Healthcare Products Research Articles

The Lean Advantage: Transforming E-Commerce Warehouse Operations for Competitive Success

Background: This study investigates the transformation of e-commerce warehouse operations by integrating Lean Six Sigma tools to enhance efficiency and sustainability. Beginning with Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to identify inefficiencies, followed by a Hoshin Kanri plan to align improvement initiatives with strategic objectives, the study implemented measures such as pallet pooling, process standardization, automation in inspection and picking, layout optimization, and Kanban systems for continuous improvement. A case study of a local e-commerce warehouse specializing in medical devices and healthcare products identified 29 activities across receiving, inspection, storing, picking, packing, and shipping, highlighting inefficiencies addressed through Lean-driven initiatives. These efforts resulted in a 23% reduction in total lead time, doubled value-added time, and significant improvements in inspection, picking, packing, and automation, reducing delays, lowering costs, and enhancing workflow. The study fills a gap in the literature by integrating multiple Lean tools and utilizing the Critical to Quality (CTQ) matrix to ensure sustainable improvements in e-commerce warehousing, emphasizing the strategic value of Lean Six Sigma in creating efficient, customer-focused operations.

Esketamine infusion as treatment for chronic endometriosis-associated pain? Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (EASYlight-study)

Current treatment options for chronic endometriosis-associated pain are often inadequate, resulting in a rise in opioid consumption in this population. Given its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-depressive properties, esketamine may be a promising alternative treatment option. While esketamine is globally used in the treatment of chronic pain conditions, no clinical trials have been conducted to investigate the efficacy of esketamine infusion to alleviate chronic endometriosis-associated (pelvic) pain. Therefore, the objective of this double-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to assess the efficacy of 8-h infusion with esketamine versus placebo (saline) to reduce chronic endometriosis-associated pain symptoms. Secondary study objectives include pain scores, quality of life, depressive symptoms, health care utilization, productivity loss, cost-effectiveness, side effects, treatment experience, and pain coping and cognition. Premenopausal women (aged ⩾18 years) diagnosed with endometriosis (peritoneal, ovarian, deep, or adenomyosis), with an indication for laparoscopic endometriosis resection surgery and who suffer from chronic pelvic pain (NRS score ⩾6) will be eligible for inclusion. In total, we aim to include 56 participants, with a follow-up of 12 weeks. Digital questionnaires will be sent at baseline and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the day of infusion. Trial registration number The EASYlight study is registered as “EASYlight-NEK” in the Clinical Trials Register (NCT06161805)

HCLNet: A Hybrid CNN-LSTM Model for Enhanced Healthcare Product Classification for Recommendation

The rapid growth of healthcare commodities requires automated categorization. Effective categorization solutions save time and money and can provide precise recommendations. Poorly annotated data, inconsistency of product category, and imbalanced datasets impede machine learning algorithms in current systems. CNNs work well with large datasets but struggle with the classification of healthcare products due to class imbalance and lack of labeled data. This study presents a Hybrid CNN-LSTM (HCLNet) model to improve the classification of healthcare products and resolve these issues. This method enhances classification using CNN feature extraction and LSTM sequential pattern recognition. HCLNet can better handle class imbalance and limited labeled data with a comprehensive data preprocessing pipeline, including selection, transformation, and filtering. The hybrid design overcomes CNN constraints and captures product feature temporal connections using LSTM layers. HCLNet was compared with ResNet, GoogleNet, and AlexNet, surpassing them. HCLNet classified complex and imbalanced datasets with 96.25% accuracy, 96.60% precision, and 96.05% recall. The proposed method can improve the classification of healthcare products to obtain accurate automated product recommendations.

Using Patient-Generated Health Data more efficient and effectively to facilitate the implementation of Value-Based Healthcare in the EU – Innovation Report

Healthcare services and products are rapidly changing due to the development of new technologies, offering relevant solutions to improve patient outcomes. Patient-Generated Health Data and knowledge-sharing across the European Union (EU) has a great potential of making healthcare provision more effective and efficient by putting the patient at the centre of the healthcare process. While such initiatives have been taken before, a uniting and overarching approach is still missing. The EU-funded IMPROVE project will develop an evidence-based and actual framework to effectively leverage the added value of people-centred integrated healthcare solutions, using predominantly PROMs, PPI, PREMs, and other Patient-Generated Health Data (PGHD). As a result, the project facilitates the effective and efficient implementation of Value-Based Healthcare across the EU by putting the patient central in the healthcare process.

