Untangling the corruption maze: exploring the complexity of corruption in the health sector.

Background: Healthcare corruption poses a significant threat to individuals, institutions, sectors, and states. Combating corruption is paramount for protecting patients, maintaining the healthcare system's integrity, and preserving public trust. As corruption evolves, takes new forms, and adapts to changing socio-political landscapes, understanding its manifestations is critical to developing effective anti-corruption strategies at individual and institutional levels.

Possibilities for ranking business schools and considerations concerning the stability of such rankings.

In this article, we discuss possibilities for ranking business schools and analyse the stability of research rankings using different ranking methods. One focus is set on a comparison of publication-based rankings with citation-based rankings. Our considerations and discussions are based on a (small) case study for which we have examined all (six) business schools at public universities in Austria.

Distribution of Health Care Resources in Austria - Inequality Assessment of Different Health Care Resources at Different Points in Time.

A major objective of health policy in many countries is to avoid inequality in the distribution of health care resources. Our goal is to provide initial insight into the inequality in the regional distribution of different health care resources per capita and the variation of the inequality over time in Austria to provide starting points for policy recommendations and international comparisons. We also aim to examine whether the type of inequality measure and need-adjustment has an impact on the results.

Individual and Institutional Corruption in European and US Healthcare: Overview and Link of Various Corruption Typologies.

In recent years, the fight against healthcare corruption has intensified. Estimates from the European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network calculate an approximate €56 billion annual loss to Europe as a result of corruption. To promote understanding of the complexity and interconnection of corrupt activities, we aim to present healthcare-related corruption typologies of the European Union and European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network.

Nivolumab Enhances Effector Functions of PD-1 T-Lymphocytes and -Infected Human Myeloid Cells in a Host Cell-Dependent Manner.

Functional impairment of T-cells and a concomitant augmented expression of programmed death-1 (PD-1) have been observed in visceral leishmaniasis patients, as well as in experimental models for visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. The PD-1/PD-1-ligand (PD-1/PD-L) interaction negatively regulates T-cell effector functions, which are required for parasite control during leishmaniasis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of the PD-1/PD-L axis in a human primary infection model of ().

Cytokine release: A workshop proceedings on the state-of-the-science, current challenges and future directions.

In October 2013, the International Life Sciences Institute - Health and Environmental Sciences Institute Immunotoxicology Technical Committee (ILSI-HESI ITC) held a one-day workshop entitled, "Workshop on Cytokine Release: State-of-the-Science, Current Challenges and Future Directions". The workshop brought together scientists from pharmaceutical, academic, health authority, and contract research organizations to discuss novel approaches and current challenges for the use of in vitro cytokine release assays (CRAs) for the identification of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) potential of novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics. Topics presented encompassed a regulatory perspective on cytokine release and assessment, case studies regarding the translatability of preclinical cytokine data to the clinic, and the latest state of the science of CRAs, including comparisons between mAb therapeutics within one platform and across several assay platforms, a novel physiological assay platform, and assay optimization approaches such as determination of FcR expression profiles and use of statistical tests.

Biosimilars entering the clinic without animal studies. A paradigm shift in the European Union.

The concept of biosimilars has spread from Europe to other regions throughout the world, and many regions have drafted regulatory guidelines for their development. Recently, a paradigm shift in regulatory thinking on the non-clinical development of biosimilars has emerged in Europe: In vivo testing should follow a step-wise approach rather than being performed by default. To not require animal testing at all in some instances can well be seen as a revolutionary, but science-based, step.

Challenges and approaches for the development of safer immunomodulatory biologics.

Immunomodulatory biologics, which render their therapeutic effects by modulating or harnessing immune responses, have proven their therapeutic utility in several complex conditions including cancer and autoimmune diseases. However, unwanted adverse reactions--including serious infections, malignancy, cytokine release syndrome, anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity as well as immunogenicity--pose a challenge to the development of new (and safer) immunomodulatory biologics. In this article, we assess the safety issues associated with immunomodulatory biologics and discuss the current approaches for predicting and mitigating adverse reactions associated with their use.

Biosimilars: what clinicians should know.

Biosimilar medicinal products (biosimilars) have become a reality in the European Union and will soon be available in the United States. Despite an established legal pathway for biosimilars in the European Union since 2005 and increasing and detailed regulatory guidance on data requirements for their development and licensing, many clinicians, particularly oncologists, are reluctant to consider biosimilars as a treatment option for their patients. Major concerns voiced about biosimilars relate to their pharmaceutical quality, safety (especially immunogenicity), efficacy (particularly in extrapolated indications), and interchangeability with the originator product.

The Austrian Tobacco Act in practice--analysing the effectiveness of partial smoking bans in Austrian restaurants and bars.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of partial smoking bans in restaurants and bars, such as those currently in place in Austria, by evaluating adherence to the relevant regulations and assessing the satisfaction levels of those affected by these regulations. To evaluate adherence, 127 randomly selected restaurants and bars were observed using a form of structured observation. In order to evaluate their level of satisfaction with the regulations, 342 randomly selected customers and 29 restaurant owners were interviewed using standardized questionnaires.

The IFN-γ-inducible GTPase, Irga6, protects mice against Toxoplasma gondii but not against Plasmodium berghei and some other intracellular pathogens.

