Generation and functional characterization of mouse monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) are potent antigen-presenting cells with the unique capacity to initiate primary immune responses. As a result, DC are currently used in clinical studies to induce immunity against infectious disease and malignant cells. However, multiple DC subsets exist and it has been suggested that the type of DC may affect the immune response induced.

Biodistribution and vaccine efficiency of murine dendritic cells are dependent on the route of administration.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells, well equipped to initiate an immune response. Currently, tumor antigen-derived peptide loaded DCs are used in clinical vaccination in cancer patients. However, the optimal dose and route of administration of a DC vaccine still remain to be determined.

Genetic vaccination against the melanocyte lineage-specific antigen gp100 induces cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated tumor protection.

Melanocyte lineage-specific antigens, such as gp100, have been shown to induce both cellular and humoral immune responses against melanoma. Therefore, these antigens are potential targets for specific antimelanoma immunotherapy. A novel approach to induce both cellular and humoral immunity is genetic vaccination, the injection of antigen-encoding naked plasmid DNA.

Cloning, expression and tissue distribution of the murine homologue of the melanocyte lineage-specific antigen gp100.

Melanocyte lineage-specific antigens, like gp100, have been shown to be recognized by tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes isolated from melanoma patients. Therefore these antigens might be used as targets for specific anti-melanoma immunotherapy. To investigate this potential in syngeneic mouse models, we cloned and characterized the murine homologue of gp100 from a B16 murine melanoma cDNA library.

Prevalence of long-term mental health care utilization in The Netherlands.

The objective of this study is to estimate the proportion of the population in The Netherlands who receive long-term care for chronic psychiatric problems. The care needs of this population are assessed in terms both of diagnosis and of specific impairments and disabilities. Data from three surveys and two psychiatric case registers in five different areas of The Netherlands provide an estimate of about 3.

Transcription of the gene encoding melanoma-associated antigen gp100 in tissues and cell lines other than those of the melanocytic lineage.

The expression of the gp100 antigen is generally thought to be confined to cells of the melanocytic lineage, which makes the protein a suitable melanoma-specific marker. Strikingly, after screening a panel of normal tissues, tumour samples and cell lines of non-melanocytic origin, we found transcripts encoding gp100 in virtually every tissue and cell line tested. In contrast, tyrosinase and MART-1/MelanA transcripts were detected only in cells of the melanocytic lineage.

Identification of a novel peptide derived from the melanocyte-specific gp100 antigen as the dominant epitope recognized by an HLA-A2.1-restricted anti-melanoma CTL line.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) reactive with human melanoma tumor cells occasionally display cross-reactivity with normal melanocytes. Previously, we identified the melanocyte lineage-specific antigen gp 100 that is expressed by both melanoma cells and normal melanocytes, as a target antigen for tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes derived from a melanoma patient (TIL 1200). Here, we demonstrate that the oligoclonal HLA-A2.

[Substitution in psychogeriatrics. A comparative study in nursing homes and substitution projects in Drenthe].

Due to a strong increase of the ageing population in the Netherlands there is a growing need for care for psychogeriatric patients. The shortage of beds in psychogeriatric nursing homes has led to the development of substitute care in residential homes for the elderly and in community centers. If substitution is realized in these substitute care projects in the sense that alternative services are delivered for patients who would otherwise have been admitted to nursing homes, the level of impairment and disruptive behaviour should be of the same level in nursing homes and substitute care projects.

Capillary microscopy is a diagnostic aid in patients with acral ischemia.

The diagnosis of peripheral ischemic diseases is a challenge to the vascular specialist, since discrimination of the different entities on clinical grounds is not always clear. Capillary microscopy is a noninvasive diagnostic technique that can visualize in particular the morphology and perfusion of the digital capillaries. The authors investigated all 522 patients who were referred to the vascular laboratory over a six-year period, in an attempt to obtain more certainty about the diagnosis of their acral ischemic complaints.

Melanocyte lineage-specific antigen gp100 is recognized by melanoma-derived tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.

We recently isolated a cDNA clone that encodes the melanocyte lineage-specific antigen glycoprotein (gp)100. Antibodies directed against gp100 are an important tool in the diagnosis of human melanoma. Since the gp100 antigen is highly expressed in melanocytic cells, we investigated whether this antigen might serve as a target for antimelanoma cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL).

[Toxocara ova in parks and sand-boxes in the city of Utrecht].

An investigation was carried out for the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs in public parks and children's sand-boxes in the city of Utrecht. The pollution of parks with the eggs of the dog's ascarid Toxocara canis is comparable with reports from other European cities.

Regulation of myelin basic protein-specific helper T cells in multiple sclerosis: generation of suppressor T cell lines.

Suppressor T cell (Ts) lines specific for myelin basic protein (MBP)-reactive helper T cell (Th) clones were generated from two patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) following a primary culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with MBP and cyclosporine A (CsA). These suppressor T cell lines were maintained in culture by alternate stimulation with MBP and antigen-presenting cells (APC). The Ts lines expressed preferentially the CD4 phenotype (5/6 Ts lines tested) and exhibited potent antigen-specific suppressor activity on the proliferation of MBP-specific Th clones and not on the T cell lines with other antigen specificity.

Lanthanide luminescence quenching as a detection method in ion chromatography. Chromate in surface and drinking water.

Dynamic quenching of Eu(III) and Tb(III) luminescence by inorganic anions as a detection method in ion chromatography was investigated. To obtain a high luminescence intensity, lanthanide(III) complexes are formed with ligands which make indirect excitation of the ions possible. Only a few anions (e.