Pediatric Dermatology

National report ? More basic research into atopic dermatitis (AD) needs to be conducted to understand the subsets of the condition and to generate new therapies to expand the therapeutic choices for the patient, according to Lawrence Chan, M.D., professor and head of the department of dermatology at the University of Illinois. Specifically, differentiating between "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" AD is critical.

In patients for whom rheumatologists once hoped to achieve 20 percent improvement, Dr. Lisse says that with TNF inhibitors, "We're now looking for 50 or 70 percent, or even remission."

San Francisco ? Treating the 65 and older patient is becoming a growing issue in dermatology. While some 35 million Americans ? about one in every eight people ? are elderly today, the senior population is expected to increase to one in five people, or an estimated 70 million, by 2030, according to Wendy E. Roberts, M.D., a dermatologist in Rancho Mirage and assistant clinical professor of medicine at Loma Linda University Medical School, Loma Linda, Calif.

FDA announced that the two topical eczema drugs must carry boxed warning labels about a possible risk of cancer.

Carefully scrutinized, the evidence does not support an actual malignancy risk.

My electronic world observations were further influenced by experiences while visiting a resident-run dermatology clinic.

Macon, Ga. -- Results of a study conducted by a group of dermatologists here show that sufferers of severe persistent dermatitis may find Xolair (omalizumab) to be more effective than standard treatments.

Washington -- The American Academy of Dermatology and the National Jewish Medical and Research Center have issued statements protesting new "black box" cancer warnings the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered on two drugs used to treat eczema: Elidel Cream (Novartis ) and Protopic ointment (Astellas Pharma).

This former maximum-security federal penitentiary held such notorious criminals as Al Capone, "Creepy" Carpis and Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz." It was a prison from 1934 to 1963 and reopened in 1972 as a recreation area with a self-guiding trail, cellblock tour, slide show and ranger programs. Wear warm clothes and comfortable shoes. Call (415) 705-5555 for times of departure from Pier 41.

Presently, VistA-Office EHR supports electronic reproductions of paper patient charts, from vital sign entry and viewing to problem list and medication management.

If your life were in jeopardy, wouldn't you get a second opinion? Isn't your financial life important as well?

CTCL can look like atypical eczema or atypical psoriasis and it can be treated as such long before it is accurately identified.

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

Portland, Ore. - Recently concerns have arisen regarding chronic use of the calcineurin inhibitors, Elidel cream (Novartis) and Protopic ointment (Astellas), in treating atopic dermatitis because of their potential association with infection and malignancy.

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.

Pressure is building in Washington to move forward with the federal government's proposed pay-for-performance Medicare reimbursement program.

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.

I have tried unsuccessfully to find a single reference which describes the natural history of Bowen's disease.

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.

Washington -- Two separate studies show that two companies have developed human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines that appear to be highly effective in preventing vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer and genital warts.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A Malaysian study has found that the vitamin derived from antioxidant-rich palm oil is more potent than other forms of vitamin E when used to accelerate healing of dermal wounds.

Buenos Aires, Argentina — WorldNow reports that researchers in Argentina have successfully tested a new vaccine to prevent recurrence of melanoma.

National report — Minimally invasive procedures provide a wealth of lift options for patients, and the trend will continue, Sorin Eremia, M.D., tells Dermatology Times.

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

National report — Women dermatologists contacted by Dermatology Times say they chose their specialty because it permits a manageable schedule, enabling them to immerse themselves in creative, artistic medicine while maintaining quality of life — in parenting and otherwise — outside of their profession.

National report — Experts tell Dermatology Times that in addition to learning to do more with less, dermatologists face financial challenges unique to their specialty.

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

Advances in genome-scanning technology, coupled with the human genome sequence, allow researchers to pinpoint candidate genes that are altered in the cancer.

Buenos Aires, Argentina — WorldNow reports that researchers in Argentina have successfully tested a new vaccine to prevent recurrence of melanoma.