Naseem Miller

Nearly 26 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes and tens of millions more could be diagnosed with prediabetes.

At a day-long briefing sponsored by the journal Health Affairs, U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin discussed what physicians can do to help their patients live well with the disease.

She noted that physicians play an important role in implementation of the National Prevention Strategy, which is part of the Affordable Care Act and encourages Americans to live healthier lives.

Below are comments from Dr. Benjamin on today's event.

Nearly 26 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes and tens of millions more could be diagnosed with prediabetes.

At a day-long briefing sponsored by the journal Health Affairs, U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin discussed what physicians can do to help their patients live well with the disease.

She noted that physicians play an important role in implementation of the National Prevention Strategy, which is part of the Affordable Care Act and encourages Americans to live healthier lives.

Below are comments from Dr. Benjamin on today's event.

Nearly 26 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes and tens of millions more could be diagnosed with prediabetes.

At a day-long briefing sponsored by the journal Health Affairs, U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin discussed what physicians can do to help their patients live well with the disease.

She noted that physicians play an important role in implementation of the National Prevention Strategy, which is part of the Affordable Care Act and encourages Americans to live healthier lives.

Below are comments from Dr. Benjamin on today's event.

When patients ask about fillers for their face, it presents the opportunity to also talk to them about their aging hands, according to Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, a professor and vice-chairman of the department of dermatology at St. Louis University School of Medicine. 

Prepared fillers such as hyaluronic acid can be used to rejuvenate aging hands, she said. The amount used is about two to three syringes for both hands, recovery is quick, and the results can last up a year.

The procedure is also relatively safe, and aside from the initial bruising and lumpiness, the odds of infection are low, said Dr. Glaser. However, she did not advise using permanent fillers.

When patients ask about fillers for their face, it presents the opportunity to also talk to them about their aging hands, according to Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, a professor and vice-chairman of the department of dermatology at St. Louis University School of Medicine. 

Prepared fillers such as hyaluronic acid can be used to rejuvenate aging hands, she said. The amount used is about two to three syringes for both hands, recovery is quick, and the results can last up a year.

The procedure is also relatively safe, and aside from the initial bruising and lumpiness, the odds of infection are low, said Dr. Glaser. However, she did not advise using permanent fillers.

When patients ask about fillers for their face, it presents the opportunity to also talk to them about their aging hands, according to Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, a professor and vice-chairman of the department of dermatology at St. Louis University School of Medicine. 

Prepared fillers such as hyaluronic acid can be used to rejuvenate aging hands, she said. The amount used is about two to three syringes for both hands, recovery is quick, and the results can last up a year.

The procedure is also relatively safe, and aside from the initial bruising and lumpiness, the odds of infection are low, said Dr. Glaser. However, she did not advise using permanent fillers.

Major Finding: In terms of gestational weight gain, 20% of black women undergained, 27% appropriately gained, and 54% overgained. The statistics were, respectively, 15%, 26%, and 60% for white women; 22%, 38%, and 41% for Asian women; and 20%, 27%, and 54% for Hispanic women.

Data Source: A retrospective study using automated labor and delivery records of 11,992 women.

Disclosures: Ms. Holland said that she had no relevant financial disclosures.

WASHINGTON – Adherence to gestational weight gain recommendations and prepregnancy body mass index varies significantly depending on race and ethnicity, Erica Holland reported.

In addition, black women were at the greatest risk of prepregnancy overweight or obesity while Asian women were at the greatest risk of being underweight. Meanwhile, the majority of black, white, and Hispanic women overgained weight during pregnancy.

When adjusted for age, marital status, and several other factors, Asian, black, and Hispanic women had significantly decreased odds of gaining excessive weight compared with white women, even though the majority of black and Hispanic women gained weight excessively during pregnancy, according to study results presented at the meeting.

Black women were 1.56 times more likely to be overweight and 1.61 times more likely to be obese prior to pregnancy than their white counterparts. Hispanic women were 1.28 times more likely to be overweight, and 1.23 times more likely to be obese compared with white women. Asian women were 2.25 times more likely to be underweight and less likely to be overweight or obese compared with their white counterparts.

The findings have opened the door for further research on maternal and neonatal outcomes based on race and ethnicity and on gestational weight gain (GWG) adherence, which could in turn change recommendations, said Ms. Holland, a third-year medical student at the University of Massachusetts, Worcester, who presented the study findings.

She speculated that the variation could be caused by various factors such as cultural differences, maybe a genetic component, and disparities in weight gain advice given to women based on their race.

Evidence suggests GWG nonadherence is a risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. The Institute of Medicine updated its recommendations for GWG in 2009, giving a range based on the mother's body mass index (BMI). Women at a normal weight for their height (BMI of 18.5–24.9) should gain 25–35 pounds during pregnancy, underweight women (BMI less than 18.5) should gain 28–40 pounds, and overweight women (BMI of 25–29.9) should gain 15–25 pounds, according to the 2009 IOM guidelines. The recommendations, however, are not tailored based on race and ethnicity, Ms. Holland said.

To find the association of race and ethnicity with prepregnancy BMI and GWG adherence, researchers conducted a retrospective study using automated labor and delivery records of 11,992 women with a mean age of 29 years. In total, 70% of the women were multigravida, 69% were white, 18% Hispanic, 9% black, and 5% Asian; 91% of the women delivered full term.

