Fatigue in Patients with Lung Cancer Is Related with Accelerated Tryptophan Breakdown

BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer often suffer from fatigue and decreased quality of life which might be related to the breakdown of essential amino acid tryptophan. METHODS: In 50 patients with lung cancer we examined fatigue and the deterioration of quality of life in patients using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Anemia (FACT-An) and -Fatigue (FACT-F) subscales of FACT-General and the Mental adjustment to Cancer (MAC) questionnaires. Results were compared with tryptophan breakdown as well as serum concentrations of immune activation markers. RESULTS: Scores of psychological tests correlated significantly with tryptophan breakdown and with circulatory markers of inflammation. However, immune activation and tryptophan breakdown were not related to MAC scores. CONCLUSIONS: Tryptophan breakdown relates with fatigue and impaired quality of life in patients with lung cancer, while declining tryptophan levels are not associated with patients'coping strategies

Serum Neopterin Concentration and Impaired Glucose Metabolism: Relationship With β-Cell Function and Insulin Resistance

Aim: The purpose of this study was to measure the serum neopterin according to glucose metabolism and to evaluate neopterin as a predictor of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a hospital-based cohort.Methods: A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed by people who visited the outpatient clinic in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital for suspected abnormal glucose tolerance or a strong family history of T2D. Neopterin was measured using an enzyme-link immunosorbent assay with baseline samples from the OGTT.Results: Neopterin was measured in 184 participants. Indices related to glucose metabolism, such as the HOMA-IR, disposition index, etc. were calculated based on the results of the OGTT. The classifications for the 184 participants were: 24 (13%) had NGT, 89 (48.4%) prediabetes, and 60 (38.6%) T2D. Neopterin increased with deterioration of glucose metabolism (0.55 ± 0.25 vs. 0.58 ± 0.27 vs. 0.67 ± 0.27 ng/ml, p = 0.041; NGT, prediabetes, and T2D, respectively). Neopterin also correlated with fasting plasma glucose, 30-min and 120-min glucose of OGTT and HbA1c (r = 0.251, 0.259, 0.184, and 0.270, all p < 0.05). The HOMA-IR and disposition index correlated with neopterin (r = 0.291 and −0.170, respectively, both p < 0.05). When combined with C-peptide level, neopterin was as powerful as HOMA-IR in predicting future T2D.Conclusion: Serum neopterin appears to be related to impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance in the development of T2D. Further investigation of the relationship between neopterin and glucose metabolism would be helpful to understand the pathophysiology for the development of T2D

Negative affect, introversion and physiological markers of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular risk factors have expanded to include personality and other psychological characteristics. Negative affect (NA) has a longstanding history in cardiovascular health, but the path by which NA leads to cardiovascular disease (CVD) is yet to be defined. The following study examined the relationship of high NA and low extroversion (EX) with physiological cardiovascular markers in a sample of non-medical, professional adults. Our results indicated that individuals high in NA and low in EX displayed a significantly lower platelet count and a significantly higher mean platelet volume. Individuals high in NA displayed a significantly lower cholesterol risk ratio, while individuals high in EX displayed significantly higher platelet counts. Personality was not significantly related to blood pressure, high or low density lipoproteins. Understanding the relationships among psychological variables and physiological markers will help clinical researchers design interventions that reduce the likelihood of CVD

Targeting inflammation to influence mood following spinal cord injury: a randomized clinical trial

