High-potency sucralfate prevents and rapidly reverses chemo-radiation mucositis in a patient with stage 4b head and neck cancer

AIM:To study usefulness of high-potency sucralfate(HPS)in a patient with chemoradiation mucositis and discuss its mechanism of action.METHODS:HPS,a non-covalently cross-link of sucralfate,cations and bidentate anionic chelators,has a maintains a surface concentration of sucralfate 3 h following administration that is 7-23 fold that possible with standard-potency sucralfate.The accelerated mucosal healing and pain alleviation of HPS in patients with erosive esophageal reflux,prompted its use in this patient with chemoradiation mucositis of the oropharynx and alimentary tract.A literature-based review of the immuno-modulatory effects of sucralfate is discussed.RESULTS:Within 48 h of intervention:(1)there was complete disappearance of oral mucositis lesions;tenderness with(2)patient-reported disappearance of pain,nausea and diarrhea;patient required(3)no opiate analgesia and(4)no tube-feeding supplements to regular diet.Dysgeusia and xerostomia persisted.A modified Naranjo Questionnaire score of 10 supported the likelihood that HPS intervention caused the observed clinical effects.No adverse reactions noted.CONCLUSION:In this patient HPS was useful to treat chemo-radiation mucositis of the oropharynx and alimentary tract.HPS may directly or indirectly facilitate an immunomodulatory mechanism involving accelerated growth factor activation,which may be a new target for therapeutic intervention in such patients.

Cervical Cancer Screening, Adherence to and Challenges of Follow-Up in Resources Poor Setting

Background: Organized cervical cancer screening program has contributed to the reduction in incidence of cervical cancer in developed countries. Follow up, to ensure adherence to regular screenings, still poses challenges in poor resource settings. Objective: This study aims at determining the cervical cancer screening uptake, adherence to follow up instructions and interval cervical cancer screening and intervention to improve adherence through personalized reminders (phone calls and text messages). Methods: This was a prospective study of clients screened for cervical cancer at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu from January 2012 to December 2016. The participants were studied for adherence to interval follow-up screening. Eligible participants were followed up using phone calls and text messages and the outcome noted. The data was analysed using statistical software for social sciences (SPSS) version 17. Results: The mean age and parity of 1146 participants screened for cervical intra-epithelial abnormalities within the study period was 44.18 ± 11.08 years and 3.78 ± 2.08 respectively. Most of the subjects (91.8%) screened negative to squamous intra-epithelial lesion (SIL) or malignancy, 8.2% (94/1146) had various grades of SIL. Thirty-five (37%), 29 (31%), 16 (17%) and 14 (15%) of the 94 SIL positive cases had atypical cells of unknown significance (ASCUS), low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion (LGSIL), high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion (HGSIL) and cervical carcinoma respectively. Adherence to instructions for repeat cytology was only 37.7% while that for 3 yearly interval rescreening was 17.5%. Phone calls and messages to clients improved adherence to appreciable extent. Conclusion: Adherence to interval and follow-up screening for cervical cancer was low. The use of phone calls and short message services (SMS) to remind clients of screening appointments increased adherence and should be employed in developing countries.