Skin & Allergy News back issues from February 2009:
Specialists form psoriasis team.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new treatment paradigm is emerging for psoriasis--multidisciplinary clinics that care for patients who present with multiple symptoms. Most of the dozen or so of these clinics now scattered around the country combine dermatology and ...
Diode laser Tx clears dermatosis papulosis nigra: of the lesions, 98% cleared or improved.(NEWS)(Clinical report)
Feb 01, 2009; ... PHOENIX--A 532-nm diode laser was highly effective at clearing extensive dermatosis papulosis nigra lesions while avoiding the pigmentary complications that are the bane of conventional treatments for this disorder of darker skin, according to the results of a study involving 40 patients ...
Number of people per active physician by specialty, 2007.(VITAL SIGNS)
Feb 01, 2009 ... <Pre> Number of People per Active Physician By Specialty, 2007 (In thousands)) Rheumatology 66 Dermatology 29 Cardiovascular disease 14 ...
New treatment guidelines for PsA released.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- An international group of dermatologists and rheumatologists has published new recommendations for the treatment of the heterogeneous manifestations of psoriatic arthritis, but they caution that randomized data remain sparse and the recommendations may change as ...
Ustekinumab approval delayed by FDA.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... The Food and Drug Administration has requested more information about ustekinumab before it is approved for treating moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, according to Centocor Inc., the manufacturer of the monoclonal antibody. In a statement issued in December, the company ...
Weight loss pegged as potential psoriasis Tx.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Psoriasis and metabolic syndrome are both associated with high serum levels of leptin, according to a report in the Archives of Dermatology. Although association does not necessarily signify causation, it is possible that the proinflammatory mediators in psoriasis may stimulate ...
ASDS, ASCDAS announce 2009 joint meeting.(NEWS)(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)(American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery)
Feb 01, 2009; ... The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery will hold their annual meetings jointly in Phoenix in October, the groups announced. The decision was driven largely by the faltering economy, but also by a ...
Sagging economy creates new wrinkles for cosmetic surgery.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... PHOENIX -- Cosmetic surgeons are experiencing a major atrophy in business because of the national economic downturn. Both gross billings and patient volumes for cosmetic surgery were down by one-third in the past year, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery's 2008 ...
VA researchers unable to find causal link between tretinoin and mortality.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... A recently reported association between topical tretinoin and increased mortality is not causal and most likely is due to chance, according to a recent report. The interim finding of an unexpected rise in lung cancer incidence and all-cause mortality prompted the premature halt ...
UnitedHealth agrees to close ingenix database.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... As part of an agreement with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, UnitedHealth Group has agreed to shut down a national billing database used by health plans to determine reimbursements to members who use out-of-network physician services. The billing database, which is ...
Bimatoprost approved for eyelash lengthening.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... The Food and Drug Administration has approved bimatoprost for increasing the growth of eyelashes, a side effect of the glaucoma-treating drug that was first observed several years ago in clinical trials. The new indication for bimatoprost 0.03% ophthalmic solution is for "the ...
Anti-TNF, birth defect link controversy fueled by study.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Data from a Food and Drug Administration registry suggesting an increase in birth defects among women treated with etanercept and infliximab have rekindled controversy over the use of tumor necrosis factor blockers in pregnancy. Authors of a new review of FDA data advise ...
Topical lidocaine comes with risks, warns FDA.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... The use of topical lidocaine products to mitigate pain has the potential to cause life-threatening events, according to a public health advisory issued by the Food and Drug Administration Jan. 16. "Before recommending a topical anesthetic for any purpose, doctors should ...
Remembering Bernie Ackerman.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2009; ... I remember when Dr. Albert Bernard (Bernie) Ackerman first visited Japan as a guest speaker at the annual meeting of the West Division of the Japan Society of Dermatology in 1982 ("Dermatopathologist Bernie Ackerman Dies at 72," January 2009, p. 6). I was one of the many ...
Seeking Rx for E-Prescribing.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2009; ... My practice has implemented Sure-Scripts in preparation for the 2009 Medicare bonus for e-prescribing ("Feds Push E-Prescribing With Medicare Bonuses," December 2008, p. 8). However, I have not been able to find out how to communicate with Medicare about this or how to indicate ...
Private narratives.(UNDER MY SKIN)(Column)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Chuck's palms are rough and thick. "This started when I cut one palm at my job," he said. "I work at a nuclear plant." I tell Chuck he has psoriasis, adding that the cut may have triggered its onset but hasn't caused its persistence, much less its appearance on the other palm ....
