Local Dermatology Lab Earns Perfect Rating and Laboratory Excellence Award

Owensboro Dermatology’s clinical laboratory has achieved a perfect score in an on-site accreditation survey performed by COLA, an organization that provides clinical laboratory education, consultation, and accreditation. After earning the highest rating possible the lab received the Excellence Award as one of COLA’s top performing laboratories.

Owensboro Dermatology’s lab earned a 100% in all six measurable categories which include overall rating; personnel & facility; proficiency testing; specimen & test management; quality control; and quality assurance. By successfully passing COLA’s evaluation and renewing accreditation, Owensboro Dermatology’s laboratory has proven safety, efficiency, reliability of results, and regulatory compliance all of which help to ensure excellent patient care. The successful achievement also means that the clinical laboratory is in compliance and meets the quality standards for laboratory accreditation with CLIA, and is recognized by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

COLA, an independent accreditor, enables clinical laboratories and staff to meet CLIA and other regulatory requirements, act in accordance with Quality Systems, and provide the best possible patient care.

New Treatments for Psoriasis/Dermatologists Honored as Teachers of the Year

Related Document: 081204.pdf (Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer)

Pedia Research doing two new studies: August 12, 2004

Pedia Research LLC is conducting two new clinical studies--one for anxiety and panic disorder and one for psoriasis. The anxiety and panic study involves teens ages 13 to 17. Dr. Andrew C.A. Sedillo of River Valley Behavioral Health is the physician conducting the study of a new investigational drug. Those who qualify will be asked to take a study medication and make office visits for medical evaluations for six months. Research is ongoing on new investigational medications that may help psoriasis sufferers. Pedia Research is looking for people over the age of 21 who suffer from psoriasis. Dr. Artis P. Truett III, of Owensboro Dermatology, is the physician conducting the study. Those who qualify will be asked to take study medications for three months. Participants will need to make office visits for medical evaluations for six months. Anyone who has questions about either study can contact Pedia Research at 920 Frederica St., Suite 1010 or call 685-4589.

Physicians honored as Teachers of the Year

Dr. Michael Crowe and Dr. Artis Truett III, board certified dermatologists with Owensboro Dermatology Associates, were named Teachers of the Year by the five graduating residents who were enrolled in the Family Practice Residency, Program of Trover Clinic in Madisonville. Crowe and Truett won by a unanimous vote from the residents who took part in the program. The residents, physicians-in-training, participate in the program for three years and have approximately 25 to 30 proctors. Dermatology is a required rotation. This was the first year that Owensboro Dermatology Associates participated in the training of the residents.

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Doctors, Psoriasis Sufferers Find Hope in New Drugs

Related Document: 051004.pdf (Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer)

A patient and her daughter share their personal history of living with psoriasis and how a new medication brought relief, hope and possible remission.

Doctors, psoriasis sufferers find hope in new drugs
Amevive treatment involves weekly injections on 12-week cycle

A new drug called Amevive is being used to treat moderate-to-severe psoriasis at the root--by suppressing overactive areas of the immune system--and is clearing up scaly, itchy, dry skin. And as similar drugs emerge, a local dermatologist is hoping the diversity will afford large populations of psoriasis sufferers the opportunity to have something once unheard of --clear skin. Amevive has already allowed some patients to go treatment-free for long periods of time with no outbreaks--which is highly unusual with this disease, said Dr. Artis Truett III, of Owensboro Dermatology.

"In the past, people have thought of psoriasis as a skin disease, but it is an immune system disease," Truett said during a recent interview at his office on New Hartford Road. "When certain areas of the immune system become stimulated, that can show up in the skin in the form of painful, itchy plaques of skin that are thick and scaly."

About 2.5 percent of the nation's population have some form of psoriasis. That would equate to about 2,200 people in Daviess County, and others from counties around the region travel to Daviess County for psoriasis treatment. Truett said current treatments of his first patient, Helen Ward of Calhoun, with Amevive injections have produced dramatic results, as skin over much of her body is now clear that was once covered with severe psoriasis. Calhoun recently began getting a third round of weekly injections of Amevive. The drug is administered in the doctor's office weekly, for 12 weeks at a time. The patient stops the treatment for 12 weeks, then gets another 12 weeks of injections.

