American Cancer Society nutrition and physical activity guideline for cancer survivors

The overall 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined is now 68%, and there are over 16.9 million survivors in the United States. Evidence from laboratory and observational studies suggests that factors such as diet, physical activity, and obesity may affect risk for recurrence and overall survival after a cancer diagnosis. The purpose of this American Cancer Society guideline is to provide evidence-based, cancer-specific recommendations for anthropometric parameters, physical activity, diet, and alcohol intake for reducing recurrence and cancer-specific and overall mortality. The audiences for this guideline are health care providers caring for cancer survivors as well as cancer survivors and their families. The guideline is intended to serve as a resource for informing American Cancer Society programs, health policy, and the media. Sources of evidence that form the basis of this guideline are systematic literature reviews, meta-analyses, pooled analyses of cohort studies, and large randomized clinical trials published since 2012. Recommendations for nutrition and physical activity during cancer treatment, informed by current practice, large cancer care organizations, and reviews of other expert bodies, are also presented. To provide additional context for the guidelines, the authors also include information on the relationship between health-related behaviors and comorbidities, long-term sequelae and patient-reported outcomes, and health disparities, with attention to enabling survivors' ability to adhere to recommendations. Approaches to meet survivors' needs are addressed as well as clinical care coordination and resources for nutrition and physical activity counseling after a cancer diagnosis.     

Laparoscopic management of intra-abdominal infections: Systematic review of the literature

AIM: To investigate the role of laparoscopy in diagnosis and treatment of intra abdominal infections.METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed including studies where intra abdominal infections were treated laparoscopically.RESULTS: Early laparoscopic approaches have become the standard surgical technique for treating acute cholecystitis. The laparoscopic appendectomy has been demonstrated to be superior to open surgery in acute appendicitis. In the event of diverticulitis, laparoscopic resections have proven to be safe and effective procedures for experienced laparoscopic surgeons and may be performed without adversely affecting morbidity and mortality rates. However laparoscopic resection has not been accepted by the medical community as the primary treatment of choice. In high-risk patients, laparoscopic approach may be used for exploration or peritoneal lavage and drainage. The successful laparoscopic repair of perforated peptic ulcers for experienced surgeons, is demonstrated to be safe and effective. Regarding small bowel perforations, comparative studies contrasting open and laparoscopic surgeries have not yet been conducted. Successful laparoscopic resections addressing iatrogenic colonic perforation have been reported despite a lack of literature-based evidence supporting such procedures. In post-operative infections, laparoscopic approaches may be useful in preventing diagnostic delay and controlling the source.CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy has a good diagnostic accuracy and enables to better identify the causative pathology; laparoscopy may be recommended for the treatment of many intra-abdominal infections.     

Salivary flow, saliva, pH and buffering capacity in 70-year-old men and women

A representative systematic selection of 30% of all 70-year-olds (1148 persons) in Göteborg were invited to a population study. The participation rate was 85%. Sixteen per cent of the men and 25% of the women reported dryness in the mouth (sex. diff. P<0.01). There was a significant correlation between the number of drugs consumed by the subjects and subjective dryness (in both sexes P<0.001). Intake of drugs from the groups of anticholionergics, antihistamines, sedatives, hypnotics or phenothiazines respectively seemed to have the highest predicative value for dryness in the mouth (men P<0.05 and women P<0.01). There was also a positive correlation between subjective dryness and number of definable diseases in both sexes (P<0.01). In a consecutive sample (fifty-eight men and fifty-three women) a study of salivary flow, direct pH and buffer effect were performed. The mean value of unstimulated salivary secretion was in men 0.25 and in women 0.18ml/min. Corresponding figures for stimulated secretion was 1.65 and 1.04ml/min (sex. diff. P<0.01). A significantly lower unstimulated secretion was noted in women with subjective dryness (P<0.01). A negative significant correlation were found between dental invalidity, according to Eichner's classification, and stimulated secretion when drug treatment had been considered (men P<0.05 and women P<0.01). Only weak relations were noted between salivary secretions and drug treatment. Only intake of drugs with diuretic effect were negatively correlated to stimulated secretion (P<0.01). Diseases of the circulatory system were correlated to subjective dryness (P<0.01).     

An examination of the surface corrosion state of dental fillings and constructions

A group of 115 patients with orofacial complaints has been examined. A new method for intraoral measurement of electrode potentials on the surface of the amalgam fillings and prosthetic constructions has been developed and applied. The possible connections between the measured electrode potentials and patients' saliva properties and their complaints have been discussed. No correlations between measured electrode potentials of the metallic fillings and constructions and important saliva properties could be found. No connections between the measured electrode potentials and the patients' complaints could be proved.