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The development of durable photosensitizers is pivotal for advancing phototherapeutic applications in biomedicine. Here, we introduce a core‐shell azobenzene‐spiropyran structure on gold nanoparticles, engineered to enhance singlet oxygen generation. These nano‐photosensitizers exhibit increased structural stability and thermal resistance, as demonstrated by slowed O−N−C bond recombination dynamics via in‐situ Raman spectroscopy. Notably, the in‐situ formation of merocyanine and a light‐induced compact shell arrangement extend its half‐life from 47 minutes to over 154 hours, significantly boosting singlet oxygen output. The nano‐photosensitizer also shows high biocompatibility and notably inhibits tau protein aggregation in neural cells, even with phosphatase inhibitors. Further, it promotes dendritic growth in neuro cells, doubling typical lengths. This work not only advances chemical nanotechnology but also sets a foundation for developing long‐lasting phototherapy agents for treating neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article in Chemistry - A European Journal discusses the development of innovative azobenzene‐spiropyran@Gold nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic therapy in neurodegenerative diseases. These nanoparticles are designed to increase the generation of singlet oxygen, which is crucial for treating disorders like Alzheimer's disease by targeting protein misfolding and aggregation. The core-shell structure of the nanoparticles provides thermal stability and efficient photoisomerization, ensuring controlled and prolonged activity. Readers interested in learning more can refer to the Research Article by T. Gong, K.‐T. Yong, K. V. Kong, and co‐workers. [Extracted from the article]

Aims: To estimate the impact of recreational and medical cannabis laws (RCL, MCL) on the use of cannabis and cigarettes in the United States. Design A difference‐in‐difference approach was applied to data from the 2004–17 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Setting: United States. Participants: Nationally representative cross‐sectional survey of Americans aged 12 years and older (combined analytical sample for 2004–17, n = 783 663). Measurements Data on past‐month use of (1) cigarettes and (2) cannabis were used to classify respondents into four groups: cigarette and cannabis co‐use, cigarette‐only use, cannabis‐only use or no cigarette or cannabis use. State of residence was measured by self‐report. MCL/RCL status came from state government websites. Findings Difference‐in‐difference analyses suggest that MCL was associated with an increase in cigarette–cannabis co‐use overall [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02–1.16], with the greatest increases among those aged 50 years and above (aOR = 1.60; CI = 1.39–1.84), married (aOR = 1.19; CI = 1.07–1.31), non‐Hispanic (NH) black (aOR = 1.14; CI = 1.02–1.07) and with a college degree or above (aOR = 1.15; CI = 1.06–1.24). MCL was associated with increases in cigarette‐only use among those aged 50 years and above (aOR = 1.07; CI = 1.01–1.14) and NH black (aOR = 1.16; CI = 1.06–1.27) and increases in cannabis‐only use among those aged 50 years and above (aOR = 1.24; CI = 1.07–1.44) and widowed/divorced/separated (aOR = 1.18; CI = 1.01–1.37). RCL was associated with an increase in cannabis‐only use overall (aOR = 1.21; 95% CI = 1.09–1.34), a decline in cigarette‐only use overall (aOR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.81–0.97) and increases in co‐use among those who were married (aOR = 1.24; CI = 1.02–1.50) and aged 50 years and above (aOR = 1.37; CI = 1.03–1.84). Conclusions: Recreational and medical cannabis legalization have had a varying impact on the use, and co‐use, of cannabis and cigarettes in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Cannabis use among parents may be increasing with legalization, but perception of associated risk has declined. The study investigated the association between cannabis legalization and cannabis use among adults with children in the home over time in the United States (US). Design A difference‐in‐difference approach was applied to public and restricted‐use data from the 2004–2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual cross‐sectional survey. Setting: A representative sample of the United States. Participants/Cases: Respondents ages 18+ with children living in the home drawn from the NSDUH (n = 287,624), which is administered to non‐institutionalized civilians in the 50 states and District of Columbia. Measurements Exposures were year and state‐level cannabis policy in state of residence annually. Outcomes were past‐30‐day cannabis use and daily cannabis use. Sociodemographic variables included age, gender, marital status, annual family income, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and strength of state‐level tobacco control. Findings In 2017, past‐month cannabis use (11.9%, 9.3%, and 6.1%) and daily cannabis use (4.2%, 3.2%, and 2.3%) were more common in states with recreational marijuana laws (RML), followed by states with medical marijuana laws (MML) and without legal cannabis use, respectively. RML and MML were associated with significantly higher prevalence of past‐month cannabis