Skin & Allergy News back issues from March 2008:
Ustekinumab's next psoriasis stop: FDA.(News)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SAN ANTONIO -- Long-term, continuous use of ustekinumab for maintenance therapy in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis is efficacious and generally well tolerated, according to phase III study findings reported at the annual meeting of the ...
Melanoma quality measures dropped from Medicare P4P: emphasis is placed on EMRs, e-prescribing.(News)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Three melanoma measures that were added to the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative in mid-2007 have been eliminated, leaving dermatologists with limited opportunities to qualify for bonus payments from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services that could have totaled up to 1.5% of ...
Controversy lingers over sunscreen seal program.(News)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN ANTONIO -- The American Academy of Dermatology's Seal of Recognition program continued to raise concerns among some dermatologists at the Academy's annual meeting. Since the program was approved in July 2006, two products have been selected to carry the seal: Aveeno ...
Mayo patch test changes highlighted.(News)
Mar 01, 2008; ... A 5-year review of allergen patch testing by the Mayo Clinic revealed a number of important differences from the standard series at other institutions, and also from an earlier period at the Mayo Clinic. In their review of 3,854 patients seen at the Mayo Clinic sites in ...
Who should pay for Americans' Health Insurance.(VITAL SIGNS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... <Pre> Who Should Pay for Americans' Health Insurance? Mostly individuals 6% Mostly employers 8% Mostly government 15% Individuals, employers, 66% and government should share costs ...
Vascular placental flaw, hemangioma link studied.(News)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Vascular abnormalities of the placenta were strongly correlated with he incidence of infantile hemangiomas in a small group of very-low-birth-weight infants, Dr. Juan Carlos Lopez Gutierrez and his colleagues reported. Abnormalities such as infarcts and hematomas might create a ...
Humira.(New & Approved)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Humira (adalimumab, Abbott) A tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-blocker has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating adults with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis "who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy, and when other ...
Risk-benefit favorable for new oral psoriasis Tx.(News)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN ANTONIO -- A novel oral therapy with broad anti-inflammatory activity is showing promise for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, according to phase II study data presented at the annum meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Apremilast (CC-10004, ...
Dermatology grants are awarded.(News)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Dermatology research grants have been awarded by the National Rosacea Society and the Skin Cancer Foundation. Four research teams have received $25,000 each from the National Rosacea Society. Dr. Richard Gallo of the University of California, San Diego, and Dr. Kenshi Yamasaki ...
Fraud scheme among insurers investigated in N.Y.(News)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Following a 6-month initial investigation, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced plans to file suit against UnitedHealth Group and four of its subsidiaries for allegedly systematically underpaying consumers for their out-of-network medical expenses. The attorney ...
New botulinum toxin injection warnings issued: postinjection symptoms include dysphagia, ptosis, and shortness of breath, according to the FDA.(News)
Mar 01, 2008; ... The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning last month advising patients and physicians that botulinum toxins have in some cases been linked to respiratory failure and even death. Physicians should be vigilant for postinjection symptoms such as dysphagia, ptosis, and ...
Botox under investigation as possible treatment for Raynaud's.(News)
Mar 01, 2008; ... BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. -- Sympathectomy may become rare as a treatment for Raynaud's phenomenon, even in severe cases, if early success with botulinum toxin type A injections proves lasting and replicable, Dr. Michael Neumeister said at the annual meeting of the American Association for ...
Possibility of melanoma in children often ignored.(News)
Mar 01, 2008; ... ORLANDO -- Cancer already kills more children aged 1-14 years than does any other disease, and the incidence of childhood melanoma is on the rise, Dr. Jane M. Grant-Kels said at the annual meeting of the Florida Society of Dermatologic Surgeons. A 2007 study showed that melanoma ...
Psychiatric Dx seen with urticaria.(News)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Nearly half of all patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria have Axis I psychiatric diagnoses and 45% have Axis II diagnoses, according to a new study. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depression were the most common Axis I diagnoses among 89 consecutive patients ...
