The combination of traditional and auricular acupuncture to prevent xerostomia and anxiety in irradiated patients with HNSCC: a preventive, parallel, single-blind, 2-arm controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of acupuncture on xerostomia in irradiated patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). STUDY DESIGN: A preventive, 2-arm, parallel, single-blind trial was performed. Patients with HNSCC (N = 296) were checked for eligibility, and 107 patients were enrolled in the study. The study comprised 1 group that did not receive the intervention (n = 55) and the interventional group that received traditional and auricular acupuncture (n = 52). The primary outcome was the reduction of the patients' xerostomia after treatment. In addition, the secondary outcome was the reduction of anxiety. RESULTS: The current acupuncture protocol reduced the xerostomia score and increased saliva volume and density without changing salivary pH. Additionally, acupuncture decreased the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score after radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: Combining traditional and auricular acupuncture reduced xerostomia and increased saliva volume without changing the saliva's pH in irradiated patients with HNSCC. Additionally, the combination of traditional and auricular acupuncture reduced BAI scores.

Local tissue electrical parameters predict oral mucositis in HNSCC patients: A diagnostic accuracy double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Oral Mucositis (OM) is a common adverse effect of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the significance of early changes in tissue electrical parameters (TEPs) in predicting the development of OM in HNSCC patients receiving radiation therapy (RT). The current study combined two study designs. The first was a case-control study. The control group comprised of RT patients who did not receive head and neck RT, and patients with HNSCC who received RT comprised the case group. In the second part of the study, the case group was included in a parallel cohort. A total of 320 patients were assessed for eligibility, and 135 patients were enrolled. Double blinding was performed, and neither the patients nor the care providers knew the measured parameters. The primary outcome was the detection of between-group changes in local TEPs over the follow-up period. The secondary outcome was the appearance of OM grades II, III, or IV and the predictive value of local TEPs in determining the incidence of OM after RT. The variables, impedance module, resistance, reactance, phase angle, and capacitance, were analyzed by the receiver operator curves (ROC). The case and control groups did not differ in demographic and clinical characteristics. Radiation therapy increased the local impedance module, resistance, reactance, and phase angle and reduced the local tissue capacitance in both groups. Evaluation of TEPs in the first week of RT correlated with the development of OM lesions during cancer therapy. ROC analysis showed that local impedance module and resistance presented higher specificity than did other parameters in predicting OM. In conclusion, local tissue electrical parameters measured at the first RT week can be useful tools to predict oral mucositis.

Conhecendo a aderência das mulheres ao exame de câncer de colo de útero / Conociendo la fidelidad de las mujeres al examen de cáncer de cuello de útero / Recognizing the loyalty by women to cervical cancer screening

Introdução: Dentre os tipos de câncer, o cervico-uterino é o que apresenta um dos mais elevados potenciais para prevenção e cura. Métodos: O estudo trata-se de um ensaio comunitário que envolve a intervenção em nível de comunidades, ao invés de indivíduos isolados, sendo usado para avaliar a eficácia e efetividade de intervenções. Objetivo: Este estudo tem como objetivo relacionar os motivos da não adesão ao exame preventivo de câncer de colo de útero e verificar o nível de conhecimento prévio e posterior às palestras. Resultados: Dentre os principais motivos pelos quais as mulheres envolvidas nesse estudo relataram não realizar o exame preventivo regularmente estão o medo do exame, a vergonha de realizar o exame e o desconhecimento de informações. Conclusão: Ainda percebe-se certa resistência na realização dos exames de prevenção do câncer cervico-uterino, sendo esse um grande desafio para as equipes de Estratégias de Saúde da Família

Introducción: Entre los tipos de cáncer, el cáncer cervical es uno del más alto potencial para la prevención y la curación. Métodos: El estudio es una prueba comunitaria que involucra la intervención a nivel de las comunidades, en lugar de individuos aislados, siendo utilizado para evaluar la eficacia y la efectividad de las intervenciones. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio es relacionar las razones para la no-fidelidad al examen preventivo para el cáncer de cuello uterino y comprobar el nivel de conocimiento previo y posterior a las conferencias. Resultados: Entre las principales razones aportadas por las mujeres que participaron en este estudio, se destaca el miedo como causa principal de no realizar el examen preventivo regular. También la vergüenza de realizar el examen y, además, la falta de información. Conclusión: Existe cierta resistencia en la realización de los exámenes para la prevención del cáncer cervico-uterino, siendo este un gran reto para los equipos de la Estrategia de Salud de la Familia

Introduction: Among the types of cancer, cervical cancer is one of the highest potential for prevention and cure. Methods: The study is a community test that involves the intervention at the level of communities, instead of isolated individuals, being used to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions. Objective: The objective of this study is to relate the reasons for non-loyalty to preventive exam for cancer of the cervix and check the level of prior knowledge and later the lectures. Results: Among the main reasons why women involved in this study reported not to perform the preventive exam regularly are the fear of examination, the shame of performing the examination and the lack of information. Conclusion: Although there is some resistance in the carrying out of examinations for the prevention of cervical-uterine cancer, this being a great challenge for the teams of the Family Health Strategies