Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and the risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancer

Background:Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used as analgesics and preventative agents for vascular events. It is unclear whether their long-term use affects cancer risk. Data on the chemopreventative role of these drugs on the risk of the upper aerodigestive tract cancer (UADT) are insufficient and mostly refer to oesophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aspirin and other NSAIDs on the risk of UADT cancers.Methods:A nested case-control study using the Primary Care Clinical Informatics Unit (PCCIU) database. Conditional logistics regression was used for data analysis.Results:There were 2392 cases of UADT cancer diagnosed between 1996 and 2010 and 7165 age-, gender- and medical practice-matched controls from 131 general medical practices. Mean age of cases was 66 years (s.d. 12) and most were male (63%). Aspirin was prescribed in a quarter of cases and controls, COX-2 inhibitors in 4% of cases and 5% of controls and other NSAIDs in 33% of cases and 36% of controls. Aspirin prescription was associated with a nonsignificant risk reduction of cancer of UADT (adjusted OR=0.9, 95% CI=0.8, 1.0), head and neck (HN; adjusted OR=0.9, 95% CI=0.7, 1.1) or the oesophagus (adjusted OR=0.8, 95% CI=0.7, 1.0). Similar results were found for COX-2 inhibitors prescription. Prescription of other NSAIDs was associated with significantly reduced risk of cancer of UADT (adjusted OR=0.8, 95% CI=0.7, 0.9), HN (adjusted OR=0.8, 95% CI=0.7, 0.9) and the oesophagus (adjusted OR=0.8, 95% CI=0.7, 0.9). An increased volume of aspirin prescriptions was associated with a significant risk reduction (test for trend

The changing epidemiology of oral cancer: definitions, trends, and risk factors

Objective This review has three objectives, namely: (i) to discuss how oral cancer is and ought to be defined and recorded; (ii) to present up-to-date data on the incidence burden of the disease in the four countries of the UK, and review recent analyses of trends in the disease; and (iii) to summarise recent evidence on risk factors of the disease. Methods Cancer definitions were clarified by the International Classification of Diseases accounting for anatomical and aetiological differences; descriptive epidemiology included international / UK literature review and information requests for incidence data from the UK cancer registries (2000-2016); analytical epidemiology focused on reviewing the findings of the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology (INHANCE) consortium, which has pooled data from multiple case-control studies providing the best estimates of risk factors. Results Emerging evidence of the role played by risk factors in different anatomical sites means that oral cavity cancer and oropharynx cancer should be considered distinct disease entities – and a standardised attribution of anatomical subsites will be helpful in ensuring consistency in how data are presented. In 2016, over 3,700 people were diagnosed with oral cavity cancer and over 3,500 people were diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer in the UK. Incidence of oropharyngeal cancer is rapidly rising across the UK. Rates of oral cavity cancer are higher in Northern Ireland and higher still (and relatively stable) in Scotland, but rising in England and Wales. INHANCE data show that while the consumption of alcohol and tobacco are the prime risk factors for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers, they provide greater certainty in the preventive benefits of reducing these risk factors. The role played by other factors such as low socioeconomic status, genetics, oral health, and human papillomavirus (only for oropharyngeal cancer) have become clearer. Conclusions This epidemiology provides a strong foundation for designing and managing both population and individual oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer control strategies

The relevancy of controlled nanocrystallization on rifampicin characteristics and cytotoxicity

Salma M Mohyeldin, Mohammed M Mehanna, Nazik A Elgindy Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt Purpose: This article investigated the influence of novel rifampicin nanosuspension (RIF NS) for enhancing drug delivery properties. Methods: RIF NS was fabricated using the antisolvent precipitation technique. The impact of solvent type and flow rate, stabilizer type and concentration, and stirring time and apparatus together with the solvent–antisolvent volume ratio on its controlled nanocrystallization has been evaluated. NSs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, particle size and zeta potential analysis, solubility, and dissolution profiles. The compatibility between RIF and the stabilizer was investigated via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the differential scanning calorimetry techniques. The shelf-life stability of the RIF NS was assessed within a period of 3 months at different storage temperatures. Cell cytotoxicity was evaluated using 3(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on lung epithelial cells. Results: Polyvinyl alcohol at 0.4% w/v, 1:15 methanol to deionized water volume ratio and 30-minutes sonication were the optimal parameters for RIF NS preparation. Nanocrystals were obtained with a nanometeric particle size (101 nm) and a negative zeta potential (-26 mV). NS exhibited a 50-fold enhancement in RIF solubility and 97% of RIF was dissolved after 10 minutes. The RIF NS was stable at 4±0.5°C with no significant change in particle size or zeta potential. The MTT cytotoxicity assay of RIF NS demonstrated a good safety profile and reduction in cell cytotoxicity with half maximal inhibitory concentration values of 0.5 and 0.8 mg/mL for free RIF and RIF NS, respectively. Conclusion: A novel RIF NS could be followed as an approach for enhancing RIF physicochemical characteristics with a prominence of a safer and better drug delivery. Keywords: controlled nanocrystallization, cytotoxicity, nanosuspension, polyvinyl alcohol, rifampici