Macrophage Therapy for Acute Liver Injury (MAIL): a study protocol for a phase 1 randomised, open-label, dose-escalation study to evaluate safety, tolerability and activity of allogeneic alternatively activated macrophages in patients with paracetamol-induced acute liver injury in the UK

IntroductionAcute liver failure (ALF) has no effective treatment other than liver transplantation and is commonly caused by paracetamol overdose. New treatments are needed to treat and prevent ALF. Alternatively-activated macrophages...

Using drones to improve care for HIV-exposed children in Conakry, Republic of Guinea: Anthropological perspectives.

In Conakry, Guinea, like many other African capitals, traffic congestion is a major obstacle to transporting blood samples from peripheral health centres to laboratories where tests are centralised. This situation complicates early HIV testing of HIV-exposed children (i.e., born to HIV-positive mothers), even though the World Health Organization recommends treating HIV-positive children before the age of two months to reduce mortality. The use of drones, which has proved effective in many countries for rapidly transporting healthcare products and reaching isolated areas, could help to resolve these difficulties and improve early detection. A pilot study was conducted from 2020-2021 to assess the feasibility, cost-effectiveness and acceptability of such a strategy. The pilot study had an anthropological component and this article presents the results on the acceptability and perception of using drones to optimise the transport of blood samples in Conakry. Interviews and observations were conducted across six health facilities in Conakry and in various national and international institutions, with 62 people: mothers living with HIV, health professionals and community workers, the local population, health authorities and development workers. The theoretical framework is based on the concepts of innovation and acceptability from an anthropological perspective. The analyses focus on perceptions and conditions of acceptance of a technological innovation such as drones in the healthcare sector. The results show that perceptions of drones are generally positive, despite concerns about their potential misuse. However, this consensus is fragile, knowledge on the subject is sometimes limited and public opinion can vary depending on policy changes in the political and health contexts. Future drone programmes will need to be adapted to the priority health needs identified by local stakeholders, to meet the technical and ethical challenges of this emerging technology and to develop appropriate communication to ensure an optimum level of public support.

Advances in Encapsulating Marine Bioactive Compounds Using Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) for Health Applications

As life expectancy rises and modern lifestyles improve, there is an increasing focus on health, disease prevention, and enhancing physical appearance. Consumers are more aware of the benefits of natural ingredients in healthcare products while also being mindful of sustainability challenges. Consequently, marine bioactive compounds have gained popularity as ingredients in cosmetics and food supplements due to their diverse beneficial properties. Nonetheless, the use of some of these compounds is restricted by their low stability and poor aqueous solubility, necessitating solutions to overcome these limitations. In this context, lipid nanoparticles, such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), have been investigated for their potential to protect and improve the absorption of molecules through various routes, including oral and cutaneous. Numerous studies have shown that nanoencapsulating these compounds and incorporating them into cosmetics and food supplements can be effective. However, this application remains unregulated at the global level and is not currently addressed by existing legislation. Additional in vivo studies in both animals and humans are necessary to fully assess safety concerns.

Visualising Paths for Exploratory Search in the Health IT Ontology.

Due to a lack of systematisation and unbiased information, finding the optimal combination of software products for health information systems is a challenging endeavour. We present a novel approach to visually explore the domain of application systems and software products for health care along the paths of the Health IT ontology (HITO). We present an algorithm and implementation in a web application that is freely available at the HITO website and licensed under the open source MIT licence. In comparison to other approaches of path-based exploration of knowledge graphs, the novelty of our approach is the use of path finding on the ontology level and combining this both with the instances of the classes along the chosen path as well as search filters to limit the search space. Our approach can be adapted to other domains where users with complex information needs interact with ontologies and knowledge graphs and can be supported by generative artificial intelligence in the future.

