Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Dermatology for April 2008. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Physicians Lack Feedback on Accuracy of Diagnoses
TUESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Clinical diagnosis is a largely open-loop system in which there is no systematic way for clinicians to obtain feedback on the outcome of their diagnoses, according to an article published in a supplement to the May issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
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Palliative Care Can Improve Patient Care Most, Poll Finds
MONDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- In an international poll conducted by BMJ to determine which area of health care would enable doctors to make the greatest difference to patients, palliative care for non-malignant disease received the most votes, the BMJ Group announced at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Health Care in Paris this week.
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Skin Exams Quick With or Without Dermoscopy
FRIDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- Contrary to an expectation many physicians may have, a complete skin examination -- even using a dermoscope -- takes less than three minutes, according to research published in the April Archives of Dermatology.
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Treatment of Hirsutism Addressed in Guideline
THURSDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- Testing for elevated androgen levels should be considered in premenopausal women who have moderate to severe hirsutism and in those with milder hirsutism accompanied by menstrual dysfunction, obesity or clitoromegaly, according to a clinical practice guideline published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in April.
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Oral Contraceptive Use May Increase in Acne Treatment
THURSDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- Recently changed guideline stating that physicians no longer need to perform a pelvic examination and Pap smear before prescribing oral contraceptive pills may encourage more dermatologists to prescribe the pills as an acne treatment for women of childbearing age, according to an article published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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Employee Screening Program Reduced Melanoma Mortality
WEDNESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Workplace educational campaigns that promote self-examination and targeted screening for melanoma may significantly reduce melanoma mortality, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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Skim Milk Linked to Acne in Teenage Boys
WEDNESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- In teenage boys, high consumption of skim milk is positively associated with acne, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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Skin Lesion Diameter Criteria Useful Guide for Biopsy
TUESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- The current guidelines for investigation of skin lesions, whereby a lesion larger than 6 millimeters in diameter triggers a decision to do a biopsy, should continue to be observed, as they provide a useful parameter in combination with other criteria, according to a study published in the April issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
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Scalp and Neck Melanomas Have Lower Survival Odds
TUESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with melanomas on the scalp and neck have a worse prognosis than their counterparts with the cancer on other parts of the body, according to a study published in the April issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
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ISA247 Safely Reduces Psoriasis Area, Severity
FRIDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- A new drug for moderate to severe psoriasis has been shown to be safe and effective for 24 weeks, according to study findings published in the April 19 issue of The Lancet.
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Pulsed-Dye Laser Effective in Treating Rosacea
FRIDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- Pulsed-dye laser can be used to safely and effectively treat rosacea, according to an article published online April 15 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
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Individualized Health Care Budgets Improve Care
FRIDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- The U.K.'s National Health Service should allow patients individual control of their health care budgets, an approach that has been shown in pilot studies to improve outcomes and patient satisfaction in a cost-effective manner, according to an analysis published April 12 in BMJ.
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Consider Health Literacy Level When Writing for Patients
THURSDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Giving patients clearly written educational materials that convey key messages without resorting to jargon is an important part of engaging patient compliance with treatment and can contribute to health literacy, according to an article published in the April issue of Chest.
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Genetic Loci Linked to Psoriasis Identified
THURSDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- A number of new genetic loci associated with psoriasis have been identified, with the class I region of the major histocompatibility complex showing the strongest association, according to study findings published April 4 in PLoS Genetics.
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Doctors Vote on the Ways to Make Biggest Difference
WEDNESDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- The BMJ has begun accepting votes on which areas of health care allow doctors to make the biggest difference to patient care, with a shortlist of six areas each being championed by eminent doctors and researchers. The winning topic will gain special coverage in the BMJ and the BMJ Group's 24 other specialist journals and online education products.
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Cream Effective for Treating Vulvar Neoplasia
WEDNESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- An imiquimod cream is effective in treating vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, reducing lesion size, itching and pain, according to a report in the April 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Psoriasis Linked to Multiple Comorbidities
WEDNESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with psoriasis are likely to have comorbidities that should be assessed by their primary health care providers and addressed with health screening tests, preventative exams and referrals, according to a clinical consensus statement from the National Psoriasis Foundation published in April in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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