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The efficacy and remarkable safety profile of two drugs, tacrolimus (Protopic?, Fujisawa Healthcare) and pimecrolimus (Elidel?, Novartis), have revolutionized the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) and appear to have promise for a variety of other inflammatory skin conditions that require long-term therapy, according to Alan Fleischer, M.D., professor and chair of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

National report — With many prescription drugs costing at least twice as much domestically as they do internationally, it's no surprise that patients seek foreign sources for everything from cholesterol killers to dermal fillers. Nor is it surprising that many such purchases can imperil patients' health.

Whether you're in the mood for a big, bustling mall or you simply want to stroll the streets for antique shops and boutiques, be sure to allow time to browse the quaint, charming, and sometimes even unusual, stores the Big Easy offers.

Getting around town

Airport Shuttle is the official transportation company providing shuttle service for the City of New Orleans to and from the airport. Upon arrival at the airport, guests can purchase tickets for $13 each way from the Airport Shuttle information desks.

Camp AAD will provide in-house childcare for infants 6 months to children up to 6 years old. Preregistration is required but limited space may be available for those who wish to make arrangements on site.

Attendees of this year's American Academy of Dermatology's Annual Meeting get to treat themselves to the sights, sounds and tastes of the Big Easy.

Let's do lunch

Check out these lunch hot spots for a quick break during the day. All are close to the convention center.

Tempt your taste buds

Great dining can be a New Orleans visitor';s main objective and probably should be with the endless mouth-watering options the city has to offer.Whether you're in the mood for authentic Cajun or Creole dishes or are looking for the perfect pasta, glance through these choices and find exactly what you crave.

Looking for an expert to tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the Crescent City, ghost lore or even swamp life? Pick an adventure from the extensive list that follows to find just what suits your touring tastes.

Miami Beach, Fla. — New information regarding the treatment of fat and cellulite gives dermatologists something to consider as an option to traditional treatments. According to Doris M. Hexsel, M.D., the new research and clinical experience she presented at the H&H Dermatology Seminar are crucial to decisions about incorporating any new treatment method.

Biologic drugs have changed the lives of many psoriatic patients with severe disease, but the potential benefits offered by biotechnology are only beginning to be realized.

National report — Anecdotal evidence indicates that the onion extract/allantoin gel product Mederma (Merz Pharmaceuticals) might be an effective first-line therapy for diminishing scars and associated symptoms.

Newport Beach, Calif. — When a patient presents with multiple facial papules, consider the rare but potentially fatal condition known as Birt-Hogg-Dub? syndrome, says Melvin W. Chiu, M.D., who spoke at the annual meeting of the Pacific Dermatologic Association.

Leiden, The Netherlands — Cochrane reviewers evaluating published studies of interventions for rosacea concluded there is sufficient evidence demonstrating the efficacy and safety of topical metronidazole and azelaic acid cream used short-term. However, as another important outcome, their analyses also highlighted the need for better-quality studies evaluating treatments for rosacea.

Toronto — The nonsedating, selective H1-receptor antagonist desloratadine improves signs and symptoms of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), but also has a positive effect on quality of life (QOL) for affected patients, according to Charles W. Lynde, M.D.

National report — Acne scarring is a multifaceted problem that may involve multimodal treatment, says Gerald N. Goldberg, M.D.

Decoding drug eruptions

Boston — When drug allergies are suspected, there can be strategic interaction between dermatologists and allergists because of the complementary expertise each specialist offers in deciphering often complicated eruptions, according to Mark S. Dykewicz, M.D., professor of internal medicine, director, training program in allergy and immunology, St. Louis University School of Medicine.

National report — The 0.45 percent triclosan Dial Complete product was as mild as or milder than other hand-washing products commonly used by healthcare personnel, based on three comparison studies.

National report — The trend in cleansing agents over the past five decades has been to develop not only products that would be less drying to the skin than standard soap bars, but also to develop products that would actually deliver moisture.

Everything old is new again could be the theme of a promising new therapy for sufferers of immune-mediated skin disease — CellCept?. P. R?gine Mydlarski, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., assistant professor at the University of Calgary, says the reformulation of medication that has been around for nearly a century is an up-and-coming treatment for skin conditions in the hands of the dermatologist.

Washington — Promising results were seen in a phase 2 trial of the first drug in a new class of cephalosporins active against multi-drug resistant Staphlococcus aureus, according to Markus Heep, M.D., medical microbiologist and project physician at Basilea Pharmaceutica, Ltd. in Basel, Switzerland.

Albany, Ga. — A rural dermatologist who treats several hundred patients with psoriasis —70 with biologics — has presented two one-hour community seminars about new treatments, and she plans to give more.

Singapore — Recent clinical experience with biologic response modifiers suggests that chronic plaque psoriasis may not be represented by a single disease, but by several, and treating it effectively could require combinations of older and newer therapies.

The waiting time to see dermatologists has been increasing, significantly. In the U.S., it is 36 days for a new appointment, and in Texas it is 34 days.

Philadelphia - The state of the art in lip augmentation isn't about fillers or filling technique but a conceptual breakthrough, says Sydney R. Coleman, M.D., a plastic surgeon with a New York City practice.