News

New York - Awareness and sensitivity about beliefs and cultural practices are important tools in treating the Asian population - especially those that are newly immigrated, Henry W. Lim, M.D., said at the annual meeting of The Skin of Color Center, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York.

New Orleans -Developing an understanding of mechanisms of tumor metastasis is an important tool for clinicians, Tri H. Nguyen, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

New York - A number of drugs used commonly in dermatology have teratogenic potential, making careful screening and comprehensive and ongoing pregnancy prevention counseling a must when prescribing medications for female patients, Robyn Gmyrek, M.D., said.

Although the Bush Administration, in the person of the Solicitor General, filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court suggesting that it refuse to hear an appeal from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) on Maine's Rx prescription law, the court agreed to hear the case.

Rome - Human herpesvirus-8 has been implicated as the causative agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, often seen in patients with AIDS. Until recently, primary HHV-8 infection had been described only in immunocompromised patients, such as AIDS patients. Massimo Andreoni, M.D., and colleagues from Italy and Egypt presented the first report of primary HHV-8 infection in immunocompetent individuals (JAMA 2002; 287: 1295-1300).

New Orleans - The novel antifungal agent caspofungin (Cancidas) is a helpful addition to the armamentarium of medications that are currently used to treat aspergillosis, according to Tamara Koss, M.D. It may be a particularly appropriate modality in immunocompromised patients who have not responded to conventional antimycotics, she said.

New Orleans - As antipruritic drugs, newer second-generation oral antihistamines, including loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), fexofenadine (Allegra), and desloratadine (Clarinex), offer several advantages compared with their predecessors. However, clinicians should be aware that these newer compounds are neither all alike nor routinely effective for controlling all types of cutaneous itch, Michael D. Tharp, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Washington - The executive committee of the Board of Directors of the American Medical Association approved the operating budget for Physicians for Responsible Negotiation, the physician's union launched by the AMA in 1999. The final vote from the full board was expected to take place in late July, and advocates were optimistic about the recommendation from the executive committee.

New York - Dermatologists should be aware of cosmetics and cosmetic products for people of color, if only because their patients are quite aware of them, Victoria L. Holloway, M.D., said at the Skin of Color Center's second annual meeting here at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center.

This month Zoe Diana Draelos, M.D. answers questions about shaving.

Despite continued concerns over terrorism and shenanigans by corporate executives that have sent the stock markets tumbling, there is some good news for dermatologists from Washington this summer. By the end of this session of Congress, there is a good chance that last year's Medicare fee cuts will be fixed and that Medicare patients will be given some form of prescription drug coverage.

There is no denying the atmosphere of providing medical care in this country has changed. Increased government regulations, large managed care companies and their restrictions, turf battles, and hospital chains have reduced physician control of medical care and increased competition for patients.

Most dermatologists are trying hard to maximize practice profitability. Trends over the past years have shown that more and more physicians are taking positive steps to assure the continued profitability and success of their practices.

Two recent experiences have prompted me to tilt at still another windmill - that of overuse of systemic antibiotics. The first occurred two weeks ago when my neighbor and friend asked me to evaluate him for a three-day history of a persistent headache. (Why is a dermatologist doing this?) A clinical examination revealed right supraorbital tenderness and a normal neurologic condition, including full function of the right eye muscles and pupils. A clinical diagnosis of right frontal sinusitis was made and he was started on azithromycin.

Coral Gables, Fla. - The Florida Board of Medicine agreed to compromisewith nurse anesthetists and plastic surgeons on a new rule that would putan end to certain office- surgery procedures.

Washington, D.C. - The Prescription Drug User Fee Act of 1992 reducedthe time the U.S. Food and Drug Administration needs to review and approvenew pharmaceuticals, said the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development.

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Hanover, N.H. - Some medical press releases use formats that exaggeratethe perceived importance of findings and do not routinely highlight studylimitations, according to a study published in a recent issue Journal ofthe American Medical Assn.

Montville, N.J. - Berlex Laboratories announced last week the availabilityof a new, convenient 50-gram tube size for Finevin (azelaic acid cream)20 percent for the topical treatment of mild to moderate inflammatory acnevulgaris.

Palo Alto, Calif. - Connetics Corp., based here, plans to start clinicaltrials on a new acne drug that some reports say is "cosmetically elegant."

The World Health Organization added to its arsenal in the fight againstskin cancer by offering guidelines that tell people when its safe to sunbathe.

TheraLight received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administrationto market its UV120-2 UVA/UUVB Phototherapy System for the treatment ofpsoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis.

Antigenics Inc. reports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration grantedthe company's personalized cancer vaccine (Oncophage) orphan drug statusfor the treatment of metastatic melanoma. This offers the company potentialmarket exclusivity for seven years from FDA marketing approval.

You are about to subscribe to Dermatology Times Weekly, dermatology?smost timely, credible news source. With each issue, you'll receive thehottest news items of the week in Dermatology. As a bonus, you will alsoreceive our headline news service - quick announcements on drugapprovals and industry news as they happen. The voice you've grown totrust, Dermatology Times, now weekly and at your fingertips. COMING SOON!

National Report - Annual sunburns are almost family traditionsin the summer, and some 60 percent of young adults experience at least onesunburn a year, says the National Cancer Institute.

Washington&shy - A recent study revealed that many over-the-counterbeauty products can cause birth defects. In fact, 72 percent of 72 productstested by three environmental and advocacy groups were found to containdangerous chemicals called phthalates.

New York - Although it is well known that rash is a common sideeffect of anti-epileptic drugs, less known is that hirsutism in young girlsand baldness in boys may be frequent side effects as well.

New Orleans - Atopic dermatitis is a frustrating condition to treat,and many frequently employed interventions lack scientific support. Thiswas the rationale behind a systematic review of all randomized, controlledtrials of AD conducted by the United Kingdom Department of Health and presentedat the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting by Hywel Williams,Ph.D.

Pilot study shows nine patients with pruritus respond well to topicalmast cell stabilizerNew Orleans - Results of a pilot study suggest the mast cell stabilizercromolyn may be an innovative new topical therapy for itch, Larry E. Millikan,M.D., said.

As Congress tries desperately to balance the need to increase spendingfor homeland defense, lawmakers must still deal with the pressing needsof ongoing, but crucial, programs, such as research into the causes of cancerand other dreaded diseases.