News

Maui, Hawaii - Most research on the power of intercessory prayer indicates that it has no affect on healing. But there have been some studies suggesting otherwise; many of these were later vivisected on methodological grounds.

None of us likes to do it, but every practitioner must eventually face up to the unpleasant task of terminating an employee. "Firing people is one of the toughest, most unpleasant things you do as an employer," says James Walsh in his book, "Rightful Termination."

Wailea, Hawaii - An oral nutritional supplement can resolve both cellulite and striae on the thighs and abdomen and improve skin firmness, according to Howard Murad, M.D., who spoke here at the Noah Worcester Dermatological Society meeting. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, he and other researchers found that this supplement produced superior results over placebo. The supplement consisted of a combination of amino acids, B-vitamins, essential fatty acids and trace minerals.

Welcome to a new department in Dermatology Times. Beginning with this month's Special Report, DT will present a monthly panel review of specific cases in pediatric dermatology, an effort coordinated by editorial adviser Lawrence Schachner, M.D. In this installment, a panel of pediatric masters discusses treatment options for the unusual case of a 12-year-old Hispanic girl who was brought in by her parents for treatment of a white spot that had developed after she was out playing in the sun.

Maui, Hawaii - Some time in the not-too-distant future, people will ingest tablets for sun protection instead of slathering lotion over their bodies, according to Howard Murad, M.D. A dermatologist, pharmacist, and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UCLA, Dr. Murad's personal quest is to develop that pill. He believes it may well contain pomegranate extract.

Waikoloa, Hawaii - Rexinoids such as bexarotene have promise as an adjunct to other immune response modifiers in the treatment of patients with progressive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), according to Jacqueline M. Junkins-Hopkins, M.D. Such therapies are typically used in combination with interferon-alpha as well as with psoralen ultraviolet-A (PUVA) and extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP).

Washington - Today, one can hardly envision the practice of dermatology without Mohs micrographic surgery. But at one time, the technique was untested, mistrusted, and misunderstood.

Washington - In the first study of its kind, three siblings with congenital yellow nail syndrome were treated with topical vitamin E for 12 months. Upon completion of the placebo-controlled study, researchers at Yale University found that vitamin E was not statistically significant compared to placebo in meeting two clinical endpoints: nail growth and appearance.

Washington, D.C. - For patients with mild acne vulgaris and few inflammatory lesions, an over-the-counter 2 percent salicylic acid plus naturals complex is a viable and effective treatment to use over a short period of time, according to Richard S. Berger, M.D.

Washington D.C. ?? Patients with severe nodulocystic acne treated with oral tazarotene experience a substantial improvement in acne-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL), according to the results of a Phase II dose-ranging study presented by Patricia S. Walker, M.D., Ph.D., at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Boca Raton, Fla. - Contact dermatitis from topical medications is the most common type of adverse drug reaction, and allergic contact dermatitis is the most common and most important form of contact dermatitis induced by topical drugs, according to James S. Taylor, M.D., head of the industrial dermatology section of the department of dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland. "Patients with medicament contact dermatitis usually have a good prognosis, but with a propensity for relapse," Dr. Taylor said.

Washington - Systemic metronidazole can be an effective treatment for erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC), according to Lucio Andreassi, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Siena, Italy. At the annual AAD meeting, Dr. Andreassi presented a case report of a patient with a two-year history of EAC who was successfully treated with a six-week course of oral metronidazole, followed by a four-week course of topical metronidazole 1 percent gel.

Maui, Hawaii - For thousands of years, people have flocked to the Dead Sea searching for relief for their itchy skin. Now, Chicago-area psoriasis and atopic dermatitis sufferers are bathing in reconstituted Dead Sea water at a suburban clinic.

Moderator: What is ringworm, and do you find it to be seasonalin nature?

Q&A/ROSACEAAlbert Kligman, M.D., Ph.D., is a pioneer who continues to break new ground in dermatology. Dialogue with a Mentor is brought to you by an unrestricted educational grant from Galderma Laboratories, LP.

