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Check out these lunch hot spots for a quick break during the day. All are close to the convention center.

Great dining can be a New Orleans visitor';s main objective and probably should be with the endless mouth-watering options the city has to offer.Whether you're in the mood for authentic Cajun or Creole dishes or are looking for the perfect pasta, glance through these choices and find exactly what you crave.

Looking for an expert to tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the Crescent City, ghost lore or even swamp life? Pick an adventure from the extensive list that follows to find just what suits your touring tastes.

Miami Beach, Fla. — New information regarding the treatment of fat and cellulite gives dermatologists something to consider as an option to traditional treatments. According to Doris M. Hexsel, M.D., the new research and clinical experience she presented at the H&H Dermatology Seminar are crucial to decisions about incorporating any new treatment method.

Biologic drugs have changed the lives of many psoriatic patients with severe disease, but the potential benefits offered by biotechnology are only beginning to be realized.

National report — Anecdotal evidence indicates that the onion extract/allantoin gel product Mederma (Merz Pharmaceuticals) might be an effective first-line therapy for diminishing scars and associated symptoms.

Newport Beach, Calif. — When a patient presents with multiple facial papules, consider the rare but potentially fatal condition known as Birt-Hogg-Dub? syndrome, says Melvin W. Chiu, M.D., who spoke at the annual meeting of the Pacific Dermatologic Association.

Auckland, New Zealand — Researchers here are studying the effectiveness of manuka honey with compression bandaging in the treatment of leg ulcers, according to Andrew Jull, R.N., M.A.

Leiden, The Netherlands — Cochrane reviewers evaluating published studies of interventions for rosacea concluded there is sufficient evidence demonstrating the efficacy and safety of topical metronidazole and azelaic acid cream used short-term. However, as another important outcome, their analyses also highlighted the need for better-quality studies evaluating treatments for rosacea.

Toronto — The nonsedating, selective H1-receptor antagonist desloratadine improves signs and symptoms of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), but also has a positive effect on quality of life (QOL) for affected patients, according to Charles W. Lynde, M.D.

National report — Acne scarring is a multifaceted problem that may involve multimodal treatment, says Gerald N. Goldberg, M.D.

Boston — When drug allergies are suspected, there can be strategic interaction between dermatologists and allergists because of the complementary expertise each specialist offers in deciphering often complicated eruptions, according to Mark S. Dykewicz, M.D., professor of internal medicine, director, training program in allergy and immunology, St. Louis University School of Medicine.

National report — The 0.45 percent triclosan Dial Complete product was as mild as or milder than other hand-washing products commonly used by healthcare personnel, based on three comparison studies.

National report — The trend in cleansing agents over the past five decades has been to develop not only products that would be less drying to the skin than standard soap bars, but also to develop products that would actually deliver moisture.

Everything old is new again could be the theme of a promising new therapy for sufferers of immune-mediated skin disease — CellCept?. P. R?gine Mydlarski, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., assistant professor at the University of Calgary, says the reformulation of medication that has been around for nearly a century is an up-and-coming treatment for skin conditions in the hands of the dermatologist.

Washington — Promising results were seen in a phase 2 trial of the first drug in a new class of cephalosporins active against multi-drug resistant Staphlococcus aureus, according to Markus Heep, M.D., medical microbiologist and project physician at Basilea Pharmaceutica, Ltd. in Basel, Switzerland.

The phase 4 studies are designed to gather additional information on Metvix PDT compared with alternative treatments along with the use in specific patient populations and in new ways.

San Diego, Calif. — Studies are under way evaluating purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) inhibitors as a novel treatment for T-cell related skin diseases.

Many cases of hair thinning are reversible. And for those that are not, patients often can stop their hair loss with treatment.

Albany, Ga. — A rural dermatologist who treats several hundred patients with psoriasis —70 with biologics — has presented two one-hour community seminars about new treatments, and she plans to give more.

Singapore — Recent clinical experience with biologic response modifiers suggests that chronic plaque psoriasis may not be represented by a single disease, but by several, and treating it effectively could require combinations of older and newer therapies.

Biofilms are resistant to antiseptics and antibiotics for a number of reasons.

The waiting time to see dermatologists has been increasing, significantly. In the U.S., it is 36 days for a new appointment, and in Texas it is 34 days.

Philadelphia - The state of the art in lip augmentation isn't about fillers or filling technique but a conceptual breakthrough, says Sydney R. Coleman, M.D., a plastic surgeon with a New York City practice.

Seattle - Dermatologists are usually the first specialists to see patients who have psoriasis and who might have psoriatic arthritis. Their decision about how to treat these patients can impact the cutaneous and arthritic manifestations of the disease.

Unfortunately, most physicians only use traditional qualified plans, pensions and 401(k)s that are restrictive and burdensome, whilecompletely ignoring the more flexible non-qualified variety.

Washington, D.C. - While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug approval and monitoring controversy has ensnared dermatologists prescribing isotretinoin, the implications of overhauling the drug approval process could be much more far-reaching to the profession.

Working with a visual medium is what dermatology is all about.

Miami Beach –Medical spas represent the natural evolution of dermatological practices into complete skin care centers, according to Bruce E. Katz, M.D.

Boston - The past year has been full of new developments for botulinum toxin (BT), says Neil Sadick, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.A.C.S.