Chronic Stress and Oxidative Stress as Common Factors of the Pathogenesis of Depression and Alzheimer's Disease: The Role of Antioxidants in Prevention and Treatment

Chronic stress triggers impairments of the redox status of salivary glands associated with different histological responses in rats

Stress occurs as a reaction to mental and emotional pressure, anxiety, or scarring. Chronic stress is defined as constant submission to these moments. It can affect several body systems, increase blood pressure, and weaken immunity, thereby interfering with physiological health processes. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the effects of chronic stress on the redox status and histomorphological parameters of salivary glands. Thirty-two albino Wistar male rats were randomly divided into two groups: chronic stress and control. Chronically stressed animals were subjected to a restraint protocol by introducing them into a polyvinyl tube for 4 hours daily for 28 days, allowing immobilization of their movements. Subsequently, the animals were euthanized for further collection of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands. The redox state of the glands was evaluated using the antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assays. Histological analysis was performed through morphometry of the tissues stained with hematoxylin and eosin and histochemical through picrosirius red staining. Both the parotid and submandibular glands of stressed rats exhibited oxidative stress due to a decrease in ACAP and an increase in TBARS levels. However, the parotid glands are more susceptible to harmful changes in the tissue, such as an increase in the stromal area and in the collagen area fraction, decrease in the acinar area, and smaller size of the acinus and ducts. Our results suggest that chronic stress may cause harmful modulation of the redox state of the salivary glands, with different histological repercussions.

Neuroprotective effects of empagliflozin against scopolamine-induced memory impairment and oxidative stress in rats

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorders. The main medicinal theory for the management of AD belongs to the acetyl-cholinesterase-inhibition pathway and NMDA antagonism. Recent investigation proposed memory improvement by sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors which indicated to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. According to the lack of sufficient evidence about the efficacy of empagliflozin (EMPA) for memory improvement, in comparison with donepezil (DON), the present research was carried out in order to investigate this hypothesis towards scopolamine-induced neurotoxicity on experimental male Wistar rats. The animals divided into two sets, each included 4 groups: The first set of Healthy animals [Control, EMPA (4 or 10 mg/kg), DON (1 mg/kg)]. The second set of rat Alzheimer model, which received 2 mg/kg Scopolamine by intraperitoneal route for 10 days followed by other treatments [AD, AD+ EMPA (4 or 10 mg/kg) and AD+DON]. Normal rats and AD rats, with each group receiving different substances for 8 consecutive days and 24 h after the accomplishment of the drug administrations, the memory functions assessed through Morris water maze (MWM) paradigm. This task was followed by decapitation of rats in order to evaluate the biochemical oxidative stress parameters in brain tissue. Our data indicated that EMPA significantly improved animals' performance in the behavioral test with a significant decrease in oxidative stress and antioxidant imbalance. In addition, EMPA (4 mg/kg) significantly reduced both cellular malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl content while conversely increased the total reduced glutathione content. Besides, the levels of total as well as endogenous antioxidants in the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay reported to be augmented. It seems that EMPA significantly improved both cellular biochemical aspects and memory performance in animal models in accordance with histopathological assessments. Conclusively, 4 mg/kg EMPA demonstrated better results in all aspects that were evaluated during this research.

Impact of corticoid receptors on Alzheimer's disease: a neuroendocrine perspective

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that has been strongly associated with changes in corticoid receptor function and HPA axis dysregulation. This review gives an overview of the complex role of GC and MC receptors in AD, especially how chronic exposure to elevated cortisol contributes to hippocampal degeneration, oxidative stress, and cognitive decline. Specific emphasis lies with cortisol, brought to the attention of neurotoxicity, and relates it to Cushing syndrome with chronic hyper-cortisolism simulating cognitive and structural impairments seen in AD. The impact of HPA axis over-activity in AD pathology is presented, demonstrating its contribution to neuro-inflammation and possible utilization as a biomarker for disease progression. This review further includes pharmacological strategies that modulate corticoid receptors for the reduction of GC-induced neurotoxicity and includes selective GR antagonists and MR agonists. Lifestyle modifications, which modulate HPA activity, are the other non-pharmacological approach to managing AD. Finally, novel drugs and interventions targeting the regulation of GC, anti-inflammatory pathways, as well as attenuation of oxidative stress are emerging strategies. Such a strategy implies that it is possible that receptor activity balance can delay or arrest AD progression.

Prolonged 5-week and 12-week chronic stress differentially modulates CNS expression of pro- and anti-neuroinflammatory biomarkers, brain monoamines and affective behavior in adult zebrafish

Chronic stress is a major cause of affective pathogenesis, such as anxiety and depression. Experimental animal models, including rodents and zebrafish, are a valuable tool for translational neuroscience research focusing on stress-related brain disorders. Here, we examined the effects of 5- and 12-week chronic unpredictable stress (CUS5 and CUS12) on zebrafish behavior, whole-body cortisol and neuroinflammation-related biomarker gene expression, including markers of pro-inflammatory microglia (NOS2a, COX2, P75NTR) and astroglia (C3, GBP), and markers of anti-inflammatory microglia (ARG-1, CD206) and astroglia (S100a10, PTX). We also assessed stress-induced changes in brain monoamine levels and brain-blood-barrier permeability. Overall, CUS5 induced anxiety-like behavior, accompanied by elevated CNS pro-inflammatory marker gene expression, cortisol signaling and norepinephrine levels. In contrast, CUS12 induced depression-like behavior, accompanied by lowered cortisol levels, impaired serotonin turnover and activated anti-inflammatory biomarker gene expression, as well as upregulated histone deacetylase 4 gene (suggesting the involvement of epigenetic regulation). Collectively, this confirms the importance of stress duration as a key factor in the development of stress-related disorders in zebrafish models, and further implicates pro- and inti-inflammatory neuroglia in affective pathogenesis.

Vitamin D alleviates chronic stress-induced testicular steroidogenesis disruption in Wistar rats

Stress is associated with various health issues. Research has highlighted the relationship between chronic stress and male reproductive health. One of the primary mechanisms underlying stress-induced male reproductive dysfunction is impaired steroidogenesis. In the present study, we validated a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) model and investigated testicular dysfunction in CUS rats. The CUS paradigm involved exposing rats to a variety of stressors daily for 8 weeks. Vitamin D (10 µg/kg/twice a week, p.o) was administered to CUS rats starting 2 weeks after the onset of stress exposure and continued until the end of study. The stress in rats was confirmed by the occurrence of anxiety and depressive-like behaviours through elevated plus-maze test & novelty-suppressed feeding test and rise in serum corticosterone levels. Testicular dysfunction in CUS rats was assessed via serum gonadotropins, testosterone, cytokines, oxidative stress, and testis-epididymis-sperm morphology. The reduction in steroidogenesis was confirmed via immunohistochemical analysis of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3 (17β-HSD3), steroidogenic acute regulatory gene (StAR) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression. Further, we studied the role of vitamin D in alleviating stress-induced testicular damage and the potential mechanisms underlying steroidogenic alterations in CUS rats. Notably, vitamin D treatment prevented CUS-induced decline in testicular 17β-HSD3, StAR and VDR expression. Moreover, vitamin D ameliorated the CUS-induced reduction in serum testosterone levels. Histological assessment revealed that vitamin D prevented CUS-induced damage in sperm, testis and epididymis morphology. In conclusion, our findings suggest that CUS exposure induces testicular dysfunction, which can be prevented by vitamin D, potentially through the regulation of steroidogenic pathways.

Understanding chronic inflammation: couplings between cytokines, ROS, NO, Cai 2+, HIF-1α, Nrf2 and autophagy

Chronic inflammation is an important component of many diseases, including autoimmune diseases, intracellular infections, dysbiosis and degenerative diseases. An important element of this state is the mainly positive feedback between inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), increased intracellular calcium, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) stabilisation and mitochondrial oxidative stress, which, under normal conditions, enhance the response against pathogens. Autophagy and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated antioxidant response are mainly negatively coupled with the above-mentioned elements to maintain the defence response at a level appropriate to the severity of the infection. The current review is the first attempt to build a multidimensional model of cellular self-regulation of chronic inflammation. It describes the feedbacks involved in the inflammatory response and explains the possible pathways by which inflammation becomes chronic. The multiplicity of positive feedbacks suggests that symptomatic treatment of chronic inflammation should focus on inhibiting multiple positive feedbacks to effectively suppress all dysregulated elements including inflammation, oxidative stress, calcium stress, mito-stress and other metabolic disturbances.

