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JAMA Dermatology Aug 2022Multiple patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) exist for patients with acne. However, little is known about the content...
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review of Measure Development and Measurement Properties.
IMPORTANCE
Multiple patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) exist for patients with acne. However, little is known about the content validity and other measurement properties of these PROMs.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review PROMs for HRQoL in adults or adolescents with acne.
DATA SOURCES
Eligible studies were extracted from PubMed and Embase (OVID).
STUDY SELECTION
Full-text articles published in English or Spanish on development, pilot, or validation studies for acne-specific, dermatology-specific, or generic HRQoL PROMs were included. Development studies included original development studies, even if not studied in acne patients per Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) recommendations. If a study included several diagnoses, the majority (ie, over 50%) of patients must have acne or acne-specific subgroup analyses must be available. Abstract and full-text screening was performed by 2 independent reviewers.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Two independent reviewers assessed study quality applying the COSMIN checklist and extracted and analyzed the data. For each distinctive PROM, quality of evidence was graded by measurement property.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
PROM properties (target population, domains, recall period, development language), PROM development and pilot studies, content validity (relevance, comprehensiveness, comprehensibility), and remaining measurement properties (structural validity, internal consistency, cross-cultural validity, reliability, measurement error, criterion validity, construct validity, and responsiveness). Quality of evidence was assigned for each measurement property of included PROMs. An overall recommendation level was assigned based on content validity and quality of the evidence of measurement properties.
RESULTS
We identified 54 acne PROM development or validation studies for 10 acne-specific PROMs, 6 dermatology-specific PROMs, and 5 generic PROMs. Few PROMs had studies for responsiveness. The only acne-specific PROMs with sufficient evidence for content validity were the CompAQ and Acne-Q. Based on available evidence, the Acne-Q and CompAQ can be recommended for use in acne clinical studies.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Two PROMs can currently be recommended for use in acne clinical studies: the Acne-Q and CompAQ. Evidence on content validity and other measurement properties were lacking for all PROMs; further research investigating the quality of remaining acne-specific, dermatology-specific, and generic HRQoL PROMs is required to recommend their use.
Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adolescent; Adult; Checklist; Humans; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35731537
DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.2260 -
Journal of Pharmacopuncture Mar 2020The objective of this systematic review is to critically evaluate the evidence of the effectiveness and safety of external application of herbal medicines (EAHM) for...
AIM OF THE STUDY
The objective of this systematic review is to critically evaluate the evidence of the effectiveness and safety of external application of herbal medicines (EAHM) for acne vurgalis (AV).
METHODS
English, Chinese and Korean language databases were searched up to May 2018. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that reported the effects of EAHM for AV were included and analysed.
RESULTS
A total of 10 randomized trials with 656 AV patients were identified. A meta-analysis of two RCTs indicated that EAHM had a significant effect on improving primary outcome 'global assessment' compared with placebo (mean difference (MD) = -2.62, confidence interval (CI) = -4.84 to -0.40, p = 0.02). Furthermore, data extracted from two RCTs showed that EAHM significantly reduce primary outcome 'inflammatory lesion count of acne' (MD = -1.25, CI = -1.68 to -0.83, p < 0.00001) and 'non-inflammatory lesion count of acne' (MD = -1.32, CI = -1.75 to -0.90, p < 0.00001). No significant difference was observed between groups in secondary outcome 'sebum of skin' (MD = -0.21, CI = -0.53 to 0.11, p = 0.20) and 'patient-reported changes in symptom' (relative risk (RR) = 2.56, CI = 0.43 to 15.22, p = 0.30). No severe adverse events (AEs) were found and no treatment was stopped due to AEs of EAHM.
CONCLUSIONS
EAHM seems to have affirmative effects, but quality of evidence, and non-standardized use of EAHM make our conclusion weak. Our suggestion is rigorously designed RCTs and standardization of EAHM are required in the future.
