Radiotherapy Symptoms in Head and Neck Cancer Patients in Northeast Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To describe the symptoms of radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients and the time of initial onset of those. Material and Methods: All ethical precepts were followed, and the present study was approved by CEP number 92772318.8.0000.5546. The data collection in 41 head and neck cancer patients were performed by applying a questionnaire adapted by the researchers based on the EORTC QLQ-H & N35 protocol. The questionnaire consisted of 19 closed questions focusing on the adverse effects ofradiotherapy. Results: Most participants were male, with laryngeal cancer being the one with the highest incidence. Among the deleterious symptoms, the ones with more occurrence were weight loss, xerostomia, dysphagia and use of catheters. They appeared at the beginning of treatment, between the 6th and 10th session of radiotherapy. Symptoms such as social/family difficulties and oral communication had been present since the beginning of the treatment, extending to those who had completed the therapeutic procedure. Conclusion: Adverse symptoms are common in patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer, and mostly include aspects related to the eating process with involvement at the beginning of the treatment.

The profile of the adolescent worker within the scope of professional learning

“…programa em 2019 foi de apenas R$ 6,29 milhões. No ano seguinte até 2022, sua execução financeira encontrava-se zerada (Oliveira;Viana, 2022).…”

Recent Developments and Challenges for Nanoscale Formulation of Botanical Pesticides for Use in Sustainable Agriculture

“…As emphasized above, the encapsulation of botanical pesticides in nano-and microstructured systems has emerged as an important tool to improve quality of the formulations, increase persistence of the active agent(s) in the field, and also improve their stability. 5,8 Consequently, commercial companies have been seeking to market nanotechnology-based formulations of botanical pesticides. However, the number of formulations based on these technologies is still lower than those that use the botanical substance(s).…”

“…The advances achieved have also contributed to improving food security, based on sustainable agriculture. 5 Although botanical pesticides cannot entirely replace the use of synthetic ones at present, they are already contributing significantly to reducing the problems caused by the excessive use of synthetic pesticides. Nanotechnology-derived formulations provide further improvements in bioefficacy, stability of the active agent(s) against early degradation by external factors such as light, humidity, temperature, and others.…”

“…4 In 2014, we published a review concerning the applications of nanotechnology for encapsulation of botanical pesticides for use in sustainable agriculture. 5 Other groups have since published on this topic. 6,7 Sahayaraj et al 8 published a review outlining the potential of using nanotechnology for formulation of botanical pesticides.…”

“…This is largely due to the inherent characteristics of botanical materials, which generally degrade and therefore have a lower potential for long-term negative impacts on the environment and nontarget organisms. 5 Encapsulation of these substances using nanostructured systems offers the further possibility for developing novel formulations with potentially enhanced properties and field performance. Such systems can be produced using different types of matrices (Figure 2), which may be of synthetic or natural origins and have desirable properties, such as biocompatibility and bioavailability.…”