Chronic stress-mediated dysregulations in inflammatory, immune and oxidative circuitry impairs the therapeutic response of methotrexate in experimental autoimmune disease models

Chronic stress is significantly implicated in the worsening of autoimmune disorders, contributing to elevated inflammation and diminished therapeutic efficacy. Here, in this study, we investigated the detrimental impact of an 8-week chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) protocol on the progression of arthritis and psoriasis using collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis rat models, respectively. Our objective was to elucidate how prolonged stress exacerbates disease severity and impairs the effectiveness of treatment drug. Following the induction of CIA and IMQ, rats were subjected to an 8-week CUS paradigm designed to simulate chronic stress conditions. Moreover, after 5 weeks of CUS, methotrexate (MTX; 2 mg/kg, administered once weekly for 3 weeks, intraperitoneally) was introduced as a therapeutic intervention. The severity of CUS-induced effects and the therapeutic impairment of MTX in arthritis and psoriasis rats were assessed through pathological examination of joint and epidermal tissues, respectively. Additionally, we measured various pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, including NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B), IFN-γ (interferon-gamma), TNF-α (tumour necrosis factor alpha), IL (interleukin)-1β, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-23 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), analysed immune cells through complete haematological profiling and evaluated oxidative stress markers. Our findings revealed that CUS significantly aggravated the pathological features of both arthritis and psoriasis. Prolonged stress exposure led to heightened inflammatory responses, increased oxidative stress and more severe tissue damage. Moreover, the therapeutic efficacy of MTX was notably reduced in stressed rats compared to non-stressed, underscoring the detrimental effects of chronic stress on treatment outcomes. Taken together, our results emphasize the importance of considering chronic stress as a critical factor in the management of autoimmune diseases.

Activation of glutamine synthetase (GS) as a new strategy for the treatment of major depressive disorder and other GS-related diseases

Glutamine synthetase (GS) plays a crucial role in the homeostasis of the glutamate-glutamine cycle in the brain. Hypoactive GS causes depressive behaviors. Under chronic stress, GS has no change in expression, but its activity is decreased due to nitration of tyrosine (Tyr). Thus, we speculate that agents that prevent nitration or facilitate denitration of GS would be candidates for new antidepressants. Using human recombinant GS and mouse lysate from the medial prefrontal cortex, we demonstrated that Tyr (0.0313-0.5 µM) dose-dependently protected GS activity against peroxynitrite-induced Tyr-nitration of GS. Diet supplementation with Tyr exerted significant antidepressant effects in a chronic immobilization stress depression mouse model. We further found that dipeptides, such as tyrosyl-glutamine (YQ), that had appropriate chemical properties for medication also increased GS activity both in vitro and in vivo and exerted antidepressant effects. Because reduced GS activity also occurs in epilepsy and hyperammonemia, we evaluated whether Tyr and YQ had therapeutic effects. Interestingly, Tyr or YQ administration significantly attenuated kainic acid-induced seizures in mice and reduced blood ammonia levels in azoxymethane- or bile duct ligation-induced hyperammonemia mouse models, which was accompanied by an increment in GS activity. The activation of GS was accomplished by a decrement in Tyr-nitration, so-called Tyr-denitration. Therefore, this study demonstrates that the activation of GS could be a new strategy to treat depression and other GS-related diseases.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of baicalein: targeting Nrf2, and NFĸB in neurodegenerative disease

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, are characterized by progressive loss of neurons in the brain regions, including the hippocampus, cortex, substantia nigra, and striatum. Multiple pathological mechanisms drive this neuronal loss, including oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein misfolding, and excitotoxicity. Recent evidence suggests that these processes are intricately linked to the dysregulation of key signalling pathways, such as the IĸB/NFĸB, and KEAP1/Nrf2 pathways, which play central roles in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial functions, respectively. At present, no cure exists for neurodegenerative disorders, and available medications focus solely on symptomatic management. While these treatments provide temporary relief, their long-term use is often associated with adverse health effects. In this context, natural Phytoactive constituents like Baicalein, a bioactive flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, have gained attention for their promising therapeutic potential. Baicalein has been shown to modulate the IĸB/NFĸB, and KEAP1/Nrf2 pathways, thereby mitigating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress while supporting mitochondrial health. It exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NFĸB activation, thereby reducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and NLRP3 inflammasome, and enzymes like COX-2, LOX, and iNOS, which are essential for innate and adaptive immune responses. Simultaneously, baicalein enhances the Nrf2 activation, promoting the expression of antioxidant enzymes like HO-1, NQO1, GPx, and SOD, thus countering oxidative stress. These findings highlight the potential of baiclalein as a complementary approach for managing neurodegenerative diseases, offering a safer and more holistic alternative to conventional therapies.

The Potential Mechanism and the Role of Antioxidants in Mitigating Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent cause of dementia and a significant contributor to health issues and mortality among older individuals. This condition involves a progressive deterioration in cognitive function and the onset of dementia. Recent advancements suggest that the development of AD is more intricate than its underlying brain abnormalities alone. In addition, Alzheimer's disease, metabolic syndrome, and oxidative stress are all intricately linked to one another. Increased concentrations of circulating lipids and disturbances in glucose homeostasis contribute to the intensification of lipid oxidation, leading to a gradual depletion of the body's antioxidant defenses. This heightened oxidative metabolism adversely impacts cell integrity, resulting in neuronal damage. Pathways commonly acknowledged as contributors to AD pathogenesis include alterations in synaptic plasticity, disorganization of neurons, and cell death. Abnormal metabolism of some membrane proteins is thought to cause the creation of amyloid (Aβ) oligomers, which are extremely hazardous to neurotransmission pathways, especially those involving acetylcholine. The interaction between Aβ oligomers and these neurotransmitter systems is thought to induce cellular dysfunction, an imbalance in neurotransmitter signaling, and, ultimately, the manifestation of neurological symptoms. Antioxidants have a significant impact on human health since they may improve the aging process by combating free radicals. Neurodegenerative diseases are currently incurable; however, they may be effectively managed. An appealing alternative is the utilization of natural antioxidants, such as polyphenols, through diet or dietary supplements, which offer numerous advantages. Within this framework, we have extensively examined the importance of oxidative stress in the advancement of Alzheimer's disease, as well as the potential influence of antioxidants in mitigating its effects.

Harnessing the fundamental roles of vitamins: the potent anti-oxidants in longevity

Aging is a complex and heterogeneous biological process characterized by telomere attrition, genomic instability, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruption in nutrient sensing. Besides contributing to the progression of cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, these manifestations of aging also adversely affect organ function. It is crucial to understand these mechanisms and identify interventions to modulate them to promote healthy aging and prevent age-related diseases. Vitamins have emerged as potential modulators of aging beyond their traditional roles in health maintenance. There is an increasing body of evidence that hormetic effects of vitamins are responsible for activating cellular stress responses, repair mechanisms, and homeostatic processes when mild stress is induced by certain vitamins. It is evident from this dual role that vitamins play a significant role in preventing frailty, promoting resilience, and mitigating age-related cellular damage. Moreover, addressing vitamin deficiencies in the elderly could have a significant impact on slowing aging and extending life expectancy. A review of recent advances in the role of vitamins in delaying aging processes and promoting multiorgan health is presented in this article. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive framework for using vitamins as strategic tools for fostering longevity and vitality. It offers a fresh perspective on vitamins' role in aging research by bridging biological mechanisms and clinical opportunities.

