Method to develop a regional guide for the allergenic potential of tree pollen.

Allergic rhinitis, caused by airborne pollen, is a common disease with a great impact on the quality of life for patients and high costs for society. Prevention of high pollen concentrations in the air is relevant for creating a safe environment for allergic patients. Due to climate change, the heat in cities during the summer is a recurring problem.

Comparison of different immunoassays for the detection of antibodies against Intrinsic Factor and Parietal Cells.

Objectives: In the diagnostic work up of autoimmune gastritis several immunological methods are available for the detection of antibodies against Intrinsic Factor (IF) and Parietal Cells (PC). However, there are no recent reports directly comparing all the available assays and methods. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of several commercially available anti-IF and anti-PC antibody assays from different manufacturers in a multi-center multi-cohort setting.

[Antinuclear antibodies in systemic autoimmune disease].

Diagnosis of systemic autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), can be supported by detection of antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Additional support may be provided by detecting antibodies against double-stranded (ds) DNA, standard extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) or certain disease-specific antigen combinations, including a myositis panel for idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). The detection of ANA has classically been effected by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) analysis of patient serum using HEp-2 cells.

Analytical and clinical comparison of two fully automated immunoassay systems for the detection of autoantibodies to extractable nuclear antigens.

Background: Detection of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) is increasingly substituted by fully automated solid phase immunoassays. This study evaluated the performance of an automated chemiluminescence immunoassay (CIA) and fluorescence enzyme immunoassay (FEIA) and compared their performance to that of IIFA.

Methods: The study included an unselected prospective study population suspected of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease.

Multiplex autoantibody detection for autoimmune liver diseases and autoimmune gastritis.

Autoantibody detection for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and autoimmune gastritis (AIG) is traditionally performed by IIF on a combination of tissues. Multiplex line/dot blots (LIA/DIA) offer multiple advantages, i.e.

Effects of nongenetic factors on immune cell dynamics in early childhood: The Generation R Study.

Background: Numbers of blood leukocyte subsets are highly dynamic in childhood and differ greatly between subjects. Interindividual variation is only partly accounted for by genetic factors.

Objective: We sought to determine which nongenetic factors affect the dynamics of innate leukocytes and naive and memory lymphocyte subsets.

Innate Immunity to Campylobacter jejuni in Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Objective: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a postinfectious neuropathy most frequently caused by Campylobacter jejuni. Lipo-oligosaccharides (LOS), expressed by C. jejuni induce antibodies that cross-react with self-glycolipids in peripheral nerves, causing neuropathy.

Translating the MDS flow cytometric score into clinical practice.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are classified by the WHO as myeloid neoplasms, and are characterized by cytopenia and dysplasia in one or more myeloid cell lines. Recently, a flow cytometric score (FCM-score) was published capable of discriminating low-grade MDS from non-clonal cytopenias (Della Porta et al., 2012).

Fetal growth influences lymphocyte subset counts at birth: the Generation R Study.

Background: Preterm born and low-birth-weight infants are at risk for severe infections in infancy. It has been suggested that these infants have an immature immune system.

Objective: To assess the associations of gestational age, birth weight and fetal growth with absolute lymphocyte subset counts at birth.

Variation in the IGF-1 gene is associated with lymphocyte subset counts in neonates: the Generation R Study.

Objective: IGF-1 stimulates growth, development and function of lymphocytes. The aim of this study was to examine whether functional variants of the IGF-1 gene are associated with absolute lymphocyte subset counts in neonates.

Study Design And Measurements: This study was embedded in the Generation R Study, a prospective cohort study from foetal life onwards.

Perinatal stress influences lymphocyte subset counts in neonates. The generation R study.

In the general population, it is unknown whether stress-related perinatal factors influence lymphocyte subset counts in neonates. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of perinatal factors related to stress and hypoxia (mode of delivery, Apgar scores, and umbilical cord blood pH) with absolute lymphocyte subset counts (T, B, NK, helper T, cytotoxic T, naïve, memory T) in cord blood of 571 neonates. This study was embedded in a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life onwards.

Evaluation of serological markers to differentiate between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease: pANCA, ASCA and agglutinating antibodies to anaerobic coccoid rods.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, in particular the differentiation between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is important for treatment and prognosis. Several serological markers have been used as non-invasive diagnostic tools in inflammatory bowel disease patients both to differentiate ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease and to define patient subgroups.

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of three serological tests in differentiating ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease by single or combined use.