In total, 3.8% of the population was underweight and 21% were obese before pregnancy. A quarter gained weight properly during pregnancy, said Ms. Holland, but 68% overgained weight during pregnancy. Prior to pregnancy, 2% of black women were underweight, 39% were normal weight, and 59% were overweight or obese. The statistics were, respectively, 3%, 51%, and 46% for white women; 9%, 73%, and 18% for Asian women; and 5%, 47%, and 48% for Hispanic women.

For GWG, 20% of black women undergained, 27% appropriately gained, and 54% over gained. The statistics were 15%, 26%, and 60% for white women; 22%, 38%, and 41% for Asian women; and 20%, 27%, and 54% for Hispanic women.

Major Finding: In terms of gestational weight gain, 20% of black women undergained, 27% appropriately gained, and 54% overgained. The statistics were, respectively, 15%, 26%, and 60% for white women; 22%, 38%, and 41% for Asian women; and 20%, 27%, and 54% for Hispanic women.

Data Source: A retrospective study using automated labor and delivery records of 11,992 women.

Disclosures: Ms. Holland said that she had no relevant financial disclosures.

WASHINGTON – Adherence to gestational weight gain recommendations and prepregnancy body mass index varies significantly depending on race and ethnicity, Erica Holland reported.

In addition, black women were at the greatest risk of prepregnancy overweight or obesity while Asian women were at the greatest risk of being underweight. Meanwhile, the majority of black, white, and Hispanic women overgained weight during pregnancy.

When adjusted for age, marital status, and several other factors, Asian, black, and Hispanic women had significantly decreased odds of gaining excessive weight compared with white women, even though the majority of black and Hispanic women gained weight excessively during pregnancy, according to study results presented at the meeting.

Black women were 1.56 times more likely to be overweight and 1.61 times more likely to be obese prior to pregnancy than their white counterparts. Hispanic women were 1.28 times more likely to be overweight, and 1.23 times more likely to be obese compared with white women. Asian women were 2.25 times more likely to be underweight and less likely to be overweight or obese compared with their white counterparts.

The findings have opened the door for further research on maternal and neonatal outcomes based on race and ethnicity and on gestational weight gain (GWG) adherence, which could in turn change recommendations, said Ms. Holland, a third-year medical student at the University of Massachusetts, Worcester, who presented the study findings.

She speculated that the variation could be caused by various factors such as cultural differences, maybe a genetic component, and disparities in weight gain advice given to women based on their race.

Evidence suggests GWG nonadherence is a risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. The Institute of Medicine updated its recommendations for GWG in 2009, giving a range based on the mother's body mass index (BMI). Women at a normal weight for their height (BMI of 18.5–24.9) should gain 25–35 pounds during pregnancy, underweight women (BMI less than 18.5) should gain 28–40 pounds, and overweight women (BMI of 25–29.9) should gain 15–25 pounds, according to the 2009 IOM guidelines. The recommendations, however, are not tailored based on race and ethnicity, Ms. Holland said.

To find the association of race and ethnicity with prepregnancy BMI and GWG adherence, researchers conducted a retrospective study using automated labor and delivery records of 11,992 women with a mean age of 29 years. In total, 70% of the women were multigravida, 69% were white, 18% Hispanic, 9% black, and 5% Asian; 91% of the women delivered full term.

In total, 3.8% of the population was underweight and 21% were obese before pregnancy. A quarter gained weight properly during pregnancy, said Ms. Holland, but 68% overgained weight during pregnancy. Prior to pregnancy, 2% of black women were underweight, 39% were normal weight, and 59% were overweight or obese. The statistics were, respectively, 3%, 51%, and 46% for white women; 9%, 73%, and 18% for Asian women; and 5%, 47%, and 48% for Hispanic women.

For GWG, 20% of black women undergained, 27% appropriately gained, and 54% over gained. The statistics were 15%, 26%, and 60% for white women; 22%, 38%, and 41% for Asian women; and 20%, 27%, and 54% for Hispanic women.

Major Finding: In terms of gestational weight gain, 20% of black women undergained, 27% appropriately gained, and 54% overgained. The statistics were, respectively, 15%, 26%, and 60% for white women; 22%, 38%, and 41% for Asian women; and 20%, 27%, and 54% for Hispanic women.

Data Source: A retrospective study using automated labor and delivery records of 11,992 women.

Disclosures: Ms. Holland said that she had no relevant financial disclosures.

WASHINGTON – Adherence to gestational weight gain recommendations and prepregnancy body mass index varies significantly depending on race and ethnicity, Erica Holland reported.

In addition, black women were at the greatest risk of prepregnancy overweight or obesity while Asian women were at the greatest risk of being underweight. Meanwhile, the majority of black, white, and Hispanic women overgained weight during pregnancy.

When adjusted for age, marital status, and several other factors, Asian, black, and Hispanic women had significantly decreased odds of gaining excessive weight compared with white women, even though the majority of black and Hispanic women gained weight excessively during pregnancy, according to study results presented at the meeting.

Black women were 1.56 times more likely to be overweight and 1.61 times more likely to be obese prior to pregnancy than their white counterparts. Hispanic women were 1.28 times more likely to be overweight, and 1.23 times more likely to be obese compared with white women. Asian women were 2.25 times more likely to be underweight and less likely to be overweight or obese compared with their white counterparts.

The findings have opened the door for further research on maternal and neonatal outcomes based on race and ethnicity and on gestational weight gain (GWG) adherence, which could in turn change recommendations, said Ms. Holland, a third-year medical student at the University of Massachusetts, Worcester, who presented the study findings.

