The gut-brain axis (GBA) has emerged as a central focus in the study of neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research suggests that microbial composition and its metabolic byproducts influence neural development, synaptic plasticity, and behavior [1,2,3]. A structured bibliometric analysis of Scopus and Web of Science records was performed using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer to trace trends and thematic evolution of GBA–ASD literature [7,8]. In parallel, a data-driven pathway modeling approach maps microbial metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan catabolites) to host signaling pathways including vagal stimulation, immune cytokine modulation, and blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability [4,5]. Simulations implemented in Python’s NetworkX illustrate how perturbations in metabolite flux may influence CNS outcomes. The findings reveal growing emphasis on butyrate, serotonin, microglial priming, and maternal immune activation in ASD-related GBA studies, and highlight the need for rigorous empirical validation of computational predictions [9,10,11].

Although human oral fluid has become more routine for quantitative drug detection in pain management, detecting a large scope of medications and substances is costly and technically challenging for laboratories. This paper presents a quantitative assay for 64 pain medications, illicit substances, and drug metabolites in human oral fluid. The novelty of this assay is that it was developed on an older model AB SCIEX 4000 instrument and renders obscure the need for more technical and expensive laboratory equipment. This method includes addition of internal standard and a 2-step liquid-liquid extraction and dry-down step to concentrate and clean the samples. The samples were suspended in 50% MeOH in water and separation and detection was accomplished using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Separation was achieved using reverse-phase liquid chromatography with detection by LC-MS/MS. A second injection was done in negative mode to determine THC-COOH concentration as an indicator of THC. An aliquot of the (already) extracted samples was analyzed for D- and L- isomers of amphetamine and methamphetamine using a chiral column. The standard curve spanned from 5 to 2000 ng/mL for most of the analytes (1 to 2000 ng/mL for fentanyl and THC-COOH) and up to 1000 ng/mL for 13 analytes. Pregabalin and gabapentin ranged from 25 to 2000 ng/mL. The result is a low-cost method for the sensitive detection of a wide-ranging oral fluid menu for pain management. This assay has a high sensitivity, and good precision and accuracy for all analytes with an older model mass spectrometer.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a broad family of potentially serious RNA viruses that are now causing an outbreak of respiratory disease known as CoV disease 2019 (COVID-19). Melatonin is a pineal hormone that is predominantly produced and released at night from the amino acid tryptophan. Melatonin and its metabolites are also important in immunomodulation, and they have antioxidative properties due to their capacity to scavenge reactive oxygen species both directly and indirectly. COVID-19 leads to changes of altered consciousness levels in about 15% of hospitalized patients, starting from somnolence to disorientation, delirium, stupor, and coma. Melatonin can decrease the molecules that cause delirium in the elderly and central respiratory depression, such as benzodiazepines and antipsychotics. Melatonin may help alleviate infection-induced acute respiratory distress as well as its diverse effects, which include anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immune-enhancing properties. Its supplemental dose may be able to prevent SARS-COV-2 infections by reversing aerobic glycolysis via suppression of both HIF-1 and mTOR, allowing pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity to be suppressed and acetyl-coenzyme A to be produced. When mitochondrion-produced and parenteral melatonin are combined, the cytokine storm is reduced, and COVID-19 infection-induced damage is alleviated. In conclusion, melatonin could have an important role in the management of COVID-19.