News

Los Angeles -- In an attempt to prove estrogen's unknown effect on keratinocytes, researchers presented in vitro data at the Society for Investigative Dermatology that suggest a direct link of the hormone to in vivo epidermal turnover and wound healing.

San Diego - With its acquisition from Bristol-Myers Squibb of worldwide rights and title to Vaniqa (eflornithine hydrochloride) Cream, Women First HealthCare plans to take another pass at providing women with hirsutism a pharmaceutical alternative.

Los Angeles -- Mast cells are directly involved in innate defense against bacterial infection through the synthesis of antimicrobial peptides, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative dermatology.

Los Angeles - Researchers in The Netherlands who looked at nearly 1,000 patients added to the confirmation that smoking causes wrinkles and enhances skin aging in both sexes. They also found that smoking seems to wreak even more havoc on men's skin, causing telangiectasias. So, they said, smoking may have different effect on men and women when it comes to skin changes.

Los Angeles -- Researchers conducting a study to determine the frequency of extra-facial lesions of the erythemotelangiectatic or papulopustular subtypes in rosacea patients found that erythema on the trunk and telangiectasia on the neck were associated with the erythemotelangiectatic subtype.

New Orleans - The training received by dermatologic surgeons is more than adequate for the task; in fact, dermatologists pioneered many of the skin surgery techniques in common use today, outgoing American Academy of Dermatology president Ronald G. Wheeland, M.D., said here at a "controversies in dermatology" session at the AAD's annual meeting

New Orleans - Working smarter, not harder, is a rule people want to live by but is often more difficult than it sounds. In a medical practice setting, where efficiency can sometimes fall by the wayside, physicians must keep an eye out for simple but smart strategies to overcome office shortcomings.

How should antiperspirants be applied for maximum effectiveness?

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - For treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major, a six-week course of oral fluconazole is effective and avoids the potentially severe side effects of standard parenteral therapy, according to Abdulrahman A. Alrajhi, M.D., M.P.H.

The high cost of medical malpractice insurance, both for patients and physicians, is gaining renewed attention in Washington with President Bush calling for reform and a new report by the Department of Health and Human Services urging legislative action.

Geneva - The global solar ultraviolet radiation index, recently introduced by the World Health Organization, is all about awareness of the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Even before botulinum toxin (Botox Cosmetic) received FDA approval in April for use in cosmetic procedures, the demand for the treatment had made Botox the fifth most common nonsurgical cosmetic procedure in the country.

System to Manage Accutane Related Teratogenicity requires patient, physicianeducation and cooperation

Paris - Combination topical-antibiotic-plus-retinoid treatmentof inflammatory acne using adapalene 0.1 percent gel (Differin) with clindamycin1 percent lotion offers better efficacy and safety compared with clindamycin1 percent lotion alone, according to the results of a study presented atthe World Congress of Dermatology.

Berlin - New therapeutic modalities are needed for treating thesubstantial population of acne patients with marked inflammatory diseaseand scarring. Available data indicate compounds with selective anti-inflammatoryactivity may help fill that niche, Christos C. Zouboulis, M.D., said.

Paris - Selective inhibition of the enzyme steroid sulfatase (STS)with a topically applied nonsteroidal compound may offer a novel approachto the treatment of acne, scientists from the Novartis Research Institute,Vienna, Austria, said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Study shows higher rates of streptococcus pyogenes colonization in oro-pharynx

New Orleans - The combination product containing clindamycin 1percent with benzoyl peroxide 5 percent in an aqueous vehicle base (BenzaClin)is a highly effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with moderateto moderately severe acne, according to the results of two randomized, controlled,double-blind studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Academyof Dermatology.

Compliance, treatment, and results differ vastly in post-teen populationthan in traditional groups

New Orleans - The growing emergence of resistant bacteria and confusion created by an expanding number of antimicrobial agents on the market make selection of effective antimicrobial therapy an increasing challenge for dermatologists, James Q. Del Rosso, D.O., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Buenos Aires - Conventional treatment regimens based on the use of topical and systemic retinoids and antimicrobial agents are effective in controlling the majority of cases of acne across the entire spectrum of disease severity, but there are a wide range of less commonly used modalities that can provide valuable alternatives in a number of clinical scenarios, Ana Kaminsky, M.D., Ph.D., said.

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Dallas - As an alternative to collagen injections, which are only a temporary fix, a synthetic material offers a permanent option to fill out thin lips and diminish facial creases, according to William P. Adams Jr., M.D.

New Orleans - Attention to bacterial balance is an integral component in effective local care of chronic wounds, R. Gary Sibbald, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

New York-The incidence of skin disease is not significantly different among Latinos than with other patient groups, but physicians who treat Latino patients need to be aware of some differences in the frequency of diagnosis as well as the cultural aspects of treatment, Miguel R. Sanchez, M.D., said.

New York - Awareness and sensitivity about beliefs and cultural practices are important tools in treating the Asian population - especially those that are newly immigrated, Henry W. Lim, M.D., said at the annual meeting of The Skin of Color Center, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York.

New Orleans -Developing an understanding of mechanisms of tumor metastasis is an important tool for clinicians, Tri H. Nguyen, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

New York - A number of drugs used commonly in dermatology have teratogenic potential, making careful screening and comprehensive and ongoing pregnancy prevention counseling a must when prescribing medications for female patients, Robyn Gmyrek, M.D., said.

Although the Bush Administration, in the person of the Solicitor General, filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court suggesting that it refuse to hear an appeal from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) on Maine's Rx prescription law, the court agreed to hear the case.

Rome - Human herpesvirus-8 has been implicated as the causative agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, often seen in patients with AIDS. Until recently, primary HHV-8 infection had been described only in immunocompromised patients, such as AIDS patients. Massimo Andreoni, M.D., and colleagues from Italy and Egypt presented the first report of primary HHV-8 infection in immunocompetent individuals (JAMA 2002; 287: 1295-1300).