Clinical Trials on Skin Cancer

Acitretin is given to hemodialysis patients who have developed in-situ or invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in increasing doses up to 25 mg daily for one year.

Further Study Information
Acitretin is given to hemodialysis patients who have developed in-situ or invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in increasing doses up to 25 mg daily for one year. Plasma levels of acitretin will be monitored and influence of hemodialysis on acitretin plasma levels will be determined. Number of in-situ or invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin cases will be determined. Trial with medicinal productEligibility Criteria

Inclusion criteria:
Hemodialyis patients with at least one case of in-situ or invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

Exclusion criteria:
Hepatopathy

Pregnancy

Definition of skin cancer

Cancer that forms in tissues of the skin. There are several types of skin cancer. Skin cancer that forms in melanocytes (skin cells that make pigment) is called melanoma. Skin cancer that forms in basal cells (small, round cells in the base of the outer layer of skin) is called basal cell carcinoma. Skin cancer that forms in squamous cells (flat cells that form the surface of the skin) is called squamous cell carcinoma. Skin cancer that forms in neuroendocrine cells (cells that release hormones in response to signals from the nervous system) is called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. Most skin cancers form in older people on parts of the body exposed to the sun or in people who have weakened immune systems.

Try these tips when you are out 'n about

1. Order vegetable toppings on pizza instead of salty high-fat meats like pepperoni or sausage.
2. Share popcorn (and skip the added butter) at the movies instead of getting your own bag, or order the smallest size — you will save money too!
3. Choose bottled water instead of sweetened soda.
4. Munch on pretzels, or vegetables at parties instead of fried chips or fatty dips.
5. If you drink wine, beer, or other alcohol, limit yourself to one drink — alcohol has lots of calories but little nutritional value.

Nature of the Work of Barbers

Barbers and cosmetologists focus on providing hair care services to enhance the appearance of consumers. Other personal appearance workers, such as manicurists and pedicurists, shampooers, theatrical and performance makeup artists, and skin care specialists provide specialized beauty services that help clients look and feel their best.

Barbers cut, trim, shampoo, and style hair mostly for male clients. They also may fit hairpieces and offer scalp treatments and facial shaving. In many States, barbers are licensed to color, bleach, or highlight hair and to offer permanent-wave services. Barbers also may provide skin care and nail treatments.

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists offer a wide range of beauty services, such as shampooing, cutting, coloring, and styling of hair. They may advise clients on how to care for their hair at home. In addition, cosmetologists may be trained to give manicures, pedicures, and scalp and facial treatments; provide makeup analysis; and clean and style wigs and hairpieces.
A number of workers offer specialized services. Manicurists and pedicurists, called nail technicians in some States, work exclusively on nails and provide manicures, pedicures, polishing, and nail extensions to clients. Another group of specialists is skin care specialists, or estheticians, who cleanse and beautify the skin by giving facials, full-body treatments, and head and neck massages as well as apply makeup. They also may remove hair through waxing or, if properly trained, laser treatments. Theatrical and performance makeup artists, apply makeup to enhance performing artists’ appearance for movie, television, or stage performances. Finally, in larger salons, shampooers specialize in shampooing and conditioning hair.

In addition to working with clients, personal appearance workers may keep records of hair color or skin care regimens used by their regular clients. A growing number actively sell hair, skin, and nail care products. Barbers, cosmetologists, and other personal appearance workers who operate their own salons have managerial duties that may include hiring, supervising, and firing workers, as well as keeping business and inventory records, ordering supplies, and arranging for advertising.

Look Good as You Get Fit

If you avoid physical activity because you do not want to ruin your hairstyle, try:

a natural hairstyle
a style that can be wrapped or pulled back
a short haircut
braids, twistes or locs.

TIP: Day-to-day activities can cause salt buildup in your hair. To remove salt, shampoo with a mild, pH-balanced product at least once a week.

Furniture Flame Retardancy Partnership

The Furniture Flame Retardancy Partnership is a joint venture between the Furniture Industry, Chemical Manufacturers, Environmental Groups and the Environmental Protection Agency to better understand fire safety options for the furniture industry.

