Chemogenetic placental activation and proteomic extracellular vesicle signatures predict functional roles across pregnancy and postpartum.

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and vascular dementia, are among the most pressing medical and socioeconomic challenges facing aging populations worldwide. These conditions are characterized by gradual neuron loss, cognitive decline, motor dysfunction and growing dependence which cause significant quality of life-long depletion and poses challenges to families, carers and public health systems. Over 47 million people worldwide are estimated to suffer from dementia, with the likelihood of it increasing to 75 million in 2030 and 132 million by 2050 due to increased life expectancy. Despite ongoing pharmacological developments, the therapeutic efficacy of newer treatments like acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in AD and dopaminergic agents in PD remains limited, particularly in decelerating disease progression. In numerous instances, the drugs available only provide temporary relief and do not affect the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, including mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and impaired neurovascular integrity. The lack of progress in disease-modifying trials has highlighted the need for innovative therapeutic methods that can target multiple pathological pathways simultaneously and intervene earlier in the disease progression. Medical gases have become a growing focus in this context as neuromodulatory and neuroprotective agents. Gases such as oxygen and hydrogen, when administered under normobaric (atmospheric pressure) or hyperbaric (elevated pressure) conditions, have the potential to cause complex effects on neural tissue. These include reducing reactive oxygen species, stabilizing the mitochondrial membrane potential, modulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, increasing cerebral perfusion, stimulating neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. Normobaric oxygen (NBO) therapy has been shown to enhance brain metabolism and improve outcomes in ischemic stroke and early cognitive impairment. Conversely, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) by delivering high concentrations of oxygen under pressure, can profoundly increase oxygen diffusion into hypoxic tissues, offering benefits in traumatic brain injury, PD, and AD. Moreover, hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide are being researched for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-apoptotic properties in preclinical models of neurodegeneration. The idea suggests the development and clinical trials of a combined therapeutic protocol that employs both NBO and HBOT for various phases of neurodegenerative illness. By utilizing strategic timing, dosing, and combination with other therapies such as pharmaceuticals or lifestyle modifications, medical gas therapies may alter the treatment paradigm from reactive symptom management to proactive neuroprotection. The implementation of this technique could result in earlier intervention, enhanced therapy customization, and improved outcomes for patients with neurodegenerative diseases. NBO therapy has demonstrated remarkable potential in modulating cerebral metabolism and improving outcomes for neurovascular and neurodegenerative diseases (), as it involves breathing oxygen at one atmosphere pressure (1 ATA =101.325 kPa). Recent preclinical research has revealed that NBO can help reduce infarct volume, attenuate oxidative stress, and promote mitochondrial integrity after ischemic stroke. Cerebrovascular recanalization strategies can be supported by normobaric hyperoxia, as demonstrated by Li et al., through clinical trials that support these findings. In this single-blind, sham-controlled trial normobaric hyperoxia as an addition to endovascular treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by large-vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation was associated with enhanced functional outcomes at 90 days without elevating the risk of adverse effects. NBO has demonstrated success in treating more than just stroke, including other psychiatric and cognitive disorders. According to a randomized double-blind, proof-of-concept trial conducted by Bloch et al., NBO therapy may improve depression symptoms by increasing the rate of cerebral perfusion and decreasing inflammation. Due to its simplicity, non-invasiveness, and safety, it represents a potentially promising and appealing treatment option for depression. In the same way, Wang et al. demonstrated its effectiveness in treating mild cognitive impairment through neurorehabilitation, which resulted in improvements in memory, executive function, and quality of life. This indicates that NBO could offer valuable opportunities for neurorehabilitation and motor learning strategies could offer valuable opportunities for neural recovery therapy and motor learning strategies. In clinical settings, NBO can be delivered via nasal cannula or face mask and is often available in emergency departments and stroke units. NBO is a valuable addition to early-stage intervention approaches due to its ease of use