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Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is important for accurate staging and prognosis of prostate cancer. Several guidelines recommend extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) for patients with non-low-risk prostate cancer. However, the therapeutic benefits of ePLND are unclear. Therefore, we reviewed the literature regarding the therapeutic value of PLND for prostate cancer. Although some reports showed that ePLND improves postoperative biochemical recurrence and postoperative overall survival compared with limited lymph node dissection, other reports show no benefits. Overall, the current evidence supporting ePLND is poor. The extent of PLND varied among studies concerning the therapeutic value of ePLND, and study design issues such as patient background and length of follow-up period were different. Some reports demonstrated potential therapeutic value for ePLND when adjusting for patient background. Focusing on patients with high-grade prostate cancer may be important in demonstrating the therapeutic benefits of ePLND. Although the incidence of major adverse events related to ePLND was low, the possibility of adverse events such as lymphedema and lymphocele formation should be considered. In the future, we hope that evidence for optimal selection criteria for ePLND and the extent of ePLND will become more definitive and evidence for the therapeutic value of ePLND will be developed.

As a tropical fruit, the banana is one of the favorite fruits, and the banana herb only bears fruit once in its lifespan; it is chopped off after harvesting, and only 40% of it is adequately utilized, leaving the remaining 60% as trash rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, and natural fibers. The pseudostem accounts for 75% of the waste, with the rest accounting for 25%. The purpose of this paper is to raise important awareness about the bioactive chemicals found in banana pseudostems hence they can be considered as sustainable foods and their applications as culinary raw materials and in other sectors. Even though bulk waste is biodegradable, it causes many problems in our environment, so sustainable waste usage with proper management and utilization of the residues can not only help in the utilization of the bioactive and nutrient compounds present but also increase the economic and environmental issues associated with the problem. The banana pseudostem is used in various businesses as culinary ingredients, fibers, and hazardous removers. Even when used for heavy metal treatment in wastewater, the fiber in it is strong enough to manufacture cardboard and food packaging materials. Some pseudostem types can even be extracted for pectin and used as food additives. The powdered pseudostem is used to boost the nutritional content of numerous recipes. In summary, the banana pseudostem can be divided into two first the central core part that can be used as food raw material and other outer sheaths in various different industries.

Abstract The water buffalo breed known as the Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is primarily raised for its milk. It is preserved in the Indian states of Haryana and Punjab, namely in the districts of Bhiwani, Agra, Hisar, Rohtak, Jind, Jhajhar, Fatehabad, Gurgaon, and the Delhi capital city. The fat from buffalo milk also contains ketoglycerides. While β-lactoglobulin, which contains branched chain and essential amino acids as well as a retinol-binding protein that may modulate lymphatic processes, is absent from human milk, buffalo milk has somewhat more of this protein than cow’s milk and is also the primary source of whey protein. It has the ability to create antimicrobial peptides that work well against gram-positive bacteria and are released by proteolytic enzymes during trypsin-catalyzed digestion. International dairy product production is increasingly shifting to domestic buffalo as a substitute source. Buffalo milk contains a high amount of calcium, a mineral that is necessary for the development of bones. Moreover, it contains casein-derived peptides, which may promote bone health and reduce the likelihood of osteoporosis, a disorder characterized by weakening bones and an increased risk of fractures. Customers love buffalo milk because of its excellent nutritional value. It may be eaten raw or used to manufacture premium products like cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and other traditional dairy products.

Background: Agave angustifolia (AA) and Agave sisalana (AS) are used by local communities for medicinal purposes to treat skin conditions. Small companies add Agave leaf extracts to their cosmetic products, claiming calming and skin-rejuvenating qualities. Aim: The study aimed to assess the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of AA and AS verifying the traditional therapeutic claims about the species and accordingly establishing the assertions of cottage industries. Setting: The AA leaves were collected from the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, while AS leaves were sourced from the iLembe district municipality. Methods: The phytochemical extracts were obtained by gradient solvent maceration of the leaves. Qualitative phytochemical screening established the presence of bioactive phytochemicals in the extract. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) and the ferric reducing and/or antioxidant power (FRAP) methods measured the bioactive phytochemicals’ antioxidant activity. Results: Qualitative phytochemical evaluation confirmed the presence of secondary metabolites in both plants. AS extracts also contained alkaloids. The DPPH antioxidant activity indicated that Agave extracts had 20% to 80% scavenging activity. AS methanol extract had the maximum antioxidant activity among all the extracts. AA methanol and AS hexane extracts had no antioxidant activity. AA ethyl acetate extract had higher antioxidant activity (64%) than AS (52%). AA hexane extract had 70% activity while AS hexane extract had 30%. Conclusion: The detected phytochemicals indicate potential use for emulsifying, antioxidant, anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. Contribution: This study contributes to the existing knowledge of the therapeutic properties of AA and AS plants.