PubMed: 32322430
DOI: 10.3831/KPI.2020.23.002 -
Journal of Translational Autoimmunity 2020In the last decade, new scientific findings significantly improved our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of autoinflammation and have resulted in the... (Review)
Review
In the last decade, new scientific findings significantly improved our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of autoinflammation and have resulted in the identification and definition of several pyoderma gangrenosum-associated autoinflammatory syndromes (PGAAIS) as new and distinct clinical entities. These different clinical entities include PAPA (pyogenic arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum and acne conglobata), PASH (pyoderma gangrenosum, acne and suppurative hidradenitis), PAPASH (pyoderma gangrenosum, acne, suppurative hidradenitis and pyogenic arthritis), PsAPASH (pyoderma gangrenosum, acne, suppurative hidradenitis and psoriatic arthritis), PASS (pyoderma gangrenosum, acne conglobata, suppurative hidradenitis, and axial spondyloarthritis) and PAC (pyoderma gangrenosum, acne and ulcerative colitis), which can be distinguished by their clinical presentation and the presence or absence of mutations in several genes, such as the genes encoding proline-serine-threonine phosphatase-interacting protein 1 (PSTPIP1), nicastrin (NCSTN), Mediterranean fever (MEFV) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein (NOD). In this systematic review, we summarize the present knowledge of this rapidly developing hot topic and provide a guide to enable the easy diagnosis of these syndromes in everyday clinical practice. Moreover, we report a rare case of PASS syndrome demonstrating successful treatment with adalimumab and another case of a previously unreported combination of symptoms, including psoriatic arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, suppurative hidradenitis and Crohn's disease (newly coined PsAPSC), as examples. Because of the identification of similar genetic and pathogenic mechanisms of PGAAIS, we think the wide variety of seemingly different syndromes may represent distinct phenotypes of one disease.
PubMed: 33305249
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2020.100071 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2023Soybean, a legume native to Southeast Asia, serves many nutritional and medical purposes due to its rich source of phytochemicals and its antioxidant activity. Many... (Review)
Review
Soybean, a legume native to Southeast Asia, serves many nutritional and medical purposes due to its rich source of phytochemicals and its antioxidant activity. Many animal and in vitro studies have demonstrated its potential impact on dermatologic health. The objective of this review is to investigate the clinical response of soy-based oral supplementation or topical application on dermatologic outcomes. A systematic review of studies assessing soy supplementation or application was performed in January 2023. Databases included PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Natural Medicines, and studies assessing any formulation that included soybean or associated products were included. Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria and are included in the review; 13 of these studies assessed oral supplementation and 17 assessed topical application. Topical and oral supplementation demonstrated efficacious results for a variety of dermatologic parameters, including chronological or photoaging parameters, skin barrier status, hydration, hyperpigmentation, dermal network composition, erythema, hair and nail parameters, acne lesion counts, and vulvar lichen sclerosis scores. Factors associated with aging, such as wrinkle area and depth, were most frequently assessed among the studies, and both topical and oral studies demonstrated efficacy. Effects are likely mediated by dermal compositional changes, such as increased collagen and/or elastic fiber numbers. Transepidermal water loss measurements, an indicator of skin barrier status, were frequently obtained among the studies, although improvement was more likely achieved with topical application compared to oral supplementation. The results of this review highlight the utility of soy-based products for a variety of dermatologic applications, although future studies are required to determine optimal formulations and application routes for intended outcomes.
PubMed: 37373864
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12124171 -
Annals of Translational Medicine Dec 2022There are numerous laser treatments for acne scars in clinical practice. However, there are no clinical studies comparing all laser methods to provide an evidence-based...
BACKGROUND
There are numerous laser treatments for acne scars in clinical practice. However, there are no clinical studies comparing all laser methods to provide an evidence-based bias for clinicians to choose the best strategy. Therefore, this systematic review and network meta-analysis was conducted to explore the efficacy of different types of laser treatment on acne scars. This study can provide the most effective treatment for acne scars in clinical practice.
METHODS
The databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched from their inception to July 2022. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used to assess the bias of the included original studies. Bayesian network meta-analysis was used to investigate the efficacy of laser treatment strategies in scar improvement, cure rate, and satisfaction.
