Introduction: Persistent throat symptoms (PTS) are indicators for over 60 000 new patient referrals to NHS secondary care annually. PTS have been attributed to manifestation of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) with the hypothesis that gastric refluxate damages and irritates the mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract. Symptoms of PTS and GORD are commonly treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or alginates are often, incorrectly, advocated. The Trial of PPIs in Throat Symptoms trial definitively demonstrated that lansoprazole is no more effective than placebo in treating symptoms of PTS, indicating that empirical PPI treatment for PTS should be discouraged. The impact of this is an anticipated increase in prescriptions of alginates for PTS, however, there is a lack of evidence of the efficacy of alginates in treating this condition. Trial of alginates in throat symptoms aims to compare symptomatic response of the symptoms of PTS in liquid alginate (Gaviscon Advance) in comparison to a near matched placebo over an 8-week period to provide definitive evidence of the use of alginates in treating PTS.
Methods And Analysis: This is a multicentre, pragmatic, double blind, parallel, randomised controlled trial. 250 adults with PTS will be recruited from NHS secondary care sites and randomised to either liquid alginate (Gaviscon Advance) or near matched placebo in a 1:1 ratio. The primary objective is to compare the symptomatic response in patients with PTS to liquid alginate (Gaviscon Advance) compared with placebo using the outcome measure of total Reflux Symptom Index questionnaire score at 8 weeks.
Ethics And Dissemination: Favourable ethical opinion was received from the East Midlands-Leicester South Research Ethics Committee (reference: 22/EM/0205). All participants will provide informed consent prior to any trial specific activity taking place. Results will be disseminated in peer reviewed publications, at national and international conferences, in peer reviewed journals and to participants and the public (using lay language).
Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN13949559.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-087729 | DOI Listing |
Front Immunol
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Department of Otolaryngology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Background: There is no consensus regarding the optimal regimen for metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (dmNPC). Locoregional intensity modulated radiotherapy (LRRT) following palliative chemotherapy (PCT) has been shown to prolong the overall survival (OS) and improve the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with dmNPC, compared with PCT alone. However, patients with a high tumor burden do not benefit from additional LRRT, which inevitably results in toxicity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGastroenterol Res Pract
January 2025
Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had a major impact on the health of people worldwide, including the pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) patients. As no study has investigated the susceptibility and disease course of COVID-19 in PIBD patients after the end of zero-COVID policy in China, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in our center. A cross-sectional survey enrolling PIBD patients has been completed by online survey, phone, and face-to-face assessment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Ophthalmol
January 2025
Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4950, Nydalen, Oslo 0424, Norway.
Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder affecting millions worldwide. Inflammation plays a central role in DED. The aim of this review is to critically evaluate the literature concerning the efficacy and safety of lifitegrast, a small molecule immunomodulator that blocks the action of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEar Nose Throat J
January 2025
Department of Otolaryngology, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA.
Cutaneous involvement of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is rare but has been previously documented to involve the head and neck region. Generally, involvement to the ears is limited to the ear lobule; however, this study presents a unique case of recurrent CLL with cutaneous involvement overlying the auricular ear. The presentation was initially concerning for possible perichondritis but remained unresponsive to antibiotics and steroids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStrahlenther Onkol
January 2025
Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building A1, 48149, Muenster, Germany.
Purpose: While glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults, extracerebral manifestations are very rare in this highly aggressive disease with poor prognosis.
Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review in the PubMed database and complemented the data by inclusion of a case treated in our clinic. In this context, we report on a 60-year-old woman with a right frontal glioblastoma, IDH wildtype, MGMT methylated.
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