Aesthetics

According to a report by Reuters Health, owners of tropical fish need to take special precautions when cleaning the tank.

The FDA has approved a supplemental new drug application for Valtrex (valacyclovir HCI) manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

In Texas, voters approved a constitutional amendment limiting medical malpractice awards.

An affiliate company of DFB Pharmaceuticals Inc, Healthpoint, Ltd., has signed an exclusive agreement with IsoTis, S.A. to develop and license its patented, biologic, wound-healing technology called Allox.

Galderma Laboratories has formed a new sales division, Theracutix, which will supplement the company's two current sales divisions: Galderma and CutiScience.

Ecolab Inc. sold the consumer dermatology business of its Adams Healthcare subsidiary to Britain's Ferndale Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

The U.S. Army offers a website to help aspiring healthcare professionals.

Cytochroma Inc. discovered a new gene ? CYP26C ? which encodes a retinoic-acid-metabolizing enzyme.

Biologics manufacturers cite complex research and development process,along with FDA scrutiny, as reason for costly - but worthy - drugs

Chicago - Despite popular claims to the contrary, topical alpha lipoic acid is ineffective as a photoprotectant of skin, according to Sheldon R. Pinnell, M.D., professor of dermatology, Duke University Medical Center.

Database consolidates drug safety, effectiveness data to fully leverageemerging research findings on biologic

New efficacy and safety data continue to impress

San Francisco - While formal studies have yet to be conducted, an emerging injection technique for facial-fat grafting seems to add volume to the aging face with long-lasting if not permanent results and without fear of allergic reactions. The technique, called fat autograft muscle injection (FAMI), appears loaded with potential benefits for physicians and patients, according to unpublished data compiled by Stephen H. Mandy, M.D. clinical professor of dermatology, University of Miami School of Medicine.

San Francisco - For patients who want to smooth out wrinkles and facial lines but who cannot tolerate collagen injections, alternative fillers already in use in other countries are at the cusp of FDA approval. More people than ever are interested in pursuing such anti-aging measures, as worldwide facial aesthetic product sales in the first quarter of 2003 rose to $17 million, an increase of 8 percent over the first quarter of 2002.

New York - Permanent blindness can occur as a complication of facial filler procedures, but it is probably a preventable phenomenon with use of proper injection technique, Sydney Coleman, M.D., said at Emerging Technologies and Techniques in Plastic Surgery, a meeting sponsored by the New York University School of Medicine.

San Francisco - Two new dermal fillers approved for use without a pre-treatment skin test will enable dermatologists to offer patients same-day collagen replacement therapy.

San Francisco - Angiogenesis stimulation is a key strategy for promoting wound closure, and there are now a number of modalities available for achieving that goal, said Vincent W. Li, M.D., M.B.A.

San Francisco - Results of animal studies and limited clinical research indicate that estrogen can have a positive effect on wound healing, and findings from a case-cohort investigation provide preliminary evidence that oral estrogen in the form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might protect against the development of pressure ulcers and venous ulcers in an ambulatory population. However, a role of estrogen for treating those lesions remains to be defined, said David J. Margolis, M.D.

San Francisco - Various medical devices can be a helpful addition to the dermatologist's repertoire for the management of chronic wounds, Marco Romanelli, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Information about topical minoxidil in treating androgenetic alopecia was gleaned from a year-long study of men with AGA.

Cynosure Inc. has received additional government clearance for Apogee lasers, which can be used for pigmented lesion treatments and permanent hair removal.

SkinMedica Inc. and Osmotics Corp. announced that they have entered into a license agreement related to Osmotic's Barrier Repair technology.

Botulinum toxin injected into the prostate reduced symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and was well tolerated, according to the results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, preliminary trial (Urology 2003; 62:259-265).

Diabetics with ulcer sores on their feet that are difficult to treat may be helped by the use of Or-cel, a collagen sponge containing human cells.

Cyanotech, a Hawaiian company, reportedly is growing a patented substance in man-made ponds that it claims can help prevent sunburns.