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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy arising from the epithelium of the nasopharynx. Ethnic background, being exposed to the Epstein Barr virus, and increased alcohol use are risk factors for the development of NPC. The majority of patients are diagnosed when the cancer has spread beyond the local area. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery are options for treating NPC and are dependent upon location and stage of the disease. Although NPC is a radiosensitive tumor, long-term survival for patients with advanced disease remains poor. The goal of this study was to determine if natural products (thymoqunione (TQ) and Epigallo-catechin-3-gallate (EgCg)) when given by continuous delivery methods rather than a single dose method would destroy cells over a shorter period of time than conventional delivery. The FaDu squamous cell carcinoma cell line was used to test repeated doses of natural (EgCg and TQ) drugs to determine if repeated doses would be as effective at destroying cancer cells as repeated doses of a known chemotherapeutic (5-FU) drug. Cells were treated repeatedly with IC50 concentrations of EgCg, TQ, and 5-FU at 24, 48, and 72 hours. Cells showed similar levels of cellular reduction at 72 hours. Increases in cellular membrane damage were observed in all treated groups with a significant difference seen in 5-FU treated cells compared to EgCg and TQ treated cells. Nitric oxide levels increased in a time dependent manner in EgCg and TQ treated groups. Overall, EgCg and TQ were proved they are as effective as 5-FU in cellular reduction and disrupting cellular function.

Introduction: The federal government estimates that per mile traveled in 2018, the number of deaths on motorcycles was nearly 27 times the number in cars. In the United States there is no universal helmet law. In twenty-two states, motorcycle helmets are entirely optional, while in nineteen states and the District of Columbia universal motorcycle helmets laws requiring helmets for all riders regardless of age are implemented and nine states only require younger motorcycle riders to wear a helmet, with varying age limits. Objectives: The overall objectives of this study were to evaluate the following: (1) number of fatalities (with and without helmet use), (2) fatality rate per motorcycle registration, (3) fatality percentage with age, (4) percent fatality due to alcohol impairment, and (5) location of collision impact to the rider in two southern states (Mississippi and Alabama) where helmet laws are established compared with a southern state (Florida) that only requires riders less than 20 years of age to be helmeted. Methods: Data from 2015-2018 were obtained from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Reporting System (FARS) and supplemented with state related and CDC data. Results: In all three states, the most common collision was a front-end impact. Mississippi had the highest percentage of motorcycle fatalities even with >80% of riders helmeted when the fatal accident occurred, followed by Florida motorcyclist who are only 50% of the time helmeted. In all three southern states similar percentage of fatalities were seen in each age group with higher fatalities associated with age range of 30-39 years. Conclusions: Variables such as helmet type, distance from a level 1 trauma center, poor roads, weather conditions, and visibility of the rider may also be factors that contribute to a higher incidence of fatality and need to be further investigated to improve motorcycle safety.