Evaluation of efficacy of aloe vera in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis – a clinical study Effectiveness of Aloe Vera and Antioxidant along with Physiotherapy in the Management of Oral Submucous Fibrosis. Efficacy of aloe vera gel as an adjuvant treatment of oral submucous fibrosis. Comparative Efficacy of Aloe vera and Benzydamine Mouthwashes on Radiation-induced Oral Mucositis: A Triple-blind, Randomised, Controlled Clinical Trial. Phase II double-blind randomized study comparing oral aloe vera versus placebo to prevent radiation-related mucositis in patients with head-and-neck neoplasms. Evaluation of severity scoring systems in ICUs—translation, conversion and definition ambiguities as a source of inter-observer variability in Apache II, SAPS and OSF
BACKGROUND Oral submucous fibrosis is a chronic disease , treatment of which has largely been symptomatic . Aloe vera has immunomodulatory , anti-inflammatory , wound healing , antioxidant , and antineoplastic activities . All such properties of aloe vera suggest the possibility of its use in the management of oral submucous fibrosis . METHODS Seventy-four patients of oral submucous fibrosis were r and omly divided into 2 groups . Group A patients were treated with systemic ( juice ) and topical aloe vera ( gel ) for 3 months . Group B patients were treated with intralesional injection of hydrocortisone and hyaluronidase for 6 weeks with antioxidant supplements for 3 months . Patients were assessed for reduction in burning sensation and increase in mouth opening , cheek flexibility , and tongue protrusion at an interval of 1 , 2 , and 3 months . RESULTS Both the groups showed statistically significant improvements in all the study parameters at the end of study period ( P < 0.001 ) . The clinical response to aloe vera was comparable to that of intralesional injections of hydrocortisone and hyaluronidase with antioxidant supplementation . CONCLUSION The study concludes that aloe vera can be an alternative , safe , and effective treatment regime in the management of oral submucous fibrosis . Long-term follow-up studies with larger sample size are recommended BACKGROUND Oral submucous fibrosis ( OSMF ) is a well-established precancerous condition affecting the oral mucosa . It is a disease that causes significant morbidity ( in terms of loss of mouth function as tissues become rigid and mouth opening becomes difficult ) and mortality ( when transformation into squamous cell carcinoma occurs ) . AIM The aim of the study is to compare the efficacy of Aloe vera with antioxidant when given along with physiotherapy in the management of OSMF . MATERIAL S AND METHODS Forty patients presenting with clinical signs and symptoms of OSMF were included for the study after informed consent . Group A included 20 patients who received Aloe vera gel ( forever living gel ) along with physiotherapy . Group B included 20 patients who received antioxidant capsules twice daily for 3 months along with physiotherapy exercises four times in a day . The following parameters , that is , burning sensation , mouth opening , tongue protrusion and cheek flexibility were recorded at each visit . RESULTS Majority of the participant enrolled were in the age range of 30 to 35 years . Improvement in all the parameters was seen with the individuals receiving Aloe vera gel in comparison to antioxidants . CONCLUSION So , Aloe vera being a soothing , simple and safe mode of treatment along with proper habit restriction can be considered to be an effectual protocol in the management of OSMF . The analgesic effects of Aloe vera with the physiotherapy exercises provide better results in reducing burning sensation and improving mouth opening , tongue protrusion and cheek flexibility in comparison to antioxidants OBJECTIVE Definitive therapy is not defined for the management of oral submucous fibrosis ( OSMF ) . This study evaluated the efficacy of aloe vera gel as an adjuvant treatment of OSMF . STUDY DESIGN A double-blind , placebo-controlled , parallel-group r and omized controlled trial was conducted on 60 subjects with OSMF divided into medicinal treatment ( submucosal injection of hyaluronidase and dexamethasone , n = 30 ) and surgical treatment ( n = 30 ) categories . Each category was r and omly divided into groups A ( with aloe vera , n = 15 per category ) and B ( without aloe vera , n = 15 per category ) . Follow-up assessment for various symptoms was performed , and results were analyzed using paired and unpaired Student t tests . RESULTS The group receiving aloe vera had a significant improvement in most symptoms of OSMF ( P < .01 ) compared with the non-aloe vera group , in both the medicinal and surgical categories . CONCLUSIONS Aloe vera gel was effective as an adjuvant in treatment of OSMF PURPOSE To compare the efficacy of an Aloe vera mouthwash with a benzydamine mouthwash in the alleviation of radiation- induced mucositis in head and neck cancer patients using a triple-blind , r and omised controlled trial . MATERIAL S AND METHODS Twenty-six eligible head and neck cancer patients who were to receive conventional radiation therapy at the radiation oncology department were r and omised to receive an Aloe vera mouthwash or a benzydamine mouthwash .  