***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 The treatment with XeCl-excimer laser generated 308-nm UVB radiation has shown promising results in patients with vitiligo . OBJECTIVE In this controlled , prospect i ve trial we studied the primary efficacy ( start and grade of repigmentation ) and patient 's satisfaction of XeCl-excimer laser for treatment of vitiligo patches at different body sites and re-evaluated the achieved repigmentation 12 months after the end of therapy . METHODS Twenty-five patients with generalized or localized vitiligo with a total of 85 lesions at different body sites were enrolled in this study . Vitiligo patches were treated with 308-nm XeCl-excimer laser 3 times a week for 6 to 10 weeks . The overall repigmentation grade of each treated lesion was evaluated once a week on a 5 point scale rating from 0 ( no repigmentation ) , 1 ( 1 - 5 % ) , 2 ( 6 - 25 % ) , 3 ( 26 - 50 % ) , 4 ( 51 - 75 % ) , to 5 ( 76 - 100 % ) . RESULTS Twenty-four patients completed the study . Within 6 to 10 weeks of treatment 67 % of the patients ( 16/24 ) developed follicular repigmentation of at least one of their vitiligo lesions . Lesion repigmentation started after a mean of 13 treatments in lesions located on the face , trunk , arm , and /or leg ( high-responder location ) , and after a mean of 22 treatments in lesions located on the elbow , wrist , dorsum of the h and , knee , and /or dorsum of the foot ( low-responder location ) . Untreated control lesions and lesions located on the fingers did not achieve any repigmentation . After 10 weeks of treatment repigmentation of more than 75 % was found in 25 % ( 7/28 ) of lesions of the high-responder location group versus 2 % ( 1/43 ) of lesions of the low-responder location group . In most cases , laser-induced repigmentation was persistent , as determined 12 months after the end of treatment . CONCLUSIONS 308-nm excimer laser is an effective modality for the treatment of vitiligo . However , similar to other non-surgical treatment modalities , the therapeutic effect is mainly dependent on the location of vitiligo lesions BACKGROUND The treatment of vitiligo remains a challenge . OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to review our results and experience with narrow-b and ultraviolet ( UV ) B phototherapy for vitiligo . METHODS This is a retrospective analysis of our experience and results with patients with vitiligo who were treated with narrow-b and UVB between November 1998 and November 1999 .  Narrow-b and UVB phototherapy was given as monotherapy 3 times a week . The starting dose was 280 mJ/cm(2 ) , with 15 % dose increments at each subsequent treatment . RESULTS Seven patients were able to be evaluated for the purpose s of this analysis . Their ages ranged from 19 to 59 years ( mean , 37.6 years ) . Three patients had Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV and V , and 4 had phototypes II and III . Five of the 7 patients achieved more than 75 % repigmentation with a mean of 19 treatments ; the mean duration of disease was 13 months . The remaining two patients had 50 % and 40 % repigmentation after 46 and 48 treatments , respectively . Their mean duration of disease was 132 months . Adverse effects were mild erythema and pruritus . CONCLUSION This treatment protocol result ed in rapid repigmentation in many patients , including those with skin phototypes IV and V. In accordance with previous studies , this report indicates that narrow-b and UVB is a useful and well-tolerated therapy for vitiligo Narrow b and UVB is succeeding psoralen and UVA irradiation as the main treatment of vitiligo vulgaris in several European countries . Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency in some vitiligo patients has prompted research ers to investigate the efficacy of these vitamins in the treatment of vitiligo . In the present controlled study we investigated the value of narrow b and UVB phototherapy in the treatment of vitiligo and the possible additive effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid .  Twenty-seven patients with long-term stable vitiligo were included and r and omized in a  " UVB only " ( UVB ) or " UVB combined with vitamin B12 and folic acid " ( UVB+ ) group . Patients were irradiated thrice weekly for one year , whilst repigmentation was carefully monitored . In 92 % ( 25/27 ) of the patients up to 100 % repigmentation was seen . Repigmentation was notable in lesions on the face , neck and throat , lower arm , chest , back and lower legs , whilst repigmentation on the h and s , wrists , feet and ankles proved to be minimal . Maximum repigmentation rates did not differ significantly between the UVB group and the UVB+ group . Our study reconfirms that narrow b and UVB phototherapy is an effective treatment for vitiligo and shows that co-treatment with vitamin B12 and folic acid does not improve the outcome of treatment of vitiligo with narrow b and UVB phototherapy Many preliminary data suggest that the 308-nm excimer laser can be a highly effective therapeutic alternative for treating vitiligo , inducing rapid repigmentation with minimal ultraviolet irradiation . We evaluated the clinical efficacy of the 308-nm excimer laser treatment for various body areas , using different initial UV doses . One hundred forty vitiligo patches from 69 patients were assigned to 4 groups ; face and neck , trunk , extremities , and acral and joint areas . They were then treated twice a week , using different initial UV doses . The rate of repigmentation continued to increase with the number of treatments up to 20 sessions , and then showed plateaus between 20 to 30 sessions . On the other h and , the lesions in acral and joint areas showed the worst responses throughout the treatment sessions . Our findings extend previous observations that the 308-nm excimer laser is an effective treatment option for patients with vitiligo . However , further studies will be needed to determine the optimal dosing and administration method , especially for acral and joint areas Background : Limited data are available about the use of 308-nm monochromatic excimer light ( MEL ) and localized 311-nm narrow-b and ultraviolet B ( NB-UVB ) in the treatment of vitiligo . The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 308-nm MEL versus localized 311-nm NB-UVB in vitiligo patients . Methods : Eleven patients participated in this prospect i ve intrapatient  placebo-controlled r and omized trial . In each patient , 3 lesions were selected and treated with NB-UVB , MEL and placebo during 24 sessions , respectively . Repigmentation was evaluated clinical ly and by objective surface measurement . Results : Twenty percent of the lesions treated with NB-UVB achieved repigmentation scores above 50 % . None of the lesions treated with MEL achieved a repigmentation higher than 50 % after 24 sessions . Conclusion : Localized 311-nm NB-UVB is effective in the treatment of vitiligo . It should be considered for localized vitiligo as it is easily accessible . In this study the efficacy of localized 311-nm NB-UVB was superior to 308-nm MEL OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of 2 treatment modalities , topical psoralen plus UV-A ( PUVA ) with unsubstituted psoralen and 311-nm UV-B radiation , in patients with vitiligo . DESIGN This intervention study was design ed as a before- and -after trial with 2 arms , in which patients were consecutively included . PATIENTS Male ( n = 99 ) and female ( n = 182 ) patients , who predominantly had skin type III , with extensive , generalized vitiligo of more than 3 months ' duration . INTERVENTIONS Two patient groups were investigated . The first group of patients was treated for 4 months with either topical PUVA ( n = 28 ) or 311-nm UV-B radiation ( n = 78 ) . The second group of patients , treated twice weekly with 311-nm UV-B radiation , was followed up for 3 ( n = 60 ) , 6 ( n = 27 ) , 9 ( n = 37 ) , or 12 months ( n = 51 ) . RESULTS Thirteen ( 46 % ) patients in the first group treated with topical PUVA showed repigmentation after 4 months . Fifty-two patients ( 67 % ) in the 311-nm UV-B treatment group showed repigmentation after 4 months . After 3 months , 5 patients ( 8 % ) in the second group showed more than 75 % repigmentation of lesional skin compared with 32 patients ( 63 % ) after 12 months . As in other treatment modalities , the face showed good repigmentation , whereas h and s and feet responded poorly . No adverse effects were encountered with treatment with narrowb and UV-B radiation , contrary to those seen with topical PUVA treatment . The