Altered neurovascular coupling in migraine without aura.

Neurovascular coupling (NVC) provides new insights into migraine, a neurological disorder impacting over one billion people worldwide. This study compared NVC and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with migraine without aura (MwoA) and healthy controls. About 55 MwoA patients in the interictal phase and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and arterial spin-labeling perfusion imaging scans. The CBF and resting-state neuronal activity indicators, including the amplitudes of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and degree centrality (DC), were calculated for each participant. The global and regional NVCs were assessed using cross-voxel CBF-neuronal activity correlations and CBF/neuronal activity ratios. Patients with MwoA showed increased CBF/ALFF ratios in the left media, superior and inferior frontal gyri, and anterior cingulate gyrus, increased CBF/DC ratios in the left middle and inferior frontal gyri, and increased CBF/ReHo ratios in the right corpus callosum and right posterior cingulate gyrus. Lower CBF/ALFF ratios in the right rectal gyrus, the left orbital gyrus, the right inferior frontal gyrus, and the right superior temporal gyrus were also found in the MwoA patients. Furthermore, the CBF/ALFF ratios in the inferior frontal and superior temporal gyri were positively correlated with the Headache Impact Test scores and Hamilton anxiety scale scores in the MwoA patients. These findings provide evidence for the theory that abnormal NVC contributes to MwoA.

Simultaneous ischemic regions targeting and BBB crossing strategy to harness extracellular vesicles for therapeutic delivery in ischemic stroke.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC-EVs) hold great promise for ischemic stroke treatment, but their therapeutic efficacy is greatly limited due to insufficient targeting ability. Previous reports focused on single ischemic targeting or blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, precise delivery to the brain parenchyma has not been fully considered. This study leveraged the targeting ability of RGD peptide and the cell penetrating ability of Angiopep-2 peptide to deliver ADSC-EVs precisely to the impaired brain parenchyma. We found that dual-modified EVs (RA-EVs) significantly enhanced the transcellular permeability across BBB in vitro, and not only targeted ischemic blood vessels but also achieved rapid accumulation in the ischemic lesion area after intravenous administration in vivo. RA-EVs further decreased the infarct volume, apoptosis, BBB disruption, and neurobehavioral deficits. RNA sequencing revealed the molecular regulation mechanism after administration. These findings demonstrate that dual-modification optimizes brain parenchymal targeting and highlights the significance of recruitment and penetration as a previously unidentified strategy for harnessing EVs for therapeutic delivery in ischemic stroke.

The Zn Vacancy-Mediated De-Accumulation Based Process for Hydrogen Production Performance Promotion of 1D Zn─Cd─S Nanorods.

Due to their anisotropy, 1D semiconductor nanorod-based materials have attracted much attention in the process of hydrogen production by solar energy. Nevertheless, the rational design of 1D heterojunction materials and the modulation of photo-generated electron-hole transfer paths remain a challenge. Herein, a Znx Cd1-x S@ZnS/MoS2 core-shell nanorod heterojunction is precisely constructed via in situ growth of discontinuous ZnS shell and MoS2 NCs on the Zn─Cd─S nanorods. Among them, the Zn vacancy in the ZnS shell builds the defect level, and the nanoroelded MoS2 builds the electron transport site. The optimized photocatalyst shows significant photocatalytic activity without Platinum as an auxiliary catalyst, mainly due to the new interfacial charge transfer channel constructed by the shell vacancy level, the vertical separation and the de-accumulation process of photo-generated electrons and photo-generated holes. At the same time, spectral analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations fully prove that shortening difference of speed between the photogenerated electron and hole movement process is another key factor to enhance the photocatalytic performance. This study provides a new path for the kinetic design of enhanced carrier density by shortening the carrier retention time of 1D heterojunction photocatalysts with improved photocatalytic performance.

Ni(OH)2-derived lamellar MoS2/Ni3S2/NF with Fe-doped heterojunction catalysts for efficient overall water splitting.