Apigenin exhibits memory enhancing activity through the restoration of oxido-endocrine balance and upregulation of BDNF/ERK/CREB signalling pathways in stressed mice

Stress is linked to oxidative imbalance, neuroendocrine system malfunction, and cognitive dysfunction. It is a recognized cause of neuropsychiatric diseases. Natural flavonoid apigenin (API) has neuroprotective and antidepressant properties, but little is known about its potential in restoring memory function under stress-related circumstances. This study investigated the potentials of API administration in abrogating chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced cognitive impairment, including exploring its probable underlying mechanisms in mice. Male mice (n = 10) were treated with API (12.5-25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) 30 min before exposure to CUMS daily for 14 days. Memory function (Y-maze and novel object recognition test (NOR)) was assessed. Concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), were estimated using a spectrophotometer. Corticosterone levels were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expressions of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) were assessed using immunohistochemistry. In addition to elevating serum corticosterone and MDA levels, CUMS caused cognitive impairment in mice and decreased GSH, SOD, BDNF, ERK and CREB levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus. Administering API restored cognitive function, decreased serum corticosterone and MDA levels, as well as elevated GSH, SOD, BDNF, ERK and CREB levels in the mice brain. The restoration of oxidative, neuroendocrine balance, including upregulating BDNF, CREB, and pERK levels in the brain, all contributed to the neuroprotective effects of API. This suggests that, as shown by the stress paradigm, API may be a promising therapeutic agent for cognitive deficits.

Flavonoids and Alzheimer's disease: reviewing the evidence for neuroprotective potential

Neurodegeneration, which manifests as several chronic and incurable diseases, is an age-related condition that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and poses a significant threat to the public's health for the elderly. Recent decades have experienced an alarming increase in the incidence of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), a severe public health issue due to the ongoing development of people living in modern civilizations. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading trigger of age-related dementia. Currently, there are no efficient therapeutics to delay, stop, or reverse the disease's course development. Several studies found that dietary bioactive phytochemicals, primarily flavonoids, influence the pathophysiological processes underlying AD. Flavonoids work well as a supplement to manufactured therapies for NDDs. Flavonoids are effective in complementing synthetic approaches to treat NDDs. They are biologically active phytochemicals with promising pharmacological activities, for instance, antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant effects. The production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and oxidative stress (OS) are downregulated by flavonoids, which slow the course of AD. Hence, this research turned from preclinical evidence to feasible clinical applications to develop newer therapeutics, focusing on the therapeutic potential of flavonoids against AD.

Maternal Prenatal Stress and the Offspring Gut Microbiome: A Cross-Species Systematic Review

The prenatal period is a critical developmental juncture with enduring effects on offspring health trajectories. An individual's gut microbiome is associated with health and developmental outcomes across the lifespan. Prenatal stress can disrupt an infant's microbiome, thereby increasing susceptibility to adverse outcomes. This cross-species systematic review investigates whether maternal prenatal stress affects the offspring's gut microbiome. The study analyzes 19 empirical, peer-reviewed research articles, including humans, rodents, and non-human primates, that included prenatal stress as a primary independent variable and offspring gut microbiome characteristics as an outcome variable. Prenatal stress appeared to correlate with differences in beta diversity and specific microbial taxa, but not alpha diversity. Prenatal stress is positively correlated with Proteobacteria, Bacteroidaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Prevotellaceae, Bacteroides, and Serratia. Negative correlations were observed for Actinobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcaceae, Bifidobacteria, Eggerthella, Parabacteroides, and Streptococcus. Evidence for the direction of association between prenatal stress and Lactobacillus was mixed. The synthesis of findings was limited by differences in study design, operationalization and timing of prenatal stress, timing of infant microbiome sampling, and microbiome analysis methods.

Neuroprotective Role of Selenium Nanoparticles Against Behavioral, Neurobiochemical and Histological Alterations in Rats Subjected to Chronic Restraint Stress

Chronic stress induces changes in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) showed promising results in several neurological animal models. The implementation of SeNPs in chronic restraint stress (CRS) remains to be elucidated. This study was done to determine the possible protective effects of selenium nanoparticles on behavioral changes and brain oxidative stress markers in a rat model of CRS. 50 rats were divided into three groups; control group (n = 10), untreated CRS group (n = 10) and CRS-SeNPs treated group (n = 30). Restraint stress was performed 6 h./day for 21 days. Rats of CRS-SeNPs treated group received 1, 2.5 or 5 mg/kg SeNPs (10 rats each) by oral gavage for 21 days. Rats were subjected to behavioral assessments and then sacrificed for biochemical and histological analysis of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Prefrontal cortical and hippocampal serotonin levels, oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and caspase-3 were assessed. Accordingly, different doses of SeNPs showed variable effectiveness in ameliorating disease parameters, with 2.5 mg/kg dose of SeNPs showing the best improving results in all studied parameters. The present study exhibited the neuroprotective role of SeNPs in rats subjected to CRS and proposed their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects as the possible mechanism for increased prefrontal cortical and hippocampal serotonin level, ameliorated anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors and improved prefrontal cortical and hippocampal histological architecture.

Methane-rich saline ameliorates depressive-like behaviors during chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)

Depression, considered the most prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder, is multifactorial and complex. Oxidative stress and inflammation significantly contribute to its etiology. Conversely, methane, a novel therapeutic gas, has demonstrated efficacy in enhancing tissue resilience against ischemic injuries and inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effect of methane-rich saline (MRS) on depression using the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model. Depressed rats received MRS treatment, and depression-like behaviors and cognitive function were assessed through sucrose preference, open field, forced swimming, and Morris water maze tests. Additionally, we measured serum corticosterone levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, hippocampal malondialdehyde (MDA), and TNFα levels, and investigated histological changes in the hippocampus. Our findings revealed that MRS significantly ameliorated Depressive-like behaviors and cognitive impairment. Furthermore, MRS administration regulated serum corticosterone levels and also MRS reduced hippocampal lipid peroxidation, TNFα, and hippocampus tissue damage. MRS likely exerts its effects by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory factors and modulating the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. These results demonstrate the protective effects of MRS on the hippocampus in CUMS animals.

Association between vitamin A intake and depression among patients with heart failure

AIMS

We aim to investigate the association between vitamin A intake and depression among patients with heart failure (HF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this cross-sectional study, data of HF patients were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2020. The independent variable was vitamin A intake, and the dependent variable was depression. Weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed to explore the association of vitamin A intake with depression in HF patients. A total of 999 HF patients were included, with a mean age of 66.19 (0.51) years, and 566 (52.49%) were male. And 197 patients have depression. Vitamin A intake ≥731.38 mcg was associated with lower incidence of depression [odds ratio (OR) = 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18-0.76] in HF patients. Similarly, the relationship between high vitamin A intake and lower odds of depression were also observed in subgroups of those aged >65 years (OR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.04-0.55), males (OR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.14-0.86), without hypertension (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.11-0.58), without diabetes (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.11-0.78), with hyperlipidaemia (OR = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.09-0.64), and with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (OR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.13-0.80).

CONCLUSIONS

High vitamin A intake was associated with lower odds of depression in HF patients. Appropriate vitamin A supplementation may have potential benefit to the prevention of depression in HF patients. Additional prospective large-scale studies are required to confirm whether or not vitamin A could lead to decrease in depression symptoms.

