| | | | | Two views on biologics
| | | By
Lisa Samalonis
| | | There has been much buzz in the news recently about the use of biologics for the treatment of psoriasis. But what are the pros and cons of these treatments, and how should they fit into physicians' armamentaria? Dermatology Times asked Staff Correspondent Lisa Samalonis to speak with Norman Levine, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and M. Alan Menter, M.D., Texas Dermatology Associates PA, Baylor University Medical Center, for their input.
| | | Biologics may be less toxic than other medications
| | | By
Louise Gagnon
| | | National report — Biologic agents will not necessarily be more effective than current drugs used for dermatological conditions, but will produce less toxicities, says the professor and chairman of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N. C.
| | | Updates on psoriasis
| | | By
Lisette Hilton
| | | While these psoriasis treatment options are exciting, Dr. Lebwohl admits that dermatologists do not yet have a drug option for psoriasis that is hands-down superior to cyclosporine.
| | | Dermatologist says topical therapies safe for atopic dermatitis tx
| | | By
Lisa Samalonis
| | | Portland, Ore. — Recently concerns have arisen regarding chronic use of the calcineurin inhibitors, Elidel cream (Novartis) and Protopic ointment (Astellas), in treating atopic dermatitis because of their potential association with infection and malignancy.
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| | | | Imiquimod confers no short-term cosmetic benefit for surgical wounds
| | | By
Cheryl Guttman
| | | National report — Daily topical treatment of surgical excision sites with imiquimod 5 percent cream is well-tolerated, but at least in the short-run, it does not appear to have any benefit for enhancing cosmetic outcomes, according to Brian Berman, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology and internal medicine at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami.
| | | Knowledge of facial anatomy critical
| | | By
Nancy A. Melville
| | | LaJolla, Calif. — As surgical abilities expand in dermatology, so too has the need for a thorough understanding of the surgical anatomy of the face by dermatologists, Hugh Greenway, M.D., says.
| | | Careful, caring IPL treatment clears 'untreatable' rosacea
| | | By
Bill Gillette
| | | New York — When rosacea sufferer Alice Barker (not her real name) scheduled a consultation appointment with Manhattan dermatologist Harvey Jay, M.D., it wasn't a second or even third opinion she was seeking. It was a fourth.
| | | No. 1 physician financial mistake?
| | | By
David B. Mandell, J.D., M.B.A
,
Robert S. Gutherman
| | | If your life were in jeopardy, wouldn't you get a second opinion? Isn't your financial life important as well?
| | | Developing a 'vaccine' for melanoma
| | | By
Bob Roehr
| | | The "vaccine" approach of customizing the intervention to the patient is antithetical to the blockbuster mentality of much of the pharmaceutical industry.
| | | Toll-like receptors: Inflammation's missing link
| | | By
Jill Taylor
| | | Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are type I transmembrane PRRs that are now known to be essential in the recognition of the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that are unique to microbes.
| | | Combination laser smooths, tightens, study finds
| | | By
Karen Nash
| | | The results showed a modest improvement in facial rhytids in the majority of patients, with the maximum improvement in the nasolabial and mesiolabial area
seen at three to six months.
| | | Dermatologic surgery need not be complex
| | | By
John Jesitus
| | | San Francisco — Learning a variety of safe and relatively simple procedures can help medical dermatologists expand their practices into the surgical arena, according to Robert T. Brodell, M.D.
| | | Standardized EHR moving forward
| | | By
John Jesitus
| | | Presently, VistA-Office EHR supports electronic reproductions of paper patient charts, from vital sign entry and viewing to problem list and medication management.
| | | Exploring role of elective lymph node dissection in managing high-risk CSCC
| | | By
Nina Sheldon
| |
| | Durham, N.C. — The jury is still out on whether patients with high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) whose lymph nodes are clinically node-negative (N0) may benefit from elective neck dissection (END), according to Jonathan L. Cook, M.D., associate professor of medicine and director of dermatologic surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C. END, a diagnostic staging procedure, allows microscopic detection of subclinical nodal metastases.
| | | Evaluating a billing service
| | | By
Elizabeth W. Woodcock, M.B.A., F.A.C.M.P.E., C.P.C.
| | | Four key areas to look at when evaluating a billing service are: integration, performance, cost and relationship.
| | | Variant nature of CTCL dianostic challenge
| | | By
Melinda Tanzola, Ph.D.
| | | CTCL can look like atypical eczema or atypical psoriasis and it can be treated as such long before it is accurately identified.
| | | Changing future course of AIDS epidemic
| | | By
Cheryl Guttman
| | | There are now approximately 60 million people who are HIV-infected, while each day, 16,000 individuals become newly infected and 8,000 die from their disease.
| | | Manage your money smartly
| | | By
William J. Lynott
| | | Search out the smallest FDIC-member bank in your neighborhood and give it your business. You'll receive more personal attention from a small bank than you will at a financial behemoth and you'll have exactly the same insurance protection.
