Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr. 2024 Oct 1;13(5):814-823. doi: 10.21037/hbsn-23-578. 
Epub 2024 Jun 25.

Clinical significance of surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with 
portal vein invasion: a nationwide cohort study.

Jo HS(1), Park PJ(2), Yu YD(1), Choi YJ(1), Yu SH(1), Kim DS(1); Korean Liver 
Cancer Association.

Author information:
(1)Division of HBP Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, 
Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
(2)Division of Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, 
Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, 
Republic of Korea.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein invasion (PVI) is 
considered an advanced stage with a poor prognosis. Although current guidelines 
recommend systemic treatment for HCC with PVI, surgical resection could produce 
acceptable outcomes in selected patients. This study aimed to identify the 
clinical significance of surgical resection for HCC with PVI patients using a 
large-scale nationwide registry.
METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter, observational cohort analyzed data 
from the Korean Primary Liver Cancer Registry. A total of 16,781 patients who 
were newly diagnosed with HCC between 2008 and 2018 were enrolled in this study. 
Patients with worse Child-Turcotte-Pugh scores (≥7) or performance status (≥2) 
were excluded. Among them, 998 patients who received treatment for HCC with PVI 
were included in the analysis and were divided into two groups: resection group 
of 151 (15.1%) and palliative group of 847 (84.9%) who received transarterial 
and systemic therapy according to the treatment intent. After matching the 
number and size of the tumors and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score 
between the groups, the final study cohort for analysis comprised 151 (26.6%) 
patients in the resection group and 417 (73.4%) in the palliative group. The 
primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS).
RESULTS: The number and maximum size of HCC did not differ between the resection 
and palliative groups after matching [1 (range, 1-5) vs. 1 (range, 1-6), P=0.11 
and 5.5 (range, 1.2-20.6) vs. 6.0 (range, 1.0-20.5) cm, P=0.24, respectively]. 
Tumor markers, including alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin 
K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II), also did not differ between the groups 
(P=0.29 and P=0.36, respectively). The 5-year OS and CSS rates of the resection 
and palliative groups were 44.8% and 17.4% (P<0.001) and 47.7% and 18.6% 
(P<0.001), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that palliative treatment 
intent was the most significant risk factor for OS and CSS [odds ratio (OR) 
=2.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.66-3.02; P<0.001 and OR =2.29; 95% CI: 
1.68-3.12; P<0.001, respectively].
CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection could significantly improve OS and CSS in 
selected HCC with PVI patients who have preserved liver function and performance 
status.

2024 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.21037/hbsn-23-578
PMCID: PMC11534781
PMID: 39507744

Conflict of interest statement: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have 
completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at 
https://hbsn.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/hbsn-23-578/coif). The authors 
have no conflicts of interest to declare.


2. Ann Transl Med. 2024 Oct 20;12(5):87. doi: 10.21037/atm-24-36. Epub 2024 Sep
19.

Association between sore throat and early immune responses against COVID-19 
before and after the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Takegoshi Y(1), Nagaoka K(1)(2), Kido T(3), Kawasuji H(1), Murai Y(1), Kaneda 
M(1), Kimoto K(1), Tani H(4), Niimi H(2)(5)(6), Morinaga Y(2)(6)(7), Yamamoto 
Y(1)(2)(6).