Background: The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy of targeting inflammation as a means of improving mood following spinal cord injury (SCI) and explore the potential mechanisms of action. Methods: The study was a randomized, parallel-group, controlled, clinical trial (NCT02099890) whereby 20 participants with varying levels and severities of SCI were randomized (3:2) to either the treatment group, consisting of a 12-week anti-inflammatory diet, or control group. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 1 and 3 months, and consisted of CES-D scores of depression, markers of inflammation as assessed by various pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and several amino acids related to depression. Results: A significant group × time interaction was found for CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic studies Depression Scale) score ( p = 0.01), the TRP/LNAA (tryptophan/large neutral amino acid) ratio ( p = 0.04), the composite score of pro-inflammatory cytokines ( p = 0.04), IL-1 β (interleukin-1 beta) ( p = 0.04), and IFN- γ (interferon gamma) ( p = 0.03). Pearson ’ s r correlation showed significance between the Δ IL-1 β and both the Δ CES-D score ( r = 0.740, p < 0.01) and the Δ KYN/TRP (kynurenine/tryptophan) ratio ( r = 0.536, p = 0.02). The Δ KYN/TRP ratio was also significantly correlated with the Δ CES-D score ( r = 0.586, p = 0.01). Mediation analysis showed that the relationship between the Δ KYN/TRP ratio and the Δ CES-D score was mediated by the Δ IL-1 β . Subgroup analysis showed that participants with high CES-D scores had significantly higher concentrations of IL-1 β , and all correlations were maintained or strengthened within this subgroup. Conclusions: Overall, the results demonstrated the effectiveness of targeting inflammation as a means of improving mood in SCI, with potential mechanisms relating to the reduction in IL-1 β and improvements in levels of neuroactive compounds related to the kynurenine pathway. Due to the limited sample size, results should be interpreted with caution; however, they are worthy of further examination due to the potential impact of inflammation on depressio

Brain Kynurenine and BH4 Pathways: Relevance to the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Inflammation-Driven Depressive Symptoms

The prevalence of depressive disorders is growing worldwide, notably due to stagnation in the development of drugs with greater antidepressant efficacy, the continuous large proportion of patients who do not respond to conventional antidepressants, and the increasing rate of chronic medical conditions associated with an increased vulnerability to depressive comorbidities. Accordingly, better knowledge on the pathophysiology of depression and mechanisms underlying depressive comorbidities in chronic medical conditions appears urgently needed, in order to help in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. In this review, we present evidence pointing to inflammatory processes as key players in the pathophysiology and treatment of depressive symptoms. In particular, we report preclinical and clinical findings showing that inflammation-driven alterations in specific metabolic pathways, namely kynurenine and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) pathways, leads to substantial alterations in the metabolism of serotonin, glutamate and dopamine that are likely to contribute to the development of key depressive symptom dimensions. Accordingly, anti-inflammatory interventions targeting kynurenine and BH4 pathways may be effective as novel treatment or as adjuvants of conventional medications rather directed to monoamines, notably when depressive symptomatology and inflammation are comorbid in treated patients. This notion is discussed in the light of recent findings illustrating the tight interactions between known antidepressant drugs and inflammatory processes, as well as their therapeutic implications. Altogether, this review provides valuable findings for moving toward more adapted and personalized therapeutic strategies to treat inflammation-related depressive symptoms

Role of neuroinflammation in the emotional and cognitive alterations displayed by animal models of obesity

Obesity is associated with a high prevalence of mood disorders and cognitive dysfunctions in addition to being a significant risk factor for important health complications such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Identifying the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these health issues is a major public health challenge. Based on recent findings, from studies conducted on animal models of obesity, it has been proposed that inflammatory processes may participate in both the peripheral and brain disorders associated with the obesity condition including the development of emotional and cognitive alterations. This is supported by the fact that obesity is characterized by peripheral low-grade inflammation, originating from increased adipose tissue mass and/or dysbiosis (changes in gut microbiota environment), both of which contribute to increased susceptibility to immune-mediated diseases. In this review, we provide converging evidence showing that obesity is associated with exacerbated neuroinflammation leading to dysfunction in vulnerable brain regions associated with mood regulation, learning, and memory such as the hippocampus. These findings give new insights to the pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to the development of brain disorders in the context of obesity and provide valuable data for introducing new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of neuropsychiatric complications often reported in obese patients

Klinické použití neopterinu, laboratorního biomarkeru imunitní aktivace, v odhadu prognózy, monitorování odpovědi na léčbu a komplikací u pacientů s nádorovým onemocněním