Heterostructures formed by combining semiconductor materials with different band structures can provide work functions, d-band positions and electronic properties different from bulk materials and are considered as an effective strategy to improve the catalytic activity through electronic modification. In this study, an efficient MoS2/Fe-Ni3S2/NF heterojunction material was prepared by a two-step hydrothermal method. With the help of flake Ni(OH)2 synthesized in the first step, growth sites were provided for flake Ni3S2. The electronic structure of Ni3S2 was optimized by Fe doping, while the construction of the MoS2/Fe-Ni3S2 heterostructure allowed the catalyst to expose more active sites. MoS2/Fe-Ni3S2/NF exhibited a small charge transfer resistance and excellent electrocatalytic performance. At a current density of 10 mA cm-2, only low overpotentials of 148 mV and 118 mV were required for the oxygen precipitation reaction (OER) and hydrogen precipitation reaction (HER), respectively. Notably, when MoS2/Fe-Ni3S2/NF is used as the anode and cathode for overall hydrolysis, only 1.51 V is required to reach a current density of 10 mA cm-2, demonstrating its great potential for application in hydrolysis. This work provides a feasible idea for the rational construction of non-precious metal bifunctional electrocatalysts with excellent performance.

The Dual Effects of Exosomes on Glioma: A Comprehensive Review.

Glioma is a frequently occurring type of cancer that affects the central nervous system. Despite the availability of standardized treatment options including surgical resection, concurrent radiotherapy, and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) therapy, the prognosis for glioma patients is often unfavorable. Exosomes act as vehicles for intercellular communication, contributing to tissue repair, immune modulation, and the transfer of metabolic cargo to recipient cells. However, the transmission of abnormal substances can also contribute to pathologic states such as cancer, metabolic diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. The field of exosome research in oncology has seen significant advancements, with exosomes identified as dynamic modulators of tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as angiogenesis and drug resistance. Exosomes have negligible cytotoxicity, low immunogenicity, and small size, rendering them an ideal therapeutic candidate for glioma. This comprehensive review discusses the dual effects of exosomes in glioma, with an emphasis on their role in facilitating drug resistance. Furthermore, the clinical applications and current limitations of exosomes in glioma therapy are also discussed in detail.

Improving photocatalytic hydrogen production by switching charge kinetics from type-I to Z-scheme via defective engineering.

By providing the spatial separation of the active sites and retaining high oxidative and reducing capacity, the direct Z-scheme heterostructure is considered the most potential structure for yielding photo-electric response. However, challenges still exist in the directional transfer of charge carriers between two semiconductors in direct Z-scheme structures. In this regard, by constructing the Vzn defect and p-n junction, a direct Z-scheme ZnxCd1-xS@ZnS-NiS heterostructure was obtained for the regulated electronic structure, which ensured high-yield hydrogen properties. The Zn vacancy in the partially-coated ZnS shell led to the Vzn energy level, and the addition of NiS led to the p-n structure, which caused a drastic downshift of the band edge potentials in comparison to that of pristine CdS. This variation gave rise to a staggered band edge alignment between ZnxCd1-xS and NiS, resulting in the variation of charge transfer kinetics from type-I to direct Z-scheme. Through careful characterization, it was found that the optimal photocatalytic hydrogen precipitation activity reached 16 683.6 µmol g-1 h-1, which was 70 times that of CdS, and this improvement was considered to form a spatial barrier, providing a clear direction and path for carrier transmission.

Near Infrared Emissive Lanthanide Luminescence Nanoparticle Used in Early Diagnosis and Brain Temperature Detection for Ischemic Stroke.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the most dangerous medical conditions resulting in high mortality and morbidity. The increased brain temperature after IS is closely related to prognosis, making it highly significant for the early diagnosis and the progression evaluation of IS. Herein, a temperature-responsive near infrared (NIR) emissive lanthanide luminescence nanoparticle is developed for the early diagnosis and brain temperature detection of IS. After intravenous injection, the nanoparticles can pass through the damaged blood-brain barrier of the ischemic region, allowing the extravasation and enrichment of nanoparticles into the ischemic brain tissue. The NIR luminescence signals of the nanoparticles are used not only to judge the location and severity of the cerebral ischemic injury but also to report the brain temperature variation in the ischemic area through a visualized way. The results show that the designed nanoparticles can be used for the early diagnosis of ischemic stroke and minimally invasive temperature detection of cerebral ischemic tissues in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion mice model, which is expected to make the clinical diagnosis of ischemic stroke more rapid and convenient, more accurately evaluate the state of brain injury in stroke patients and also guide stroke hypothermia treatment.

