News

Paris - Treatment for dermatomyositis (DM) begins with sun avoidance and sun-protective measures, Jeffrey P. Callen, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology. "The first line of therapy is to recognize that the patient is photosensitive."

Paris - There are many alternatives to consider for treating chronic urticaria if antihistamines fail.

Not only did dermatologists not get relief from the Medicare payment cuts imposed in 2002 because of a fee schedule glitch, now more cuts are on the way unless the

Rochester, Minn. - The misdiagnosis of skin ulcers as pyoderma gangrenosum is not uncommon and can have serious consequences for patients, according to a recent report in The New England Journal of Medicine (2002;347:1412-1418).

Washington - Tighter restrictions on Accutane could have a reverse effect - increased black market activity - the FDA told a congressional investigative subcommittee on Dec. 11.

President George W. Bush's announcement of a tiered national vaccination program for smallpox drew a quick response from the American Academy of Dermatology and prompted a fundamental debate: Should dermatologists receive the vaccine?

Toronto - A group of Canadian physicians who use Artecoll, an injectable currently awaiting FDA approval, is calling for the development of formal clinical guidelines and further research to help avoid adverse patient reactions.

San Diego - Ominous episodes of furunculosis due to an unusual strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) appeared suddenly among a classroom of third-grade students in a Swiss village. Some boils were so severe and painful the children had to be hospitalized for surgical drainage and IV antibiotics, a Swiss/French research team reported at the recent Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

Paris - New technologies for evaluating physical and biochemical aspects of chronic wounds are being looked at for their potential to enhance assessment of tissue repair and the management needs of a given wound, Marco Romanelli, M.D., Ph.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Paris - Some drugs can play a role in the management of ulcers due to venous insufficiency, but surgical and physical interventions remain the mainstays for treating the chronic wounds, Mieke Flour, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

New York-The pharmacologic use of growth factors already FDA approved and useful in treating recalcitrant diabetic leg ulcers shows promise as an off-label therapy for other wounds that heal slowly, Chris Arpey, M.D., associate director of dermatologic surgery, University of Iowa, said.

Paris - Topical imiquimod offers safe and often effective treatment for basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) in immunosuppressed, solid organ transplantation patients, David Vidal, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

New York - Mixing surgery and air travel may be a recipe for increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Until studies show definitively the link between air travel and blood clots, surgical patients need to be advised how to decrease their risk.

Paris - Imiquimod 5 percent cream (Aldara), like intralesional interferon, may prevent keloid recurrence. And although imiquimod use may necessitate longer treatment - up to eight weeks compared to two injections of interferon - the drug is without adverse systemic reactions, Ivonne Arellano, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Paris - Narrowband UVB is more effective in the treatment of generalized vitiligo than either PUVA in combination with calcipotriol or PUVA alone, according to a study performed by Salah Al Rubaie, M.D., Rashid Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Q. How can patients develop nail fungal infections when all the salon instruments are sterilized?

The first generic version of Accutane (isotretinoin), approved Nov. 11 by the FDA, reached market in late November at a price approximately 5.5 percent lower than the brand name.

Boston - Although officials are mum on details, product quality appears to be one factor in the transfer of worldwide marketing of Apligraf from Novartis Inc. back to Organogenesis, which develops the engineered skin and is solely responsible for its manufacture.

Alefacept drops specifically activated memory T cellsPhysician: Charles N. Ellis, M.D.

Excimer laser, fiber-optic modalities effective in less timePhysician: Henry W. Lim, M.D.

Efalizumab retreatment works as effectively as original treatmentPhysician: Kim A. Papp, M.D.

La Jolla, Calif. - A new set of psoriasis treatment algorithms, developed by the National Psoriasis Foundation, is available in a new, 102-page physician pocket guide.

Boise, Idaho - The most significant impact of information therapy on a dermatology practice will be extending the doctor's office into the patient's home, said Donald W. Kemper, chief executive officer of Healthwise, Inc., a healthcare decision-making company. Several years ago Kemper coined "information therapy," or "Ix." The term refers to the provision of current, evidence-based information to patients and their caregivers at each step of diagnosis and treatment.

Zoe Diana Draelos, M.D., clinical associate professor, department of dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and William P. Coleman III, M.D., editor, Journal of Dermatologic Surgery, discuss advances in dermatologic surgery.

New York - Dopamine agonists commonly prescribed to treat Parkinson's disease can cause alopecia, according to a recent study. Parkinson's affects about 1.5 million Americans.

Paris - Follicular unit hair transplantation using the frontal forelock concept followed by oral finasteride (Propecia) treatment can be a useful approach for achieving excellent final cosmetic results after a single transplantation session in men with androgenetic alopecia, said Ki-Hoon Song, M.D., at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Paris - Androgenetic alopecia researchers have recently made important discoveries regarding pathogenic pathways for the hair-loss disorder and possible new approaches to treatment, Antonella Tosti, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Paris - Effective pain control in nail surgery requires use of multiple strategies implemented before, during, and after the procedure, David A. de Berker, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Dr. Aaron has been asked to provide expert witness in a medical malpractice case against another physician. He has also been a treating physician and has written numerous comments in his own medical records about the suing plaintiff patient.

Marlton, N.J. - Results from a national survey of dermatologic surgeons support the conclusion that liposuction performed with a conservative approach using local anesthesia and with removal of smaller volumes of fat is a very safe procedure, Naomi Lawrence, M.D., said.