To determine the safety and efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 20% wt/vol aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride (hereinafter "ALA") and visible blue light for the treatment of multiple actinic keratoses of the face and scalp.Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, uneven parallel-group study.Interventions: Patients (N = 243) were randomized to receive vehicle or ALA followed within 14 to 18 hours by PDT. Follow-up visits occurred 24 hours and 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks following PDT. Target lesions remaining at week 8 were re-treated.Main Outcome Measure: Clinical response based on lesion clearing by week 8.Results: Most patients in both groups had 4 to 7 lesions. Complete response rates for patients with 75% or more of the treated lesions clearing at weeks 8 and 12 were 77% (128/166) and 89% (133/149), respectively, for the drug group and 18% (10/55) and 13% (7/52), respectively, for the vehicle group (PϽ.001, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel general association test). The 95% confidence interval for the difference in response rates at week 8 was 46.9% to 71.0% and at week 12, 65.3% to 86.3%. The week 12 response rate includes 30% of patients who received a second treatment. Most patients experienced erythema and edema at the treated sites, which resolved or improved within 1 to 4 weeks after therapy, and stinging or burning during light treatment, which decreased or resolved by 24 hours after light treatment. Conclusion:Findings indicate that topical ALA PDT is an effective and safe treatment for multiple actinic keratoses of the face and scalp.

SummaryBackground Secukinumab, an anti-interleukin-17A monoclonal antibody, has demonstrated rapid and sustained efficacy in phase 3 psoriasis trials. Objectives To examine whether partial responders could achieve improved responses with intravenous (IV) secukinumab vs. the same or a higher subcutaneous (SC) dose. Methods Forty-three participants with moderate-to-severe psoriasis and partial response [Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score improvement of ≥ 50% but < 75%] after 12 weeks of 300 or 150 mg SC secukinumab therapy were randomized 1 : 1 to secukinumab 10 mg kg À1 IV (baseline, weeks 2 and 4,

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Data suggest that IPM is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of head lice in children and adults. IPM's mechanical mechanism of action makes development of lice resistance unlikely.