Pain nursing for gynecologic cancer patients.

Gynecological malignancy remains a prevalent cause of mortality among women. Chronic cancer pain, as a severe complication of malignancy and its therapies, accounts for a substantial burden of physical and psychological distress in affected patients. Accordingly, early identification, assessment, and standardized management of such pain are crucial in the prevention or delay of its progression. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the pathological factors that contribute to pain in patients with gynecological malignancy while highlighting the underlying mechanisms of pain in this population. In addition, we summarize several treatment modalities targeting pain management in gynecologic cancer patients, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. These interventions are crucial for tumor elimination and patient survival. Chronic cancer pain exerts a significant impact on wellbeing and quality of life for patients with gynecologic cancer. Therefore, our review emphasizes the importance of addressing this pain and its psychological sequelae and advocates for a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses nursing and psychological support. In summary, this review offers valuable insights into the pathological factors underlying pain, reviews pain management modalities, and stresses the critical role of early intervention and comprehensive care in enhancing the quality of life of these patients.

Preoperative symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment in glioma patients: A cerebral perfusion CT study.

PURPOSE: Glioma patients have varying degrees of psychiatric symptoms, which severely affect the quality of life of patients and their families. The present study investigated the correlation between preoperative psychiatric symptoms and local cerebral perfusion parameters of in glioma patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment (CI) scores of 39 patients were assessed separately, and all of the patients underwent a preoperative perfusion computed tomography scan. RESULTS: This study found that: (1) The incidence of preoperative symptoms of depression, anxiety, and CI was 46.15%, 48.72%, and 25.64%, respectively. (2) Cerebral blood volume (CBV) (lesion-sided [LS] occipital lobe white matter [WM] and parietal lobe WM and normal-sided temporal lobe WM), permeability surface (PS) (LS temporal lobe gray matter [GM] and parietal lobe WM) in the depression group were significantly decreased (p < .05). (3) CBV (LS occipital lobe WM), cerebral blood flow (LS parietal lobe GM, centrum ovale and frontal lobe WM and normal-sided frontal lobe WM, temporal lobe WM and parietal lobe WM), and mean transition time (MTT) (normal-sided frontal lobe WM and temporal lobe WM) in the anxiety group were significantly increased (p < .05). (4) CBV (LS temporal lobe GM), MTT (LS anterior limb of internal capsule), and PS (LS thalamus) in the CI group were significantly increased (p < .05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that glioma patients had different levels of psychological distress in glioma patients before surgery, which may be related to the changes in brain perfusion caused by the tumor.

Maxillary Nerve as Landmark for Exposure of the Internal Maxillary Artery in Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new method for fast exposure of the internal maxillary artery (IMA) during extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery. METHODS: To explore the positional relationship between the IMA and the maxillary nerve and pterygomaxillary fissure, 11 formalin-fixed cadaveric specimens were dissected. Three bone windows of the middle fossa were created for further analysis. Then the IMA length that could be pulled up above the middle fossa was measured after different degrees of removal of bony structure. The IMA branches under each bone window were also explored in detail. RESULTS: The top of the pterygomaxillary fissure was located 11.50 mm anterolateral to the foramen rotundum. The IMA could be identified just inferior to the infratemporal segment maxillary nerve in all specimens. After drilling of the first bone window, the IMA length that could be pulled above the middle fossa bone was 6.85 mm. After drilling of the second bone window and further mobilization, the IMA length that could be harvested was significantly longer (9.04 mm vs. 6.85 mm; P < 0.001). Removal of the third bone window did not significantly improve the IMA length that could be harvested. CONCLUSIONS: The maxillary nerve could be used as a reliable landmark for the exposure of the IMA in the pterygopalatine fossa. With our technique, the IMA could be easily exposed and sufficiently dissected without zygomatic osteotomy and extensive middle fossa floor removal.

Notopterol improves cognitive dysfunction and depression-like behavior via inhibiting STAT3/NF-ĸB pathway mediated inflammation in glioma-bearing mice.

