The effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor on radiation dermatitis in rectal and anal cancer patients: a self-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study reported that recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF)-triggered EGFR internalization promoted radioresistance. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of rhEGF on the skin protection of rectal and anal cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-three rectal and anal cancer patients who received radiotherapy were prospectively enrolled from January 2019 to December 2020. To perform self-controlled study, the left and right pelvic skin area (separated by midline) were randomly assigned to the rhEGF and control side. The association between radiation dermatitis and factors including rhEGF, the dose of radiotherapy and tumor distance from anal edge were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 193 enrolled patients, 41 patients (21.2%) did not develop radiation dermatitis, and 152 patients (78.8%) suffered radiation dermatitis on at least one side of pelvic skin at the end of radiotherapy. For the effect on radiation dermatitis grade, rhEGF had improved effect on 6 (4.0%) patients, detrimental effect on 2 (1.3%) patients, and no effect on 144 (94.7%) patients. Whereas for the effect on radiation dermatitis area, rhEGF showed improved effect on the radiation dermatitis area of 46 (30.2%) patients, detrimental effect on 15 (9.9%) patients, and no effect on 91 (59.9%) patients. The radiation dermatitis area of rhEGF side was significantly smaller than that of control side (P = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: rhEGF is a skin protective reagent for rectal and anal cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry identifier: ChiCTR1900020842; Date of registration: 20/01/2019.

Effect of the Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form in Elderly Burn Patients.

Nutritional assessment can early identify patients who are malnourished and at risk of malnutrition. To examine the effect of nutritional status on wound healing in elderly burn patients, we used the Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) to measure the nutritional status of elderly patients. This study aimed to examine the role of MNA-SF in elderly burn patients through the correlation analysis of wound healing indicators and MNA-SF score. This was a prospective observational and cross-sectional study. This study used the MNA-SF to investigate the elderly burn patients at the department of burn. According to the score, the patients fell into three groups: good nutritional status (more than 12 points), malnutrition risk (8-11 points), and malnutrition (0-7 points). At the same time, we measured and compared the wound healing indicators among the three groups of patients, and detected the correlation. The results showed gender had a slight influence on the score of nutritional status, while age was negatively correlated with the MNA-SF score and nutrition-related indicators. There was a low positive linear correlation between the wound healing percent area change or wound healing rate of patients and the score of the MNA-SF. This study finds malnutrition is common among hospitalized elderly burn patients. The application of the MNA-SF in elderly burn patients is efficient and accurate to identify malnutrition early and prevent further obstruction of the normal wound healing, which can provide reference points for early nutrition intervention programs.