Verbatim.(News)
Mar 01, 2008; ... 'We were wrong on vitamin A. We were wrong on vitamin B. We were wrong on vitamin C. We were wrong on vitamin E. Except for K, ...
Future laser may hit fat target.(Guest Editorial)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Could fat be treated with a laser or some other kind of noninvasive delivery of energy from the skin surface? To reduce fat without damaging the epidermis and dermis, we face some difficult challenges. One of which is having to go several millimeters down and, in a very ...
If it's wet, dry it.(Under My Skin)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Nondermatologists like to mock, "Hey, we know what you guys do: If it's wet, dry it, and if it's dry, wet it." Most of the students who follow me around are headed for primary care. When I meet a new one, I'm tempted to say, "The goal of this elective is to make sure that, by ...
'Behind-the-counter' prescribing is problematic.(Guest Editorial)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Americans are desperate for ways to reduce the costs of health care and improve access to care. At the same time, physicians are frustrated with the status quo. After a 30-year campaign by the media to disparage physicians with negative stories about them; reductions in reimbursement by ...
Feds need to help bring vaccines to U.S. market.(Guest Editorial)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Vaccine shortages have become all too common in the United States, with no end in sight. The best solution would be for the federal government to step in and provide incentives to vaccine manufacturers to bring more products to the U.S. market. The current situation with ...
Clinton article had negative spin.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Mar 01, 2008; ... I was disappointed to note the decidedly negative spin you placed upon Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's health plan by headlining the article with the relatively inconsequential portion dealing with nonphysician roles ("Sen. Clinton Urges Wider Role for Nonphysicians," December 2007, p. 49). ...
To Clinton: leave physicians alone.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Have we forgotten that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's 1993 "Hillary Care" was written without the consultation of one physician ("Sen. Clinton Urges Wider Role for Nonphysicians," December, 2007, p. 49)? There were 550 "consultants," and one was a veterinary doctor! Furthermore, ...
Empathy needed in our profession.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Mar 01, 2008; ... I want to thank Dr. Alan Rockoff for his touching and salient column, "Skating Along the Surface" (Under My Skin, December 2007, p. 13). As a dermatologist and clinical psychologist, I continually struggle with the obvious angst and conflict that simmers so close to the surface ...
Correction.(Letters)(Correction notice)
Mar 01, 2008 ... In a supplement to SKIN & ALLERGY NEWS ("Examining Alternative Topical Therapy for Atopic Dermatitis," January 2007, p ....
Interferon is an "imperfect standard" for melanoma.(Cutaneous Oncology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN DIEGO -- For patients with regionally advanced melanoma, the current standard of care is high-dose interferon. "It's an imperfect standard, but nonetheless it is the standard," Dr. Michael P. Kosty said at a melanoma update sponsored by the Scripps Clinic. To ...
Grading dysplastic nevi: easy as present or not.(Cutaneous Oncology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN DIEGO -- There's no need to grade the level of architectural disorder when assessing dysplastic nevi. Just acknowledge if it's present or not. "It doesn't matter how much architectural disorder is there; it only matters that it's present or absent," Dr. Terry L. Barrett ...
Topical 5% imiquimod effectively treats Bowen's disease.(Cutaneous Oncology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... ORLANDO -- Topical 5% imiquimod is an effective treatment for squamous cell carcinoma in situ and should be considered as an option for this disease, Dr. Theodore Rosen reported at the annual meeting of the Florida Society of Dermatologic Surgeons. Imiquimod (Aldara) is approved ...
Mohs surgery best for ears, nose, and digits.(Cutaneous Oncology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN DIEGO -- What is an adequate margin for surgical excision of melanoma? Beyond a clear margin, "we really don't know," Dr. Duane C. Whitaker said at a melanoma update sponsored by the Scripps Clinic. That's why there's a place for Mohs surgery in the treatment of ...
