Innsbruck Medical University

Background Impaired clinical insight in schizophrenia is associated with poor treatment adherence and outcomes. Previous research on the influence of symptoms, cognition, and antipsychotic exposure has been inconclusive and restricted to multi-episode samples. We examined time-specific associations between overall psychopathology, cognitive functioning, antipsychotic D₂ receptor mechanisms, antipsychotic exposure and dosage, and insight, whether these associations changed over time, and whether dosage moderated them. Methods In 144 individuals with schizophrenia, including antipsychotic-naïve and previously treated participants, multiple regressions were conducted at five cross-sectional time points and examined changes in associations over one year. Insight was assessed using PANSS item G12. Symptom severity was represented by the sum of the remaining PANSS items (mPANSS). Antipsychotic exposure was quantified as cumulative Defined Daily Doses and classified as dopamine antagonists (DA) or partial agonists (DPA). Cognitive functioning was expressed as a mean t-score. Results Greater symptom severity was consistently associated with poorer insight across time points and was the only variable showing a linear increase in strength over time. Higher DPA doses were associated with poorer insight at baseline and 12 months, but improved insight at 12 weeks. Higher cognitive functioning was associated with better insight at baseline and interacted with lower doses at 6 weeks and 12 months. No consistent associations were observed in antipsychotic-naïve participants. Conclusion Clinical insight was most consistently associated with symptom severity, with an increasingly robust association over time, highlighting the need to assess insight across the symptom spectrum, including when symptoms are mild and independently of antipsychotic dosage.

Coccidiosis, a parasitic disease in animals, is often treated with coccidiostats, but their excessive use has led to drug resistance, reducing treatment efficacy. This study sought to investigate the in vitro and in vivo anticoccidial capacity of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Coriandrum sativum extract (CSE-ZnONPs) against Eimeria papillata. CSE-ZnONPs were synthesized and characterized via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). E. papillata oocysts were treated in vitro with decreasing selected concentrations from CSE-ZnONPs (100 − 0.5 mg/ml K2Cr2O7) of CSE-ZnONPs for 96 h as part of a sporulation inhibition assay. For In vivo, five groups (G) of mice were utilized: G1: control group (Non-Infected), G2: received CSE-ZnONPs, G3: infection group with 10³ sporulated oocysts (Infected). G4: infected and treated with CSE-ZnONPs at a dosage of 50 mg/kg b.w. (Infected + CSE-ZnONPs). G5: infected and treated with amprolium at a dosage of 120 mg/kg b.w. (Infected + Amp). The treatments were persisted for five days. In vitro results indicated that CSE-ZnONPs markedly decreased sporulation rates and caused morphological damage in E. papillata oocysts. The in vivo oral administration of CSE-ZnONPs to infected mice considerably reduced the numbers of jejunal endogenous stages and notably decreased their morphometric dimensions. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated a downregulation of Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4) and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) expression, whereas biochemical antioxidant studies indicated reduced nitric oxide and malondialdehyde levels, alongside elevated superoxide dismutase and catalase activity. ELISA verified reduced serum concentrations of interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10, and iNOS in the treated mice. CSE-ZnONPs possess a promising potent in vitro sporulation inhibition and in vivo anticoccidial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immuno-therapeutic properties against E. papillata.