RESULTS
As shown by the results, the top 3 treatment options for scar improvement were fractional carbon dioxide laser (FCL) + platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) [surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA): 0.699], 1064Nd (1,064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet picosecond laser) + 15%VC (Vitamin C; SUCRA: 0.675), and 1064Nd (SUCRA: 0.627). The standard mean difference (SMD) of FCL + PRP was -1.76 (95% CI: -3.49, -0.03), compared with that of FCL. The top 3 treatment options for improving cure rate were Er (Er:YAG laser treatment) + PRP (SUCRA: 0.873), FCL (SUCRA: 0.773), and FCL + 30% salicylic acid (30%SC) (SUCRA: 0.772). The RR of Er + PRP cure rate was 13.86 (95% CI: 1.79, 107.22), compared with non-laser radiofrequency therapy.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggested that combined therapies should be used to treat acne scars. Er + PRP showed the highest cure rate of acne scar, followed by FCL + 30%SC or FCL monotherapy. FCL combined with PRP could improve acne scarring to the greatest extent, and 1064Nd combined with 15%VC can also exert a good effect. As for satisfaction, FCL monotherapy was the most satisfactory methods for patients, followed by PRP monotherapy. Therefore, Er + PRP and FCL + PRP can be used as the first choice for clinical treatment of acne scars. Additionally, using FCL alone is also an effective and elective treatment method due to its affordable cost and comfort.
PubMed: 36660635
DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-5997 -
PloS One 2012Since 1950, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) cupping therapy has been applied as a formal modality in hospitals throughout China and elsewhere in the world. Based on a... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Since 1950, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) cupping therapy has been applied as a formal modality in hospitals throughout China and elsewhere in the world. Based on a previous systematic literature review of clinical studies on cupping therapy, this study presents a thorough review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the therapeutic effect of cupping therapy.
METHOD
Six databases were searched for articles published through 2010. RCTs on cupping therapy for various diseases were included. Studies on cupping therapy combined with other TCM treatments versus non-TCM therapies were excluded.
RESULTS
135 RCTs published from 1992 through 2010 were identified. The studies were generally of low methodological quality. Diseases for which cupping therapy was commonly applied were herpes zoster, facial paralysis (Bell palsy), cough and dyspnea, acne, lumbar disc herniation, and cervical spondylosis. Wet cupping was used in most trials, followed by retained cupping, moving cupping, and flash cupping. Meta-analysis showed cupping therapy combined with other TCM treatments was significantly superior to other treatments alone in increasing the number of cured patients with herpes zoster, facial paralysis, acne, and cervical spondylosis. No serious adverse effects were reported in the trials.
CONCLUSIONS
Numerous RCTs on cupping therapy have been conducted and published during the past decades. This review showed that cupping has potential effect in the treatment of herpes zoster and other specific conditions. However, further rigorously designed trials on its use for other conditions are warranted.
Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 22389674
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031793 -
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic... May 2022Known in the past for its toxic aspect as the main urban pollutant, in the last few decades, ozone has been gaining greater visibility for its possible antimicrobial,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Known in the past for its toxic aspect as the main urban pollutant, in the last few decades, ozone has been gaining greater visibility for its possible antimicrobial, antiviral, and antioxidant effects when used in human dermatological pathologies. Despite the reports of clinical benefits, the standard dosage for clinical efficacy and safety are yet not clear, nor are its means of application and its true acting mechanism.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a review to determine the efficacy and safety of ozone therapy for a variety of dermatological conditions.
METHODS
We considered clinical trials (both randomized and non-randomized) published between December 2020 and March 2021 as long as they provided some PICO information, i.e., population (P), intervention (I), and study design. The skin dermatological conditions researched were: acne, dermatitis, psoriasis, systemic sclerosis, herpes, aging, ulcers, and skin scarring.
RESULTS
A total of 326 articles were identified and 150 remained after duplicates were removed. After titles, abstracts and full articles were read, 17 articles were included in the systematic review (with 643 patients).
CONCLUSION
Ozone therapy seems promising for some dermatological conditions; however, the articles included in this review had methodological limitations and did not sufficiently demonstrate sound evidence for safe therapy. Therefore, more studies with better methodological standards and longer-term assessments of side effects should be conducted to achieve better standards and safety in ozone therapy for dermatological conditions.