Mucositis severity was assessed during the course of radiation therapy using the WHO grading system . RESULTS At baseline , there was no difference in the distribution of mucositis severity between the two groups . The mean interval between radiation therapy and onset of mucositis was similar for both groups ( Aloe vera 15.69±7.77 days , benzydamine 15.85±12.96 days ) . The mean interval between the start of radiation therapy and the maximum severity of mucositis were was also similar in both the Aloe vera and benzydamine groups ( Aloe vera 23.38±10.75 days , benzydamine 23.54±15.45 days ) . Mean changes of mucositis severity over time in both groups were statistically similar and the effect of both treatments did not change signficantly with time ( p=0.09 ) . CONCLUSION Aloe vera mouthwash was as beneficial as benzydamine mouthwash in alleviating the severity of radiation-induced mucositis and showed no side effects .  The Aloe vera mouthwash could be an alternative agent in the treatment of radiation-induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancers PURPOSE In a single-institution , double-blind , prospect i ve , r and omized trial , we determined whether oral aloe vera gel can reduce radiation-induced mucositis in head- and -neck cancer patients . METHODS AND MATERIAL S We r and omized 58 head- and -neck cancer patients between oral aloe vera and placebo .  To be included in this Phase II protocol , patients had to be treated with radiotherapy with curative intent at Stanford University between February 1999 and March 2002 . We examined patients biweekly for mucositis at 15 head- and -neck subsites and administered quality -of-life question naires . RESULTS Patients in the aloe and placebo groups were statistically identical in baseline characteristics . By the end of treatment , the two groups were also statistically identical in maximal grade of toxicity , duration of Grade 2 or worse mucositis , quality -of-life scores , percentage of weight loss , use of pain medications , hydration requirement , oral infections , and prolonged radiation breaks . CONCLUSION In our r and omized study , oral aloe vera was not a beneficial adjunct to head- and -neck radiotherapy . The mean quality -of-life scores were greater in the aloe vera group , but the differences were not statistically significant . Oral aloe vera did not improve tolerance to head- and -neck radiotherapy , decrease mucositis , reduce soreness , or otherwise improve patient well-being Objective To explore translation , conversion and definition ambiguities , when using severity scoring systems in patients admitted to intensive care units ( ICUs ) . Design A prospect i ve study of the prognosis of acute renal failure in ICUs . Setting The study was conducted in 20 French ICUs . Patients 360 patients presenting with severe acute renal failure were studied during their ICU stay . Measurements and results The inter-observer variability of Apache II ( acute physiology and chronic health evaluation ) , SAPS ( simplified acute physiology score ) , and OSF ( organ-system failure ) was considered . For Apache II , we explored the uncertainty of measurements arising from conversion into SI units , the rounding procedures used for the non-inclusive intervals defined for quatitative parameters such as age , mean arterial pressure ( MAP ) or serum creatinite , the absence of definition of acute renal failure ( ARF ) and its consequence on doubling serum creatinine values , and the absence of guidelines in the case of spontaneous ventilation when arterial blood gases ( ABG ) and forced inspiratory oxygen ( FIO2 ) were not measured . The result ing variability was evaluated , calculating the lowest and the highest value of the scoring system for each patient . The mean difference by patient was greater than 1.5 ( p<0.0001 ) . Other examples were presented and discussed for SAPS and OSF . Conclusions Translation , conversion and definition ambiguities are a source of inter-observer variability and increase the risk of classification and /or selection biases . This gives rise to particular concern in the design and analysis of multicenter trials or meta- analysis , and improvement of these scoring systems should be envisaged in the future
The results of meta- analysis showed statistically significant differences between aloe vera and control groups in alleviating pain/burning sensation at the end of the first and second month , in favor of aloe vera , but no significant differences were found at the end of the third month .
With regard to objective clinical outcomes , no statistically significant differences were found between the groups .
Aloe vera has a promising effect in reducing pain/burning sensation and clinical improvement in patients with OSF .
The management of oral submucous fibrosis ( OSF ) is quite challenging , and as yet , no effective therapy is available for its management .
The present systematic review and meta- analysis sought to assess the effectiveness of aloe vera in alleviating pain and clinical signs of OSF .