Fractional epidermal grafting in combination with laser therapy as a novel approach in treating radiation dermatitis.

Radiation injury to the skin is a major source of dysfunction, disfigurement, and complications for thousands of patients undergoing adjunctive treatment for internal cancers. Despite the great potential for affecting quality of life, radiation injury has received little attention from dermatologists and is primarily being managed by radiation oncologists. During our volunteer work in Vietnam, we encountered numerous children with significant scarring and depigmentation of skin from the outdated use of radioactive phosphorus P32 in the treatment of hemangiomas.

The future of drug development: advancing clinical trial design.

Declining pharmaceutical industry productivity is well recognized by drug developers, regulatory authorities and patient groups. A key part of the problem is that clinical studies are increasingly expensive, driven by the rising costs of conducting Phase II and III trials. It is therefore crucial to ensure that these phases of drug development are conducted more efficiently and cost-effectively, and that attrition rates are reduced.