Reform requires 'cultural transformation'.(EDITORIAL)
Feb 01, 2009; ... As the 17th Surgeon General of the United States 2002-2006) and chairperson of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (www.fightchronicdisease.org), I have been working for nearly 2 years with the presidential candidates' policy teams to help ensure that health and health care were among ...
Pain relievers.(EDITORIAL)(Cartoon)
Feb 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...
Most defects don't justify permanent filler use.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
Feb 01, 2009; ... LAS VEGAS -- In Dr. David M. Duffy's opinion, the perfect cosmetic filler doesn't exist and probably never will. Current fillers on the market "are really a trade-off between results that don't last long enough and complications that last forever," he said. "In my view, the ...
Avoiding dermal filler pitfalls begins with a mirror.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)(Report)
Feb 01, 2009; ... LAS VEGAS -- As part of her pretreatment consultation before providing dermal fillers, Dr. Ranella Hirsch hands a mirror to her patients and instructs them to advise her on their specific goals and expectations. "I can't tell you how many times I have looked at the patient on a ...
Diode lasers spark new liposuction technology.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
Feb 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAS VEGAS -- When Dr. Robert A. Weiss started using the SlimLipo liposuction unit for fat melting and fat sculpting, he was surprised to learn that most patients returned to work the day after the procedure. "They had almost no bruising," he ...
Cellulite.(COSMECEUTICAL CRITIQUE)(Report)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Edematous fibrosclerotic panniculopathy, or local lipodystrophy, better known as cellulite, may be best characterized as a skin surface alteration, nodularity, or dimpling that occurs in most women, typically in the buttocks and upper thighs, as well as the abdomen (Int. J. Cosmet. Sci ....
Primer on fillers emphasizes variety, artistry.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
Feb 01, 2009; ... LAS VEGAS -- When using dermal fillers, think of yourself as an artist with a palette of colors, using this one here and that one there. "There is no ideal filler for all occasions; we need to have a range of fillers," said Dr. Alastair Carruthers, who, with his wife Dr. Jean ...
Vulvar granular cell tumors rarely recur.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
Feb 01, 2009; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Vulvar granular cell tumors are biologically indolent lesions that may progress clinically over a decade or longer and most often occur in black patients, according to a recent review. Of 16 granular cell tumors of the vulva that were surgically removed, 7 had ...
Multiple organ transplant ups skin cancer risk.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
Feb 01, 2009; ... ORLANDO -- Patients who receive multiple solid organ transplants appear to be at significantly higher risk of developing cutaneous malignancy--specifically melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer--after their transplants, compared with patients who have had only one transplant. A ...
Micrometastases don't hurt melanoma prognosis.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
Feb 01, 2009; ... ORLANDO -- It is possible that the presence of micrometastases on sentinel lymph node biopsy may have little clinical prognostic value when predicting the survival of patients with malignant melanoma, according to a review of 415 patients. The overall survival of those who had ...
Negative stain still positive for rare malignancy.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- The diagnosis of blastic natural killer-cell lymphoma requires a dermatopathologist who knows the typical immunohistochemical patterns of the disease and is aware of exceptions to rules. Also called CD4-positive, CD56-posirive (CD4+/CD56+) hematodermic ...
Diagnostic conflicts test pathological persistence.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)(Case study)
Feb 01, 2009; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- When a dermatopathologist butts heads with a pathologist over a diagnosis, it helps to keep the patient in mind. "What do you do when your opinion differs radically from that of the contributing pathologist?" asked Dr. Dirk M. Elston, director of dermatology at ...
Most antimicrobial reactions found to be allergic.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
Feb 01, 2009; ... BOSTON -- The recent finding that adverse reactions to antimicrobial agents cause more than 142,000 emergency department visits per year in the United States, and that the highest rate occurs in children under 1 year of age should be a wake-up call to health care providers to exercise ...
Birth control may impair natural defenses against herpes.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)(Clinical report)
Feb 01, 2009; ... WASHINGTON -- Using hormonal contraceptives might weaken a woman's natural immunity to the herpesvirus, according to findings from a pilot study of healthy women aged 18-35 years. Findings from previous epidemiologic studies suggest that women who use hormonal contraception are ...
Avoid empiric therapy for vulvar skin disorders.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
Feb 01, 2009; ... LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. -- Empiric treatment with corticosteroids should be avoided in patients who present with vulvar symptoms such as burning, itching, pain, and dyspareunia, according to Dr. Andrew T. Goldstein. These patients should have a careful examination of the vulva ...
