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Physician's Profile: Quest for excellence: Busy doctor follows in footsteps of parents, grandfather
May 1st 2009Charles E. Crutchfield III, M.D., seemed destined for a career in medicine. His mother, Susan, a family practitioner, was the first black female - and youngest, at age 23 - to graduate from the University of Minnesota Medical School, in 1963. His father, Charles II, is a nationally recognized obstetrician-gynecologist.
Laser-assisted hair removal: Procedure beneficial for treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa
May 1st 2009Results of a prospective, split-side controlled trial enrolling 22 patients with skin types II-VI indicate hair removal with the long-pulsed 1,064 nm Nd:YAG laser is associated with significant improvement in lesions of hidradenitis suppurativa without causing significant adverse effects.
Pediatric psoriasis: C-reactive protein levels associated with disease severity, BMI
May 1st 2009Recent study results indicate that there is a relationship between the severity of psoriasis and CRP levels, as well as BMI in pediatric patients. These patients are also at a higher cardiovascular risk, begging the need for treatment strategies in terms of lipid-lowering therapies.
Tending to business: Follow these recommendations to help navigate tough times
May 1st 2009Practice management consultants Elizabeth W. Woodcock, M.B.A., the founder of Woodcock & Associates, Atlanta, and Pamela L. Moore, Ph.D., director of content and strategy for Physicians Practice, Inc., offer these tips for protecting your practice during tough times
Male genital dermatoses: Timely intervention has benefits for quality and quantity of life
May 1st 2009The spectrum of male genital dermatoses encompasses a range of infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic disorders. In providing proper diagnosis and management, the dermatologist can play an important role in minimizing the morbidity and mortality that can accompany these conditions.
Business Consult: Cutting costs: Find savings to help your practice survive tough times
May 1st 2009Revenue is flat, even dropping, at many dermatology practices. The recession that began last year is leading more Americans to cut back on preventive care, as well as elective procedures and treatments.
Managing dysplastic nevi: Early identification curtails melanoma incidence
May 1st 2009Early identification of dysplastic nevi (DM) is crucial, as patients with DM are at significantly greater risk of developing malignant melanoma. An expert advocates a DN management strategy that utilizes total cutaneous examination, total cutaneous photography and dermoscopy.
'Telederm from theater': Online skincare management consultations assist military doctors
May 1st 2009Dermatologists play a key role in the health and well-being of armed services throughout the world. Climate, hygiene and environmental factors all contribute to the spread of cutaneous disorders and infections.
Worth the effort: Rewards trump concerns for Mohs surgery treatment for lentigo maligna
May 1st 2009Even Mohs surgeons with ample experience in detecting basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas can have difficulty detecting malignant melanocytes in frozen sections, making many apprehensive about using Mohs surgery for lentigo maligna. But proponents of the technique say the fast results and reduced rate of recurrence make Mohs well worth the effort.
Actinic keratosis vagaries: Consensus committee addresses problem of 'overlapping identities'
May 1st 2009Research suggests that AKs are most likely early-stage superficial SCCs. The dermatology, pathology and dermatopathology communities need to change their classification or prove that AKs are distinct, an expert says. Virtually all AK research is fraught with inadequate data and lack of standardized protocols, he says.
Botox turns 20: Safety, efficacy unparalleled - but competition lurks
May 1st 2009Nearly two decades after the introduction of botulinum toxin A for therapeutic indications, Botox Cosmetic (botulinum toxin A, Allergan) ranks among the safest and most successful æsthetic treatments available, dermatologists say. But, because of its relatively high cost, doctors say they would welcome competitive botulinum toxin options.
Photodynamic therapy systems: Doctors face off on pros, cons as skin cancer treatment
May 1st 2009The use of photodynamic therapy is increasing, and yet the modality hasn't made much headway in the United States as a treatment for nonmelanoma skin cancers. Two dermatologists face off on its prospects for skin cancer treatment in the United States.
On the job: Occupational skin diseases easily overlooked
May 1st 2009Occupational dermatitis is common, but often overlooked by primary care physicians. Therefore, dermatologists' skills are needed to not only diagnose work-related dermatitis, but also to identify the offending agents and manage the condition.
Brighter days: Derm's skincare, therapy program lifts spirits of cancer patients
May 1st 2009Brighter Days, a program launched by dermatologist Donald Richey, M.D., of Chico, Calif., adds a humanitarian touch to oncology treatment protocols. The program offers personalized skincare to help patients manage the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, in a group therapy environment.
Navigating the banks: New service charges, confusing options, varying interest rates abound
May 1st 2009Among the most hard-hit victims of today's troubled economy are the nation's banks. New service charges, confusing account options and wildly varying interest rates are just some of the techniques some banks are using to help pump up their slumping profits - at your expense.
Opinion: Off-label drug use: Derms weigh in on role of pharmaceutical reps
May 1st 2009If it weren't for off-label drug use, dermatologists might have no medications at all. That may be a facetious statement, but it is one commonly repeated by dermatologists. A study from Stanford University a few years ago indicated that 20 percent of all drugs were prescribed off-label, and with biologics, fillers, immunomodulators and other drugs, dermatology's percentage may be even higher.
Hitting where it hurts: Medicare policy change affects Mohs surgeons' bottom line
May 1st 2009Mohs surgeons are experiencing a drastic reduction in reimbursement due to a change in Medicare policy, and further cuts may be coming. The task for dermatologists who perform Mohs surgery is to face the fact of reduced reimbursements and work with the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) to reverse these measure
Cosmetic Conundrums: 'ObNOXious' aging: Collagen-destroying enzyme increases with advancing age
May 1st 2009ArNOX is an abbreviation for age-related NOX, with NOX representing NADH oxidase proteins. Much of the research on arNOX was completed by D.M. Morré, Ph.D., and D.J. Morré, Ph.D., at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. Several types of NOX have been identified, including constitutive or normal NOX (cNOX) and tumor NOX (tNOX).