Background The use of phytochemicals to prevent or suppress tumours is known as chemoprevention. Numerous plant-derived agents have been reported to have anticancer potentials. As one such anticancer phytochemical, diosgenin has several applications which are nevertheless limited due to its low solubility in water. Methods We loaded diosgenin into niosome to increase its solubility and hence efficiency. Diosgenin-niosome (diosgenin loaded into niosome) was prepared by thin-film hydration method and characterised by optical microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-visible spectrophotometry. Also, loading efficiency, in vitro drug release, and cytotoxicity assay were performed on HepG2 cell line. Results and discussion Diosgenin-niosome has a nanometric size with a normal size distribution and spherical morphology. The loading efficiency of diosgenin was about 89% with a sustainable and controllable release rate. Finally, the viability of free diosgenin was 61.25%, and after loading into niosomes, it was improved to 28.32%. Conclusion The results demonstrated that niosomes increase the solubility of naturally derived hydrophobic chemicals and thus enhance their anticancer effect.
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has influenced the live of all people around the world. This study analyzed the relationship between the weather elements (daily temperature, wind speed and humidity) and daily active, recovered and dead cases of covid-19 in Rafsanjan, in the southeast area of Iran. Covid-19 data and meteorological variables were obtained from 29 February 2020 to 20 March 2021 (386 days) from Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences and Meteorological Organization of Iran, respectively. The results showed that there is a significant inverse association between daily average temperature with the number of daily active cases (r: -0.293, p<0.01), recovered cases (r: -0.301, p<0.01) and dead cases (r: -0.198, p<0.01). With decreasing the average wind speed, the number of daily active cases (r: -0.224, p<0.01), recovered cases (r: -0.232, p<0.01) and dead cases has been increased. A nonsignificant positive correlation between daily humidity average and daily active cases (r:0.033, p=0.518) and recovered cases (r:0.044, p=0.390), and significant positive correlation with the number of daily dead cases (r: 0.254, p<0.01) was observed. Therefore, temperature and wind speed can be considered as affective factors in COVID-19 as an auxiliary solution.
Background:
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a prevalent and potentially fatal illness that causes a substantial elevation in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of monoclonal antibodies alirocumab and evolocumab on LDL-C and other lipid parameters, as well as their safety in familial hypercholesterolemia patients.
Methods:
A comprehensive search was done on PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science (WOS/ ISI), Scopus, ClinicalTrials (www.ClinicalTrials.gov), and conferences/ congress research papers. Random effect models were used to calculate mean differences (%) and risk ratios (RRs), and confidence intervals (95%).
Results:
Ten studies (n=1489 patients) were included in this study. PCSK9 inhibitors decreased the levels of LDL-C by -49.59% (95%CI -55.5%, -43.67%) as compared to placebo. They also didn’t alter the Treatment-Emergent Adverse Event (TEAE) and neuronal events by RR 0.92 (0.75, 1.13) and 1.31 (0.66, 2.59), respectively. PCSK9 inhibitors were effective and safe in treating patients with FH.
Conclusion:
There was high-quality evidence showing that monoclonal antibodies (alirocumab & evolocumab) lower LDL-C (GRADE: high), lipoprotein (a) (GRADE: High), triglycerides (TG) (GRADE: High), total cholesterol (GRADE: High), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (nonHDL-C) (GRADE: Moderate), and apolipoprotein B (GRADE: High), and increase the HDL-C (GRADE: High) as well as apolipoprotein A1 (GRADE: High). Comparing PCSK9 inhibitors against placebo, neither TEAE (GRADE: high) nor neuronal events (GRADE: moderate) were changed.
Proprotein convertases subtilisin kexins are serine endoproteases, playing critical roles in the biological functions, including lipid, glucose, and bile acid metabolism, as well as cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis. Experimental studies have demonstrated the physiological functions of PCSKs and their association with diseases; however, studies on the evolutionary history and diversification of these proteins are missing. In the present research, a bioinformatics study was conducted on the molecular evolution of several PCSKs family members and gene loss events across placental mammalian. In order to detect evolutionary constraints and positive selection, the CodeML program of the PAML package was used. The results showed the positive selection to occur in PCSK1, PCSK3, PCSK5, and PCSK7. A decelerated rate of evolution was observed in PCSK7, PCSK3, and MBTPS1 in Carnivores compared to the rest of phylogeny, and an accelerated evolution of PCSK1, PCSK7, and MBTPS1 in Muridae family of rodents was found. Additionally, our results indicated pcsk9 gene loss in 12 species comprising Carnivores and bats (Chiroptera). Future studies are required to evaluate the functional relevance and selective evolutionary advantages associated with these modifications in PCSK proteins during evolution.
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