calendula and Acute-Disease

Acute radiation dermatitis is a common side-effect of radiotherapy which often necessitates interruption of the therapy. Currently, there is no general consensus about its prevention or about the treatment of choice. The goal of this work was to focus on optimal methods to prevent and manage acute skin reactions related to radiation therapy and to determine if there are specific topical or oral agents for the prevention of this acute skin reaction. The prevention and the early treatment are the two focus points of the management of the acute radiation dermatitis.

Topics: Acute Disease; Administration, Cutaneous; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Baths; Calendula; Combined Modality Therapy; Debridement; Dermatologic Agents; ErbB Receptors; Ethanolamines; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Radiodermatitis; Radiotherapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

To review published studies evaluating interventions for the prevention and management of radiation skin reactions/dermatitis.. Research studies, review articles, and clinical practice guidelines.. There is insufficient evidence in the literature to recommend specific topical or oral agents in the prevention or management of skin reactions. Recent limited evidence suggests that the use of calendula cream may reduce the incidence of grade 2 and 3 reactions in women with breast cancer. Additionally, early studies evaluating the use of barrier films or creams may improve moist desquamation.. Oncology nurses need to increase their awareness of the evidence or lack of evidence when recommending interventions to their patients. Further research is required to evaluate interventions in the prevention and management of radiation dermatitis.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Administration, Cutaneous; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Bandages; Calendula; Dermatologic Agents; Emollients; Emulsions; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Lipids; Neoplasms; Nursing Assessment; Ointments; Oncology Nursing; Phytotherapy; Radiation Oncology; Radiodermatitis; Severity of Illness Index; Skin; Skin Care; Skin Physiological Phenomena; Sucralfate

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

The effectiveness of nonsteroid topical agents for the prevention of acute dermatitis during adjuvant radiotherapy for breast carcinoma has not been demonstrated. The goal of this study was to compare the effectiveness of calendula (Pommade au Calendula par Digestion; Boiron Ltd, Levallois-Perret, France) with that of trolamine (Biafine; Genmedix Ltd, France), which is considered in many institutions to be the reference topical agent.. Between July 1999 and June 2001, 254 patients who had been operated on for breast cancer and who were to receive postoperative radiation therapy were randomly allocated to application of either trolamine (128 patients) or calendula (126 patients) on the irradiated fields after each session. The primary end point was the occurrence of acute dermatitis of grade 2 or higher. Prognostic factors, including treatment modalities and patient characteristics, were also investigated. Secondary end points were the occurrence of pain, the quantity of topical agent used, and patient satisfaction.. The occurrence of acute dermatitis of grade 2 or higher was significantly lower (41% v 63%; P <.001) with the use of calendula than with trolamine. Moreover, patients receiving calendula had less frequent interruption of radiotherapy and significantly reduced radiation-induced pain. Calendula was considered to be more difficult to apply, but self-assessed satisfaction was greater. Body mass index and adjuvant chemotherapy before radiotherapy after lumpectomy were significant prognostic factors for acute dermatitis.. Calendula is highly effective for the prevention of acute dermatitis of grade 2 or higher and should be proposed for patients undergoing postoperative irradiation for breast cancer.

Topics: Acute Disease; Administration, Topical; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Calendula; Combined Modality Therapy; Ethanolamines; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Ointments; Plant Extracts; Radiation Injuries; Radiodermatitis; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant

Flower extract of C. officinalis L. was evaluated for its protective effect against CCl4 induced acute hepatotoxicity and cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity. The activities of serum marker enzymes of liver injury like glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) which were increased by CCl4 injection was found to be significantly reduced by the pretreatment of the flower extract at 100 and 250 mg/kg body weight. The lipid peroxidation in liver, the marker of membrane damage and the total bilirubin content in serum were also found to be at significantly low level in the extract pretreated group, indicating its protective role. The kidney function markers like urea and creatinine were significantly increased in cisplatin treated animals. However, their levels were found to be lowered in the extract pretreated groups (100 and 250 mg/kg body weight). Moreover, cisplatin induced myelosuppression was ameliorated by the extract pretreatment. Treatment with the extract produced enhancement of antioxidant enzymes--superoxide dismutase and catalase and glutathione. Results suggest a protective role of the flower extract of C. officinalis against CCl4 induced acute hepatotoxicity and cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity. Extract has been found to contain several carotenoids of which lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene predominates. Possible mechanism of action of the flower extract may be due to its antioxidant activity and reduction of oxygen radicals.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Antioxidants; Calendula; Carbon Tetrachloride; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Cisplatin; Female; Flowers; Kidney Diseases; Kidney Function Tests; Lipid Peroxidation; Liver Function Tests; Mice; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Treatment Outcome