Background: The oncological relevance of proximal gastrectomy in advanced gastric cancer remains unclear. We aimed to examine the frequency of lymph node metastasis in advanced gastric cancer to determine the oncological validity of proximal gastrectomy selection. Materials and methods: This study included consecutive 71 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach who underwent total gastrectomy at our institution between 2001 and 2017. Lymph node metastasis and its therapeutic value index were examined to identify candidates for proximal gastrectomy. Metastatic and 3-year overall survival rates of numbers 3a and 3b lymph nodes were examined from 2010 to 2019. Results: The metastatic rate and therapeutic value index of numbers 4d, 5, 6, and 12a lymph nodes were zero or low. The number 3 lymph node had a metastatic rate and therapeutic value index of 36.6 % and 31.1, respectively. The metastatic and 3-year overall survival rates of the number 3a lymph node were 32.7 % and 89 %, respectively, whereas those of the number 3b lymph node were 3.8 % and 100 %, respectively. All patients with positive metastasis to the number 3b lymph node received adjuvant chemotherapy. Histopathological findings of positive metastasis to the number 3b lymph node were located in the lesser curvature, and the tumor diameter exceeded 40 mm. Conclusion: For advanced gastric cancer of the upper third of the stomach, the indications of localization to the lesser curvature and a tumor diameter of >40 mm should be considered cautiously.

Background: This study will explore the therapeutic value of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) through meta-analysis, combined with network pharmacology analysis. Methods: The results of randomized controlled trials on TCM and HCC were retrieved and summarized from multiple databases. The effective active compounds and target genes of the high-frequency TCM were obtained using the TCMSP database, and disease targets of HCC were acquired through the public disease database. The network pharmacology analysis was used to get the core genes and investigate the potential oncogenic molecular mechanism. Results: A total of 14 meta-analysis studies with 1,831 patients suggested that therapy combined TCM is associated with better clinical efficacy and survival prognosis, as well as avoiding many adverse events. A total of 156 compounds, 247 herbal target genes and 36 core genes were identified. The function analysis suggested above genes may participate development in HCC through regulating some pathways, such as HIF-1 pathway and PD-L1 immune-related pathway. Conclusion: TCM, as a novel, safe, and effective multi-mechanism therapy, holds greater value in the treatment of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a tropical fruit, the banana is one of the favorite fruits, and the banana herb only bears fruit once in its lifespan; it is chopped off after harvesting, and only 40% of it is adequately utilized, leaving the remaining 60% as trash rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, and natural fibers. The pseudostem accounts for 75% of the waste, with the rest accounting for 25%. The purpose of this paper is to raise important awareness about the bioactive chemicals found in banana pseudostems hence they can be considered as sustainable foods and their applications as culinary raw materials and in other sectors. Even though bulk waste is biodegradable, it causes many problems in our environment, so sustainable waste usage with proper management and utilization of the residues can not only help in the utilization of the bioactive and nutrient compounds present but also increase the economic and environmental issues associated with the problem. The banana pseudostem is used in various businesses as culinary ingredients, fibers, and hazardous removers. Even when used for heavy metal treatment in wastewater, the fiber in it is strong enough to manufacture cardboard and food packaging materials. Some pseudostem types can even be extracted for pectin and used as food additives. The powdered pseudostem is used to boost the nutritional content of numerous recipes. In summary, the banana pseudostem can be divided into two first the central core part that can be used as food raw material and other outer sheaths in various different industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movement therapy is playing and practicing typical and atypical roles in people, clients and patients in typical and atypical social situations. They can be based on the interaction of mind and body, and the emphasis is focused on spontaneity in an imagined situation. The authors analyze and explain the psychotherapeutic advantages of connecting movement therapy with martial arts therapies, individually and in group form of work for all ages. The soma-psyche relationship is especially elaborated in the context of movement therapy. Special therapeutic emphasis on the possible and in-depth rehabilitation of the patient is shown. This review includes a review of the available literature, i.e. a consideration of specific therapeutic approaches. One of the most basic motives of movement therapy is the expression and communication of energy. Self-expression and relaxation can thus be seen as two basic motives for movement therapy. Movement therapy improves creativity, as well as music therapy and art therapy. As well as additional therapies with classic deep and superficial forms and directions of psychotherapy or their more modern derivatives. The therapeutic value of movement therapy if and when it is skillfully and successfully used and applied can be significant for the treatment of various psychological and somatic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mumio is a valuable substance that ranges in color from pale brown to blackish-brown and is obtained from rock layers in various mountain ranges worldwide, particularly in the Tien Shan ranges of Kyrgyzstan. It is also a natural chemical found largely in the Himalayas, created over ages by the progressive degradation of particular plants by bacteria. Mumio is essentially a nutraceutical product with considerable human health advantages. To fully appreciate the predicted impact of mumio use in the medical area, particularly in neurological sciences, more research at both the fundamental biology level and through well-designed clinical trials is required. This involves a thorough examination of the various organic and inorganic elements that contribute to Mumio's therapeutic efficacy.The paper also dives into the results of Mumio's comprehensive biological and biotechnological analyses. These scientific research have revealed the mechanisms of action of this natural chemical and confirmed its medicinal claims. The article seeks to offer a full review of Mumio by merging traditional medicine knowledge, chemical analysis, and scientific assessments, stressing its relevance in traditional medicine and its potential for life science activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Garden cress seed is a potential source of macro and micronutrients including essential fatty acids and amino acids as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium and phosphorus. The seed also provides appreciable amount of health-protective bioactive compounds used to treat diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, bone fracture, asthma, constipation and some forms of cancer. Besides,, it is used to develop functional foods of therapeutic value in food manufacturing industries and traditional food preparations. Even though, it is known for its superior health benefits, provision of essential nutrients, and wider application in functional food development it is among the most underutilized crop in the world. Additionally, majority of studies conducted on garden cress seeds are mainly animal trials and hence needs to conduct studies on human. Therefore, the aim of this review paper is to provide up to date research evidence on the nutrient composition and therapeutic use of underutilized garden cress seeds and its functional food products, promising for the prevention of non-communicable and communicable diseases. Graphical Abstract

