***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: BACKGROUND Topical aloe vera ( AV ) has been used to treat various skin conditions , including psoriasis , with good results . OBJECTIVES This study aims to compare the efficacy of AV and 0.1 % triamcinolone acetonide ( TA ) in mild to moderate plaque psoriasis . METHODS A r and omized , comparative , double-blind , 8-week study was design ed . Eighty patients r and omly received AV or 0.1 % TA cream  and their clinical response were evaluated using the Psoriasis Area Severity Index ( PASI ) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index ( DLQI ) . RESULTS After 8 weeks of treatment , the mean PASI score decreased from 11.6 to 3.9 ( -7.7 ) in the AV group and from 10.9 to 4.3 ( -6.6 ) in the TA group . Between-group difference was 1.1 ( 95 % confidence interval -2.13 , -0.16 , P = 0.0237 ) . The mean DLQI score decreased from 8.6 to 2.5 ( -6.1 ) in the AV group and from 8.1 to 2.3 ( -5.8 ) in the TA group . Between-group difference was 0.3 ( 95 % confidence interval -1.18 , -0.64 , P = 0.5497 ) . There was no follow-up period after the 8-week treatment . CONCLUSIONS AV cream may be more effective than 0.1 % TA cream in reducing the clinical symptoms of psoriasis ; however , both treatments have similar efficacy in improving the quality of life of patients with mild to moderate psoriasis Background : Severe and widespread atopic dermatitis often fails to respond adequately to topical steroids and oral antihistamines and requires immunomodulatory drugs which , although effective , have undesirable toxic effects . Methods : In this prospect i ve , r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial , 71 patients with severe intractable atopic dermatitis were given an 8-week treatment with oral Xiao-Feng-San ( XFS ; 47 patients ) or placebo ( 24 patients ) . Total lesion score , erythema score , surface damage score , pruritus score and sleep score were measured at 4-week intervals . Results : Fifty-six patients completed both the treatment and follow-up periods . The decrease in the total lesion score in the treatment group at 8 weeks was significantly greater than that of the placebo group ( 79.7 ± 5.8 % vs. 13.5 ± 7.64 % ; p < 0.001 ) . There was also a statistically significant difference between the treatment and placebo groups with regard to erythema , surface damage , pruritus and sleep scores . The difference between the 2 groups was still significant for all outcome measures except the erythema score at the 12-week follow-up , 4 weeks after the 8-week treatment had ended . Patients reported no side effects from treatment , although some commented on the unpalatability of the medication . Conclusion : Our study results suggest that the traditional Chinese herbal medicine XFS may be an alternative choice of therapy for severe , refractory , extensive and nonexudative atopic dermatitis CONTEXT Although st and ards of reporting r and omized controlled trials are well established internationally , essential study elements continue to be omitted , which hampers interpretation and systematic review of r and omized controlled trials . OBJECTIVE To identify deficiencies in the quality of reporting of placebo-controlled r and omized trials published in German or English . DESIGN Observational study comparing 32 German- and 89 English- language reports of placebo-controlled trials with parallel design , published by the same group of authors between 1985 and 1994 . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE High reporting quality , defined as adherence to published st and ards and measured by an 18-item scale based on 2 st and ard guidelines . RESULTS The mean quality score was 8.4 ( SD , 3.0 ; range , 1 - 16 ) of 18 . The difference of the mean quality scores between English- language reports compared with German- language reports was small ( 0.27 ; 95 % confidence interval , -0.97 to 1.52 ) . More articles reported clinical aspects than trial methods or statistics . CONCLUSION There is room for improvement in the reporting of placebo-controlled r and omized trials for both English and German reports Background Boswellic acids ( BAs ) show anti-inflammatory properties in a variety of inflammatory diseases , including rheumatoid arthritis , osteoarthritis , and asthma . A topical administration route is currently used to deliver active compounds in psoriatic and eczematous patients . In this double-blind study we compare a novel BA formulation ( containing Bosexil ® , INCI [ International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients ] : lecithin , Boswellia serrata resin extract ) with a placebo formulation . A third arm of the trial received a formulation of Vaccinium myrtillus seed oil , previously demonstrated as an effective local treatment for psoriatic lesions . Methods Patients with psoriasis or erythematous eczema were r and omly assigned , in a 1:1:1 ratio , to Bosexil ® , V. myrtillus seed oil , or placebo . In order to evaluate the effects of treatment , the changes of scales and erythema from diagnosis to the end of treatment were scored in psoriatic patients , while changes in itch and erythema were analyzed for erythematous eczema patients .  Psoriasis Area Severity Index and Eczema Area and Severity Index scores were also calculated . Results In patients with psoriasis  , scales and erythema improved both with Bosexil ® and the V. myrtillus seed oil treatment in comparison with placebo . In particular , the treatment with Bosexil ® formulation improved scales ( 70 % of cases ) and erythema ( 50 % of cases ) without any case of worsening . In patients with eczema , the administration of placebo did not result in any improvement in 90 % of cases , and in the remaining 10 % worsened both itch and erythema .  