Novel immunomodulatory antibodies such as ipilimumab (Bristol-Myers Squibb) and other experimental treatment options such as melanoma vaccines, chemotherapy agents (Abraxane, Celgene) and targeted drug therapies (BRAF inhibitors) are proving effective in the treatment of patients with late-stage melanoma, offering increased hope in the continuing battle against this deadly skin cancer.
In my last editorial, I expressed mystification about what exactly was being "reformed" by the passage of the 2,700-page "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." Finally, a limited number of details about the provisions of this act are finally coming to light. The latest is the Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), which represents one of the first proposals to provide initiatives to reform healthcare delivery.
The fact that Medicare reform is being debated on Capitol Hill and a near 30 percent Medicare physician pay cut looms in January appears to be moving some influential lawmakers to get serious about reforming the system used to pay Medicare doctors. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) has said a solution is "on the short list of things getting done this summer," and two hearings were held in May as part of that process.
The occurrence of several cases of pseudomelanoma after ablative fractional CO2 laser resurfacing underscore the importance of careful pre- and postoperative evaluation to avoid misdiagnosing a benign lesion as malignant melanoma, says Deborah Sarnoff, M.D.
A groundbreaking topically applied neurotoxin now in phase 2 trials would provide a painless, injection-free wrinkle-relaxing alternative if it is eventually approved by regulators, investigators say. "The product is being developed by Revance and would offer an additional choice for the clinician and the patient," says Michael A.C. Kane, M.D., of Kane Plastic Surgery, New York, and an investigator with the trial. "Many people are needle-phobic and would probably prefer a topical over an injection."
The first randomized, controlled study to assess the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) with a biologic drug shows that infliximab can safely improve disease severity, pain and quality of life.
Many noninvasive treatments developed to treat unwanted fat show modest results, but they're unlikely to replace tumescent liposuction.
Despite the perceptions of many physicians and patients, an expert says, in practical use, the three neuromodulators approved for use in the United States are more similar than dissimilar.
The safety and dose equivalency of PurTox (Mentor) should place the botulinum toxin head-to-head with Botox when it reaches the U.S. market, according to a European physician who has experience using the pure toxin there. The newcomer, PurTox, is said to be equivalent to the universal comparator Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan) in terms of dosing, and, therefore, represents a potential future nemesis for Botox and other toxins on the market.
Many dermatologists' comfort level with dermoscopy is growing, but dermatologists and dermatopathologists don't always agree on the diagnosis of a particular lesion.
Experts believe many side effects of fillers are caused by biofilms, but these infections are difficult to document because biofilms are hard to culture, says Rhoda Narins, M.D., of the Dermatology Surgery & Laser Center, New York, and clinical professor of dermatology, New York University Medical Center, New York. Once a biofilm is suspected, however, choosing the right course of action is critical in effectively managing the condition.
Dermatologists welcome a recently updated policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that adds new information about sunscreen ingredients, vitamin D and the dangers of tanning for teens.
When it enters the U.S. market, Xeomin is expected to have a unit-to-unit equivalence to Botox, the standard ?sthetic toxin in dermatology practices for years. Current off-label use hasn't shown any particular clinical advantage for Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA, Merz) over Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan) or Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA, Medicis), but the new toxin will broaden clinicians' ?sthetic options and may spur price competition in the U.S.
Treating nonhealing wounds with advanced therapies requires knowing exactly what you're treating. For example, when considering engineered tissue products for wound healing, "As always, we want to treat the cause of the wound, prepare the wound bed and treat patient-centered concerns," says Severin Laeuchli, M.D., a dermatologist with the University of Zurich's department of dermatology.
Educated, married, mothers, women who are older than their husbands - that's not necessarily the image of the typical cosmetic surgery patient, but a couple of chance comments from patients led three generations of a family of researchers to combine forces to create a prospective study of cosmetic patients that yielded interesting, and unexpected, results.
Thinning eyebrows are a common concern among mature women with challenging treatment options. The most effective way to prevent thin or absent eyebrows with age is to prevent the problem earlier in life.
A teledermatology program based at the University of California, Davis, frequently alters referring physicians' diagnoses and management plans, thereby improving patient outcomes, its director says.
An investigational melanoma drug that targets a mutation found in about half of tumors reduces the risk of progression in patients with advanced disease by nearly three-fourths, and cuts the risk of dying by 63 percent, new research shows.
Neither patients nor physicians appreciate the serious health risks that venous disease can create, according to an expert who spoke at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.
On Call wondered whether dermatologists who have been performing liposuction for decades have witnessed the phenomenon of fat returning to other parts of the body in their patients. Most of the doctors had more of an issue with the concept of the inevitability of the fat returning than with the location of its redistribution.
Even with the latest technology and the best-trained and experienced staff, efficiency isn't a given - you have to work at ensuring well-oiled work flows in your dermatology practice. Using your time wisely is important to your practice's revenue because, unlike those supplies on the shelf, your time can't be stored.
When Amy Derick, M.D., mentors dermatology residents and others who are just breaking into dermatology practice, she comes across not only as a peer, but also as an icon. She's young - 34. She only started practice about five years ago, so the challenges of a startup are fresh in her mind.
After Dr. Scar diagnosed a basal cell carcinoma, the patient said, "Tell me nothing. Just get the thing out." When the patient was left with a scar after surgery, she filed a medical malpractice lawsuit alleging she was not given appropriate informed consent and was not warned about the scar. Will Dr. Scar lose the medical malpractice case?
Dermatologists applaud the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) final decision to clarify sunscreen labeling, although some believe the new rules won't fully resolve consumer confusion or concerns about the safety of some ingredients.
The early diagnosis of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is not only crucial for the timely implementation of therapeutic regimens in patients suffering from this disease; it's also key to keeping the development of cutaneous cancers to a minimum.
Crow’s feet respond significantly better to treatment with Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA, Medicis) than to treatment with Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan), according to results of what is reportedly the first randomized trial comparing the two.
The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor etanercept (Enbrel, Amgen/Pfizer) offers dermatomyositis patients a safe and effective treatment alternative to steroids, a small pilot study has found.
Fibrocell Science has won Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for an injectible wrinkle treatment that uses a patient’s own cells, Bloomberg.com reports.
Centocor Ortho Biotech, based here, has changed its name to Janssen Biotech.
New research suggests that patients getting Botox treatments can reduce wrinkles with half as many sessions after 20 months, Medical News Today reports.
