Background: The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) is a parameter of nutritional and inflammation status related to toxicity in cancer treatment. Since data for head and neck cancer are scanty, this study aims to investigate the association between PNI and acute and late toxicity for this malignancy. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 179 head and neck cancer patients treated with definitive radiotherapy with induction/concurrent chemotherapy was followed-up (median follow-up: 38 months) for toxicity and vital status between 2010 and 2017. PNI was calculated according to Onodera formula and low/high PNI levels were defined according to median value. Odds ratio (OR) for acute toxicity were calculated through logistic regression model; hazard ratios (HR) for late toxicity and survival were calculated through the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: median PNI was 50.0 (interquartile range: 45.5–53.5). Low PNI was associated with higher risk of weight loss > 10% during treatment (OR = 4.84, 95% CI: 1.73–13.53 for PNI < 50 versus PNI ≥ 50), which was in turn significantly associated with worse overall survival, and higher risk of late mucositis (HR = 1.84; 95% CI:1.09–3.12). PNI predicts acute weight loss >10% and late mucositis. Conclusions: PNI could help clinicians to identify patients undergoing radiotherapy who are at high risk of acute and late toxicity.

For the vestibular system, aging is associated with degenerated otoconia and loss of hair cells, vestibular afferents, and cells in the vestibular nuclei. Further neurodegenerative processes involve cortical, extrapyramidal motor, and cerebellar structures. Dizziness is quite common in the elderly, limiting their mobility and activities. The role of vestibular rehabilitation in these patients is controversial. The present prospective, randomized, preliminary investigation aimed to compare the effect of a 6-week posturography-assisted vestibular rehabilitation protocol (30 min a week) combined with a home-based exercise program (group A, 14 randomly assigned elderly patients) with the same home-based exercise program alone (group B, 14 randomly assigned elderly patients) for treating dizziness due to central vestibular dysfunction in elderly patients. The outcomes were analyzed using the 25-item Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and computerized posturography. After rehabilitation, group A scored significantly better in the DHI for the functional (p = 0.0016) and emotional (p = 0.01) domains and total score (p = 0.001); only the emotional domain improved significantly in group B (p = 0.038). Group A improved significantly in some posturographic parameters in the motor tests (reaction time, movement velocity, and endpoint excursion), while group B experienced more limited improvements. Our preliminary results with a program of posturography-assisted vestibular rehabilitation, and home-based exercises are more promising than with home-based exercises alone. A new study on a larger series of elderly patients with central vestibular dysfunctions is currently underway at Padova University, considering the effect of a protocol involving rehabilitation with computerized posturography alone and the relationship between outcomes and the duration of rehabilitation programs.