No abstract

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer, which is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid that is commercially available for use as a supplement for the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, the therapeutic benefits of berberine are limited by its extremely low bioavailability and toxicity at higher doses. Increasing evidence suggests that the incorporation of drug compounds in liquid crystal nanoparticles provides a new platform for the safe, effective, stable, and controlled delivery of the drug molecules. This study aimed to formulate an optimized formulation of berberine–phytantriol-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (BP-LCNs) and to investigate the in vitro anti-cancer activity in a human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line. The BP-LCN formulation possessing optimal characteristics that was used in this study had a favorable particle size and entrapment efficiency rate (75.31%) and a superior drug release profile. The potential mechanism of action of the formulation was determined by measuring the mRNA levels of the tumor-associated genes PTEN, P53, and KRT18 and the protein expression levels with a human oncology protein array. BP-LCNs decreased the proliferation, migration, and colony-forming activity of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner by upregulating the mRNA expression of PTEN and P53 and downregulating the mRNA expression of KRT18. Similarly, BP-LCNs also decreased the expression of proteins related to cancer cell proliferation and migration. This study highlights the utility of phytantriol-based LCNs in incorporating drug molecules with low GI absorption and bioavailability to increase their pharmacological effectiveness and potency in NSCLC.

No abstract

Introduction: We evaluated the role of inflammation and acute or persistent Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in coronary artery disease (CAD).      Methodology: The study involved 63 cardiovascular disease patients diagnosed with angina and myocardial infarction (MI) and 40 healthy controls. ELISA was performed for detection of C. pneumoniae IgA antibodies and for quantitative analysis of IFN-γ. PCR was performed for detection of the C. pneumoniae 16 SrRNA gene in blood. Results: C. pneumoniae IgA antibodies were detected in 66.66% cases and 41.37% controls. Of IgA seropositive cases 71.43% were MI patients, 61.90% were stable angina patients, and 64.29% unstable angina patients. Of 40 patients whose PCR was done 32.5% were positive of which 76.92% were IgA seropositive. Traditional risk factors were not significantly associated with CAD. The mean value of IFN-γ in cases was 32.12pg/ml and 11.32pg/ml in controls. Elevated IFN-γ was observed in 76.92% of C. pneumoniae IgA seropositives with a mean value of IFN-γ in angina patients of 3.39pg/ml, in unstable angina of 12.91 pg/ml and in MI patients of 23.89 pg/ml. IFN-γ levels in cases who were positive for C. pneumoniae infection by serology and PCR was 55.21 pg/ml. Conclusion: C. pneumoniae infection was significantly associated with CAD risk. The role of acute or persistent infection in progression of CAD to adverse clinical outcome was evident by a high percentage of seropositives among PCR positives. Although IFN-γ alone had a role to play in development of CAD, its values were further enhanced due to recurrent C. pneumoniae infection.