Author information:
(1)Department of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine and 
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toyama University, Toyama, Japan.
(2)Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Toyama University 
Hospital, Toyama, Japan.
(3)First Department of Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and 
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toyama University, Toyama, Japan.
(4)Department of Virology, Toyama Institute of Health, Toyama, Japan.
(5)Department of Clinical Laboratory and Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of 
Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toyama University, Toyama, Japan.
(6)Center for Advanced Antibody Drug Development, Graduate School of Medicine 
and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toyama University, Toyama, Japan.
(7)Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical 
Sciences, Toyama University, Toyama, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Sore throat is a prevalent symptom of coronavirus disease 2019 
(COVID-19), particularly when caused by the Omicron variants. However, the 
association between sore throat and immune responses to different severe acute 
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants remains unclear. This study aimed to 
elucidate the characteristics of immune responses associated with sore throat in 
patients with COVID-19 before and after the emergence of Omicron.
METHODS: In this prospective observational study, we enrolled patients with 
COVID-19 hospitalized between December 2020 and April 2022, which covered the 
pre-Omicron and Omicron (BA.1 variant) endemic periods. Sore throat was assessed 
using a daily questionnaire, including an analog scale for sore throat grade (0 
to 3) from admission until discharge. Serum levels of immune indicators were 
assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS: A total of 47 patients infected with Omicron and 136 patients infected 
with preceding variants were included in the analyses. The frequency of sore 
throat was significantly higher in participants infected with Omicron than that 
in those infected with preceding variants (66% vs. 42%, P<0.005). Sore throat 
was associated with nasopharyngeal viral load, interleukin-6 (IL-6)/interferon-α 
(IFN-α) levels in participants infected with preceding variants, whereas, it was 
associated with age, the body mass index, and interferon-λ1 (IFN-λ1) in 
participants infected with Omicron.
CONCLUSIONS: Infection with the Omicron variant is characterized by increased 
sore throat frequency and altered associations between sore throat and several 
immune indicators, including IFN-α, IL-6, and IFN-λ1.

2024 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.21037/atm-24-36
PMCID: PMC11534754
PMID: 39507451

Conflict of interest statement: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have 
completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at 
https://atm.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/atm-24-36/coif). The authors 
have no conflicts of interest to declare.


3. Ther Deliv. 2024 Nov 6:1-17. doi: 10.1080/20415990.2024.2418281. Online ahead
of  print.

Artemisinin emulgel ameliorates cartilage degradation in knee osteoarthritis: in 
vitro and in vivo studies.

Thote S(1), Mourya A(1), Arya S(1), Singh H(2), Kumar P(2), Guru SK(2), Madan 
J(1).

Author information:
(1)Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & 
Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
(2)Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical 
Education & Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Aim: Laboratory scale-up of artemisinin-loaded emulgel (ART-emulgel) was carried 
out and characterized for therapeutic performance in osteoarthritis 
(OA).Materials & methods: The solubility of ART in various oils, surfactants and 
co-surfactants were screened for construction of pseudo ternary phase diagram 
(TPD), followed by scale-up of artemisinin loaded nanoemulsion (ART-NE). ART-NE 
was amalgamated with Carbopol Ultrez 10-NF to prepare ART-emulgel that was later 
characterized in vitro and in vivo to analyze therapeutic efficacy in 
monosodium-iodoacetate (MIA) induced knee OA.Results: The droplet diameter of 
ART-NE was estimated to be 104.3 ± 2.593 nm with a polydispersity index of 
0.245 ± 0.019 in addition to ζ-potential of 0.434 ± 0.028 mV. Steady-state flux 
and permeability coefficient for ART-emulgel were estimated to be 0.651 ± 0.031 
µg.cm2/h and 0.245 ± 0.011 cm/h, respectively. ART-emulgel demonstrated 43.18% 
reduction in COX-2 level; 52.28% drop in IL-1β, and 88.78% alleviation of Tumor 
Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) level when compared with monosodium-iodoacetate 
induced OA rats. ART-emulgel and injectable ART (intra-articular; I.A) portrayed 
minor synovial erosion compared with blank and diclofenac emulgel. 
Histopathological evidences indicated restoration of cartilage integrity 
followed by reduction of OARSI scores in ART-emulgel when compared with disease 
control animals.Conclusion: ART-emulgel is a potential dosage form for 
translating into a clinically viable product for the management of OA.

Plain Language Summary: [Box: see text].

DOI: 10.1080/20415990.2024.2418281
PMID: 39503537


4. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024 Jan 23;9:66. doi: 10.21037/tgh-23-66. 
eCollection 2024.

Isosteviol plays a protective role on hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury in 
mice through MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Chen Y(#)(1), Li R(#)(2), Xu H(3), Guo L(3).