Economic costs attributable to modifiable risk factors: an analysis of 24 million urban residents in China

BackgroundEstimating the economic burden of modifiable risk factors is crucial for allocating scarce healthcare resources to improve population health. We quantified the economic burden attributable to modifiable risk factors in an urban area of China.MethodsOur Shanghai Municipal Health Commission dataset covered 2.2 million inpatient admissions for adults (age ≥ 20) in public and private hospitals in 2015 (1,327,187 admissions) and 2020 (837,482 admissions). We used a prevalence-based cost-of-illness approach by applying population attributable fraction (PAF) estimates for each modifiable risk factor from the Global Burden of Diseases Study (GBD) to estimate attributable costs. We adopted a societal perspective for cost estimates, comprising direct healthcare costs and productivity losses from absenteeism and premature mortality. Future costs were discounted at 3% and adjusted to 2020 prices.ResultsIn 2020, the total societal cost attributable to modifiable risk factors in Shanghai was US$7.9 billion (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 4.6–12.4b), mostly from productivity losses (67.9%). Two health conditions constituted most of the attributable societal cost: cancer (51.6% [30.2–60.2]) and cardiovascular disease (31.2% [24.6–50.7]). Three modifiable risk factors accounted for half of the total attributable societal cost: tobacco (23.7% [16.4–30.5]), alcohol (13.3% [8.2–19.7]), and dietary risks (12.2% [7.5–17.7]). The economic burden varied by age and sex; most of the societal costs were from males (77.7%), primarily driven by their tobacco and alcohol use. The largest contributor to societal costs was alcohol for age 20–44, and tobacco for age 45 + . Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the pattern of major modifiable risk factors remained stable from 2015 to 2020 albeit with notable increases in attributable healthcare costs from cancers and productivity losses from cardiovascular diseases.ConclusionsThe substantial economic burden of diseases attributable to modifiable risk factors necessitates targeted policy interventions. Priority areas are reducing tobacco and alcohol consumption and improving dietary habits that together constitute half of the total attributable costs. Tailored interventions targeting specific age and sex groups are crucial; namely tobacco in middle-aged/older males and alcohol in younger males.

Development of shampoo formulations using plant/microbial biosurfactants as an alternative to shampoos formulated with harsh synthetic surfactants

AbstractThe presence of harmful chemical surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in healthcare products is a challenge that world is facing today. The present study aimed to formulate novel green shampoos using rhamnolipid and saponin instead of chemical surfactants, and comparison with commercial shampoos. Biosurfactants were confirmed by thin layer and high‐performance liquid chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and their performance was evaluated by zone inhibition and critical micelle concentration (CMC). The saponin and rhamnolipid reduced the surface tension (ST) of water from 72 to 40 and 30 mN/m at their CMCs, respectively. Four novel shampoo formulations were made with SLS, rhamnolipid, saponin, and a mixture of rhamnolipid and saponin. The green shampoos were evaluated with tests of color, odor, transparency, pH, ST, detergency, solid content, foam type, foam volume, wetting time and microbial contamination standard to determine the physicochemical properties. The green formulations with rhamnolipid, saponin and mixture of rhamnolipid and saponin were clear and transparent with a good odor. Low ST (34.13, 38.83, and 31.73 mN/m), good detergency (63.87%, 57.74%, and 64.45%), comparable solid contents (25.11%, 26.95%, and 27.50%), good wetting time (160, 165, and 153 s), and good foam stability even after 60 min were observed for three green shampoos, respectively. Based on the results, it can be concluded that these green shampoos can compete with commercial shampoos and be a suitable alternative to chemical shampoos containing sulfate and sulfate‐free, especially for children, people with eye and skin sensitivities and with oily hair.

Analyzing Healthcare Production Under Uncertainty in a State‐Contingent Framework

ABSTRACTIn health care, decision‐makers grapple with uncertainty, influencing production choices. This paper introduces a model exploring healthcare production under uncertainty using a state‐contingent framework. Employing a parametric model and a general utility function, it calculates decision‐makers' subjective probabilities for potential future states. Through numerical examples, it illustrates how optimal production choices are made. The model defines production technologies as state‐allocable, facilitating resource allocation among various states and allowing for substitution of state‐specific outputs. This approach offers more flexibility compared to traditional production analyses, empowering healthcare producers to better adapt and respond to uncertainties.

The distinctive pharmacokinetic profile of rezafungin, a long-acting echinocandin developed in the era of modern pharmacometrics.

