Homoarginine concentrations correlate with early depressive symptoms and the reduction in physical functioning within the first days after myocardial infarction.

Early depressive symptoms within the first days after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are mainly manifested with performance parameters (lack of energy, concentration difficulties, reduction in physical functioning). Homoarginine (hArg), a non-proteinogenic amino acid, might increase the availability of nitric oxide (NO). NO controls vasodilatation, blood flow, mitochondrial respiration and improves performance.

Better understanding of c-reactive protein and leukocytes in psychiatric inpatients with affective disorders: A biopsychosocial approach.

Background: Affective disorders (AD) have been linked to inflammatory processes, although the underlying mechanisms of this relationship are still not fully elucidated. It is hypothesized that demographic, somatic, lifestyle, and personality variables predict inflammatory parameters in AD.

Aim: To identify biopsychosocial factors contributing to inflammation in AD measured with two parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocytes.

Performance evaluation of a smartphone-based home test for fecal calprotection.

Objectives: Fecal calprotectin (FC) serves as a non-invasive marker for the assessment of gut inflammation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Laboratory measurements are usually performed with immunologic methods like enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Recently, quantitative home tests based on the lateral flow technology with smartphones as read-out devices have been developed.

The possible role of quinolinic acid as a predictive marker in patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Background And Aims: Quinolinic acid (QA) is a metabolite of the kynurenine pathway, which is activated by inflammatory stimuli during viral infection. We investigated the role of QA in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, particularly its prognostic value for survival.

Methods: Overall, 104 unvaccinated inpatients were included, divided into a survival (N = 80) and a deceased group (N = 24).

Metabolic Syndrome in Affective Disorders: Associations with Dark Triad Personality Traits.

Previous research has focused on the relationship between affective disorders (AD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Aside from biological and lifestyle factors, personality traits were identified as influencing aspects. In particular, the Dark Triad personality traits (DT; Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy) were connected to both AD and worse somatic health, thus possibly resulting in MetS.

The Use of Next-Generation Sequencing in Pharmacogenomics.

Background: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods have become more commonly performed in clinical and research laboratories.

Methods: This review summarizes the current laboratory NGS-based diagnostic approaches in pharmacogenomics including targeted multi-gene panel sequencing, whole-exome sequencing (WES), and whole-genome sequencing (WGS).

Results: Clinical laboratories perform multiple non-uniform types of pharmacogenetic panels, which can reduce the overall number of single-gene tests to be more cost-efficient.

Myeloperoxidase as a Potential Biomarker of Acute-Myocardial-Infarction-Induced Depression and Suppression of the Innate Immune System.

While myeloperoxidase (MPO) serves as an indicator of both neutrophil and innate-immune-system function, the potential suppression of the innate immune system in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)-induced depression might be evidenced by a decrease in MPO serum levels. The aim of this prospective study was to (1) determine whether serum concentrations of MPO vary immediately and 6 months after AMI and (2) to investigate whether MPO concentrations at the time of the AMI are significant predictors of AMI-induced depression and the depression-associated suppression of the innate immune system. A total of 109 AMI patients were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) immediately after admission to the hospital and 6 months later.

Alteration of the kynurenine pathway is inversely associated with the humoral immune response in patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Background: The scale and the course of antibody production in patients with SARS-CoV-2 is highly variable. Factors involved in the immune regulation during the infection may play a major role in the antibody response. We investigated the relationship between the inflammatory markers of the kynurenine pathway and the concentration of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in infected patients 8 - 11 days after admission.

A biopsychosocial model of severe fear of COVID-19.

Introduction: COVID-19 is a respiratory infection that causes not only somatic health issues, but also frequently psychosocial burdens. The aims of this study were to investigate biopsychosocial factors that might further aggravate fear of COVID-19, and to establish a biopsychosocial model of severe fear of COVID-19.

Methods: 368 participants were included in this study.

Sex-specific differences in trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) concentrations before and after cardiac rehabilitation in acute myocardial infarction patients.

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a biomarker of cardiovascular risk and may enhance the progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to determine whether there are sex-specific differences in TMAO concentrations before and after cardiac rehabilitation in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. A total of 56 participants [45/56 (80.

Assessment of tryptophan and kynurenine as prognostic markers in patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Background: Immune dysregulation and inflammation in patients with SARS-CoV-2 is associated with a poor clinical outcome. We investigated the value of the inflammatory markers tryptophan and kynurenine in predicting the survival outcome of patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: The study included 252 inpatients with a SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized between August 2020 and April 2021.

Assessment of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) as a potential biomarker of severe stress in patients vulnerable to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after acute myocardial infarction.

