Mucositis-Induced Pain due to Barrier Dysfunction may have a Direct Effect on Nutritional Status and Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE To maintain the barrier function against mucositis-induced pain and to improve the nutritional status and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients during radiotherapy. METHODS All patients (n=30) used oral gel to reduce mucositis-induced pain. Patients were examined weekly for the severity of mucositis, pain and nutritional status. The quality of life parameters was measured at the beginning and at the end of treatment. There was no restriction for pain killers against mucositis. RESULTS The only significant factor affecting the severity and frequency of mucositis was the cumulative radiation dose (p<0.001). Despite the regular use of oral gel, weight loss was observed in 65% of the patients. There was no difference concerning the severity of mucositis, cumulative radiation doses, or mean dose of oral mucosa between patients with no risk or at risk, according to SGA. However, self-assessment pain scores were significantly better in the well-nourished group (p=0.05 vs. 0.015) with better scores for dry mouth (p=0.043), social eating (p=0.006), swallowing difficulties (p=0.001) and communication (p=0.049). CONCLUSION Supporting the barrier function alone does not help to reduce the severity and frequency of mucositis, nor the oral pain in high doses. Mucositis-induced pain may have a direct effect on malnutrition risk and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients. Powerful strategies are required to manage pain due to mucositis during curative radiotherapy

Thyroid abscess due to Eikenella corrodens in a pediatric patient

Eikenella corrodens is one of the HACEK bacteria that is commensal microorganism of the oropharngeal flora. E. corrodens has been increasingly reported to cause pyogenic abscesses, especially in diabetic or immunocompromised adults. It is less frequently reported in immunocompotent children. Here, we report a deep neck infection, including the thyroid gland, in a previously healthy girl. E. corrodens was the only microorganism isolated in two different cultures. Antibiotic susceptibility is variable, in contrast to other oropharyngeal pathogens. Thus, to avoid delayed treatment, E. corrodens should always be considered in infections of the head and neck area

Mucositis-Induced Pain due to Barrier Dysfunction may have a Direct Effect on Nutritional Status and Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Radiotherapy

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The Impact of Timing of Fixed Dose Triple Antihypertensive Combinations on Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Parameters

Introduction: Re-establishing “dipping” physiology significantly reduces cardiovascular events. The aim was to investigate the effect of timing of fixed dose triple antihypertensive combinations on blood pressure (BP) control. Methods: One hundred sixteen consecutive patients (62.7 ± 10.7 years, 38 men) with grade II hypertension were randomized into four groups. Group 1 and Group 2 patients were given angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor-based triple antihypertensive pills to be taken in the morning or evening, respectively while Group 3 and Group 4 patients were given angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) based triple antihypertensive pills to be taken in the morning or evening, respectively. All patients underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring 1 month after the initiation of treatment. Results: There were not any significant differences in the characteristics, BP values and loads among groups. All patients in each group had good BP control. Dipping pattern in systolic BP was observed significantly less in Group 3 patients taking ARB in the morning (3 patients) compared to other groups (12 patients) in each group, [P =.025]. Similarly, dipping pattern in diastolic BP was observed significantly less in Group 3 patients (4 patients) compared to others (13 patients) in Group 1 and 15 patients in Group 2 and Group 4, [P =.008]. Nondipping pattern was significantly associated with taking ARB in the morning, even when adjusted by age, sex, and other comorbidities. Conclusion: Fixed dose triple antihypertensive drug combinations enable good BP control regardless of the timing of drug while ARB-based ones may be taken in the evening to ensure dipping physiology

