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Secondary lymphoid organs are specialised structures in the body in which immune cells multiply and develop to respond to new pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. An international team led by Kaan Boztug (St. Anna Children's Cancer Research, MedUni Vienna, CeMM) has now been able to identify a completely new form of a rare disease that provides a better understanding of the importance of these structures for the human immune system.

A recent study by the Medical University of Vienna shows that adolescents with a history of non-suicidal self-injurious behaviour (NSSI) show increased attention to images of self-harm on social media. This attention bias - the increased and faster fixation on such content - increases the urge to self-harm.

Researchers at the University of Vienna develop gut-stable oxytocin analogues for targeted pain treatment of chronic abdominal pain A research team at the University of Vienna, led by medicinal chemist Markus Muttenthaler, has developed a new class of oral peptide therapeutic leads for treating chronic abdominal pain.

Disruption of the microbial community favours pathogens in the gut In a groundbreaking new study, conducted within the framework of the FWF-funded Cluster of Excellence "Microbiomes drive Planetary Health", scientists from the University of Vienna, in collaboration with the University of Southampton, Aalborg University and Boston University, have revealed that the widely prescribed Parkinson's disease drug entacapone significantly disrupts the human gut microbiome by inducing iron deficiency.

In a study recently published in "Nature Communications", researchers from MedUni Vienna and the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris show how dimerization of the RNA editing enzyme ADAR selectively alters its specificity at certain sequences. The knowledge gained opens up new possibilities to modulate the functions of ADAR1 via its dimerization for therapeutic purposes in autoimmune diseases or cancer.

A large number of effective drugs are currently available for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but until now there has been a lack of suitable strategies for choosing the best possible therapy for individual patients. In a comprehensive scientific review led by rheumatologist Daniel Aletaha, Head of the Department of Medicine III at MedUni Vienna, a model has now been developed that focuses on the individual needs of patients and their health situation.

A study at MedUni Vienna's Department of Dermatology provides insights into the diversity of cancer-associated fibroblasts in white and black skin cancer and describes their different immunomodulatory roles in the tumor environment. The results are relevant for the development of novel skin cancer therapies, particularly in the field of immunotherapy.

Glycans are complex carbohydrates that coat all cells. They are crucial for cell communication and the coordination of vital organ processes. However, their diversity and differences between organs have so far been little researched. A research team from BOKU, MedUni Vienna and IMBA has now presented a scalable method that provides new insights into glycobiology.

Predicting the optimal therapy for individual cancer patients is one of the most important goals of modern medicine. A MedUni Vienna research team led by Michael Bergmann (Department of General Surgery, MedUni Vienna/AKH Wien) and Matthias Farlik (Department of Dermatology, MedUni Vienna/AKH Wien) has now developed a model system for culturing individual colorectal cancer patient samples that include cancer cells as well as structural and immune cells.

Electrical stimulation of the spinal cord using adhesive electrodes on the skin is becoming increasingly important in the neurorehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury. The method can be used both to increase the mobility and to treat spasticity, which affects around 80 per cent of patients.

An artificial intelligence (AI)-based system called "FastGlioma" makes it possible to analyze the tissue removed from a brain tumor during a difficult operation. The US-Austrian team presents its latest development in the journal "Nature". In just a few seconds, it allows precise estimates to be made as to whether the tissue that has just been removed is tumor cells from a glioma or already healthy tissue.

Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna and the Medical University of Innsbruck discovered that SARS-CoV-2 hijacks three important host proteins that dampen the activity of the complement system, a key component of early antiviral immunity. This significantly impairs viral clearance which may affect the course of both acute COVID-19 infections and post-COVID-19 sequelae.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide. Despite medical advances in recent years, this type of tumour is still responsible for one in eight male cancer deaths in Austria alone. An international research team led by MedUni Vienna has now investigated a new strategy for the development of treatment options that not only slow tumour growth, but also stimulate the immune system to combat tumour cells.

In a study led by MedUni Vienna, data from more than 100,000 patients with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who were registered with the Vienna City Health Service around two years ago was analysed. Of these, more than 20,000 patients were treated with antiviral drugs due to their risk of a severe course.

A research team led by MedUni Vienna has investigated AC102, a new active substance that offers hope of an effective treatment for acute sudden hearing loss. The latest results have been published in the scientific journal "Cell Death & Disease". Initial findings from preclinical trials could represent a significant advancement in the treatment of acute hearing disorders.

In a recent study, an international research team with significant involvement from MedUni Vienna has investigated how nanoplastic particles deposited in the body affect the effectiveness of antibiotics. The study showed that the plastic particles not only impair the effect of the drugs, but could also promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The human genetic code is fully mapped out, providing scientists with a blueprint of the DNA to identify genomic regions and their variations responsible for diseases. Traditional statistical tools effectively pinpoint these genetic "needles in the haystack," yet they face challenges in understanding how many genes contribute to diseases, as seen in diabetes or schizophrenia.

Lyme borreliosis is the most common tick-borne infectious disease in Europe. Up to 70,000 new cases are estimated each year in Austria alone. The bacterial infection can cause lasting health problems for patients. A MedUni Vienna research team has made significant progress in understanding the mechanism of infection and identified a potential way forward for the development of targeted therapies that do not rely on antibiotics.

A study on an essential mineral abundant in brazil nuts could unlock the key to preventing the spread of triple negative breast cancer, according to new research funded by Cancer Research UK. Limiting the antioxidant effects of selenium, a popular ingredient of multivitamin supplements found in everyday foods such as meat, mushrooms and cereals, could be the secret to controlling this form of the disease.

A new surgical method for treating obstructive defecation disorder has been introduced at the Department of General Surgery at MedUni Vienna and University Hospital Vienna. The procedure does not require the insertion of a foreign body and, for the first time, is minimally invasive. The new method was used for the first time worldwide at University Hospital Vienna and MedUni Vienna and offers those affected by this defecation disorder an advantageous alternative to existing therapies.