use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–1.46; AOR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.03–1.22) and daily cannabis use (AOR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.03–1.51; AOR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.02–1.32), respectively. The impact of MML was particularly salient among adults ages 50+ and the highest income and education subgroups. Conclusions: Among adults with children living in the home, cannabis use appears to be more common in US states with legalized cannabis use compared with states with no legal cannabis use. Recreational legalization appears to increase use among adults with children in the home broadly across nearly all sociodemographic groups, whereas the effect of legalization for medical use is heterogeneous by age and socioeconomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Robust incorporation of new principal cells into pre-existing circuitry in the adult mammalian brain is unique to the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). We asked if adult-born granule cells (GCs) might act to regulate processing within the DG by modulating the substantially more abundant mature GCs. Optogenetic stimulation of a cohort of young adult-born GCs (0 to 7 weeks post-mitosis) revealed that these cells activate local GABAergic interneurons to evoke strong inhibitory input to mature GCs. Natural manipulation of neurogenesis by aging-to decrease it-and housing in an enriched environment-to increase it-strongly affected the levels of inhibition. We also demonstrated that elevating activity in adult-born GCs in awake behaving animals reduced the overall number of mature GCs activated by exploration. These data suggest that inhibitory modulation of mature GCs may be an important function of adult-born hippocampal neurons. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult-born granule cells in the mammalian dentate gyrus have long been implicated in hippocampal dependent spatial learning and behavioral effects of chronic antidepressant treatment. Although recent anatomical and functional evidence indicates a dissociation of the dorsal and ventral regions of the hippocampus, it is not known if adult neurogenesis within each region specifically contributes to distinct functions or whether adult-born cells along the entire dorsoventral axis are required for these behaviors. We examined the role of distinct subpopulations of adult-born hippocampal granule cells in learning- and anxiety-related behaviors using low-dose focal x-irradiation directed specifically to the dorsal or ventral dentate gyrus. Our findings indicate a functional dissociation between adult-born neurons along the longitudinal axis of the dentate gyrus wherein new neurons in the dorsal dentate gyrus are required for timely acquisition of contextual discrimination while immature neurons in the ventral dentate gyrus are necessary for anxiolytic/antidepressant-related effects of fluoxetine. Interestingly, when contexts are presented with altered temporal cues, or fluoxetine is administered alongside chronic glucocorticoid treatment, this dissociation is abrogated such that adult-born neurons across the entire dorsoventral extent of the dentate gyrus appear to contribute to these behaviors. Our results suggest that individual subpopulations of adult-born hippocampal neurons may be sufficient to mediate distinct behaviors in certain conditions, but are required to act in concert in more challenging situations. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Methods Key Results Conclusions and Inferences Data are limited on the natural history and symptom patterns of cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), a disorder of gut–brain interaction characterized by recurrent stereotypical vomiting, retching, and nausea episodes.A 6‐month, observational, remote study prospectively assessed symptom patterns in adults with CVS using an electronic daily diary. Patients recorded their disease experience, including CVS symptoms and associated severity, in the daily diary. The study defined a CVS episode start as the first day of 5 or more vomiting and/or retching (V + R) events. Episode end was defined as the first day of ≥ 7 (prespecified main analysis) or ≥ 4 (sensitivity analysis) days without any diary V + R events.Eighty‐eight of 93 (94.6%) enrolled patients (62 female; mean age, 37.7 years) had daily diary data recorded during the study; 61 (69.3%) patients had at least one episode. In the prespecified main analysis, 191 episodes (median, 0.6 per 30 diary days) were reported (median duration, 3.0 days); 17.8% of the episodes lasted > 10 days. In the sensitivity analysis, 248 episodes (median, 0.7 per 30 diary days) were reported (median duration, 2.0 days). Thirteen of 88 (14.8%) patients with diary data had interepisodic V + R (reported V + R events without meeting the threshold for study‐defined episode). Other CVS‐related (non‐V + R) symptoms (most frequently nausea, abdominal pain, and sweating) were reported more frequently during the episode versus the interepisodic period.This prospective longitudinal study shows marked heterogeneity of CVS episodes and highlights the need to better define and characterize episodes in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]