Early application of Global Subjective Evaluation Produced by the Patient and survival in patients with cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: malnutrition is a frequent event in cancer, and unless identified early, it can lead to progressive functional impairment of the organism. Objective: to associate the early application of the Global Subjective Evaluation Produced by the Patient (GSEPP) to the time of hospitalization and death in cancer patients. Methods: a cross-sectional, analytical study carried out between July and September 2014 in patient records (> 20 years) with cancer, with hospitalization for more than three days in a reference cancer hospital. Age, sex, origin, disease location, antineoplastic treatment, length of stay and application of GSEPP, type of discharge, weight loss in one and six months, body mass index (BMI) and GSEPP score were collected. Results: three hundred and sixty-six patients were evaluated: 51.6% women, 54.9% adults, 27.6% tumors of the digestive tract, 11.5% with metastasis, 21.9% of deaths and 40.4% with hospitalization time greater than or equal to ten days. The length of hospital stay was statistically lower in the early application of GSEPP (11.4 ± 1.5 vs 23.3 ± 1.3 days). The delay in the application of GSEPP was positively correlated with the increase in length of hospital stay, the GSEPP score, as well as malnutrition by BMI and weight loss in one and six months. Conclusion: early application of GSEPP was associated with improvements in the parameters of malnutrition, shorter hospitalization time, but not mortality. Measures that abbreviate its application should be taken to awaken the importance and the impact of this instrument in the health of the evaluated patient.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: la desnutrición es un acontecimiento frecuente en el cáncer. Si no se identifica precozmente puede provocar el compromiso funcional progresivo del organismo. Objetivo: asociar la aplicación precoz de la Evaluación Subjetiva Global Producida por el Paciente (ASGPPP) al tiempo de internación y muerte en pacientes con cáncer. Métodos: estudio transversal, analítico, realizado entre julio y septiembre de 2014 en historiales de pacientes (> 20 años) con cáncer, con ingreso superior a tres días en un hospital de referencia en cáncer. Se recogieron los siguientes datos: edad, sexo, procedencia, localización de la enfermedad, tratamiento antineoplásico, tiempo de internación y de aplicación de la ASGPPP, tipo de alta, pérdida de peso al mes y seis meses, índice de masa corporal (IMC) y puntaje de la ASGPPP. Resultados: trescientos sesenta y seis pacientes: el 51,6% mujeres, el 54,9% adultos, el 27,6% con tumores del tracto digestivo, el 11,5% con metástasis, con un 21,9% de óbitos y un 40,4% de casos con tiempo de internación mayor o igual a diez días. El tiempo de ingreso fue estadísticamente menor en la aplicación precoz de la ASGPPP (11,4 ± 1.5 vs. 23,3 ± 1,3 días). La demora en la aplicación de la ASGPPP se correlacionó positivamente con el aumento del tiempo de internación, la puntuación de la ASGPPP, así como, la desnutrición medida mediante por IMC y la pérdida de peso al mes y a los seis meses. Conclusión: la aplicación precoz de la ASGPPP se asoció con mejoras de los parámetros de desnutrición y menor tiempo de internación, pero no con la mortalidad. Se deben tomar medidas que abrevien su aplicación para reforzar la importancia y el impacto de este instrumento en el pronóstico del paciente evaluado.

Association between oral DNA-HPV and genital DNA-HPV.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases worldwide and is observed in both men and women. The presence of the virus is often associated with benign and malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity. We wished to investigate whether HPV infection in the genitalia was associated with HPV infection in the oral mucosa. METHODS: The prevalence of HPV in the oral cavity and genitalia was evaluated by DNA extraction from genital and oral cavity samples of 105 women, followed by nested PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HPV in the oral cavity was significantly higher in women who had genital HPV (P < 0.0001). Oral sex, alcohol, and tobacco consumption were not associated with the oral HPV infection.

The effect of iron on Streptococcus mutans biofilm and on enamel demineralization

Iron (Fe) may have an anticaries effect by specific inhibition of glycosyltransferase (GTF) enzymes of Streptococcus mutans, but this hypothesis has not yet been clarified. In this study, S. mutans biofilms were formed on blocks of bovine dental enamel of a predetermined surface hardness (SH). These biofilms were exposed eight times/day to 10% sucrose, and two times/day they were subjected to one of the following treatments: G1, 0.9% NaCl as a negative control; G2, 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) as a positive antibacterial control; G3, 0.05% NaF (225 ppm F) as a positive anticaries control; G4, G5, and G6, ferrous sulfate (Fe2+) at concentrations of 1.0, 10.0, and 100.0 µg Fe/mL, respectively. The experiment was performed in triplicate and was repeated three times (n = 9). The pH of the culture medium was determined every 24 h as an indicator of the biofilm's acidogenicity. The biofilm formed on each block was collected for determination of the viable bacteria and concentration of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). Enamel SH was again determined and the percentage of SH loss (%SHL) was calculated as an indicator of demineralization. Iron treatment reduced the number of viable bacteria formed in the S. mutans biofilm (p = 0.04), in a dose-dependent manner, and also reduced the enamel's %SHL (p = 0.005). At 100 µg/mL, Fe reduced enamel demineralization as effectively as CHX and NaF (p < 0.05), but it did not inhibit EPS production. In conclusion, the data suggest that the anticaries mechanism of action of Fe may not involve the oxidative inhibition of GTFs.

The effect of iron on Streptococcus mutans biofilm and on enamel demineralization.

Iron (Fe) may have an anticaries effect by specific inhibition of glycosyltransferase (GTF) enzymes of Streptococcus mutans, but this hypothesis has not yet been clarified. In this study, S. mutans biofilms were formed on blocks of bovine dental enamel of a predetermined surface hardness (SH). These biofilms were exposed eight times/day to 10% sucrose, and two times/day they were subjected to one of the following treatments: G1, 0.9% NaCl as a negative control; G2, 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) as a positive antibacterial control; G3, 0.05% NaF (225 ppm F) as a positive anticaries control; G4, G5, and G6, ferrous sulfate (Fe2+) at concentrations of 1.0, 10.0, and 100.0 µg Fe/mL, respectively. The experiment was performed in triplicate and was repeated three times (n = 9). The pH of the culture medium was determined every 24 h as an indicator of the biofilm's acidogenicity. The biofilm formed on each block was collected for determination of the viable bacteria and concentration of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). Enamel SH was again determined and the percentage of SH loss (%SHL) was calculated as an indicator of demineralization. Iron treatment reduced the number of viable bacteria formed in the S. mutans biofilm (p = 0.04), in a dose-dependent manner, and also reduced the enamel's %SHL (p = 0.005). At 100 µg/mL, Fe reduced enamel demineralization as effectively as CHX and NaF (p < 0.05), but it did not inhibit EPS production. In conclusion, the data suggest that the anticaries mechanism of action of Fe may not involve the oxidative inhibition of GTFs.