Medscape (5/16, Barclay) reported, "Among suspicious skin lesions referred to dermatologists, only one-fifth are cancerous, but dermatologists have identified other incidental lesions, approximately half of which are malignant, according to the results of a" study published in the May issue of the Archives of Dermatology. In a retrospective study involving 400 patients, the investigators concluded, "The use of teledermatology to assess a specific lesion of concern may be associated with underdiagnosis of clinically significant lesions that are not appreciated by the referring physician." They added, "Therefore, teledermatology must not be used as a substitute for a total body skin examination." HealthDay (5/16, Salamon) also covered the story.
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The AP (5/13) reported, "A vaccine exists to reduce the risk of shingles in certain age groups, but there are many obstacles to obtaining the shot." The "Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine Zostavax in 2006 for use in people 60 and older, and earlier this year the agency OK'd the shot for ages 50 and up." However, "some medical facilities are waiting until action by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before agreeing to provide the vaccine to people 50 to 59." The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which makes vaccine recommendations to the agency, will discuss the topic next month. Also, physicians' offices often do not carry the vaccine because "the vaccine is covered under Medicare Part D (with some exceptions) but not Medicare Part B." Other obstacles include the high cost of the vaccine and supply shortages.
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MSNBC (6/23, Carroll) reported, "An aspirin a day may keep melanoma at bay," according to a new study. "After scrutinizing the medical records of 1,000 people, an international team of researchers have determined that the risk of melanoma was cut by almost half when people took a daily dose of aspirin for at least five years." Interestingly, "there was also a hint that other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (marketed as Advil and Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve), might reduce melanoma risk if taken regularly over a long period of time."
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MedWire (5/13, Albert) reported that, according to a study published in the June issue of the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, "recently developed sunscreens containing nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles are likely to have better efficacy than older creams containing micron-sized TiO2 particles, with no increase in toxicity." Researchers from the Food and Drug Administration came to this conclusion after evaluating "the effects of the two types of TiO2 particles in sunscreen in terms of ultraviolet (UV) light attenuation, product stability, and possible skin barrier damage." Specifically, "they tested uncoated TiO2 with a primary particle size of 21 nm (nanoscale), coated TiO2 with a primary particle size of 50 nm (nanoscale), and submicron, coated TiO2 with a primary particle size of 250 nm (microscale)."
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MedWire (5/27, Albert) reported that, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Research, "exposure to environmental mercury may increase a person's risk for developing adult-onset atopic dermatitis (AD)." In a study of "1,990 randomly selected Korean people aged 20 years or above" who underwent blood tests and who filled out a questionnaire on their medical history, researchers found that "individuals in the highest (greater than 6.04 µg/l) versus the lowest (less than 3.56 µg/l) tertile of blood mercury concentration were 50% more likely to have a lifetime history of AD."
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MedPage Today (5/9, Bankhead) reported, "Calcium and vitamin D supplementation did not reduce the overall incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in women, although those with a history of NMSC did see a 57% risk reduction for melanoma," according to research presented at an investigative dermatology meeting. Overall, in the study of some "36,282 postmenopausal women, who were randomized to 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D daily and followed for seven years," researchers found that "the supplements afforded no protection against nonmelanoma skin cancer or melanoma."
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HealthDay (5/4, Preidt) reported, "Low levels of vitamin D are common in obese adolescents," according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health. For the study, "researchers screened 68 obese adolescents and found low vitamin D levels in all of the girls (72 percent were deemed deficient and 28 percent insufficient) and in 91 percent of the boys (69 percent deficient and 22 percent insufficient)." The study authors "called for closer monitoring of vitamin D levels in obese adolescents and for more research to determine if restoring normal vitamin D levels could help reduce the health risks associated with obesity."
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In "Vital Signs," the New York Times (5/10, D6, Rabin, Subscription Publication) reports, "Nearly one in 10 babies are given supplements or plant-based teas to soothe colic or help with teething during the first year of life, even though the products are unproven and may contain contaminants or spur allergies," according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. To reach these conclusions, "the researchers drew data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a survey of women in late pregnancy and through their babies' first year of life. Conducted by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2005 to 2007, the study included a nationwide sample of 2,653 healthy mothers and newborns." Rhinitis, Eczema In Childhood Associated With Adult Asthma. MedWire (5/9, Cowen) reports that, according to a study published online in the Journal of Allergy and Immunology, "a combination of eczema and rhinitis in childhood is associated with a significantly increased risk for new-onset atopic asthma in middle age and persistence of childhood asthma to adult atopic asthma." After examining "data on 1,383 individuals who were recruited at the age of 6-7 years in 1968 as part of the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study, and who were followed up at the age of 44 years," researchers estimated that "29.7% of persistent atopic asthma cases and 18.1% of new-onset atopic asthma cases in their study could be attributed to childhood eczema and rhinitis."
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Medscape (5/4, Mulcahy) reported, "In the past year, sunscreen was shown -- for the first time -- to prevent melanoma in one of the only randomized controlled trials ever conducted on this subject." However, "there is a caveat about the results that has important public health implications and was not highlighted in the original study, according to a letter published online April 4 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology." People who participated in the trial were middle-aged Australians whose sun exposure occurred during the course of their daily activities. In other words, their sun exposure was incidental, not intentional, as would be the sun exposure of dedicated beachgoers. Therefore, the authors of the letter say that "white people in other parts of the world should not interpret the study results as a 'green light' to tan on the beach."
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The AP (5/5) reported that Lyme disease "can affect different organ systems, including those of the heart or brain, but is usually associated with symptoms such as arthritis and the expanding red rash said to resemble a bull's-eye." Some physicians say the disease "might also spur certain cognitive and psychiatric symptoms in some patients, but others say there's no hard scientific evidence a link between Lyme disease and some of these problems." Dr. Brian Fallon, director of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University, said the illness has "been linked to certain psychiatric reactions, including depression, obsession compulsive disorder and anxiety." There were "29,959 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in 2009," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme Disease Cases Increased 35% In Wisconsin Last Year. The Capital Times (5/5, Doherty) "Vital Signs" blog reported, "The number of people infected with Lyme disease in Wisconsin increased by 35 percent last year, more alarming evidence that this nasty tick-borne illness is on the march here and across the US." According to a statement released by Dr. Henry Anderson, State Health Officer, "Lyme disease cases in the state totaled 3,495 in 2010 compared with 2,587 in 2009." The blog listed tips from Wisconsin officials to avoid tick bites, including: "Use effective tick repellants. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults use repellants with 20-30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing."
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The New York Times (4/28, E3, Zissu) reports in "Skin Deep" that product labels with "long chemical names can be hard to decipher"; and US labeling laws are "more relaxed than those in Europe and Canada, which mandate clearer warnings of potential allergens." However, most skincare and hair care is "filled with potential allergy triggers," and organic versions "are, to green parents' dismay, among the worst offenders." This could be worrisome for example, "in a lip balm. 'Allergy from ingested tree nuts is a Type I anaphylaxis-type allergy, which can be life threatening,'" said Dr. Maryann Mikhail from Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. More common is a "Type IV, contact allergy -- not 'life-threatening,' Dr. Mikhail said, though it can cause 'horrible eczema.'"
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