News

Direct-to-consumer advertising in U.S. healthcare is at both a zenith and crossroads where capitalism meets the ethical practice of medicine. DTC spending has never been higher, rising steadily since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the tactic in 1997.

Only 10 percent of PSORS1 carriers affectedPhysician: James T. Elder, M.D., Ph.D.

Agents may find effectiveness by acting as nuclear hormone receptor ligandsPhysician: Kund Kragballe, M.D.

Etanercept inhibits TNF concentrationPhysician: Alice Gottlieb, M.D., Ph.D.

Atlanta - A radiofrequency device for aesthetic and therapeutic applications has the potential to revolutionize cosmetic surgery, but pain control measures must be a high priority for the device to be used at an effective fluence, said Richard E. Fitzpatrick, M.D., of Dermatology Associates/Cosmetic Laser Associates of San Diego County.

New Orleans - Restoring the primary structural arcs of the face through facial fat rebuilding is a more effective alternative to conventional cosmetic surgery of the aging face, Lisa M. Donofrio, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Paris - While prevention is the best strategy for managing bleeding complications of cutaneous reconstruction, when that fails, a favorable outcome is still likely given proper care, David Zloty, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Paris - Tincture of time can be better than any early intervention for optimizing scar appearance, but various surgical and nonsurgical techniques, when used at appropriate intervals, can be effective for hastening that process or addressing lesions that remain unacceptable after following a wait-and-see approach, Neil Swanson, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Paris - Refinements and advances in flap techniques used to repair nasal defects after skin cancer surgery have been valuable for improving flap survival and cosmetic outcomes, even of large defects, Marc D. Brown, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Los Angeles - Laser pretreatment dramatically increases the transdermal delivery of the chemotherapeutic agent 5-FU, according to Dr. Kuo-Hsien Wang, M.D. who presented at the Society for Investigative Dermatology annual meeting. "This method has potential for the treatment of cutaneous malignant diseases and precancerous lesions, such as actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, and superficial basal cell carcinoma," he said.

Orlando - Cellular energy supplied through substrates of the creatine kinase system accelerates skin repair and healing, reduces sunburn, and protects skin from UV damage. The processes, in turn, can improve skin quality, moisture retention, and suppleness, according to Nadim Shaath, Ph.D., president of Alpha Research and Development Ltd., White Plains, N.Y.

Los Angeles - The use of lipid-lowering drugs may inhibit the development of melanoma, according to results of two separate studies presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology.

Los Angeles - Cholesterol, in keratinocytes, has the capacity to prevent ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation-induced gene expression, according to results of research conducted by German researcher Jean Krutmann, M.D., and colleagues.

Ann Arbor, Mich. - An allogeneic melanoma vaccine - Melacine, made by Corixa Corp. - might provide a survival benefit in node-negative melanoma patients expressing specific HLA class I antigens, according to recent reports.

Los Angeles - Go ahead, let them see you sweat. In addition to regulating the body's temperature, sweat is antibacterial, Masamoto Murakami, M.D., Ph.D., said here at the annual meeting of the Society of Investigative Dermatology.

Paris - Topical 1 percent ciclopiroxolamine cream is a safe and effective treatment for mild-to-moderate facial seborrheic dermatitis, according to research presented at the World Congress of Dermatology.

New York - Dermatologists would be called upon to provide differential diagnoses if someone had symptoms of what might be smallpox, according to colleagues versed in bioterrorism.

Paris - Combination topical treatment with urea 40 percent plus an antifungal offers an "a-peeling" approach for successful management of moccasin tinea pedis, Boni E. Elewski, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Q. Is mineral oil comedogenic? A. Mineral oil is one of the most common ingredients in skincare products and colored cosmetics. It is a lightweight inexpensive oil that is odorless and tasteless. One of the common concerns regarding the use of mineral oil is its presence on several lists of comedogenic substances.

Los Angeles - Cutaneous atrophy, the bane of topical corticosteroid treatment, may have met its match in a thyroid hormone analogue, according to Jan Faergemann, M.D., Ph.D.

Paris - Increased understanding of the basic molecular mechanisms involved in angiogenesis has suggested new targets for treating a number of dermatological and other diseases, and many compounds affecting angiogenesis are in clinical trials. However, questions remain to be answered about potential strategies for optimizing the efficacy of pro- and anti-angiogenic interventions and the safety of these novel treatments, Peter Carmeliet, Ph.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Los Angeles - Already approved for the treatment of acne, tazarotene (Tazorac) is being investigated for the treatment of facial photodamage and clogged pores. The FDA is expected to grant regulatory approval for tazarotene to treat photodamaged facial skin within a few months.

There is still hope for a Medicare "giveback" bill before Congress adjourns for good this year, and the possibility of a broader Medicare drug benefit than the discount card just announced by the Bush administration could be the best last chance to get this done.

Los Angeles - Dermatologists concerned that long-term topical tretinoin use might worsen epidermal cellular atypia can rest assured it does not, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigational Dermatology. In fact, the treatment used commonly to rid patients of the fine lines and mottled discoloration of sun damage improves epidermal cellular atypia.

Paris - Judicious use of antibiotics is critical for addressing the increasing problem of bacterial resistance, Bruce H. Thiers, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

It's been discussed for years, but now the AMA is reportedly a step closer to funding a physician's union.

Efalizumab (Raptiva), an investigational therapy for moderate-to-severe psoriasis, achieved its primary efficacy endpoint in a randomized phase III study.

Leicester - Skin anthrax may be more common in Britain than previously thought, according to a Reuters report.

New York - As the debate continues on the merits of widespread smallpox vaccination, a report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology cautioned that vaccines can trigger severe skin reactions among susceptible individuals.

Los Angeles - The restoration of the blood flow in ischemic limbs in mice is accelerated when epidermal stem cells are injected into the site, Martine Dunnwald, PharmD, Ph.D., told colleagues at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology.