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In order to distinguish the differences in the heterogeneous fractal structure of porous graphite adopted in the filtration and impregnation, the fractal dimensions (FDs) were obtained by the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) to calculate the volumetric FDs of ten graphite samples, following the fractal theory. The FD expression of the tortuosity along with all the parameters from the MIP test was optimized to simplify the calculation. In addition, the percolation evolution process of mercury in the porous media was analyzed based on the data collected in the experiment. According to the analysis conducted, the FDs in the backbone formation regions of samples varied from 2.695 to 2.984, with 2.923 to 2.991 in the percolation regions and 1.224 to 1.544 in the tortuosity. Based on the correlation coefficients (R2)({R}^{2}) ranging between 0.906 and 0.999, and the root mean square errors ranging between 0.0001 and 0.0065 mL g−1, a high level of reliability was identified. According to the MIP test, the mercury distribution in porous graphite demonstrated a transitional process from the local aggregation, the gradual expansion, the infinite cluster connection to the global connection.

Our study majorly utilizes network pharmacology combined with molecular docking to explore the latent active components and associated pivotal targets of Guyuan Decoction (GYD) in the treatment of frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome (FRNS). All active components and latent targets of GYD were retrieved from TCMSP database. The target genes for FRNS in our research were obtained from the GeneCards database. The drug-compounds-disease-targets (D-C-D-T) network was established using Cytoscape 3.7.1. STRING database was applied to observe the protein interaction. Pathway enrichment analyses (GO and KEGG) were conducted in R software. Moreover, molecular docking was employed to further validate the binding activity. MPC-5 cells were treated with adriamycin to mimic FRNS in vitro and to determine the effects of luteolin on modeled cells. A total of 181 active components and 186 target genes of GYD were identified. Meanwhile, 518 targets related to FRNS were also revealed. Based on the intersection using a Venn diagram, 51 common latent targets were recognized to be associated with active ingredients and FRNS. Additionally, we identified the biological processes and signaling pathways involved in the action of these targets. Molecular docking analyses illustrated that AKT1 and CASP3 interacted with luteolin, wogonin, and kaempferol, respectively. Moreover, luteolin treatment enhanced the viability but inhibited the apoptosis of adriamycin-treated MPC-5 cells via regulating AKT1 and CASP3. Our study forecasts the active compounds, latent targets, and molecular mechanisms of GYD in FRNS, which helps us to understand the action mechanism of GYD in FRNS comprehensive treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although originally restricted to their structural role as major constituents of membranes, lipids are now well-defined actors to integrate intracellular or extracellular signals. Accordingly, it has been known for decades that lipids, especially those coming from diet, are important to maintain normal physiological functions and good health. This is especially the case to maintain proper cognitive functions and avoid neuronal degeneration. But besides this empiric knowledge, the exact molecular nature of lipids in cellular signaling, as well as their precise mode of action are only starting to emerge. The recent development of novel pharmacological, molecular, cellular and genetic tools to study lipids in vitro and in vivo has contributed to this improvement in our knowledge. Among these important lipids, phosphatidic acid (PA) plays a unique and central role in a great variety of cellular functions. This article will review the different findings illustrating the involvement of PA generated by phospholipase D (PLD) and diacylglycerol kinases (DGK) in the different steps of neuronal development and neurosecretion. We will also present lipidomic evidences indicating that different species of PA are synthesized during these two key neuronal phenomena.

Poor drug distribution and inefficient renal cellular uptake are the major barriers diminishing the efficacy of nanoparticles in renal targeted therapy. We designed the rhein (RH)-loaded poly-γ-glutamic acid (PGA)-coated polycaprolactone-polyethyleneimine nanoparticles (RGPP) to enhance renal drug distribution and cellular uptake via PGA-mediated receptor-ligand interaction with γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) expressed highly in the kidney. PGA coating not only ensured the stability, sustained drug release, and biocompatibility of RGPP, but also promoted renal cellular uptake via binding with the GGT on the renal cells. Following intravenous administration, PGA coating protects RGPP from recognition by the reticuloendothelial system, resulting in prolonged blood circulation. RGPP enables targeted RH accumulation in the kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy (DN) mice, resulting in significant recovery of renal physiological function. The PGA coating strategy opens a new avenue for the management of renal diseases using nanomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To observe the effect of salvia miltiorrhizae injection on inflammatory mediator levels and mesenteric lymph nodes in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and obstructive jaundice (OJ) rats and explore the protective mechanism of salvia miltiorrhizae on the lymph nodes of these rats. Methods. A total of 288 rats were used in SAP-associated and OJ-associated experiments. The rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, model control group, and treated group. At various time points after operation, the pathological changes in mesenteric lymph nodes of rats in each group were observed, respectively. Results. The pathological severity scores in lymph nodes of SAP rats in treated group were significantly lower than those in model control group (P

Background: Asthma is a complex inflammatory disorder that plagues a large number of people. Schisandrin B is an active ingredient of the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Schisandra with various proven physiological activities such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In this study, we explored the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and provided the mechanistic insights into the activity of schisandrin B in a mouse model of ovalbumin- (OVA-) induced allergic asthma.Methods: Male BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA to induce asthma and treated with various doses (15 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, and 60 mg/kg) of SCH to alleviate the features of allergic asthma, airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammatory response, OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E level, and pathological injury.Results: Schisandrin B significantly attenuated the airway hyperresponsiveness induced by OVA. Moreover, schisandrin B administration suppressed inflammatory responses, reduced the level of IgE, and attenuated pathological injury. Mechanistically, schisandrin B treatment promoted the activation of nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), but suppressed the stimulation of the NF-κB pathway caused by OVA.Conclusion: Taken together, our study suggests that schisandrin B attenuates the features of asthmatic lungs by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway and activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]