The British journal of dermatology
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Review Meta Analysis
Overall treatment success after treatment of primary superficial basal cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and nonrandomized trials.
Several noninvasive treatment modalities are available for superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC). ⋯ Pooled estimates from randomized and nonrandomized studies showed similar tumour-free survival at 1 year for imiquimod and PDT. The PDT tumour-free survival was higher in studies with repeated treatments. However, these results were largely derived from nonrandomized studies, and randomized studies with head-to-head comparison of imiquimod and PDT are lacking. There is a need for head-to-head comparison studies between PDT, imiquimod and other treatments with long-term follow-up to enable better recommendations for optimal sBCC treatment.
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Papp et al. (N Engl J Med 2012; 366: 1181-9) and Leonardi et al. (N Engl J Med 2012; 366: 1190-9) respectively assessed the efficacy and safety of brodalumab (AMG 827), a human monoclonal antibody directed against interleukin (IL)-17RA, the receptor of IL-17A and ixekizumab (LY2439821), a humanized anti-IL-17 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. ⋯ Papp et al. and Leonardi et al. concluded that brodalumab and ixekizumab, respectively, significantly improved plaque psoriasis in 12-week, phase II studies. For difficult-to-treat areas such as the scalp and nails, significant differences from placebo were observed with ixekizumab treatment. These trials were not large enough or of long enough duration to ascertain uncommon adverse events or to assess the risk of infection or cardiovascular events.
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The scalp is commonly associated with itch and burning sensations. Previous studies have shown the scalp is highly innervated compared with other body areas. However, limited data are available on sensory testing associated with C nerve fibres of the healthy scalp. ⋯ This study demonstrates a significant insensitivity of C nerve fibres of the scalp to warmth, heat pain, itch and neurogenic inflammation. These results suggest that the scalp has an aberrant response of C nerve fibres.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy and safety of tofacitinib, an oral Janus kinase inhibitor, in the treatment of psoriasis: a Phase 2b randomized placebo-controlled dose-ranging study.
Tofacitinib is a novel, oral Janus kinase inhibitor under investigation as a potential treatment for plaque psoriasis. ⋯ Short-term treatment with oral tofacitinib results in significant clinical improvement in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and is generally well tolerated.