Clinical use of neopterin, a laboratory biomarker of immune activation, in prognosis, monitoring response to therapy and complications in cancer patients Introduction Neopterin is a biomarker of immune activation and is synthesized from GTP in a reaction catalyzed by enzyme GCH-1. Neopterin levels reflect the body's response to inflammatory conditions such as infections, injuries, chronic diseases, and cancer. Its levels also fluctuate with anticancer therapies that demonstrate immune activity. Remarkably neopterin has also been found to be a marker of poor prognosis in cancer. Aim To investigate clinical use of neopterin, a biomarker of immune response, in the assessment of prognosis, monitoring response to therapy, and complications in cancer patients. Methodology In a two-part study, serial urinary neopterin were measured in two different cohorts of patients who underwent anticancer therapy. In part one, samples from 45 patients with diagnosis of metastatic colorectal cancer who were being treated with chemotherapy + cetuximab were analyzed. In part two, samples from 10 patients with diagnosis of gynecological malignancy, mostly cervical cancer undergoing chemoradiotherapy were analyzed. Results In patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma, higher neopterin levels were associated with poor prognosis....Klinické použití neopterinu, laboratorního biomarkeru imunitní aktivace, v určení prognózy, monitorování odpovědi na léčbu a komplikací u pacientů s nádorovým onemocněním Úvod Neopterin je biomarker imunitní aktivace, syntetizovaný z GTP v reakci katalyzované enzymem GCH-1. Hladiny neopterinu odrážejí reakci organismu na zánětlivé stavy, jako jsou infekce, poranění, chronických onemocnění a rakovina. Hladina kolísá i v průběhu všech modalit protinádorové terapie, která ovlivňuje činnost imunitního systému. Vysoká hladina neopterinu je spojena se špatnou prognózou u nádorových onemocnění. Cíl Ověření klinického použití neopterinu, ve stanovení prognózy, monitorování odpovědi na léčbu a komplikací u pacientů s rakovinou. Metodologie Ve dvou částech studie, sériové neopterinu v moči byly měřeny ve dvou různých kohortách pacientů, kteří podstoupili protinádorovou terapii. V první části, byly analyzovány vzorky od 45 pacientů s diagnózou metastazujícího kolorektálního karcinomu, kteří byli léčeni chemoterapií v kombinaci s cetuximabem. Ve druhé části byly analyzovány vzorky 10 pacientek B s diagnózou gynekologické malignity, většinou karcinomu děložního hrdla, podstupujích chemoradioterapii. Výsledky U nemocných s metastatickým kolorektálním karcinomem byly vyšší hladiny neopterinu spojeny se špatnou prognózou....4th Department of Internal Medicine - HaematologyIV. interní hematologická klinikaLékařská fakulta v Hradci KrálovéFaculty of Medicine in Hradec Králov

