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Search out the smallest FDIC-member bank in your neighborhood and give it your business. You'll receive more personal attention from a small bank than you will at a financial behemoth and you'll have exactly the same insurance protection.

LaJolla, Calif. — As surgical abilities expand in dermatology, so too has the need for a thorough understanding of the surgical anatomy of the face by dermatologists, Hugh Greenway, M.D., says.

The "vaccine" approach of customizing the intervention to the patient is antithetical to the blockbuster mentality of much of the pharmaceutical industry.

Essential information to gather at the consult includes possible medical limitations, such as allergies, medications the patient is taking and whether the patient has a history of oral herpes simplex.

There has been much buzz in the news recently about the use of biologics for the treatment of psoriasis. But what are the pros and cons of these treatments, and how should they fit into physicians' armamentaria? Dermatology Times asked Staff Correspondent Lisa Samalonis to speak with Norman Levine, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and M. Alan Menter, M.D., Texas Dermatology Associates PA, Baylor University Medical Center, for their input.

Las Vegas — Treating difficult eczema cases requires starting with the basics and advancing to approaches such as combination therapies and compounded prescriptions when needed, according to an expert.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are type I transmembrane PRRs that are now known to be essential in the recognition of the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that are unique to microbes.

Among the certainties awaiting new dermatologists joining or starting a practice — especially one specializing in cosmetic dermatology — is this: They'll be doing a lot of procedures using Botox (Allergan) and fillers.

There are now approximately 60 million people who are HIV-infected, while each day, 16,000 individuals become newly infected and 8,000 die from their disease.

Dermatologists report using various methods to keep abreast of the latest in dermatology, often with an eye to finding news outlets that are most accessible.

This time during her physical examination, the patient was certain that she was touched inappropriately.

As might be expected with any new cosmetic procedure, suture suspension, popularly known as "thread lift," has engendered significant media attention. Thread lift has been promoted on "Oprah," "Today" and "Good Morning America" as a "lunch-time facelift." More recently, articles in The New York Times and Allure magazine have questioned the predictability and longevity of results, and the potential for complications.

National report - Biologic agents will not necessarily be more effective than current drugs used for dermatological conditions, but will produce less toxicities, says the professor and chairman of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N. C.

Like the pre-change certification process, the new one is not mandatory, though the lion's share of reputable medical facilities and healthcare organizations have required board certification, and most physicians have willingly complied.

State College, Pa. -- Researchers at Pennsylvania State University say they have discovered a gene that is responsible for Europeans' pale skin tones and the dark skin tones of Africans.

Berkeley, Calif. -- A new study says that an additive commonly found in cosmetics may inhibit the activity of sirtuins, enzymes associated with lifespan control in yeast and other organisms.

Washington -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported recently that Zostavax, Merck & Co.?s experimental vaccine to prevent shingles, does help curb related pain but does not significantly affect rates of death or hospitalization, U.S. regulatory staff said in documents released recently.

Menlo Park, Calif. -- After an unsuccessful attempt to persuade pharmaceutical companies to fund further research on a head lice treatment he says he discovered and developed, a dermatologist here has revealed that the treatment is actually an over-the-counter skin cleanser.

I'm not a big fan of New Year's resolutions. Before the first month of the new year rolls to a close, most will already be little more than hazy memories. Still, the beginning of a new year is a good time to reflect on the year just past, and take stock of your personal financial goals for the future — where you're heading, how you'll get there.

Permanent fillers ... remain a tough sell as doctors increasingly consider the ever-changing structure of the face as it ages.

National report — Dermatologists in private practice face growing challenges in managing their finances, a recent survey says.

I'm not a big fan of New Year's resolutions. Before the first month of the new year rolls to a close, most will already be little more than hazy memories. Still, the beginning of a new year is a good time to reflect on the year just past, and take stock of your personal financial goals for the future — where you're heading, how you'll get there.

The ever-changing United States tax law is the most complex set of rules ever created by one society. The lengthy and confusing Internal Revenue Code is only the beginning.

Vancouver, British Columbia — The vertical growth phase of melanoma presents as a tumor nodule or tumor-infiltrating lesion.

Atlanta — Mesotherapy, a method of delivering drugs or mixtures subcutaneously, has been used in Europe for more than 50 years and in the United States for about five. According to one physician, there are reasons that mesotherapy has gained less-than-rave reviews domestically.

Baltimore — While there is general agreement that certain features define female facial beauty, it is often some idiosyncrasy that distinguishes exquisite beauty from ordinary attractiveness, according to Murad Alam, M.D., speaking at the East Coast Dermatology Seminar, here.

Even seasoned dermatopathologists may be uneasy with the diagnosis of exotic worms and fungi like this.

If fingernails are abnormal but toenails are normal, the diagnosis is not likely to be onychomycosis. An exception to this rule, however, is in cases of Candida onycholysis, which are more common in women and among those with Raynaud's syndrome.

National report — Misdiagnoses and misconceptions can hinder treatment when pediatric dermatology emergencies occur, an expert says.

Lyon, France - A partial face transplant recently performedin France raises both technical and ethical concerns, doctors andethicists tell Dermatology Times.