Systolic and Diastolic Cardiac Functions in Juvenile Spondyloarthropathies

Background/Objective Juvenile spondyloarthropathies (JSpAs) are a group of inflammatory diseases characterized by asymmetric peripheral arthritis (especially in lower extremities), axial skeleton involvement, and enthesitis. Although cardiovascular findings of inflammatory diseases such as juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and juvenile scleroderma (SD) are well documented, there are only a few studies assessing the cardiovascular consequences of JSpA in the literature. Methods Forty patients with JSpA and 20 healthy controls were included into this cross-sectional study. Cardiac functions of the participants were evaluated by conventional echocardiography and pulse-wave (PW) tissue Doppler. Results The patients with JSpA had higher mitral lateral S (p = 0.005) and E' wave (p < 0.001), tricuspid A' wave (p = 0.03), ejection fraction (p = 0.03) and shortening fraction (p = 0.01) than the control patients. In contrast, the patients with JSpA had lower left ventricle MPI (p = 0.01) and the ratio of tricuspid E'/A' waves (p = 0.05). Patients with enthesitis detected on magnetic resonance imaging had lower ejection fraction (p = 0.05), the ratio of E/A waves (p = 0.03) and had higher Mitral lateral A' wave (p = 0.01) than those without. There was a significant inverse correlation between the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and PW transmitral A velocity (r = -0.256, p = 0.03), the BASDAI score and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (r = -0.301, p = 0.04), the BASDAI score and the ratio of E/E' waves (r = -0.276, p = 0.02), and the Juvenile Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Index and PW transmitral A velocity (r = -0.246, p = 0.04). Conclusions In this study, we report the possible early signs of RV diastolic dysfunction and possible association between magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed enthesitis and lower LV systolic functions. Early identification of cardiac dysfunctions can help with prevention of long-term cardiovascular complications

Comparisons of Clinical Features and Outcomes of COVID-19 between Patients with Pediatric Onset Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases and Healthy Children

(1) Background: We aimed to describe the clinical features and outcomes of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in children and late adolescents with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) and to measure their severity risks by comparing them with healthy children. (2) Methods: Among children and late adolescents found to be severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, IRD patients with an at least six-months follow-up duration, and healthy children were included in the study. Data were obtained retrospectively. (3) Results: A total of 658 (339 (51.5%) females) (healthy children: 506, IRD patients: 152) subjects were included in the study. While 570 of 658 (86.6%) experienced COVID-19-related symptoms, only 21 (3.19%) required hospitalization with a median duration of 5 (1&ndash;30) days. Fever, dry cough, and fatigue were the most common symptoms. None of evaluated subjects died, and all recovered without any significant sequelae. The presence of any IRD was found to increase the risk of both hospitalization (OR: 5.205; 95% CI: 2.003&ndash;13.524) and symptomatic infection (OR: 2.579; 95% CI: 1.068&ndash;6.228). Furthermore, increasing age was significantly associated with symptomatic infection (OR: 1.051; 95% CI: 1.009&ndash;1.095). (4) Conclusions: Our study emphasizes that pediatric rheumatologists should monitor their patients closely for relatively poor COVID-19 outcomes

Comparisons of Clinical Features and Outcomes of COVID-19 between Patients with Pediatric Onset Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases and Healthy Children

(1) Background: We aimed to describe the clinical features and outcomes of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in children and late adolescents with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) and to measure their severity risks by comparing them with healthy children. (2) Methods: Among children and late adolescents found to be severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, IRD patients with an at least six-months follow-up duration, and healthy children were included in the study. Data were obtained retrospectively. (3) Results: A total of 658 (339 (51.5%) females) (healthy children: 506, IRD patients: 152) subjects were included in the study. While 570 of 658 (86.6%) experienced COVID-19-related symptoms, only 21 (3.19%) required hospitalization with a median duration of 5 (1-30) days. Fever, dry cough, and fatigue were the most common symptoms. None of evaluated subjects died, and all recovered without any significant sequelae. The presence of any IRD was found to increase the risk of both hospitalization (OR: 5.205; 95% CI: 2.003-13.524) and symptomatic infection (OR: 2.579; 95% CI: 1.068-6.228). Furthermore, increasing age was significantly associated with symptomatic infection (OR: 1.051; 95% CI: 1.009-1.095). (4) Conclusions: Our study emphasizes that pediatric rheumatologists should monitor their patients closely for relatively poor COVID-19 outcomes