The primary flame retardant historically used in low-density flexible polyurethane foam (pentabromodiphenyl ether - pentaBDE) was voluntarily phased out of production by the sole U.S. manufacturer on December 31, 2004. PentaBDE, with its ability to delay ignition of materials, has saved lives, but there are concerns over its use. Studies worldwide have found pentaBDE to be widespread in the environment and in human tissue and breast milk. More information is available on the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) webpage.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is also considering more stringent fire safety standards for residential furniture. These new standards could result in more flame retardants being used in furniture foam and fabric in the future.

The decisions the industry must make now on flame retardant alternatives offer a real opportunity to protect public health and the environment. Through the Furniture Flame Retardancy Partnership, EPA and its partners are working to identify and move toward environmentally safer approaches to meeting fire safety standards. The partnership's first objective has been to provide up-to-date toxicological and environmental information on flame retardants used in furniture foam so that furniture manufacturers and suppliers can make informed decisions about which chemicals to use. This work is captured in the partnership's report: "Environmental Profiles of Chemical Flame-Retardant Alternatives for Low-Density Polyurethane Foam," which focuses on flame retardants in furniture foam as alternatives to pentaBDE.

Next, the partnership plans to develop and implement a process to identify additional toxicological data needed for adequately assessing the flame-retardant alternatives reviewed in this report. In the future, the partnership intends to evaluate additional chemical flame retardants and other materials that may be necessary to meet planned national fire safety standards.

Facing Facts

Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the FDA legally defines products by their intended uses. Drugs are defined as products intended for treating or preventing disease and affecting the structure or any function of the body. A medical device is a product that also is intended to affect the structure or function of the body, but which does not achieve its primary intended purposes through the chemical action of a drug--nor is it dependent on being metabolized.

The hyaluronic acid in Restylane, although biosynthetically produced (formed of chemical compounds by the enzyme action of living organisms), is almost identical to that in all living organisms. Hyaluronic acid is a structural component of skin that creates volume and shape. Concentrations of hyaluronic acid throughout the body decline with age, causing undesirable changes in the skin. Restylane binds to water and provides volume to easily fill in larger folds of skin left by tissue loss around the mouth and cheeks. "This makes it a structural action," says Rhodes, "much like a chin implant."

In contrast, cosmetics are defined as substances that cleanse, beautify, promote attractiveness, or alter the appearance, without affecting the body's structure or function. This definition includes skin-care products such as creams, lotions, powders and sprays; perfume; lipstick; fingernail polish; and more.

Different laws and regulations apply to each type of product. Some products must comply with the requirements for both cosmetics and drugs. This happens when a product has two intended uses, such as an antidandruff shampoo. A shampoo is a cosmetic because it is intended to clean hair. An antidandruff shampoo is a cosmetic and a drug because it is intended to treat dandruff (which affects the follicles where the hair is formed) and clean hair.

Warning letters issued by the FDA recently to firms that marketed hair care products with claims such as restoration of hair growth and hair loss prevention illustrate an important distinction between the legal definitions of cosmetics and drugs. Warning letters officially inform companies that they may be engaged in illegal activities, and instruct manufacturers on how to bring their products into compliance with the law. Hair growers and hair loss prevention products, because of their mechanism of action, are considered drugs, not cosmetics, and these firms were not meeting the legal requirements for marketing a drug.

Unlike drugs and medical devices, neither cosmetic products nor cosmetic ingredients are reviewed or approved by the FDA before they are sold to the public. The agency only acts against cosmetic products found to cause harm after they are on the market.

Science Meets Beauty: Using Medicine to Improve Appearances

A smaller nose. Bigger breasts. Slimmer thighs. Plumper lips. Less hair on the body. More hair on the head. Whether we're looking to tighten our tummies or lighten our laugh lines, America's fascination with youth and beauty has long fueled the development of medical products for cosmetic purposes. And if such "vanity drugs" can be shown to be safe and effective, the Food and Drug Administration just may approve.