Συσχέτιση του μεταβολικού συνδρόμου με την κατάθλιψη και το άγχος

Εισαγωγή: Το μεταβολικό σύνδρομο έχει αποσπάσει την ιδιαίτερη προσοχή των επιστημόνων τα προηγούμενα χρόνια, λόγω της συσχέτισης με τον καρδιαγγειακό κίνδυνο. Βιβλιογραφικά έχει αναδειχθεί η συσχέτιση καρδιαγγειακού κινδύνου και ψυχικής νόσου (άγχος και κατάθλιψη). Μέθοδος και υλικό: Πρόκειται για διατμηματική μελέτη (cross-sectional). Η μελέτη διεξήχθη στο Κέντρο Υγείας Δημητσάνας. Στη μελέτη συμμετείχαν ασθενείς που επισκέφθηκαν το Κέντρο Υγείας για τακτικό ιατρικό έλεγχο. Κατά τη διάρκεια της επίσκεψης ο ασθενής συμπλήρωσε το ερωτηματολόγιο HADS ενώ κατεγράφησαν οι παρακάτω πληροφορίες: φύλο, ηλικία, ύψος, βάρος, BMI, περίμετρος μέσης, γλυκόζη νηστείας, χοληστερόλη (ολική/HDL/LDL), τριγλυκερίδια. Αποτελέσματα: Στη μελέτη μας συμμετείχαν 95 ασθενείς (52 άνδρες, 43 γυναίκες) με μέση ηλικία 66,5 ± 7,0 έτη. Τα κριτήρια του ΜΣ στο δείγμα μας πληρούσαν 27 άτομα (28,4% του δείγματος). Αυξημένες τιμές στο ερωτηματολόγιο HADS κατεγράφησαν σε 67 άτομα του δείγματος μας (70,5%). Δεν αναδείχθηκε κάποια συσχέτιση ΜΣ και ψυχικής νόσου βάσει του ερωτηματολογίου HADS (p=0,32). Η παρουσία κατάθλιψης ή άγχους βάσει του ερωτηματολογίου HADS σχετίστηκαν με τα αυξημένα επίπεδα χοληστερόλης (p=0,03). Συζήτηση: Η μελέτη μας δεν κατάφερε να αναδείξει τη συσχέτιση ΜΣ και ψυχικής υγείας (κατάθλιψη και άγχος). Όμως, φάνηκε να συσχετίζεται με τα αυξημένα επίπεδα χοληστερόλης, τα οποία σχετίζονται και με τον καρδιαγγειακό κίνδυνο. Λόγω των ειδικών συνθηκών, όπως του μικρού δείγματος και των ιδιαιτεροτήτων της περιοχής, δύσκολα μπορούν να γενικευθούν τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης. Προτείνεται, σε μελλοντικές μελέτες, να εξετασθούν αυτές οι συσχετίσεις των παραμέτρων του μεταβολικού συνδρόμου σε ευρύ και μεγάλο διαχρονικά πληθυσμιακό επίπεδο, για να επισημανθεί καλύτερα η υποτιθέμενη συσχέτιση του μεταβολικού συνδρόμου με την κατάθλιψη και το άγχος.Introduction: Metabolic syndrome has attracted the special attention of scientists in recent years due to its association with cardiovascular risk. There is a strong correlation between cardiovascular risk and mental illness (anxiety and depression). Method and Material: This is a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted at the Dimitsana Health Center. The study included patients who visited the Health Center for regular medical check-ups. During the visit, the patient completed the HADS questionnaire and recorded the following information: sex, age, height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose, cholesterol (total / HDL / LDL), triglycerides. Results: Our study included 95 patients (52 men, 43 women) with a mean age of 66.5 ± 7.0 years. The MS criteria in our sample met 27 people (28.4% of the sample). Increased values in the HADS questionnaire were recorded in 67 people in our sample (70.5%). There was no correlation between MS and mental illness based on the HADS questionnaire (p = 0,32). The presence of depression or anxiety based on the HADS questionnaire was associated with elevated cholesterol levels (p = 0,03). Discussion: Our research failed to identify the association between MS and mental health (depression and anxiety). However, it appeared to be associated with elevated cholesterol levels, which are also associated with cardiovascular risk. Due to the specific conditions of the research, such as the small sample of population and the particularities of the area, the results of this study can hardly be generalized. It is suggested that in future studies, these correlations of metabolic syndrome parameters at a wide and long-lasting population level should be considered to better outline the supposed association of metabolic syndrome with depression and anxiety

The costs and benefits of sociality in semi-free ranging Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

