An Efficacious Treatment for Hyperhidrosis

During an event sponsored by Valeo Pharma at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, presenters showed studies in which Hydrosal Professional — 15% aluminum chloride in a proprietary salicylic acid gel base — was found efficacious and to demonstrate superior tolerability to other products whose active ingredient is aluminum chloride. It was also found to be useful for breakthrough perspiration that occurs at the end of a Botox treatment cycle for hyperhidrosis.

Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd and Dr. Dee Anna Glaser delivered a presentation in which they explained how the Valeo product compared to others whose active ingredient is aluminum chloride (AC). They made the points that formulations of AC in an alcohol solution — with concentrations ranging from 6% to 20% — have been limited by patient tolerance, adding that compounded formulations of up to 50% have been utilized to improve efficacy at the expense of patient tolerability. Their presentation attributed the efficacy and tolerability of Hydrosal Professional to enhanced absorption of AC due to keratolytic properties of salicylic acid, possible synergistic effect with AC due to the astringent, and antiperspirant properties of salicylic acid. They theorized that Hydrosal Professional’s proprietary gel-based formula may also improve hydration and mitigate the drying effect when compared to an alcohol solution

According to the presenters, patients have noted that a gel is easier to apply than a solution because it stays on the desired site and does not drip or run. This is especially useful for hand application where web spaces are particularly vulnerable to irritation.

The presenters concluded that Hydrosoal was less irritating than other topical aluminum chloride products and was considered by them to be a first-line therapy for patients with mild hyperhidrosis, and excellent in combination with botulinum toxin A for moderate to severe hyperhidrosis, and should be considered in patients with a less than optimal response to botulinum toxin A alone.

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Medical Waste Machine — A Green Alternative to Waste Hauling Services

Medical practices and facilities that depend on waste hauling or mail-in services can handle their own medical waste disposal using the Medical Waste Machine from Medical Innovations, Inc. This device converts the sharps — needles and syringes, blades, broken glass, blood glucose testing lancets — and other regulated medical waste into ordinary waste that can be disposed of in a regular trash receptacle.

According to the manufacturer’s Web site, their product is environmentally responsible, improves infection control and its potential liability threat, and reduces costs by as much as 90% per year compared to licensed haulers and mail-back services typically used to eliminate medical waste in keeping with individual state regulations because neutralized waste can be thrown out with ordinary trash.

How It Works

The sharps are handled in one of two ways. They may be dropped directly into the locked Teflon-lined metal container, called the transporter, which has a clear safety tube at the top for inserting the medical waste. When the container is filled with waste to the indicated line, a few special high-temperature plastic discs are placed in the transporter. Or, the sharps may be dropped into disposable containers. When the disposable container’s contents reach the designated fill line, it is capped, locked and placed in the machine and one indicator disc is added.

In either case, the machine is then locked and switched on. During processing, the waste and the machine’s container are sterilized at a very high temperature. Only at this very high temperature will the discs melt and encapsulate the waste, which will already have been physically destroyed by the heat. The plastic discs are not only the encapsulating medium, but are also a bio-physical indicator that sterilization and destruction has occurred.

The final result is a sterile unrecognizable amorphous block, reduced in size by approximately 75% during sterilization and encapsulation. This block is non-regulated waste and can be disposed of in the regular trash receptacle.

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Merz Standardized Scales Assess ‘Skin Age’

Merz Aesthetics, a division of Merz Pharmaceuticals USA, introduced The Merz Scales, the first standardized, comprehensive rating system that measures, helps educate, and provides a common language for physicians, researchers and patients on the skin’s aging process, at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Developed by a leading team of multidisciplinary experts, these scales address the need for standardization, validation and consistency when evaluating changes in aging skin. While the scales do not diagnose or treat any particular conditions, they do facilitate education and communication between physicians and patients about the aging process.

Included are: A Validated Brow Positioning Grading Scale; A Validated Grading Scale for Forehead Lines; A Validated Lip Fullness Grading Scale; A Validated Grading Scale for Marionette Lines; A Validated Hand Grading Scale; and, A Validated Grading Scale for Crow’s Feet.

Other scales being developed by Merz Aesthetics include measures for glabellar lines, nasolabial folds, décolletage and facial volume loss.