Consumption of fermented foods has been an integral part of the human food resource since the beginning of civilization. For generations, the practice of preparing fermented food have remained the same with a very little alterations in the techniques. Throughout the globe people with different ethnicity are known to produce fermented alcoholic beverages using variety of substrates depending upon the abundance and availability of the substrate in the region. Majority of the traditional fermented beverages have socio-cultural values amongst the tribal communities who consumes them, not only these fermented beverages have deep rooted link to rituals but also are consumed for nutritive and therapeutic purpose. These drinks are not only rich in its texture, flavor and nutrition but also fortified with the goodness of probiotic microflora which plays an imperative role in enhancing the overall dietary profile of the drinks. The high-altitude geographical regions of India are well-known for the rich diversity of ethno-medicinal plants, the tribal communities residing on the higher planes utilizes a variety of these ethnomedicinal plants for the preparation of ethnic fermented drinks which in turn augments the therapeutic value of the drinks. The present review exchanges insight on the preparation of some well-recognized drinks of the three regions of the North-West Indian Himalayan region i.e., Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. is an ancient therapeutic plant with many bioactive compounds responsible for its pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-cancerous, anti-bacterial, etc. Studies have revealed that medicinal plants are abundantly involved in developing novel drugs due to their easy availability and lesser side effects from ancient times. The anti-inflammatory drugs available in the market, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can cause side effects, and from the future aspects, they are considered to be harmful to human health. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an anti-inflammatory drug with lower toxicity. The points of highlight for this review include various compounds naturally present in medicinal plants responsible for inflammation inhibition and their working mechanisms. One such wild edible plant having health, pharmacological, and therapeutic properties is B. spectabilis Willd. The functioning of its various phytochemical compounds, including quinones, flavonoids, and terpenes, such as quercetin, terpene-4-ol, present in leaves and bracts of B. spectabilis Willd. along with selenium nanoparticles, are discussed in detail.

Objective: To examine the potential therapeutic value of new medicines approved in the US and both approved and not approved in Australia. Methods: A list of new medicines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020 was assembled and it was determined which of these medicines were also approved in Australia. Three metrics – first in class, priority review and therapeutic rating by two independent organisations – were used to determine the potential therapeutic value of the medicines. The percent of medicines with and without potential significant therapeutic value was compared using each of the three metrics. Results: A total of 273 drugs were approved by the FDA, of which 147 (53.8%) were approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the Australian regulator. For each of these three metrics, the percent of medicines with and without potential significant therapeutic value approved in Australia was the same: first in class (yes vs no: Chi-squared P = 0.8562), priority review (yes vs no: Chi-squared P = 0.4593), therapeutic rating (major/moderate vs little/no: Chi-squared P = 0.9006). Some of the 126 drugs not approved may be therapeutically important. Conclusions: New medicines approved in the US between 2015 and 2020 without potential significant therapeutic value are as likely to be introduced into Australia as drugs with potential significant therapeutic value. Some potentially valuable drugs may not have been submitted for approval in Australia by the companies making them. What is known about the topic? Different numbers of new medicines are typically introduced in different jurisdictions. What does this paper add? There is no difference in the Australian introduction of medicines with and without potential significant therapeutic value that were approved in the US between 2015 and 2020. What are the implications for practitioners? New medicines should not be assumed to have or not have potential significant therapeutic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Insects are important bioresources as they supply numerous tangible and intangible benefits to humans. Day-to-day livings of many communities in the world are associated with insects as food, medicine, social beliefs, livelihood and other aspects. Many communities from immemorial time traditionally practice insects as food (entomophagy). People consumed insects for delicacy and nutritional purposes. However, some entomophagy species have medicinal value and many traditional healers used them for the treatment of various health ailments like sore throat, mouth ulcers, jaundice, body ache, wound healing, etc. In India, such traditions are widely practised in Northeast India more than other states of India. The focus of this research is on the traditional knowledge of entomophagy species having medicinal properties and social beliefs that are practised by the Tangkhul, Mao and Poumai ethnic community of Manipur, northeast region of India. Review literature was conducted through published journal paper, books and other electronic resources along with questioner’s survey. The present study recorded nine entomophagy species and four species having social beliefs according to the local people. This traditional knowledge is inherent from generation to generation, and to conserve such precious indigenous knowledge, proper documentation is necessary. The documented information on the ethnic therapeutic knowledge of the important entomo-therapeutics species of the local community can be transferred to modern pharmacology.

In this study, we aimed to determine the therapeutic value of local Yığılca honeys by examining their physicochemical characteristics, phenolic content, radical scavenging activity, and antimicrobial properties by underlining some overlooked parameters. Honey samples ware divided into two main groups as CH and FH based on melissopalynologycal analysis. Antimicrobial activity of collected honey samples were investigated on important hospital-acquired infections bacteria strains; MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), MSSA (Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus), Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Although CH’s antimicrobial activities were found slightly higher than the FH’s, there isn’t statistically significant differences between two type honeys. However, the antioxidant activity of CH was found significantly higher than FH. Surprisingly, a higher amount of isomaltose was determined in addition to the total phenolic content in CH compared to FH. There has been found positive correlation between isomaltose amount and zone diameters for MRSA and A. baumannii. We would like to draw attention to isomaltose for its health benefit structure since these parameters may be influence honey’s therapeutic value. We recommend that isomaltose and invertase enzyme should be included in to the honey codex standards suitably depending on the monofloral and multifloral honey’s specific structure, to sensitively standardize and control their quality and therapeutic value. Our data revealed a positive correlation between antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and total phenolic content and higher isomaltose amount.