cumulative UV-B dose was very small compared with that of the topical PUVA treatment . CONCLUSIONS According to our results , the treatment of patients with vitiligo with 311-nm UV-B radiation is as efficient as with topical PUVA and has fewer adverse effects BACKGROUND Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder characterized by areas of depigmented skin result ing from loss of epidermal melanocytes . Recently , it has been shown that narrowb and ultraviolet B ( NB-UVB ) phototherapy may be more effective than psoralen and ultraviolet A ( PUVA ) photochemotherapy in treating vitiligo , and that 308-nm monochromatic excimer light ( MEL ) may present some advantages as compared to NB-UVB for the treatment of vitiligo . AIM The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of NB-UVB phototherapy and 308-nm MEL in vitiligo patients . METHODS The study was done in a r and omized , investigator-blinded and half-side comparison design . Twenty-one subjects with symmetrical vitiligo lesions were enrolled in this study . Vitiligo lesions on one body side were treated twice weekly for 6 months with 308-nm MEL , while NB-UVB phototherapy was used to treat lesions on the opposite side . RESULTS At the end of the study six lesions ( 37.5 % ) treated with 308-nm MEL and only one lesion ( 6 % ) treated with NB-UVB achieved an excellent repigmentation ( score 4 ) while four lesions ( 25 % ) treated with 308-nm MEL and five lesions ( 31 % ) treated with NB-UVB showed a good repigmentation ( score 3 ) . CONCLUSIONS It appears that 308-nm MEL is more effective than NB-UVB in treating vitiligo lesions and it induces repigmentation more rapidly BACKGROUND / PURPOSE Narrow-b and ultraviolet B ( NB-UVB ) is considered the most effective and safe initial treatment for moderate-to-severe vitiligo but phototoxicity and possible carcinogenicity are the reported side effects . Ultraviolet A1 ( UVA1 ) phototherapy has overlapping biological effects to NB-UVB and is relatively free of side effects associated with other phototherapy regimens . METHODS Forty patients with vitiligo were included in this prospect i ve , r and omized controlled comparative clinical trial . Twenty patients received NB-UVB and 20 received UVA1 three times weekly for 12 weeks . The UVA1 group was divided into two subgroups . Ten patients received moderate and 10 received low dose of UVA1 . Serum sample s were collected before and after 36 sessions to assess soluble interleukin 2 receptor level . Patients were clinical ly evaluated before therapy then monthly according to Vitiligo Area Scoring Index ( VASI ) and Vitiligo European Task Force ( VETF ) scores . In addition , extent of response was determined by a blinded dermatologist comparing before and after therapy photographs . Pattern of response and side effects were recorded . RESULTS NB-UVB was superior to UVA1 with a significant difference in blinded dermatological assessment ( P<0.001 ) , percentage change in VASI score ( P<0.001 ) and percentage change in VETF area score ( P=0.001 ) . No significant difference in side effects was observed between both groups . Comparing UVA1 subgroups , better response in moderate-dose group was found as regard to percentage change in VASI ( P<0.001 ) and percentage change in VETF area score ( P=0.001 ) , while no significant difference was found in blinded dermatological assessment ( P=0.121 ) . CONCLUSION NB-UVB phototherapy remains to be an effective and safe therapeutic option in vitiligo . Response to UVA1 in vitiligo seems to be dose dependent and seems to be of limited value in treatment of vitiligo as a monotherapy . Further studies combining it with other lines of therapy such as systemic steroids may prove beneficial BACKGROUND Several modalities of treatment have been tried in vitiligo with varied results ; however , Indian data on comparative studies of two or more therapies are limited . AIMS We compared different phototherapy methods with an oral steroid as an adjunct to determine the method with the best tolerability and efficacy . METHODS Eighty-six patients with progressive vitiligo were r and omly assigned to 
    Output:
    
CONCLUSION NB-UVB showed equivalent efficacies to UVA , PUVA or 308-nm EL control in the treatment of vitiligo .
Side effects of NB-UVB were acceptable .