Echinocandin drugs are the current first-line therapy for fungal infections caused by Candida spp. Most patients require once-daily intravenous (IV) administration in a hospital or outpatient setting for treatment, which may negatively impact their quality of life and stress healthcare resources. Similar to other echinocandins, the novel FDA-, EMA-, and Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency-approved echinocandin, rezafungin (CD101), exhibited strong antifungal activity against several fungal pathogens and a low drug-drug interaction liability, which are important for medically complex patients. A pharmacometric-based approach has been adopted throughout the development of rezafungin, which contrasts with older echinocandins where dosing regimens were largely derived empirically, and only recently based on pharmacometric guidance. This state-of-the-art approach used model-based simulations incorporating pre-clinical and clinical data as it became available to optimize the dosing regimen for rezafungin. The enhanced stability of the molecular structure and the safety profile of rezafungin allow for the administration of once-weekly IV doses, compared to the daily dosing requirement for other echinocandin drugs, with this distinctive pharmacokinetic profile of rezafungin resulting in a front-loaded dosing regimen with high exposures early in therapy for enhanced fungal killing. The long shelf-life of rezafungin makes this echinocandin more flexible in terms of storage and manufacturing. Demonstrated across clinical development, rezafungin may provide patients with next-generation first-line antifungal treatment for the treatment of candidaemia and invasive candidiasis.

Smart Medicine: The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Next-Generation Healthcare Innovation

The paper focuses on big data and healthcare pharmaceuticals, which pose both great promise and challenge as they can contribute to well-being and deliver innovation and knowledge to next-generation healthcare products. This paper provides an overview of the benefits that machine learning and big data technology contribute to healthcare systems. Realities such as patient and healthcare professional demands, the number of diseases, insufficient drugs, regulations, legal and ethical guideline restrictions, modus operandi, and technology development take place in the healthcare sector. In addition, big data opportunities and challenges for healthcare companies, research, and healthcare infrastructure are discussed. Finally, a vision of health innovation through personalized medicines as well as smart medicine is presented as a step closer to patients through regulatory, legal, and ethical guidelines, applications, and opportunities that need to be regulated and resolved.

Enhancing the Hypolipidemic and Functional Properties of Flammulina velutipes Root Dietary Fiber via Steam Explosion.

Flammulina velutipes is an edible mushroom widely cultivated in China. As a by-product of Flammulina velutipes, the roots are rich in high-quality dietary fiber (DF). In order to obtain high-quality soluble dietary fiber (SDF), steam explosion (SE) is used as an effective modification method to improve the extraction rate and avoid the loss of active substances. Mounting evidence shows that SDF alleviates lipid metabolism disorders. However, it is not well understood how the influence of SDF with SE pretreatment could benefit lipid metabolism. In this study, we extracted a soluble dietary fiber from Flammulina velutipes root with an SE treatment, named SE-SDF, using enzymatic assisted extraction. The physicochemical and structural properties of the SE-SDF were investigated, and its hypolipidemic effects were also analyzed using oleic-acid-induced HepG2 cells. In addition, the anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects of SE-SDF were investigated using a high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model. The results indicate that SE treatment (1.0 MPa, 105 s) increased the SDF content to 8.73 ± 0.23%. The SE-SDF was primarily composed of glucose, galactose, and mannose. In HFD-fed mice, SE-SDF significantly reduced weight gain and improved lipid profiles, while restoring liver function and reducing injury. This work provides an effective method for the processing of fungi waste and adds to its economic value. In future studies, the structural characteristics and the anti-obesity and gut microbiota regulation mechanisms of SE-SDF will be explored in depth, supporting its high-value utilization in healthcare products.

OVERVIEW OF HEALTHCARE INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The healthcare system is under constant pressure from a growing and aging population, escalating healthcare costs, limited resources and increasing demand. Achieving the triple aim of healthcare – improving care, improving health and reducing costs – requires innovation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health innovation is the development of new or improved health policies, systems, products and technologies, services and delivery methods that improve people’s health, with a particular focus on the needs of vulnerable populations. Health innovations have both technological (innovative products, services or processes) and non-technological (organizational, policy, educational and social innovations) dimensions and play a critical role in improving the productivity, effi ciency, reliability, sustainability, safety and cost-eff ectiveness of health care. This article is the fi rst in a series of publications on innovation and entrepreneurship in health care. The paper examines the main types and categories of innovation and entrepreneurship, analyzes current innovation trends and directions in healthcare, factors that infl uence the adoption of innovative technologies in medical practice, and the characteristics of a human- centered approach to design thinking in healthcare. The article also discusses the concept of value- based healthcare, which focuses on providing the best possible care to achieve the best possible outcomes for each patient, using available resources effi ciently, and how innovation can improve the cost, quality, and access to healthcare.

