Stability of individual LPS-induced ex vivo cytokine release in a whole blood assay over a five-year interval.

Objective: In epidemiological and clinical studies, whole blood assay (WBA) has been used as a measure to characterize inter-individual differences in the cytokine response of individuals exposed to inflammatory agents, such as endotoxins. Several short-time repeatability studies have shown stable cytokine levels in individuals over periods of days, weeks or months, but little is known about the long-term stability of cytokine reactivity.

Methods: We studied cytokine response levels in LPS-stimulated whole blood in a cohort of 193 farmers and agricultural industry workers at two time points with a five-year interval.

Occupational endotoxin exposure in association with atopic sensitization and respiratory health in adults: Results of a 5-year follow-up.

The objective of the present longitudinal study was to investigate the effects of occupational endotoxin exposure on respiratory health and atopic sensitization in adults. Health outcomes and personal endotoxin exposure estimates were determined for 234 farmers and agricultural workers both at baseline and 5 years later. A questionnaire was used to assess respiratory symptoms, spirometry tests were performed and total and specific IgE levels were measured in serum.

Healthy worker survivor analysis in an occupational cohort study of Dutch agricultural workers.

Objectives: High microbial exposures in farmers and agricultural workers are associated with less atopy. Although it has been speculated that healthy worker survival could be an explanation, this has not been studied so far. Therefore, we investigated the presence of healthy worker survival in a five-year follow-up study of an occupational cohort of Dutch farmers and agricultural industry (company) workers.

Shifted T-cell polarisation after agricultural dust exposure in mice and men.

Rationale: A low prevalence of asthma and atopy has been shown in farmers and agricultural workers. However, in these workers, a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms has been reported, in which T helper 1 (Th1) and/or Th17 responses may play a role.

Aim: We investigated the effect of exposure to dust extracts (DEs) from different farms on airway inflammation and T-cell polarisation in a mouse model and assessed T-cell polarisation in agricultural workers from the same farms.

Preferred question types for computer-based assessment of clinical reasoning: a literature study.

Clinical reasoning is a core competence of doctors. Therefore, the assessment of clinical reasoning of undergraduate students is an important part of medical education. Three medical universities in the Netherlands wish to develop a shared question database in order to assess clinical reasoning of undergraduate students in Computer-Based Assessments (CBA).