She speculated that the variation could be caused by various factors such as cultural differences, maybe a genetic component, and disparities in weight gain advice given to women based on their race.

Evidence suggests GWG nonadherence is a risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. The Institute of Medicine updated its recommendations for GWG in 2009, giving a range based on the mother's body mass index (BMI). Women at a normal weight for their height (BMI of 18.5–24.9) should gain 25–35 pounds during pregnancy, underweight women (BMI less than 18.5) should gain 28–40 pounds, and overweight women (BMI of 25–29.9) should gain 15–25 pounds, according to the 2009 IOM guidelines. The recommendations, however, are not tailored based on race and ethnicity, Ms. Holland said.

To find the association of race and ethnicity with prepregnancy BMI and GWG adherence, researchers conducted a retrospective study using automated labor and delivery records of 11,992 women with a mean age of 29 years. In total, 70% of the women were multigravida, 69% were white, 18% Hispanic, 9% black, and 5% Asian; 91% of the women delivered full term.

In total, 3.8% of the population was underweight and 21% were obese before pregnancy. A quarter gained weight properly during pregnancy, said Ms. Holland, but 68% overgained weight during pregnancy. Prior to pregnancy, 2% of black women were underweight, 39% were normal weight, and 59% were overweight or obese. The statistics were, respectively, 3%, 51%, and 46% for white women; 9%, 73%, and 18% for Asian women; and 5%, 47%, and 48% for Hispanic women.

For GWG, 20% of black women undergained, 27% appropriately gained, and 54% over gained. The statistics were 15%, 26%, and 60% for white women; 22%, 38%, and 41% for Asian women; and 20%, 27%, and 54% for Hispanic women.

WHO Blames TV Ads

Nearly 43 million preschool children worldwide are obese or overweight and television ads are greatly to blame, according to the World Health Organization. “Television advertising is responsible for a large share of the marketing of unhealthy foods, and according to systematic reviews of evidence, advertisements influence children's food preferences, purchase requests, and consumption pattern,” the organization said. In a 2010 recommendation, the WHO called for less exposure of children to ads that promote unhealthful foods, and condemned marketing messages that promote foods high in saturated fats, trans fatty acids, free sugars, and salt. “Implementing these recommendations should be part of broad efforts to prevent unhealthy diets – a key risk factor for several noncommunicable diseases,” Dr. Ala Alwan, WHO's assistant director-general for noncommunicable diseases and mental health, said in a statement.

Obesity Drug Hits Snag

The Food and Drug Administration has requested more information about an active ingredient in the experimental antiobesity and antidiabetes drug Qnexa. The agency declined to approve the combination of phentermine and topiramate last October and asked for more evidence about possible heart risks associated with the product. At question is topiramate, an active ingredient in migraine and epilepsy drugs. The agency has now asked Vivus Inc., maker of the phentermine-topiramate combination, to provide more information on topiramate and birth defects. The agent is suspected of increasing the incidence of cleft lip, the company said in a statement, adding that none of the babies born to 15 women who were exposed to topiramate or the combination drug in Vivus's trials had any birth defect. “Vivus anticipates continued dialog with the FDA on the planned resubmission” of the phentermine-topiramate new drug application, according to the statement.

Company Lost Billions on Drug

GlaxoSmithKline has posted a fourth-quarter charge of $3.49 billion to cover the cost of patient lawsuits and response to the federal government's investigation into the company's off-label promotion of its diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia). “We recognize that this is a significant charge, but we believe the approach we are taking to resolve longstanding legal matters is in the company's best interests,” Elpidio Villarreal, senior vice president of global litigation for the company, said in a statement. “We have closed out a number of major cases over the last year and we remain determined to do all we can to reduce our litigation risk.” The FDA put restrictions on rosiglitazone because of data that tie the drug to increased risk of heart attacks.

Companies Join in Diabetes Push

Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim have joined forces to push toward approval several diabetes drugs at mid- or late-stage development. “Working together, we will comprise one of the most robust diabetes pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry,” John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D., Lilly chairman and CEO, said in a statement. The alliance “offers the prospect of near-term revenue opportunities as we address the upcoming loss of patent exclusivity for several of our products,” he added. The compounds for the project so far include two oral diabetes agents from Boehringer Ingelheim, two basal insulin analogues from Lilly, and possibly Lilly's anti-TGF-beta monoclonal antibody, according to the announcement. The companies will eventually share equally the costs and profits from the drugs.

France to Reform After Scandal

France has removed the diabetes drug benfluorex (Mediator) from the market after a report showed that at least 500 people have died as a result of taking the drug over the past 3 decades. The removal comes almost a decade after the United States and several European countries took such action when studies linked the drug to an increased risk of heart disease. France's Health Minister Xavier Bertrand has now promised to revamp the country's medical regulatory system, which relies heavily on pharmaceutical companies for funding. Benfluorex is made by France's second-largest drug company, Servier Laboratories.

Diabetes, and Its Costs, Doubled

The number of U.S. adults treated for diabetes more than doubled in 11 years, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In 2007, 19 million adults said they had been treated for diabetes, compared with 9 million in 1996, the agency said. The increase occurred in all age groups: from 4.3 million to 8 million among seniors; from 3.6 million to 8.9 million among people aged 45–64 years; and from 1.2 million to 2.4 million among 18- to 44-year-olds. Total treatment costs for diabetes also more than doubled, from an inflation-adjusted $18.5 billion in 1996 to $41 billion in 2007. Prescription costs alone more than quadrupled, from $4 billion to $19 billion.