Washington - Etanercept can be safely administered to AIDS patients with difficult-to-treat inflammatory conditions, according to Robert Wallis, associate professor of medicine at UMDNJ-NJMS, who presented a poster at the February 2004 AAD meeting describing results of a Phase I trial conducted in Kampala, Uganda. "There does not appear to be a substantial risk that either opportunistic infections or HIV disease will be deleteriously affected by this treatment," said Dr. Wallis.

Washington - Sensitive skin is much more common among persons with rosacea compared to the general population, but even those rosacea patients with confirmed heightened skin sensitivity are likely to tolerate application of azelaic acid 15 percent gel (Finacea), according to the results of a prospective study undertaken by Zoe D. Draelos, M.D.

Washington, D.C. - Of the approximately 19 cases of linear atrophoderma of Moulin described in the literature; all of them presented in children or young adults less than 20 years of age -- until, perhaps, now. Gina C. Ang, M.D., and colleagues at Philadelphia's Jefferson Medical College, may have identified the first case of congenital linear atrophoderma, or at least the first one to come to the attention of the medical community.

Washington, D.C. - A unique case report of necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) within coronary artery bypass graft scars presents the dermatologist with the ongoing challenge of managing an ever-present skin disorder that denies therapy, according to Shannon Heck, M.D.

Washington, D.C. -- This year's AAD meeting included a presentation of the first reported success of etanercept in treating a particularly problematic case of palmoplantar psoriasis. The patient, a 59-year-old white woman, achieved almost total clearing of her hands, notable improvement of her feet, and resolution of her arthritic symptoms.

Q. In order to have more money available for my own personal investments, I first need to improve on our collections in the practice. Any suggestions?

The following article was reprinted with permission from Medical Economics magazine, another of Advanstar Medical Economics Healthcare publications. Weiss is senior editor of Medical Economics. For more information on the article, please visit Medical Economics MagazineYour receptionist lets you know that a Dr. Smith is on the phone, and he's checking the references of Jane Miller, a former staffer. You and your employees are thrilled that Jane no longer works for you. She was chronically late, sloppy, rude to patients, and was about to be fired when she quit, ostensibly for family reasons, about a year ago. "What should I tell him? Do you want to talk to him?"

I spend about two months a year away from my office attending meetings and vacationing. Often I am many time zones away, where I want to avoid the cost and inconvenience of phoning home to the office every day. Some of my staff are not regular users of e-mail, and it is not practical to train them for occasional use of my office email system.

Washington -- Not only do moisturizers with niacinamide provide temporary relief to patients with sensitive skin, they also appear to make sensitive skin less sensitive, said Tracy L. Grosick, principal researcher, skin care product development, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati. Grosick presented these clinical trial findings at the annual American Academy of Dermatology meeting.

Washington - Much can be done to help patients who have any of the various types of alopecias, and dermatologists should be more willing to invest time and energy into diagnosing and treating the condition.

Q. What are the pros and cons of permanent cosmetics?

Washington - Sensitive skin is much more common among persons with rosacea compared to the general population, but even those rosacea patients with confirmed heightened skin sensitivity are likely to tolerate application of azelaic acid 15 percent gel (Finacea), according to the results of a prospective study undertaken by Zoe D. Draelos, M.D.

Human BioSystems (HBS), a Palo Alto, Calif., biomedical company conducting research to extend the shelf life of blood platelets and donor organs, announced that it finalized a purchase agreement to acquire all rights to a skin-cream product previously developed for severe burns.

Connetics Corp. has received notifications from the FDA that no user fee is required for the new drug application seeking marketing clearance for Extina (ketoconazole 2 percent) Foam. Previously, Connects announced positive results from its Phase III clinical trial with Extina versus Nizoral.

Dermik Laboratories has launched a medical information resource devoted to conditions involving the skin, hair, and nails. www.skinhealthsolutions.com offers direct and simple access to nearly 300 Web sites at no cost to the visitor. The portal contains an extensive range of targeted information about skin, hair, and nails provided by physician groups