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Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Dentoxol mouthrinse in reducing the severity of oral mucositis (OM) secondary to radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase II clinical trial was conducted. Subjects were asked to use Dentoxol (n = 55) or control (n = 53) mouthrinse 5 times/day during RT. Twice a week, OM was assessed clinically using the WHO scale and the Oral Mucositis Daily Questionnaire (OMDQ) was completed. Results The incidence of severe OM was 40.7% in the Dentoxol group and 51% in the control group (p = 0.265). Comparing all recorded clinical assessments, severe OM was seen in 13.3% of all assessments in the Dentoxol group vs. 21.8% in the control group (p = 0.000). There was a statistically significant lower proportion of assessments showing severe OM in the Dentoxol group at weeks 4, 5, and 6 of RT. The mean duration of severe OM was 11.95 days in the Dentoxol group vs. 14.59 days in the control group (p = 0.502). There was no difference between groups in mouth pain and its impact on function. The use of Dentoxol was safe and was not linked to any serious adverse events. Conclusion The use of Dentoxol 5 times/day is safe and resulted in significantly fewer time-points with severe OM and a delay in the onset of severe OM, compared with a control rinse. A phase III clinical trial is warranted to confirm efficacy and address the limitations of this study.

Treatment of spine bone metastases with stereotactic radio-therapy (SBRT) may produce greater pain relief than palliative radiotherapy.To evaluate the analgesic response to SBRT.A search was made in an electronic database of all patients treated by SBRT in our center. We found 20 patients that were treated with SBRT in the spine on 24 sites (lesions). Analgesic response was evaluated at 3 and 6 months after SBRT. Other factors such as age, sex, functional status, diagnosis, metastasis location, dosimetry and toxicity of the treatment were also described.The median follow-up was 8.1 months. Complete pain relief occurred at three months in 74% of the treated sites. At three months, 78% of the patients presented a functional status 0 (ECOG). The median dose used was 24 Gy in 2 fractions. No cases of G3 or greater toxicity were recorded.The analgesic response to SBRT seems to be better than that reported for palliative radiotherapy.

In mammals, efferent projections to the cochlear receptor are constituted by olivocochlear (OC) fibers that originate in the superior olivary complex. Medial and lateral OC neurons make synapses with outer hair cells and with auditory nerve fibers, respectively. In addition to the OC system, there are also descending projections from the auditory cortex that are directed towards the thalamus, inferior colliculus, cochlear nucleus, and superior olivary complex. Olivocochlear function can be assessed by measuring a brainstem reflex mediated by auditory nerve fibers, cochlear nucleus neurons, and OC fibers. Although it is known that the OC reflex is activated by contralateral acoustic stimulation and produces a suppression of cochlear responses, the influence of cortical descending pathways in the OC reflex is largely unknown. Here, we used auditory cortex electrical microstimulation in chinchillas to study a possible cortical modulation of cochlear and auditory nerve responses to tones in the absence and presence of contralateral noise. We found that cortical microstimulation produces two different peripheral modulations: (i) changes in cochlear sensitivity evidenced by amplitude modulation of cochlear microphonics and auditory nerve compound action potentials and (ii) enhancement or suppression of the OC reflex strength as measured by auditory nerve responses, which depended on the intersubject variability of the OC reflex. Moreover, both corticofugal effects were not correlated, suggesting the presence of two functionally different efferent pathways. These results demonstrate that auditory cortex electrical microstimulation independently modulates the OC reflex strength and cochlear sensitivity.

The Chilean Ministry of Health developed a healthy lifestyles intervention directed to adults with overweight and cardiovascular risk factors, called "Program on Healthy Eating and Physical Activity" (PASAF).To evaluate the impact of PASAF on nutritional status and metabolic parameters.We analyzed databases from three primary care centers belonging to a municipality of Metropolitan Santiago. We selected adults enrolled in the PASAF during three years (2007-2009). The program lasted four months and included an assessment of anthropometric and metabolic parameters at baseline and at the end, eight workshops with a nutritionist, seven with a psychologist and 32 sessions of physical activity.We evaluated 526 subjects aged ≥18 years (93% females), of whom 85.6% attended the last appointment for assessment. Analyzing available data, attendance to workshops was50% of the scheduled sessions. Weight, body mass index and waist circumference decreased significantly (median: -1.4 kg, -0.6 kg/m² and -3 cm, respectively). The median weight loss was 1.8% of initial weight and 17.1% of participants experienced a decrease ≥5% of their initial weight. There were significant improvements in lipid levels and blood pressure among participants with lower initial excess weight. A reduction in fasting blood glucose was observed only among subjects who lost ≥5% of their initial weight.The PASAF modestly reduced nutritional parameters. Correction of metabolic parameters was especially effective in less obese subjects. The attendance to workshops was low.

A significant number of students in health careers do not have the knowledge to approve basic courses. Therefore, educational programs to level off knowledge have been developed.To associate the results of a leveling program with the academic performance in cell biology (CB) and biochemistry (BC) of first year medical students.We applied a test to first year medical students at the beginning and end of the leveling program (control test). The results obtained at the end of the leveling program were correlated with the results obtained in CB and BC.Fifty seven of 89 (64%) first year medical students met the study entry criteria (54% female). Students who completed the leveling program had a significantly higher approval rate in CB (93% versus 75%, P = 0.024), and in BC (95% versus 69%, P = 0.001). After completing the leveling program, the risk of failing CB and BC, decreased by 72 and 84% respectively.This study shows that medical students who participate in the leveling program decrease the chances of failing in CB and BC.