Role of dietary patterns in older adults with cognitive disorders: An umbrella review utilizing neuroimaging biomarkers

Various dietary patterns (DPs) may benefit or harm cognitive status through their components. Publications assessing the impact of DPs on cognitive scores using neuropsychological tests have often led to less promising results. Recently, numerous meta-analyses and systematic reviews have utilized neuroimaging to identify more subtle brain-associated alterations related to cognition. Combining neuroimaging methods with neuropsychological assessments could clarify these findings. This umbrella review was conducted to systematically explore evidence on the impact of DPs on neuroimaging biomarkers in older adults with cognitive disorders. Scientific databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, were comprehensively searched from the earliest available data until May 11, 2024. Out of 89 papers, 15 meta-analyses and systematic reviews were included in our umbrella review. These selected papers addressed 27 DPs and their impact on neuroimaging biomarkers. Most selected papers were of moderate quality. Studies revealed that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) correlated with increased cortical thickness, improved glucose metabolism in the brain, and reduced amyloid-beta and tau deposition, as evidenced by magnetic resonance imaging and other neuroimaging techniques. Higher adherence to healthy DPs, such as the MedDiet, reduced the risk of Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. In contrast, Western and high glycemic diets were associated with increased cognitive decline.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of imidazolylacetophenone oxime derivatives as novel brain-penetrant agents for Alzheimer's disease treatment

Alzheimer's disease (AD, also known as dementia) has become a serious global health problem along with population aging, and neuroinflammation is the underlying cause of cognitive impairment in the brain. Nowadays, the development of multitarget anti-AD drugs is considered to be one effective approach. Imidazolylacetophenone oxime ethers or esters (IOEs) were multifunctional agents with neuroinflammation inhibition, metal chelation, antioxidant and neuroprotection properties against Alzheimer's disease. In this study, IOEs derivatives 1-8 were obtained by structural modifications of the oxime and imidazole groups, and the SARs showed that (Z)-oxime ether (derivative 2) had stronger anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective ability than (E)-congener. Then, IOEs derivatives 9-30 were synthesized based on target-directed ligands and activity-based groups hybridization strategy. In vitro anti-AD activity screening revealed that some derivatives exhibited potentially multifunctional effects, among which derivative 28 exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity on NO production with EC50 value of 0.49 μM, and had neuroprotective effects on 6-OHDA-induced cell damage and RSL3-induced ferroptosis. The anti-neuroinflammatory mechanism showed that 28 could inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory factors PGE2 and TNF-α, down-regulate the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins, and promote the polarization of BV-2 cells from pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. In addition, 28 can dose-dependently inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Aβ42 aggregation. Moreover, the selected nuclide [18F]-labeled 28 was synthesized to explore its biodistribution by micro-PET/CT, of which 28 can penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These results shed light on the potential of 28 as a new multifunctional candidate for AD treatment.

Alzheimer's Disease: Exploring the Landscape of Cognitive Decline

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, memory loss, and impaired daily functioning. The pathology of AD is marked by the accumulation of amyloid beta plaques and tau protein tangles in the brain, along with neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction. Genetic factors, such as mutations in APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 genes, as well as the APOE ε4 allele, contribute to increased risk of acquiring AD. Currently available treatments provide symptomatic relief but do not halt disease progression. Research efforts are focused on developing disease-modifying therapies that target the underlying pathological mechanisms of AD. Advances in identification and validation of reliable biomarkers for AD hold great promise for enhancing early diagnosis, monitoring disease progression, and assessing treatment response in clinical practice in effort to alleviate the burden of this devastating disease. In this paper, we analyze data from the CAS Content Collection to summarize the research progress in Alzheimer's disease. We examine the publication landscape in effort to provide insights into current knowledge advances and developments. We also review the most discussed and emerging concepts and assess the strategies to combat the disease. We explore the genetic risk factors, pharmacological targets, and comorbid diseases. Finally, we inspect clinical applications of products against AD with their development pipelines and efforts for drug repurposing. The objective of this review is to provide a broad overview of the evolving landscape of current knowledge regarding AD, to outline challenges, and to evaluate growth opportunities to further efforts in combating the disease.

Psychiatric Disorders in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Clinical Significance and Treatment Strategies

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating lung disease characterized by chronic airflow limitation and persistent respiratory symptoms. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, significantly impacting healthcare systems with considerable socioeconomic consequences. The main risk factors include exposure to tobacco smoke, environmental pollutants, occupational dust, and genetic factors such as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. COPD is often associated with extrapulmonary comorbidities, particularly psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety, which worsen patients' quality of life and prognosis. The prevalence of these disorders in patients with COPD varies significantly but is always higher than in healthy controls. Psychiatric disorders can negatively influence COPD management and vice versa, creating a complex bidirectional interaction. Depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric comorbidities in patients with COPD, influenced by factors such as social isolation, physical limitations, and fear of exacerbations. Diagnosis of these psychiatric disorders is complicated by the overlap of symptoms with those of COPD. However, some screening tools can facilitate early detection. The treatment of psychiatric disorders in patients with COPD in a rehabilitation setting requires a multidisciplinary approach involving pulmonologists, neurologists and psychologists. Pharmacological therapy with antidepressants shows mixed results in terms of efficacy and safety, with some studies reporting benefits on quality of life and others suggesting an increased risk of exacerbations and pneumonia. An integrated approach that includes the assessment and intervention of mental disorders is essential to improve the overall management of COPD and the quality of life of patients. This narrative review provides an overview of the main psychiatric comorbidities in COPD patients, aiming to fill gaps in the literature and suggest areas for future research.

The role of exercise-related FNDC5/irisin in depression

The complexity of depression presents a significant challenge to traditional treatment methods, such as medication and psychotherapy. Recent studies have shown that exercise can effectively reduce depressive symptoms, offering a new alternative for treating depression. However, some depressed patients are unable to engage in regular physical activity due to age, physical limitations, and other factors. Therefore, pharmacological agents that mimic the effects of exercise become a potential treatment option. A newly discovered myokine, irisin, which is produced during exercise via cleavage of its precursor protein fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5), plays a key role in regulating energy metabolism, promoting adipose tissue browning, and improving insulin resistance. Importantly, FNDC5 can promote neural stem cell differentiation, enhance neuroplasticity, and improve mood and cognitive function. This review systematically reviews the mechanisms of action of exercise in the treatment of depression, outlines the physiology of exercise-related irisin, explores possible mechanisms of irisin's antidepressant effects. The aim of this review is to encourage future research and clinical applications of irisin in the prevention and treatment of depression.

Yoga: As a Transformative Approach to Addressing Male Infertility and Enhancing Reproductive Health in Men: A Narrative Review

Infertility presents multifaceted challenges that encompass both physical and emotional burdens. Yoga, as a comprehensive system of mind-body medicine, serves as an effective intervention for managing male factor infertility, a complex lifestyle disorder with significant psychosomatic elements. This review explores the transformative role of yoga in addressing both the emotional and physical dimensions of infertility. By incorporating physical postures, breath control and meditation, yoga promotes emotional well-being and enhances reproductive health by improving the integrity of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes as well as the epigenome. In addition, yoga contributes to maintaining sperm telomere length through the regulation of seminal free radical levels and increased telomerase activity, which are crucial for optimal embryo cleavage and the development of high-quality blastocysts. Integrating yoga as an adjunctive therapeutic approach fosters a supportive intrauterine environment and facilitates physiological homoeostasis, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful fertilisation and implantation. Gentle asanas and flowing sequences promote relaxation, alleviate tension and cultivate emotional stability, while meditation aids in emotional healing and resilience during the infertility journey. Specific asanas, such as Baddha Konasana (bound angle pose), Bhujangasana (cobra pose) and Sarvangasana (shoulder stand), stimulate reproductive organs, enhance blood circulation and regulate hormone production. Pranayama techniques further support endocrine balance and overall vitality. Moreover, yoga provides a non-invasive strategy for managing fertility-related conditions leading to improved reproductive health and overall well-being. This review aims to elucidate the comprehensive role of yoga in improving male infertility, focusing on its impact on sperm nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, the epigenome and telomere health. In addition, it underscores the importance of self-care, open communication and shared experiences with partners. Practicing yoga regularly supports psychosocial well-being, promotes holistic healing, enhances physical and mental health and probably helps in improving reproductive health, thereby fostering resilience and self-efficacy throughout the journey of fertility and reproduction.

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) Improves Spatial Memory, Anxiety and Depressive-like Behavior in the 5xFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Withania somnifera (WS), also known as ashwagandha, is a popular botanical supplement used to treat various conditions including memory loss, anxiety and depression. Previous studies from our group showed an aqueous extract of WS root (WSAq) enhances cognition and alleviates markers for depression in Drosophila. Here, we sought to confirm these effects in the 5xFAD mouse model of β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation. Six- to seven-month-old male and female 5xFAD mice were treated with WSAq in their drinking water at 0 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL or 2.5 mg/mL for four weeks. In the fourth week of treatment, spatial memory, anxiety and depressive-like symptoms were evaluated. At the conclusion of behavioral testing, brain tissue was harvested, immunohistochemistry was performed, and the cortical expression of antioxidant response genes was evaluated. Both concentrations of WSAq improved spatial memory and reduced depressive and anxiety-related behavior. These improvements were accompanied by a reduction in Aβ plaque burden in the hippocampus and cortex and an attenuation of activation of microglia and astrocytes. Antioxidant response genes were upregulated in the cortex of WSAq-treated mice. Oral WSAq treatment could be beneficial as a therapeutic option in AD for improving disease pathology and behavioral symptoms. Future studies focused on dose optimization of WSAq administration and further assessment of the mechanisms by which WSAq elicits its beneficial effects will help inform the clinical potential of this promising botanical therapy.