PubMed: 35642231
DOI: No ID Found -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Sep 2016Acne vulgaris is a very common skin problem that presents with blackheads, whiteheads, and inflamed spots. It frequently results in physical scarring and may cause... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Acne vulgaris is a very common skin problem that presents with blackheads, whiteheads, and inflamed spots. It frequently results in physical scarring and may cause psychological distress. The use of oral and topical treatments can be limited in some people due to ineffectiveness, inconvenience, poor tolerability or side-effects. Some studies have suggested promising results for light therapies.
OBJECTIVES
To explore the effects of light treatment of different wavelengths for acne.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the following databases up to September 2015: the Cochrane Skin Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and LILACS. We searched ISI Web of Science and Dissertation Abstracts International (from inception). We also searched five trials registers, and grey literature sources. We checked the reference lists of studies and reviews and consulted study authors and other experts in the field to identify further references to relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs). We updated these searches in July 2016 but these results have not yet been incorporated into the review.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included RCTs of light for treatment of acne vulgaris, regardless of language or publication status.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 71 studies, randomising a total of 4211 participants.Most studies were small (median 31 participants) and included participants with mild to moderate acne of both sexes and with a mean age of 20 to 30 years. Light interventions differed greatly in wavelength, dose, active substances used in photodynamic therapy (PDT), and comparator interventions (most commonly no treatment, placebo, another light intervention, or various topical treatments). Numbers of light sessions varied from one to 112 (most commonly two to four). Frequency of application varied from twice daily to once monthly.Selection and performance bias were unclear in the majority of studies. Detection bias was unclear for participant-assessed outcomes and low for investigator-assessed outcomes in the majority of studies. Attrition and reporting bias were low in over half of the studies and unclear or high in the rest. Two thirds of studies were industry-sponsored; study authors either reported conflict of interest, or such information was not declared, so we judged the risk of bias as unclear.Comparisons of most interventions for our first primary outcome 'Participant's global assessment of improvement' were not possible due to the variation in the interventions and the way the studies' outcomes were measured. We did not combine the effect estimates but rated the quality of the evidence as very low for the comparison of light therapies, including PDT to placebo, no treatment, topical treatment or other comparators for this outcome. One study which included 266 participants with moderate to severe acne showed little or no difference in effectiveness for this outcome between 20% aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-PDT (activated by blue light) versus vehicle plus blue light (risk ratio (RR) 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72 to 1.04, low-quality evidence). A study (n = 180) of a comparison of ALA-PDT (activated by red light) concentrations showed 20% ALA was no more effective than 15% (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.15) but better than 10% ALA (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.42) and 5% ALA (RR 1.47, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.81). The number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNTB) was 6 (95% CI 3 to 19) and 4 (95% CI 2 to 6) for the comparison of 20% ALA with 10% and 5% ALA, respectively.For our second primary outcome 'Investigator-assessed changes in lesion counts', we combined three RCTs, with 360 participants with moderate to severe acne and found methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) PDT (activated by red light) was no different to placebo cream plus red light with regard to change in inflamed lesions (ILs) (mean difference (MD) -2.85, 95% CI -7.51 to 1.81), percentage change in ILs (MD -10.09, 95% CI -20.25 to 0.06), change in non-inflamed lesions (NILs) (MD -2.01, 95% CI -7.07 to 3.05), or in percentage change in NILs (MD -8.09, 95% CI -21.51 to 5.32). We assessed the evidence as moderate quality for these outcomes meaning that there is little or no clinical difference between these two interventions for lesion counts.Studies comparing the effects of other interventions were inconsistent or had small samples and high risk of bias. We performed only narrative synthesis for the results of the remaining trials, due to great variation in many aspects of the studies, poor reporting, and failure to obtain necessary data. Several studies compared yellow light to placebo or no treatment, infrared light to no treatment, gold microparticle suspension to vehicle, and clindamycin/benzoyl peroxide combined with pulsed dye laser to clindamycin/benzoyl peroxide alone. There were also several other studies comparing MAL-PDT to light-only treatment, to adapalene and in combination with long-pulsed dye laser to long-pulsed dye laser alone. None of these showed any clinically significant effects.Our third primary outcome was 'Investigator-assessed severe adverse effects'. Most studies reported adverse effects, but not adequately with scarring reported as absent, and blistering reported only in studies on intense pulsed light, infrared light and photodynamic therapies. We rated the quality of the evidence as very low, meaning we were uncertain of the adverse effects of the light therapies.Although our primary endpoint was long-term outcomes, less than half of the studies performed assessments later than eight weeks after final treatment. Only a few studies assessed outcomes at more than three months after final treatment, and longer-term assessments are mostly not covered in this review.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
High-quality evidence on the use of light therapies for people with acne is lacking. There is low certainty of the usefulness of MAL-PDT (red light) or ALA-PDT (blue light) as standard therapies for people with moderate to severe acne.Carefully planned studies, using standardised outcome measures, comparing the effectiveness of common acne treatments with light therapies would be welcomed, together with adherence to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines.
