Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease regulated by several immune cells including lymphocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. Gut probiotic bacteria like Lactobacilli have been shown immunomodificatory effects in the progression of atherogenesis. Some Lactobacillus stains can upregulate the activity of regulatory T-lymphocytes, suppress T-lymphocyte helper (Th) cells Th1, Th17, alter the Th1/Th2 ratio, influence the subsets ratio of M1/M2 macrophages, inhibit foam cell formation by suppressing macrophage phagocytosis of oxidized low-density lipoprotein, block the activation of the immune system with dendritic cells, which are expected to suppress the atherosclerosis-related inflammation. However, various strains can have various effects on inflammation. Some other Lactobacillus strains were found have potential pro-atherogenic effect through promote Th1 cell activity, increase pro-inflammatory cytokines levels as well as decrease anti-inflammatory cytokines levels. Thus, identifying the appropriate strains is essential to the therapeutic potential of Lactobacilli as an anti-atherosclerotic therapy.

However, increasing evidence suggest that silibinin is not solely limited in the treatment of these diseases. Further research suggests that silymarin may function diversely and may serve as a novel therapy for cancer therapy, such as lung cancer, prostatic cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating cancer cells growth, proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and many other mechanism. Expert commentary: In this review, in order to provide potential new treatment for these cancer, we summarize the recent anti-cancer findings of silibinin in these cancer and clarify the mechanisms of this effect.

The functional crosstalk between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hypertension has been reported by some literatures; however, in nonhypertensive individuals, there is no article describes the characteristic of NAFLD. In this study, we aimed to determine the strength of the association between NAFLD with normal blood pressure (BP) in nonhypertensive individuals. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, from October 2007 to December 2011. In brief, 24,200 subjects were enrolled to participate in the survey. Among those subjects, there were 5305 enrolled subjects, those with filling the diagnostic criteria for NAFLD (21.9%; 4803 males and 502 females). Nonhypertension was identified in 17,403 (71.9%; 8179 males and 9224 females). The PR% of NAFLD for the systolic blood pressure (SBP) in quartiles 1 to 4 was 10.83, 12.55, 20.38, and 19.97. SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), sex, age, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, fasting plasma glucose, uric acid, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are closely associated with the risk for NAFLD. SBP (odds ratio [OR]: 1.092, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.030–1.158; P < 0.05) and DBP (OR: 1.157, 95%CI: 1.094–1.223; P < 0.05) were found to be independent risk factors for NAFLD. Our analysis indicates that BP is significantly associated with NAFLD in nonhypertensive individuals; SBP and DBP are found to be independent risk factors for NAFLD.

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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are common chronic non-infectious diseases with rising incidences. NAFLD is an independent risk factor for the onset of AF, after adjusting potentially related factors. The pathogenesis of these diseases share several mechanisms including reduced adiponectin level, insulin resistance, and renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) activation, in addition to activation of common disease pathways that promote inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis. Furthermore, statins and RAAS blockers exert therapeutic effects concurrently on NAFLD and AF. The common pathogenesis of NAFLD and AF may serve as a potential therapeutic target in the future.