Sweat-based stress screening with gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry and electronic nose

BACKGROUND

Diagnosis of stress generally involves uses of questionnaires which can provide biased results. The more reliable approach relies on observation of individual symptoms by psychiatrists which is time consuming and could not be applicable for massive scale screening tests. This research established alternative approaches with gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and electronic nose (e-nose) to perform fast stress screening based on fingerprinting of highly volatile compounds in headspaces of sweat. The investigated samples were obtained from 154 female nurse volunteers who also provided the data of questionnaire-based mental health scores with the high stress cases confirmed by psychiatrists.

RESULTS

The interviews by psychiatrists revealed 14 volunteers with high stress. Their axillary sweat samples and that from 32 nurses with low/moderate stress (controls) were collected onto cotton rods and analysed with GC-IMS. The possible marker peaks were selected based on the accuracy data. They were tentatively identified as ammonia, diethyl ether, methanol, octane, pentane, acetone and dimethylamine which could involve different endogenous mechanisms or the relationships with the local microbiomes. The data were further analysed using partial least squares discriminant analysis with the receiver operating characteristic curves showing the optimum accuracy, sensitivity and selectivity of 87%, 86% and 88%, respectively. Providing that the samples were obtained from the nurses without deodorant uses, the high stress cases could be screened using e-nose sensors with the accuracy of 89%. The sensor responses could be correlated with the marker peak area data in GC-IMS with the coefficients ranging from -0.70 to 0.80.

SIGNIFICANCE

This represents the first investigation of highly volatile compound markers in sweat for high stress screening. The established methods were simple, reliable, rapid and non-invasive, which could be further adapted into the portable platform of e-nose sensors with the practical application to perform the screening tests for nurses in Phra Nakorn Si Ayutthaya hospital, Thailand.

Association between dietary intake of selenium and chronic kidney disease in US adults: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 2015-2018

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is currently a widespread chronic illness, and its development is influenced by nutrients. Selenium plays a crucial role in the intervention and therapy of various chronic illness. In this study, we aimed to investigate the connection between dietary selenium intake and CKD in adults in the United States.

Methods

We included 6,390 individuals from the datasets of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2015 and 2018. We used multiple logistic regression, restricted cubic spline regression, and forest plots to investigate the connection between dietary selenium intake and CKD.

Results

After fully adjusting the data of 6,390 individuals from NHANES between 2015 and 2018, 1,523 (23.83%) of the individuals were identified as having chronic kidney disease (CKD). The rates of CKD in participants with average selenium intakes of ≤0.072, 0.072-0.103, 0.103-0.144, and > 0.144 mg/day were 27.53, 25.11, 22.42, and 19.96%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the fully adjusted odds ratio (OR) values for CKD according to dietary selenium intake were 1 (reference), 0.94 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.79-1.12, p = 0.466), 0.82 (95% CI:0.68-0.98, p = 0.033), and 0.77 (95% CI:0.63-0.95, p = 0.016) for the four selenium intake levels, respectively, with P trend = 0.007. The dietary selenium intake was negatively associated with the incidence of CKD, after adjusting for other confounding factors. The risk of CKD decreased by 7.7% for every additional 0.1 mg of dietary selenium intake.

Conclusion

A higher dietary selenium intake correlates significantly and negatively with the incidence of CKD.

A systematic review on the use of phytotherapy in managing clinical depression

Introduction

The use of medicinal plants in the management of depression, also known as phytotherapy or herbal medicine for depression, is an area of growing interest in the field of mental health and complementary medicine.

Methods

This study used a systematic assessment of pertinent literature to assess the effectiveness of medicinal herbs in treating mild to severe depression. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported data on the intervention, control group, adverse events, outcome measurements, and main findings. A summary and analysis were done on the included research data.

Results

We included 23 RCTs investigating the efficacy of herbal medicines, including Crocus sativus, Lavandula angustifolia, Melissa officinalis, and Echium amoenum, in treating depression. In general, saffron showed encouraging outcomes when used to treat mild to severe depression. With no discernible variations in the reported adverse effects, it proved to be equally efficacious as well-known antidepressants like imipramine and fluoxetine. However, it is noteworthy that not all trials yielded favorable results.

Conclusion

More investigation is required to fully understand the mechanisms of action, ideal dosage schedules, long-term effects, and relative efficacy of medicinal plants in depressive treatment.

Effect of acute and chronic stress on memory impairment and hippocampal oxidative stress following global cerebral ischemia in adult male rats

Background and purpose

Stress, especially immobility stress, is quite common and one of the most important and influential risk factors in neurological disorders. This study aimed to investigate the effect of acute and chronic immobility stress on the level of cortical and hippocampal oxidative stress indicators and memory impairment following global cerebral ischemia.

Experimental approach

In this study, 48 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: 1, sham (S); 2, sham-acute stress (SSA); 3, sham-chronic stress (SSC); 4, ischemia (IS); 5, ischemia-acute stress (ISA); 6, ischemia-chronic stress (ISC). The Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed 14 days after surgery, and cortisol levels and oxidative stress factors such as malondialdehyde MDA and total thiol were measured.

Findings/Results

In the MWM test, the time to find the platform (latency time) in the ISC and IS groups significantly increased compared to the S group. The time spent in the target quarter in these two groups was significantly reduced compared to the S group on the day of the probe. The results showed a significant increase in cortisol levels and malondialdehyde concentration in the ISA, ISC, and IS groups compared to the S group, but there was no significant difference in total thiol concentration. No significant difference was observed in the level of oxidative stress factors in the cortex.

Conclusion and implication

Chronic immobility stress could reduce antioxidant factors in the hippocampus and exacerbate memory impairment caused by global ischemia.

Assessing the role of antioxidant and pro-oxidant balance in mediating the relationship between vitamin K intake and depressive symptoms in adults

Background

Growing evidence suggests a link between vitamin K (VK) intake and depression, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to investigate whether oxidative balance scores (OBS) mediate the association between VK intake and depression in participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018.

Methods

We analyzed data from 30,408 individuals. Dietary VK intake served as the independent variable, depression symptoms as the outcome variable, and OBS as the mediator. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic splines assessed the associations. Mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential mediating role of OBS.

Results

Higher dietary VK intake was associated with lower depression risk in the multivariate model. Compared to the lowest log2 VK quartile, those in the higher quartiles had significantly lower depression odds (Q3: OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.55-0.78; Q4: OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.52-0.78). Additionally, a 1-unit increase in log2 VK intake was associated with a 15% decrease in depression odds (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.81-0.90). Restricted cubic splines revealed a non-linear relationship between log2 VK and depression (p for non-linearity <0.001). Notably, OBS mediated 26.09% (p < 0.001) of the association between log2 VK and depression.

Conclusion

Higher VK intake is associated with reduced depression risk, potentially mediated by oxidative balance. Further research is warranted to confirm causality and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Terminalia chebula attenuates restraint stress-induced memory impairment and synaptic loss in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the basolateral and central nuclei of the amygdala by inhibiting oxidative damage

Chronic restraint stress induces cognitive abnormalities through changes in synapses and oxidant levels in the amygdala and hippocampus. Given the neuroprotective effects of fruit of Terminalia chebula (Halileh) in different experimental models, the present investigation aimed to address whether Terminalia chebula is able to reduce chronic restraint stress-induced behavioral, synaptic and oxidant markers in the rat model. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: control (did not receive any treatment and were not exposed to stress), stress (restraint stress for 2 h a day for 14 consecutive days), Terminalia chebula (received 200 mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract of Terminalia chebula), and stress + Terminalia chebula groups (received 200 mg/kg extract of Terminalia chebula twenty minutes before stress) (n = 8 in each group). We used the shuttle box test to assess learning and memory, Golgi-Cox staining to examine dendritic spine density in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus and the basolateral and central nuclei of the amygdala, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant status (TOS) in the brain. The shuttle box test results demonstrated that Terminalia chebula treatment had a profound positive effect on memory parameters, including step-through latency (STL) and time spent in the dark room, when compared to the stress group. Daily oral treatment with Terminalia chebula effectively suppressed the loss of neural spine density in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus and the basolateral and central nuclei of the amygdala caused by chronic restraint stress, as demonstrated by Golgi-Cox staining. Additionally, the results indicate that Terminalia chebula significantly reduced the TOS and increased TAC in the brain compared to the stress group. In conclusion, our results suggest that Terminalia chebula improved memory impairment and synaptic loss in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the basolateral and central nuclei of the amygdala induced by restraint stress via inhibiting oxidative damage.

