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As with any legal or insurance planning, the early bird is richly rewarded. Nowhere in practice planning is this truer than in the Buy-Sell agreement. The reason is not so much economic, but political. If this planning is done before any owner is close to a disability, divorce, retirement, or death, all owners are in the same position relative to each other. That makes the negotiation of a standard deal for all owners a much easier and smoother process. Planning early for a Buy-Sell agreement will truly benefit you, your family and your practice.

The results of recent studies on the value of Vitamin D in warding off serious illnesses are fueling the ongoing debate over the dermatologic community's "official" stance that warns against the dangers of sunlight, from which the body most efficiently acquires Vitamin D.

No one in his right mind would accuse Amy S. Paller, M.D., of sitting idly, letting life pass her by.

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According to one expert, gene profiling using tape stripping, the MelaFind® device as well as confocal microscopy have the potential to assist the dermatologist in catching melanoma early on.

An ongoing study suggests total body digital photography could help reduce melanoma-related anxiety and worries for patients with atypical mole syndrome, says one of the study's authors.

In Australia, GPs and other non-specialists are effective in taking the heavy burden off the shoulders of dermatologists by sharing the work in seeing skin cancer patients. The problem is that some of these physicians lack special training and therefore c

Research at the gene expression level indicates that targeting the immune/inflammatory response could prove an effective approach in battling both intrinsic aging and photoaging, says a study co-author.

A retrospective five-year safety and efficacy study of a new PMMA filler shows a low risk of adverse events and a trend toward continued improvement over the entire five-year follow-up period, says a researcher involved with the study.

In a recent study of Chinese women, facial age spots have proven to be no predictor of facial wrinkling and vice versa, says a study author.

Future vitiligo treatments will largely target the immune system as well as promote the growth of melanocytes, according to the director of the Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California.

Dermatologists commonly turn to a variety of depigmenting agents and therapies for the treatment of melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after acne, or traumatic scars and burns, according to Helen M. Torok, M.D., Medical Director, Trillium Creek Dermatology & Surgery, in Medina, Ohio.

A phase 2 study investigated the safety and efficacy of topical bexarotene 1 percent gel (Targretin, Eisai/Ligand) for treating alopecia areata. Hair regrowth of 50 percent or greater was achieved by 26 percent of patients.

Results from accumulating research suggest that gadolinium is a trigger for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Gadolinium exposure occurs through use of gadolinium-containing contrast agent (GCCA), and the type of GCCA may influence NSF risk. Further evidence is needed to verify these theories.

Seven newly identified sites of common DNA variations increase the risk for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The whole genome association study of more than 300,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was published in the March issue of PLoS Genetics. The goal was to identify new genes and new pathways for drug development.

A recent animal study has shown that botulinum toxin injections can travel through retrograde axonal transport to unintended sites, including those in the brain, according to researchers at the Italian National Research Council's Istituto di Neuroscienze.

National report - A pro-tanning campaign backed by the Indoor Tanning Association (ITA) has raised objections from dermatologists and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

The Food and Drug Administration has been revamping sunscreen safety labeling since the implementation of the final monograph was delayed in 2002. Last August, the FDA issued proposed guidelines for the product labels, with a comment period open until November, 2007. The deadline for comment was extended until late December, and as of May first no new guidelines had been announced.

Lawmakers are scrambling to find a solution to a huge problem that stands to affect millions of Medicare patients and thousands of physicians across the nation.

San Diego - Artes Medical, makers of Artefill, has announded that Douglas Abel, chief executive officer and president of Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, has joined its board of directors, according to Business Wire.

Toronto, Canada - The Dermatology Review Panel (DRP) of Canada has announced three of Pampers babycare products have earned their recommendation and will carry their "Seal of Approval," newswire.ca reports.

National report - A positive family history of herpes zoster may be a risk factor for the disease, according to a study published in Archives of Dermatology.

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Washington - The Associated Press reports that though diagnoses of Merkel cell carcinoma have tripled to about 1,500 a year, there have been no well-controlled studies on the best treatment.

Boston - Researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute report that a targeted therapy puts metastatic melanoma into remission, according to news source Ivanhoe.com.

Graz, Austria - Though complete skin examination (CSE) by dermoscopy takes longer to conduct than CSE alone when screening for skin cancer, physicians should consider three-minute screening for the disease with either method, according to the results of a study reported by MedScape Today.

Houston - Data from a large cohort study shows that an elevated level of interleukin-12 is associated with a significantly increased mortality risk in patients with stage III melanoma with regional metastasis, according to MedPageToday.

San Rafael, Calif. - New research shows that workplace educational campaigns promoting self-examination and targeted screening for melanoma may significantly reduce melanoma mortality, HealthDay News reports.

Chicago - Recently released research shows that suntanning and indoor tanning beds remain popular among young people despite the many public service messages about the associated cancer hazards, MedPageToday reports.