RESUMEN
Infections caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), commonly called herpes simplex labialis (HSL), are a public health problem, reaching around 40% of the world's population. Thus, the search for effective therapeutic alternatives in the control of the limitations caused by this virus during the stages of evolution of the disease, is necessary, since they have a direct impact on the quality of life of the patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of the in situ film precursor semisolid composition in the treatment of herpes simplex lesions in human HSV-1. Ninety-eight (n = 98) patients with HSV-1 were used for this study. The initial exclusion criteria left 81 patients to be considered in the present study. Three applications were performed, the first at time zero (T0) and the other two at 8 and 16 hours, after initial application (T8 and T16). Photographs were taken in the first appointment and 24 and 72 hours after the last application. After the three periods, each patient received a total amount of 90 mg of anesthetic and the prognosis of the patients was followed for 6 months and 1 year after the application. Frequency analysis showed that 40.3% of patients had remission of symptoms 24 hours after the last application. For the present study, the film presented a positive therapeutic potential and an esthetic benefit that is absent in the current products (ointments and gels). The invent presents dosage convenience (only three applications in a 24-hour period) and a low production cost, with a much shorter healing time than that reported using topical antiretrovirals.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a pilocarpine spray as a treatment for xerostomia in patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC). METHODS: This was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover clinical trial of patients complaining of dry mouth after RT for HNC. Forty patients were randomly assigned to either placebo or pilocarpine (1.54%) spray and instructed to use three times a day for 3 months. After 1-month washout period, patients were crossed over to receive placebo or pilocarpine. The assessments were salivary flow (Stimulated Whole Saliva Flow - SWSF), xerostomia (Xerostomia Inventory - XI), and quality of life (QoL/Oral Health Impact Profile - OHIP-14), assessed at baseline, 1 hr (only SWSF), and at 1, 2, and 3 months of treatment. RESULTS: Posttreatment SWFS was not statistically different between pilocarpine and placebo regardless of the treatment sequence (paired T test; p > .05), except for the SWFS rates at 2 months after therapy. When comparing pilocarpine with placebo in the time points, there was no significant difference (p > .05) for QoL or XI. Significant differences in improvement in QoL and xerostomia experience appeared along time for pilocarpine group. CONCLUSION: The topical application of pilocarpine spray tested was similar to placebo on SWSF assessments in patients treated with RT for HNC.
