Immunological Approaches in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A Historical Overview.

Background: For over 130 years, scientists have been suggesting that infection and inflammation may play a role in psychosis and other psychiatric disorders. First attempts to treat psychosis by immune-modulating therapies were made early in the last century; however, after the development of antipsychotics in the 1950s, scientific interest shifted away from immunological aspects of psychiatric disorders to the involvement of catecholamines, in particular dopamine, in psychosis.

Summary: Antipsychotic treatment was not as successful as expected, so the 1990s saw renewed interest in inflammation and psychoneuroimmunological research in schizophrenia and beyond.

Investigating Antiprotozoal Chemotherapies with Novel Proteomic Tools-Chances and Limitations: A Critical Review.

Identification of drug targets and biochemical investigations on mechanisms of action are major issues in modern drug development. The present article is a critical review of the classical "one drug"-"one target" paradigm. In fact, novel methods for target deconvolution and for investigation of resistant strains based on protein mass spectrometry have shown that multiple gene products and adaptation mechanisms are involved in the responses of pathogens to xenobiotics rather than one single gene or gene product.

Two Sides of Theory of Mind: Mental State Attribution to Moving Shapes in Paranoid Schizophrenia Is Independent of the Severity of Positive Symptoms.

Background: Theory of Mind (ToM) impairment has repeatedly been found in paranoid schizophrenia. The current study aims at investigating whether this is related to a deficit in ToM (undermentalizing) or an increased ToM ability to hyperattribute others' mental states (overmentalizing).

Methods: Mental state attribution was examined in 24 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (12 acute paranoid (APS) and 12 post-acute paranoid (PPS)) with regard to positive symptoms as well as matched healthy persons using a moving shapes paradigm.

What is the role of Swiss domestic cats in environmental contamination with Echinococcus multilocularis eggs?

Background: The role of the domestic cat as definitive host for Echinococcus multilocularis and thus in environmental contamination with eggs has not yet been entirely resolved. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of E. multilocularis and other gastrointestinal parasites in Swiss domestic cats and to compare the diagnostic sensitivity of different methods for the detection of intestinal taeniid infection.

The Interplay of Oxytocin and Attachment in Schizophrenic Patients: An fMRI Study.

Background: Attachment theory offers an important framework for understanding interpersonal interaction experiences. In the present study, we examined the neural correlates of attachment patterns and oxytocin in schizophrenic patients (SZP) compared to healthy controls (HC) using fMRI. We assumed that male SZP shows a higher proportion of insecure attachment and an altered level of oxytocin compared to HC.

A novel multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction for the molecular diagnosis of metacestode infections in human patients.

Objectives: The diagnosis of larval cestodiases in humans primarily depends on using imaging techniques in combination with serological tests. However, in case of atypical imaging results, negative serology results due to immunosuppression, or infection with rare taeniid species, traditional diagnostic tools may not provide a definitive species-level diagnosis. We aimed to validate a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective single-step real-time PCR method that can identify and differentiate larval cestodiases from biopsy material.

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of RH Wild-Type and Four SRS29B (SAG1) Knock-Out Clones Reveals Significant Differences between Individual Strains.

In , as well as in other model organisms, gene knock-out using CRISPR-Cas9 is a suitable tool to identify the role of specific genes. The general consensus implies that only the gene of interest is affected by the knock-out. Is this really the case? In a previous study, we generated knock-out (KO) clones of TgRH88_077450 (SRS29B; SAG1) which differed in the numbers of the integrated dihydrofolate-reductase-thymidylate-synthase (MDHFR-TS) drug-selectable marker.

Monoclonal antibody-based localization of major diagnostic antigens in metacestode tissue, excretory/secretory products, and extracellular vesicles of species.

Alveolar (AE) and cystic echinococcosis (CE) are severe parasitic zoonoses caused by the larval stages of and , respectively. A panel of 7 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was selected against major diagnostic epitopes of both species. The binding capacity of the mAbs to spp.

Premature T cell aging in major depression: A double hit by the state of disease and cytomegalovirus infection.

Introduction: Previous research indicates that premature T cell senescence is a characteristic of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, known senescence inducing factors like cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or, probably, childhood adversity (CA) have not been taken into consideration so far.

Objective: Differentiation and senescent characteristics of T cells of MDD patients were investigated in relation to healthy controls (HC), taking the CMV seropositivity and CA into account.

A single amino acid deletion in the ER Ca sensor STIM1 reverses the in vitro and in vivo effects of the Stormorken syndrome-causing R304W mutation.

Stormorken syndrome is a multiorgan hereditary disease caused by dysfunction of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca sensor protein STIM1, which forms the Ca release-activated Ca (CRAC) channel together with the plasma membrane channel Orai1. ER Ca store depletion activates STIM1 by releasing the intramolecular "clamp" formed between the coiled coil 1 (CC1) and CC3 domains of the protein, enabling the C terminus to extend and interact with Orai1. The most frequently occurring mutation in patients with Stormorken syndrome is R304W, which destabilizes and extends the STIM1 C terminus independently of ER Ca store depletion, causing constitutive binding to Orai1 and CRAC channel activation.

High prevalence rates of in cat-hunted small mammals - Evidence for parasite induced behavioural manipulation in the natural environment?

causes one of the most frequent parasitic infections in vertebrates on earth. The present study aimed to assess the occurrence of infection in cat-hunted wild small mammals, and to determine the circulating genotypes in cat prey. There is evidence suggesting that may manipulate rodents' behaviour enhancing transmission to their definitive feline host by facilitating predation.