WHO Blames TV Ads

Nearly 43 million preschool children worldwide are obese or overweight and television ads are greatly to blame, according to the World Health Organization. “Television advertising is responsible for a large share of the marketing of unhealthy foods, and according to systematic reviews of evidence, advertisements influence children's food preferences, purchase requests, and consumption pattern,” the organization said. In a 2010 recommendation, the WHO called for less exposure of children to ads that promote unhealthful foods, and condemned marketing messages that promote foods high in saturated fats, trans fatty acids, free sugars, and salt. “Implementing these recommendations should be part of broad efforts to prevent unhealthy diets – a key risk factor for several noncommunicable diseases,” Dr. Ala Alwan, WHO's assistant director-general for noncommunicable diseases and mental health, said in a statement.

Obesity Drug Hits Snag

The Food and Drug Administration has requested more information about an active ingredient in the experimental antiobesity and antidiabetes drug Qnexa. The agency declined to approve the combination of phentermine and topiramate last October and asked for more evidence about possible heart risks associated with the product. At question is topiramate, an active ingredient in migraine and epilepsy drugs. The agency has now asked Vivus Inc., maker of the phentermine-topiramate combination, to provide more information on topiramate and birth defects. The agent is suspected of increasing the incidence of cleft lip, the company said in a statement, adding that none of the babies born to 15 women who were exposed to topiramate or the combination drug in Vivus's trials had any birth defect. “Vivus anticipates continued dialog with the FDA on the planned resubmission” of the phentermine-topiramate new drug application, according to the statement.

Company Lost Billions on Drug

GlaxoSmithKline has posted a fourth-quarter charge of $3.49 billion to cover the cost of patient lawsuits and response to the federal government's investigation into the company's off-label promotion of its diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia). “We recognize that this is a significant charge, but we believe the approach we are taking to resolve longstanding legal matters is in the company's best interests,” Elpidio Villarreal, senior vice president of global litigation for the company, said in a statement. “We have closed out a number of major cases over the last year and we remain determined to do all we can to reduce our litigation risk.” The FDA put restrictions on rosiglitazone because of data that tie the drug to increased risk of heart attacks.

Companies Join in Diabetes Push

Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim have joined forces to push toward approval several diabetes drugs at mid- or late-stage development. “Working together, we will comprise one of the most robust diabetes pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry,” John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D., Lilly chairman and CEO, said in a statement. The alliance “offers the prospect of near-term revenue opportunities as we address the upcoming loss of patent exclusivity for several of our products,” he added. The compounds for the project so far include two oral diabetes agents from Boehringer Ingelheim, two basal insulin analogues from Lilly, and possibly Lilly's anti-TGF-beta monoclonal antibody, according to the announcement. The companies will eventually share equally the costs and profits from the drugs.

France to Reform After Scandal

France has removed the diabetes drug benfluorex (Mediator) from the market after a report showed that at least 500 people have died as a result of taking the drug over the past 3 decades. The removal comes almost a decade after the United States and several European countries took such action when studies linked the drug to an increased risk of heart disease. France's Health Minister Xavier Bertrand has now promised to revamp the country's medical regulatory system, which relies heavily on pharmaceutical companies for funding. Benfluorex is made by France's second-largest drug company, Servier Laboratories.

Diabetes, and Its Costs, Doubled

The number of U.S. adults treated for diabetes more than doubled in 11 years, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In 2007, 19 million adults said they had been treated for diabetes, compared with 9 million in 1996, the agency said. The increase occurred in all age groups: from 4.3 million to 8 million among seniors; from 3.6 million to 8.9 million among people aged 45–64 years; and from 1.2 million to 2.4 million among 18- to 44-year-olds. Total treatment costs for diabetes also more than doubled, from an inflation-adjusted $18.5 billion in 1996 to $41 billion in 2007. Prescription costs alone more than quadrupled, from $4 billion to $19 billion.

WHO Blames TV Ads

Nearly 43 million preschool children worldwide are obese or overweight and television ads are greatly to blame, according to the World Health Organization. “Television advertising is responsible for a large share of the marketing of unhealthy foods, and according to systematic reviews of evidence, advertisements influence children's food preferences, purchase requests, and consumption pattern,” the organization said. In a 2010 recommendation, the WHO called for less exposure of children to ads that promote unhealthful foods, and condemned marketing messages that promote foods high in saturated fats, trans fatty acids, free sugars, and salt. “Implementing these recommendations should be part of broad efforts to prevent unhealthy diets – a key risk factor for several noncommunicable diseases,” Dr. Ala Alwan, WHO's assistant director-general for noncommunicable diseases and mental health, said in a statement.

Obesity Drug Hits Snag

The Food and Drug Administration has requested more information about an active ingredient in the experimental antiobesity and antidiabetes drug Qnexa. The agency declined to approve the combination of phentermine and topiramate last October and asked for more evidence about possible heart risks associated with the product. At question is topiramate, an active ingredient in migraine and epilepsy drugs. The agency has now asked Vivus Inc., maker of the phentermine-topiramate combination, to provide more information on topiramate and birth defects. The agent is suspected of increasing the incidence of cleft lip, the company said in a statement, adding that none of the babies born to 15 women who were exposed to topiramate or the combination drug in Vivus's trials had any birth defect. “Vivus anticipates continued dialog with the FDA on the planned resubmission” of the phentermine-topiramate new drug application, according to the statement.