Now a days, phytochemical screening and GCMS analysis draw the attention of researchers, as it is the important tool to analyze secondary metabolites and bioactive compounds which are used to produce the herbal medicines, food colorants, flavors and fragrances. In this study bioactive compounds and phytochemical constituents of Jumbo muscadine grape pulp extract are analyzed. The extract has been characterized by UV and FTIR in which both the optical property and functional groups are identified. Absorption spectra of UV showed the highest peak at 270 nm which associates to the polyphenol and functional groups such as alcohol; alkene has been interpreted using FTIR spectrum. Presence of phytochemicals is confirmed by qualitative tests and quantified. Bioactive compounds are interpreted using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. This grape extract contains phenols, terpenoids, saponins and carbohydrates as major phytochemicals. Identified essential bioactive compounds of this extract include Glycerin, oleic acid, palmitic acid and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work aimed to biofabricate copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Tinospora cordifolia leaf extract. The biofabricated CuO NPs were treated against the malarial parasite of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum (INDO) and the antilarval efficacy was evaluated against the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi and dengue vector Aedes aegypti. The prominence at 285 nm in the UV–visible spectrum helped to identify the produced CuO NPs. Based on the XRD patterns, the concentric rings correspond to reflections at 38.26° (111), 44.11° (200), 64.58° (220), and 77.34° (311). These separations are indicative of CuO's face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. The synthesized CuO NPs have FTIR spectra with band intensities of 3427, 2925, 1629, 1387, 1096, and 600 cm−1. The absorbance band at 3427 cm−1 is known to be associated with the stretching O-H due to the alcoholic group. FTIR proved that the presence of the -OH group is responsible for reducing and capping agents in the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs). The synthesized CuO NPs were found to be polymorphic (oval, elongated, and roughly spherical) in form with a size range of 11–47 nm and an average size of 16 nm when the morphology was examined using FESEM and HRTEM. The highest antiplasmodial efficacy against the chloroquine-resistant strain of P. falciparum (INDO) was found in the synthesized CuO NPs, with LC50 values of 19.82 µg/mL, whilst HEK293 cells are the least toxic, with a CC50 value of 265.85 µg/mL, leading to a selectivity index of 13.41. However, the antiplasmodial activity of T. cordifolia leaf extract (TCLE) and copper sulfate (CS) solution showed moderate activity, with LC50 values of 52.24 and 63.88 µg/mL, respectively. The green synthesized NPs demonstrated extremely high antilarval efficacy against the larvae of An. stephensi and Ae. aegypti, with LC50 values of 4.06 and 3.69 mg/L, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garden cress seed is a potential source of macro and micronutrients including essential fatty acids and amino acids as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium and phosphorus. The seed also provides appreciable amount of health-protective bioactive compounds used to treat diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, bone fracture, asthma, constipation and some forms of cancer. Besides,, it is used to develop functional foods of therapeutic value in food manufacturing industries and traditional food preparations. Even though, it is known for its superior health benefits, provision of essential nutrients, and wider application in functional food development it is among the most underutilized crop in the world. Additionally, majority of studies conducted on garden cress seeds are mainly animal trials and hence needs to conduct studies on human. Therefore, the aim of this review paper is to provide up to date research evidence on the nutrient composition and therapeutic use of underutilized garden cress seeds and its functional food products, promising for the prevention of non-communicable and communicable diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of stingless bee propolis on the proliferation and differentiation of human stem cells is reported for the first time. Cells (hPSCs) treated with the propolis extracted from Lisotrigona sp., Tetragonula calophyllae and T. travancorica displayed a remarkable difference in their morphology. Gene expression analysis revealed pluripotency markers OCT4 and NANOG to be down-regulated upon treatment with propolis, which confirmed early differentiation of hPSCs. Further investigation on the gene expression of early differentiation markers revealed that propolis supports mesendoderm differentiation, which is a novel finding. The propolis obtained from stingless bees Tetragonula spp. probably has more therapeutic value in terms of its effect on hPSCs viz., more tendency of the cells to differentiate into mesoderm and endoderm lineages, compared to the propolis obtained from Lisotrigona sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calluna vulgaris, belonging to the Ericaceae family, is an invasive plant that has widely spread from Europe all across Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Being able to survive in rigid soil and environmental conditions, it is nowadays considered to be of high nature-conservation value. Known for its nutritional and medicinal properties, C. vulgaris stands out for its varied physiochemical composition, spotlighting a wide range of biological activity. Among the most important bioactive compounds identified in C. vulgaris, the phenolic components found in different parts of this herbaceous plant are the main source of its diverse pro-health properties (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, chemoprotective, etc.). Nonetheless, this plant exhibits an excellent nectariferous potential for social insects such as honeybees; therefore, comparing the bioactive compounds observed in the plant and in the final product of the beehive, namely honey, will help us understand and find new insights into the health benefits provided by the consumption of C. vulgaris-related products. Thus, the main interest of this work is to review the nutritional profile, chemical composition and biological activities of the C. vulgaris plant and its related honey in order to encourage the future exploration and use of this health-promoting plant in novel foods, pharmacological products and apitherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are important bioresources as they supply numerous tangible and intangible benefits to humans. Day-to-day livings of many communities in the world are associated with insects as food, medicine, social beliefs, livelihood and other aspects. Many communities from immemorial time traditionally practice insects as food (entomophagy). People consumed insects for delicacy and nutritional purposes. However, some entomophagy species have medicinal value and many traditional healers used them for the treatment of various health ailments like sore throat, mouth ulcers, jaundice, body ache, wound healing, etc. In India, such traditions are widely practised in Northeast India more than other states of India. The focus of this research is on the traditional knowledge of entomophagy species having medicinal properties and social beliefs that are practised by the Tangkhul, Mao and Poumai ethnic community of Manipur, northeast region of India. Review literature was conducted through published journal paper, books and other electronic resources along with questioner's survey. The present study recorded nine entomophagy species and four species having social beliefs according to the local people. This traditional knowledge is inherent from generation to generation, and to conserve such precious indigenous knowledge, proper documentation is necessary. The documented information on the ethnic therapeutic knowledge of the important entomo-therapeutics species of the local community can be transferred to modern pharmacology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Examine the use of priority and provisional approval pathways by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for evaluating new medicines. Methods. This observational study assessed all new medicines approved by the TGA between 1 January 2018 and 18 October 2021. It examined how frequently priority and provisional approval pathways are being used, the conditions which the medicines are being approved to treat, how long medicines are spending in the approval pathways, the additional therapeutic value of the medicines being approved through these pathways and how the use of the pathways compares with similar regulatory pathways used by Health Canada. Results. The TGA approved 138 new medicines in the time period under study, of which 33 were approved through either the priority or provisional approval pathways. Sixteen were approved to treat cancer. It took the TGA a mean of 130 (95% CI 118, 143) and 144 (95% 101, 188) working days for priority and provisional pathways, respectively. Therapeutic evaluations were available for 16 of these medicines and 11 offered little to no therapeutic gain over existing medicines. There was moderate agreement between the TGA and Health Canada in their use of these pathways (Kappa = 0.5458, 95% CI 0.3900, 0.7016). Conclusions. The priority and provisional approval pathways are now being used by the TGA for about one-third of all new medicine approvals. Although the medicines approved in these ways are moving through the review process more quickly than those approved through the standard approval pathway, the majority of these medicines, for which an evaluation of therapeutic value is available, do not offer any substantial additional therapeutic value over existing medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. Development of a tool for the evaluation of the therapeutic value of anticancer drugs based on multi-criteria analysis of decision making.Materials and methods. The study included 4 main stages. At the first stage, based on the results of the publications analysis and the EVIDEM system, a list of therapeutic value criteria was formed. At the second stage, for each criterion, a survey of experts was used to develop a scale and to build a value function using the curve-fitting method. At the third stage, the weighing was carried out using the discrete choice experiment method and the statistical package "support.CEs" in R Studio. At the fourth stage, based on the obtained values of the weight coefficients and value functions, a simple linear additive model was constructed.Results. The authors developed a tool that included 5 criteria for the value of anticancer drugs: efficacy, safety, disease severity, ease of administration, and therapeutic need. For each criterion, a linear value function was built, which allowed the authors to obtain the value of the severity of the criterion in the range from 0 to 1 based on the absolute values of the criterion for a particular drug. As a result of the weighing, two sets of weighting coefficients were obtained by using two different methods of survey results processing. The criterion of efficacy has the most significant contribution to the therapeutic value for the Russian health care system, and the least significant is the severity of the disease. The distribution of the criteria in the intermediate contribution ranks was significantly different between the two sets of weights.Conclusions. For practical application and implementation of the proposed tool, it is required to conduct the validation using the example of specific antitumor drugs to select a final set of weighting coefficients, check the stability of the results, and form a scale of therapeutic value levels.