The ongoing fight to delay or reverse the aging process has dermatologists and cosmetic plastic surgeons responding with products like Restylane (hyaluronic acid), one of a handful of soft tissue fillers recently approved by the FDA to treat facial wrinkles. Restylane is an injectable gel that acts as a filler to remove the wrinkle, producing instantaneous results. Such products are not as invasive as facelifts, eyelid surgery, and other reconstructive procedures. And they are more effective and last longer than creams, lotions and other topical products, whether over-the-counter or prescription. In addition, the fact that the treatments result in little or no downtime makes them more attractive to those seeking a quick fix. Without making a single incision, doctors can erase wrinkles, acne scars and sun damage in a matter of minutes.

"This is a huge industry," says Jonathan K. Wilkin, M.D., a medical officer in the FDA's Division of Dermatologic and Dental Drug Products. "The way people try to move the clock back is through the skin." Basically, he says, through various products and procedures, "they are addressing the effects of gravity on the skin over time."

Beauty Pageants

A beauty pageant, with participants competing on the basis of physical beauty, skill, talent, poise or personality, may prove to be a happy or a disappointing experience. To protect against financial risk, Georgia law has specific provisions regulating pageants that charge application or admission fees and that are run by for-profit organizations (O.C.G.A. Sections 10-1-830 through 10-1-838). The law exempts beauty contests run by nonprofit organizations and those where all of the money generated goes to a nonprofit organization.

Operators of for-profit beauty pageants must maintain a sufficient amount of funds to reimburse the contestants if an event is canceled. Georgia law requires either the posting of a $10,000 cash bond, made payable to the Governor, or placement of all contestants’ fees in an escrow account that cannot be accessed until the pageant is over. If a pageant is canceled, the operator must promptly return contestants’ paid entrance fees. However, a contestant who does not appear for the competition is not legally entitled to a refund of the entrance fee.

Before collecting any fees from a contestant, the organizer must provide a letter containing the following:

The operator’s name, address and telephone number;

The name, address and telephone number of the organization or individual conducting the pageant;

The names of the pageants the operator usually promotes;

The name and address of the authorized business representative;

The name, address and telephone number where the contestant’s fees are held;

The name, address and telephone number of the company holding the bond; and

The statement: “The State of Georgia requires bonding or escrow of pageants conducted for the profit of the operators.” The Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs is responsible for enforcing these legal protections and will accept a complaint involving beauty pageants.

Virtue & Beauty

In a visual culture such as ours, it is hard to imagine a world nearly devoid of images of living people. But that was the case in Europe before the fifteenth century when artists devoted themselves almost exclusively to representing saints, biblical figures, and religious scenes. Secular portraiture was limited mainly to likenesses of rulers or images of donors tucked into the corners of altarpieces and other paintings of sacred themes.

In fifteenth-century Florence, portraiture expanded to encompass members of the merchant class, who appear in scores of panel paintings, on medals, and as marble busts. Almost from the outset, this development included women as well as men. Virtue and Beauty focuses on the flowering of female portraiture in Florence from c. 1440 to c. 1540; it also presents several male portraits, Northern European or courtly analogues, and works that relate specifically to Leonardo's Ginevra de' Benci, one of only three female portraits painted by the master. The works of art on view illustrate the broad shift that occurred in this period from the profile portrait to the three-quarter or frontal view of the sitter. Over time the portraits of women also became larger in scale, more elaborate, and more communicative with the viewer.

MDS and RUGs Classification System

The RUGs system is an exciting method for understanding and managing health care services for the long term care population. RUGs was developed and tested in Michigan by the Michigan Department of Community Health and the University of Michigan. When used as part of a case mix system of assessment, reassessment and care plan development, this system can effectively manage utilization, cost and quality outcomes.

RUGs III algorithms are used to assign home care recipients into one of seven major case mix categories. These are (from highest to lowest level of acuity): Special Rehabilitation, Extensive Services, Special Care, Clinically Complex, Impaired Cognition, Behavior Problems, and Reduced Physical Functions. A standard assessment and reassessment tool, the Minimum Dataset for Home Care, is used to collect RUGs data for analysis. Managers, providers and citizens are invited to explore this site for the latest on this new system that puts the SOM at the forefront of Long Term Care management.

