BACKGROUND Keratinocyte carcinomas (KC) impact patient quality of life (QoL). There is a need for validated QoL instruments specific to KC. The Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinoma QoL (BaSQoL) questionnaire was developed to comprehensively measure issues of importance to patients with KC. OBJECTIVE To validate and characterize the BaSQoL questionnaire for QoL measurement after diagnosis and treatment of KC. METHODS This was a prospective, observational study. Patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were asked to fill out BaSQoL, Skin Cancer Index (SCI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and classical test theory were used to assess validity. RESULTS One hundred eighty-seven subjects enrolled in this study: 122 with BCC and 65 with SCC. One hundred seventy-one subjects (91.4%) completed questionnaires at all 3 time points; 16 patients (8.6%) were lost to follow-up. Overall performance using classical test theory was good, with good internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.63–0.80). BaSQoL subscales were strongly correlated with subscales of the SCI, demonstrating convergent validity, and weakly correlated with HADS, showing divergent validity. CONCLUSION The English language version of BaSQoL has good face, content, and construct validity. This study validates BaSQoL for use in English-speaking patients with BCC and SCC.

Comparative tolerability and efficacy of daylight, conventional, and combination aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy for treatment of actinic keratosis To the Editor: The drawbacks to photodynamic therapy (PDT) for actinic keratoses (AK) include pain during illumination and patient access to a light source that is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. To address this, dermatologists are exploring daylight PDT. 1 Clinical studies in Europe and South America provide initial evidence that daylight exposure is efficacious. 2,3 This randomized, single-blind trial investigated the tolerability and safety of daylight PDT for AK on the face and scalp in Northern California.Participants with 4 to 20 face/scalp AKs were randomly selected (1:1:1) to 3 treatment groups (NCT03322293). Patients underwent topical application of aminolevulinic acid HCl (ALA) solution 20%. Group A had conventional treatment of 1 hour of incubation and 16 minutes, 40 seconds of 417-nm Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy (BLU-U; Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.). Group B received combination therapy of 15 minutes of incubation, 16 minutes 40 seconds BLU-U, and 45 minutes of daylight. Group C received daylight therapy of 15 minutes of incubation and

Propranolol pharmacokinetics in infants treated for infantile hemangiomas requiring systemic therapy: modeling and dosing regimen recommendations.

IMPORTANCE Alcohol flushing syndrome (AFS, also known as Asian glow and Asian flush) affects 20% to 47% of East Asians and causes significant psychosocial distress. There are no approved treatments for this condition.OBJECTIVE To determine whether brimonidine gel, 0.33%, decreases facial erythema in patients with AFS after consumption of alcohol. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSIn this randomized clinical trial, 20 healthy volunteers of East Asian descent with a self-reported history of AFS were recruited between April 2018 and March 2019.INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomized to application of brimonidine gel to either the left or right half of their face. Placebo control was applied to the opposite side. After 30 minutes, participants ingested alcohol. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESOutcomes were specified before data collection. The difference in erythema between the treated and placebo side of each participant's face was measured 60 minutes after drug application (primary outcome) and at 90 and 120 minutes after drug application (secondary outcomes). Participants were asked to rate their likelihood of using the medication again and their likelihood of recommending the medication to a friend on a scale of 0 to 10. RESULTSThe mean (SD) age of the 20 individuals enrolled in the study was 30.5 (8.4) years, and there were 10 women (50%). There was a significant difference in erythema at 60 minutes after drug application as measured by the difference in Clinician Erythema Assessment score (2.1; 95% CI, 1.5-2.71; P < .001) and by the difference in Subject Self-Assessment score (1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3; P < .001). This effect persisted at 90 and 120 minutes. Individuals were likely to use the medication again (7.2; 95% CI, 6.0-8.3) and would also recommend it to a friend (7.6; 95% CI, 6.5-8.6). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEThis study demonstrates that brimonidine gel is effective in reducing the facial erythema of AFS. Patients with psychosocial distress due to AFS may benefit from treatment with brimonidine.TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03497442