Incisional biopsy best when uncertain, expert says.(Cutaneous Oncology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN DIEGO -- If you're confident that a primary lesion is melanoma, do an excisional biopsy and send the entire specimen to a pathologist. If you're less certain about the diagnosis, you can do an incisional biopsy of the primary lesion and send the specimen for evaluation, Dr ....
Radiation brochure free to download.(Cutaneous Oncology)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The brochure "Radiation Therapy for Skin Cancer" includes the up-to-date information for skin cancer patients who are deciding whether radiation therapy is the best ...
Melanoma follow-up rests on history physical exam.(Cutaneous Oncology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN DIEGO -- When it comes to follow-up surveillance of melanoma patients, history and physical examination remain the cornerstone of good care, with little solid evidence to support anything else. "The literature on this aspect of melanoma management is incomplete, mainly ...
Patients may need convincing about sunscreen's importance.(Cutaneous Oncology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN DIEGO -- When Dr. Michael Swarm advises patients to apply sunscreen to protect against melanoma, the suggestion sometimes falls on deaf ears. "Patients who don't want to wear sunscreen will say, 'I don't wear sunscreen because it's never been shown to protect against ...
Skin care is important element of rejuvenation.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... In treating cosmetic dermatology patients for symptoms associated with aging, procedures are not enough, Dr. Leslie Baumann said in a Galderma-sponsored symposium held during the 21st World Congress of Dermatology in Buenos Aires. "Skin care is also important," she said. "When ...
FDA updates info on injectable fillers.(Aesthetic Dermatology)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The Food and Drug Administration has updated the information that is available on its Web site for consumers and health professionals on injectable fillers. In late January, the agency posted ...
New ablative fractional laser system makes debut.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... A laser system for skin rejuvenation hat delivers ablative fractional resurfacing technology made its official debut at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Manufactured by Mountain View, Calif.-based Reliant Technologies, ...
Porcine collagen could be answer to filler longevity.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... LAS VEGAS -- Porcine collagen crosslinked with D-ribose probably lasts as long or longer than does hyaluronic acid when used as a cosmetic filler for lips and nasolabial folds, Dr. Gary Monheit said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic ...
Deep heating skin found to improve fractional resurfacing.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... CHICAGO -- The clinical results of fractional skin resurfacing may be improved by pretreatment with an infrared laser or broadband infrared light source, according to a pilot study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. "In the ...
Injection lipolysis is both defended, criticized: 'we've been using injection lipolysis in my clinic for 2 years now and getting excellent results.'.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Recent months have had a raft of bad news about injection lipolysis. Two prominent medical spas whose business was providing the popular treatments abruptly closed their doors, leaving patients in the lurch. Then, the Kansas Board of Healing Arts took action to strictly control the ...
Apigenin.(Cosmeceutical Critique)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Apigenin (5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone) is a low-toxic, nonmutagenic plant avonoid that is widely found in herbs (endive, clove, and German chamomile), fruit (apples, cherries, and grapes), beverages (tea and wine), vegetables (beans, broccoli, celery, leeks, onions, barley, parsley, and ...
Expert favors proven agents over peptide cosmeceuticals.(Aesthetic Dermatology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... LAS VEGAS -- Dermatologists should tell their patients to be skeptical of "peptide" cosmeceuticals and to stick with proven agents, Dr. Kathy A. Fields said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. Agents such as palmitoyl ...
Antibiotic prophylaxis discouraged before surgery.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Mar 01, 2008; ... ORLANDO -- Most dermatologic surgery patients don't need perioperative antibiotics, and the routine use of antibiotics to prevent surgical site infection or infective endocarditis should be discouraged, Dr. Steve Spencer said at the annual meeting of the Florida Society of Dermatologic ...
