Atherosclerosis is one type of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in which activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways is implicated. One of the most effective treatments for atherosclerosis is the use of statin medications. Recent studies have indicated that statins, in addition to their lipid-lowering effects, exert inhibitory and/or stimulatory effects on the NLRP3 inflammasome and TLRs. Some of the statins lead to activation of the inflammasome and subsequently cause secretion of IL-1β and IL-18. Thus, these actions may further aggravate the disease. On the other hand, some statins cause inhibition of the inflammasome or TLRs and along with lipid-lowering, help to improve the disease by reducing inflammation. In this article, we discuss these contradictory studies and the mechanisms of action of statins on the NLRP3 inflammasome and TLR pathways. The dose-dependent effects of statins on the NLRP3 complex are related to their chemistry, pharmacokinetic properties, and danger signals. Lipophilic statins have more pleiotropic effects on the NLRP3 complex in comparison to hydrophilic statins. Statins can suppress TLR4/MyD88/NF-ĸB signaling and cause an immune response shift to an anti-inflammatory response. Furthermore, statins inhibit the NF-ĸB pathway by decreasing the expression of TLRs 2 and 4. Statins are cost-effective drugs, which should have a continued future in the treatment of atherosclerosis due to both their immune-modulating and lipid-lowering effects.

This meta-analysis supports a positive significant association between higher consumption of SSB and NAFLD in both men and women. These findings strengthen the evidence that intake of SSBs should be limited to reduce fatty liver disease.

This study was carried out to assess and compare the efficacy of tacrolimus and clobetasol in the treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP). The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Springer Journals, and Elsevier databases were searched using specific keywords relevant to the research question for articles published from 1998 to December 31, 2012. Finally, 15 articles that assessed the effects of tacrolimus, clobetasol, and pimecrolimus on improvements in OLP were reviewed. In addition, a meta-analysis of odds ratios (ORs) was carried out for data in 10 of the 15 articles. The results showed that the ORs for improvements in OLP in patients taking clobetasol or tacrolimus, compared with those taking placebo or other drugs, were 1.19 and 8.00, respectively. It appears that topical tacrolimus is an effective alternative to topical clobetasol and may be considered as a first-line therapy in the management of OLP.

We suggest that application of triamcinolone at the olfactory cleft can boost the effect of surgery in restoring olfactory function.

The present study conducted a placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the impact of nano-curcumin on the inflammatory cytokines in mild-to-moderate hospitalized COVID-19 patients. A total of 60 COVID-19 patients were randomly divided into nano-curcumin and control groups, and then they received 240 mg/day nano-curcumin for 7 days. The clinical manifestation and laboratory parameters in patients were recorded on days 0 and seven. Also, SYBR Green real-time PCR and ELISA techniques were implicated in assessing the mRNA expression of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α and the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α inflammatory mediators, respectively. Although the clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters improved via the nano-curcumin treatment, the mRNA expression of IFN-γ (p = 0.006) and TNF-α (p = 0.04) were significantly reduced. Besides, a considerable difference was observed between the nano-curcumin and control groups in the expression of IFN-γ (p = 0.001), IL-1β (p = 0.0002), and IL-6 (p = 0.008). In addition, there was a significant difference between the nano-curcumin and control groups in the serum levels of IL-1β (p = 0.042). The evidence demonstrated that nano-curcumin could be implicated as a complementary medication to act as an antiinflammatory agent and inhibit inflammatory complications.

A considerable proportion of Iranian drivers had records of road accidents; poor sleep quality, sleepiness while driving, and sleep disorder breathing (obstructive sleep apnea - OSA). Snoring, smoking, driving time in a day, excessive sleepiness, and presumably apnea increase the odds of poor sleep quality and road traffic accident for Iranian occupational drivers.

Statins are a group of lipid-lowering drugs that inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis and have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory properties. Several lines of evidence indicate that statins regulate multiple proteins associated with the regulation of differing cellular pathways. The 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway plays an important role in metabolism homeostasis with effects on cellular processes including apoptosis and the inflammatory responses through several pathways. Recently, it has been shown that statins can affect the AMPK pathway in differing physiological and pathological ways, resulting in anti-cancer, cardio-protective, neuro-protective, and anti-tubercular effects; additionally, they have therapeutic effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetes mellitus-associated complications. Statins activate AMPK as an energy sensor that inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in cancer cells, whilst exerting its cardio-protective effects through inhibition of inflammation and fibrosis, and promotion of angiogenesis. Furthermore, statin-associated AMPK activation leads to decreased lipid accumulation and decreased amyloid beta deposition in the liver and brain, respectively, and may have therapeutic effects on the liver and neurons. In this review, we summarize the results of studies of AMPK-associated therapeutic effects of statins in different pathological conditions.

Extracellular vehicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of cell and membranous particles originating from different cell compartments. EVs participate in many essential physiological functions and mediate fetal-maternal communications. Exosomes are the smallest unit of EVs, which are delivered to the extracellular space. Exosomes can be released by the umbilical cord, placenta, amniotic fluid, and amniotic membranes and are involved in angiogenesis, endothelial cell migration, and embryo implantation. Also, various diseases such as gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm birth, and fetal growth restriction can be related to the content of placental exosomes during pregnancy. Due to exosomes' ability to transport signaling molecules and their effect on sperm function, they can also play a role in male and female infertility. In the new insight, exosomal miRNA can diagnose and treat infertilities disorders. In this review, we focused on the functions of exosomes during pregnancy.