PubMed: 27670126
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007917.pub2 -
Dermatology and Therapy Jan 2023Beta-blockers are proven to be safe and cost-effective agents in treating multiple dermatological conditions, which is why they are considered as an interesting and good... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Beta-blockers are proven to be safe and cost-effective agents in treating multiple dermatological conditions, which is why they are considered as an interesting and good alternative therapeutic agent by dermatologists. To our knowledge, there has been no comprehensive systematic review to date summarizing the role of both systemic and topical beta-blockers in dermatology.
METHODS
In this systematic review, we aim to review recent and relevant published literature in order to provide a comprehensive evidence-based summary to inform dermatologists.
RESULTS
An electronic-based literature search was carried out during October-December 2021 in the databases PubMed (MEDLINE), SCOPUS (EMBASE), and Cochrane Library. Furthermore, bibliographic sources were also reviewed for the selected articles. We followed The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses 2020 (PRISMA) guidelines. We reviewed published literature about the role of beta-blockers in dermatology for the time period (January 2016 to December 2021).
CONCLUSIONS
A total of 126 publications were retrieved from different databases, of which 59 studies were finally included in our review after excluding non-eligible literature in accordance with our inclusion and exclusion criteria. The included articles consisted of meta-analyses, systematic reviews, clinical trials, retrospective and prospective cohort studies, case-control studies, case series, and case reports. In general, data in reviewed literature showed that both systemic and topical beta-blockers were reliable and safe therapeutic options in treating different dermatoses. Their effect has been studied as a mono-therapy, also as an adjuvant therapy combined with other current disease-specific therapeutic modalities such as lasers, radiation, chemotherapy, corticosteroids, or other beta-blockers options. Local and systemic adverse effects were mainly minor and non-significant.
PubMed: 36414845
DOI: 10.1007/s13555-022-00848-1 -
Cureus Aug 2021Acne vulgaris is a frequently encountered dermatological condition in clinical practice. Isotretinoin is one of the drugs prescribed for this condition. However, it is... (Review)
Review
Acne vulgaris is a frequently encountered dermatological condition in clinical practice. Isotretinoin is one of the drugs prescribed for this condition. However, it is unclear whether the use of this drug worsens or improves the psychological effects in an acne patient and whether it is advisable to use this drug commonly. This systematic review aims to assess the relationship between Isotretinoin and psychiatric side effects in acne patients. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles published within the last 10 years were taken into account and a review was conducted on the relevant articles after critical appraisal. Nine studies were finalized for discussion and out of the nine studies, two studies concluded that Isotretinoin could cause psychiatric effects. Five studies showed no association between them. Two studies unexpectedly found that psychiatric symptoms improved because of Isotretinoin use. Lack of adequate sample size and absence of randomized controlled trials are the limitations of this study. To conclude, Isotretinoin can be prescribed as a treatment option for severe acne despite some evidence of link with psychiatric effects. However, bearing the side effects in mind, a detailed evaluation before initiating the drug and a thorough monitoring while using the drug should be done as a standard practice in order to be on the safer side.
PubMed: 34513424
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.16834