How consumer trust affects the adoption of e-healthcare products on mobile apps: an analysis of perceived usefulness, time, and price

Purpose E-healthcare has gained importance, particularly in emerging economies, because of its ability to provide health-care products and services while minimizing contact with the external world, which was particularly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its advantages, consumers seem hesitant to use mobile apps to access such services. Previous research has found that perceived usefulness, time consumption and price significantly impact consumer willingness to purchase e-healthcare products on mobile apps. This study aims to investigate the role of consumer trust in the willingness to purchase e-healthcare products on mobile apps while controlling for the effects of perceived usefulness, time consumption and price. Design/methodology/approach Data have been collected using non-probability judgmental and snowball sampling techniques from five major cities in India. After the data cleaning process, 238 questionnaires were used for data analysis in this study. The authors used confirmatory factor analysis to validate all the constructs and subsequently used the hierarchical regression technique to conduct this study. Findings The study’s findings show that consumer trust is the most crucial factor for predicting a willingness to purchase e-healthcare products through mobile apps, despite several other variables that also have a positive impact. These findings present important practical implications for mobile app developers, health-care professionals and lawmakers to further enhance the adoption of e-healthcare products on mobile apps. Research limitations/implications The research was conducted by considering primarily young adults (those between the ages of 20 and 45 – above) and targeted five cities in India. This highlights a limitation in the research, as small groups of the intended audience were included (mainly young people). Originality/value This study considers perceived usefulness, time and price, in addition to trust, to predict consumer willingness to purchase. Its findings can be valuable in the fields of consumer behavior, health care and technology, especially in emerging markets.

Excess costs of depression among a population-based older adults with chronic diseases in Singapore

BackgroundThere is limited evidence on the economic burden of depression among the older population in Singapore.ObjectiveWe aim to evaluate the impact of depression on healthcare expenditure and productivity loss among older adults with chronic diseases in Singapore.MethodsUsing the data from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly study (WiSE), a 2011 national representative survey of older adults aged 60 years and above, 2510 respondents were included in this study. The sample comprised 44% male and 56% female respondents with 75% respondents aged between 60 and 74 years old. Healthcare utilisation data was obtained from respondents and healthcare cost was tabulated by multiplying each service unit by the unit cost price. These services include care from polyclinic doctors, private general practitioners (GP), outpatient specialists and inpatient care. We modelled the relationship of healthcare cost and depression using two-part models (probit & generalised linear model - loglink and gamma distribution).ResultsFor total healthcare expenditure, older adults with both depression and chronic diseases were associated with an average annual incremental cost of $7940 (95% CI 1490–14400; p = 0.016), compared to those without these conditions. They were also associated with an average incremental cost of $257 (95% CI 38.7–475; p = 0.021) for primary care. Likewise, in the case of specialist outpatient clinics, they had an average incremental cost of $970 (95% CI 163–1780; p = 0.018). However, for inpatient setting, the average incremental cost of $6180 (95% CI 418–12800; p = 0.066) was not significant. Additionally, older adults with depression and chronic diseases contribute to an annual productivity loss of $676 (95% CI 346–1010; p < 0.001).DiscussionThis study provides evidence that there are significant incremental costs associated with depression amongst the older adults with chronic diseases in Singapore’s primary healthcare setting. The increased somatic presentations among the depressed older adults and the underdiagnosis of depression in primary care may contribute to higher utilisation of healthcare resources which entail higher expenditure. This is one of the first studies to look at the cost of depression using a representative sample of Singaporean older adults and taking into account the multi-ethnic nature of the population. Analyses were restricted to a cross-sectional design, and data relied heavily on the accuracy of self-report utilisation on health care services which was subjected to recall bias.ConclusionDepression was found to inflate the total healthcare expenditure among older adults with chronic disease by two-fold. This study provides evidence that there are significant incremental costs associated with depression among the older adults with chronic diseases, demonstrating a need for more resources to improve systematic and clinical care for depressed older adults with chronic diseases.

