DermHelpCentral

Gram Negative Infections

Rising Threat of Infections Unfazed by Antibiotics
By ANDREW POLLACK
Published: February 26, 2010

This is an important article in the NY Times about hospital-acquired Gram Negative Infections.  Keep in mind that this rarely applies to community acquired infections with these organisms.

The same issue of the Times has an article on "Deadly Germs Largely Ignored By Drug Firms" which explains why so few new drugs are being developed for infectious diseases.

See The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande which describes a simple method to cut down on the frequency of hospital-acquired infections.

Melanoma: Targeted Therapy

This is a novel approach for patients with very advanced melanoma.  It is applicable to those patients who test positive for the B-RAF gene. 

Targeted therapy may prove helpful for melanoma and a number of other cancers.  The NY Times has a three part article on this promising new therapy.  It is a bit long and perhaps overly sensational, but it is a good introduction to this area.

Part 1.  Doggedly Testing a Melanoma Drug by Amy Harmon. 

Part 2.  After Long Fight, Drug Gives Sudden Reprieve by Amy Harmon. 

Part 3. A Drug Trial Cycle: Recovery, Relapse, Reinvention by Amy Harmon

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Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) Articles

Here are some random articles which may help some interested readers.

Atopic Eczema:  Genetics or Environment.

Pityrosporum Yeasts and Facial Eczema.
The role of Malassezia in atopic dermatitis affecting the head and neck of adults.