Taiwan, located at the northernmost extent of Huxley’s Line, marks the furthest point along this biogeographic boundary where exchanges of flora and fauna occur. The genus Piper , a globally distributed and taxonomically complex group of both economic and evolutionary importance, has a convoluted taxonomic history in this transitional zone that requires comprehensive study. Here, we integrate morphological, molecular, and dist...

Sevoflurane (Sevo) anaesthesia in children is linked to an increased incidence of postoperative emergence agitation (EA) and potential neurotoxicity in developing brains. However, the specific risks of subanaesthetic foetal or neonatal exposure to Sevo remain unclear. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of combining dexmedetomidine (Dex) with Sevo to manage EA in paediatric anaesthesia. A systematic review and meta-an...

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a major public health issue worldwide. It not only causes an increased socio-economic burden, but also negatively affects personal lives. It has been shown that depression leads to impairments in synaptic plasticity, such as impaired long-term potentiation (LTP) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). A recent study reported that administration of agomelatine, a melatonin receptor agonist and 5-hydro...

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder, is characterized by synaptic dysregulation as its underlying pathophysiological mechanism. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an intracellular energy sensor, plays a pivotal role in regulating synaptic integrity and function. Current treatments for ASD exhibit limited benefits in alleviating the core symptoms of ASD. Consequently, we investigated the therapeutic...