Repurposing antimalarial artesunate for the prophylactic treatment of depression: Evidence from preclinical research.

Introduction: Several studies have linked inflammation and oxidative stress with the pathogenesis of depression. Artesunate is a commonly used medication to treat malaria and has been shown to produce antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. However, its prophylactic effects on depression and depression-related brain pathology are unknown.

Upregulated UBE4B expression correlates with poor prognosis and tumor immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major human health concern. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that ubiquitin ligase E4B (UBE4B) may be involved in the occurrence and development of various human cancers and may affect prognosis. However, the specific role and mechanism of UBE4B in HCC is unclear.

Long-lasting and Sex-dependent Effects of Postweaning Swimming Exercise on Social Dominance in Adult Mice.

Increasing evidence has shown that early life events exert long-lasting effects on brain function and mental diseases. Exercise has been proven to have many positive effects on behaviors, such as reducing anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and alleviating cognitive impairment. However, the long-lasting and even short-term effects of regular swimming exercise on social dominance remain unclear.

Intracerebroventricular injection of sclerostin reduced social hierarchy and impaired neuronal dendritic complexity in mice.

An increasing number of studies have demonstrated extensive functional links between bone and the brain. As a novel endocrine organ, bone has received increasing attention for its upregulatory functions in the brain. Sclerostin, a novel bone-derived endocrine molecule, secreted by osteocytes, can inhibit the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and wingless/integrated (Wnt) signaling pathways to regulate bone formation, but its effects on the central nervous system and neurosocial behaviors are unknown.

Exogenous Carbon Monoxide Produces Rapid Antidepressant- and Anxiolytic-Like Effects.

Carbon monoxide (CO), a byproduct of heme catalyzed by heme oxygenase (HO), has been reported to exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, and to produce significant neuroprotective effects. The potential effects of CO and even HO on depressive-like behaviors are still poorly understood. Utilizing several approaches including adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated overexpression of HO-1, systemic CO-releasing molecules (CO-RMs), CO-rich saline or CO gas treatment procedures in combination with hydrogen peroxide (HO)-induced PC12 cell injury model, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression mouse model, the present study aimed to investigate the potential antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of endogenous and exogenous CO administration and .

Sulfur dioxide derivatives attenuates consolidation of contextual fear memory in mice.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by an enhancement of traumatic memory. Intervention strategies based on the different stages of memory have been shown to be effective in the prevention and control of PTSD. The endogenous gaseous molecule, sulfur dioxide (SO), has been reported to significantly exert neuromodulatory effects; however, its regulation of learning and memory remains unestablished.

Effects of chronic triclosan exposure on social behaviors in adult mice.

Triclosan (TCS), a newly identified environmental endocrine disruptor (EED) in household products, has been reported to have toxic effects on animals and humans. The effects of TCS exposure on individual social behaviors and the potential underlying mechanisms are still unknown. This study investigated the behavioral effects of 42-day exposure to TCS (0, 50, 100 mg/kg) in drinking water using the open field test (OFT), social dominance test (SDT), social interaction test (SIT), and novel object recognition task (NOR).

Inspiration for the prevention and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders: New insight from the bone-brain-axis.

Bone is the main supporting structure of the body and the main organ involved in body movement and calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Recent studies have shown that bone is also a potential new endocrine organ that participates in the physiological and pathophysiological processes of the cardiovascular, digestive, and endocrine systems through various bioactive cytokines secreted by bone cells and bone marrow. Bone-derived active cytokines can also directly act on the central nervous system and regulate brain function and individual behavior.

Repeated 3,3-Dimethyl-1-butanol exposure alters social dominance in adult mice.

The influence of gut microbiota on brain function and brain disorders has been attracted more and more attention. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), an indirect metabolite of gut microbiota, has been linked to aging, cognitive impairment, and other brain disorders. However, the relationship between TMAO and social behaviors are still poorly understood.

Exogenous microbiota-derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide treatment alters social behaviors: Involvement of hippocampal metabolic adaptation.

Increasing evidence indicates that gut microbiota and its metabolites can influence the brain function and the related behaviors. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), an indirect metabolite of gut microbiota, has been linked to aging, cognitive impairment, and many brain disorders. However, the potential effects of TMAO on social behaviors remain elusive.

Effects of Exogenous Biliverdin Treatment on Neurobehaviors in Mice.

The neuroprotective effects of heme oxygenase (HO) have been well investigated. The potential effects of exogenous supplementation of biliverdin (BVD), one of the main products catalyzed by HO, on neurobehaviors are still largely unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of BVD treatment on depression, anxiety, and memory in adult mice.

Exogenous SO donor treatment impairs reconsolidation of drug reward memory in mice.

Substance-related and addictive disorders (SRADs) are characterized by compulsive drug use and recurrent relapse. The persistence of pathological drug-related memories indisputably contributes to a high propensity to relapse. Hence, strategies to disrupt reconsolidation of drug reward memory are currently being pursued as potential anti-relapse interventions.

Long-lasting effects of postweaning sodium butyrate exposure on social behaviors in adult mice.

Background: The function of gut microbiota as its role in normal physiology and involvement in brain function has gained a great deal of attention. The potential long-lasting effects of postweaning sodium butyrate (SB) exposure on social behaviors are still unknown; however it acts as one of the metabolites of gut microbiota.

Methods: Male mice (24-day old) were exposed to SB through drinking water for 21 continuous days.

Sulfur dioxide derivatives produce antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects in mice.

Sulfur dioxide (SO) can be endogenously generated from sulfur-containing amino acids in animals and humans. Increasing evidence shows that endogenous SO may act as a gaseous molecule to participate in many physiological and pathological processes. However, the role of SO and its derivatives in the central nervous system remains poorly understood.

Xenon produces rapid antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects in lipopolysaccharide-induced depression mice model.

Onset delay of current antidepressants is always the most significant limitation for the treatment of depression. More attention has been given to the glutamate acid system for developing fast-onset antidepressants. Xenon, acting as a well-known N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors antagonist, has been widely used clinically as anesthetics and was reported to exert antidepressant-like effects in rats under normal condition.

Repeated arctigenin treatment produces antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects in mice.

Depression is the root of various diseases. It is one of the most debilitating conditions globally. Antidepressant drugs are usually the first-line of depression treatment.