Antifungal Activity and Mechanism of 4-Propylphenol Against Fusarium graminearum, Agent of Wheat Scab, and Its Potential Application.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is a predominant disease of wheat. Due to the lack of disease-resistant germplasm, chemical control is an important means to control wheat scab. Volatile substances produced in near-isogenic wheat lines were detected after inoculation with F. graminearum, and 4-propylphenol, which appears in FHB-resistant lines, was identified. In vitro and in vivo antifungal activity tests demonstrate that 4-propylphenol effectively inhibits the mycelial growth of F. graminearum. Metabolomics analysis showed changes in glutathione metabolism, indicating that 4-propylphenol triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress. This was consistent with the increasing ROS levels in Fusarium cells treated with 4-propylphenol. Further results demonstrated that excessive accumulation of ROS induced DNA and cell membrane damage in the mycelium. Moreover, 4-propylphenol showed different degrees of inhibition against other soil-borne pathogens (fungi and oomycetes). These findings illustrated that 4-propylphenol has broad spectrum and high antifungal activity and should be considered for use as an ecological fungicide.

Efficacy and safety of Perampanel in the treatment of post stroke epilepsy: A multicenter, real-world study.

Background: Since 2019, Perampanel (PER) has been endorsed in China as an adjunctive treatment for focal seizures, both with and without impaired awareness, and for the transition from focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. Limited research exists regarding the efficacy of PER in treating post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) in China. Empirical studies are essential to guide treatment protocols. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of PER in 58 PSE patients treated between October 2019 and July 2023. Method: This study encompassed 58 patients with PSE, treated with PER either as monotherapy or as part of adjunctive therapy, and underwent follow-up for a minimum duration of 6 months. The study assessed changes in seizure frequency, adverse events (AEs), drug retention rate, maintenance dose, and adverse reactions following PER treatment. Results: The study included 58 PSE patients, with 60.3% males and 39.7% females, ranging in age from 18 to 89, mostly within the 61-70 age group. Ischemic strokes constituted 58.6% of cases, while hemorrhagic strokes accounted for 41.4%. Focal seizures, either with or without impaired awareness, were noted in 62.1% of patients, and a transition from focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures was seen in 32.8%. The retention rates for PER at 3 and 6 months stood at 94.8% and 84.5% respectively, and the most commonly administered maintenance dose was 4 mg/day (41.28%). In the adjunctive therapy group, efficacy rates were 66.7% at 3 months and 78.6% at 6 months, compared to 80.0% at 3 months and 85.7% at 6 months in the monotherapy group. In the efficacy analysis, with a criterion of ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency, the overall efficacy rates at 3 and 6 months were 69.1% and 79.6%, respectively. Adverse reactions occurred in 46.6% of patients, primarily involving irritability and somnolence (both 27.6%), with no marked difference in incidence between the adjunctive and monotherapy groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: PER exhibits favorable efficacy and tolerability in Chinese PSE patients, possibly at lower doses.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis: The potential mechanisms by which alcohol disrupts gut and brain functions.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a high-risk psychiatric disorder and a key cause of death and disability in individuals. In the development of AUD, there is a connection known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis, where alcohol use disrupts the gut barrier, resulting in changes in intestinal permeability as well as the gut microbiota composition, which in turn impairs brain function and worsens the patient's mental status and gut activity. Potential mechanisms are explored by which alcohol alters gut and brain function through the effects of the gut microbiota and their metabolites on immune and inflammatory pathways. Alcohol and microbiota dysregulation regulating neurotransmitter release, including DA, 5-HT, and GABA, are also discussed. Thus, based on the above discussion, it is possible to speculate on the gut microbiota as an underlying target for the treatment of diseases associated with alcohol addiction. This review will focus more on how alcohol and gut microbiota affect the structure and function of the gut and brain, specific changes in the composition of the gut microbiota, and some measures to mitigate the changes caused by alcohol exposure. This leads to a potential intervention for alcohol addiction through fecal microbiota transplantation, which could normalize the disruption of gut microbiota after AUD.

Melatonin regulates Aß production/clearance balance and Aß neurotoxicity: A potential therapeutic molecule for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease with multiple predisposing factors and complicated pathogenesis. Aß peptide is one of the most important pathogenic factors in the etiology of AD. Accumulating evidence indicates that the imbalance of Aß production and Aß clearance in the brain of AD patients leads to Aß deposition and neurotoxic Aß oligomer formation. Melatonin shows a potent neuroprotective effect and can prevent or slow down the progression of AD, supporting the view that melatonin is a potential therapeutic molecule for AD. Melatonin modulates the regulatory network of secretase expression and affects the function of secretase, thereby inhibiting amyloidogenic APP processing and Aß production. Additionally, melatonin ameliorates Aß-induced neurotoxicity and probably promotes Aß clearance through glymphatic-lymphatic drainage, BBB transportation and degradation pathways. In this review, we summarize and discuss the role of melatonin against Aß-dependent AD pathogenesis. We explore the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms of melatonin on Aß production and assembly, Aß clearance, Aß neurotoxicity and circadian cycle disruption. We summarize multiple clinical trials of melatonin treatment in AD patients, showing that melatonin has a promising effect on improving sleep quality and cognitive function. This review aims to stimulate further research on melatonin as a potential therapeutic agent for AD.

Fabrication of dual-hollow heterostructure of Ni2CoS4 sphere and nanotubes as advanced electrode for high-performance flexible all-solid-state supercapacitors.

High-energy-density and flexible supercapacitors have shown numerous application potential in modern portable electronics. However, the relatively low specific capacity, poor rate retentions, and limited durability have hindered their implement. Herein, a novel hierarchical dual-hollow electrode, composed of a hollow Ni2CoS4 sphere and outer hollow Ni2CoS4 nanotubes (Ni2CoS4HS-HTs), is elaborately constructed. The Ni2CoS4HS-HT-5 exhibits a high specific capacity of 817.5 C g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1 with remarkable rate retention of 75.3% at 50 A g-1. In an all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor of Ni2CoS4HS-HT-5//CAC, a high capacitance of 1511.5 mF cm-2 at 5 mA cm-2 is obtained with an exceptional energy density of 13.6 mWh cm-3 at a power density of 92.6 mW cm-3. In addition, the capacity retention reaches 96% over 2000 cycles at 20 mA cm-3, implying the outstanding durability. The flexibility and mechanical stability are demonstrated by the intact electrochemical performances under different bending angles. As a proof-of-concept, two Ni2CoS4HS-HT-5//CACs in series could successfully illuminate 31 LED indicators for more than 8 mins. These fascinating electrochemical performances benefit from the novel electrode structure and depict great potential for modern energy storage applications.