apigenin and Acute-Disease

There is no widely accepted intervention in the prevention of acute mucositis during chemoradiotherapy for head and neck carcinoma. In the present double-blind study, we tested 4 natural agents, propolis, aloe vera, calendula, and chamomile versus placebo.. Patients undergoing concomitant chemo-intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) were given natural agent or matched placebo; grade 3 mucositis on physical examination according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 3.0 was the primary endpoint. Various covariates were tested at logistic regression, including the individual amount of mucosa receiving at least 9.5 Gy per week (V9.5w).. One hundred seven patients were randomized from January 2011 to July 2014, and 104 were assessable (51%-49% were assigned to the placebo group and 53%-51% were assigned to the natural agent). Overall, 61 patients developed peak grade 3 mucositis with no difference between arms (P = .65). Conversely, V9.5w (P = .007) and primary site (P = .037) were independent predictors.. The selected natural agents do not prevent mucositis, whereas the role of V9.5w is confirmed.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Aloe; Calendula; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Chamomile; Chemoradiotherapy; Double-Blind Method; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Phytotherapy; Placebos; Plant Extracts; Primary Prevention; Propolis; Reference Values; Stomatitis; Treatment Outcome

A 20-year-old woman with a proven allergy to camomile suffered from short-lasting rhinitis when using a camomile-scented toilet paper. The prick-by-prick test performed with the toilet paper was positive. Diagnosis was confirmed by a challenge test that also resulted positive. This is the first reported case of toilet-paper-induced acute rhinitis. The removal of the toilet paper from the bathroom was sufficient to obtain the disappearance of symptoms. Patients allergic to camomile should avoid a camomile-scented toilet paper.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Allergens; Chamomile; Female; Humans; Paper; Perfume; Plant Extracts; Radioallergosorbent Test; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Rhinitis; Skin Tests