Hippocampal gene network analysis suggests that coral calcium hydride may reduce accelerated senescence in mice

The Landscape of Smart Biomaterial-Based Hydrogen Therapy

Hydrogen (H2) therapy is an emerging, novel, and safe therapeutic modality that uses molecular hydrogen for effective treatment. However, the impact of H2 therapy is limited because hydrogen molecules predominantly depend on the systemic administration of H2 gas, which cannot accumulate at the lesion site with high concentration, thus leading to limited targeting and utilization. Biomaterials are developed to specifically deliver H2 and control its release. In this review, the development process, stimuli-responsive release strategies, and potential therapeutic mechanisms of biomaterial-based H2 therapy are summarized. H2 therapy. Specifically, the produced H2 from biomaterials not only can scavenge free radicals, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO), but also can inhibit the danger factors of initiating diseases, including pro-inflammatory cytokines, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and heat shock protein (HSP). In addition, the released H2 can further act as signal molecules to regulate key pathways for disease treatment. The current opportunities and challenges of H2-based therapy are discussed, and the future research directions of biomaterial-based H2 therapy for clinical applications are emphasized.

A novel intervention of molecular hydrogen on the unbalance of the gut microbiome in opioid addiction: Experimental and human studies

The gut-brain axis mediates the interaction pathway between microbiota and opioid addiction. In recent years, many studies have shown that molecular hydrogen has therapeutic and preventive effects on various diseases. This study aimed to investigate whether molecular hydrogen could serve as pharmacological intervention agent to reduce risks of reinstatement of opioid seeking and explore the mechanism of gut microbiota base on animal experiments and human studies. Morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) was constructed to establish acquisition, extinction, and reinstatement stage, and the potential impact of H2 on the behaviors related to morphine-induced drug extinction was determined using both free accessible and confined CPP extinction paradigms. The effects of morphine on microbial diversity and composition of microbiota, as well as the subsequent changes after H2 intervention, were assessed using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) in mice serum were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Meanwhile, we also conducted molecular hydrogen intervention and gut microbiota testing in opioid-addicted individuals. Our results revealed that molecular hydrogen could enhance the extinction of morphine-related behavior, reducing morphine reinstatement. Gut microbes may be a potential mechanism behind the therapeutic effects of molecular hydrogen on morphine addiction. Additionally, molecular hydrogen improved symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as gut microbial features, in individuals with opioid addiction. This study supports molecular hydrogen as a novel and effective intervention for morphine-induced addiction and reveals the mechanism of gut microbiota.

The Role of Hyperthermia in Methamphetamine-Induced Depression-Like Behaviors: Protective Effects of Coral Calcium Hydride

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse causes irreversible damage to the central nervous system and leads to psychiatric symptoms including depression. Notably, METH-induced hyperthermia is a crucial factor in the development of these symptoms, as it aggravates METH-induced neurotoxicity. However, the role of hyperthermia in METH-induced depression-like behaviors needs to be clarified. In the present study, we treated mice with different doses of METH under normal (NAT) or high ambient temperatures (HAT). We found that HAT promoted hyperthermia after METH treatment and played a key role in METH-induced depression-like behaviors in mice. Intriguingly, chronic METH exposure (10 mg/kg, 7 or 14 days) or administration of an escalating-dose (2 ∼ 15 mg/kg, 3 days) of METH under NAT failed to induce depression-like behaviors. However, HAT aggravated METH-induced damage of hippocampal synaptic plasticity, reaction to oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. Molecular hydrogen acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent and has been shown to have preventive and therapeutic applicability in a wide range of diseases. Coral calcium hydride (CCH) is a newly identified hydrogen-rich powder which produces hydrogen gas gradually when exposed to water. Herein, we found that CCH pretreatment significantly attenuated METH-induced hyperthermia, and administration of CCH after METH exposure also inhibited METH-induced depression-like behaviors and reduced the hippocampal synaptic plasticity damage. Moreover, CCH effectively reduced the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and decreased malondialdehyde, TNF-α and IL-6 generation in hippocampus. These results suggest that CCH is an efficient hydrogen-rich agent, which has a potential therapeutic applicability in the treatment of METH abusers.

Research progress on applications of calcium derived from marine organisms

Calcium is an important mineral that plays an integral role in human health, especially bone health. Marine biological calcium is an abundant resource that is generally accepted and has a complex active structure. This review evaluates research progress on marine biological calcium with regards to its sources, use of calcium supplements, calcium bioavailability, and novel applications of marine calcium. The potential for future development and the use of products incorporating marine biological calcium in biomedical research and the pharmaceutical, health care, and food industries are also reviewed. The goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive documentation on resource utilization and product development from marine organisms.

Micro/Nanomaterials-Augmented Hydrogen Therapy

Hydrogen therapy is an emerging and promising therapy strategy of using molecular hydrogen as a new type of safe and effective therapeutic agent, exhibiting remarkable therapeutic effects on many oxidative stress-/inflammation-related diseases owing to its bio-reductivity and homeostatic regulation ability. Different from other gaseous transmitters such as NO, CO, and H₂ S, hydrogen gas has no blood poisoning risk at high concentration because it does not affect the oxygen-carrying behavior of blood red cells. Hydrogen molecules also have low aqueous solubility and high but aimless diffusibility, causing limited therapy efficacy in many diseases. To realize the site-specific hydrogen delivery, controlled hydrogen release and combined therapy is significant but still challenging. Here, a concept of hydrogen nanomedicine to address the issues of hydrogen medicine by using functional micro/nanomaterials for augmented hydrogen therapy is proposed. In this review, various strategies of micro/nanomaterials-augmented hydrogen therapy, including micro/nanomaterials-mediated targeted hydrogen delivery, controlled hydrogen release, and nanocatalytic and multimodel enhancement of hydrogen therapy efficacy, are summarized, which can open a new window for treatment of inflammation-related diseases.

Coral calcium hydride prevents hepatic steatosis in high fat diet-induced obese rats: A potent mitochondrial nutrient and phase II enzyme inducer

Diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by profound lipid accumulation and associated with an inflammatory response, oxidative stress and hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction. We previously demonstrated that some mitochondrial nutrients effectively ameliorated high fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis and metabolic disorders. Molecular hydrogen in hydrogen-rich liquid or inhaling gas, which has been confirmed in scavenging reactive oxygen species and preventing mitochondrial decay, improved metabolic syndrome in patients and animal models. Coral calcium hydride (CCH) is a new solid molecular hydrogen carrier made of coral calcium. However, whether and how CCH impacts HFD-induced hepatic steatosis remains uninvestigated. In the present study, we applied CCH to a HFD-induced NAFLD rat model for 13 weeks. We found that CCH durably generated hydrogen in vivo and in vitro. CCH treatment significantly reduced body weight gain, improved glucose and lipid metabolism and attenuated hepatic steatosis in HFD-induced obese rats with no influence on food and water intake. Moreover, CCH effectively improved HFD-induced hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced oxidative stress, and activated phase II enzymes. Our results suggest that CCH is an efficient hydrogen-rich agent, which could prevent HFD-induced NAFLD via activating phase II enzymes and improving mitochondrial function.