News

New Orleans — Hand eczema is one of the most common work-related illnesses or diseases. But diagnosis is complicated because hand eczema is almost always a group of concurrent reactions (to irritants, allergens and friction) that is exacerbated by the use of water, according to Frances J. Storrs, M.D., professor emerita of dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.

Washington — Although HIV-1 and HSV-2 are unrelated viruses, differing greatly in structure, size, mode of replication, mechanism of action and other criteria, there exists an epidemiological symmetry between the two viruses.

New Orleans — Combining a popular topical retinoid with a widely used antibiotic — and applying them at the same time as if they were one drug — clearly outperforms using either agent separately in treating acne, according to new data presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) here.

New Orleans — Recent headlines underscore the life-threatening dangers of topical medications — information that may shock the lay community. Dermatologists should take into account the well-known risks to internal organ systems that these drugs present, according to Peter J. Aronson, M.D.

Increasingly, the danger of physician burnout is gaining recognition. A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 288, No.12) cites initiatives developed to help doctors deal with stress, including a mandate from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations developed to address physician well-being — outside of any disciplinary actions.

Washington — The federal government has taken a major step toward implementing the new Medicare prescription drug program provided under the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) with the finalization of regulations to implement the new provisions.

Most people experience speed bumps in life. Sometimes a few collisions on blind curves are thrown into the mix. I seemed to be the exception. I never experienced speed bumps or nasty curves; I cruised along as extroverted and athletic, and considered myself reasonably handsome and intelligent. This came to a halt in my mid 20s. Suddenly, the genetic switch for rosacea was flipped.

Manchester, England — In a widely heralded development, a team of British scientists at the University of Manchester have used a commercial piezoelectric inkjet printer to deposit a single layer of fibroblasts on a bioabsorbable scaffold. Their ultimate goal is to produce a customized tissue that will facilitate complicated repairs of damaged skin.

New Orleans — Various environmental phenomena, such as the depletion of tropical rain forests, can affect human health — for instance, by eliminating the potential for lifesaving medications, says Peyton Weary, M.D., professor emeritus of dermatology at the University of Virginia and former president of the National Association of Physicians for the Environment.

There has been a boon in advances for the treatment of psoriasis, spanning an arsenal of new biologic therapies. As a group, biologics are already the most prescribed systemic medications for the treatment of psoriasis, according to Mark Lebwohl, M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City, who discussed many on the market.

Richard G. Glogau, M.D., clinical professor of dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, spoke about the best way to obtain satisfactory outcomes in soft tissue augmentation, yesterday. He said matching defects to appropriate materials and balancing patient expectations and economics along the way are key.

Combining physical modalities represents the newest innovative approach to non-invasive whole body rejuvenation, according to Neil S. Sadick, M.D., F.A.C.P,, F.A.A.C.S, He spoke yesterday.

Stephen Tyring, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., professor, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, presented a talk on the newest advances in antiviral therapy, yesterday. He said, overall, that physicians now have an increase of knowledge pertaining to the diagnosis and management strategies for the herpes virus family, the pox viruses, mumps, measles, rubella, parvovirus B 19 and retroviruses as well as the viral etiologies of hepatitis.

Dermatologists are uniquely qualified to make early diagnosis of acute cutaneous necrosis, which allows early therapeutic intervention and improves overall outcome for these patients, says John C. Hall, M.D.

Biologic therapies are promising agents for the treatment of psoriasis, offering successful therapy without the organ toxicity associated with traditional systemic approaches such as methotrexate and cyclosporine, says Jeffrey M. Weinberg, M.D.

The following physicians have been named to the AAD Board of Directors for a four-year term: Lawrence F. Eichenfield, M.D., San Diego; Michael D. Tharp, M.D., Chicago; William D. James, M.D., Philadelphia; and Susan H. Weinkle, M.D., Bradenton, Fla.

DermaQuest Skin Therapy presents a glycolic acid product line, including two cleansers that contain the acid. The Glycolic Acid Cleanser, a 15 percent glycolic acid formulation, is oil-free and contains encapsulated glycolic acid that exfoliates skin without causing dryness and irritation, the company says.

The Whisper extended ablation laser is one of several new technologies designed to bridge the gap between purely ablative and non-ablative rejuvenation, providing the best of both worlds, the manufacturer says.

Functional Aspiration Controlled Electrothermal Stimulation (FACES) appears to be a safe, effective, and very well-tolerated technique for reducing the appearance of wrinkles, reported Michael H. Gold, M.D.

Combining a popular topical retinoid with a widely used antibiotic - and applying them at the same time as if they were one drug - clearly outperforms using either agent separately in treating acne. The key is adding to them a novel aqueous hydrogel which solubilizes the two old stand-by drugs and stabilizes them to provide a particularly effective once-daily treatment.

There has been a boon in advances for the treatment of psoriasis, spanning an arsenal of new biologic therapies. As a group, biologics are already the most prescribed systemic medications for the treatment of psoriasis, according to Mark Lebwohl, M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City, who discussed many on the market.

Pharmaceutical Specialties is demonstrating its Vanicream Sunscreens at the 63rd Annual Meeting here.

Pfizer is launching a new addition to its Rogaine line of products, a scented formula for both women and men that is non-irritating and designed to enhance compliance.

Subcision with autologous fat transfer is an effective technique for managing patients who have developed surface irregularities after undergoing a radiofrequency tissue tightening procedure, said Rhoda Narins, M.D. at a symposium yesterday.

Dermatology residents paying for their own training could offer benefits for academic dermatologists, according to Noah S. Scheinfeld, M.D., St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital and Columbia University.

Facial reconstruction doesn't have to be as complicated a procedure as it might sound, according to Ken K. Lee, M.D., Oregon Health and Science University.

NeoStrata is now offering a new treatment option to enhance the results of its Glycolic Acid Peels. The Citriate Peel Boosters come in three formulations for specific problem areas.

PharmaDerm is launching two new marketing campaigns toward dermatologists at the 63rd Annual Meeting.

According to a research study presented yesterday, infliximab (Remicade) was found effective in treating psoriatic arthritis.

Lidocaine toxicity associated with use of topical anesthetic creams in patients undergoing laser procedures is a major concern that dermatologic surgeons need to be aware of, said Roy G. Geronemus, M.D., speaking in a surgical symposium on "When Bad Things Happen to Good Surgeons."