News

Future vitiligo treatments will largely target the immune system as well as promote the growth of melanocytes, according to the director of the Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California.

Dermatologists commonly turn to a variety of depigmenting agents and therapies for the treatment of melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after acne, or traumatic scars and burns, according to Helen M. Torok, M.D., Medical Director, Trillium Creek Dermatology & Surgery, in Medina, Ohio.

A phase 2 study investigated the safety and efficacy of topical bexarotene 1 percent gel (Targretin, Eisai/Ligand) for treating alopecia areata. Hair regrowth of 50 percent or greater was achieved by 26 percent of patients.

Results from accumulating research suggest that gadolinium is a trigger for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Gadolinium exposure occurs through use of gadolinium-containing contrast agent (GCCA), and the type of GCCA may influence NSF risk. Further evidence is needed to verify these theories.

Seven newly identified sites of common DNA variations increase the risk for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The whole genome association study of more than 300,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was published in the March issue of PLoS Genetics. The goal was to identify new genes and new pathways for drug development.

A recent animal study has shown that botulinum toxin injections can travel through retrograde axonal transport to unintended sites, including those in the brain, according to researchers at the Italian National Research Council's Istituto di Neuroscienze.

National report - A pro-tanning campaign backed by the Indoor Tanning Association (ITA) has raised objections from dermatologists and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

The Food and Drug Administration has been revamping sunscreen safety labeling since the implementation of the final monograph was delayed in 2002. Last August, the FDA issued proposed guidelines for the product labels, with a comment period open until November, 2007. The deadline for comment was extended until late December, and as of May first no new guidelines had been announced.

Lawmakers are scrambling to find a solution to a huge problem that stands to affect millions of Medicare patients and thousands of physicians across the nation.

San Diego - Artes Medical, makers of Artefill, has announded that Douglas Abel, chief executive officer and president of Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, has joined its board of directors, according to Business Wire.

Toronto, Canada - The Dermatology Review Panel (DRP) of Canada has announced three of Pampers babycare products have earned their recommendation and will carry their "Seal of Approval," newswire.ca reports.

National report - A positive family history of herpes zoster may be a risk factor for the disease, according to a study published in Archives of Dermatology.

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Washington - The Associated Press reports that though diagnoses of Merkel cell carcinoma have tripled to about 1,500 a year, there have been no well-controlled studies on the best treatment.

Boston - Researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute report that a targeted therapy puts metastatic melanoma into remission, according to news source Ivanhoe.com.

Graz, Austria - Though complete skin examination (CSE) by dermoscopy takes longer to conduct than CSE alone when screening for skin cancer, physicians should consider three-minute screening for the disease with either method, according to the results of a study reported by MedScape Today.

Houston - Data from a large cohort study shows that an elevated level of interleukin-12 is associated with a significantly increased mortality risk in patients with stage III melanoma with regional metastasis, according to MedPageToday.

San Rafael, Calif. - New research shows that workplace educational campaigns promoting self-examination and targeted screening for melanoma may significantly reduce melanoma mortality, HealthDay News reports.

Chicago - Recently released research shows that suntanning and indoor tanning beds remain popular among young people despite the many public service messages about the associated cancer hazards, MedPageToday reports.

Chapel Hill, N.C. - Melanomas on the scalp and neck have a worse prognosis than occurrences on other parts of the body, according to a study reported by HealthDay News.

New York - A new study reveals that large skin lesions are more likely than smaller ones to be melanoma, HealthDay News reports.

A phase 3 double-blind, placebo-controlled study shows remarkable efficacy of etanercept for treating pediatric psoriasis, bettering even those results observed in adults. The findings could help pave the way for Food and Drug Administration approval of the biologic, which could change the face of systemic treatment of psoriasis in children.

Newer biologics to treat psoriasis are currently in late stages of development, and promising data from phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials should give patients reason to hope. The biologics may be available as early as the end of 2008 or during 2009.

Dermatologist Susan Stuart, M.D., takes caring for patients to heart, and people in the majestic seaside community of La Jolla, Calif. have noticed.

As frequent speakers to physicians on asset protection and advanced planning, we are often asked about captive insurance companies (CICs).

In the span of a single lifetime, credit cards have evolved from their birth in the 1950s as a simple convenience for restaurant diners to one of the most potent forces within the American economy.

Tumescent local anesthesia is a safe and easy method of administering an effective anesthesia in surgical theaters and its popularity and indications are growing among surgeons.

In an era of costly lasers and high-tech cosmetic procedures, dermatologists shouldn't forget that the lowly disposable razor also can produce spectacular results, an expert says.

In the treatment of actinic keratoses, Peplin, a topical gel made from the sap of the Australian Euphorbia peplus, and cosmetic therapies show promise for preventing recurrences, but likely won't ever be front-line treatments. Meanwhile, the one treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration treatment that also offers cosmetic benefits, ALA-PDT, comes with coding issues that some say make it difficult for doctors to obtain reasonable compensation.