The present work aimed to biofabricate copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Tinospora cordifolia leaf extract. The biofabricated CuO NPs were treated against the malarial parasite of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum (INDO) and the antilarval efficacy was evaluated against the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi and dengue vector Aedes aegypti. The prominence at 285 nm in the UV–visible spectrum helped to identify the produced CuO NPs. Based on the XRD patterns, the concentric rings correspond to reflections at 38.26° (111), 44.11° (200), 64.58° (220), and 77.34° (311). These separations are indicative of CuO’s face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. The synthesized CuO NPs have FTIR spectra with band intensities of 3427, 2925, 1629, 1387, 1096, and 600 cm−1. The absorbance band at 3427 cm−1 is known to be associated with the stretching O-H due to the alcoholic group. FTIR proved that the presence of the -OH group is responsible for reducing and capping agents in the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs). The synthesized CuO NPs were found to be polymorphic (oval, elongated, and roughly spherical) in form with a size range of 11–47 nm and an average size of 16 nm when the morphology was examined using FESEM and HRTEM. The highest antiplasmodial efficacy against the chloroquine-resistant strain of P. falciparum (INDO) was found in the synthesized CuO NPs, with LC50 values of 19.82 µg/mL, whilst HEK293 cells are the least toxic, with a CC50 value of 265.85 µg/mL, leading to a selectivity index of 13.41. However, the antiplasmodial activity of T. cordifolia leaf extract (TCLE) and copper sulfate (CS) solution showed moderate activity, with LC50 values of 52.24 and 63.88 µg/mL, respectively. The green synthesized NPs demonstrated extremely high antilarval efficacy against the larvae of An. stephensi and Ae. aegypti, with LC50 values of 4.06 and 3.69 mg/L, respectively.