Infektionen mit Parasiten sind im Tierreich allgegenwärtig, und ein erhöhtes Risiko für Parasitenübertragung gilt als einer der größten Nachteile des Gruppenlebens. Mit zunehmender Gruppengröße und Anzahl an Interaktionen sollte es zu häufigeren Kontakten mit Krankheitserregern und damit zu vermehrter Krankheitsübertragung kommen. Im Gegensatz dazu tragen soziale Integration und enge affiliative Beziehungen bei sozial lebenden Tierarten zu besserem Gesundheitszustand, höherer Lebenserwartung und höherem Reproduktionserfolg bei. Es wird daher angenommen, dass durch soziale Interaktionen positive Einflüsse auf die Gesundheit, unter anderem niedrigere Anfälligkeit für Krankheiten, entstehen, die zu Fitnessvorteilen führen. Besonders bei wildlebenden Tieren sind die Mechanismen, über die Sozialverhalten zu Gesundheitsvorteilen führt, noch weitestgehend unbekannt. Jüngste methodologische und theoretische Fortschritte auf den Gebieten der Krankheitsökologie und Öko-Immunologie erleichtern die Erforschung der Verbindungen zwischen Parasiten und dem Sozialverhalten des Wirts. Somit rückt die Erforschung der Dynamik zwischen Wirtstieren und Parasiten und die verbindung zwischen Sozialverhalten und Gesundheit zunehmend auch in den Fokus der Verhaltensökologie und Evolutionsbiologie. Gastrointestinale Parasiten sind ein vielversprechendes System, um die Zusammenhänge zwischen Sozialverhalten und Gesundheit zu untersuchen, da sie nicht-invasiv analysiert werden können. Allerdings sind Wirt-Parasitenbeziehungen komplex und beinhalten oft Rückkopplungsschleifen: Während Infektionen mit Parasiten das Verhalten des Wirtes beeinflussen, bestimmen Verhalten und Physiologie des Wirtes Kontaktraten mit Krankheitserregern und Anfälligkeit für Infektionen. Da zumeist Korrelationsstudien vorliegen, sind die kausalen Zusammenhänge zwischen den Interaktionen von Wirtsverhalten, Physiologie und Parasiteninfektionen weitestgehend unbekannt. Zusätzlich kann das Verhalten des Wirtes gleichzeitig zum Kontakt mit Krankheitserregern und der Infektionsanfälligkeit beitragen und beide Komponenten können miteinander verwoben sein, so dass es schwierig ist, die Rolle von sozialen Interaktionen für Parasitenübetragung zu entschlüsseln. Um die Ursachen und Konsequenzen von Infektionen mit gastrointestinalen Helminthen zu verstehen, werden in dieser Dissertation die Zusammenhänge zwischen gastrointestinalen Parasiten, Physiologie, Verhalten und sozialen Interaktionen bei sozialen Primaten, den Berberaffen (Macaca sylvanus) untersucht. Dabei mache ich mir die routinemäßige Entwurmung einer halbwilden Population zu Nutze, die zur Freiheit von Infektionen mit Strongiliden führt. Durch die experimentelle Veränderung des Parasitenstatuses können eher Schlüsse über Kausalzusammenhänge der Interaktionen zwischen Wirt und Parasiten, insbesondere im Bezug auf das Sozialverhalten, gezogen werden, als es in Korrelationsstudien möglich ist. Hierzu werden Verhaltensdaten (ca. 3500 Stunden) mit Analysen von molekularen Marker der Immunregulation (Neopterin im Urin), der körperlichen Verfassung (C-Peptide im Urin) und der Aktivität der Hypothalamus-Hypophysen-Nebennieren-(HPA)-Achse und die Bestimmung des Infektionsstatuses verbunden. Um die methodische Ungenauigkeit der nicht-invasiver Parasitenanalysen zu berücksichtigen, werden Patch-Occupancy-Modelle zur Abschätzung der Infektionswahrscheinlichkeiten und des Risikos der Wiederansteckung genutzt. Zusätzlich wird analysiert, ob infektionsbezogene Verhaltensänderungen eine Folge von Krankheitsverhalten oder der Vermeidung infizierter Artgenossen sind. Dies lässt Rückschlüsse auf den Einfluss von Parasiteninfektionen auf das Sozialverhalten zu, die möglicherweise auf die soziale Evolution der Tiere übertragen werden können. Ich überprüfe auch, ob soziale Fellpflege als möglicher direkter Übertragungsweg das Risiko einer Ansteckung mit Darmparasiten vorhersagt. Infektionen mit Strongiliden, zumeist Oesophagostomum spp., waren in der Studiengruppe allgegenwärtig und zeigten meist geringe Ei-Ausscheidungsraten, aber große interindividuelle Unterschiede in der Wiederansteckungswahrscheinlichkeit. Diese Infektionen verursachten keine offensichtlichen Symptome oder eine Veränderung der körperlichen Verfassung. Sie riefen dennoch Anzeichen für Krankheitsverhalten hervor, messbar als stärkere Aktivität der HPA-Achse und geringere Aktivität infizierter Tiere. Die Entwurmung rief keine Veränderungen der Neopterinlevel hervor. Diese stiegen jedoch im Alter an, was auf Immunoseneszenz hindeutet. Da Infektionen mit weiteren Helminthen vorwiegend in älteren Individuen vorkommen, könnte dies darauf hindeuten, dass Immunoseneszenz die Fähigkeit der Tiere, Parasiteninfektionen einzudämmen, beeinflusst. Die Rate, mit der die Tiere sich Artgenossen annäherten, hing nicht mit dem eigenen Parasitenstatus, sondern dem des Partners zusammen, was auf eine Vermeidung infizierter Artgenossen hindeutet. Wiederansteckung wurde durch Marker für Parasitenanfälligkeit und -kontakt bestimmt. Der stärkste Prädiktor für eine schnellere