"I broke out with this when I was 15 years old," Ward, 85, said. "If we had the money we spent trying to get rid of it, we'd be rich." Ward said her psoriasis has been extensive, covering her scalp, back, face, arms and legs. "I've been taking the Amevive since last April, and my skin has cleared up everywhere on my body, except for the back of my right leg," she said. She said with other treatments, like tar-based creams, the psoriasis was never completely gone. And for most of her life, Ward lived with skin that was red and scaly in patches in her scalp and over her arms, legs and face."People would ask me if I'd been burned or if I had a virus," she said.

Her daughter, Joyce Bennett of Newport News, Va, said as a child she was concerned about her mother's condition because she witnessed the pain Ward suffered with the disease. "She would wear long sleeves when everyone else was wearing short sleeves," Bennett recalled. "She scratched all the time. I've swept up a half-cup of scales from the floor because of her scratching." Bennett said the creams her mother used when Bennett was a child made Ward smell like tar. For more than 100 years, coal tar has been used to treat psoriasis. Then in 1925, the use of coal tar dressings was combined with ultraviolet light treatments for those like Ward who have severe psoriasis. Ward used both of those treatments with limited success. For 16 years, Ward took the anti-cancer drug Methotrexate, approved for the use in severe psoriasis cases when other treatments failed. During that time, Ward said her body was never completely clear of psoriasis. Because liver disease was a potential side effect of the drug, Ward had to undergo several liver biopsies. When Ward informed her doctor that she could no longer take getting liver biopsies, he refused to give her Methotrexate and her treatments stopped, she said. She was referred by her family doctor to Owensboro Dermatology clinic, where Truett began treating her with Amevive. Now Ward is hoping the final round of injections will clear up the large patch of thick psoriasis on the back of her leg.

"It is wonderful not to have anything in my scalp. The gel I used for the psoriasis in my scalp turned my hair green," she said. "I'm hoping I will be completely clear and it won't come back for at least two years."

Truett said he has similar hopes for Ward because other patients treated with three 12-week rounds of Amevive injections during clinical trials reported being free of psoriasis for one to two years.

"This is an exciting time to be treating psoriasis," he said. "Newer drugs are much safer over the long-term and much more effective than older treatments," Truett said.

Another similar drug, Raptiva, was approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis in October by the Food and Drug Administration. And producers of the drug Enbrel, which has been used to treat psoriatic arthritis since January 2002, have filed for FDA approval for use in psoriasis treatment. Studies with an oral drug known as BG-12 have proven successful in significantly reducing severe psoriasis. Truett said patients being treated with Amevive must have perioduc blood tests to monitor white blood cell counts to ensure infections aren't developing, which is a potential side effect of immune system suppressing drugs.

"No one drug will be successful in treating all people," he said. "These new treatments are giving psoriasis patients hope, not only in getting safe treatments but hope in the possiblility of finding a cure.

By Chris O'Nan
Messenger-Inquirer

Erasing Signs of Aging

Related Document: Erasing Signs of Aging.pdf (Reprinted with permission
from the Messenger-Inquirer)

Dr. Michael Crowe, Board Certified Dermatologist with Owensboro Dermatology, discusses non-surgical, cosmetic procedures to remove sun damage, even skin tone, and remove wrinkles and scars from facial skin.

Erasing signs of aging

A recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) finds 94 percent of women are confused by the myriad of anti-aging treatments available both over-the-counter and by prescription, and those cosmetic treatments available in a doctor's office. The survey also found that more than 69 percent of women are very or somewhat bothered by the visible signs of aging, particularly fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, facial hair and dryness. As women age these concerns increase, as well as the amount of time they spend each day on their skin care regimen. In fact, in women over 45, many noted that their facial skin made them feel older than they were on the inside.

In fact, when asked to choose one area of the face where they would like to make a change, women responded that they would spend time and money on their eyes (47 percent) and their mouth (18 percent). The skin around these areas is the most delicate on the face and is where sun damage first begins to show. The imperfections in these areas are highlighted throughout the day when people laugh, smile or squint. The survey results were determined by a random sample internet survey of 2,079 American women conducted in August 2003.

With new technology, the affects of time on your skin can be dramatically reduced or even erased with in-office cosmetic treatments. In the survey, more than 78 percent of women reported uncertainty about the benefits of these types of procedures, how long their results will last and how invasive the procedures are.