Bosexil ® formulation improved both itch ( 60 % of cases ) and erythema ( 60 % of cases ) without any case of worsening . V. myrtillus seed oil improved itch and erythema in 66.7 % and 77.8 % of patients , respectively . Conclusion A topical formulation of Bosexil ® may be promising for the treatment of psoriasis and erythematous eczema . Long-term studies are recommended to evaluate the adherence to this topical treatment and its clinical benefits in real life OBJECTIVE To study the effect of Yinxieling decoction on PASI , TNF-α and IL-8 in patients with psoriasis vulgaris . METHODS A total of 120 cases of psoriasis vulgaris were divided into 4 groups according to syndrome differentiation of TCM and r and omized controlled method : wind heat syndrome group ( group A ) , blood stasis syndrome group ( group B ) , blood dryness syndrome group ( group C ) and control group ( group D ) ( n=30 per group ) . Patients in observation groups were treated with Yinxieling decoction , while patients in control group were treated by placebo for 8 weeks . Levels of TNF-α and IL-8 were determined before treatment , 4 and 8 weeks after treatment . psoriasis area and severity index score was also performed before and after treatment . RESULTS psoriasis area and severity index score and serum level of TNF-α , IL-8 were significantly decreased in all groups . The decrease in three observation groups was more significant ( P<0.05 or P<0.01 ) , and the decrease in wind heat syndrome group was the most significant ( P<0.01 ) . psoriasis area and severity index was positively correlated with TNF-α and IL-8 , respectively ( P<0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS Yinxieling decoction has therapeutical effect on psoriasis vulgaris via regulating TNF-α and IL-8 Background : Screening of natural compounds for the development of anti-acne therapeutic agents has been steadily required considering various side effects of acne medications . However , previous studies have mainly focused on experimental tests without clinical trials and histopathological analysis . Objectives : To compare the clinical efficacy , safety and histopathological changes between Lactobacillus-fermented Chamaecyparis obtusa ( LFCO ) and existing tea tree oil ( TTO ) . Methods : A total of 34 patients were instructed to apply 5 % LFCO to the involved areas of a r and omly allocated side and 5 % TTO extract to the other side for 8 weeks in a double-blind split-face clinical trial . Results : After 8 weeks , inflammatory acne lesions were reduced by 65.3 % on the LFCO side and by 38.2 % on the TTO side . LFCO was also superior to TTO in the onset time of efficacy ( p < 0.05 ) . The LFCO side further demonstrated improvement for non-inflammatory lesions ( 52.6 % , p < 0.05 ) , decreased size of sebaceous gl and s and sebum output reductions . Patients ' subjective satisfaction was also higher without severe adverse reactions . Protein expressions of nuclear factor κB decreased earlier on the LFCO side , and those of interleukin-1a ( IL-1a ) , IL-8 , insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 decreased subsequently . Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry further demonstrated that the contents of dihydroxybenzoic acid , taxifolin and quercetin were increased in LFCO after fermentation . Conclusions : LFCO treatment was rapid and effective for treating acne lesions compared to TTO . Histopathological findings correlated well with the clinical acne grade and treatment response . This novel natural compound appears to be effective and safe for acne treatment Abstract Background : Atopic dermatitis ( AD ) requires permanent skin care . Objective : A cream containing 2 % SO ( sunflower oleodistillate ) , with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha ( PPAR-α ) agonist properties , has been compared to a topical steroid ( hydrocortisone butyro-propionate 1 mg/g ) . Methods : An open , r and omized study included two groups of 40 children ( aged 3 months to 4 years ) . Group A applied the steroid and group B applied the 2 % SO cream , twice a day . SCORAD ( SCORing Atopic Dermatitis ) was determined at D0 , D7 and D21 and quality of life ( QoL ) at D0 and D21 . Results : SCORAD was similar at D0 ( 37.2 versus 36.9 ) , D7 ( 18.9 versus 19.2 ) ( –49 % and –48 % ) and D21 ( 11 versus 9.4 ) ( –70 % and –75 % ) ( p < 0.01 versus D0 ) . The Infant Dermatitis Quality of Life and Dermatitis Family Impact Question naire improved similarly by 65%/67 % in group A and 72%/75 % in group B at D21 ( p < 0.01 versus D0 ) . Conclusion : A 2 % SO cream has demonstrated therapeutic properties , using clinical scores and QoL , comparable to those of a topical steroid ABSTRACT Berberis vulgaris L. ( barberry ) is a very well-known herb in traditional medicine . Apart from its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties , the antilipogenic effect of barberry on the sebaceous gl and s in animals may further suggest it could be employed as an anti-acne agent . This study examined the effect of oral aqueous extract of barberry on acne vulgaris .  Adolescents aged 12–17 years with moderate to severe acne vulgaris were r and omly given oral gelatin capsules containing either aqueous extract of dried barberry ( 600 mg daily for 4 weeks , n = 25 ) or placebo ( n = 24 ) . Counts of facial noninflamed , inflamed , and total acne lesions , as well as the Michaelson 's acne severity score were documented at baseline and at weeks 2 and 4 . Both groups were comparable in terms of the patients ’ characteristics and baseline variables . After 4 weeks , the mean number of noninflamed , inflamed , and total lesions as well as mean Michaelson 's acne severity score declined significantly by 43.25 ± 10.88 % ( median : 42.11 % ) , 44.53 ± 11.78 % ( median : 45.45 % ) , 44.64 ± 8.46 % ( median : 46.15 % ) , and 44.38 ± 8.25 % ( median : 44.07 % ) , respectively , among the extract receivers ( p < .001 for all the changes ) . Similar changes were not significant in the placebo group . No notable complication or side effect was reported in relation to barberry . In conclusion , oral aqueous extract of dried barberry is a safe , well-tolerated , and effective choice in teenagers with moderate to severe acne vulgaris Background The extended Consoli date d St and ards of Reporting Trials ( CONSORT ) Statement for Abstract s was developed to improve the quality of reports of r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) because readers often base their assessment of a trial solely on the abstract . To date , few data exist regarding whether it has achieved this goal . We evaluated the extent of adherence to the CONSORT for Abstract statement for quality of 
    Output:
    
Our data indicate lack of adherence to hCONSORT extension criteria .