Wiederansteckung war eine Ko-Infektion mit weiteren gastrointestinalen Helminthen. Es gab keine Hinweise darauf, dass HPA-Achsenaktivität oder Immunfunktion starke Prädiktoren für eine Wiederansteckung sind. Eine gute körperliche Verfassung führte zu einer tendenziellen Erhöhung des Ansteckungsrisikos, was wahrscheinlich ein Zeichen für Toleranz gegenüber Darmparasiteninfektionen in Berberaffen ist. Der Übertragunsweg von Strongyliden über die Umwelt wurde bestätigt: Tiere, die viel Zeit in Gebieten mit hoher Kotkontamination verbrachten, d.h. wahrscheinlich häufig Kontakt mit infektiösen Parasitenstadien hatten, hatten auch ein erhöhtes Ansteckungsrisiko. Starke soziale Bindungen zu Partnern des anderen Geschlechts verringerten das Infektionsrisiko, wahrscheinlich auf Grund positiver Effekte sozialer Interaktionen auf die Funktion des Immunsystems. Im Gegensatz dazu führten soziale Fellpflege mit einer Vielzahl an Partnern und enge Bindungen mit gleichgeschlechtlichen Partnern zu einer höheren Ansteckungswahrscheinlichkeit, was eine soziale Komponente bei der Parasitenübertragung nahelegt. Dabei deutet die Diskrepanz zwischen den Effekten von Bindungen zu getrennt- und gleichgeschlechtlichen Partnern wahrscheinlich darauf hin, dass spezifische Verhaltensweisen unterschiedlich stark zum Kontakt mit Parasiten und der Infektionsanfälligkeit beitragen. Zusammenfassend legen die Ergebnisse nahe, dass Infektionen mit gastrointestinalen Parasiten das Sozialverhalten nichtmenschlicher Primaten beeinflussen können. In Anbetracht der zweischneidigen Rolle sozialer Beziehungen erscheint das Ausprägen weniger, starker Bindungen als mögliche Strategie, die Vorteile von Beziehungen voll auszukosten und gleichzeitig die Nachteile zu minimieren - mit dem Vorbehalt, dass einige Interaktionsmuster mehr Vorteile mit sich bringen können als andere. Durch meine Ergebnisse ergeben sich eine Reihe neuer Fragen, die in zukünftigen Studien beantwortet werden sollten, insbesondere ob Primaten Parasitentoleranzstrategien nutzen können, um die Kosten von Parasiteninfektionen einzudämmen. Zu entschlüsseln, welche Komponenten des Sozialverhaltens mit Kontakt zu Krankheitserregern und der Anfälligkeit für Infektionen zusammenhängen ist wichtig, um die Variation des Infektionsrisikos zwischen einzelnen Tieren und deren Beitrag zur Übertragung von Krankheiten innerhalb einer Population zu verstehen. Zu untersuchen, ob Unterschiede in der Reaktion auf Parasiteninfektionen Langzeitfolgen für Gesundheit und Fitness vorhersagen, ist ein wichtiger nächster Schritt, um den Einfluss der Wirt-Parasitenbeziehung auf das Verhalten möglicherweise die soziale Evolution von Wirtstieren zu verstehen.Parasite infections are ubiquitous throughout the animal kingdom, and increased risk of parasite transmission has been suggested as one of the major costs of group living. With bigger group size and higher interaction frequencies, transmission is expected to increase due to higher pathogen exposure. In contrast, social integration and close affiliative relationships are known predictors of increased health, longevity and reproductive success in social animals. Sociality is thus hypothesized to offer fitness benefits by improving health, including reduced susceptibility to infectious diseases. The underlying mechanisms mediating the health benefits of social interactions are still largely unclear, particularly in wildlife. Recent methodological and theoretical advances in the fields of disease ecology and eco-immunology make studying the links between host sociality and parasites more feasible. Consequently, understanding host-parasite dynamics and the role of sociality for health has received increasing attention in behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology. Gastrointestinal (GI) helminths are a powerful tool to study the links between sociality and health, as they can be assessed noninvasively. However, host-parasite interactions are complex and can function as feedback loops: parasites alter their host’s physiology and behaviour, which in turn predict exposure and susceptibility to parasite infection. Often the directionality of the links between host behaviour, sociality and physiology and infection isn’t clear due to the correlational nature of conducted studies. Additionally, host behaviour can contribute to both exposure and susceptibility simultaneously and both factors can be intertwined, so understanding the role of sociality for parasite transmission is challenging. In this thesis I investigate the host-parasite dynamic between GI helminth infections and a social primate, the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), aiming at understanding the causes and consequences of GI helminth infection. Capitalizing on strongyle nematode clearance by routine anthelmintic treatment in a semi-free ranging population, I can take a step beyond correlational studies and draw more causal inferences about the direction of host-parasite interactions, placing a special focus on social behaviour. I combine behavioural