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In a recent psoriatic arthritis study, infliximab was associated with lower total medical costs, including hospitalizations, physician visits and OTC drug purchases.

PHOENIX 2 is a phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab (Centocor), a fully human interleukin-12/23p40 monoclonal antibody in patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis.

A recent study shows that melanoma cells expressing the ABCB5 molecule on their surface are key players in the growth and metastasis of melanoma.

San Antonio - Adam Jeremy Freidman, M.D., won first place in the North American Clinical Dermatologic Society (NACDS) Resident Clinical Research Award competition, sponsored by Abbott Laboratories.

Dermatology Times has won five 2008 Gold Triangle Awards from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

Along with the perils of industry support (see main story), controversies facing dermatologists include the impact of biologic drugs for psoriasis, the efficacy of treating actinic keratoses (AKs) for cancer prevention, the advancement of pay-for-performance programs, the rise in Mohs utilization rates and the role of food allergies in childhood eczema, experts say.

It's time for dermatologists to realize the many ways in which accepting industry support can compromise patient care, an expert says. Despite mounting financial pressures, accepting industry support remains a matter of choice, he says.

Diane R. Baker, M.D., outlined the challenges, strategies and successes of her year at the helm of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), in an address at the 66th annual AAD meeting here in February.

In an address to the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008 president C. William Hanke touts the value of leadership, and encourages dermatologists to become involved in the political process.

The increased risk of skin cancer through exposure to sunlight, and the benefits of that exposure through enhanced production of vitamin D, were brought into sharper focus in a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science in January.

The University of California, San Francisco, news release on the CA-MRSA paper highlighted the "superbug" nature of the research. It also used language suggesting that gay men were not part of the "general population."

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is appealing a Federal Court order requiring the release of information about the number of Medicare claims filed by individual physicians. The order was the result of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by Consumers' CHECKBOOK/Center for the Study of Services, a nonprofit consumer research and information organization.

WASHINGTON – A new report to Congress this month by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is expected to recommend that lawmakers approve an average increase in Medicare physician fees of 1.1 percent for 2009 rather than allowing a scheduled 5 percent reduction to take effect.

As chairman of the American Academy of Dermatology pamphlets committee, one of my first responsibilities was to rework the pamphlet "You and Your Dermatologist."

Dear Editor: I read with interest John Jesitus' December article, "M.D., D.O. Disparity," which highlighted osteopathic and allopathic dermatology education, and how differences between the two groups have become less obvious since the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) first recognized the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD) as a subspecialty college in 1957.

National report -- For dermatologists interested in posting online videos, experts offer these do's and don'ts.

Much about it is still somewhat of a mystery, but early findings on a topical form of botulinum toxin have been compelling enough to earn a $20 million show of support from Medicis and catapult the research onto the cosmetic medicine radar.

In The Know 2008 Media Kit

Dermatology Times Expert Insight Entry Form

Philadelphia - A recent study suggests a continued lack of awareness in the United States regarding the best steps to take to minimize overexposure to the sun, news source Cosmeticsdesign.com reports.

Washington - More than 1 million Americans contract shingles every year, and nearly 1 million are seeking treatment for the condition, according to recently released government statistics, Reuters reports.

Philadelphia - A recent study suggests a continued lack of awareness in the United States regarding the best steps to take to minimize overexposure to the sun, news source Cosmeticsdesign.com reports.

London - Results of a British meta-analysis suggest that there is no evidence to support the concept that clinicians should use a combination of biological therapies and chemotherapy instead of the commonly used single-agent chemotherapy regimen for patients with metastatic melanoma, news source MedicalNewsToday.com reports.

Exton, Pa. - Biotech company Isolagen announced recently that injections have been completed in the phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the Isolagen Therapy for the treatment of nasolabial folds, and that trial subjects are now in the follow-up period, PRNewswire reports.

Barrington, Ill. - The National Rosacea Society (NRS) has awarded funding to four new studies aimed at learning more about the causes and management of rosacea.

Cambridge, Mass. - Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified a population of cells capable of initiating human melanomas, which could be targeted in cases of resistance to systemic therapy, HealthDay News reports.