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Iam cruising along at 35,000 feet from Auckland to Tahiti, and then to Los Angeles.

New Orleans — Understanding basic computer technology principles helps physicians make sound computer purchases for their practices and homes.

Miami — No doctor would treat a patient as haphazardly as many seem to treat their practices. From improper coding to trust placed in the wrong people, many physicians' practices suffer from a variety of treatable ills, according to Mark S. Nestor, M.D., Ph.D., director, Center for Cosmetic Enhancement, and clinical associate professor of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami.

Las Vegas — Immunohistochemical stains can be a valuable aid to the dermatopathologist for determining diagnosis and prognosis of skin diseases, said Clay J. Cockerell, M.D., at the Fall and Winter 2004 Dermatology Conference here.

Orlando — Scars require individual assessment and treatment because no one solution will solve all problems, according to Susan H. Weinkle, M.D., a dermatologist specializing in Mohs surgery and practicing in the Tampa Bay Area.

New Orleans — Many dermatologists do not feel comfortable doing nail surgery. Sometimes, lack of exposure to nail surgery during residency training is to blame. Even those who have adequate training might eventually avoid nail surgery if they have not gained enough experience doing the procedures in practice.

New Orleans — Careful preoperative assessment to identify risk factors for increased perioperative bleeding, meticulous surgical technique to gain control of vessels and appropriate use of surgical adjuncts form the foundation for safe and effective hemostasis in dermatologic surgery, says David E. Kent, M.D., at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Los Angeles — For stubborn keloids that do not respond to intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog, Bristol-Myers Squibb), especially post-CABG sternal keloids, William V.R. Shellow, M.D., has successfully used methylprednisolone acetate (Depo-Medrol, Pharmacia & Upjohn), normally used by orthopedists for injecting joints.

Florence — Alopecia areata is a disease with important aesthetic implications that may affect the patient psychologically and socially, and treatment can be challenging, according to Ana Kaminsky, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Washington — Clinical studies have already demonstrated proof of concept for both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2. Both types of HSV-2 vaccines are currently under development and the next few years should bring promising results, accordingto Lawrence R. Stanberry, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of the department of pediatrics and director of the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Aruba — Newer antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action offer activity against drug-resistant gram-positive organisms and are important additions to the dermatologist's therapeutic arsenal for treating cutaneous infections, according to Bernardo Vainrub, M.D., consultant in internal medicine and infectious diseases, Hospital de Clinicas, Caracas, Venezuela.

New Orleans — Results of a multicenter phase 4 study confirm the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 20 percent 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) topical solution (Levulan Kerastick, DUSA) for the treatment of face and scalp non-hyperkeratotic actinic keratoses (AKs), according to Eduardo H. Tschen, M.D., who spoke at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

National report — Member discontent over the handling of the American Academy of Dermatology's (AAD) workforce initiative unveiled last fall is bringing about fundamental changes in the program — and perhaps in the decision-making process that governs such matters.

New Orleans — Recent research shows that the pharmacy and medical equipment industries influence a physician's practice, education and research, according to Jeffrey J. Meffert, M.D., program director of the dermatology program of the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium.

Washington — Scorched by controversy over how it approves prescription drugs for the marketplace, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing to establish an independent Drug Safety Oversight Board (DSB) to monitor FDA-approved pharmaceuticals and update physicians and patients when new information becomes available.

A public health crisis is brewing, according to a white paper issued by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), as two trends converge: the retreat of large and small pharmaceutical companies from antibiotic discovery and development, and the emergence of pathogens with resistance to an increasingly wide spectrum of currently approved antibiotics.

Recently, a group of leading dermatologists, clinical investigators, and dermasurgeons met to discuss the role of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in their practices. The experts discussed a new treatment paradigm for actinic keratosis (AK) and how it is changing. They also shared their personal experiences in using 5-FU innovatively to treat AK, while reducing inflammation and discomfort and improving compliance. In addition, the physicians reviewed the use of 5-FU in the treatment of several other dermatologic conditions, such aswarts and actinic cheilitis.

Dr. Dave and his friend Steve have known each other since ninth grade. They attended each other's weddings and have been together for many of life's good and bad moments. Steve also represents a publicly traded company that makes pharmaceutical products used by dermatologists.

San Diego — One of the biggest cosmetic skin problems among the people of Iran, according to Saied Vejdani, M.D., is scarring from acne.

New Orleans — Various environmental phenomena, such as the depletion of tropical rain forests, can affect human health — for instance, by eliminating the potential for lifesaving medications, says Peyton Weary, M.D., professor emeritus of dermatology at the University of Virginia and former president of the National Association of Physicians for the Environment.

Indianapolis — A detailed three-step laser process provides a far more effective treatment for rosacea than current therapies, according to Geoffrey Nase, Ph.D., a leading rosacea researcher who has battled the disorder himself.

Aruba — Clear and unambiguous data demonstrate that therapeutic outcomes for patients with acne and rosacea can be enhanced by augmenting traditional care with more novel interventions, said Richard G. Fried, M.D., Ph.D., at the Caribbean Dermatology Symposium here.

Safety was excellent. There was no difference in safety or tolerability between genders.

Las Vegas — With recent modifications to the rosacea classification system and a greater understanding of the use of antibiotics as inflammatory mediators in rosacea treatment, Joseph Bikowski, M.D. of the Bikowski Skin Care Center, Sewickley, Pa., outlined a tiered approach to rosacea treatment at the Winter Dermatology Conference here.

New Orleans — Bacteria play a role in rosacea development and that pathway should be further explored to develop novel agents to treat inflammatory lesions, says James Leyden, M.D., professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.

Dr. Dave and his friend Steve have known each other since ninth grade. They attended each other's weddings and have been together for many of life's good and bad moments. Steve also represents a publicly traded company that makes pharmaceutical products used by dermatologists.

Kissimmee, Fla. — With the recent development of the Rosacea classification and grading systems, Lynn Annette Drake, M.D. of Boston, emphasized the importance of these systems in the diagnosis and treatment of rosacea.

Even the smallest of portfolios requires at least a basic knowledge of the options available in today's investment marketplace.

Economic indicators can certainly impact investment decisions and the financial markets.

New Orleans — Creative solutions to dermatologic ailments do not just happen. The search for them can be nurtured and, where possible, augmented by a Web-based application that finds unexpected links between disparate but related topics.