observation data (~ 3500 hours) with analyses of molecular markers of immune regulation (urinary neopterin, uNEO), physical condition (urinary C-peptide, uCP) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation and parasite status assessment. This enables me to assess the consequences of parasite clearance and investigate the predictors of reinfection with GI helminths. To account for uncertainty of noninvasively assessed parasite status, I use patch occupancy modelling to estimate infection probabilities and individual reinfection risk. I test whether infection related behavioural changes are attributable to sickness behaviour or avoidance of infected conspecifics to extrapolate the impact of GI helminth infections on social behaviour and potentially evolution. With regard to parasite transmission, I test whether grooming predicts reinfection risk, indicating transmission due to social contact. Strongyle nematode infections, mostly caused by Oesophagostomum spp., were ubiquitous within the study population, with generally low egg shedding and large inter-individual variation in reinfection risk. Infections did not cause overt symptoms or affect physical condition. They nonetheless elicited sickness behaviour responses, namely increased HPA axis activation in combination with reduced activity. Anthelmintic treatment did not alter uNEO levels, but uNEO increased with age, implying immunosenescence. As coinfections with further GI helminths occurred mostly in old individuals, immunosenescence might influence an individual’s ability to cope with GI helminth infections in general. Individual frequency to initiate proximity to others was not predicted by an individual’s, but by the potential partner’s infection status, indicating avoidance of infected individuals. Reinfection was predicted by measures of both susceptibility and exposure. The strongest predictor of earlier reinfection was coinfection with further GI helminth taxa. I found no evidence for HPA axis activation and immune function as strong predictors of reinfection. Being in good physical condition tended to increase reinfection risk, indicating the presence of parasite tolerance strategies in Barbary macaques. Time spent in areas likely contaminated with faeces, a measure of exposure to infective parasite stages, emerged as a predictor of increased infection risk, confirming the direct environmental transmission route of strongyle nematodes. High social bond strength with opposite sex partners decreased reinfection probability, probably due to reduced susceptibility resulting from immunomodulatory effects of affiliative interactions. In contrast, grooming a high number of partners and strong bonds with same sex partners emerged as predictors of increased infection probability, implying a social component of transmission. Social interactions can thus have an ambivalent effect, contributing to both protection from and increased risk of GI helminth infections. The discrepancy between same and opposite sex bond effects is likely attributable to differences in interaction patterns, resulting in different relative contributions of same and opposite sex bonds to exposure and susceptibility. In conclusion, the results suggest that GI parasite infections can influence social behaviour in nonhuman primates. Given the dual role of social interactions for GI helminth transmission, a possible strategy to maximize benefits while limiting costs of sociality could be selective formation of strong bonds with a small number of partners, with the caveat that particular interaction patterns might be more beneficial than others. My results lead to a range of questions which need to be addressed by future research, particularly whether primates mitigate costs of infection by employing tolerance strategies. Causally linking components of social behaviour to exposure and susceptibility will be important for understanding individual variation in infection risk and contribution to transmission through a population. Investigating whether variation in responses to GI helminth infections predict long-term health and fitness outcomes will be vital to assess the impact of host-parasite dynamics on behaviour and potentially host social evolution

Neurokognitív és szociális-kognitív képességek korrelátumai major depresszív zavarban és borderline személyiségzavarban

The role of neurocognitive and social-cognitive abilities in psychiatric disorders received much attention in clinical research over the past decades. This thesis examines the correlates of neurocognitive and social-cognitive functioning in major depressive disorder (MDD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). During my Ph.D. years, I was involved in two research projects. One line of research has focused on the biological and psychological effects of early stressful life events in patients with MDD. The first study of this thesis presents the results in this field. This study investigated the associations between depression, early life adversity, lipid parameters, and neurocognitive performance