The Journal of dermatology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Comparison between famciclovir and valacyclovir for acute pain in adult Japanese immunocompetent patients with herpes zoster.
Famciclovir is a guanine analog antiviral drug used commonly for herpes zoster. Efficacy of famciclovir treatment has been reported to be comparable to valacyclovir treatment. Both of these medications reduce the time to complete cessation of zoster-associated pain including post-herpetic neuralgia, as compared to acyclovir. ⋯ In addition, a significant reduction in the number of patients with pain was observed as early as days 3-4 with famciclovir treatment as compared with valacyclovir treatment. We conclude that famciclovir was superior to valacyclovir in the relief of acute pain of herpes zoster. Accordingly, famciclovir is recommended for herpes zoster patients with moderate symptoms and a visual analog scale score of under 50 mm.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Treatment of scabies: Comparison of permethrin 5% versus ivermectin.
Scabies is an ectoparasitic, highly contagious skin disease caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. The insecticides ivermectin and permethrin are commonly used for treatment of scabies. This study aimed at comparing the efficacy of oral ivermectin with topical permethrin in treating scabies. ⋯ Permethrin-treated patients recovered earlier. Twice application of permethrin with a 1-week interval is superior to a single dose of ivermectin. The temporal dissociation in clinical response suggests that ivermectin may not be effective against all the stages in the life cycle of the parasite.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in Japanese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis: long-term results from a phase 2/3 clinical trial.
This phase 2/3, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of ustekinumab in Japanese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis. Overall, 158 patients were randomized to receive ustekinumab 45 or 90 mg at weeks 0, 4, and every 12 weeks, or placebo with cross-over to ustekinumab at week 12. The primary end-point was the proportion of patients achieving at least 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) at week 12. ⋯ Rates of injection site reactions and antibodies to ustekinumab were low. Ustekinumab was efficacious and generally well-tolerated in Japanese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis through 72 weeks. These results are consistent with those reported in the global, phase 3 studies.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Narrow-band ultraviolet B as monotherapy and in combination with topical calcipotriol in the treatment of vitiligo.
Vitiligo is a common, idiopathic, acquired, depigmenting disease characterized by loss of normal melanin pigments in the skin. The most interesting treatment methods for extensive vitiligo involve psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy and ultraviolet (UV)-B phototherapy, particularly narrow-band UV-B. In this randomized and comparative study, we investigated the safety and efficacy of narrow band ultraviolet B as monotherapy and in combination with topical calcipotriol in the treatment of generalized vitiligo. ⋯ The present study reconfirmed the efficacy of NBUVB phototherapy in vitiligo. It can be a therapeutic option considered in the management of patients with vitiligo. However, addition of topical calcipotriol to NBUVB did not show any advantage.
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Letter Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Adapalene in the treatment of melasma: a preliminary report.