News

Dermatologists hoping for some form of relief from the increasingly high cost of medial malpractice insurance may have to wait a while longer for that itch to be eased, although there was still some hope that a modified bill might be considered.

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.

La Jolla, Calif. - Digital cameras have improved so much in recent years that dermatologists should think seriously about purchasing and using one in their clinical practices. Instead of rifling through old slides in crowded file drawers or three ring binders, a doctor with a digital camera can store images on a computer and easily compare skin changes over time.

Washington - Get the facts first, then regulate. So urged Rajesh Balkirshnan, Ph.D., associate professor of management and policy sciences at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston.

Washington - Findings of a retrospective analysis designed to characterize comorbidities in the psoriasis population and adverse events associated with systemic therapies will hopefully increase physician understanding of their psoriasis patients and thereby enhance patient care, said Daniel J. Pearce, M.D., at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dermatologists and their patients have numerous cosmeceutical productsfrom which to choose. Doctors who categorize the agents can better helptheir patients understand how the novel therapies fit into skincare regimens.According to Zoe Diana Draelos, M.D., clinical associate professor ofdermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, N.C.,key cosmeceutical categories include: barrier-enhancing vitamins, receptor-mediatedvitamins, regulators of collagen breakdown, anti-inflammatories, exfoliates,and botanicals.

Should a biological attack reach American soil, dermatologists must positionthemselves on the front lines, according to Michael J. Franzblau, M.D.,clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California at SanFrancisco's School of Medicine, and a respected researcher and speaker onbio-terrorism.

Taking a thorough patient history and performing precise surgery aretwo ways to avoid acute complications in cutaneous surgery, according toHugh M. Gloster, Jr., M.D., director of dermatologic surgery and Mohs micrographicsurgery, University of Cincinnati, Ohio. "However, if prevention fails,any physician who performs cutaneous surgery should be prepared to treathematoma, infection, dehiscence, and necrosis," he said.

Washington D.C. - Stephen E. Chiarello, M.D., began his presentationat the AAD annual meeting yesterday by asking those attending the sessionhow many had heard of Syndrome X. Based on the number of hands raised, hesaid that more dermatologists seem to be aware of this condition, also calledMetabolic Syndrome, which affects 90 million Americans and finds its rootsin high glycerin and insulin levels.

Dermatologists should be aware of new concepts in the management of ulcerationsas well as new treatments and dressings, according to Mark D. P. Davis,M.D., who spoke yesterday at the AAD annual meeting.

Medium and deep peels are the only peels to give appreciable resultswith skin tightening. And properly performed phenol peels can eliminatewrinkles "extraordinarily better than any TCA peel," said HaroldJ. Brody, M.D., clinical professor of dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta,Ga. He is discussing the topic today at the AAD annual meeting.

Taking a thorough patient history and performing precise surgery aretwo ways to avoid acute complications in cutaneous surgery, according toHugh M. Gloster, Jr., M.D., director of dermatologic surgery and Mohs micrographicsurgery, University of Cincinnati, Ohio. "However, if prevention fails,any physician who performs cutaneous surgery should be prepared to treathematoma, infection, dehiscence, and necrosis," he said.

Santa Barbara, Calif. - Inamed Corporation and its partner Ipsen,a European pharmaceutical company, reported results of a Phase II dosingstudy of their botulinum toxin type A product yesterday at the AAD meeting.

Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA)urged the FDA to stop internet sales of isotretinoin, the active ingredientin Accutane, arguing that such sales pose potential health risks to thepublic. The statement was released at the AAD 2004 annual meeting.

Biologics in psoriasis are a hot buzzword asthe 62nd meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology hits stride today,with sources hailing the progression as a needed "new era." Technicalexhibits open today at 11 a.m. at the Wasington Convention Center, whilethe conference, symposia, and educational programs are in full gear.Dermatologists must enhance patients' understanding of biologics andmake them realize they have an option when other treatment modalities fail,sources added, as leveraging the patient-physician relationship is key.

The youthful appearance of the eyelid can best be restored by reconstructinga proper continuum between the lower eyelid and the cheek, rather than simplyby removing fat, said Jean Carruthers, M.D., of Carruthers Aesthetic FacialOphthalmology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

With a handful of new options expected to receive FDA approval withina year, the field of tissue augmentation stands poised to undergo a seismicshift. "The bottom line is, tissue augmentation is about to changedramatically," said Mariano E. Busso, M.D. He is clinical professorin the University of Miami's department of dermatology, chief of dermatologyat Mercy Hospital, also in Miami, Fla., and a private practitioner who isboard-certified in dermatology.

