55 research outputs found
Changing climate—changing pathogens: Toxoplasma gondii in North-Western Europe
In this review, we describe the effects of global climate change for one specific pathogen: the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is postulated that an increase of T. gondii prevalence in humans can occur in some regions of North-Western Europe as a result of changing environmental conditions. Such a change can be predicted by using Global Climate Change models. We have elaborated such a prediction for one scenario (SRES A1) by using one specific model (CCSR/NRIES) as an example. Next to environmental factors, also anthropogenic factors may contribute to increased prevalence of T. gondii in this region. In order to counter the potential severe consequences of a potential increase resulting from the combination of climatic and anthropogenic factors, there is an urgent need for the development of a human vaccine. Until a vaccine that offers complete protection is developed, the emphasis should be on treatment optimization and prevention
Fibroblasts Express Immune Relevant Genes and Are Important Sentinel Cells during Tissue Damage in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Fibroblasts have shown to be an immune competent cell type in mammals. However, little is known about the immunological functions of this cell-type in lower vertebrates. A rainbow trout hypodermal fibroblast cell-line (RTHDF) was shown to be responsive to PAMPs and DAMPs after stimulation with LPS from E. coli, supernatant and debris from sonicated RTHDF cells. LPS was overall the strongest inducer of IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, TLR-3 and TLR-9. IL-1β and IL-8 were already highly up regulated after 1 hour of LPS stimulation. Supernatant stimuli significantly increased the expression of IL-1β, TLR-3 and TLR-9, whereas the debris stimuli only increased expression of IL-1β. Consequently, an in vivo experiment was further set up. By mechanically damaging the muscle tissue of rainbow trout, it was shown that fibroblasts in the muscle tissue of rainbow trout contribute to electing a highly local inflammatory response following tissue injury. The damaged muscle tissue showed a strong increase in the expression of the immune genes IL-1β, IL-8 and TGF-β already 4 hours post injury at the site of injury while the expression in non-damaged muscle tissue was not influenced. A weaker, but significant response was also seen for TLR-9 and TLR-22. Rainbow trout fibroblasts were found to be highly immune competent with a significant ability to express cytokines and immune receptors. Thus fish fibroblasts are believed to contribute significantly to local inflammatory reactions in concert with the traditional immune cells
Utilisation of internet resources for continuing professional development: a cross-sectional survey of general practitioners in Scotland
Comparative Prospective Detection of Recurrences of Carcinomas with SPECT Imaging Using Radiolabeled Monoclonal Antibodies, Ultrasonography and Computed Tomography
Property attribution of 3D geological models in the Thames Gateway, London : new ways of visualising geoscientific information
Rapid developments in information technology and the increasing collection and digitisation of geological data
by the British Geological Survey now allow geoscientists to produce meaningful 3D spatial models of the
shallow subsurface in many urban areas. Using this new technology, it is possible to model and predict not only
the type of rocks in the shallow subsurface, but also their engineering properties (rock strength, shrink-swell
characteristics and compressibility) and hydrogeological properties (permeability, porosity, thickness of the
unsaturated zone or the likelihood of perched water tables) by attribution of the 3D model with geological
property data. This paper describes the hydrogeological, engineering and confidence (uncertainty) attribution of
high resolution models of the Thames Gateway Development Zone (TGDZ) east of London UK and proposes a
future in which site investigation sets out to test a pre-existing spatial model based on real data rather than a
conceptual model
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