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BackgroundChinese patent medicine is commonly used in China as an important treatment mechanism to thwart the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3–5, among which Niaoduqing granules are a representative Chinese patent medicine; however, its long-term efficacy on CKD prognosis remains unclear.MethodsPatients were grouped according to Niaoduqing granule prescription duration (non-Niaoduqing granule (non-NDQ) group vs Niaoduqing granule (NDQ) group). Serum creatinine (SCr) variation was compared using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). Multivariate Cox regression models were constructed, adjusting for confounding factors, to explore the risk of composite outcomes (receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT) or having an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)

Diosmetin (Dios) is a bioflavonoid mainly isolated from citrus fruits with some health-promoting properties. Recently, diosmetin has been investigated as a promising agent for treating neurodegenerative diseases. However, the poor water solubility of diosmetin restricts its application in various fields. Herein, this study developed novel lactoferrin modified long-circulating liposomes (Lf-Lcl) using a thin-film dispersion-ultrasound method for brain-targeted delivery of diosmetin with potential implications in Alzheimer's disease treatment. A three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design (BBD) was adopted for the formula optimization with the lipid-to-drug ratio, the amount of cholesterol and the concentration of phospholipids as the independent variables. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the diosmetin-loaded lactoferrin modified long-circulating liposomes (Lf-Dios-Lcl) showed homogeneous spherical particles with particle size of 173 ± 1.53 nm and zeta potential of − 35.40 ± 0.18 mV. The entrapment efficiency (EE) and dosage loading (DL) of Lf-Dios-Lcl were 80.30% ± 1.17% and 9.27% ± 0.12%, respectively. Moreover, in vitro experiments with Lf-Dios-Lcl exhibited sustained release for more than 24 h. In vivo studies demonstrated extended half-life and higher brain concentration of Lf-Dios-Lcl, indicating its excellent effect on brain targeting. The results provided insight for study nutritional and medicinal value of Lf-Dios-Lcl.

Abstract Currently, preliminary results have confirmed the existence of receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL)-dependent necroptosis of pancreatic acinar cells during early acute pancreatitis (AP), which might be a potential target for the effective regulation of necroinflammatory injury. However, the exact effect of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1)-dependent regulated acinar cell necrosis on AP is still uncertain. In our study, we first explored the changes in the degree of local and systemic inflammation in AP rats when the activation of acinar cell RIPK1 was inhibited. The RIPK1 inhibitor Nec-1 was used to treat rats, and the levels of related inflammatory markers, necrosis indicators and apoptotic indicators were measured. Changes in pancreatic nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and aquaporin 8 (AQP8) expression were noted. Next, the expression of AQP8 in AR42J cells was inhibited, and the degree of cell necrosis and inflammatory damage was found to be significantly reduced. Most importantly, we demonstrated that the RIPK1/NF-ĸB/AQP8 axis might be a potential regulatory pathway mediating RIPK1-dependent regulated acinar cell necrosis in early AP. Finally, we used the NF-κB inhibitor PDTC and Nec-1 to treat rats in different groups and measured the degree of pathological pancreatic injury, the activation of RIPK1, and the expression of NF-κB and AQP8. In summary, we hypothesized that there might be a RIPK1/NF-ĸB/AQP8 pathway controlling RIPK1-dependent regulated necrosis of acinar cells in AP, which might be a promising therapeutic target against AP-related injury.

Based on the two-year located straw returning experiment, to explore the effects of continuous nitrogen application on the decomposition and nutrient release of returning straw in the third year, soil fertility characteristics and maize yield in Yanghuang irrigation area of Ningxia, the effects of continual application rates of different pure nitrogen (0, 150, 300, and 450 kg hm-2) on decomposition, nutrient release of returning straw in the third year, soil physical and chemical properties, and maize yield were studied by nylon mesh bag method and field experiment. The results showed that nitrogen application could promote straw decomposition at 50--170 DAS (days after maize sowing), and the nitrogen application rate at 300 kg hm-2 was the best. The cumulative decomposition ratio and decomposition rate of straw under nitrogen application rate at 300 kg hm-2 compared with that no nitrogen application treatment (the control), were significantly increased by 25.6% and 20.3%, respectively. Nitrogen application could promote the nutrient release of straw, and the cumulative nutrient release rates of returning straw was ranked: potassium > carbon > nitrogen > phosphorus. The cumulative release rate of each element in all treatments increased first and then decreased with the increase of nitrogen application rate, and the effect of nitrogen application rate at 300 kg hm-2 was the best. Nitrogen application made the soil bulk density in 0--40 cm layer decrease, while the soil total porosity increased, and nitrogen application rate at 300--450 kg hm-2 was the most significant. Nitrogen application could increase the soil temperature at 20 DAS and soil water storage at 80--170 DAS, and the effect of the nitrogen application rate at 300 kg hm-2 was the best. Nitrogen application could improve soil fertility in 0--40 cm layer, and nitrogen application rate at 300 kg hm-2 had the best effect on increasing soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium contents. Compared with the control, nitrogen application rate at 300 kg hm-2 could affect the yield composition and increase significantly maize yield by 63.7%. According to the comprehensive analysis, nitrogen application rate at 300 kg hm-2 can significantly improve soil fertility characteristics, promote the decomposition and nutrient elements release of returning straw, thus contributing to the soil fertilization and the higher yield of maize in Yanghuang irrigation area of Ningxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]