Outcomes of a head and neck cancer screening clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an institutional experience conducting an annual free head and neck (H&N) cancer screening clinic. Specific aims included: (1) identifying factors predicting which individuals will have findings suspicious for malignancy; and (2) evaluating potential barriers to subsequent follow-up among patients with suspicious findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study involved individuals presenting to an annual H&N cancer screening clinic (2001-2012). Original screening clinic data and electronic medical records were reviewed. Descriptive and comparative statistics were utilized in order to address the study aims. RESULTS: Of 1573 participants, 325 (21%) had abnormal findings on screening, of which 183 (12%) had findings suspicious for cancer. No demographic factors predicted a suspicion for cancer. The presence of patient-reported symptoms (16% vs. 8%; p<0.001) were significantly associated with a suspicion for cancer. Only 20% of individuals with a suspicion for cancer returned to our institution for recommended follow-up. Patients who did not complain of symptoms were less likely to return for follow-up (2% vs. 36%; p<0.001). Of the patients who returned for follow-up evaluation, malignancies were diagnosed in three patients. CONCLUSION: Few individuals presenting to a H&N cancer screening clinic will have a malignancy detected, and barriers may influence patients' likelihood to present for subsequent evaluation. Due to self-selection among patients presenting for screening, traditional risk factors may not be associated with the likelihood of detecting a suspicion for H&N cancer. Head and neck cancer screening clinics should thus target patients at high risk, and attempt to ensure appropriate follow-up thereafter.

Method development for Lawsone estimation in Trichup herbal hair powder by high-performance thin layer chromatography.

A simple, specific, accurate, precise and robust high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method has been developed and validated for estimation of Lawsone in Trichup herbal hair powder (coded as a THHP), polyherbal formulation. The chromatographic development was carried out on aluminum plates pre-coated with silica gel 60F254 and good resolution was achieved with Toluene: Ethyl acetate: Glacial acetic acid (8:1:1 v/v/v) as mobile phase. Lawsone detection was carried out densitometrically at 277 nm and obtained retardation factor value was 0.46 ± 0.02. The method was validated with respect to specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness. The calibration curve was achieved to be linear over a range of 5-60 µg/ml and regression coefficient was obtained 0.998. Accuracy of chromatographic method was evaluated by standard addition method; recovery was obtained 99.25 ± 0.61%. The peak purity of Lawsone was achieved 0.999 r. Relative standard deviation for intraday and inter-day precision was 0.37-0.56% and 0.42-0.55%, respectively. The limit of detection and limit of quantification of the Lawsone were found to be 1.08 µg/m land 3.28 µg/ml, respectively. This result shows that the method was well validated. In the present study, the Lawsone content was found 0.322 ± 0.014% in THHP. This study reveals that the proposed high performance thin layer chromatography method is accurate, fast and cost- effective for routine estimation of Lawsone in polyherbal formulation.

Preparation and characterization of spray-dried mucoadhesive microspheres of aceclofenac.

OBJECTIVE: Microencapsulation of the anti-inflammatory drug aceclofenac (ACE) was investigated as a means of controlling drug release and minimizing or eliminating local side effects. METHOD: Microspheres were prepared by a spray-drying technique using solutions of ACE and three polymers, namely, carbopol, chitosan, and polycarbophil, in different weight ratios. RESULTS: The spray-dried mucoadhesive microspheres were characterized in terms of shape (scanning electron microscope), size (6.60-8.40 mum), production yield (34.10-55.62%), and encapsulation efficiency (58.14-90.57%). In vitro release studies were performed in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) up to 10 hours. The spray-drying process of solutions of ACE with polymeric blends can give prolonged drug release. The in vitro release data were well fit into Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas model and followed Fickian diffusion mechanism. In vivo data showed that the administration of ACE in polymeric microspheres prevented the gastric side effects. CONCLUSION: The formulations here described can be proposed for the oral administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with minimal side effects on gastric mucosa.

Renoprotective effect of Hemidesmus indicus, a herbal drug used in gentamicin-induced renal toxicity.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Owing to the global trend towards improved 'quality of life', there is considerable evidence of an increase in demand for medicinal plants. The WHO guidelines define basic criteria for the standardization of herbal medicines. The present work is an effort in this direction to prove the safety and efficacy of Hemidesmus indicus Linn. in the management of nephrotoxicity induced by aminoglycosides such as gentamicin. METHODS AND RESULTS: Simple, quality control methods using high performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) phytochemical fingerprint, proximate analysis, and the stability of the H. indicus root powder were developed. From the toxicity study using albino Swiss mice, it was observed that the drug (H. indicus) was relatively safe up to 7 g/kg bodyweight dose. Efficacy was evaluated against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in albino Wister rats. The study examined animals from the following groups: no treatment, gentamicin treated, gentamicin treated recovery, and gentamicin and plant treated. Animals from all groups were killed on day 13 of the study; those from gentamicin treated group were killed on the seventh day. Assessment of the drug efficacy drug was conducted by using haematological and histological examination. CONCLUSION: The treatment with H. indicus helped in the management of renal impairment, which was induced by gentamicin in rats. This is evident from the results obtained for various kidney function tests for gentamicin, along with the results from the plant treated group, and is in comparison with the results found for the gentamicin recovery group. A histological examination of kidneys also supports the findings from haematological evaluations. The plant shows promise as an adjunct therapy along side aminoglycosides as it reduces nephrotoxicity caused by aminoglycosides.