Dermatologic therapy
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Dermatologic therapy · Nov 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialComparative evaluation of Gracilaria algae 3% cream vs Clobetasol 0.05% cream in treatment of plaque type psoriasis: A randomized, split-body, triple-blinded clinical trial.
Gracilaria algae is red macro algae which has demonstrated considerable anti-inflammatory effects. Our objective was to compare the efficacy of Gracilaria algae topical cream 3% vs Clobetasol cream 0.05% in treatment of plaque-type psoriasis. Thirty adult patients with baseline modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score ≤12 were randomized to receive either Clobetasol or Gracilaria algae cream on right or left-sided symmetric plaques once daily for 8 weeks and follow-up of 4 weeks. ⋯ No significant difference was found regarding mean physician global assessment score between the two groups (P > .05). Patients' satisfaction was significantly higher in favor of algae cream only at week 8 of the intervention (P < .05). Gracilaria algae cream can be an effective and safe alternative of Clobetasol in the treatment of plaque type psoriasis.
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Dermatologic therapy · May 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialEfficacy of low dose gabapentin in acute herpes zoster for preventing postherpetic neuralgia: a prospective controlled study.
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a sequela of herpes zoster that adversely affects quality of life seriously. The risk factors for PHN are well known but the effective interventions that reduce the incidence of PHN are less studied. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with gabapentin in patients with acute herpes zoster for preventing PHN. ⋯ Total 52 and 49 patients in the gabapentin group and the control group, respectively, had completed 12 weeks of follow-up period. Although the incidence of PHN was higher in the control group, the difference was not statistically significant (6.1% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.67). Our results indicate that the use of low-dose gabapentin in acute herpes zoster seems not effective in the prevention of PHN.