Executive Furniture

Offers Executive Furniture in the Symphony, Baritone, and Concerto office furniture lines. These furniture lines are scaled to work within the wide range of Federal office environments and administrative space. Credenza bases, desks and credenza upper storage units can be configured to meet any specific office requirement. Double pedestal desks, secretarial desk with return tops allow for “L” and “U” shaped configurations.

These furniture lines include cabinets for telephone, computer and wardrobe requirements. In addition, there are lateral files, bookcases, mobile pedestals, occasional tables, and conference room tables.

FeaturesLighting: Accent down lights are standard with credenza upper bridges.

Pencil Tray: Desk center drawers feature maple hardwood pencil trays.

Drawer Slides: Slides are 100 pound rated, ball bearing slides with full extension.

Filing: File drawers feature adaptable rails for letter and legal filing. Lateral file drawers allow front-to-back vertical filing and side-to-side lateral filing.

Locks: All file drawers have locking mechanisms.

Wire Management: Wire management grommets are located on the sides of desks. In credenza kneehole areas at the top of the modesty panel, a scalloped opening is provided. Kneehole credenzas feature a removable modesty panel for ease of access to wall receptacles.

Greening Your Purchase of Carpet: A Guide for Federal Purchasers

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, or EPP, seeks the overall best value, taking into account price competitiveness, availability, regulatory requirements, performance, and environmental impact. Because purchasers typically have clear sources of information on procurement and regulatory requirements and well-established methods for evaluating price and performance, the US EPA has developed these purchasing guides to help government purchasers consider environmental factors in purchasing decisions. EPA realizes that there are not universal answers for all scenarios and that purchasers must take into account local conditions when weighing the various attributes of a particular product. Please note that EPA is not endorsing any of the products, services, or organizations described in the guides, and has not verified information provided by these organizations. Read more information about the EPP Program's history, tools, and resources.

Air Quality and Carpet Installation

Check to ensure that your new carpet meets indoor air quality standards. Carpet can be a major source of indoor air contamination, although some tests show that carpet is one of the lowest emitters of VOCs among various interior products. The styrene butadiene latex rubber used to adhere face fibers to backing materials and the adhesives used to install carpets generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Carpets also cover large surfaces within an interior environment and can provide "sinks" for the absorption of VOCs from other sources. Carpets should never be installed near entrance doors or areas where moisture and organic matter can contaminate them. Carpet fibers are an excellent medium for dust mites and microbial agents, especially if the carpet becomes wet and cannot be properly dried. If installing carpet with VOCs, make sure that the carpet carries the CRI Indoor Air Quality Carpet Testing Green label. Installing carpets in strict accordance with the Carpet and Rug Institute guidelines as well as additional measures such as requiring suppliers to unroll and air-out carpets in the warehouse before bringing them into the building will minimize the risks of indoor air quality problems resulting from the carpet. Tests indicate that carpet emissions will dissipate within 48 to 72 hours with proper ventilation.

Alternatives to commercial carpets installed in rolls with adhesives containing VOCs include carpet tiles with tackless installation. Carpet tiles allow for the replacement of individual tiles when they are soiled or damaged. Fusion-bonded carpets use heat instead of adhesives to bond the face fiber to the primary backing, thereby reducing VOCs that are introduced into the building by the carpet. A variety of adhesives are included in the CRI Green label program. Water based adhesives are now available (see distributors below).

Rubber-based recycled padding is common and can outgas. Recycled padding from carpet fibers may be more suitable for environmentally sensitive persons. Carpet cushion is tested in the CRI program and a variety of cushion products qualify to carry the CRI Green label.

Crate and Barrel Recalls Shag Rugs Due to Fire Hazard

This recall involves the "Remy" shag rugs with SKU numbers listed below. The rugs are made of cotton jersey. The large rugs measure 5' by 8' and 2.5' by 7'. The small rugs measure 5' round, 2' by 3', 4' by 6'. "Remy" and the SKU number can be found on the back of the product label. The large rugs fail to meet federal standards for flammability and could ignite, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. The small rugs fail to meet federal labeling requirements. Small rugs are not required to meet the federal flammability standard; however, they are required to be permanently labeled with the following statement: "FLAMMABLE (FAILS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE STANDARD FF 2-70): SHOULD NOT BE USED NEAR SOURCES OF IGNITION."