Biomedical Engineering Literature: Advanced Reading Skills for Research and Practice

Medical engineering is a field of study that combines biological and medical sciences with engineering to develop improved healthcare technologies. It is imperative that you possess a deep understanding of both the material and the technical language used in this rapidly advancing field in order to effectively grasp key topics and navigate the rapidly expanding literature. This paper examines the future of the biomedical engineering profession through the lens of advanced reading strategies. It starts with the assertion that biomedical engineering literature presents three challenges: the level of density is technical, the area is interdisciplinary, and the growth of knowledge is exponential. In the view of the above challenges, the paper discusses various advanced reading skills in relation to biomedical engineers. These skills include the ability to critically read scientific texts, both at a fast pace for an overview and in detail for deeper understanding, to identify key ideas and methodologies relevant to the field, and to assess the validity of scientific claims and data representations. The paper also aims at pointing out how separate elements like the use of systematic reviews, of meta-analysis, of data visualization tools that complement reading, help the researcher in the process of managing gathered information from various sources. This paper describes teaching these skills for both academic and professional practice, with examples of how improved reading competencies can enhance research quality and contribute to innovations in medical technologies, tissue engineering, and clinical trials. Furthermore, the paper aims to discuss the future trends due to the increasing incorporation of continuous learning for addressing the challenges posed by novel technologies including artificial intelligence and nanotechnology that define the future of biomedical engineering. biomedical engineering students require the acquisition of higher order reading skills in preparation for information reading: national and international publications in the engineering profession, policy and technology in support of health care delivery systems, product development, and other purposes. The ideas stated and demonstrated in this paper should be practical to both beginning scholars and veteran professionals in the biomedical engineering field as well as useful for seminar and workshop participants in seminars and workshops on biomedical engineering literature.

Loss of quality of life and increased societal costs in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the AFFECT-HCM study.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most prevalent inherited cardiac disease. The impact of HCM on quality of life (QoL) and societal costs remains poorly understood. This prospective multi-centre burden of disease study estimated QoL and societal costs of genotyped HCM patients and genotype-positive phenotype-negative (G+/P-) subjects. Participants were categorized into three groups based on genotype and phenotype: 1) G+/P- (left ventricular (LV) wall thickness <13 mm), 2) non-obstructive HCM (nHCM, LV outflow tract (LVOT) gradient <30 mmHg), and 3) obstructive HCM (oHCM, LVOT gradient ≥30 mmHg). We assessed QoL with EQ-5D-5L and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaires (KCCQ). Societal costs were measured using medical consumption (iMCQ) and productivity cost (iPCQ) questionnaires. We performed subanalyses within three age groups: <40, 40-59, and ≥60 years. From three Dutch hospitals, 506 subjects were enrolled (84 G+/P-, 313 nHCM, 109 oHCM; median age 59 years, 39% female). HCM (both nHCM and oHCM) patients reported reduced QoL vs G+/P- subjects (KCCQ: 88 vs 98, EQ-5D-5L: 0.88 vs 0.96; both p<0.001). oHCM patients reported lower KCCQ scores than nHCM patients (83 vs 89, p=0.036). Societal costs were significantly higher in HCM patients (€19,035/year vs €7,385/year) compared to G+/P- controls, mainly explained by higher healthcare costs and productivity losses. Being symptomatic and of younger age (<60 years) particularly led to decreased QoL and increased costs. HCM is associated with decreased QoL and increased societal costs, especially in younger and symptomatic patients. oHCM patients were more frequently symptomatic than nHCM patients. This study highlights the substantial disease burden of HCM and can aid in assessing new therapy cost-effectiveness for HCM in the future.

Jing-Si herbal tea attenuates oral cancer cell viability, migration, and invasion by regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and reactive oxygen species accumulation

IntroductionOral cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated in its early stages. Jing-Si herbal tea (JSHT), containing eight traditional Chinese medicine-based herbs, is known to suppress the malignancy, growth, and metastasis of several tumour cells, including breast, lung, and colon cancer cells. However, the pharmacological effect of JSHT on oral cancer progression is still unclear. MethodsIn this study, we evaluated the potential of JSHT to arrest the development of oral cancer via induction of cell death by reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and inhibition of migration, invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). For this purpose, we employed the human tongue squamous cell carcinoma human tongue squamous carcinoma cell line, which we treated with different JSHT concentrations for 24 hours, and assessed cell viability, migration, and wound healing capabilities, together with western blotting for measuring expression levels of EMT markers. ResultsSurvival, migration/invasion ability, EMT, and ROS production in the human tongue squamous carcinoma human tongue squamous carcinoma and FaDu human pharynx squamous cell carcinoma cell line were decreased by JSHT treatment via Lon protease-independent mechanisms. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that JSHT could be regarded as a candidate new supplement to existing anticancer therapies and an alternative, orally administered healthcare product for treating oral squamous cell carcinoma.