Dietary supplements used by otolaryngology patients in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: This study investigated the characteristics of dietary supplement (DS) use of patients who attended the otolaryngology clinic at a university training and research hospital in Turkey during the pandemic, including patients who had experienced Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and September 2021. 277 literate patients aged ≥ 18 years who attended the otolaryngology clinic were enrolled. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, as well as data on DS use during the pandemic. The questionnaire was administered in a face-to-face setting by a single researcher. Results: Approximately half of the participants (50.18%) took DSs during the pandemic and 67.18% of those who experienced COVID-19 infection used DSs during their illness. The most commonly used supplements were vitamin C (43.16%) and D (33.09%), along with herbal supplements such as lemon (54.68%), garlic (46.76%), ginger (46.04%), and thyme (43.88%). In total, 85.23% of the patients primarily used DSs to enhance their immunity, while 32.95% used them to prevent cough, and 26.14% to improve breathing. The majority of the patients (85.23%) felt benefit from DSs. Typically, the patients obtained information about DSs from doctors (32.37%) or friends and relatives (29.49%), and most of them used the supplements without first consulting a doctor (63.64%). Conclusion: DSs were commonly used by otolaryngology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly to enhance immunity. Although the majority of patients reportedly benefited from these products, most of them did not inform their physicians that they were using them and often obtained information from unofficial sources.

Novel zinc oxide nanoparticles of Teucrium polium suppress the malignant progression of gastric cancer cells through modulating apoptotic signaling pathways and epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

Management of gastric cancer is still challenging due to resistance to current chemotherapeutics and recurrent disease. Moreover, green- synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using natural resources are one of the most promising therapeutic agents for anticancer therapy. Here we report the facile green synthesis and characterization of ZnO-NPs from Teucrium polium (TP-ZnO-NP) herb extract and the anticancer activities of these nanoparticles on gastric cancer cells. Facile green synthesis of TP-ZnO-NP was achieved using zinc acetate dihydrate. For the characterization of TP-ZnO-NP, UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, XRD and EDX analyses were performed. Antiproliferative and anticancer activities of TP-ZnO-NP were explored using the HGC-27 gastric cancer cell line model. MTT cell viability and colony formation assays were used for the analysis of cell proliferation and migration. Wound healing assay was used to analyze the migration capacities of cells. Annexin V/PI double staining, DNA ladder assay, and Acridine orange/Ethidium bromide staining were performed to analyze the induction of apoptosis. qPCR was used to determine gene expression levels of apoptotic and epithelial to mesenchymal transition marker genes. The aqueous extract of TP served as both a reducing and capping agent for the successful biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Remarkably, synthesized TP-ZnO-NPs were found to have significant antiproliferative and anticancer activities on HGC-27 gastric cancer cells. Collectively, current data suggest that TP-ZnO-NP is a novel and promising anticancer agent for future therapeutic interventions in gastric cancer.

Comparison of the Anesthetic Efficiency of Lidocaine and Tramadol Hydrochloride in Orthodontic Extractions: A Split-Mouth, Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present randomized controlled split-mouth clinical study was to evaluate and compare the clinical anesthetic efficacy of lidocaine and tramadol hydrochloride in orthodontic extractions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 systemically healthy patients requiring bilaterally maxillary first premolar extractions for orthodontic reasons were included. Each patient received 1.8 mL of lidocaine (36 mg lidocaine HCI and 0.0225 mg epinephrine) on 1 side and 1.8 mL tramadol (50 mg tramadol HCl and 0.0225 mg epinephrine diluted to 1.8 mL by distilled water) on the other side. The anesthetic solutions were infiltrated into the buccal vestibule (local infiltration) based on a computer-generated list. In each patient, the time of anesthetic onset and finish, anesthetic activity, duration of postoperative analgesia, additional analgesic medication, wound healing, possible side effects, and satisfaction levels were recorded intraoperatively and postoperatively for both sides. RESULTS: Although no relevant differences were found between the solutions for anesthetic onset, lidocaine was significantly more effective statistically for the total anesthesia duration. Comparing the anesthetic activity at 5 minutes before extraction, we found that tramadol was significantly more effective statistically compared with lidocaine. Similarly, tramadol was significantly more effective statistically than lidocaine for satisfaction level and wound healing. Moreover, compared with tramadol, in terms of postoperative pain, the visual analog scale scores with lidocaine were significantly higher at statistically 7, 8, 9, and 10 hours during the first 12 hours. In general, the lidocaine values were dramatically higher than were the tramadol values. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that using tramadol combined with epinephrine can be an alternative local anesthetic for maxillary first premolar tooth extractions in oral-maxillofacial surgery.

Pharmacological properties and therapeutic potential of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in osteosarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: In this comprehensive study, we aimed to investigate pharmacological properties and therapeutic significance of saffron in osteosarcoma cancer cells. METHODS: Plant materials were obtained from Safranbolu district of Karabuk, Turkey. For the determination of anticancer properties, thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability, colony formation, wound closure, DNA ladder assays and gene expression analysis by real-time PCR were performed. Also, cellular inflammation, total antioxidant and oxidants status were determined. KEY FINDINGS: Dichloromethane and hexane extracts of saffron were significantly inhibited cell proliferation and interfered with colony forming and migration capabilities of U2-OS osteosarcoma cancer cells. Also, both extracts induced the activation of tumour suppressor CDKN2B gene and altered cellular morphology resembling the induction of apoptosis. However, DNA fragmentation was not observed after extract treatments. Saffron was also found to have no significant effect on cellular inflammation. Unexpectedly, both dichloromethane and hexane extracts of saffron had no marked effect on cellular total antioxidant and oxidant status. Lastly, vanillic acid, resveratrol, caffeic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were found to be highly rich in our extracts. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study demonstrated significant antiproliferative and antitumorigenic properties of saffron in osteosarcoma.

Comparison of Local Anesthetic Efficiency of Tramadol Hydrochloride and Lidocaine Hydrochloride.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the local anesthetic efficiency of tramadol versus lidocaine hydrochloride in maxillary infiltration anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a randomized double-blinded study involving 50 healthy volunteers. In the experimental part of this study, each volunteer received a buccal 0.5-mL injection of tramadol hydrochloride 25 mg on one side and a buccal 0.5-mL injection of vasoconstrictor-free lidocaine hydrochloride 20 mg on the other side. No other treatment was performed. After the injections, total duration of anesthesia, start and finish times of anesthesia, soft tissue (sensory) innervation, depth of anesthetic, possible side effects, and satisfaction levels were recorded from all volunteers. RESULTS: There was no relevant difference between solutions for total anesthesia duration and peak values. However, statistically, the effect of lidocaine started and ended early. The efficacy of tramadol was markedly more effective in the gingiva and skin, especially at 15 and 20 minutes, compared with lidocaine. Both anesthetic agents were well tolerated by the volunteers. CONCLUSION: Tramadol hydrochloride can be a good alternative to local anesthetic agents and beneficial to support anesthesia during long operations.