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PARIS -- Repeated UVA exposure appears to cause mitochondrial deletions related to a loss of senescence-associated growth control in melanocytes--a loss that could mark an early event in the transformation from nevi to proliferative and invasive malignant melanoma, said Dr. Winfried ...
DNA deletion is early marker of nonmelanoma skin cancer.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PARIS -- The amount of a specific deletion present in mitochondrial DNA appears to correlate with cumulative sun exposure--a finding that could lead the way to a biomarker for the early detection of nonmelanoma skin cancer, Dr. Mark Birch-Machin said at the annual meeting of the European ...
Rising anal cancer incidence commensurate with HPV, AIDS.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- The HIV epidemic has brought to light evidence that males who have sex with males now have a rate of anal cancer as high as the incidence rate of cervical cancer in women prior to Pap smear. The incidence in women also has risen, Dr. Joel Palefsky said at a ...
Update on contraception research shows progress.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... ATLANTA -- Novel contraceptives currently being developed include norprogesterone-derived progestins, new barrier methods, and combination spermicides-microbicides, said Dr. Michelle Fox at a conference on contraceptive technology sponsored by Contemporary Forums. "We've made a ...
Gonorrhea testing: limit to high-risk teens and women.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- A majority of privately insured women tested for chlamydia are also checked for gonorrhea, which may be unnecessary given its significantly lower incidence, according to a study presented at a conference on STD prevention sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control ...
Ease of use is key for adolescent contraception.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... ATLANTA -- When it comes to choosing an effective method of contraception for adolescents, ease of use should probably top the list of requirements. Dr. Geri Hewitt said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Adolescents, particularly younger teens, are ...
High-grade anogenital IN requires long-term surveillance for progression.(Clinical Rounds)
Feb 01, 2007; ... ATLANTA -- High-grade anogenital intraepithelial neoplasia has remarkably high recurrence and malignancy potential despite repeated treatments, thus long-term surveillance is mandatory, according to Dr. Mathias K. Fehr of University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. A retrospective ...