Over the past few decades, clinicians and experts applied kinds of therapies for patients with malignant gliomas such as chemotherapy, radiation or surgical extraction. However, they used to ignore the real seriousness of neuropsychiatric symptoms after glioma, including cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, and depression, which severely impeded patients' recovery and prognosis. Interestingly, one of our previous clinical studies have found some behavioral symptoms in glioma patients were associated with systemic inflammation. Notopterol is one of the principal extracts of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Notopterygium incisum having anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory activity. However, whether notopterol is beneficial to the treatment of glioma has not been reported. In this study, we found that notopterol inhibited growth and increased apoptosis of glioma via inhibiting STAT3 activity. In addition, notopterol treatment improved cognitive impairment and depression-like behavior in GL261 cell-based glioma mice via preventing the loss of dendritic spines and the reduction of synapse related proteins (PSD95 and Synapsin-1) in hippocampal neurons. Notopterol significantly reduced the levels of cytokines (iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-ß) and the activity of STAT3/NF-kB signalling pathway in peritumoural brain tissues and GL261 conditioned medium (GCM) treated microglial cell line (BV2 cells). These results demonstrated that notopterol not only exerted anti-glioma effects via inhibiting STAT3 activity, but improved neuropsychiatric symptoms via inhibiting tumour associated inflammation through modulation of the STAT3/NF-kB pathway in glioma-bearing mice.

Infectious thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus with subarachnoid hemorrhage: A case report.

RATIONALE: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) represents 0.5% to 1% of all strokes. CVST can cause headaches, epilepsy, and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). CVST is easily misdiagnosed because of the variety and non-specificity of symptoms. Herein, we report a case of infectious thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus with SAH. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 34-year-old man presented to our hospital with a 4-hour history of sudden and persistent headache and dizziness with tonic convulsions of the limbs. Computed tomography revealed SAH with edema. Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed an irregular filling defect in the superior sagittal sinus. DIAGNOSES: The final diagnosis was hemorrhagic superior sagittal sinus thrombosis and secondary epilepsy. INTERVENTIONS: He was treated with antibiotic, antiepileptic, fluids to rehydrate, and intravenous dehydration. OUTCOMES: After treatment, the seizures did not recur and the symptoms were relieved. One month after the antibiotic treatment, the muscle strength of the patient's right extremity was restored to level 5, and there was no recurrence of his neurological symptoms. LESSONS: We describe a case of infectious thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus manifested as SAH, which is easily misdiagnosed, especially when patients present with an infection. Clinicians must therefore take care during the diagnosis and selection of the treatment strategy.

Case Report: Cranial Tuberculosis in a Patient without Tuberculosis Foci Elsewhere in the Body.

Cranial tuberculosis is a relatively infrequent inflammatory reaction caused by tuberculous bacilli invading the skull. Most cases of cranial tuberculosis are secondary to tuberculosis foci in other parts of the body; primary cranial tuberculosis is extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of primary cranial tuberculosis. A 50-year-old man presented to our hospital with a mass in the right frontotemporal region. Chest computed tomography and abdominal ultrasonography findings were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a mass in the right frontotemporal skull and scalp with cystic changes, adjacent bone destruction, and meningeal invasion. The patient underwent surgery and was diagnosed with primary cranial tuberculosis; he was treated with antitubercular therapy postoperatively. No recurrent masses or abscesses were observed during the follow-up.

Gut microbiota: a potential target for improved cancer therapy.

Drug resistance and toxicity are major challenges observed during cancer treatment. In recent years, gut microbiota has been found to be strongly associated with the efficacy, toxicity, and side effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Both preclinical studies and clinical trials have demonstrated the potential of microbiota modulation for cancer treatment. The human gut microbiota has exciting prospects for developing biomarkers to predict the outcome of cancer treatment. Moreover, multiple approaches can alter the gut microbiota composition, including faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotics, antibiotics (ATB), and diet. We describe the mechanisms by which the gut microbiota influences the efficacy and toxicity of cancer therapy, disease-related biomarkers, and methods to target the gut microbiota to improve outcomes. The purpose of this review is to provide new ideas for optimising cancer therapy by providing up-to-date information on the relationship between gut microbiota and cancer therapy, and hopes to find new targets for cancer treatment from human microbiota.