Feasibility of hybrid in-stream generator-photovoltaic systems for Amazonian off-grid communities.

While there have been efforts to supply off-grid energy in the Amazon, these attempts have focused on low upfront costs and deployment rates. These "get-energy-quick" methods have almost solely adopted diesel generators, ignoring the environmental and social risks associated with the known noise and pollution of combustion engines. Alternatively, it is recommended, herein, to supply off-grid needs with renewable, distributed microgrids comprised of photovoltaics (PV) and in-stream generators (ISG).

More losses than gains during one century of plant biodiversity change in Germany.

Long-term analyses of biodiversity data highlight a 'biodiversity conservation paradox': biological communities show substantial species turnover over the past century, but changes in species richness are marginal. Most studies, however, have focused only on the incidence of species, and have not considered changes in local abundance. Here we asked whether analysing changes in the cover of plant species could reveal previously unrecognized patterns of biodiversity change and provide insights into the underlying mechanisms.

ReSurveyGermany: Vegetation-plot time-series over the past hundred years in Germany.

Vegetation-plot resurvey data are a main source of information on terrestrial biodiversity change, with records reaching back more than one century. Although more and more data from re-sampled plots have been published, there is not yet a comprehensive open-access dataset available for analysis. Here, we compiled and harmonised vegetation-plot resurvey data from Germany covering almost 100 years.

Single- and duplex TaqMan-quantitative PCR for determining the copy numbers of integrated selection markers during site-specific mutagenesis in Toxoplasma gondii by CRISPR-Cas9.

Herein, we developed a single and a duplex TaqMan quantitative PCR (qPCR) for absolute quantification of copy numbers of integrated dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (mdhfr-ts) drug selectable marker for pyrimethamine resistance in Toxoplasma gondii knockouts (KOs). The single TaqMan qPCR amplifies a 174 bp DNA fragment of the inserted mdhfr-ts and of the wild-type (WT) dhfr-ts (wtdhfr-ts) which is present as single copy gene in Toxoplasma and encodes a sensitive enzyme to pyrimethamine. Thus, the copy number of the dhfr-ts fragment in a given DNA quantity from KO parasites with a single site-specific integration should be twice the number of dhfr-ts copies recorded in the same DNA quantity from WT parasites.

and infections in sheep and goats in Switzerland: Seroprevalence and occurrence in aborted foetuses.

and infections are important causes of abortion in ruminants. Besides, meat from infected animals represent a major infection source for humans. The occurrence of these protozoan parasites in Switzerland was investigated both, in a nationwide cross-sectional serological survey, and by molecular methods in aborted sheep and goat foetuses.

3-nitroimidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine as a novel scaffold for antiparasitics with sub-nanomolar anti-Giardia lamblia activity.

As there is a continuous need for novel anti-infectives, the present study aimed to fuse two modes of action into a novel 3-nitroimidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine scaffold to improve antiparasitic efficacy. For this purpose, we combined known structural elements of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, a target recently proposed for Trypanosoma brucei and Giardia lamblia, with a nitroimidazole scaffold to generate nitrosative stress. The compounds were evaluated in vitro against a panel of protozoal parasites, namely Giardia lamblia, Trypanosoma brucei, T.

Serological Assays for Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis-A Comparative Multi-Test Study in Switzerland and Kyrgyzstan.

Both alveolar (AE) and cystic echinococcosis (CE) are lacking pathognomonic clinical signs; consequently imaging technologies and serology remain the main pillars for diagnosis. The present study included 100 confirmed treatment-naïve AE and 64 CE patients that were diagnosed in Switzerland or Kyrgyzstan. Overall, 10 native spp.

Lack of Association of Group A Streptococcal Infections and Onset of Tics: European Multicenter Tics in Children Study.

Background And Objectives: The goal of this work was to investigate the association between group A streptococcal (GAS) infections and tic incidence among unaffected children with a family history of chronic tic disorders (CTDs).

Methods: In a prospective cohort study, children with no history for tics who were 3 to 10 years of age with a first-degree relative with a CTD were recruited from the European Multicentre Tics in Children Study (EMTICS) across 16 European centers. Presence of GAS infection was assessed with throat swabs, serum anti-streptolysin O titers, and anti-DNAse titers blinded to clinical status.

Spin noise gradient echoes.

Nuclear spin noise spectroscopy in the absence of radio frequency pulses was studied under the influence of pulsed field gradients (PFGs) on pure and mixed liquids. Under conditions where the radiation-damping-induced line broadening is smaller than the gradient-dependent inhomogeneous broadening, echo responses can be observed in difference spectra between experiments employing pulsed field gradient pairs of the same and opposite signs. These observed spin noise gradient echoes (SNGEs) were analyzed through a simple model to describe the effects of transient phenomena.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgG positivity is associated with tic severity in chronic tic disorders.

Infectious pathogens may represent an environmental risk factor for chronic tic disorders (CTD). This cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) IgG positivity is associated with the presence or severity of tics.

Efficacy of Sertraline Plus Placebo or Add-On Celecoxib in Major Depressive Disorder: Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor as a Promising Biomarker for Remission After Sertraline-Results From a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Previous research delivers strong indications that inflammatory activation leads to treatment resistance in a subgroup of patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Thus, tailored interventions are needed. The present study aimed to find potential biomarkers that may enable patients to be stratified according to immune activation.