Zinc in various therapeutic doses was used on patients suffering from oral mucositis during cancer treatment. A meta-analysis was conducted to probe the role of oral zinc as a possible treatment option for oral mucositis. A literature search was done using PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane, MedLine, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate and Google Scholar with key words. The analysis was directed to recognize and identify the use of zinc supplementations at a confidence interval (CI) 95% with p value significance taken as ,0.05. A total number of 21,428 articles was retrieved. After thorough screening and assessment of the eligibility criteria, 10 articles were included in qualitative and quantitative analysis in the study. The 10 articles constituted a total sample size of 299 in the case group and 294 in the control group. Oral zinc doses used were 25 mg, 30 mg, 50 mg and 220 mg capsules and mouthwash of 0.2% zinc, as well as 0.5 g of granules dissolved in 5% sodium alginate solution. Two studies showed no significance, with the overall effect 1.61. Eight studies favored zinc over a placebo with an overall effect size of 20.89 at 95% CI of 21.08 and 20.70 which was statistically significant (Z59.27, p,0.00001). This analysis suggests that zinc usage has shown significant reduction in the severity of oral mucositis but not prevention. The onset of the reaction was delayed and hastened healing. Pharyngeal mucositis, pain and quality of life of the individuals received no effect from zinc therapy.
Background: Cancer of the uterine cervix is preventable and early detection is key to its cure. Screening methods for cervical cancer are available, however, the centres offering to screen are inadequate. The main obstacle for the success of screening efforts in women is the lack of awareness, hence a stigma about the screening procedure and the disease, not just in rural areas but also in a large group of the urban and semi-urban population. The purpose of this manuscript is to share our experiences during health camps conducted for screening women for cervical cancer, strategies adopted, leading to better compliance and complete evaluation in these women. Design and Methods: Health camps were organized for women's screening and we observed a steady improvement in their participation over a period of time, at rural and peri-urban areas close to the Hyderabad. Creating awareness, training para-medical staff, involving local voluntary bodies for conducting Pap testing and HPV subtyping, gave us optimal leads to manage these patients appropriately and recommend a suitable follow-up. Results and Conclusion: Taking a lead from studies like this and others, conducting national screening programs along with counselling for awareness of such tests and their implications to maintain good health, the burden of cervical cancer can be reduced in India.
A 40-year-old female patient presented with history of diminished vision & bowel bladder incontinence for ten days. She also had a history of altered sensorium for two days. There was no history of trauma, seizure, loss of consciousness or fever. No past history of neurological tumours or tumours elsewhere. Patient was conscious and incoherent with a Glasgow coma scale score of 14 (E4V4M6). Bilateral pupils were reactive to light, and her vitals were stable. Higher mental functions were not elicited. Motor system, reflexes, sensory system, cerebellum, meningeal signs examinations were normal. She had a wide based gait. Examination of the optic nerve showed bilateral finger counting. All other cranial nerves were normal. Fundus examination showed bilateral pallor of optic disc. Routine blood investigations done were within normal limits and viral markers were negative. CT Brain (Plain) showed dilatation of supra tentorial ventricular system with normal 4 th ventricle suggestive of obstructive hydrocephalus and an evidence of an ill-defined hyperdense lesion (2.5 x 2.1 cms) in the pineal gland region. MRI Brain (plain) showed heterogenous mass lesion (2.7 x 2.7 x 3.7 cms) in pineal region compressing the posterior part of 3 rd ventricle with dilated supra tentorial ventricular system (Obstructive hydrocephalus) suggestive of malignant pineal tumour. A diagnosis of Pineal gland tumour was made.
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