Company Lost Billions on Drug

GlaxoSmithKline has posted a fourth-quarter charge of $3.49 billion to cover the cost of patient lawsuits and response to the federal government's investigation into the company's off-label promotion of its diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia). “We recognize that this is a significant charge, but we believe the approach we are taking to resolve longstanding legal matters is in the company's best interests,” Elpidio Villarreal, senior vice president of global litigation for the company, said in a statement. “We have closed out a number of major cases over the last year and we remain determined to do all we can to reduce our litigation risk.” The FDA put restrictions on rosiglitazone because of data that tie the drug to increased risk of heart attacks.

Companies Join in Diabetes Push

Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim have joined forces to push toward approval several diabetes drugs at mid- or late-stage development. “Working together, we will comprise one of the most robust diabetes pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry,” John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D., Lilly chairman and CEO, said in a statement. The alliance “offers the prospect of near-term revenue opportunities as we address the upcoming loss of patent exclusivity for several of our products,” he added. The compounds for the project so far include two oral diabetes agents from Boehringer Ingelheim, two basal insulin analogues from Lilly, and possibly Lilly's anti-TGF-beta monoclonal antibody, according to the announcement. The companies will eventually share equally the costs and profits from the drugs.

France to Reform After Scandal

France has removed the diabetes drug benfluorex (Mediator) from the market after a report showed that at least 500 people have died as a result of taking the drug over the past 3 decades. The removal comes almost a decade after the United States and several European countries took such action when studies linked the drug to an increased risk of heart disease. France's Health Minister Xavier Bertrand has now promised to revamp the country's medical regulatory system, which relies heavily on pharmaceutical companies for funding. Benfluorex is made by France's second-largest drug company, Servier Laboratories.

Diabetes, and Its Costs, Doubled

The number of U.S. adults treated for diabetes more than doubled in 11 years, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In 2007, 19 million adults said they had been treated for diabetes, compared with 9 million in 1996, the agency said. The increase occurred in all age groups: from 4.3 million to 8 million among seniors; from 3.6 million to 8.9 million among people aged 45–64 years; and from 1.2 million to 2.4 million among 18- to 44-year-olds. Total treatment costs for diabetes also more than doubled, from an inflation-adjusted $18.5 billion in 1996 to $41 billion in 2007. Prescription costs alone more than quadrupled, from $4 billion to $19 billion.

There will be more than 400 different sessions at the American Academy of Dermatology's Annual Meeting covering a range of topics as diverse as the field of dermatology and as unique as its host city, New Orleans.

The academy constantly evaluates the meetings and "continually makes changes to have relevant and useful educational material," said Dr. Lawrence F. Eichenfield, chair of the annual meeting.

This year, there will be an increased focus on practice management and leadership. The AAD's Leadership Institute is expanding, and the sessions, marked by the institute's logo in the program book, are geared toward improving dermatologists' ability to influence people in the workplace and their communities, said Dr. Eichenfield.

Health care reform and the politics of medicine in the United States will be discussed in several sessions, starting with the president's address during the plenary session at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6, in the La Nouvelle New Orleans Ballroom at the convention center. Featured guest speakers, James Carville and his wife Mary Matalin, will exchange differing political views during their lecture, "All's Fair: Love, War, and Politics."

Dr. Thomas S. Kupper will give the Marion B. Sulzberger, M.D., Memorial Award and Lectureship during the plenary. His address ("Skin in the Game: New Perspectives on T-Cells, Immunity, and Cancer"), will focus on how advances in understanding T cells can change the direction of thinking toward immunity, vaccination, cancer, and patient care, said Dr. Eichenfield.

Also during the plenary, Anton Stuetz, Ph.D., will deliver a lecture on "Lessons Learned During Research and Development of New Medicines for Treatment of Skin Diseases." Dr. Stuetz is a world leader in the discovery and development of dermatologic drugs. He will focus on drug research and development and what the future holds. He is giving the Eugene J. Van Scott Award for Innovative Therapy of the Skin and Phillip Frost Leadership Lecture.

Several sessions will address how dermatologists are working with the political system to influence the future of dermatologic care. A 3-hour symposium, "Surviving Healthcare Reform," directed by Dr. Jack S. Resneck Jr., will focus on how health care reform affects practices and what changes it could bring. The symposium is being held in the La Nouvelle New Orleans Ballroom at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4.

Other sessions will focus on various topics, including the Institute of Medicine's new vitamin D guidelines; advances in laser technology; evolution in diagnosis, management, and treatment of hemangiomas; nanotechnology; and dermoscopy. "We're proud of the collection of international experts in dermoscopy that will be involved in the teaching sessions," said Dr. Eichenfield.

New this year is the "Late Breaking Research" symposium, where the newest and most significant research in dermatology will be presented. It is being held on Saturday, Feb. 5 in room 386/387 at 9 a.m. Although poster sessions have traditionally been the outlet for presenting the latest clinical studies, they don't provide the same interactivity and delivery method as the symposium will, said Dr. Eichenfield. "It's marvelous to include that in the academy meeting."

There will be more than 400 different sessions at the American Academy of Dermatology's Annual Meeting covering a range of topics as diverse as the field of dermatology and as unique as its host city, New Orleans.

