A provision in the health care reform measure passed by the House of Representatives Sunday and signed into law today by President Barack Obama includes participation in the American Board of Medical Specialties Maintenance of Certification® (ABMS MOC®) as an option for the nation’s physicians to fulfill requirements of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI

A team led by researchers from North Carolina State University has published a paper that describes the use of a technique called atomic layer deposition to incorporate "biological functionality" into complex nanomaterials, which could lead to a new generation of medical and environmental health applications. For example, the researchers show how the technology can be used to develop effective, low-cost water purification devices that could be used in developing countries.

MedX Health Corp., a global leader in drug free, non-invasive low level laser and light therapy for tissue repair and pain relief, today announced it has acquired the Canadian operations of 27 year old laser pioneer, Reimers & Janssen GmbH (herein after "RJ-Laser"), providing an expanded line of products, with improved product features, within MedX's existing rehab/chiropractic, dental, and acupuncture laser and light markets, as well as approved products ready for launch to Veterinarians and Dermatologists.

Galderma Laboratories, L.P. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of Differin® (adapalene) Lotion, 0.1%, the first-ever lotion formulation of the well-tolerated retinoid adapalene, for the treatment of acne. Differin Lotion, 0.1% will be available by prescription in April 2010.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International today announced that it has signed a binding agreement to acquire a private branded generics and over the counter company located in Brazil for approximately US$28 million. A large portion of the company's product portfolio is in dermatology and the company had annual sales of approximately US$19 million in 2009.

Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a noninvasive infrared scanning system to help doctors determine whether pigmented skin growths are benign moles or melanoma, a lethal form of cancer.

Knowing the stage of a patient's melanoma is important when choosing the best course of treatment. When the cancer has progressed to the lymph nodes, a more aggressive treatment is needed. Examining an entire lymph node for cancer takes much effort and time; a new technique might help make the process more efficient.

Molecular dermatology research and development innovator HairDX today announced the results of a six month pilot study that presents, for the first time, evidence that genetic mechanisms may predict treatment response to Finasteride for postmenopausal female Androgenetic Alopecia (female hair loss).

Merz Pharma Group announced today that the subsequent offering period of the tender offer by Merz GmbH & Co. KGaA (“Merz”) and its acquisition subsidiary to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of BioForm Medical, Inc. at a price of $5.45 per share, net to the seller in cash (without interest thereon and less any required withholding tax) expired as scheduled at 12:00 midnight, Eastern Standard Time, on February 18, 2010.