Catch lichen sclerosus early for best outcome.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
Feb 01, 2009; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- If left untreated, lichen sclerosus can lead to scarring, destruction of normal vulvar architecture, and even skin cancer, but if caught early and treated properly, complete remission is possible. "It's a wonderful disease to treat," said Dr. Erika Klemperer, a ...
Think Behcet's for recurrent aphthous ulcers.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
Feb 01, 2009; ... LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. -- The diagnosis of Behcet's disease must be considered in any patient with recurrent oral and vulvar aphthous ulcers, even if the deep, full-thickness ulcers in the mouth and vulva develop at different times. Behcet's disease is a chronic inflammatory ...
Emerging treatments for vitiligo offer hope.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
Feb 01, 2009; ... PARIS -- Vitiligo can be a psychologically devastating disorder, but there are several effective therapies that can improve skin pigmentation and reduce the burden of this disease, according to Dr. Pearl Grimes. "Pigmentation significantly influences the paradigm of ...
Topical dapsone hits market after label change.(ACNE)
Feb 01, 2009; ... LAS VEGAS -- After years of delay, topical dapsone gel 5% can now be prescribed for patients with mild to moderate acne, marking the first new chemically based drug treatment for acne in a decade. A sulfone drug, Aczone 5% gel has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties ....
Free copies of acne booklet available.(ACNE)
Feb 01, 2009 ... Health care professionals can order free copies of "'Understanding and Managing Acne," a new educational booklet for patients. In words and pictures, the publication describes acne vulgaris, explains how it can be treated, and dispels ...
Severe, sudden acne calls for prednisone then isotretinoin.(ACNE)
Feb 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAS VEGAS -- New patients may have to wait several months to see a dermatologist, but teenagers with profoundly severe sudden-onset acne should be seen right away, stressed Dr. Fred Ghali. These patients exhibit inflammatory and ulcerative acne ...
FDA says Humira ad misleading.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
Feb 01, 2009; ... The Food and Drug Administration said that Abbott Laboratories downplayed the risks associated with the psoriasis therapy Humira (adalimumab) in an ad intended for dermatologists. The ad was misleading because it "suggests that Humira is useful in a broader range of conditions or patients ...
Phototherapy copays prompt action.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009; ... The National Psoriasis Foundation has written to insurance commissioners in six states to request that they encourage health plans to eliminate or reduce patients" copayments for phototherapy sessions. Members of a foundation task force on the issue--who are primarily ...
Colorings must be declared.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Many foods and cosmetics contain carmine and cochineal, but they have been hidden under the rubric of "artificial coloring" or "'colors added.'" The FDA has ruled that manufacturers must dearly state on labels that carmine and cochineal are in those products. The final rule, published Jan ....
2009 predictions on cosmetic front.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009; ... There will be an increase in horror stories about consumers having bargain cosmetic procedures, and Botox will finally get some competition this year, according to a list of predictions from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The professional society said that the ...
Protect your data!(MANAGING YOUR DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Last month I wrote about a dermatologist from the Midwest whose office was ransacked and then set on fire. I covered the steps necessary to file a timely and accurate insurance claim. No amount of insurance, however, will recoup one of his worst losses: the data on his destroyed ...
Health care spending was 16.2% of 2007 GDP.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... WASHINGTON -- Growth in U.S. health care spending slowed in 2007 to 6.1%, the lowest annual growth rate since 1998. But at $2.2 trillion, or $7,421 per person, health care spending still represented 16.2% of the nation's overall gross domestic product and was an in crease from ...
Expect closer scrutiny of industry relationships.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... ORLANDO -- Physicians can expect to have their relationships with the pharmaceutical industry examined increasingly more closely, as government steps up its efforts to scrutinize their links with Big Pharma. Pharmaceutical company perks, such as travel subsidies to meetings, ...
Physician looks to the stars.(THE REST OF YOUR LIFE)
Feb 01, 2009; ... During summers as grade school students in Woodland Hills, Calif., Dr. Steven Reeder and his brothers would set up cots in their backyard and sleep beneath the stars, gazing at the cosmos. "We'd fall asleep gazing upward, using binoculars and just the naked eye," recalls Dr ....
A breathtaking night is remembered.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
Feb 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The first time I went to summer camp, I earned a badge for the constellations. And to this day, I could probably still distinguish Auriga from Lepus, if only I could see them. You see, from a stargazing perspective, I am unfortunate enough to ...