"The best place for cosumers to find answers to their questions about aging skin is from their dermatologist, since we are the experts in the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of aging skin," said dermatologist Arielle N. B. Kauvar, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. "Potentially, women could save time, money and confusion by simply seeking out the advice of a dermatologist, rather than guessing what might work for them."

"Women are bombarded with images of the 'ideal woman,' most of who are definitely not showing signs of aging. This has set a standard of beauty which many women want to achieve," said Dr. Kauvar. "As women age, they may become more anxious to achieve this ideal which can only lead to frustration as they continually search for answers to address their aging skin.""The most important thing consumers can do to prevent aging skin and further damage is to protect themselves from the sun," recommended Dr. Kauvar. "Consumers should wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays from the sun, and has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher." Cosmetic procedures to remove sun damage, even skin tone and remove wrinkles or scars from facial skin continue to evolve. Although some chemical procedures are used quite often, today's most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedures use laser technology. Here is a run-down of the most common non-surgical cosmetic treatments:

Microdermabrasion
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) Web site at www.surgery.org,
microdermabrasion is effective in reducing fine lines, "crow's feet," age spots and acne scars. It works by stimulating the production of skin cells and collagen. The end result can be smoother, younger-looking skin. In the procedure, a hand piece emits crystals onto the surface of the skin, resulting in a gentle abrasion or "polishing" process. The number of treatments recommended for maximal
results can range between five and 12, spaced from two to three weeks apart. Microdermabrasion requires no recovery time and normal activities can be resumed immediately.

Chemical Peel
According to Dr. Michael Crowe, a dermatologist with Owensboro Dermatology Associates, chemical peels work deeper than the microdermabrasion procedure. Chemical peels are ideal for removing early sun damage to restore soft, refreshed skin. They also can reduce signs of blemishes, wrinkles and scars.

MicroLaserPeel
Also known as the "micropeel," this is a relatively new procedure which reaches deeper than the chemical peel. "It is done with a laser and it's not as deep as a full laser facial resurfacing," said Dr. Crowe. "This one does make some scabbing and oozing, so there is some down time--but the results are really incredible."The micropeel evens out pigmentation and colorization and it smoothes out wrinkles. The laser used for the micropeel has only been available for a few months and Owensboro Dermatology has offered the procedure for one month. "I find most people either want to do the microdermabrasion where they can still put makeup on and go out that night, or the deeper micropeel," said Dr. Crowe. "The micropeel, I think, is going to replace a lot of the chemical peels. You can dial in exactly how deep you want to go on the skin, so you know exactly how deep you are going."

Fotofacial
The fotofacial uses an intensed pulse light (IPL), which is similar to a laser. "It evens out pigmentation, reddish and brown discolorations, and it also improves the tone and texture of the skin," said Dr. Crowe. "It gives it a fresher appearance and it makes your skin look younger." This treatment is highly effective on many skin conditions, including facial redness and broken blood vessels, Rosacea, pigmentaton from sun exposure, irregularities of skin texture, mild acne scars and fine lines and wrinkles.

Botox®
According to Dr. Crowe, botulinum toxin is injected in the skin to reduce wrinkles, furrows, and hollows in the face, and to relax the muscles to soften frown lines, crow's feet and other wrinkles. "If you stop these muscles from moving it makes those lines go away," he said. "It really works well. The only downside is that it has to be repeated every four months or so."

Laser Hair Removal
Dr. Crowe says laser hair removal tends to be more popular with younger adults--those in their 20s and 30s. He also says it is important for consumers to know that laser hair removal only works on dark hair. "It works well on dark hair because it hits the pigment and that's what destroys it under your skin," he said, "Light hairs don't have pigment, so it won't work." Owensboro Dermatology's specialized laser technology can safely address unwanted hair from a variety of places on the body, including the face, arms, back, legs, bikini line and more.

If you are considering one of the many cosmetic treatments currently available, be sure to ask your physician some questions; is he or she a board-certified dermatologist physician; what results can be expected; how long is the recuperation period; what are the risks; and what will the procedure cost?

For more information, contact the American Academy of Dermatology at 1-888-462-DERM or www.aad.org.

By Beck Glenn
Messenger-Inquirer Special Publications