Effectiveness of curcumin mouthwash on radiation-induced oral mucositis among head and neck cancer patients: A triple-blind, pilot randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Radiation-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) is considered the most severe non-haematological complication affecting almost every head and neck cancer patient during the course of radiotherapy (RT). Curcumin, a herbal agent present in Indian spice 'Turmeric' has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation and wound healing properties. The objective of this pilot randomised controlled clinical trial was to compare the effectiveness and safety of 0.1% curcumin (freshly prepared using nanoparticles) and 0.15% benzydamine mouthwash on RIOM among 74 head and neck cancer patients scheduled to receive RT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Assessment of RIOM was carried out using WHO criteria once in a week for 6 weeks. Both modified intention to treat (MIT) and per protocol (PP) analysis were carried out to test the null hypothesis of equal effectiveness on prevention and severity of RIOM. RESULTS: As far as the onset of RIOM is concerned, MIT analysis showed that the instantaneous risk of getting the onset of RIOM was 50% lower (hazard ratio 0.5) in curcumin. Onset of RIOM was also significantly delayed (mean = 19.56, median = 21) in the test group by 2 weeks. But in 'PP' analysis, no significant difference was observed between two preparations and almost all patients experienced the onset. Both the mouthwashes were equally effective in preventing the occurrence of severe form of RIOM in PP analysis after dichotomisation of severity score (≥3 and ≤2). CONCLUSION: Though both the mouthwashes were not able to completely prevent the onset of RIOM and reduce the severity of RIOM, use of 0.1% curcumin mouthwash was able to significantly delay the onset of RIOM (Clinical trial registration no. CTRI/2018/04/013362).

Natural history of trigeminal neuralgia-A hospital-based retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the natural history of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and pretrigeminal neuralgia (PTN) in a hospital-based sample using a retrospective and descriptive study design. METHODS: This study followed a retrospective study design, which yielded a sample size of 216 patients who were reclassified as per the new classification and diagnostic grading for practice and research proposed by the American Academy of Neurology. Based on an in-depth analysis of patient history and the treatments administered, a possible state of PTN prior to TN development was determined. RESULTS: TN shows a female predilection with predominantly unilateral involvement. A total of 45.83% of patients had left-side involvement with V3 primarily affected. Additionally, 11.11% of patients did not have any clinically apparent trigger zone, while 68.05% had a single trigger zone. Twenty-one patients were found to have suspected PTN prior to TN. The time interval between PTN onset and TN development ranged from 6 months to 6 years. The PTN pain varied, and the clinical overlap between the site of PTN and the site of future TN was 100%. CONCLUSION: An in-depth patient history can serve as a reliable modality for TN diagnosis. PTN should be considered as a differential diagnosis for pain of orofacial origin because of its overlapping features with other painful conditions.

Exploring determinants of care-seeking behaviour of oral cancer patients in India: A qualitative content analysis.

BACKGROUND: A major public health concern in India is the high morbidity and mortality rates of oral cancer because of late diagnosis. Among the several determinants of this late diagnosis, the most important is the healthcare-seeking behaviour of the oral cancer patients. The aim of this study was to explore the care-seeking behaviour and its determinants among oral cancer patients. METHODS: A face-to-face in-depth interview was conducted among 70 oral cancer patients using a semi-structured questionnaire, and qualitative content analysis of the results was performed. RESULTS: All the patients had squamous-cell carcinoma and none had attended any screening programme. The most common site affected was the buccal mucosa with a non-healing wound. Most of the patients contacted a doctor available nearby; only 7% of patients consulted a dentist. Only one patient approached a traditional healer. The median patient delay was 30 (4-365) days and the professional delay was 40 (4-650) days. Enablers included determinants such as increasing symptoms (80%), influence of the society (74%), fear (10%), and social media (3%). The main barriers were lack of awareness (97%), hope that the lesion will heal spontaneously (90%), lack of perception of seriousness (64%), financial constraints (55%), provider switching (47%), and missed diagnosis (44%). CONCLUSION: The care-seeking path among oral cancer patients is complex, customised, and influenced by multiple patient-related and system-related factors.