Microbiome and Metabolite Analysis Insight into the Potential of Shrimp Head Hydrolysate to Alleviate Depression-like Behaviour in Growth-Period Mice Exposed to Chronic Stress

Chronic stress (CS) endangers the physical and mental health of adolescents. Therefore, alleviating and preventing such negative health impacts are a top priority. This study explores the effect of feeding shrimp head hydrolysate (SHH) on gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and neurotransmitters in growing C57BL/6 mice subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress. Mice in the model group and three SHH groups were exposed to CS for 44 days, distilled water and SHH doses of 0.18, 0.45, 0.90 g/kg·BW were given respectively by gavage daily for 30 days from the 15th day. The results showed that SHH can significantly reverse depression-like behaviour, amino acids degradation, α diversity and β diversity, proportion of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota, abundance of genera such as Muribaculaceae, Bacteroides, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Parabacteroides and Alistipes, concentration of five short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), 5-HT and glutamate induced by CS. Muribaculaceae and butyric acid may be a controlled target. This study highlights the potential and broad application of SHH as an active ingredient in food to combat chronic stress damage.

Causal associations of antioxidants with Alzheimer's disease and cognitive function: a Mendelian randomisation study

BACKGROUND

Circulating antioxidants are associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in observational studies, suggesting potential target areas for intervention. However, whether the associations are causal remains unclear. Here, we studied the causality between antioxidants and AD or cognitive function using two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR).

METHODS

Single nucleotide polymorphisms strongly (p<5×10-8) associated with antioxidants (vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, selenium, β-carotene and urate) and outcomes (AD, cognitive performance and reaction time) were obtained from the largest and most recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS). MR inverse variance weighting (IVW) and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier test (MR-PRESSO) were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Higher genetically determined selenium level was associated with 5% higher risk of AD (OR 1.047, 95% CI 1.005 to 1.091, p=0.028) using IVW. Higher genetically determined urate level was associated with worse cognitive performance (β=-0.026, 95% CI -0.044 to -0.008, p=0.005) using MR-PRESSO. No association between the other antioxidants and AD, cognitive performance and reaction time was found. Similar results were found in the sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that lifelong exposure to higher selenium may be associated with a higher risk of AD, and higher urate levels could be associated with worse cognitive performance. Further analyses using larger GWAS of antioxidants are warranted to confirm these observations. Our results suggest that caution is needed in the interpretation of traditional observational evidence on the neuroprotective effects of antioxidants.

Possible effect of exercise with anti-fatigue nutrition on ROS-induced depression and suicide risk: a review

PURPOSE

Epidemiological evidence shows that physical activity, including continuous stimulus changes and appropriate exercise programs, improves brain degeneration in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex (PFC), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Therefore, we investigated the possible synergistic effects of physical activity and nutrition in controlling chronic fatigue and reducing oxidative stress in patients at risk for depression and suicide.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed the literature on various systemic factors related to the effects of 1) suppressing oxidative stress and 2) improving depression through exercise and nutrition. To conduct this review, we searched the PubMed database for papers published until May 1, 2024, using the terms "physical activity OR exercise" and "fatigue" OR "anti-fatigue," "oxidative stress" and "depression" and "suicide." We then reviewed the resulting list of articles related to antioxidant mechanisms.

RESULTS

Appropriate physical activity and natural product intake can substantially change whole-body homeostasis and provide a way to overcome the threat of depression and suicide by regulating metabolites, scavenging free radicals, and neurotransmitters.

CONCLUSION

Suicide and depression prevention play crucial roles in improving patients' quality of life. Our review provides evidence supporting the idea that exercise and antioxidant nutrition diminish oxidative stress and fatigue by improving the degeneration of the hippocampus, PFC, and ACC.

IL-8 (CXCL8) Correlations with Psychoneuroimmunological Processes and Neuropsychiatric Conditions

Interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL8), an essential CXC chemokine, significantly influences psychoneuroimmunological processes and affects neurological and psychiatric health. It exerts a profound effect on immune cell activation and brain function, suggesting potential roles in both neuroprotection and neuroinflammation. IL-8 production is stimulated by several factors, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) known to promote inflammation and disease progression. Additionally, CXCL8 gene polymorphisms can alter IL-8 production, leading to potential differences in disease susceptibility, progression, and severity across populations. IL-8 levels vary among neuropsychiatric conditions, demonstrating sensitivity to psychosocial stressors and disease severity. IL-8 can be detected in blood circulation, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine, making it a promising candidate for a broad-spectrum biomarker. This review highlights the need for further research on the diverse effects of IL-8 and the associated implications for personalized medicine. A thorough understanding of its complex role could lead to the development of more effective and personalized treatment strategies for neuropsychiatric conditions.

Protective effect of resveratrol and tannic acid combination on aluminium chloride induced neurotoxicity in rats

OBJECTIVE

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and one of the most common causes of dementia. Despite recent advancements, there exists an unmet need for a suitable therapeutic option. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of the combination of resveratrol (20 mg/kg/day p.o.) and tannic acid (50 mg/kg/day p.o.) to reduce aluminium trichloride-induced Alzheimer's disease in rats.

METHODS

Wistar rats weighing 150-200g were administered with aluminium chloride (100 mg/kg/day p.o.) for 90 days to induce neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease. Neurobehavioral changes were assessed using novel object recognition test, elevated plus maze test, and Morris water maze test. Histopathological studies were performed using H&E stain and Congo Red stains to check amyloid deposits. Further oxidative stress was measured in brain tissue.

RESULTS

Aluminium trichloride treated negative control group showed cognitive impairment in the Morris water maze test, novel object recognition test, and elevated plus maze test. Further, the negative control group showed significant oxidative stress, increase amyloid deposits, and severe histological changes. Treatment with the combination of resveratrol and tannic acid showed significant attenuation in cognitive impairment. The oxidative stress markers and amyloid plaque levels were significantly attenuated with the treatment.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates the beneficial effects of resveratrol-tannic acid combination in AlCl3 induced neurotoxicity in rats.

New curcumin-loaded nanocapsules as a therapeutic alternative in an amnesia model

This study aimed to investigate the action of two different formulations of curcumin (Cur)-loaded nanocapsules (Nc) (Eudragit [EUD] and poly (ɛ-caprolactone) [PCL]) in an amnesia mice model. We also investigated the formulations' effects on scopolamine-induced (SCO) depressive- and anxiety-like comorbidities, the cholinergic system, oxidative parameters, and inflammatory markers. Male Swiss mice were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8): group I (control), group II (Cur PCL Nc 10 mg/kg), group III (Cur EUD Nc 10 mg/kg), group IV (free Cur 10 mg/kg), and group V (SCO). Treatments with Nc or Cur (free) were performed daily or on alternate days. After 30 min of treatment, the animals received the SCO and were subjected to behavioral tests 30 min later (Barnes maze, open-field, object recognition, elevated plus maze, tail suspension tests, and step-down inhibitory avoidance tasks). The animals were then euthanized and tissue was removed for biochemical assays. Our results demonstrated that Cur treatment (Nc or free) protected against SCO-induced amnesia and depressive-like behavior. The ex vivo assays revealed lower acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and catalase (CAT) activity, reduced thiobarbituric species (TBARS), reactive species (RS), and non-protein thiols (NSPH) levels, and reduced interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) expression. The treatments did not change hepatic markers in the plasma of mice. After treatments on alternate days, Cur Nc had a more significant effect than the free Cur protocol, implying that Cur may have prolonged action in Nc. This finding supports the concept that it is possible to achieve beneficial effects in nanoformulations, and treatment on alternate days differs from the free Cur protocol regarding anti-amnesic effects in mice.