: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a frequently observed stress-related disorder after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and it is characterized by numerous symptoms, such as flashbacks, intrusions and anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts and feelings related to the trauma. Biological correlates of severe stress might contribute to identifying PTSD-vulnerable patients at an early stage. : Aims of the study were (1) to determine whether blood levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) vary immediately after AMI in patients with/without AMI-induced PTSD symptomatology, (2) to investigate whether TMAO is a potential biomarker that might be useful in the prediction of PTSD and the PTSD symptom subclusters re-experiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal, and (3) to investigate whether TMAO varies immediately after AMI in patients with/without depression 6 months after AMI.

Branched-chain amino acids are linked with iron metabolism.

Background: The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) valine, leucine and isoleucine are reported to influence erythropoiesis and the human iron status. Large study cohorts encompassing biomarkers of iron metabolism and BCAAs are still lacking.

Methods: We investigated potential interactions between blood concentrations of all three BCAAs valine, leucine and isoleucine and biomarkers of iron metabolism [i.

Assessment of trimethylamine-N-oxide at the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier: Results from 290 lumbar punctures.

Recently, the microbiome-derived trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) was shown to be present in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, data on the potential of TMAO crossing the blood-CSF barrier are still lacking. This retrospective study aimed at investigating possible associations between the CSF/serum albumin (Q) and TMAO (Q) quotient and evaluating Q values in individuals with and without blood-CSF barrier dysfunction.

Determination of Trimethylamine-N-oxide by a Simple Isocratic High-Throughput Liquid-Chromatography Tandem Mass-Spectrometry Method.

Background: As trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is considered to be associated with various diseases, rapid determination of serum TMAO concentration is of clinical interest. This study is aimed at evaluating the analytical performance of a simple isocratic liquid chromatography-tandem mass-spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for TMAO quantification.

Methods: TMAO measurements were performed on a tandem mass spectrometer, SCIEX QTRAP 4500 (Applied Biosystems, Framingham, MA, USA), coupled with an Agilent 1260 Infinity HPLC system (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA).

Sex-Specific Associations of Trimethylamine-N-Oxide and Zonulin with Signs of Depression in Carbohydrate Malabsorbers and Nonmalabsorbers.

Background: The microbiome-derived trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and the intestinal permeability marker zonulin are considered to be linked with depression. Moreover, carbohydrate malabsorption (CMA) was shown to be associated with signs of depression. This study is aimed at investigating possible sex-specific associations between TMAO and zonulin and the presence of depressive signs in individuals with and without CMA.

Metabolomics approach in the investigation of depression biomarkers in pharmacologically induced immune-related depression.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify previously unrecognised biological pathways and biomarkers that might expand the inflammatory hypothesis of depression.

Methods: Broad metabolomics analyses in plasma samples from 31 chronic hepatitis C-infected patients with and without immune-related depression were carried out using the Absolute IDQ p180 kit-a targeted metabolomics approach of combined direct flow injection and liquid chromatography that measures acylcarnitines, amino acids, biogenic amines, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and sugars.

Results: The measurements showed that the average concentration of the branched-chain amino acid isoleucine was significantly lower in depressive HCV patients in comparison to non-depressive HCV patients [depression group: Median 51.

Revisiting the tryptophan-serotonin deficiency and the inflammatory hypotheses of major depression in a biopsychosocial approach.

Background: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify important biopsychosocial correlates of major depression. Biological mechanisms, including the inflammatory and the tryptophan-serotonin deficiency hypotheses of major depression, were investigated alongside health-related quality of life, life satisfaction, and social support.

Methods: The concentrations of plasma tryptophan, plasma kynurenine, plasma kynurenic acid, serum quinolinic acid, and the tryptophan breakdown to kynurenine were determined alongside health-related quality of life (Medical Outcome Study Form, SF-36), life satisfaction (Life Satisfaction Questionnaire, FLZ), and social support (Social Support Survey, SSS) in 71 depressive patients at the time of their in-patient admittance and 48 healthy controls.

Beta-trace Protein as a new non-invasive immunological Marker for Quinolinic Acid-induced impaired Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity.

Quinolinic acid, a macrophage/microglia-derived excitotoxin fulfills a plethora of functions such as neurotoxin, gliotoxin, and proinflammatory mediator, and it alters the integrity and cohesion of the blood-brain barrier in several pathophysiological states. Beta-trace protein (BTP), a monomeric glycoprotein, is known to indicate cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Thus, the prior aim of this study was to investigate whether BTP might non-invasively indicate quinolinic acid-induced impaired blood-brain barrier integrity.