An International Perspective on Preceding Infections in Guillain-Barré Syndrome: The IGOS-1000 Cohort.

Background And Objectives: Infections play a key role in the development of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and have been associated with specific clinical features and disease severity. The clinical variation of GBS across geographical regions has been suggested to be related to differences in the distribution of preceding infections, but this has not been studied on a large scale.

Methods: We analyzed the first 1,000 patients included in the International GBS Outcome Study with available biosamples (n = 768) for the presence of a recent infection with , hepatitis E virus, , cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus.

Antecedent infections in Guillain-Barré syndrome in endemic areas of arbovirus transmission: A multinational case-control study.

Half of the world's population is at risk of arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) infections. Several arbovirus infections have been associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). We investigated whether arboviruses are driving GBS beyond epidemic phases of transmission and studied the antibody response to glycolipids.

Endophthalmitis after strabismus surgery: incidence and outcome in relation to age, operated eye muscle, surgical technique, scleral perforation and immune state.

Purpose: Identify risk factors for endophthalmitis after strabismus surgery (EASS) and relate these to incidence and outcome.

Methods: Ophthalmologists, who had operated, diagnosed or treated EASS, completed a case record form with 71 questions in six domains: Preoperative, Surgery, Perforation, Postoperative, Outcome and Experts' opinion. To estimate the age-specific incidence per number of strabismus operations in the Netherlands during 1994-2013, the age distribution of Dutch cases was compared with the age-specific rates of strabismus surgery in the Dutch Registry of Strabismus Operations and with population data.

IgE cross-reactivity measurement of cashew nut, hazelnut and peanut using a novel IMMULITE inhibition method.

Background Tree nut-allergic individuals are often sensitised towards multiple nuts and seeds. The underlying cause behind a multi-sensitisation for cashew nut, hazelnut, peanut and birch pollen is not always clear. We investigated whether immunoglobulin E antibody (IgE) cross-reactivity between cashew nut, hazelnut and peanut proteins exists in children who are multi-allergic to these foods using a novel IMMULITE®-based inhibition methodology, and investigated which allergens might be responsible.

Multilaboratory Comparison of Pneumococcal Multiplex Immunoassays Used in Immunosurveillance of Streptococcus pneumoniae across Europe.

Surveillance studies are required to estimate the impact of pneumococcal vaccination in both children and the elderly across Europe. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends use of enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) as standard methods for immune surveillance of pneumococcal antibodies. However, as levels of antibodies to multiple serotypes are monitored in thousands of samples, a need for a less laborious and more flexible method has evolved.

The diagnostic value of component-resolved diagnostics in peanut allergy in children attending a Regional Paediatric Allergology Clinic.

Background: To date, diagnosing food allergies in children still presents a diagnostic dilemma, leading to uncertainty concerning the definite diagnosis of peanut allergy, as well as to the need for strict diets and the potential need for adrenalin auto-injectors. This uncertainty in particular is thought to contribute to a lower quality of life. In the diagnostic process double-blind food challenges are considered the gold standard, but they are time-consuming as well as potentially hazardous.

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).

Perigranuloma localization and abnormal maturation of B cells: emerging key players in sarcoidosis?

Rationale: Recent observations of abnormal immunoglobulin responses and case reports describing successful B-cell ablative therapy suggest involvement of B cells in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

Objectives: To investigate how abnormal B-cell maturation and function in patients with sarcoidosis contribute to disease.

Methods: Patients with sarcoidosis (n = 32) were included for detailed analysis by immunohistochemistry of tissue, flow cytometry of blood B-cell subsets, and serum immunoglobulin levels.

In Critically Ill Patients, Serum Procalcitonin Is More Useful in Differentiating between Sepsis and SIRS than CRP, Il-6, or LBP.

We studied the usefulness of serum procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, in differentiating between systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis in critically ill patients. Methods. In this single centre prospective observational study we included all consecutive patients admitted with SIRS or sepsis to the ICU.

Are pancreatic autoantibodies associated with azathioprine-induced pancreatitis in Crohn's disease?

Context: Azathioprine is frequently used in the treatment of Crohn's disease. A severe side effect is acute pancreatitis, which is specific for Crohn's disease. Autoantibodies against exocrine pancreas occur in about 30% of Crohn's disease cases but not in other inflammatory diseases.

Gluten tolerance in adult patients with celiac disease 20 years after diagnosis?

Background And Objective: Celiac disease (CD) is believed to be a permanent intolerance to gluten. A number of patients, however, discontinue the gluten-free diet (GFD) without developing symptoms or signs. The aim of our study was to investigate whether CD patients are capable of developing tolerance to gluten.

The association between autoimmune thyroiditis, autoimmune gastritis and type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) and autoimmune gastritis often occur together forming the so-called autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome (APS) type 3. Thyroid autoimmunity is evident in up to one third and gastric autoimmunity in up to a quarter of patients with DM1. Also relatives of DM1 patients, particularly mothers, have higher frequencies of these autoimmune conditions.

A genome-wide search for linkage-disequilibrium with type 1 diabetes in a recent genetically isolated population from the Netherlands.

Type 1 diabetes has a substantial genetic component, with consistent evidence for a susceptibility locus in the HLA-DR/DQ region (chromosome 6p) and the insulin gene region (chromosome 11p). Genome scans have identified >18 other genomic regions that may harbor putative type 1 diabetes genes. However, evidence for most regions varies in different data sets.