Evaluating clinical trial design: systematic review of randomized vehicle-controlled trials for determining efficacy of benzoyl peroxide topical therapy for acne.

Determined efficacies of benzoyl peroxide may be affected by study design, implementation, and vehicle effects. We sought to elucidate areas that may allow improvement in determining accurate treatment efficacies by determining rates of active treatment and vehicle responders in randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of topical benzoyl peroxide to treat acne. We conducted a systematic review of randomized vehicle-controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of topical benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of acne.

US-National Institutes of Health-funded research for cutaneous wounds in 2012.

Chronic cutaneous wounds are a major burden on patients, healthcare providers, and the US healthcare system. This study, carried out in part by the Wound Healing Society's Government Regulatory Committee, aimed to evaluate the current state of National Institutes of Health funding of cutaneous wound healing-related research projects. National Institutes of Health Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures & Results system was used to identify wound healing projects funded by the National Institutes of Health in the 2012 fiscal year.

Benzene absorption in animals and man: an overview.

Benzene is a widespread, naturally occurring substance of environmental concern as systemic exposure in humans is proven to be carcinogenic. Dermal exposure is a common and significant route of systemic entry and percutaneous absorption is critical in exposure risk assessment. This article reviews the scientific principles, methodologies, and research behind the multiple steps of the percutaneous absorption of benzene in animals and man and the application of this information to optimize exposure risk assessments.

Randomized, vehicle-controlled trials of topical 5-fluorouracil therapy for actinic keratosis treatment: an overview.

Actinic keratoses are common in older individuals and topical immunotherapy is an important treatment when multiple lesions are present. To assess the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil in treating actinic keratoses, a systematic review of randomized, vehicle-controlled trials was performed. Percentages of 5-fluorouracil and vehicle responders were determined by absolute clearance and mean percent reduction in lesion count.

Placebo response in relation to clinical trial design: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials for determining biologic efficacy in psoriasis treatment.

There is a need to better define how the efficacy of investigational drugs is affected by study design, implementation, and placebo responses in randomized controlled trials. The improvements observed in placebo groups within trials examining psoriasis treatments may be partially due to study design and implementation. We conducted a systematic review of randomized placebo-controlled trials assessing the efficacy of biologics in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis to evaluate rates of placebo and active drug responders to determine specific factors within study design that may contribute to placebo responses.

Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation secondary to external insult: an overview of the quantitative analysis of pigmentation.

Context: Despite new technologies, few studies have quantified changes in melanocyte numbers associated with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) secondary to exogenous causes.

Objective: This article aims to review what is known about the pathogenesis of PIH secondary to external insults and its relationship to the resultant degree of quantitative changes in melanocytes.

Methods: We performed a review of articles exploring PIH resulting from external cutaneous insults retrieved through database searching.

Application of mobile teledermatology for skin cancer screening.

Background: With advancements in mobile technology, cellular phone-based store-and-forward teledermatology may be applied to skin cancer screening.

Objective: We sought to determine diagnostic and management concordance between in-person and teledermatology evaluations for patients at skin cancer screening whose clinical images and history were transmitted through mobile phones.

Methods: A total of 86 patients with 137 skin lesions presented to a skin cancer screening event in California.