The academy constantly evaluates the meetings and "continually makes changes to have relevant and useful educational material," said Dr. Lawrence F. Eichenfield, chair of the annual meeting.

This year, there will be an increased focus on practice management and leadership. The AAD's Leadership Institute is expanding, and the sessions, marked by the institute's logo in the program book, are geared toward improving dermatologists' ability to influence people in the workplace and their communities, said Dr. Eichenfield.

Health care reform and the politics of medicine in the United States will be discussed in several sessions, starting with the president's address during the plenary session at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6, in the La Nouvelle New Orleans Ballroom at the convention center. Featured guest speakers, James Carville and his wife Mary Matalin, will exchange differing political views during their lecture, "All's Fair: Love, War, and Politics."

Dr. Thomas S. Kupper will give the Marion B. Sulzberger, M.D., Memorial Award and Lectureship during the plenary. His address ("Skin in the Game: New Perspectives on T-Cells, Immunity, and Cancer"), will focus on how advances in understanding T cells can change the direction of thinking toward immunity, vaccination, cancer, and patient care, said Dr. Eichenfield.

Also during the plenary, Anton Stuetz, Ph.D., will deliver a lecture on "Lessons Learned During Research and Development of New Medicines for Treatment of Skin Diseases." Dr. Stuetz is a world leader in the discovery and development of dermatologic drugs. He will focus on drug research and development and what the future holds. He is giving the Eugene J. Van Scott Award for Innovative Therapy of the Skin and Phillip Frost Leadership Lecture.

Several sessions will address how dermatologists are working with the political system to influence the future of dermatologic care. A 3-hour symposium, "Surviving Healthcare Reform," directed by Dr. Jack S. Resneck Jr., will focus on how health care reform affects practices and what changes it could bring. The symposium is being held in the La Nouvelle New Orleans Ballroom at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4.

Other sessions will focus on various topics, including the Institute of Medicine's new vitamin D guidelines; advances in laser technology; evolution in diagnosis, management, and treatment of hemangiomas; nanotechnology; and dermoscopy. "We're proud of the collection of international experts in dermoscopy that will be involved in the teaching sessions," said Dr. Eichenfield.

New this year is the "Late Breaking Research" symposium, where the newest and most significant research in dermatology will be presented. It is being held on Saturday, Feb. 5 in room 386/387 at 9 a.m. Although poster sessions have traditionally been the outlet for presenting the latest clinical studies, they don't provide the same interactivity and delivery method as the symposium will, said Dr. Eichenfield. "It's marvelous to include that in the academy meeting."

There will be more than 400 different sessions at the American Academy of Dermatology's Annual Meeting covering a range of topics as diverse as the field of dermatology and as unique as its host city, New Orleans.

The academy constantly evaluates the meetings and "continually makes changes to have relevant and useful educational material," said Dr. Lawrence F. Eichenfield, chair of the annual meeting.

This year, there will be an increased focus on practice management and leadership. The AAD's Leadership Institute is expanding, and the sessions, marked by the institute's logo in the program book, are geared toward improving dermatologists' ability to influence people in the workplace and their communities, said Dr. Eichenfield.

Health care reform and the politics of medicine in the United States will be discussed in several sessions, starting with the president's address during the plenary session at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6, in the La Nouvelle New Orleans Ballroom at the convention center. Featured guest speakers, James Carville and his wife Mary Matalin, will exchange differing political views during their lecture, "All's Fair: Love, War, and Politics."

Dr. Thomas S. Kupper will give the Marion B. Sulzberger, M.D., Memorial Award and Lectureship during the plenary. His address ("Skin in the Game: New Perspectives on T-Cells, Immunity, and Cancer"), will focus on how advances in understanding T cells can change the direction of thinking toward immunity, vaccination, cancer, and patient care, said Dr. Eichenfield.

Also during the plenary, Anton Stuetz, Ph.D., will deliver a lecture on "Lessons Learned During Research and Development of New Medicines for Treatment of Skin Diseases." Dr. Stuetz is a world leader in the discovery and development of dermatologic drugs. He will focus on drug research and development and what the future holds. He is giving the Eugene J. Van Scott Award for Innovative Therapy of the Skin and Phillip Frost Leadership Lecture.

Several sessions will address how dermatologists are working with the political system to influence the future of dermatologic care. A 3-hour symposium, "Surviving Healthcare Reform," directed by Dr. Jack S. Resneck Jr., will focus on how health care reform affects practices and what changes it could bring. The symposium is being held in the La Nouvelle New Orleans Ballroom at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4.

Other sessions will focus on various topics, including the Institute of Medicine's new vitamin D guidelines; advances in laser technology; evolution in diagnosis, management, and treatment of hemangiomas; nanotechnology; and dermoscopy. "We're proud of the collection of international experts in dermoscopy that will be involved in the teaching sessions," said Dr. Eichenfield.

New this year is the "Late Breaking Research" symposium, where the newest and most significant research in dermatology will be presented. It is being held on Saturday, Feb. 5 in room 386/387 at 9 a.m. Although poster sessions have traditionally been the outlet for presenting the latest clinical studies, they don't provide the same interactivity and delivery method as the symposium will, said Dr. Eichenfield. "It's marvelous to include that in the academy meeting."

