Synthesis, Characterization, and In-Vitro Evaluation of Silibinin-loaded PEGylated Niosomal Nanoparticles: Potential Anti-Cancer Effects on SW480 Colon Cancer Cells.

OBJECTIVE: Colorectal cancer is a significant global health concern with high mortality rates. Silibinin is a compound derived from milk thistle with anticancer properties and may be a potential treatment option for colorectal cancer. Its poor solubility limits its clinical application, but various strategies, such as nanoparticle encapsulation, have shown promise. In this study, a PEGylated niosomal drug delivery system was used to enhance the solubility of silibinin, and its anti-proliferative effects were evaluated against human colorectal cancer cell lines. METHODS: The silibinin-loaded PEGylated niosomal nanoparticles (NIO-SIL) were fabricated using the thin-film hydration method and characterized with dialysis bag, AFM, SEM, DLS, and FTIR systems. Finally, the cancerous cells and human normal cells were treated with NIO-SIL and pure silibinin. The proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of these cells were evaluated. Subsequently, the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, p53, and cyclin D1 genes was measured using real-time PCR. RESULT: The drug release profile, size, morphology, and chemical interactions of the synthesized PEGylated niosomal nanoparticles were suitable for use as a drug delivery system. Both pure silibinin and NIO-SIL could reduce the proliferation of cancerous cells, induce apoptosis, and cause cell cycle arrest, with no significant negative effects reported on human normal cells. Both pure silibinin and NIO-SIL reduced the expression of the Bcl-2 and cyclin D1 genes while increasing the expression of Bax and p53. (p-value < 0.05 *). CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this study indicate the high potential of PEGylated niosomal nanoparticles for encapsulation and delivery of silibinin to cancer cells, with no negative effects on normal cells.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Coincident with Clinical and Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunctions Results in Dysregulation of Circulating Chemerin, Resistin and Visfatin.

The alterations of circulating adipocytokines have been reported in thyroid diseases or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but such data in T2DM coincident with clinical and subclinical thyroid-dysfunctions are limited, and remain to be investigated. We studied the changes in serum chemerin, resisitin and visfatin in T2DM patients with thyroid dysfunctions, and their association with inflammatory and insulin resistance-markers. A total of 272 female and male Iranian participants were selected and divided into six groups: the euthyroid group, T2DM, T2DM coincident with clinical and sub clinical hypothyroidism (SC-HO, and C-HO), and T2DM coincident with clinical and sub clinical hyperthyroidism (SC-HR, C-HR).Demographic characteristics, serum levels of adipocytokines, thyroid hormones, inflammatory factors (IL1-ß, IL-6 and CRP) and insulin resistance-markers were determined in all participants. T2DM patients with clinical thyroid dysfunctions showed higher levels of circulating resistin, visfatin, chemerin and inflammatory factors, compared with the T2DM group and T2DM coexisted with subclinical thyroid diseases. No significant differences were observed in circulating adipocytokines and inflammatory markers between T2DM coexisting with subclinical thyroid diseases and those without thyroid dysfunctions. Our results revealed that clinical thyroid dysfunction in T2DM patients was associated with elevated levels of circulating resistin, chemerin, visfatin and inflammatory factors, while no such alteration was detected in T2DM coincident with subclinical thyroid dysfunction.

Effect of Long-Term Moderate Physical Exercise on Irisin between Normal Weight and Obese Men.

BACKGROUND: Irisin is a myokine that has a beneficial effect on obesity and glucose metabolism by increasing energy expenditure. This study aims to investigate the effect of long-term moderate physical exercise on irisin levels and its correlations with body mass index (BMI), waist circumferences (WC), and metabolic parameters in normal weight and obese males. Material and method. A follow-up case-control study of sixty male participants, comprised of thirty normal weight and thirty obese, who had undergone supervised long-term moderate physical exercises for six months. Serum irisin levels, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, homeostatic model assessment of the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and ß-cell function (HOMA-B2) were assessed. RESULTS: Long-term moderate exercise induced elevation of the irisin level significantly (P < 0.0001) with significant reduction of the BMI, WC, fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and HOMA-B2 levels (P < 0.0001) in comparison between obese and normal weight groups. There are significant differences for each parameter in each obese and normal weight group before and after physical exercise with exception of the BMI and WC in the normal group. Significant negative correlations were shown between irisin and blood glucose and insulin and HOMA-IR levels in the obese group and normal weight group. CONCLUSION: Irisin improves glucose homeostasis after long-term moderate physical exercises, suggesting that irisin could have regulatory effect on glucose, insulin resistance, and obesity and it could be used as a potential therapy for obesity and insulin resistance.