September 12
IN THIS ISSUE / September 12, 2018
- CMS continues to tinker with MIPS in 2019 proposal
- Experimental acne vaccine targets skin bacteria
- Call for nominations deadline is Oct. 1
- Hospitals launch generic drug company
- Rosacea is drastically underdiagnosed, according to study
- How effective are natural ingredients at UV protection?
- Voice your opposition about repealing the indoor tanning tax
CMS continues to tinker with MIPS in 2019 proposal
CMS announced plans for the latest evolution of the MIPS program in the proposed 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. There are no radical changes to the program — CMS will score your 2019 MIPS performance in three categories, with adjustments to the category weights, placing more emphasis on the cost category.
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Experimental acne vaccine targets skin bacteria
A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology reports that an experimental vaccine decreased the inflammatory response in acne. The vaccine uses antibodies to a toxin, Christie-Atkins-Munch-Peterson (CAMP) factor, secreted from the bacteria in acne vulgaris to reduce inflammation in human acne lesions. The vaccine would be the first to target bacteria already in the human skin, instead of invading pathogens.
A JID commentary expressed the significance of the findings as well as the need to continue research on the vaccine. “While addressing an unmet medical need and providing an appealing approach, acne immunotherapies that target P. acnes-derived factors have to be cautiously designed to avoid unwanted disturbance of the microbiome that guarantees skin homeostasis. Whether or not CAMP-factor-targeted vaccines will impact multiple P. acnes subtypes and other commensals has to be determined, but acne immunotherapy presents an interesting avenue to explore nonetheless,” said Emmanuel Contassot, PhD, a senior assistant at the university hospital and faculty of medicine at the University of Zürich.
Learn more about the role high-dose isotretinoin should have in acne treatment in Dermatology World.
Related Links:
- Acne update – Dermatology World (October 2016)
- Overusing acne antibiotics? – Dermatology World (August 2015)
- Comparing therapies for pre-adolescent acne – Dermatology World (March 2014)
- For your patients: All about acne
Call for nominations deadline is Oct. 1
Submit nominations and letters of recommendation for the 2019 Academy Election by Oct. 1 for Officers, Directors, and Nominating Committee Member Representatives (East Region).
Hospitals launch generic drug company
A group of American hospitals has started a not-for-profit generic drug company, Civica Rx, in response to price hikes and drug shortages, reported The Washington Post. The new venture is backed by seven major health systems, including Mayo Clinic and HCA Healthcare, and three philanthropic groups. The company will initially focus on establishing price transparency and stable supplies for 14 generic drugs.
The drug company has not disclosed which drugs it will focus on. However, one of the consortium’s members said it will focus on drugs that underwent price increases of 50% or more between 2014 and 2016 as well as essential medicines on national shortage lists. Civica Rx’s first drug could hit the market next year.
Read about how soaring generic drug prices are forcing dermatologists to rethink common therapies in Dermatology World.
Related Links:
- Out of stock – Dermatology World (September 2018)
- A tangled web – Dermatology World (September 2017)
Rosacea is drastically underdiagnosed, according to study
About 5.5% of the global population is affected by rosacea, predominantly between the ages of 45 to 60, a review and meta-analysis show. A group of researchers at the University of Copenhagen selected 32 studies from various databases, examining more than 26 million individuals. A substantial difference was noted between self-reported rosacea (9.7%) and dermatologist-diagnosed rosacea (5.5%). Prevalence of rosacea among the study populations ranged between 0.09% and 22%.
“Many factors may contribute to the difference in estimates,” Jacob P. Thyssen, MD, PhD, one of the study authors, said. “While many more people may self-diagnose rosacea than are actually suffering from the condition, correct diagnosis by a physician may depend on the physician’s experience as well as the patient’s appearance at the time of the exam.” According to the National Rosacea Society, the number of Americans with rosacea are estimated to be more than 16 million, many of whom are undiagnosed or not properly treated.
Learn more about possible pathways in the pathophysiology of rosacea in Dermatology World and stayed tuned for the December issue of DW that will cover the latest news in rosacea classification and pathophysiology.
Related Links:
- Connections found between rosacea and dementia, glioma, and Parkinson’s – Dermatology World (August 2016)
- Highlighting the implications of the Burden of Skin Disease report – Dermatology World (June 2017)
- For your patients: All about rosacea
How effective are natural ingredients at UV protection?
Myrrh oil, extracted from the shrub Commiphora myrrha, has been used in the treatment of topical wounds and studies have shown that it may provide protection against solar radiation. A study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology sought to determine whether C. myrrha oil can protect against ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
The study used a UV-sensitive yeast to compare the UV-protection of chemical sunscreen to C. myrrha oil. The yeast colonies protected by the C. myrrha oil alone did not show increased survival compared with those left unprotected. However, the SPF 15 combined with the C. myrrha oil provided significantly better protection than the SPF 15 alone and similar protection to the SPF 30 alone. The SPF 30 and C. myrrha oil combination offered similar protection to SPF 30 alone and the SPF 15 and C. myrrha oil combination. As the demand for more natural skin care products increases, this study suggests that myrrha oil may improve SPF, which could eventually reduce the chemical content of sunscreens.
Do European sunscreens outperform those in the U.S.? Find out in Dermatology World.
Related Links:
- Profiling sunscreen ingredients not approved for use in the U.S. – Dermatology World (May 2016)
- AAD infographic: What’s the difference between physical and chemical sunscreens?
- For your patients: Is sunscreen safe?
Voice your opposition about repealing the indoor tanning tax
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives will be considering a legislative package that repeals several health care-related taxes (HR 3798 - Save American Workers Act of 2017), including the tax on indoor tanning services. The AADA supports the tax as it serves to protect the public by deterring them from the harmful, carcinogenic, and habit-forming behavior of indoor tanning.
To voice your support of the indoor tanning tax, please visit the Academy’s Take Action site and tell your members of Congress to oppose the repeal.
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