Author information:
(1)Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China.
(2)Department of Anesthesiology, Wuxi TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing 
University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi, China.
(3)Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong 
University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
(#)Contributed equally

BACKGROUND: Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is of common 
occurrence during liver surgery and transplantation, isosteviol (ISV) is an acid 
hydrolysate of stevioside, the major component of Stevia rebaudiana. Stevioside 
and its metabolites have been shown to have varieties of pharmacological 
activities, However, the effect of ISV on hepatic I/R injury has not determined. 
The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of ISV on mice with hepatic I/R 
injury and further investigate its underlying mechanism.
METHODS: The blood vessels supplying the left/middle lobe of the liver in mice 
were clamped to cause liver ischemia for 1h, and then removed the clamp to 
conduct reperfusion for 6 h. ISV or saline was injected intraperitoneally after 
reperfusion. The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin 
(IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 in serum and tissues were evaluated by enzyme linked 
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction 
(qRT-PCR). The infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages into the liver tissue 
was determined by flow cytometry and myeloperoxidase. Liver hematoxylin-eosin 
(HE) staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick-end 
labeling (TUNEL) and Annexin V probe were used to determine liver injury and 
hepatocyte apoptosis. western blots (WB) was used to investigate the activation 
of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and c-JunNH2 terminal kinase (JNK), p38 and 
extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK), while the expression of 
apoptosis-related proteins B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), BCL2-associated X protein 
(BAX), caspase-3 was detected.
RESULTS: ISV reduced aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine 
aminotransferase (ALT) levels to alleviate liver injury. ISV significantly 
reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines and the accumulation of liver 
neutrophils and macrophages. Meanwhile, ISV can promote the expression of 
anti-apoptosis-related protein BCL-2 and inhibit the expression of pro-apoptotic 
protein BAX and the activation of the protease caspase-3, and reduce the 
occurrence of hepatocyte apoptosis. Finally, ISV can reduce the phosphorylation 
level and activation of NF-κB, JNK, p38 and ERK.
CONCLUSIONS: ISV inhibits the occurrence of inflammation and hepatocyte 
apoptosis through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/NF-κB signaling 
pathway to relieve liver injury.

2024 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.21037/tgh-23-66
PMCID: PMC11535817
PMID: 39503028

Conflict of interest statement: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have 
completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at 
https://tgh.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tgh-23-66/coif). The authors 
have no conflicts of interest to declare.


5. Cureus. 2024 Oct 6;16(10):e70945. doi: 10.7759/cureus.70945. eCollection 2024 
Oct.

Can Natural Language Processing (NLP) Provide Consultancy to Patients About 
Edentulism Teeth Treatment?

Güzelce Sultanoğlu E(1).

Author information:
(1)Prosthodontics, Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Istanbul, TUR.

Aim This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and quality of the answers given 
by artificial intelligence (AI) applications to the questions directed at tooth 
deficiency treatments. Materials and methods Fifteen questions asked by 
patients/ordinary people about missing tooth treatment were selected from the 
Quora platform. Questions were asked to the ChatGPT-4 (OpenAI Inc., San 
Francisco, California, United States) and Copilot (Microsoft Corporation, 
Redmond, Washington, United States) models. Responses were assessed by two 
expert physicians using a five-point Likert scale (LS) for accuracy and the 
Global Quality Scale (GQS) for quality. To assess the internal consistency and 
inter-rater agreement of ChatGPT-4 and Copilot, Cronbach's alpha, 
Spearman-Brown's coefficient, and Guttman's split-half coefficient were 
calculated to measure the reliability and internal consistency of both 
instruments (α=0.05). Results Copilot showed a mean LS value of 3.83±0.36 and 
ChatGPT-4 showed a lower mean value of 3.93±0.32. ChatGPT-4's GQS mean value 
(3.9±0.28) is also higher than Copilot (3.83±0.06) (p<0.001). Conclusion It can 
be said that AI chatbots gave highly accurate and consistent answers to 
questions about the treatment of toothlessness. With the ever-developing 
technology, AI chatbots can be used as consultants for dental treatments in the 
future.

Copyright © 2024, Güzelce Sultanoğlu et al.

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.70945
PMCID: PMC11537781
PMID: 39502997

Conflict of interest statement: Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that 
this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Animal subjects: All 
authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or 
tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure 
form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have 
declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the 
submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they 
have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years 
with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other 
relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships 
or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.