Clearance of infection with intracellular pathogens in mice involves interferon-regulated GTPases of the IRG protein family. Experiments with mice genetically deficient in members of this family such as Irgm1(LRG-47), Irgm3(IGTP), and Irgd(IRG-47) has revealed a critical role in microbial clearance, especially for Toxoplasma gondii. The in vivo role of another member of this family, Irga6 (IIGP, IIGP1) has been studied in less detail.

Coordinated loading of IRG resistance GTPases on to the Toxoplasma gondii parasitophorous vacuole.

The immunity-related GTPases (IRGs) constitute an interferon-induced intracellular resistance mechanism in mice against Toxoplasma gondii. IRG proteins accumulate on the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM), leading to its disruption and to death of the parasite. How IRGs target the PVM is unknown.

Intracerebral granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor induces functionally competent dendritic cells in the mouse brain.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a hematopoietic growth factor and a proinflammatory cytokine. While GM-CSF is lacking in normal brain tissue, it is expressed under pathological conditions and correlates with the presence of dendritic cells (DC). However, the role of GM-CSF for the onset of immune responses in the brain is still unclear.

In vivo monitoring of inflammation after cardiac and cerebral ischemia by fluorine magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: In this study, we developed and validated a new approach for in vivo visualization of inflammatory processes by magnetic resonance imaging using biochemically inert nanoemulsions of perfluorocarbons (PFCs).

Methods And Results: Local inflammation was provoked in 2 separate murine models of acute cardiac and cerebral ischemia, followed by intravenous injection of PFCs. Simultaneous acquisition of morphologically matching proton ((1)H) and fluorine ((19)F) images enabled an exact anatomic localization of PFCs after application.

Disruption of Toxoplasma gondii parasitophorous vacuoles by the mouse p47-resistance GTPases.

The p47 GTPases are essential for interferon-gamma-induced cell-autonomous immunity against the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, in mice, but the mechanism of resistance is poorly understood. We show that the p47 GTPases, including IIGP1, accumulate at vacuoles containing T. gondii.

Detection of a novel population of fetal thymocytes characterized by preferential emigration and a TCRgammadelta+ T cell fate after dioxin exposure.

T cell maturation into TCRalphabeta(+) or TCRgammadelta(+) cells from common immature CD4(-)CD8(-)(DN) precursors occurs in the thymus, and is controlled through ordered regulation of genes. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a latent cytoplasmic transcription factor, affects thymocyte maturation and differentiation at several stages, also including DN cells. We analyzed in murine fetal thymus organ cultures (FTOC) the outcome of AHR-signaling and found a higher frequency of DN TCRgammadelta(+) cells in the presence of the AHR-activating ligand TCDD.

Co-payments in the Austrian social health insurance system. Analysing patient behaviour and patients' views on the effects of co-payments.

Austrian health politicians constantly claim that patients have to be the focus of interest when providing health care services. However, due to increasing demand, scarce resources and insufficient guidance for health care provision at the national level, Austrian patients have been confronted with a variety of health care reforms during recent years. These reforms include the introduction of additional, mainly lump sum co-payments and the increase of existing (lump sum) co-payments.

Activity of E2F-dependent promoters in bladder carcinoma cells and their use for tumour-specific targeting of p53-induced apoptosis.

Inactivation of P53 and RB functions are crucial changes in bladder cancer (TCC). High-level re-expression of P53 elicits apoptosis in TCC cell lines, but also--as shown here--in normal uroepithelial cells. Compromised RB function is thought to cause increased activity of E2F-dependent promoters in carcinoma cells.

Dendritic cells and dendritic-like microglia in focal cortical ischemia of the mouse brain.

Intracerebral dendritic cells (DC) have recently been identified in neuroinflammation initiated peripherally by brain-targeted autoimmunity or infection. The present study detects DC in photochemically induced cortical ischemia of the mouse brain, a brain-intrinsic lesion model characterized by the lack of an overt T cell response. Concomitant to leukocyte infiltration of the infarcted area, cells expressing the pan-DC surface marker CD11c appeared at the lesion and persisted for weeks.

Expression variance, biochemical and immunological properties of Toxoplasma gondii dense granule protein GRA7.

During intracellular stay, Toxoplasma gondii secretes dense granule proteins (GRA) which remodel the parasitophorous vacuole and are considered functional in parasite-host interrelation. Comparative analysis of parasites from mouse-virulent strain BK and an in vitro attenuated variant revealed that the level of GRA7 expression correlates with T. gondii virulence: proteome analysis and quantitation by immunoblot demonstrated a massive decrease in GRA7 steady-state synthesis parallel to the loss of virulence.

Characterization of TgROP9 (p36), a novel rhoptry protein of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites identified by T cell clone.

T cell clone 3Tx19 detects a Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite protein which, in high resolution 2D gel electrophoresis, runs at 36 kDa apparent MW with two spots of pI 5.9 and 6.5, thus exhibiting a migration pattern distinct from those of other known Toxoplasma antigens.

Tachyzoite-specific isoform of Toxoplasma gondii lactate dehydrogenase is the target antigen of a murine CD4(+) T-cell clone.

In two-dimensionally separated Toxoplasma gondii lysate, mouse Th1 clone 3Tx15 detects two proteins of apparent molecular weight 40000 and pI of 5.8 and 5.9.

Towards the Toxoplasma gondii proteome: position of 13 parasite excretory antigens on a standardized map of two-dimensionally separated tachyzoite proteins.

High resolution two-dimensional separation of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite lysate revealed up to 224 distinct protein spots in Coomassie-stained gel. Computional matching of 14 digitized gels yielded a standard two-dimensional proteome map. The excretory T.