| | | Creative closures can reduce scarring
| | | By
Gunjan Sinha
| | | Melbourne, Fla. — As the incidence of skin cancer soars, dermatologic surgeons can serve their patients better by thinking more creatively about surgical flaps and grafts, according to Terence Cronin, M.D., at the Cronin Skin Cancer Center here. Physicians excising skin cancers are learning that "there are better ways to close a wound to make it heal more nicely," Dr. Cronin tells Dermatology Times.
| | | Patient consult crux of successful treatment
| | | By
Nancy A. Melville
| | | Essential information to gather at the consult includes possible medical limitations, such as allergies, medications the patient is
taking and whether the patient has a history of oral herpes simplex.
| | | Consider silicone approach
| | | By
Nancy A. Melville
| | | For a great many patients and physicians alike, however, silicone still carries the stigma it acquired after complaints of complications arose from use in breast implants.
| | | Multi-faceted approaches repair various acne scars
| | | By
Karen Nash
| | | Acne scars can be atrophic or hypertrophic and can vary widely in shape, length, depth and dimension —
and one patient can have a variety of scar types.
| | | Navigating a brave new world
| | | By
David J. Goldberg, M.D.,J.D.
| | | Perhaps there is no field in medicine like cosmetic dermatology, where scientific advances appear to run light-years ahead of ethical analyses f those changes.
| | | Model shows melanoma's microenvironment critical
| | | By
Rebecca Bryant
| | | Chicago — Scientists need to develop melanoma therapies that target both tumor cells and their microenvironment, according to Mary Hendrix, Ph.D.
| | | Media spin: How to benefit from exposure
| | | By
Patty Reiman
| | | A better option, says Patricia A. Clark, is to do your homework and anticipate the inevitable media requests that are bound to come your way.
| | | Dermatologists not go-to source for advice on skincare, survey shows
| | | By
Louise Gagnon
| | | Dr. McMichael says patients are influenced by marketing efforts in terms of their skincare product choices.
| | | Coping with recalcitrant pediatric eczema
| | | By
John Jesitus
| | | Las Vegas — Treating difficult eczema cases requires starting with the basics and advancing to approaches such as combination therapies and compounded prescriptions when needed, according to an expert.
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| | | | Consider 'wow' factor in new cosmetic practices
| | | By
Karen Nash
| | | San Francisco — With the growing patient interest in cosmetic procedures and the ever-decreasing insurance reimbursements, there are always dermatologists considering expansion of their practices into the cosmetic field. Barry A.S. Lycka, M.D., of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has helped hundreds of doctors transition from clinically based practices to ones inclusive of cosmetic work. He plans to offer some basic tips on how to approach the change during the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, taking place here March 3-7.
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| | | | New certification guidelines spur debate
| | | By
Bill Gillette
| | | Like the pre-change certification process, the new one is not mandatory, though the lion's share of reputable medical facilities and healthcare organizations have required board certification, and most physicians have willingly complied.
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| | | | Self-reliance, determination, build passion for dermatology, state-of- the-art practice
| | | By
Maureen Hrehocik
| | | It is a perfect fall Sunday afternoon in Northeast Ohio. The sun glints off jewel-toned leaves and sends a spectrum of color flooding into the well-appointed office of Helen M. Torok, M.D.
| | | Skin replacement and surgery; skin substitutes
| | | By
Inga Ellzey
| | | One of the biggest changes in the 2006 CPT book involves the grafting section of the Integumentary System. There were many deletions, a host of new codes and a significant number of amendments to the rules and guidelines that govern these complex surgical procedures.
| | | Points, practicalities of most practiced procedures
| | | By
Bill Gillette
| | | Among the certainties awaiting new dermatologists joining or starting a practice — especially one specializing in cosmetic dermatology — is this: They'll be doing a lot of procedures using Botox (Allergan) and fillers.
| | | Helioplex, Tinosorb, UVA radiation
| | | By
Zoe Diana Draelos, M.D.
| | | At present, there are no plans to gain approval for the use of Tinosorb in the United States. It is both expensive and laborious to gain approval.
| | | Mohs surgery for Bowen's disease?
| | | By
Norman Levine M.D.
| | | I have tried unsuccessfully to find a single reference which describes the natural history of Bowen's disease.
| | | Pressure builds for 'pay for performance'
| | | By
Bob Gatty
| | | Pressure is building in Washington to move forward with the federal government's proposed pay-for-performance Medicare reimbursement program.
| | | One mistake, license permanently revoked
| | | By
David J. Goldberg MD, JD
| | | This time during her physical examination, the patient was certain that she was touched inappropriately.
| | | Physician perspective on thread lifts
| | | By
Alex Gross, M.D.
| | | As might be expected with any new cosmetic procedure, suture suspension, popularly known as "thread lift," has engendered significant media attention. Thread lift has been promoted on "Oprah," "Today" and "Good Morning America" as a "lunch-time facelift." More recently, articles in The New York Times and Allure magazine have questioned the predictability and longevity of results, and the potential for complications.
| | | How do you stay current?
| | | By
Karen Nash
| | | Dermatologists report using various methods to keep abreast of the latest in dermatology, often with an eye to finding news outlets that are most accessible.
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