Development of Merz Scales

Scales were created with input of nine experts from around the world trained in dermatology, ophthalmology, plastic surgery and dermatologic surgery. They created and validated a comprehensive scale system, reviewing and including photographs of men and women of diverse ages, skin types and ethnicities. As part of this process, the experts rated 35 to 50 real-life images of people, and evaluated the images for reproducibility of results.

The Merz Scales were then generated as 5-point scales using computer-morphed photography. Specific anatomical changes related to aging were identified and were incorporated into the photographs, and a series of visual guides were developed to correspond to regional areas on the face and hands. When lines were formed as a result of the different movements of different muscle groups, such as crow’s feet and forehead lines, static and dynamic lines were included. For example, The Forehead Lines Grading Scale was developed to objectively quantify resting (static) and hyperkinetic (dynamic) forehead lines. The scale ratings are 0 for no wrinkles, 1 for no wrinkles present at rest but fine lines with facial expressions, 2 for fine wrinkles present at rest and deep lines with facial expression, 3 for fine wrinkles present at rest and deeper lines with facial expression and 4 for deeper wrinkles at rest and deeper furrows with facial expression. (See Figure 1.)

During the development of the validation process the team of experts discussed the resulting scales. Every participant graded the scales twice, with an overnight break in between. Intra- and inter-rater variability analysis was performed. The variability analysis also was depicted in a bubble plot to show the comparison of grading between raters.

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ACDS Names Mixed Dialkyl Thioureas Contact Allergen Of The Year

Mixed dialkyl thioureas (MDTU), a mixture of two thiourea chemicals from a class of chemicals used for rubber acceleration and as antioxidants in the manufacturing of neoprene, has earned the title “Contact Allergen of the Year,” according to the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS).

An article, “Allergen of the Year,” published in the January/February 2009 issue of Dermatitis outlines the most common cases of allergic contact dermatitis stemming from the MDTU allergens in neoprene, a versatile synthetic rubber used in a wide variety of products — from athletic shoes to computer wrist rests.

Patch testing with MDTU conducted by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group from 1994 to 2004 of 21,898 patients found a high number of relevant reactions, with footwear products cited as the most frequently found cause of relevant MDTU reactions. From an occupational standpoint, gloves were the most frequently cited cause of allergic contact dermatitis from MDTU.

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Women’s Dermatologic Society Awarded Record Number of Grants in 2008

The Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS) reached a milestone this year, awarding the highest number of grants since its founding in 1973. Eighty-five dermatologists and medical students were awarded grants totaling $252,610 for a variety of activities, including mentorship, medical student awareness, academic research, women’s health research, professional travel and career development.

WDS President Suzanne M. Connolly, MD, said in a press release, “Mentoring, supporting our members’ professional development and advancing needed research in dermatology represent core values of the WDS. We are very grateful for the generous support we have received to award a record level of grants to such a diverse, worthy group of dermatologists and medical students in 2008 — which ultimately contributes to the enrichment of the profession.”

Funding for various WDS Grant Awards programs is supported by the following sponsors: Dermik Laboratories (Dermatology Resident Mentorship Grants); Galderma (Career Development Grant Awards); Mary Kay (Medical International Travel Grant Awards); Ortho-Neutrogena (Academic Research Grants and Retreat Scholarships); Stiefel (Medical Student Awareness Grants and Retreat Scholarships) and Unilever (Women’s Health Research Career Development Grants).

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USPTO Issues Notice of Allowance for Solodyn

Medicis recently announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a Notice of Allowance for Medicis’ United States patent application directed to the use of Solodyn (minocycline HCL) in 90 mg tablet form.

The patent application is U.S. Application No. 11/695,528, entitled “Minocycline Oral Dosage Forms For The Treatment Of Acne.” The newly allowed claims include subject matter covering methods of using a controlled-release oral dosage form of minocycline to treat acne.

“We are pleased to announce receipt of this Notice of Allowance by the USPTO,” said Jonah Shacknai, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medicis, in a press release. “This represents an important element of maintaining the Solodyn franchise. These allowed patent claims, when issued, will enhance the intellectual property protection of our Solodyn brand.”

A Notice of Allowance generally completes the substantive examination of a patent application. The normal process, which results in final issuance of a United States patent, involves several administrative steps that are typically completed in due course following issuance of such a notice.

According to Medicis, Solodyn has one issued patent, which expires in 2018, related to the use of the Solodyn’s unique dissolution rate. The Company now has a number of U.S. patent applications associated with the Solodyn program on file at the at the USPTO.