INTRODUCTION: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has the highest mortality rates among all carcinomas and is the most common head and neck cancer. Several natural compounds and micronutrients have been under investigation for their efficacy in head and neck cancer chemoprevention. Green tea contains various cancer preventive catechins that have a role in preventing cancer recurrence in various organs in humans. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol, is one of the most investigated biomolecules from Mother Nature. Curcumin has been shown to exert significant growth inhibitory effect on oral precancerous and carcinoma cell lines, and the effect is synergistic with epigallocatechin gallate, the most abundant polyphenol in tea. OBJECTIVES: To assess the chemopreventive effects of green tea and curcumin through induction of hamster buccal pouch carcinoma by using an apoptotic marker and compare their effect each alone and in combination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Squamous cell carcinoma was chemically induced in fifty Syrian golden hamsters divided into 5 groups (10 each). The first group was used as normal control group. The second group received the carcinogenic agent only. The other three groups received green tea, curcumin and combination of both, respectively. RESULTS: Normal control group (A) revealed neither pathological nor inflammatory changes in the buccal pouch with 1.72% of the cells underwent apoptosis while the cells of positive control group (B) resulted in 11.57% apoptosis. In the study groups, treatment of the cells with green tea (C), curcumin (D) and both of them (E) resulted in 82.22 %, 78.91%, 96.63% apoptosis respectively. The fluorescent image by confocal laser scanning in group B showed increase of the red fluorescence in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the squamous cell carcinoma cells indicating high proliferating cells while the fluorescent image of group C, D and E showed decrease of the red florescence in the nuclei of the squamous cell carcinoma cells indicating low proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Green tea and curcumin have a significant chemopreventive effect against oral carcinogenesis and the combination of both agents has a better effect.

Introduction Chemoprevention refers to using specific substances during oncogenesis. Curcumin and catechins are both polyphenol types of phytochemicals present in curcuma longa and green tea. The effect of curcumin is synergistic with epigallocatechin gallate, the most abundant polyphenol in tea. Aim To evaluate and compares the chemopreventive effect of both green tea and curcumin (each individually and in combination) through induction of hamster buccal pouch carcinoma. Materials and methods Squamous cell carcinoma was chemically induced in fifty Syrian golden hamsters divided into 5 groups (10 each). The first group was used as a normal control group. The second group received the carcinogenic agent only. The other three groups received green tea, curcumin, and a combination of both, respectively. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemical assays were used to evaluate apoptosis, proliferation, and angiogenesis. ANOVA test was used to analyze the results between the study groups. Results The cells of the positive control group (B) resulted in 11.57% apoptosis. In the study groups, treatment of the cells with green tea (C), and curcumin (D) and both of them (E) showed increased apoptosis. The fluorescent image in group B showed an increase of the red fluorescence in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the squamous cell carcinoma cells while groups C, D, and E showed a decrease of the red fluorescence in the nuclei of the squamous cell carcinoma cells. The microvessel density was higher in the positive control group as compared to the treated groups. Conclusions The combination of green tea and curcumin has a significant chemopreventive effect against oral carcinogenesis.

Introduction: Chemoprevention refers to using specific substances during oncogenesis. Curcumin and catechins are both a polyphenol type of phytochemicals presents in curcuma longa and green tea. The effect of curcumin is synergistic with epigallocatechin gallate, the most abundant polyphenol in tea. Aim: To evaluates and compares the chemopreventive effect of both green tea and curcumin (each individually and in combination) through induction of hamster buccal pouch carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Squamous cell carcinoma was chemically induced in fifty Syrian golden hamsters divided into 5 groups (10 each). Results: The cells of positive control group (B) resulted in 11.57% apoptosis. In the study groups, treatment of the cells with green tea (C), curcumin (D) and both of them (E) showed increase apoptosis. The fluorescent image in group B showed increase of the red fluorescence in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the squamous cell carcinoma cells while in group C, D and E showed decrease of the red fluorescence in the nuclei of the squamous cell carcinoma cells. The microvessel density was higher in the positive control group as compared to the treated groups. Conclusions: The combination of green tea and curcumin has a significant chemopreventive effect against oral carcinogenesis.

Background Severe COVID-19 disease is typically associated with an urgent need for supplemental oxygen therapy that may be successfully delivered through conventional methods or require invasive mechanical ventilation. Early prediction of the need for invasive mechanical ventilation could significantly improve outcomes of COVID-19 patients. Plasma levels of D-dimer and a number of inflammatory markers as well as values of complete blood counts, all measured in the first two days of hospital admission of COVID-19 patients, were evaluated for their significance as predictors of the eventual need for invasive mechanical ventilation support as well as their values as predictors of post-ventilation morbidly and mortality. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single center and included data pertaining to 200 patients with previously confirmed moderate to severe COVID-19 disease in the period between May 2021 and the end of December 2022. Data were retrieved from medical records for further analysis. Results The mean (SD) age of patients stood at 59 (14) years of age, and with a majority of patients being male (77%). About 18% of cases, all of significantly older age, had been connected to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Total leucocytic count (TLC), as well as levels of urea, creatinine, D-dimer, ferritin, and CRP in IMV patients were significantly higher than non-ventilated patients (p < 0.01 for all). In contrast, lymphocytic count, hemoglobin level, and platelet count were significantly lower in IMV patients (p < 0.001, 0.04, and 0.002, respectively). The mortality rate was significantly higher in IMV patients (p < 0.001). D-dimer independently predicted IMV demand (OR = 1, p = 0.001 in adjusted and unadjusted models). The utility of D-dimer was excellent; and the cutoff level of above 1415 µ/L showed sensitivity and specificity of about 92% and 76%, respectively. Also, the D-dimer level was very effective in predicting post-IMV survival; the AUC = 0.86, p = 0.02, and a cutoff value below 4558 µ/L was associated with 100% and 66% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Conclusions High D-dimer levels independently correlated with the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. Low levels of this marker could evidently predict post-IMV survival of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients. Measuring D-dimer levels during routine follow up of those patients would thus be useful in predicting patient outcomes.