Coconut Oil as a Novel Approach to Managing Radiation-Induced Xerostomia: A Primary Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Xerostomia is a common complication following radiation therapy for head and neck cancer (HNC), for which there is no single, universally accepted therapy. Coconut oil has been anecdotally suggested to provide relief for this complication. This study sought to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of coconut oil as a therapy for radiation-induced xerostomia. METHODS: A feasibility study was performed among 30 patients with xerostomia subsequent to radiation for HNC. Coconut oil samples were provided along with a protocol for use over a 2-week period and the option to continue if they found it beneficial. Patients were also instructed to keep diaries to document their patterns of use. The Xerostomia-related Quality of Life Scale (XeQOLS) was administered at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Descriptive methods were used to summarize patterns of coconut oil use and paired t-tests were used to assess changes in XeQOLS scores over time. RESULTS: The mean total duration of coconut oil use during the study period was 16 days (1-71). The average number of uses per day was 3 (1-5), with an average amount per use of 5 mL (1.2-8.5). Twelve patients (41.4%) continued coconut oil use beyond the advised period. There was no statistically significant difference in XeQOLS scores pre- and post-treatment. There were no adverse events during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The use of coconut oil as a treatment strategy for xerostomia post-HNC radiation is feasible, inexpensive, and safe. This study demonstrates that there may be a group of HNC patients that benefit from its use.

Interfacility patient transfers in Lebanon-A culture-changing initiative to improve patient safety and outcomes.

Organizing interfacility transfers is an essential component of regionalized care to improve patient outcomes. This study examines transfer characteristics after establishing a transfer center in a tertiary care center in Beirut Lebanon, and identifies predictors of success in patient transfers.This retrospective observational chart review examined all transfer center requests to and from the tertiary care center over a 4-year period (2013-2017). Descriptive analysis was done, followed by a bivariate analysis comparing transfers based on final decision (accepted yes/no) and by a multivariate logistic regression to identify predictors of successful transfers.A total of 4100 transfer requests were analyzed. Incoming transfer requests were more common than outgoing requests (56.5% vs 43.4%) and were mainly for adult patients (71.0% incoming and 78.7% outgoing). Reasons of transfers were mostly medical (99.4%) for incoming transfers and financial (73.1%) and medical (17.9%) for outgoing transfers. Requested level of care was most commonly intensive care unit for incoming transfers (61.6%) and regular floor for outgoing transfers (48.6%). Outgoing transfers were more successful than incoming transfers (59.9% vs 39.6%). Predictors of success in patient transfers within the healthcare system were identified: These included specific types of financial coverage, diagnoses, levels of care, and medical services for incoming transfers in addition to age groups and receiving hospital location for outgoing transfers.Transfer centers can be implemented successfully in any healthcare system to improve patient care and safety. Identifying facilitators and barriers to successful transfers can help healthcare administrators and policymakers address gaps in the system and improve access to care.

Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Stage at Presentation of Laryngeal Cancer in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Identify socioeconomic predictors of stage at diagnosis of laryngeal cancer in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries' Incidence Data-Cancers in North America Deluxe Analytic File for expanded races. SETTING: All centers reporting to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Program of Cancer Registries. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All cases of laryngeal cancer in adult patients from 2005 to 2013 were reviewed. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to evaluate odd ratios (ORs) for socioeconomic indicators potentially predictive of advancing American Joint Committee on Cancer stage at diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 72,472 patients were identified and included. Analysis revealed significant correlation between advanced stage at diagnosis and: Medicaid insurance, lack of insurance, female sex, older age, black race, and certain states of residence. The strongest predictor of advanced stage was lack of insurance (OR, 2.212; P < .001; 95% CI, 2.035-2.406). The strongest protective factor was residing in the state of Utah (OR, 0.571; P < .001; 95% CI, 0.536-0.609). Once adjusted for regional price and wage disparities, relative income was not a significant predictor of stage at presentation across multiple analyses. CONCLUSION: Multiple socioeconomic factors were predictive of severity of disease at presentation of laryngeal cancer in the United States. This study demonstrated that insurance type was strongly predictive, whereas relative income had surprisingly little influence.

Does Socioeconomic Status Affect Stage at Presentation for Larynx Cancer in Canada's Universal Health Care System?

