A novel, multi-active emollient for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients: a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of a novel, multi-active emollient in preventing and managing acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) in breast cancer patients undergoing moderate hypofractionated (HF) radiotherapy (RT) compared to standard of care. METHODSA: A monocentric, open-label, randomized clinical trial (RCT) with breast cancer patients receiving moderate HF (dose: 40.05-55.86 Gy, fractions: 15-21) was conducted between January 2022 and May 2023. The experimental group received the novel emollient, while the control group received the standard skin care. Patients applied the skin care products twice daily during the complete RT course. The primary outcome was the severity of ARD at the final RT session measured by the modified Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria. Secondary outcomes included patient symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and treatment satisfaction. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients with 50 patients per group were enrolled. In the control group, 50% of the patients developed RTOG grade 1 ARD and 48% grade 2 or higher, while in the experimental group, the severity of ARD was significantly lower with 82% grade 1 and 16% grade 2 ARD (P = .013, χ2-test). The frequency and severity of xerosis were significantly lower in the experimental compared to the control group (Ps ≤ .036, Mann Whiney U test). The impact of ARD on the QoL was low, and treatment satisfaction was high in both groups, with no significant difference. CONCLUSION: This RCT shows that the novel, multi-active emollient significantly reduced the ARD RTOG grade. Research in a more diverse patient population is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04929808 (11/06/2021).

Sustainable Process for the Preparation of High-Performance Thin-Film Composite Membranes using Ionic Liquids as the Reaction Medium.

A new form of interfacial polymerization to synthesize thin-film composite membranes realizes a more sustainable membrane preparation and improved nanofiltration performance. By introducing an ionic liquid (IL) as the organic reaction phase, the extremely different physicochemical properties to those of commonly used organic solvents influenced the top-layer formation in several beneficial ways. In addition to the elimination of hazardous solvents in the preparation, the m-phenylenediamine (MPD) concentration could be reduced 20-fold, and the use of surfactants and catalysts became redundant. Together with the more complete recycling of the organic phase in the water/IL system, these factors resulted in a 50 % decrease in the mass intensity of the top-layer formation. Moreover, a much thinner top layer with a high ethanol permeance of 0.61 L m(-2) h(-1) bar(-1) [99 % Rose Bengal (RB, 1017 Da) retention; 1 bar=0.1 MPa] was formed without the use of any additives. This EtOH permeance is 555 and 161 % higher than that for the conventional interfacial polymerization (without and with additives, respectively). In reverse osmosis, high NaCl retentions of 97 % could be obtained. Finally, the remarkable decrease in the membrane surface roughness indicates the potential for reduced fouling with this new type of membrane.