Role of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Brain Cells

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can have neurological effects, including cognitive symptoms like brain fog and memory problems. Research on the neurological effects of COVID-19 is ongoing, and factors such as inflammation, disrupted blood flow, and damage to blood vessels may contribute to cognitive symptoms. Notably, some authors and existing evidence suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can enter the central nervous system through different routes, including the olfactory nerve and the bloodstream. COVID-19 infection has been associated with neurological symptoms such as altered consciousness, headaches, dizziness, and mental disorders. The exact mechanisms and impact on memory formation and brain shrinkage are still being studied. This review will focus on pathways such as the olfactory nerve and blood-brain barrier disruption, and it will then highlight the interactions of the virus with different cell types in the brain, namely neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia.

Support from parents, teachers, and peers and the moderation of subjective and objective stress of secondary school student

During adolescence, students increasingly report suffering from stress and school burnout, which poses a risk to students' healthy development. However, social support may counteract perceived stress according to the Buffering Hypothesis and the Conservation of Resources Theory. In search of factors that would support healthy student development, studies have primarily focused on self-report data and neglected biophysiological processes. Addressing this research desideratum, this study examined whether perceived social support buffers the interplay of self-reported stress considering biophysiological markers (i.e., cortisol, alpha-amylase, oxidative stress, and telomere length). 83 secondary school students (Mage = 13.72, SD = 0.67; 48% girls) from Germany participated in a questionnaire study and biophysiological testing. Moderation analyses in R revealed that support from parents moderated the relationships between psychological stress as well as cynicism and inadequacy at school linked to alpha-amylase.

Pharmacological Mechanism of Herbal Interventions for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a neuropsychiatric disease characterized by an abundance of undesired ideas and thoughts associated with recurrent episodes of mania or hypomania and depression. Alterations in the circuits, including the prefrontal cortex, striatum, and limbic system, regulate mood and cause variation in several crucial neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and glutamate. Imbalances in dopamine levels have been implicated in the manic phase, while variance in serotonin is linked to depressive episodes. The precise pathophysiology of bipolar disorder is still unknown. Though different treatments are available, like lithium, risperidone, valproic acid, etc., which are widely used, they come with certain limitations, including narrow therapeutic index, hypothyroidism, weight gain, extrapyramidal symptoms, etc. The interest in herbal- based treatments for bipolar disorder arises from the desire for alternative, potentially more natural, and holistic approaches with fewer side effects. The current review focuses on the potential effects of herbal drugs and their derivatives to alleviate the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Multifunctional nanoparticle-mediated combining therapy for human diseases

Combining existing drug therapy is essential in developing new therapeutic agents in disease prevention and treatment. In preclinical investigations, combined effect of certain known drugs has been well established in treating extensive human diseases. Attributed to synergistic effects by targeting various disease pathways and advantages, such as reduced administration dose, decreased toxicity, and alleviated drug resistance, combinatorial treatment is now being pursued by delivering therapeutic agents to combat major clinical illnesses, such as cancer, atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, myocarditis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Combinatorial therapy involves combining or co-delivering two or more drugs for treating a specific disease. Nanoparticle (NP)-mediated drug delivery systems, i.e., liposomal NPs, polymeric NPs and nanocrystals, are of great interest in combinatorial therapy for a wide range of disorders due to targeted drug delivery, extended drug release, and higher drug stability to avoid rapid clearance at infected areas. This review summarizes various targets of diseases, preclinical or clinically approved drug combinations and the development of multifunctional NPs for combining therapy and emphasizes combinatorial therapeutic strategies based on drug delivery for treating severe clinical diseases. Ultimately, we discuss the challenging of developing NP-codelivery and translation and provide potential approaches to address the limitations. This review offers a comprehensive overview for recent cutting-edge and challenging in developing NP-mediated combination therapy for human diseases.

Harnessing the power of nutritional antioxidants against adrenal hormone imbalance-associated oxidative stress

Oxidative stress, resulting from dysregulation in the secretion of adrenal hormones, represents a major concern in human health. The present review comprehensively examines various categories of endocrine dysregulation within the adrenal glands, encompassing glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and androgens. Additionally, a comprehensive account of adrenal hormone disorders, including adrenal insufficiency, Cushing's syndrome, and adrenal tumors, is presented, with particular emphasis on their intricate association with oxidative stress. The review also delves into an examination of various nutritional antioxidants, namely vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, selenium, zinc, polyphenols, coenzyme Q10, and probiotics, and elucidates their role in mitigating the adverse effects of oxidative stress arising from imbalances in adrenal hormone levels. In conclusion, harnessing the power of nutritional antioxidants has the potential to help with oxidative stress caused by an imbalance in adrenal hormones. This could lead to new research and therapeutic interventions.

HPLC-DAD-MS Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, α-amylase Inhibition, Molecular Docking, and ADMET of Flavonoids from Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) has a great beneficial health effect; it has been used in traditional medicine by many cultures. Likewise, the α-amylase inhibitors are potential compounds in the development of drugs for the treatment of diabetes. The beneficial health effects of fenugreek lead us to explore the chemical composition of the seeds and their antioxidant and α-amylase inhibition activities. The flavonoid extraction from fenugreek seeds was achieved with methanol through a Soxhlet apparatus. Then, the flavonoid glycosides were characterized using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis. The antioxidant capacity of fenugreek seed was measured using DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and CUPRAC assays. Finally, the α-amylase inhibition activity was carried out using in vitro and in silico methods. The methanolic extract was found to contain high amounts of total phenolics (154.68 ± 1.50 μg GAE/mg E), flavonoids (37.69 ± 0.73 μg QE/mg E). The highest radical-scavenging ability was recorded for the methanolic extract against DPPH (IC50 = 556.6 ± 9.87 μg/mL), ABTS (IC50 = 593.62 ± 9.35 μg/mL). The ME had the best reducing power according to the CUPRAC (A 0.5 = 451.90 ± 9.07 μg/mL). The results indicate that the methanolic extracts of fenugreek seed best α-amylase inhibition activities IC50 = 653.52 ± 3.24 μg/mL. Twenty-seven flavonoids were detected, and all studied flavonoids selected have good affinity and stabilize very well in the pocket of α-amylase. The interactions between the studied flavonoids with α-amylase were investigated. The flavonoids from fenugreek seed present a good inhibitory effect against α-amylase, which is beneficial for the prevention of diabetes and its complications.

The Impressive Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles: More than Redox?

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) are biocompatible nanozymes exerting multifunctional biomimetic activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase, photolyase, and phosphatase. SOD- and catalase-mimesis depend on Ce3+/Ce4+ redox switch on nanoparticle surface, which allows scavenging the most noxious reactive oxygen species in a self-regenerating, energy-free manner. As oxidative stress plays pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders, CNPs have recently attracted attention as potential anti-inflammatory agents. A careful survey of the literature reveals that CNPs, alone or as constituents of implants and scaffolds, strongly contrast chronic inflammation (including neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, liver steatosis, gastrointestinal disorders), infections, and trauma, thereby ameliorating/restoring organ function. By general consensus, CNPs inhibit inflammation cues while boosting the pro-resolving anti-inflammatory signaling pathways. The mechanism of CNPs' anti-inflammatory effects has hardly been investigated, being rather deductively attributed to CNP-induced ROS scavenging. However, CNPs are multi-functional nanozymes that exert additional bioactivities independent from the Ce3+/Ce4+ redox switch, such as phosphatase activity, which could conceivably mediate some of the anti-inflammatory effects reported, suggesting that CNPs fight inflammation via pleiotropic actions. Since CNP anti-inflammatory activity is potentially a pharmacological breakthrough, it is important to precisely attribute the described effects to one or another of their nanozyme functions, thus achieving therapeutic credibility.

