Following a procedure of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) as part of their cancer treatment, patients tend to suffer from oral mucositis – tissue swelling and irritation that may lead to mouth ulcers, inflammation, or, in extreme cases, inability to swallow.
In lieu of the standard cryotherapy with ice cubes, the team employed ice cream in a bid to fight off the side effect notorious for impairing the patient’s quality of life.
As the study showed, the use of commercially available ice cream yields a lower rate and severity of oral mucositis.
The research was carried out by a group of haematologists comprising both young and experienced researchers, including professor Wiesław Jędrzejczak, who is world-renowned for performing Poland's first bone-marrow transplant.
For winning the Ig Nobel, the scientists were awarded 10trn Zimbabwean dollars, which are no longer a recgonised legal tender.
Held by the Annals of Improbable Research magazine, the Ig Nobel Awards are intended to “honour achievements that first make people laugh, then make them think.”
(pjm)
Source: Nature, PAP
