News

St. Louis - Facing consumer complaints and investors' exit, lipotherapy chain Fig announced in late 2007 it probably would file for bankruptcy protection.

Patients suffering from atopic dermatitis seem to be at an increased risk of developing malignancies, including lymphoma and cutaneous melanoma, as well as nonmelanoma skin cancers, when compared with patients who do not suffer from the disease, according to a recent large database-controlled study

Early detection of melanoma in older groups, particularly men, has the potential to markedly reduce the death rate of melanoma.

Botulinum neurotoxins are commonly used for a variety of diseases as well as numerous cosmetic interventions. Though effective in each of its uses, the technique of administering the neurotoxin into the skin is by injection, which can be a source of trepidation for the most weathered cosmetic patient. A recent Italian study has proven that botulinum toxin type A can be effectively administered into the skin using pulsed current iontophoresis, giving hope for needle-wary patients.

The skinny on lip cosmetics, milk as a sunburn remedy and eyelash enhancers.

Mohs surgery and topical chemotherapy are among the most effective treatments for certain types of skin cancer, according to David J. Goldberg, M.D. In the very near future, however, photodynamic therapy - now commonly used with good results in Europe - may well become the gold-standard treatment for skin cancers in the United States.

Epidemiological data on the prevalence and degree of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with psoriasis are contradictory. A team of German researchers recently found that the patients with psoriasis have an increased coronary artery calcification, which precedes myocardial infarction. Thus, psoriasis can be considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Results from a series of in vitro studies show a new combination clindamycin/tretinoin product (Zianis, Medicis) may potentially be applied sequentially with benzoyl peroxide without concern about loss of activity from tretinoin degradation.

Conducting a pilot study is key to launching a successful larger research study. In a pilot study, researchers can identify shortcomings like poor adherence and how to address those shortcomings. A timetable for a research study should be established, taking into account the experience and competence of the principal investigator and research team. Data should be reviewed in the initial phase of a research study, when missing information can be more easily retrieved, to minimize the amount of data missing in a study.

According to a Massachusetts General Hospital study recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, more than 95 percent of doctors surveyed said impaired or incompetent physicians should always be reported.

Dr. Skin has a Sunbelt-based practice with a heavy emphasis on skin cancer. He has seen thousands of melanomas, some life- threatening, over his 20-year career.

Dermatologists and other physicians who treat Medicare patients have been given a short reprieve from the across-the-board 10.1 percent reimbursement cut that was scheduled for Jan. 1 - and even have received a bit of a raise.

Over the past five years, the words "mesotherapy" and "LipoDissolve" have become a part of mainstream lingo, appearing on billboards, TV and in newspaper ads.

Six easy steps can help you to simplify and reduce expenses for great net income in 2008. Small resolutions can yield big changes.

While nothing has been decided yet, all signs point to the clear fact that significant taxation of assets at death will continue to be an estate planning fact for the foreseeable future.

When the features of the SIMPLE IRA plan and the traditional 401(k) plan are combined into one plan, there are considerable advantages for both employees and business owners.

Bet Shemesh, Israel - In an effort to redirect their business from cosmetics to pharmaceuticals, Sol-Gel Technologies has sold its sunscreen activity to Merck.

National report - The line between cosmetics and aesthetic medicine are further blurring with the recent partnering of Estée Lauder (through their Clinique brand) and Allergan.

West Palm Beach, Fla. - The Cosmetic Bootcamp, a training program for cosmetic physicians, has a new vision, Cosmetic Bootcamp University.

New York - Spotting pigmented moles that look different from a other moles on someone could be malignant melanoma, Reuters Health reports.

Miami, Fla. - The Institute for Aesthetic Medicine (IAM) acquired Medical Laser Dynamics (MLD), which will provide plastic surgery and dermatology professionals a laser- training program.

Dallas, Texas - MedSurge Advances in a partnership with French laser manufacturers, Quantel Derma and Osyris, will exhibit new technologies during the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Meeting in San Antonio.

Abbott Park, Ill. ? Abbot announces it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for HUMIRA (adalimumab) as a treatment for adult patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis, PRNewswire reports.

The adult drug, Etanercept (Enbrel), significantly improves moderate to severe symptoms of psoriasis in children under 17, HealthDay News reports.

Boston - QLT Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, has cut 45 percent of its overall headcount in alignment with a strategic restructuring plan.

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Washington - The Food and Drug Administration has announced a new e-mail service that alerts subscribers whenever information is updated on certain FDA Web pages.

Washington - Sulforaphane, a natural compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, may be effective in helping treat epidermolysis bullosa simplex, according to research presented during the annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology, held here recently and reported on by Reuters Health.

Bangor, Wales - British researchers report that quinapril, a long-acting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, does not appear to prevent upper-limb digital ulcers or other vascular manifestations in patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc), reports Reuters Health.