C[O.sub.2] ablation/curettage proves successful in Darier's patient.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Mar 01, 2008; ... ORLANDO -- C[O.sub.2] laser ablation with aggressive curettage proved successful for the treatment of a patient with Darier's disease who had failed other medical therapies. The C[O.sub.2] laser/curettage approach was initially used on one part of the patient's abdomen, and the ...
Preventive practices can blunt suture needle sticks.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Mar 01, 2008; ... CHICAGO -- Most of the estimated 1,000 suture needle sticks endured by surgeons and surgical residents in the United States each day can be prevented by protecting the needle point within the needle driver, according to Dr. Joy Kunishige. "Before the needle and needle driver are ...
Hybrid technique offers yet another Tx for varicose veins.(Dermatologic Surgery)
Mar 01, 2008; ... CHICAGO -- A technique that combines occlusion coils and alcohol sclerosis is the latest addition to the array of catheter-based approaches available to treat varicose veins. "We have yet another tool in an area where I don't think we needed another tool; it's coil occlusion and ...
'Thinking errors' provide chance for reflection.(Pediatric Dermatology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... MONTEREY, CALIF. -- Harvard Medical School hematologist Dr. Jerome Groopman has said that "people talk about technical errors in medicine, but no one talks about thinking errors." This sentiment registered with Dr. Bari B. Cunningham, a pediatric dermatologist at the University ...
Iatrogenic events reported in 30% of hospitalized neonates.(Pediatric Dermatology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Iatrogenic events occur quite frequently in the care of high-risk neonates, according to a study from France that found 116 of 388 patients admitted to a neonatal unit experienced an event. Twenty-nine percent of the 267 events were considered severe, and 34% were judged to have ...
Restricting diet for prevention of atopy has limited worth.(Pediatric Dermatology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... The documented benefits of nutritional intervention that might prevent or delay the onset of atopic disease are largely limited to infants at high risk of developing allergy because a parent or sibling has allergic disease, according to a revised policy statement of the American Academy of ...
Parental worry may add to vulvovaginal disease.(Pediatric Dermatology)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Spend plenty of time addressing parents' concerns about a child's vulvovaginal disease or their worries may contribute to the problem, Dr. Libby Edwards said at a meeting sponsored by Skin Disease Education Foundation. When a skin lesion, pain, or itching ...
Diarrhea may resolve, but C. difficile spores remain.(Infectious Diseases)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Patients with Clostridium difficile-associated disease frequently are contaminated on multiple skin sites that may remain a source of transmission even after the diarrhea has resolved. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] In this study of 27 patients with C. difficile-associated ...
Many adults blase about receiving routine immunizations.(Infectious Diseases)
Mar 01, 2008; ... WASHINGTON -- Approximately half of 1,005 American adults surveyed by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases said that they were unconcerned that either they or a family member will become infected with a vaccine-preventable disease, despite the fact that more than half a million ...
FDA grants new cephalosporin fast-track status.(Infectious Diseases)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Monotherapy with ceftobiprole was found to be as effective as vancomycin plus ceftazidime for treating patients with a broad range of complicated skin and skin-structure infections caused by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Following the completion of successful phase ...
Gonorrhea treatment 'hanging by a thread'.(Infectious Diseases)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN DIEGO -- Resistance to gonorrhea drugs is climbing just as treatment options are dwindling, making for a potential public health crisis if more drug choices are not brought to market soon. "The situation is really not good. We're hanging by a thread, with a very serious ...
Norovirus was spread via school computers.(Infectious Diseases)
Mar 01, 2008; ... An outbreak of norovirus in a District of Columbia elementary school last year was probably transmitted by unclean computer mice and keyboards. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was notified after 27 students and two staff members experienced symptoms of ...
Adalimumab shows long-term safety, efficacy.(Psoriasis)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN ANTONIO -- Adalimumab proved safe and effective when used for up to 2 years for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis in a phase III open-label extension study, according to results reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...