Unleashing lactoferrin's antidepressant potential through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in chronic restraint stress rats

Depression is a widespread neuropsychiatric illness whose etiology is yet mysterious. Lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding glycoprotein, is reported to promote neuroprotection through its role in the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation. The objective of the present research was to evaluate the efficacy of LF against chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced depressive behavior in rats. Depression was evidenced by a reduced grooming time in the splash test and an increased immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST). This effect was also accompanied by reduced GSH and serotonin levels and elevated lipid peroxidation and corticosterone levels in the hippocampus. Additionally, an exaggerated hippocampal inflammatory response was also shown by a rise in NF-κB (p65) and TNF-α levels and a reduced IL-10 level. Moreover, CRS substantially reduced the BDNF content as well as the protein levels of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR while boosting the GSK3β content. Interestingly, LF therapy significantly improved CRS-induced behavioral and biochemical aberrations, an effect which was suppressed upon pretreatment with LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor). This suggests that the antidepressant potential of LF may be mediated through the modulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, LF succeeded in restoring 5-HT and corticosterone levels, diminishing oxidative stress and ameliorating the inflammatory cascades. Therefore, and for the first time, LF might serve as a promising antidepressant drug through targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Quinoline Derivatives: Promising Antioxidants with Neuroprotective Potential

Quinoline has been proposed as a privileged molecular framework in medicinal chemistry. Although by itself it has very few applications, its derivatives have diverse biological activities. In this work, 8536 quinoline derivatives, strategically designed using the CADMA-Chem protocol, are presented. This large chemical space was sampled, analyzed and reduced using selection and elimination scores that combine their properties of bioavailability, toxicity and manufacturability. After applying several filters, 25 derivatives were selected to investigate their acid-base, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. The antioxidant activity was predicted based on the ionization potential and bond dissociation energies, parameters directly related to the transfer of hydrogen atoms and of a single electron, respectively. These two mechanisms are typically involved in the radical scavenging processes. The antioxidant efficiency was compared with reference compounds, and the most promising antioxidants were found to be more efficient than Trolox but less efficient than ascorbate. In addition, based on molecular docking simulations, some derivatives are expected to act as inhibitors of catechol-O methyltransferase (COMT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) enzymes. Some structural insights about the compounds were found to enhance or decrease the neuroprotection activity. Based on the results, four quinoline derivatives are proposed as candidates to act as multifunctional antioxidants against Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) diseases.

Anti-depression-like effect of Mogroside V is related to the inhibition of inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways

Siraitia grosvenorii (SG) is an edible medicinal plant found mainly in Guangxi, China, and Mogroside V (MGV) is the main component of SG extract. Previous research has shown that SG and MGV exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and neuroprotective effects. However, it is not clear whether MGV has anti-depression-like effect. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects and anti-depression-like effect of MGV both in vitro and in vivo. By performing in vitro tests, we evaluated the protective effects of MGV on PC12 cells with corticosterone-induced injury. In vivo tests, we used the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression model. Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day) and MGV (10 or 30 mg/kg/day) were administered by gavage for 21 days, and the open field test (OFT), novelty suppressed feeding test (NSFT), Tail suspension test (TST), and forced Swimming test (FST) were used to evaluate the depressive-like behaviors. In addition, we investigated the role of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4) in the hippocampal and cortex tissues. The levels of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in hippocampal and cortex tissues were also measured. Pathological changes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and cortex regions were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting was used to measure the protein expression of BDNF, TrkB, TNF-α, and AKT. The results showed that MGV had a protective effect on PC12 cells with corticosterone-induced incurred injury. In addition, MGV treatment relieved the depressive symptoms and significantly reduced inflammatory levels (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). MGV also significantly reduced oxidative stress damage and reduced the levels of apoptosis in hippocampal nerve cells. These results suggested that the anti-depressive effect of MGV may occur through the inhibition of inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways and the BDNF/TrkB/AKT pathway. These findings provide a new concept for the identification of new anti-depressive strategies.

Nutritional, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anticholinesterase Properties of Phyllanthus emblica: A Study Supported by Spectroscopic and Computational Investigations

Dietary fruits and vegetables play a vital role as food and drugs and are the main sources of antioxidant defences against degenerative diseases, such as brain dysfunctions, cardiovascular diseases, immune system deteriorations, and cancers, brought on by oxidative damage. Phyllanthus emblica is a significant herbal remedy used in conventional medicine to recover lost strength and power. In this research, the potential value of Phyllanthus emblica as a food and drug is researched. The total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total tannin contents as well as the nutritional value, vitamin C, vitamin E, and mineral contents of different organs of P. emblica were evaluated. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts and fractions of different organs of P. emblica were determined. A total of eleven flavonoids, simple phenolic, tannin-related phenolic, and tannin molecules were isolated from a hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves and fruits. The structures were identified by spectroscopic data and comparison with the literature values as gallic acid (1), naringenin 7-O-(6″-O-galloyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), 3,3'-di-O-methyl ellagic acid-4'-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), 1-O-galloyl glycerol (4), 1,6-di-O-galloyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (5), flavogallonic acid bislactone (6), corilagin (7), ethyl gallate (8), urolithin M5 (9), (E)-p-coumaroyl-1-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (10), and 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (11). Among them, compounds 3 and 10 are first isolated from the plant. Molecular docking was performed to investigate the comparative interactions between positive controls (galantamine and donepezil) and selected compounds utilizing acetylcholinesterase (4EY7) as a target receptor. Results exhibited the potency of these compounds against the target receptor. In summary, P. emblica has a wealth of minerals, vitamins C and E, and polyphenolic phytochemicals that may work together to treat infectious disease, prevent and/or treat oxidative-damage-related illnesses including Alzheimer's disease.

The Intertwining Roads between Psychological Distress and Gut Microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease represents one of the most life-altering gastrointestinal pathologies, with its multifactorial nature and unclear physiopathology. The most relevant clinical forms, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, clinically manifest with mild to severe flares and remission periods that alter the patient's social, familial and professional integration. The chronic inflammatory activity of the intestinal wall determines severe modifications of the local environment, such as dysbiosis, enteric endocrine, nervous and immune system disruptions and intestinal wall permeability changes. These features are part of the gastrointestinal ecosystem that modulates the bottom-to-top signaling to the central nervous system, leading to a neurobiologic imbalance and clinical affective and/or behavioral symptoms. The gut-brain link is a bidirectional pathway and psychological distress can also affect the central nervous system, which will alter the top-to-bottom regulation, leading to possible functional digestive symptoms and local inflammatory responses. In the middle of this neuro-gastrointestinal system, the microbiome is a key player, as its activities offer basic functional support for both relays. The present article presents current scientific information that links the pathophysiology and clinical aspects of inflammatory bowel disease and psychiatric symptomatology through the complex mechanism of the gut-brain axis and the modulatory effects of the gut microbiota.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reduces Depressive-like Behaviors, Modifies Dendritic Plasticity, and Generates Global Epigenetic Changes in the Frontal Cortex and Hippocampus in a Rodent Model of Chronic Stress

Depression is the most common affective disorder worldwide, accounting for 4.4% of the global population, a figure that could increase in the coming decades. In depression, there exists a reduction in the availability of dendritic spines in the frontal cortex (FC) and hippocampus (Hp). In addition, histone modification and DNA methylation are also dysregulated epigenetic mechanisms in depression. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a technique that is used to treat depression. However, the epigenetic mechanisms of its therapeutic effect are still not known. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the antidepressant effect of 5 Hz rTMS and examined its effect on dendritic remodeling, immunoreactivity of synapse proteins, histone modification, and DNA methylation in the FC and Hp in a model of chronic mild stress. Our data indicated that stress generated depressive-like behaviors and that rTMS reverses this effect, romotes the formation of dendritic spines, and favors the presynaptic connection in the FC and DG (dentate gyrus), in addition to increasing histone H3 trimethylation and DNA methylation. These results suggest that the antidepressant effect of rTMS is associated with dendritic remodeling, which is probably regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. These data are a first approximation of the impact of rTMS at the epigenetic level in the context of depression. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze in future studies as to which genes are regulated by these mechanisms, and how they are associated with the neuroplastic modifications promoted by rTMS.