Creative expression has been proven to have therapeutic value. While this normally takes place in the form of a journal or diary, blogging has become an increasingly popular venue for expression. The present study attempts to identify if blogging about general topics can improve emotional well-being. Over the course of two weeks, 22 participants completed a series of 6 blog posts using a series of general prompts. Some participants were asked to create a public blog, while others were asked to make their posts private and closed to comments. The results show that blogging did significantly improve the emotional well-being of the participants. This improvement advocates for the usefulness and therapeutic value of blogging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Reimbursement decisions on new medicines require an assessment of their value. In Austria, when applying for reimbursement of new medicines, pharmaceutical companies are also obliged to submit forecasts of future sales. We systematically examined the accuracy of these pharmaceutical sales forecasts and hence the usefulness of these forecasts for reimbursement evaluations. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed reimbursement applications of 102 new drugs submitted between 2005 and 2014, which were accepted for reimbursement outside of hospitals, and for which actual reimbursed sales were available for at least 3 years. The main outcome variable was the accuracy ratio, defined as the ratio of forecasted sales submitted by pharmaceutical companies when applying for reimbursement to actual sales from reimbursement data. Results: The median accuracy ratio [95% confidence interval] was 1.33 [1.03; 1.74, range 0.15–37.5], corresponding to a median overestimation of actual sales by 33%. Forecasts of actual sales for 55.9% of all examined products either overestimated actual sales by more than 100% or underestimated them by more than 50%. The accuracy of sales forecasts did not show systematic change over the analyzed decade nor was it discernibly influenced by reimbursement status (restricted or unrestricted), the degree of therapeutic benefit, or the therapeutic area of the pharmaceutical product. Sales forecasts of drugs with a higher degree of innovation and those within a dynamic market tended to be slightly more accurate. Conclusions: The majority of sales forecasts provided by applicants for reimbursement evaluations in Austria were highly inaccurate and were on average too optimistic. This is in line with published results for other jurisdictions and highlights the need for caution when using such forecasts for reimbursement procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current lifestyle, eating habits, stress, environmental factors and intensive use of synthetic chemicals in food processing and agriculture have radically increased the progression of several human diseases. Globally, researchers have been looking for natural therapeutic substances that can be used to treat or delay the onset of these lifestyle-related disorders. Numerous types of medicinal plants have shown the potential to be frequently used in the therapeutics due to the presence of several bioactive compounds. Among these, fenugreek is an important herb which has been recognized as an imperative medicinal plant by various scientists around the world. This herb has been widely reported as beneficial against numerous diseases such as cancer, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and inflammation. Due to its medicinal value, the extracts/powders from different parts of fenugreek have been effectively utilized in food and pharmaceutical industries. Accordingly, the present review is an attempt to highlight the important nutritional benefits and curative applications of fenugreek as an effectual therapeutic agent against different diseases.

Calluna vulgaris, belonging to the Ericaceae family, is an invasive plant that has widely spread from Europe all across Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Being able to survive in rigid soil and environmental conditions, it is nowadays considered to be of high nature-conservation value. Known for its nutritional and medicinal properties, C. vulgaris stands out for its varied physiochemical composition, spotlighting a wide range of biological activity. Among the most important bioactive compounds identified in C. vulgaris, the phenolic components found in different parts of this herbaceous plant are the main source of its diverse pro-health properties (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, chemoprotective, etc.). Nonetheless, this plant exhibits an excellent nectariferous potential for social insects such as honeybees; therefore, comparing the bioactive compounds observed in the plant and in the final product of the beehive, namely honey, will help us understand and find new insights into the health benefits provided by the consumption of C. vulgaris-related products. Thus, the main interest of this work is to review the nutritional profile, chemical composition and biological activities of the C. vulgaris plant and its related honey in order to encourage the future exploration and use of this health-promoting plant in novel foods, pharmacological products and apitherapy.

Although attempts have been made to show that pediatric interventional radiology adds value in children's hospitals, none has been particularly persuasive. An analysis of individual procedures would seem to be the most scientific approach, but there are numerous problems, including the effects that different health care systems have on clinical practice and the difficulty of generalizing the results of a single-center study to other hospitals, even within the same type of health care system. It is unsurprising that there are no published randomized controlled trials comparing both the costs and outcomes of specific pediatric interventional radiology procedures with surgical alternatives, and in fact these may not be feasible. There is only anecdotal evidence of the value of pediatric interventional radiology in multidisciplinary teams in children's hospitals. Currently, the best justification may be the counterfactual: demonstrating what can go wrong if pediatric interventional radiology expertise is not available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the therapeutic and diagnostic value of caspase-12 and study of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: Overall 78 patients with AMI admitted to Weifang People's Hospital Brain Hospital, Weifang, China from Apr 2016 to Apr 2019 were enrolled as AMI group. Seventy five non-AMI people undergoing physical examination during the same period were enrolled as non-AMI group. The expression levels of caspase-12 and GDF-15 were detected and compared. The correlation between the expressions of GDF-15, caspase-12 and clinical characteristics and efficacy was detected. Single and combined detection of GDF-15 and caspase-12 were performed analyze their role in the early diagnosis, the prediction of efficacy, and the guidance of clinical therapy. Results: After treatment, the levels of GDF-15 and caspase-12 in AMI group were significantly lower than those before treatment (P

