Airborne fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is a severe problem and is associated with health issues including liver diseases. Workers performing manual labor tend to be alcohol consumers during work, where they are also exposed to PM_2.5. Long-term PM_2.5 exposure can increase oxidative stress, leading to inflammation. Whether long-term exposure to air pollution and alcohol synergistically increases liver fibrosis risk warrants investigation. Oleanolic acid (OA)—a triterpenoid—has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, but its low water solubility and cytotoxicity impair its potential applications. In this study, we fabricated liposomal OA nanoparticles (Lipo-OAs); then, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect on exposed cells and the ameliorative effect of Lipo-OAs on PM_2.5 and alcohol-induced liver fibrosis in mice. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of PM_2.5 for hepatic stellate cells was 900 μg/mL; at a concentration of ≥600 μg/mL, PM_2.5 significantly increased interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α production. OA encapsulation in Lipo-OAs, 353 ± 140 nm in diameter with 79% encapsulation efficiency, significantly reduced OA cytotoxicity. Lipo-OAs treatment significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyltransferase levels; histologically, it alleviated steatosis and improved Ishak’s modified HAI score. In conclusion, Lipo-OAs have potential anti-inflammatory and reparative effects for PM_2.5 and alcohol-induced liver injury treatment.

P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy is a feasible alternative treatment for patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the modern era. Clinical trials have shown that it could lower the risk of bleeding complications without increased ischemic events as compared to standard dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). However, the efficacy and safety of this novel approach among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are controversial because they have a much higher risk for recurrent ischemic events. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this novel approach among patients with ACS. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy with 12-month DAPT in ACS patients who underwent PCI with stent implantation. PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane library database, ClinicalTrials.gov, and other three websites were searched for data from the earliest report to July 2022. The primary efficacy outcome was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), a composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, or stroke. The primary safety outcome was major or minor bleeding events. The secondary endpoint was net adverse clinical events (NACE), defined as a composite of major bleeding and adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Five randomized controlled trials with a total of 21,034 patients were included in our meta-analysis. The quantitative analysis showed a significant reduction in major or minor bleeding events in patients treated with P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy as compared with standard DAPT(OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.46–0.75, p < 0.0001) without increasing the risk of MACCE (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.86–1.13, p = 0.82). The NACE was favorable in the patients treated with P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy (OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.73–0.93, p = 0.002). Of note, the overall clinical benefit of P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy was quite different between ticagrelor and clopidogrel. The incidence of NACE was significantly lower in ticagrelor monotherapy as compared with DAPT (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.68–0.91), but not in clopidogrel monotherapy (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.79–1.63). Both clopidogrel and ticagrelor monotherapy showed a similar reduction in bleeding complications (OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.22–0.94; OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.44–0.83, respectively). Although statistically insignificant, the incidence of MACCE was numerically higher in clopidogrel monotherapy as compared with standard DAPT (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 0.99–2.28, p = 0.06). Based on these findings, P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy with ticagrelor would be a better choice of medical treatment for ACS patients after PCI with stent implantation in the current era.

Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM_2.5) increases oxidative stress through free radical generation and incomplete volatilization. In addition to affecting the respiratory system, PM_2.5 causes aging- and inflammation-related damage to skin. Farnesol (Farn), a natural benzyl semiterpene, possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antibacterial properties. However, because of its poor water solubility and cytotoxicity at high concentrations, the biomedical applications of Farn have been limited. This study examined the deleterious effects of PM_2.5 on the epidermis and dermis. In addition, Farn-encapsulated liposomes (Lipo-Farn) and gelatin/HA/xanthan gel containing Lipo-Farn were prepared and applied in vivo to repair and alleviate PM_2.5-induced damage and inflammation in skin. The prepared Lipo-Farn was 342 ± 90 nm in diameter with an encapsulation rate of 69%; the encapsulation significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of Farn. Lipo-Farn exhibited a slow-release rate of 35% after 192 h of incubation. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration of PM_2.5 was approximately 850 μg/mL, and ≥400 μg/mL PM_2.5 significantly increased IL-6 production in skin fibroblasts. Severe impairment in the epidermis and hair follicles and moderate impairment in the dermis were found in the groups treated with post-PM_2.5 and continuous subcutaneous injection of PM_2.5. Acute and chronic inflammation was observed in the skin in both experimental categories in vivo. Treatment with 4 mM Lipo-Farn largely repaired PM_2.5-induced injury in the epidermis and dermis, restored injured hair follicles, and alleviated acute and chronic inflammation induced by PM_2.5 in rat skin. In addition, treatment with 4 mM pure Farn and 2 mM Lipo-Farn exerted moderate reparative and anti-inflammatory effects on impaired skin. The findings of the current study indicate the therapeutic and protective effects of Lipo-Farn against various injuries caused by PM_2.5 in the pilosebaceous units, epidermis, and dermis of skin.