Methotrexate side effect profiles differ among PsA, RA patients.(Psoriasis)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Methotrexate had a different adverse event profile in psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients in a study of more than 1,000 "everyday" patients treated in 30 rheumatology clinics across 13 countries. "We have suspected for some time that there is differential ...
After initial alefacept response, long-term remission reported.(Psoriasis)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN ANTONIO -- Multiple courses of alefacept effectively sustain the long-term remission of chronic plaque psoriasis in patients who respond to a first course of the drug, according to a recent study. In a multinational, open-label extension trial of 175 patients (mean age, 45.8 ...
Drug promising for vaginal dryness after breast cancer.(Across Specialties)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN ANTONIO -- Pilocarpine has potential as a nonestrogenic treatment for the vaginal dryness that is a common and problematic complaint in breast cancer survivors, Dr. Charles L. Loprinzi said at the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Indeed, pilocarpine (Salagen) has ...
Vulvar and vaginal symptoms are common in pregnancy.(Across Specialties)(Medical condition overview)
Mar 01, 2008; ... CHICAGO -- Many women report vulvar and vaginal symptoms during pregnancy, but little is known about the frequency, severity, and timing of such complaints as vulvar pain, burning, itching, and dyspareunia, said Dr. Colleen M. Kennedy of the University of Iowa, Iowa City. Vulvar ...
Comprehensive treatment essential for vulvodynia.(Across Specialties)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Vulvodynia so profoundly affects quality of life that management needs to address the physical, psychological, sexual, and relationship problems that are caused by the pain. "Support, support, support" patients who have vulvodynia by reassuring them that they're ...
Combination of symptoms point to endometriosis Dx.(Across Specialties)
Mar 01, 2008; ... WASHINGTON -- The constellation of symptoms characterizing endometriosis may be more specific than currently thought, Karen D. Ballard, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the AAGL. There is often a long delay in the diagnosis of endometriosis, in large part because the ...
BRCA1 carriers need 'more frequent imaging'.(Across Specialties)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN ANTONIO -- Annual breast cancer screening by mammography plus MRI is insufficient for BRCA1 mutation carriers, according to the midterm results of the Dutch MRI Screening Study. "It's clear the interval cancer rate is much higher in BRCA1 carriers than in any other group, so ...
Oral contraceptives may prevent ovarian cancer.(Across Specialties)
Mar 01, 2008; ... The use of oral contraceptives confers long-term protection against ovarian cancer, and the longer birth control pills are used, the greater their protective effect, according to an analysis of 45 epidemiologic studies from around the world. The findings suggest that oral ...
Breast cancer leads mortality drop in United States, Britain.(Across Specialties)
Mar 01, 2008; ... SAN ANTONIO -- Total cancer mortality among middle-aged women in the United States and United Kingdom has declined markedly since 1990--and an unprecedented drop in breast cancer mortality is the biggest reason why, Sir Richard Peto, Ph.D., said at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. ...
Compliance a challenge for older epilepsy patients: comorbidities, likelihood of living alone or having dementia fuel nonadherence.(Across Specialties)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... PHILADELPHIA -- Compliance with antiepileptic drugs was worse in the elderly than in younger patients, and noncompliant patients were more likely to have serious sequelae including death, based on results from two separate studies. Nonadherance among patients aged 65 years or ...
Epilepsy diagnosis after one seizure remains controversial.(Across Specialties)
Mar 01, 2008; ... PHILADELPHIA -- A new, operational definition of epilepsy may go a long way toward resolving the question of whether epilepsy can be diagnosed and treatment begun after a single seizure or whether two seizures are required. Under the new definition, patients who have had one ...
Drug withdrawal safe after seizure-free period.(Across Specialties)
Mar 01, 2008; ... PHILADELPHIA -- Most epilepsy patients whose seizures are completely controlled by antiepileptic drugs can eventually attempt withdrawal from treatment with a low risk of complications, Dr. Peter Camfield said at the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society. The major ...