Background: Studies have found that toxic heavy metals exposure could induce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and is of epigenetic effect, which might be associated with the occurrence of Autistic Disorder (ASD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to elucidate the association between exposure to 4 heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic(As), and mercury (Hg), and the occurrence of ASD in children.Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library, from their inception to October 2022, for epidemiological investigations that explore the association between exposure to Cd, Pb, As, or Hg and the occurrence of child ASD.Results: A total of 53 studies were included, involving 5,054 individuals aged less than 18 (2,533 ASD patients and 2,521 healthy controls). Compared with the healthy controls, in hair and blood tests, concentrations of the 4 heavy metals were significantly higher in the ASD group than in the healthy control group, and the differences in Pb, arsenic and Hg were statistically significant (P < 0.05). In the urine test, concentrations of arsenic and Hg were significantly higher in the ASD group than in the healthy control group (P < 0.05), while the results of Cd and Pb were opposite to those of arsenic and Hg (P > 0.05). Subgroup analysis for geographic regions showed that ASD patients in Asia and Europe had higher concentrations of the 4 heavy metals, compared with the healthy controls, in which the differences in Pb, arsenic, and Hg were statistically significant (P < 0.05), while in North America, the healthy controls had higher Cd, arsenic, and Hg concentrations (P > 0.05).Conclusion: Compared with the healthy control group, the ASD group had higher concentrations of Cd, Pb, arsenic, and Hg. These 4 heavy metals play different roles in the occurrence and progression of ASD. Moreover, there is significant heterogeneity among the included studies due to controversies about the study results among different countries and regions and different sources of detection materials. The results of this study firmly support the policies to limit heavy metals exposure, especially among pregnant women and young children, so as to help reduce the incidence of ASD.

Stroke causes varying degrees of neurological deficits, leading to corresponding dysfunctions. There are different therapeutic principles for each stage of pathological development. Neuroprotection is the main treatment in the acute phase, and functional recovery becomes primary in the subacute and chronic phases. Neuroplasticity is considered the basis of functional restoration and neurological rehabilitation after stroke, including the remodeling of dendrites and dendritic spines, axonal sprouting, myelin regeneration, synapse shaping, and neurogenesis. Spatiotemporal development affects the spontaneous rewiring of neural circuits and brain networks. Microglia are resident immune cells in the brain that contribute to homeostasis under physiological conditions. Microglia are activated immediately after stroke, and phenotypic polarization changes and phagocytic function are crucial for regulating focal and global brain inflammation and neurological recovery. We have previously shown that the development of neuroplasticity is spatiotemporally consistent with microglial activation, suggesting that microglia may have a profound impact on neuroplasticity after stroke and may be a key therapeutic target for post-stroke rehabilitation. In this review, we explore the impact of neuroplasticity on post-stroke restoration as well as the functions and mechanisms of microglial activation, polarization, and phagocytosis. This is followed by a summary of microglia-targeted rehabilitative interventions that influence neuroplasticity and promote stroke recovery.

Background: Stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and disability among adults. Given the restricted therapeutic window for intravascular interventions and neuroprotection during the acute phase, there has been a growing focus on tissue repair and functional recovery in the subacute and chronic phases after stroke. The pro‐inflammatory microglial polarization occurs in subacute and chronic phases after stroke and may represent therapeutic targets for stroke recovery. CD4⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs), a subtype of T cells with immunosuppressive effects, have been shown to be important in stroke. Tregs infiltrate into the brain primarily during the subacute and chronic phases following a stroke. Infiltrating Tregs play a critical role in mitigating pro‐inflammatory microglial responses, modulating the immune microenvironment, and promoting the functional restoration of the damaged brain following a stroke.Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science and then conduct a comprehensive analysis of the searched literature.Results: This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent preclinical research advances on the role of Tregs in stroke, with a particular focus on their reparative functions during the subacute and chronic phases. It discusses changes in peripheral and brain infiltrating Tregs post‐stroke, their functions and underlying mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies involving Tregs. Additionally, this review explores the potential and challenges associated with the clinical application of Tregs in ischemic stroke.Conclusion: Treg cell‐related therapy represents a promising immune‐therapeutic strategy for stroke recovery. However, there are several critical issues that must be resolved before its advancement to clinical application.

This study investigates how melatonin affects white matter damage and oligodendrocyte pyroptosis after ischemic stroke by modulating microglia polarization

Background: The existing evidence regarding the protective effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on pulmonary function remains a subject of considerable controversy. Based on this, we further investigated the correlation of PUFAs intake in diet with pulmonary function in healthy American children.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database of children aged 6–17 in the United States from 2007 to 2012. The correlation of PUFAs intake in diet with pulmonary function was investigated through weighted multivariate linear regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve visualization analysis. Subgroup analysis was carried out to further investigate the robustness of the results and potential interactions in terms of gender, race, age of child, age of mother at birth, and poverty-income ratio (PIR).Results: Altogether 2,508 participants were enrolled in this research. After adjusting for confounders, PUFAs intake was positively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (β = 7.525; 95%CI: 2.935–12.12; p = 0.002) and FVC (β = 9.138; 95%CI: 4.389, 13.89; P < 0.001). The modeling of PUFAs subtypes revealed that FEV1 and FVC increased with increasing intake of omega-3 and omega-6 (p < 0.01). The RCS results showed a non-linear relationship (p < 0.001) of PUFAs and omega-6 with FEV1 and FVC. A subgroup analysis in this research revealed an interaction of PUFAs intake with the gender of children, with PUFAs having a better protective effect on pulmonary function in males than in females (FEV1: p = 0.017; FVC: p = 0.022).Conclusion: The total intake of PUFAs in the diet was positively correlated with pulmonary function in children in the United States, and this correlation was more significant in the male population. The results of this study further confirmed that dietary supplementation of PUFAs was beneficial for improving pulmonary function in children.