Publications

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a severe childhood psychiatric condition with an array of cognitive, language and social impairments that can significantly impact family life. ASD is classically characterized by reduced communication skills and social interactions, with limitations imposed by repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. The pathophysiology of ASD is thought to arise from complex interactions between environmental and genetic factors within the context of individual development. A growing body of research has raised the possibility of identifying the aetiological causes of the disorder. This review highlights the roles of immune-inflammatory pathways, nitro-oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions in ASD pathogenesis and symptom severity. The role of NK-cells, T helper, T regulatory and B-cells, coupled with increased inflammatory cytokines, lowered levels of immune-regulatory cytokines, and increased autoantibodies and microglial activation is elucidated. It is proposed that alterations in mitochondrial activity and nitrooxidative stress are intimately associated with activated immune-inflammatory pathways. Future research should determine as to whether the mitochondria, immune-inflammatory activity and nitrooxidative stress changes in ASD affect the development of amygdala-frontal cortex interactions. A number of treatment implications may arise, including prevention-orientated prenatal interventions, treatment of pregnant women with vitamin D, and sodium butyrate. Treatments of ASD children and adults with probiotics, sodium butyrate and butyrate-inducing diets, antipurinergic therapy with suramin, melatonin, oxytocin and taurine are also discussed.

Protein deprivation in young rats retards growth and decreases serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations, neither of which is prevented by injections of GH once daily. Since four time daily injections of GH in hypophysectomized rats increase serum IGF-I concentrations more efficiently than single daily injections, we assessed whether this mode of GH delivery could overcome the GH resistance of protein malnutrition. Also, we evaluated whether continuous GH infusion could override this GH resistance. We fed 4-week-old female Wistar rats a low (5%) protein diet (P5) or a normal (15%) protein diet (P15) for 7 days. In a first experiment, rats fed a P5 diet received 40 or 400 μg/100 g BWday rat GH (rGH) in four daily sc injections, while control P5 rats were injected at the same frequency with vehicle. In a second experiment, rats fed a P5 diet received 200 μg rGH/100 g BW-day by continuous infusion, while P5 sham-operated rats served as controls. IGF-I was measured by RIA on extracted serum, and free and total liver GH binding were determined by incubation of [125I] bovine GH with water- or MgCl2-treated homogenates, respectively. Neither continuous infusion nor repeated injections of rGH normalized the indices of growth or restored the serum IGF-I level to P15 control values. Injections of 400 ng rGH increased serum IGF-I 2-fold (P < 0.01), but did not promote growth. Continuous GH infusion increased total and free liver GH binding to P15 control values, but had no effect on serum IGFI. The discordance between liver GH binding and IGF-I confirms that a postreceptor defect is responsible for the GH resistance in protein restriction. These observations demonstrate that the consequences of protein restriction on growth are not overridden by intermittent or continuous administration of GH. The increase in IGF-I in response to 400 μg GH given intermittently in the absence of growth-promoting effects suggests that nutritional sufficiency is essential for IGF-I to promote growth. (Endocrinology126: 908–913,1990)

Coronavirus may have a negative impact not only on physical, but also on mental wellbeing. Despite the different approaches of countries to stop the spread of the virus and different infection rates, the dynamically developing pandemic has already affected the entire world. The consequences of the coronavirus for our mental health can be divided into those related to strategies for the prevention of infection, like isolation, quarantine, limitation of social contacts, and remote work, and those related to the direct impact of infection on our nervous system. This review aims to highlight the global effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on public mental health following social restrictions, to identify how infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may have direct neurophysiological effects and to compare the impact on public mental health between the USA, Australia, and Poland with Taiwan and Thailand.

Abstract Objective: Activation of the immune-inflammatory response system (IRS) and the compensatory immune-regulatory system (CIRS) and aberrations in endogenous opioids play a role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). There are no studies which examined the associations between both systems in MDD. The aim of the present study was to examine the relation between β-Endorphin (β-EP), Endomorphin-2, and their mu-opioid receptor (MOR) as well as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, in MDD patients. Method: The study included 60 depressed drug-free male patients and 30 matched controls. Serum β-EP, Endomorphin-2, MOR, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were measured using ELISA techniques. Results: The results revealed a significant increase in serum β-EP, MOR, IL-6 and IL-10 in MDD patients versus healthy controls. MOR levels were strongly associated with IL-10 levels. There were no significant correlations between endogenous opioids and IL-6 and IL-10. Conclusion: The results show that MOR levels may function as a possible component of the CIRS whilst there is no evidence that β-EP and EM-2 may modify the IRS. The significant correlation between MOR levels and IL-10 may be explained through central activation of the HPA-axis and increased B-cell numbers expressing MOR as a response to cytokine over-secretion in MDD.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is common among cancer patients, with prevalence rates up to four-times higher than the general population. Depression confers worse outcomes, including non-adherence to treatment and increased mortality in the oncology setting. Advances in the understanding of neurobiological underpinnings of depression have revealed shared biobehavioral mechanisms may contribute to cancer progression. Moreover, psychosocial stressors in cancer promote: (1) inflammation and oxidative/nitrosative stress; (2) a decreased immunosurveillance; and (3) a dysfunctional activation of the autonomic nervous system and of the hypothalamic–pituitaryadrenal axis. Consequently, the prompt recognition of depression among patients with cancer who may benefit of treatment strategies targeting depressive symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, fatigue and sleep disturbances, is a public health priority. Moreover, behavioral strategies aiming at reducing psychological distress and depressive symptoms, including addressing unhealthy diet and life-style choices, as well as physical inactivity and sleep dysfunction, may represent important strategies not only to treat depression, but also to improve wider cancer-related outcomes. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the intertwined biobehavioral pathways linking depression to cancer progression. In addition, the clinical implications of these findings are critically reviewed.