Election Had Abortion Impact

Republican victories in the House of Representatives gave a solid majority to abortion foes in the coming Congress, according to an analysis by the prolife group the American Center for Law and Justice. The 111th Congress had “183 reliable pro-life representatives,” wrote the center's chief counsel Jordan Sekulow in a blog post. “Next year, there will be no less that 230 solid pro-life representatives, a 47-seat net gain that pushes the pro-life vote over the minimum 218 margin” to pass legislation, he added.

Objects Left After Girls' Surgeries

Girls who undergo gynecologic surgeries have a higher likelihood that a sponge or other foreign body will be left in their bodies than do girls getting other types of surgery, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. They scanned nationwide quality data on nearly 2,000,000 operations in children to find 413 foreign-body incidents in children of either sex. The scientists reported in the Archives of Surgery that pediatric gynecologic surgery carried a 4.13 odds ratio of a foreign body being left behind, compared with other surgeries of people under 18 years of age. The study showed that although this led to 8-day longer hospital stays and $35,681 higher total hospital charges than operations in children without foreign bodies left behind, they did not increase mortality.

Mammography Devices Relisted

The FDA is making it easier for companies to get new digital mammography systems approved. The agency said it is reclassifying these devices, known as full field digital mammography systems, as medium-risk (class II) devices. When first approved by the agency in 2000, digital mammography systems were categorized at high-risk (class III) because of their novelty. Since then, digital mammography has been validated in scientific studies involving tens of thousands of patients, the agency said. To win approval for a class III device, companies need to prove safety and effectiveness. Class II approval involves establishing that a device is substantially equivalent to one already on the market. Today, about 70% of the mammography units in use are digital and 70% of certified U.S. mammography centers have at least one digital unit, the FDA said.

Women Get Coverage Money Back

Because of a hotline complaint by one woman denied coverage, an insurance company is paying a total of $148,000 for 984 illegally denied claims for contraception coverage, according to a blog post from the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. The Seattle Times reported that the claims were for intrauterine device removals and were denied over 8 years by Regence BlueShield. The blog post said that only three women had appealed their denials, which were all upheld. One woman recently called the state office, which then decided that all the denials had violated a 2001 Insurance Commission rule that says, “In Washington, all state regulated health plans that have comprehensive prescription drug coverage must cover prescription contraceptives.” Insurance company officials told the newspaper that they had coded the procedure incorrectly.

FDA Sued for Lack of Action

The Center for Reproductive Rights is suing the Food and Drug Administration for failing to respond to a 2009 court order to make the morning-after pill called Plan B (levonorgestrel) an over-the-counter product for women under 18 as well as for those older. “The FDA has had ample time, countless opportunities, and overwhelming scientific evidence put before it to make a decision on Plan B” for younger women, said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement. “The president promised that his administration would reverse the Bush policy of politics trumping science. But when it comes to emergency contraception, it's a new administration playing the same old games.” The center said that although the FDA had agreed to follow the 2009 ruling soon after it was made, the agency this year said that it does not intend to reconsider the center's petition that had prompted the original suit.

Election Had Abortion Impact

Republican victories in the House of Representatives gave a solid majority to abortion foes in the coming Congress, according to an analysis by the prolife group the American Center for Law and Justice. The 111th Congress had “183 reliable pro-life representatives,” wrote the center's chief counsel Jordan Sekulow in a blog post. “Next year, there will be no less that 230 solid pro-life representatives, a 47-seat net gain that pushes the pro-life vote over the minimum 218 margin” to pass legislation, he added.

Objects Left After Girls' Surgeries

Girls who undergo gynecologic surgeries have a higher likelihood that a sponge or other foreign body will be left in their bodies than do girls getting other types of surgery, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. They scanned nationwide quality data on nearly 2,000,000 operations in children to find 413 foreign-body incidents in children of either sex. The scientists reported in the Archives of Surgery that pediatric gynecologic surgery carried a 4.13 odds ratio of a foreign body being left behind, compared with other surgeries of people under 18 years of age. The study showed that although this led to 8-day longer hospital stays and $35,681 higher total hospital charges than operations in children without foreign bodies left behind, they did not increase mortality.

Mammography Devices Relisted

The FDA is making it easier for companies to get new digital mammography systems approved. The agency said it is reclassifying these devices, known as full field digital mammography systems, as medium-risk (class II) devices. When first approved by the agency in 2000, digital mammography systems were categorized at high-risk (class III) because of their novelty. Since then, digital mammography has been validated in scientific studies involving tens of thousands of patients, the agency said. To win approval for a class III device, companies need to prove safety and effectiveness. Class II approval involves establishing that a device is substantially equivalent to one already on the market. Today, about 70% of the mammography units in use are digital and 70% of certified U.S. mammography centers have at least one digital unit, the FDA said.

Women Get Coverage Money Back

Because of a hotline complaint by one woman denied coverage, an insurance company is paying a total of $148,000 for 984 illegally denied claims for contraception coverage, according to a blog post from the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. The Seattle Times reported that the claims were for intrauterine device removals and were denied over 8 years by Regence BlueShield. The blog post said that only three women had appealed their denials, which were all upheld. One woman recently called the state office, which then decided that all the denials had violated a 2001 Insurance Commission rule that says, “In Washington, all state regulated health plans that have comprehensive prescription drug coverage must cover prescription contraceptives.” Insurance company officials told the newspaper that they had coded the procedure incorrectly.