Abstract Background The tumor microenvironment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) harbors diverse immune cell populations that influence tumor progression and patient outcome. Materials In 102 surgically treated OPSCCs, we determined HPV/p16 status by immunohistochemistry and RNA in situ hybridization. We analyzed mRNA transcripts using the PanCancer IO360 panel by NanoString. Multiplex immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence was performed to characterize monocytic (M-MDSC, CD11b⁺CD14⁺HLA-DRlow/−CD15−) and polymorphonuclear myeloid derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC, CD11b⁺CD14−HLA-DRlow/−CD15+), M1-like (CD68⁺iNOS⁺) and M2-like macrophages (CD68⁺CD206⁺), B cells (CD20⁺), T helper cells (CD3⁺CD4⁺), and cytotoxic T cells (CD3⁺CD8⁺) in the tumor (TC) and stroma compartment (SC) of the primary tumor (PT) and the lymph node metastases (LM). Results Transcriptomic profiling revealed higher lymphoid compartment and antigen presentation scores in HPV/p16⁺ OPSCC (p = 0.002, p = 0.020, respectively), consistent with increased tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (p = 0.025). HPV/p16– OPSCC exhibited higher myeloid compartment scores (p < 0.001). M2-like macrophages and M-MDSCs were significantly enriched in PT, while M1-like macrophages and PMN-MDSCs predominated in LM (p < 0.001 each). In HPV/p16 + OPSCC, M1-like macrophages, cytotoxic T and B cells were increased (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.050, respectively), whereas MDSC frequencies were comparable between both HPV/p16 subgroups. Higher PMN-MDSC infiltration was correlated with poorer overall survival (OS, p = 0.050), while increased T helper, cytotoxic T, and B cell infiltration predicted improved OS (p = 0.009, p < 0.001, p = 0.005, respectively). Conclusion HPV/p16 + OPSCCs exhibit a lymphoid-dominant, antigen-presenting immune phenotype, whereas HPV/p16– tumors display a myeloid-dominated TME. Despite similar MDSC frequencies, transcriptional and spatial analyses suggest functional divergence of myeloid lineages and local immune differentiation between primary and metastatic sites.

Bei ihrer Beratungstätigkeit setzen sich Organisationsberater, Supervisoren und Coaches mit Menschen in ihrem gelebten Alltag auseinander. Ganzheitlich betrachtet sind sie somit auch mit den sozio-psycho-biologischen Rückkopplungsmechanismen der Klienten konfrontiert, die den Beratungsprozess beeinflussen können. Dies zu erforschen, liegt im Interesse der neuen Forschungsrichtung der Psychoneuroimmunologie (PNI). Die PNI betrachtet jeden Menschen als untrennbare Einheit von sozialen, psychischen, neuronalen, hormonellen und immunologischen Aktivitäten. Ein zentraler Bereich der PNI betrifft den Einfluss von psychosozialem Stress auf das Immunsystem. Metaanalysen legen jedoch nahe, dass gängige Methoden der PNI – wie randomisierte kontrollierte Studien (RCTs) und Laborexperimente – der Komplexität dieses Forschungsgebiets nicht gerecht werden können. Wir haben daher einen alternativen Forschungsansatz entwickelt: die integrative Einzelfallstudie. Diese ermöglicht es, die biopsychosoziale Komplexität unter sich ständig ändernden Alltagsbedingungen – „das Leben, wie es gelebt wird“ – zu untersuchen. Die hier vorgestellten Ergebnisse deuten auf einen Paradigmenwechsel im methodischen Ansatz der Stressforschung hin, der auch für die beratende Praxis von Bedeutung ist.

Secondary findings (SF) identified in massive parallel sequencing raise important clinical and healthcare related questions. To get an overview on current practices of European healthcare providers (HCP), we conducted a cross-sectional survey study among 39 stakeholders—predominantly senior medical and laboratory geneticists—from 15 European countries participating in the European Reference Network for Genetic Tumour Risk Syndromes (ERN GENTURIS). Respondents reported considerable heterogeneity in SF management and reporting, even within countries. While 31% of responding HCP return findings from all 81 genes on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) recommended SF list version 3.2, 41% restrict SF disclosure, often excluding genes associated with cardiological or metabolic disorders or with limited clinical actionability. A further 26% do not report ACMG-listed SF at all. Notably, 70% of HCP also assess additional cancer-predisposition genes beyond the ACMG list, using in-house gene lists or national guidelines. Most HCP restrict reporting to (likely) pathogenic variants (90%) and find SF in less than 5% of genetic analyses (59%). Consent procedures and patient information practices varied, with most HCP employing opt-in consent models and genetic counselling primarily delivered by medical geneticists and genetic counsellors. Major institutional challenges raised by participants, include lack of harmonised guidelines, concerns about patient anxiety, and insufficient resources for follow-up care. The findings of this study highlight the need for robust, evidence-based European guidelines to ensure clinically relevant and patient-centred SF management.