Objectives: The therapeutic value of lateral lymph node dissection in low rectal cancer (RC) patients remains a matter of debate. The present study evaluated the dissection value of each lateral lymph node, based on its histopathological characteristics. Methods: This study enrolled 381 consecutive RC patients with bilateral lateral lymph node dissection, from 1995 to 2014. We investigated their clinicopathological characteristics, and the therapeutic value of each lymph node dissection. The therapeutic values of the distal internal iliac and obturator lymph nodes were further investigated on the basis of histopathological classifications, as follows: minimum metastasis (Type A), massive metastasis (Type B) without capsular invasion, and invasive metastasis (Type C) with capsular invasion and were evaluated by the local or distant recurrence and 5 year overall survival. Results: Among the lateral lymph nodes, the therapeutic values of distal internal iliac (6.1) and obturator (7.4) lymph node dissection were higher than those of common (0.4) and proximal iliac (1.2) lymph node dissection. However, our further investigation revealed that the 5 year overall survival rates of Type C (obturator/distal iliac) were 12.5%/22.9%, whereas those of Type A and Type B were 100%/91.6% and 77.8%/50.0%, respectively. Conclusions: Metastasis and prognosis of RC patients depend on the histopathological characteristics of the distal internal iliac and obturator lymph nodes. The present study provides new insights for choices of appropriate treatments for RC patients.

To characterize at a global level the concept of therapeutic value (TV) and describe the experience of value-based pricing (VBP) policies in 6 reference countries. We conducted a rapid review of the literature that addressed 2 exploratory research questions. A systematic and exhaustive search was carried out up to July 2018 in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. The concepts of TV and VBP are related; value frameworks for medicines should include social preferences, comparative effectiveness, safety, adoption viability, social impact, high quality of evidence, severity of illness, and innovation. The added therapeutic value (ATV) is the manner of measuring the therapeutic advantages of new medicines compared with existing ones in terms of comparative effectiveness and safety. There are variations in the mechanisms of reimbursement and drug pricing regulation between the countries of study. In a VBP system it is essential to establish the TV and ATV of a new medicine. Although there are no methodological guidelines for the implementation of VBP policies, the process implies from the beginning the definition of TV categories that will be included in the drug pricing and reimbursement systems. Agreements between the pharmaceutical industry and governments have become a useful tool as a negotiating mechanism in most countries. • In general, within the identified literature, there is no methodological guideline for the implementation of value-based pricing policies. The system consists of individual exercises, which require the development of categories of therapeutic value to be subsequently included in drug pricing and reimbursement systems. • The concept of therapeutic value is related to the therapeutic properties of medications, their clinical effectiveness, and health outcomes. When these characteristics are compared with other therapeutic alternatives available in the market, the definition is framed in the concept of added therapeutic value. • It is important to consider the social value, such as equity, social justice, patient autonomy, quality of life of caregivers, and the benefits achieved through better adherence by the patient, to capture the value beyond clinical and economic effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paronychia argentea has been used since long as a traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes, kidney stones, anti-microbial and many other human diseases. However, the plant has not been explored much. In the present scenario of drug resistance and toxicity associated with available drugs, there is a need for elaborated studies of plants like Paronychia argeneta which had been used as folk medicines. Aim and Objectives: The present article is focused on reviewing the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, traditional usage, biological activities, of Paronychia argentea which has been used in traditional medicinal system for ages. The aim of the study was to assess the ethnopharmacological usage of this plant and to explore therapeutic potentials and future opportunities for research. Materials and Methods: Information on the traditional usage and studies of the Paronychia argentea was gathered from from various journals, MSc dissertation, conference abstract, local books. Various search engines including Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Elsevier, ACS, Pubmed, Web of Science, CNKI and EMBASE were used to collect the information along with libraries. Results: Paronychia argentea has played an important role in traditional medicines in Algeria, Portugal, Israel and Jordan. The aerial parts of this plant are used as diuretics in Algerian traditional medicines and are used as antiurolithiasis. Leaf decoction of this plant is also used as diuretic. Paronychia argentea has been used as analgesic, treatment of stomach ulcer, anorexia, and flatulence in Portugal. Scientific studies on extracts of Paronychia revealed a wide range of pharmacological activities including anti-microbial activity, anti-oxidant, nephroprotective activity. Moreover, few reports have given contradictory data for usage of Paronychia when compared with its traditional usage. As in the case of alpha-amylase inhibitory efficacy of PA, it was observed that PA inhibits alpha-amylase activity but later on it was proven that PA does not have a hypoglycemic effect. Main bioactive metabolites present in this plant include alkaloids, flavonoids, volatile oils, etc. Conclusions: Based on this review, there are evidences from various studies regarding pharmacological effects of this plant as nephroprotective, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial activity. Some indications from in vitro studies have confirmed the inhibitory activity of this plant extract against alpha amylase enzyme. The available literature showed that most of the activities of the Paronychia can be accredited to the flavonoids present in them. Data regarding mechanisms of action of this plant along with pharmacokinetics, toxicology studies is still limited, which indicate the need of such studies for the clinical usage of this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes to the critical disability and human-nonhuman animal studies literatures through a discourse analysis of newspaper stories about animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and children with disabilities published in the United States and Canada. The articles in our corpus form a recognizable genre that we call AAT human-nonhuman animal interest stories. We pose two central questions of the genre: (1) how is the therapeutic value of AAT constituted? and (2) what are the effects, in discourse, of associating nonhuman animals and children with disabilities in narratives of therapeutic benefit? We emphasize the normative tensions associated with the representation of children with disabilities and nonhuman animals in news stories about AAT. On one hand, news articles objectify children with disabilities, inscribe their need to be made "normal" and silence their own experiences of AAT. On the other hand, they are written in ways that extend and strengthen the disabled body and self through connections with nonhuman therapy animals. They disrupt sharp species distinctions and present narratives of how interspecies relationships formed through participation in AAT co-constitute the agency of nonhuman therapy animals and children with disabilities. We argue that the normative tensions in the popular representation of AAT present important possibilities for intervening in public discourse about disability and nonhuman animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laparoscopy is being increasingly applied as either a diagnostic or therapeutic intervention in the management of abdominal trauma. However, its outcomes in comparison with conventional laparotomy remain unclear, especially in terms of therapeutic management.Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients from three trauma centers in Beijing, China. Fifty-four patients undergoing laparoscopic interventions for abdominal trauma by experienced laparoscopists were enrolled in the laparoscopy group (LP group). Another 54 patients who underwent laparotomy (LT group) were matched according to the patients' baseline characteristics, causes of injury, and hemodynamic parameters. Perioperative clinical parameters and short-term survival were compared between these two groups.Results: The baseline characteristics were comparable between these two groups (LP vs. LT: Age, p = 0.112; Sex, p = 0.820; Injury severity score, p = 0.158; Cause distribution, p = 0.840). The most common cause was traffic accident (36.1%) and the most frequent surgical intervention was bowel repair/resection (34.3%) in our study. The operation time was similar in these two groups (LP vs. LT: 202.2 ± 72.58 vs. 194.11 ± 82.95 min, p = 0.295) while post-operative complication rate was slightly reduced in LP group (7.7% vs. 13.5%) with no statistical significance (p = 0.383). Opioid use was lower in the LP than LT group (11.67 ± 4.08 vs. 26.0 ± 13.42 morphine equivalents (MEQ), p = 0.034). The hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LP group (13.48 ± 10.9 vs. 18.64 ± 14.73 days, p = 0.021). One patient in the LT group died of an intra-abdominal abscess and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome 19 days postoperatively, while all patients in the LP group recovered and were discharged.Conclusion: Laparoscopy is feasible and safe in treating abdominal trauma patients in hemodynamically stable conditions performed by experienced surgeons. Laparoscopy might have the advantages of reduced pain and quicker recovery with similarly favorable clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of criteria for assessing the innovative potential of drugs (therapeutic value) have been developed and are widely used elsewhere. These approaches allow the state (the payer) to assess the clinical significance of a new medical product and make an educated decision on the reimbursement, cost and priority at the stage of registration. In the Russian Federation though, such criteria and methods are not sufficiently developed. This review describes the principle approaches to assessing the drug innovative potential in countries outside Russia.