Neuropeptide for skin treatment.(PRODUCTS)
Feb 01, 2009 ... In January, the skin care brand Kinerase released its new [C.sup.8] Peptide Intensive Treatment, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles caused by repetitive facial expressions, especially around the eyes and forehead. This product is perfect for all skin types, including normal, oily, ...
V.A.C. wound dressing kit.(PRODUCTS)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The V.A.C. Simplace dressing kit is designed exclusively for use with KCI's V.A.C. Therapy System. The dressing contains several features to simplify application. The new spiral-shaped GranuFoam dressing is prescored, reducing the need the cut ...
Portable skin resurfacing system.(PRODUCTS)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The eMatrix Skin Resurfacing System is a portable touch screen device that allows physicians to program dermatologic procedures requiring skin resurfacing. The device uses Matrix RF, the world's first RF-only technology for fractional ablation and skin resurfacing. The device's ...
Photopneumatic-based acne Tx.(PRODUCTS)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The Profusion Skin Therapy (Isolaz Pro) System is available for acne treatment and skin rejuvenation. The system utilizes a two-step process. First, a photopneumatic device uses suction to remove the acne plug and delivers broadband laser light to kill acne-causing bacteria. Second, an ...
Hyperpigmentation treatment.(PRODUCTS)
Feb 01, 2009 ... Cosmelan M.D. Depigmentation Treatment is designed for the correction of resistant hyperpigmentation. Its prescription-only formula is a fast-acting combination of retinoic acid and hydroquinone. The product is compatible with all skin types, from fair to dark. Improvements may be seen as ...
Anti-Wrinkle product line.(PRODUCTS)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The Rilastil Hydrotenseur Anti-Wrinkle line of skin care products is designed to treat the many causes of wrinkles. The line includes an eye contour cream, concentrate in drops, a moisturizing cream, and a nourishing cream. Each product contains new ingredients formulated to improve the ...
Diagnosis: Renbok phenomenon.(CASE OF THE MONTH)
Feb 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A 33-year-old man complained of patchy hair loss that started in his beard and spread to the rest of his body over the past 6 years. He had a history of chronic scaly lesions on his elbows and knees for 12 years. The only normal hair growth left was within ...
Exploring the role of genetics in atopic dermatitis.(INTRODUCTION)
Feb 01, 2009; ... New research insights concerning genetic mutations associated with atopic dermatitis are improving our understanding of cutaneous barrier dysfunction and fueling new approaches to therapy in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis. Recent scientific investigations have identified ...
Filaggrin variants and susceptibility to atopic dermatitis.
Feb 01, 2009 ... The structural protein filaggrin plays a major role in the formation and maintenance of the skin's cornified envelope, or barrier. In response to deficiency, injury, or environmental insults, the barrier's protective proteins, including filaggrin, might be upregulated to maintain barrier ...
Impact of prevalent FLG mutations on atopic dermatitis risk.
Feb 01, 2009 ... The recognition that mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG) greatly increase susceptibility to atopic dermatitis created a vast potential for research to characterize with greater certainty the mechanistic pathways involved in the disease. Dozens of population-specific FLG ...
EpiCeram[R] emulsion, a multi-lipid, ceramide-dominant emulsion, demonstrates comparable efficacy to a mid-potent topical steroid for atopic dermatitis control.
Feb 01, 2009 ... Current therapy for atopic dermatitis includes use of topical steroids and immunomodulators, which may be associated with potentially unacceptable long-term side effects. The limitations of existing therapies have created a need for other therapeutic options. EpiCeram[R] Emulsion, a ...
Exploring population-specific genetics of atopic dermatitis.
Feb 01, 2009 ... Multiple studies have established that mutations in the gene encoding filaggrin (FLG) cause ichthyosis vulgaris and predispose individuals to atopic dermatitis. Most of the studies to date have been carried out in European populations. As a result, the extent to which FLG mutations ...
Genetics of atopic dermatitis: beyond filaggrin variants.
Feb 01, 2009 ... Filaggrin has a central role in maintaining skin barrier integrity and function. Mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG), including two prevalent variants and several rare ones, confer a strong risk for atopic dermatitis and allergen sensitization. Evidence linking FLG mutations ...
Common FLG variants provide incomplete explanation of atopic dermatitis genetics.
Feb 01, 2009 ... Studies have demonstrated a strong genetic component to atopic dermatitis. The linkage tracks to chromosome 1q21, which contains the epidermal differentiation complex. The complex consists of genes involved in the formation of essential components of the epidermis, including the filaggrin ...