News

Managing test results is a constant challenge for busy dermatology practices that see dozens, if not hundreds, of patients each day. Timely, accurate and consistent management of test results reduces legal risks, improves relationships with patients and referring physicians and helps to lower the level of daily stress in the office.

The unique aspect of the telederm.org philosophy is that every colleague can easily seek diagnostic advice for free from a pool of other colleagues who are willing to share their knowledge.

Anaheim, Calif. — The cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid, or caBIG, is an important introduction of information technology to the war on cancer, much the same as information technology has been used to transform business and the military, according to Kenneth H. Buetow, Ph.D., director of the NCI Center for Bioinformatics and laboratory chief, Laboratory of Population Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md.

Vienna, Austria — Although there appears to be potential for developing systemic methods of protecting skin from sun damage, researchers still seem to be a long way from determining how to do that, according to Harald Maier, M.D.

Philadelphia — The unraveling of the relationship between tumor growth and falling oxygen levels is expanding what is known about cancer and encouraging research into new antitumor therapies, according to M. Celeste Simon, Ph.D.

Chicago — A new combination treatment for advanced metastatic melanoma has performed so impressively in anecdotal cases that its developers are seeking funding for a National Cancer Institute (NCI) pilot trial.

A rapidly growing trend in medical practices is the expansion into ancillary services. The rising costs of operating a medical business have forced physicians to take a look at how they can expand and better serve their patients.

The broad range of fillers available today allows dermatologists to target any depth of the skin and treat an array of cosmetic defects. Now, according to Kevin Pinski, M.D., the emphasis is on indications, and analyzing the skin of each patient to determine which fillers would be best and then tailoring a treatment plan that's just right for that person.

Boston — What distinguishes chronic urticaria — both autoimmune and chronic idiopathic?

Newport Beach, Calif. — A rare instance of cutaneous pseudolymphoma presenting as leonine facies was recently diagnosed in Southern California and treated successfully with a prolonged prednisone taper, says Rebecca Scudiero, M.D., a resident in the division of dermatology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA.

Ann Arbor, Mich. — Accurate, reliable and appropriate documentation of the severity of psoriasis is important in clinical practice and essential for clinical trial research, says Charles N. Ellis, M.D., professor and associate chair, department of dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School.

New Orleans — Transdermal delivery of hyaluronic acid is possible using a technology combining microdermabrasion with a novel electrophoretic system (Ultrapeel with Transderm Ionto, Mattioli Engineering), and this procedure appears to be a safe and effective method for improving facial rhytids, says Jaggi Rao, M.D.

New, exciting treatments for rosacea are on the horizon. Several new topicals will become available, including SR101, which SansRosa Pharmaceuticals has developed to reduce triggers and to treat rosacea redness and flushing.

Chicago — The globalization of business, international adoption, immigration and tourism has given rise to the spread of new and emerging pathogens.

St. Louis — A surge of new dermatologic therapies is presenting a variety of options for treating skin diseases, especially in the area of psoriasis.

New York — By documenting the physical sequelae of mistreatment, dermatologists may play a valuable role in helping victims of torture, says Miguel R. Sanchez, M.D., associate professor of dermatology, New York University School of Medicine.

One doctor wasn't sure what his legal status would be if it were known that he did use imported medications in his office.

Fortunately, dermatologists contacted by Dermatology Times report that the majority of their interactions with sales reps are positive and professional.

The court recognized that members of peer review committees are often in direct competition with those being reviewed, and the system has the potential for abuse of the person being reviewed.

Washington — Physicians seeking to open specialty hospitals that focus on specific practices or procedures can expect to face careful scrutiny from federal regulators who believe those facilities may be generating windfall profits for doctors while creating unfair competition for traditional hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).

The current focus on cosmetic dermatology has spurred interest among dermatology residents and practicing dermatologists about how to master this growing subspecialty.

National report -- A study reported recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests there is evidence countering the widely held belief that people who dye their hair increase their risk of getting cancer.

National report -- Findings of a study reported recently in the New England Journal of Medicine indicate that a one-time shot of a vaccine developed by Merck & Co. significantly reduces adults' chances of acquiring shingles, a painful, sometimes debilitating nerve and skin condition.

Washington -- The House of Representatives has passed a measure that would end conflicts of interest among scientists and doctors on U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panels.

San Antonio - A small study suggests that cold air anesthesia in combination with lidocaine outperforms lidocaine alone in patients receiving Restylane (hyaluronic acid, Q-Med) and Botox (botulinum toxin A, Allergan) injections.

Newtown, Pa. — CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals announces the "highly significant" positive outcomes of two phase 3, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trials designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Oracea for the treatment of rosacea.

National Report - Pooled results from two phase 3 clinical trials demonstrate the efficacy and safety of an investigational acne treatment combining clindamycin and tretinoin in a hydrogel base (Velac, Connetics), James J. Leyden, M.D., reported at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dallas - Most patients with moderate to severe psoriasis are best treated with a combination of topical, phototherapy and/or systemic agents that can be used in a variety of sequences, says Alan Menter, M.D., chairman, division of dermatology, Baylor University Medical Center.

Las Vegas - Nonablative light-based therapy continues to evolve, and with recent innovations, that field has advanced into the use of combination therapies for better outcomes and the ability to simultaneously address both cosmetic and medical skin problems, said Mark S. Nestor, M.D., Ph.D., at the Fall & Winter Dermatology Conference here.

National report — Among topical medications for treating mild-to-moderate acne, antibiotics are the most cost-effective therapy for inflammatory acne while retinoids are the most cost-effective for clearing non-inflammatory lesions, according to the results of a pharmacoeconomic evaluation reported by Stefan Weiss, M.D., at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.