The objective of this study was to investigate the nutrient content, phytonutrient composition, physicochemical properties, alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibition activity and antioxidant activity of the brown algae Stoechospermum marginatum collected from Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, India in pre monsoon season (June- September, 2015). Six and eight hours of ethanol and aqueous extract of Stoechospermum marginatum were used for phytonutrient screening, alpha amylase, alpha glucosidase inhibition activity and antioxidant activity. From the results of the study it is understood that Stoechospermum marginatum contain a high amount of carbohydrate, protein, crude fiber and phytonutrients like tannin, flavonoid, saponin, alkaloid, terpenoids, steroid and total phenolic content. The physicochemical properties namely Water absorption and Swelling power were very promising. Alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibition activity was recorded to be high in both aqueous and ethanol extracts of eight hour extraction than in extracts taken from six hours extraction. Antioxidant activity was detected using DPPH, FRAP, beta carotene scavenging and H2O2 assay and found to have a high radical scavenging activity. Stoechospermum marginatum possess a valuable amount of total phenolic content and other phytonutrients and physicochemical properties, it may the reason for the potential inhibition of alpha amylase, alpha glucosidase and antioxidant activity. It is concluded from the study that the brown algae may be incorporated into foods to enhance their nutritional and therapeutic value.

Background: This study will explore the therapeutic value of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) through meta-analysis, combined with network pharmacology analysis. Methods: The results of randomized controlled trials on TCM and HCC were retrieved and summarized from multiple databases. The effective active com-pounds and target genes of the high-frequency TCM were obtained using the TCMSP database, and disease targets of HCC were acquired through the public disease database. The network pharmacology analysis was used to get the core genes and investigate the potential oncogenic molecular mechanism. Results: A total of 14 meta-analysis studies with 1,831 patients suggested that therapy combined TCM is associated with better clinical efficacy and survival prognosis, as well as avoiding many adverse events. A total of 156 compounds, 247 herbal target genes and 36 core genes were identified. The function analysis suggested above genes may participate development in HCC through regulating some pathways, such as HIF-1 pathway and PD-L1 immune-related pathway. Conclusion: TCM, as a novel, safe, and effective multi-mechanism therapy, holds greater value in the treatment of HCC., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Lin, Guo, Qin, Zhang and Sheng.)

Current lifestyle, eating habits, stress, environmental factors and intensive use of synthetic chemicals in food processing and agriculture have radically increased the progression of several human diseases. Globally, researchers have been looking for natural therapeutic substances that can be used to treat or delay the onset of these lifestyle-related disorders. Numerous types of medicinal plants have shown the potential to be frequently used in the therapeutics due to the presence of several bioactive compounds. Among these, fenugreek is an important herb which has been recognized as an imperative medicinal plant by various scientists around the world. This herb has been widely reported as beneficial against numerous diseases such as cancer, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and inflammation. Due to its medicinal value, the extracts/powders from different parts of fenugreek have been effectively utilized in food and pharmaceutical industries. Accordingly, the present review is an attempt to highlight the important nutritional benefits and curative applications of fenugreek as an effectual therapeutic agent against different diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]