Free Radical Production in the Smoking of E-Cigarettes and their Possible Effects in Human Health.

BACKGROUND: The increase in smoking e-cigarettes with nicotine or only flavoring compounds requires a deep study on consequences on human health. This research aims to study the possible process, to form free radicals or the nuclei's damages with consequent micronuclei's formation. METHODS: The study analyzed three groups: the first one that uses e-cigarettes with nicotine, (e-nicotine), the second flavoured liquid (e-vapor) and third the not-smoking group. We determinated the salivary malondialdehyde (MDA), the total salivary mucins (SM). and in buccal smear cells the micronuclei (MN). We statistically analyzed the results with the Mann-Whitney U Test Calculator. RESULTS: Smoking e-cigarettes e-nicotine or e-vapor produced a great and significative amount of MDA vs control group: p ≤ 0.05. Only those smoking e-nicotine, have a highest and statically significant amount of salivary mucins vs control group: P value 00496. In both smokers groups, the mean of MN scores has a significant difference vs control group P ≤ 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the possible damages of the nuclei, but the increase of radicals, oral mucins and MN needs more researches.

Micronucleus Test for Diagnosing Uncertain Cases (BI-RADS 3) in Breast Cancer Screening: A Review and Preliminary Results.

INTRODUCTION: BI-RADS in mammography screening is the guide to give a standardized terminology in mammary images. The BI-RADS 3 (uncertain cases) protocol requires anew mammography after six months. This matter of time usually generates much concern and anxiety in patients and in the Radiologists. The aim of this study is to show that using the test of micronuclei (MN) in exfoliated mucosa buccal cells a very early diagnosis is achieved. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed an extensive search on Pub Med for "micronuclei in exfoliated buccal cells in breast cancer "and micronuclei in breast cancer". We looked for the keywords in free text and with the cross-referencing method application. We experimentally got samples of buccal mucosa cells from twenty women BI-RADS 3 and twenty women BI-RADS 2. We fixed the samples with Papanicolaou staining. We registered the percentage of the cells containing MN in a total of 500 cells for each sample. The U Mann Whitney Calculator is the test for the statistical analysis of the results. RESULTS: Many studies showed that breast cancer produced MN both in exfoliated cells and in needle aspiration. Their score's count was higher than compared to benign cases, while in the peripheral blood lymphocytes, the results for the MN test were not reproducible. In our preliminary study, the mean percentages of MN in buccal mucosa cells of BI-RADS 3 vs BI-RADS2 didn't show a significant difference: p = 0.05. Two samples of BI-RADS 3 group had a much higher count of MN with a mean of 2.91 ±0.09, 2.88 ±0.08, respectively. This case required biopsy despite the in most of the cases of BI-RADS 3 investigated, the MN test confirmed their benignity. DISCUSSION: In literature, several studies have shown that the genetic damage in breast cancer cells results in MN increased production. Our research showed that in some cases of BI-RADS 3 there was a great increase in MN level. This fact happens in the patients who have taken oestrogens for many years. This therapy is definitely a strong risk factor for breast cancer development because the excesses of any type of hormones interacts with normal breast cell differentiation process. This BI-RADS 3 situation needs further investigation. CONCLUSION: It's interesting to apply the MN scoring in BI-RADS3 because in some cases this test can expect a cancer diagnosis by at least six months' time because, in the other cases, test result can reassure both patient and Radiologists who will wait for the next following checkup with no anxiety.

Possible Effects of Capsaicin (Chili Pepper) on the Oral Health.

BACKGROUND: Capsaicin binds the TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid), desensitizing the pain fibers that become insensitive to nociceptive stimuli. For this fact that the capsaicin has antipain and antiinflammatory properties, few studies verify possible harmful effects, especially with its use in high amounts. The aim of this study is to check salivary nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) as indicators of its possible oral health alterations. METHODS: The protocol calls for twelve volunteers to eat 20 g of sausage with a high content of chili pepper and capsaicin. The study analyzes their salivary concentration of NO and MDA and in control group, 2 min, 1 h, and 1.5 h after ingestion. The U-Mann Whitney Calculator Test statistically analyzes these results. RESULTS: Immediately after eating, there is a significant increase of NO and MDA vs control: P value is 0.03752 and 0.03236, respectively. The values of NO and MDA vs control remain higher after 1 h: P value is 0.04036 and 0.0466, respectively, to return to normality after 1.5 h. DISCUSSION: This study shows that capsaicin increases the simultaneous production of MDA and NO. It is possible to hypothesize that MDA derives mainly from the inflammatory process up-regulated by COX-2, generated by capsaicin. We hypothesize instead that the excess of capsaicin inhibits and reduces the number of TRPV1, which produces an excess of NO and generates nitrosative stress. NO reacts with O2 to form hydroxyl radicals (OH) and H2O, or with superoxide anions to form MDA. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study clearly show that the use not necessarily excessive of chili leads to developing an inflammatory process.

Betel Chewing: A New Analysis, In Vitro and In Vivo, of the Risk Factors in Oral Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Chewing Betel (areca-nut) can cause oral cancer. This happens when its components are in direct contact with the oral epithelium. The aim of this study is to understand this mechanism by analyzing salivary mucins, in vitro, during and after betel chewing. METHODS: The in vivo analysis would necessarily involve subtraction of betel to understand its effects. This study analyzed the interaction between mucins and betel in vitro. We added increasing amounts of areca powder, and for comparison an equal amount of pure vine tannin to saliva samples provided by a first volunteer. This study analyzes salivary mucins in two volunteers, one of whom is a regular betel consumer, after chewing the areca-nut, on six saliva samples taken at half-hour intervals. RESULTS: In vitro, total precipitation of the salivary mucins occurs after we added 1g of Areca nut (50 mg Tannin equivalent), a concentration five times lower than what is actually present during the chewing period; in vivo, in the first volunteer, there is a statistically significant increase in the mucins after chewing two and half hours: p-value = 0.02034, while for the regular betel consumer there is a significant decrease: p-value = 0.00512. DISCUSSION: In vitro, we conclude that the polyphenol content in betel causes total precipitation of mucins and causes poor defense of the oral epithelium. The increase of mucins in the non-routine consumers, show a transient (up to two hours after the end of chewing) inflammatory process. Inflammation can cause keratinization of the oral epithelium because the saliva increases its viscosity for the higher amount of mucins, with its lower adherence and protection of the oral cavity. Subsequent and regular consumption of betel nut, as in the regular betel consumer, can cause chronic fibrosis in the oral epithelium and cut the salivary mucins.