As a world-class city, Washington, D.C. is home to a wonderful selectionof dining establishments featuring a wide array of international and regionalAmerican cuisines. Meals run the gamut from the sumptuous and sublime todown-to-earth and down-home. And you can generally choose an ambiance thatsuits either your lifestyle or current mood. Bon appetit!

With more than 7,000 eateries in the greater Washington, D.C. area, it'sa pretty good bet that, given the time, even the most finicky gourmand willfind something to please his or her palate. However, choosing the rightrestaurant can be tricky, especially if you're pressed for time.

Tattooing, body piercing, and other skin adornments are nothing new.When the body of the Ice Man was discovered frozen in the mountains of NorthernItaly, the well-preserved 5,300-year-old corpse had tattoos on its knees.One belief is that the tattooing might have been for medicinal reasons -to remedy his arthritic knees.

If you'd like to catch some of the sights while you're in town, all youhave to do is look around. Chances are there's a monument, memorial, museum,or historical building close by. Most of the war memorials are outdoors,so take that into account if the weather is a little on the chilly side.However, a little inclement weather shouldn't stop you from taking in someof what the capital has to offer. You could literally spend months in Washington, D.C. and still not get through all the museums. Indeed, seeing all themuseums within the Smithsonian is a daunting task in and of itself.

It was established on cheap swamp land that was once thought uninhabitable,but it became the capital of "the last best hope of man." Itswide avenues, streets, monuments, and buildings play witness to the steadymarch of time and history.

When Pierre L'Enfant first viewed the land along the banks of the Potomacin 1791, he must have been a little disappointed. He faced a daunting designtask. Much of the land was uninhabitable swamp land ceded from the Stateof Maryland and Virginia. Indeed, the land in Virginia was actually givenback to that state.

Hair transplants can appear very natural now that they can be performedusing micrografts and natural follicular grouping that occur in the scalp,according to Marc R. Avram, M.D., who will speak at the American Academyof Dermatology (AAD) annual meeting today.

National Report - These days, the monthly statements from your bank and broker may generate little enthusiasm for estate planning. Still, whatever your present financial condition, you need to provide for the future of those you care about. This means assuring that your assets will be properly managed and go where they'll do the most good.

National Report - For most professionals, accepting another job or retiring involves little more than giving notice and enduring a farewell party or two. Not so for physicians. You have to notify patients, colleagues, employees, insurers, hospitals, and medical boards. You must make appropriate referrals, see that patient records remain accessible, collect accounts receivable, and arrange for continued liability coverage. If you're a solo office-based practitioner, you'll need to find a buyer, hire an associate who will eventually take over, affiliate with another practice, or shut down the business.

Many of the modern therapies that evolved during the last 25 years are new, more patient-friendly twists on old therapies. Harsh treatments with unpleasant odors that fail to diminish the most severe forms of acne and rosacea are no longer the main tools in the dermatologists' arsenal.

Five years ago, we marveled at the incredible advances in both medical and surgical dermatology. These included systemic retinoids for acne and keratinizing disorders, superpotent topical corticosteroids for even steroid-unresponsive dermatoses, photochemotherapy and narrow-band UVB phototherapy for psoriasis, and mycosis fungoides. They also included other difficult-to-treat skin problems, and sophisticated surgical modalities to improve photo-damaged skin and to help turn back the clock on skin aging in general. Five years ago, we celebrated, in these pages, 20 years of change in dermatology as reflected on the subjects that Dermatology Times covered for its readers.

National report - Trends in the treatment of melanoma continue to focus on early detection and include experimentation with vaccines that might someday stop the cancer from spreading or prevent it entirely. Despite progress in early detection, survival rates for late-stage patients continue to be a concern.

National Report -- In the past 25 years, dermatologists have witnessed a host of innovations that have made their specialty more vital than ever. During that same period, it has become increasingly evident that for the specialty to thrive in 2004 and beyond, two intertwined challenges must be addressed. They are the pervasive impact of managed care and the troubling trend for younger doctors to succumb to the allure of performing cosmetic procedures at the expense of clinical ones.