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To characterize oral sites affected by radiation-induced oral mucositis (OM) and related clinical outcomes in oral cancer patients subjected to prophylactic photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT). This study included advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients treated with prophylactic PBMT for OM. The site distribution of OM, OM grading (CTCAE NCI, Version 4.0, 2010), OM-related pain (VAS), analgesic protocol (WHO Analgesic Ladder), and use of enteral nutrition were evaluated weekly during treatment. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics expressed as median values and percentages. A total of 145 OSCC patients were included. OM most frequently affected the lateral border of the tongue (44.1%), buccal mucosa (37.2%), and labial mucosa (33.8%). Keratinized oral mucosa sites, including the tongue dorsum (6.21%), retromolar trigone (8.3%), and hard palate (2.76%), were less frequently affected. Peak OM scores were observed at weeks 5, 6, and 7, with severe OM (NCI grades 3 and 4) rates of 11%, 20%, and 25%, respectively. The cumulative occurrence of severe OM was 23%, which developed as early as week 3 and as late as week 7. The highest mean value of OM-related pain (2.7) was observed at the sixth week, and 13.8% of the patients required feeding support. This study showed, compared with studies that did not provide PBMT, reduced severity of mucositis, reduced pain and analgesic use, and reduced tube feeding in patients treated with PBMT. OM involving keratinized and non-keratinized surfaces should be included in the prophylactic PBMT to reduce severe OM in future studies.

There is little information about the presence of human adenovirus (HAdV) in drinking water in Neotropical regions. Thus, the present study sought to conduct quantification and molecular characterization of HAdVs detected in treated water samples from an area of the Cerrado ecoregion of Brazil. Between August and November 2012, samples were collected from four treated water reservoirs and their respective sites along the water distribution network of the city of Goiânia, for a total of 80 samples. All samples were concentrated and analyzed by qPCR, and selected samples were sequenced. Overall, 76.6 (10(0)-10(9) GC mL(-1)) and 37.5% (10(1)-10(8) GC mL(-1)) of samples drawn from reservoirs and their distribution sites, respectively, were positive for virus by qPCR. All samples selected for sequencing were characterized as species C human adenovirus. Such high HAdV counts have in treated water samples. This finding merits special attention, particularly from the sanitation authorities, because the high number of GC mL(-1) may be an indicative of risk to human health.