FDA Sued for Lack of Action

The Center for Reproductive Rights is suing the Food and Drug Administration for failing to respond to a 2009 court order to make the morning-after pill called Plan B (levonorgestrel) an over-the-counter product for women under 18 as well as for those older. “The FDA has had ample time, countless opportunities, and overwhelming scientific evidence put before it to make a decision on Plan B” for younger women, said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement. “The president promised that his administration would reverse the Bush policy of politics trumping science. But when it comes to emergency contraception, it's a new administration playing the same old games.” The center said that although the FDA had agreed to follow the 2009 ruling soon after it was made, the agency this year said that it does not intend to reconsider the center's petition that had prompted the original suit.

Election Had Abortion Impact

Republican victories in the House of Representatives gave a solid majority to abortion foes in the coming Congress, according to an analysis by the prolife group the American Center for Law and Justice. The 111th Congress had “183 reliable pro-life representatives,” wrote the center's chief counsel Jordan Sekulow in a blog post. “Next year, there will be no less that 230 solid pro-life representatives, a 47-seat net gain that pushes the pro-life vote over the minimum 218 margin” to pass legislation, he added.

Objects Left After Girls' Surgeries

Girls who undergo gynecologic surgeries have a higher likelihood that a sponge or other foreign body will be left in their bodies than do girls getting other types of surgery, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. They scanned nationwide quality data on nearly 2,000,000 operations in children to find 413 foreign-body incidents in children of either sex. The scientists reported in the Archives of Surgery that pediatric gynecologic surgery carried a 4.13 odds ratio of a foreign body being left behind, compared with other surgeries of people under 18 years of age. The study showed that although this led to 8-day longer hospital stays and $35,681 higher total hospital charges than operations in children without foreign bodies left behind, they did not increase mortality.

Mammography Devices Relisted

The FDA is making it easier for companies to get new digital mammography systems approved. The agency said it is reclassifying these devices, known as full field digital mammography systems, as medium-risk (class II) devices. When first approved by the agency in 2000, digital mammography systems were categorized at high-risk (class III) because of their novelty. Since then, digital mammography has been validated in scientific studies involving tens of thousands of patients, the agency said. To win approval for a class III device, companies need to prove safety and effectiveness. Class II approval involves establishing that a device is substantially equivalent to one already on the market. Today, about 70% of the mammography units in use are digital and 70% of certified U.S. mammography centers have at least one digital unit, the FDA said.

Women Get Coverage Money Back

Because of a hotline complaint by one woman denied coverage, an insurance company is paying a total of $148,000 for 984 illegally denied claims for contraception coverage, according to a blog post from the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. The Seattle Times reported that the claims were for intrauterine device removals and were denied over 8 years by Regence BlueShield. The blog post said that only three women had appealed their denials, which were all upheld. One woman recently called the state office, which then decided that all the denials had violated a 2001 Insurance Commission rule that says, “In Washington, all state regulated health plans that have comprehensive prescription drug coverage must cover prescription contraceptives.” Insurance company officials told the newspaper that they had coded the procedure incorrectly.

FDA Sued for Lack of Action

The Center for Reproductive Rights is suing the Food and Drug Administration for failing to respond to a 2009 court order to make the morning-after pill called Plan B (levonorgestrel) an over-the-counter product for women under 18 as well as for those older. “The FDA has had ample time, countless opportunities, and overwhelming scientific evidence put before it to make a decision on Plan B” for younger women, said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement. “The president promised that his administration would reverse the Bush policy of politics trumping science. But when it comes to emergency contraception, it's a new administration playing the same old games.” The center said that although the FDA had agreed to follow the 2009 ruling soon after it was made, the agency this year said that it does not intend to reconsider the center's petition that had prompted the original suit.

CHICAGO – Omega-3 polyunsaturated acid supplementation does not prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation, according to a multisite, prospective, randomized trial presented by Dr. Peter R. Kowey of Lankenau Hospital at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association.

Although previous small trials had hinted at a benefit, patients with persistent or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who took high-dose, prescription omega-3 fatty acids (Lovaza, GlaxoSmithKline) for 24 weeks had a similar time to atrial fibrillation recurrence as did those who took placebo.

But that doesn’t negate the other, well established cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. In this video report, Dr. Kowey and Dr. Robert O. Bonow, the Goldberg Distinguished Professor at Northwestern University, discuss the implications.

CHICAGO – Omega-3 polyunsaturated acid supplementation does not prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation, according to a multisite, prospective, randomized trial presented by Dr. Peter R. Kowey of Lankenau Hospital at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association.

Although previous small trials had hinted at a benefit, patients with persistent or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who took high-dose, prescription omega-3 fatty acids (Lovaza, GlaxoSmithKline) for 24 weeks had a similar time to atrial fibrillation recurrence as did those who took placebo.

But that doesn’t negate the other, well established cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. In this video report, Dr. Kowey and Dr. Robert O. Bonow, the Goldberg Distinguished Professor at Northwestern University, discuss the implications.

CHICAGO – Omega-3 polyunsaturated acid supplementation does not prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation, according to a multisite, prospective, randomized trial presented by Dr. Peter R. Kowey of Lankenau Hospital at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association.

Although previous small trials had hinted at a benefit, patients with persistent or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who took high-dose, prescription omega-3 fatty acids (Lovaza, GlaxoSmithKline) for 24 weeks had a similar time to atrial fibrillation recurrence as did those who took placebo.

But that doesn’t negate the other, well established cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. In this video report, Dr. Kowey and Dr. Robert O. Bonow, the Goldberg Distinguished Professor at Northwestern University, discuss the implications.