News

Dallas - For psoriasis patients just starting treatment, as well as those who've had poor results from conventional systemic therapies, biologics are a good first-line treatment option. But what about those who've had good results with methotrexate and cyclosporine and are forced to consider alternatives?

New York - While acitretin remains a common oral treatment for psoriasis, oral tazarotene (Allergan), fumaric acid esters (FAEs), and oral pimecrolimus can cut side effects ranging from alopecia to liver and kidney damage, according to a recent study.

Research shows that less than half of patients with severe psoriasis in the United States receive aggressive treatment - systemic drugs, biologic drugs or phototherapy - for their disease. The total number of severely psoriatic patients has been estimated at 120,000 to 450,000 or more.

Each drug delivers a different level of efficacy and duration and, therefore, requires a different treatment strategy to optimize its impact.

Efficacy, safety encourage use for psoriasis

New York - Results of a retrospective review reinforce the long-term safety and tolerability of repeated treatments with botulinum toxin type A (Botox Cosmetic?, Allergan) for cosmetic reasons, said Alastair Carruthers, M.D., at the American Academy of Dermatology's Academy '04 here recently.

New Orleans - BAY 43-9006, a novel signal transduction inhibitor, has very modest activity as a single agent in melanoma; however, it has promising activity in combination with chemotherapy, investigators said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Charleston, S.C. - Biologic agents for pediatric dermatology offer the promise of being safer and much easier to use than traditional drugs, according to Elaine C. Siegfried, M.D., associate clinical professor of pediatrics and dermatology at St. Louis University School of Medicine, Mo.

New York - When diagnosing a pediatric hair disorder, be sure to examine not only the scalp, but also the skin, nails and even the mouth.

When treating black patients for hair and scalp disorders, clinicians must also have an understanding of hair care practices.

Las Vegas - New technologies are bringing increasingly fine resolution to previously fuzzy images and ideas about disease pathways. That, in turn, is generating better-targeted therapies.

Controversial as they are, the new regulations have focused attention on the complex payroll withholding system that every dermatology practice must deal with.

While all financial ratios are important in determining if a stock may be over- or under-valued, combining the ratios can prove very beneficial.

Firing a patient or terminating the physician-patient relationship (PPR)... requires following a certain protocol in order to be accomplished successfully, without risk of litigation from the patient and/or the family.

Dermatologists and other healthcare providers are soon expected to have a formal mechanism for reporting medical errors and near misses without having to worry that the information will be used against them in a lawsuit.

International report - Some soldiers serving in Iraq say military policies that restrict the wearing of hats during physical training are leaving them unprotected from potentially deadly sun exposure.

New York - Melanoma-derived peptide vaccines are currently an exciting area of melanoma immuno-therapy research, according to Douglas J. Schwartzentruber, M.D., medical director and director of the Center for Cancer Care at Goshen Health System, Goshen, Ind., speaking at the Society of Surgical Oncology annual meeting.

New York - Looking for unusual manifestations of common infections and treating them aggressively are keys to managing infections in immunocompromised patients.

New York-An easy-to-use, self-warming patch containing lidocaine and tetracaine provides effective local anesthesia for minor dermatological procedures in adult patients, said Brian Berman, M.D., Ph.D, at the American Academy of Dermatology's Academy '04 meeting here.

Eilat, Israel - For the last 50 years, hydroquinone has been the reference of treatment in hyperpigmentations, and more recently, combination formulas, peelings and adjuvant therapies including sunscreens containing the drug, show promise. However, topical agents have yet to prove a constant and uncontested efficiency, said Daphne Thioly-Bensoussan M.D., during the 28th Annual Meeting of the Israeli Conference of Dermatology and Venerology.

Clinicians should be aware that unrecognized oral candidiasis is a common underlying cause for recalcitrant vulvar disease.

Kona, Hawaii - Tacrolimus ointment is superior to pimecrolimus cream in treating atopic dermatitis, according to recent trial data reported by Alan Fleischer, M.D., during the 28th Annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar here. Both calcineurin inhibitors have identical modes of action and identical metabolism, and bind to the same FKBP receptor. "But pimecrolimus has one-third the binding affinity of tacrolimus," he says.

New York - You wouldn't perform a medical procedure without preparation. Nor should you participate in a print or broadcast-media interview without making sure you're ready.

Finally - and perhaps most crucial, says Dr. Goode - there is this question: Is there anything like the new device available? Because if there isn't, the new device could draw the attention of manufacturing or distributing companies.

New York - Meticulous attention to technique is probably the most important rule for avoiding complications when treating patients with botulinum toxin for cosmetic indications, says Neil S. Sadick, M.D.

Alan Shalita, M.D., Ph.D., a leader in acne research, has studied the condition for more than 30 years.

Albert Kligman, M.D., Ph.D., explores pigmentary disorders and develops enduring treatments

David M. Pariser, M.D., offers pearls pulled from more than three decades of experience

Albert Kligman, M.D., Ph.D., is a pioneer who continues to break new ground in dermatology.

Stanford, Calif. - To be truly successful in a cosmetic surgery dermatology practice, it is important to think beyond garnering surgical ability. While such ability is essential, it is not the only aspect of a practice that surgeons should think about, says David R. Harris, M.D., a clinical professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.