Application and clinical efficacy of Sufu medical chitosan hydrogel dressing in radiation skin damage caused by radiotherapy for cervical cancer.

Objectives: To investigate the benefits of Sufu medical chitosan hydrogel dressing(Sufu) in the prevention and control of radiation skin damage during radiotherapy for cervical cancer as a combined modality. Methods: Ninety-seven cervical cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy at the Cancer Hospital of China Medical University between May 2017 and November 2018 were recruited according to given inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were assigned to a control group (n=48, washing the perineal area with normal saline) and an observation group (n=49, application of Sufu onto the site of radiotherapy in addition to washing the perineal area with normal saline). The treatment regimens for the two groups continued until the end of radiotherapy. A comparison of the RTOG (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group) grading of acute radiation-induced skin reactions (ARISRs), pain intensity (measured by the verbal rating scale (VRS)) and post-treatment wound healing was drawn between the two groups. Results: In the observation group, 81.6% (40/49) of the patients had radiation dermatitis, which was significantly lower than the incidence rate (95.8%, 46/48) in the control group (P <0.05). The observation group was at higher risk of radiation dermatitis when given a high radiation dose, while the control group was more likely to have radiation dermatitis when administered with a moderate radiation dose (P <0.05). The median time of occurrence of pain and the median time of onset of skin reactions were significantly later in the observation group as compared with the control group (P <0.05, respectively). In the observation group, the pain relief rate was 92.50% at Day-3, and the wound healing rate was 95.0% at Day-7, significantly higher than in the control group (73.9% and 80.4%) (P <0.05, respectively). Conclusions: During radiotherapy for cervical cancer, Sufu can effectively prevent and control radiation-induced skin and mucous membrane damage, delay the onset of radiation dermatitis and substantially reduce the incidence rate, relieve radiation dermatitis and pain and promote wound healing.

Post-operative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and outcome after thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a novel inflammatory marker to predict adverse cardiovascular events. However, there is a lack of data on hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and neurological outcome after mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We investigated whether NLR before and after thrombectomy for patients with AIS was associated with HT and neurological outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with anterior circulation AIS who underwent thrombectomy. HT was evaluated by CT within 24 h after thrombectomy. Clinical data had been collected retrospectively; laboratory data were extracted from our electronic hospital information system. NLR was obtained at admission (NLR1) and immediately after thrombectomy (NLR2). The main outcomes were post-interventional intracranial hemorrhage and unfavorable functional status (modified Rankin scale scores of 3-6) 3 months post-stroke. Results: A total of 258 patients with AIS, according to the NIHSS (median 14), were included. NLR2 was higher in patients who developed HT after thrombectomy and unfavorable neurological outcomes 3 months post-stroke (p < 0.001) than in those without HT or favorable outcomes, even after correction for co-factors [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.35 for HT, 95% confidence interval (CI)1.16-1.57, p < 0.001, and 1.85 for unfavorable outcome, 95%CI 1.57-2.17, p < 0.001]. The optimal cutoff value for the NLR2 as an indicator for auxiliary diagnosis of HT and the unfavorable outcome was 8.4 and 8.8, respectively. Conclusion: NLR immediately after thrombectomy is a readily available biomarker of HT and neurological outcomes in patients with AIS.

Elevated RECQL1 expression predicts poor prognosis and associates with tumor immune infiltration in low-grade glioma.