OBJECTIVE: Diagnosis of laryngeal cancer is dependent on awareness that persistent hoarseness needs to be investigated as well as access to an otolaryngologist. This study aimed to better classify and understand 3 factors that may lead to variability in stage at presentation of laryngeal cancer: (1) socioeconomic status (SES), (2) differences in access to health care by location of residence (rural vs urban or by province), and (3) access to an otolaryngologist (by otolaryngologists per capita). STUDY DESIGN: Registry-based multicenter cohort analysis. SETTING: This was a national study across Canada, a country with a single-payer, universal health care system. SUBJECTS: All persons 18 years or older who were diagnosed with laryngeal cancer from 2005 to 2013 inclusive were extracted from the Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR). METHODS: Ordered logistic regression was used to determine the effect of income, age, sex, province of residence, and rural vs urban residence on stage at presentation. RESULTS: A total of 1550 cases were included (1280 males and 265 females). The stage at presentation was earlier in the highest income quintile (quintile 5) compared to the lower income quintiles (quintiles 1-4) (odds ratio [OR], 0.68; P < .05). There was a statistically significant difference in stage at presentation based on rural or urban residence within the highest income quintile (OR, 1.73; P < .005). CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between SES and stage at presentation for laryngeal cancer even in the Canadian universal health care system.

Immediate versus delayed reconstruction of head and neck cutaneous melanoma.

OBJECTIVE: Controversy exists regarding the surgical management of cutaneous melanoma and the optimal timing of reconstruction. One approach to ensuring an oncologically sound outcome is a two-stage procedure, with reconstruction delayed for negative permanent section margins. Alternatively, a single-stage excision with immediate reconstruction is advantageous because it limits both resource use and patient morbidity from multiple procedures. We sought to examine available published data on the oncologic outcomes associated with immediate versus delayed reconstruction of cutaneous melanoma in the head and neck region. METHODS: We performed a systematic review using EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, and PubMed. We examined all English-language studies reporting oncologic outcomes (positive margins and/or local recurrence rates) of single-stage or delayed reconstruction of cutaneous melanoma in the head and neck region. Our primary outcomes of interest were rates of positive margins requiring re-excision and rates of local recurrence. A total of 1,557 studies were screened by three independent reviewers. RESULTS: Nine studies met inclusion criteria for final analysis. Two of the nine studies directly compared immediate versus delayed reconstruction and demonstrated lower rates of positive margins in the immediate reconstruction group (odds ratio 3.7, [95% CI 0. 79-17. 34]). CONCLUSION: There are a paucity of studies directly comparing oncologic outcomes associated with immediate versus delayed reconstruction following excision of head and neck cutaneous melanoma. Based on a limited amount of heterogeneous data, single-stage excision with immediate reconstruction may be an oncologically sound alternative to delayed reconstruction for head and neck cutaneous melanoma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3a. Laryngoscope, 2566-2572, 2018.

PTH monitoring after total parathyroidectomy with forearm auto-transplantation: potential for spuriously high levels from grafted forearm.

BACKGROUND: We have identified a cause of falsely elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels after total parathyroidectomy with forearm auto-transplantation (TPT-ATx). Our cases highlight the need to draw PTH samples remotely, away from forearm graft sites, to ensure accurate levels. CASE PRESENTATIONS: We report on four patients who were referred to our surgical team at an academic tertiary care center for what was perceived to be recurrent hyperparathyroidism 2-5 years following total parathyroidectomy with auto-transplantation. Further evaluation revealed highly discrepant results in these patients depending on where the blood was drawn, with spuriously high levels in blood drawn from the grafted arm (Range 337-3885 ng/l), and much lower levels when blood was drawn remotely away from the graft site (Range 9-242 ng/l). The difference in PTH level between the grafted forearm and remote site for these patients ranged between 328 and 3643 ng/l. Over the period these cases were accrued (2008-2012), 89 patients underwent TPT-ATx in our institution. Therefore, our case report series suggests that this phenomenon will be evident to a clinically important extent in at least 4% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: One can acquire spuriously high PTH levels from grafted forearms, leading to the false diagnosis of recurrent hyperparathyroidism. We recommend PTH levels be drawn remotely from graft sites to ensure accurate systemic levels are reflected.

Cholinergics, airway eosinophils and asthma exacerbation in the elderly.

Cholinomimetic agents have a number of potential indications in an ageing population. This case series emphasises the need to exercise caution while prescribing cholinergic drugs in elderly patients with asthma, particularly in patients with a history of virus-induced exacerbations and airway eosinophilia.