Background: Dysregulation of RecQ protein-like 1 (RECQL1), a member of the RecQ DNA helicase, has been determined to participate in malignant process of numerous tumors such as immunosuppression and proliferation and may serve as a biomarker for certain malignancies. Nevertheless, whether there is a similar association between RECQL1 and low-grade glioma (LGG) is uncertain. We therefore turned our attention to exploring the association of RECQL1 with tumor immune infiltration and prognostic significance in LGG. Methods: The differential expression analysis of the RecQ DNA helicases was conducted through the GLIOVIS database and GSE4290 dataset, and verified by the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 database. Kaplan-Meier plots, Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were employed to assess the prognostic value of RECQL1 expression level and other six variables in LGG patients, and subsequently an efficient nomogram model was generated for clinical prediction. Tumor Immune Estimation Resource database and the single sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis were used to assess the correlation between RECQL1 and immune infiltration of LGG. The biological processes that may be related to RECQL1 in LGG were learned through functional enrichment analysis by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis software. Results: Among the five RecQ DNA helicases detected, only RECQL1 was over-expression in LGG with the most convincing evidence (log2FoldChange >1.5, q value <0.01). High RECQL1 expression demonstrated worse overall survival and progression-free survival of LGG patients (P<0.05). Dysregulation of RECQL1 was an independent prognostic indicator for outcomes of LGG (HR >1.4, P<0.05). RECQL1 may participates in the carcinogenic pathways of LGG such as adherens junction and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. The transcription expression level of RECQL1, was obviously associated with tumor immune infiltrating cells and their marker genes. Conclusions: High RECQL1 expression detected in LGG not only implies adverse clinical outcome of patients, but also correlates with tumor immune infiltration and certain oncogenic pathways. Our study proposes potential novel biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of LGG patients.

A meta-analysis of the prognostic value of circulating tumor cells in ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in ovarian cancer. METHODS: Chinese databases (Wanfang, Cqvip, CNKI) and English databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, SinoMed, Cochrane Library) were retrieved to collect relevant studies on CTCs evaluation of ovarian cancer prognosis. Data were extracted to analyze the effect of CTCs on the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients, and a meta-analysis was performed using Stata 15 software. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that ovarian cancer patients with positive CTCs had a shorter OS and higher death rate, (HR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.30, 1.84), a shorter PFS and an increased risk of disease progression (HR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.54) compared with patients with negative CTCs. Subgroup analysis showed that the HRs for death and disease progression were higher in CTCs-positive patients after treatment than those patients with negative CTCs (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CTCs detection has a high application value in the prognosis assessment of ovarian cancer.

Short-Chain Fatty Acids Ameliorate Depressive-like Behaviors of High Fructose-Fed Mice by Rescuing Hippocampal Neurogenesis Decline and Blood-Brain Barrier Damage.

Excessive fructose intake is associated with the increased risk of mental illness, such as depression, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Our previous study found that high fructose diet (FruD)-fed mice exhibited neuroinflammation, hippocampal neurogenesis decline and blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage, accompanied by the reduction of gut microbiome-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Here, we found that chronic stress aggravated these pathological changes and promoted the development of depressive-like behaviors in FruD mice. In detail, the decreased number of newborn neurons, mature neurons and neural stem cells (NSCs) in the hippocampus of FruD mice was worsened by chronic stress. Furthermore, chronic stress exacerbated the damage of BBB integrity with the decreased expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-5 and occludin in brain vasculature, overactivated microglia and increased neuroinflammation in FruD mice. These results suggest that high fructose intake combined with chronic stress leads to cumulative negative effects that promote the development of depressive-like behaviors in mice. Of note, SCFAs could rescue hippocampal neurogenesis decline, improve BBB damage and suppress microglia activation and neuroinflammation, thereby ameliorate depressive-like behaviors of FruD mice exposed to chronic stress. These results could be used to develop dietary interventions to prevent depression.

Interfacial Nucleation Mechanism of Water-Soluble Ag-In-S Quantum Dots at Room Temperature and Their Visible Light Catalytic Performance.

A novel interfacial reaction nucleation mechanism for the preparation of water-soluble Ag-In-S quantum dots (AIS QDs) was proposed in which interfacial acid regulates the concentration of hydroxide ions outside the complex and sulfur sources attack cations at the interface of the complex, covalent bonds between cations and sulfur sources are formed at the interface of the complex, and the nucleation and growth of crystals is finished at room temperature. By bypassing the heating process normally necessary for crystal nucleation and growth, AIS QDs can be produced on a large scale under simple, mild conditions. At the same time, the characteristics of this mechanism enable AIS QDs to be directly synthesized in an organic pollutant solution. This study represents a significant advance in the mechanism of crystal synthesis and contributes to the photocatalytic decomposition of organic pollutants from theory to practice.