949 research outputs found

    Van gesloten jeugdzorg naar gesloten jeugdhulp: de nieuwe regeling nader beschouwd

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    Effective Protection of Fundamental Rights in a pluralist worl

    Formation of gold colloids using thioether derivatives as stabilizing ligands

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    Thioethers were used as adsorbates for preparing gold nanoparticles. Different thioether derivatives having from 1 to 4 thioether functionalities were synthesized. Colloids were prepared in a two-phase system, and characterized by 1H NMR and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The stability of colloids protected by thioethers increases with the number of ligands per molecule. Monothioethers need longer chain lengths or costabilization by (oct)4NBr in order to give stable, redispersible gold colloids. Gold colloids stabilized by the bis(thioether) 5 could not be redispersed after precipitation. Colloids stabilized by the tris(thioether) 6 were only formed at elevated temperature (60°C) indicating the need of chain reorientation for attaining stable colloids. Tris(thioether) 7 gave stable colloids at room temperature, which could be redispersed even after precipitation. Tetrakis(thioether) 8 gave the smallest particle size and narrowest size distributio

    A critical assessment of SELDI-TOF-MS for biomarker discovery in serum and tissue of patients with an ovarian mass

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Less than 25% of patients with a pelvic mass who are presented to a gynecologist will eventually be diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer. Since there is no reliable test to differentiate between different ovarian tumors, accurate classification could facilitate adequate referral to a gynecological oncologist, improving survival. The goal of our study was to assess the potential value of a SELDI-TOF-MS based classifier for discriminating between patients with a pelvic mass.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Our study design included a well-defined patient population, stringent protocols and an independent validation cohort. We compared serum samples of 53 ovarian cancer patients, 18 patients with tumors of low malignant potential, and 57 patients with a benign ovarian tumor on different ProteinChip arrays. In addition, from a subset of 84 patients, tumor tissues were collected and microdissection was used to isolate a pure and homogenous cell population.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Diagonal Linear Discriminant Analysis (DLDA) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification on serum samples comparing cancer versus benign tumors, yielded models with a classification accuracy of 71-81% (cross-validation), and 73-81% on the independent validation set. Cancer and benign tissues could be classified with 95-99% accuracy using cross-validation. Tumors of low malignant potential showed protein expression patterns different from both benign and cancer tissues. Remarkably, none of the peaks differentially expressed in serum samples were found to be differentially expressed in the tissue lysates of those same groups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although SELDI-TOF-MS can produce reliable classification results in serum samples of ovarian cancer patients, it will not be applicable in routine patient care. On the other hand, protein profiling of microdissected tumor tissue may lead to a better understanding of oncogenesis and could still be a source of new serum biomarkers leading to novel methods for differentiating between different histological subtypes.</p

    P300/CBP associated factor (PCAF) deficiency enhances diet-induced atherosclerosis in ApoE3*Leiden mice via systemic inhibition of regulatory T cells

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    Background: Inflammatory stimuli induced by NF-kB drive atherosclerotic lesion formation. The epigenetic P300/CBP associated factor (PCAF) post-transcriptionally acetylates FoxP3, which is required for regulatory T-cell (Treg) differentiation and immune modulation. We hypothesize that PCAF deficiency affects atherosclerosis via regulation of regulatory Tregs.Method: ApoE3*Leiden (n = 13) and ApoE3*LeidenxPCAF(-/-) (n = 13) were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) containing 1.25% cholesterol. Systemic FoxP3(+) T cells were measured every 4 weeks by flow cytometry (n = 6). After 5-months of HFD, mice were euthanized, and hearts and blood were collected. IL-6 and TNF alpha concentrations were measured in plasma to identify systemic inflammatory responses. Compositional and morphometrical analyses were performed on the atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic sinuses.Results: After 5 months of HFD, plasma cholesterol concentrations were not different for ApoE3*LeidenxPCAF(-/-) compared to ApoE3*Leiden mice. Expression of FoxP3 by systemic CD4(+) T cells decreased 1.8 fold in ApoE3*LeidenxPCAF(-/-) after 5 months HFD and remained significantly reduced after 5 months of HFD. Systemic TNF alpha and IL-6 concentrations were comparable, whereas the atherosclerotic lesion size in ApoE3*LeidenxPCAF(-/-) mice was increased by 28% compared to ApoE3*Leiden mice. In atherosclerotic lesions, no differences were observed in macrophage differentiation or VSMC content, although a small increase in collagen was identified.Conclusion: Our data show that PCAF deficiency resulted in a decrease in circulatory FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells and ameliorated atherosclerotic lesions with no differences in systemic inflammation or macrophage differentiation in the atherosclerotic lesions. This suggests that PCAF regulates atherosclerosis via modulation of FoxP3(+) regulatory T cell differentiation.Cardiolog

    Ultrasound-triggered local release of lipophilic drugs from a novel polymeric ultrasound contrast agent

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    The advantage of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) as drug delivery systems is the ability to non-invasively control the local and triggered release of a drug or gene. In this study we designed and characterized a novel UCA-based drug delivery system, based on polymer-shelled microcapsules filled with a mixture of gas and oil, for the local delivery of lipophilic drugs

    Imaging of atherosclerosis, targeting LFA-1 on inflammatory cells with 111In-DANBIRT

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    Background: 111In-DOTA-butylamino-NorBIRT (DANBIRT) is a novel radioligand which binds to Leukocyte Function-associated Antigen-1 (LFA-1), expressed on inflammatory cells. This study evaluated 111In-DANBIRT for the visualization of atherosclerotic plaque inflammation in mice. Methods and Results: ApoE−/− mice, fed an atherogenic diet up to 20 weeks (n = 10), were imaged by SPECT/CT 3 hours post injection of 111In-DANBIRT (~ 200 pmol, ~ 40 MBq). Focal spots of 111In-DANBIRT were visible in the aortic arch of all animals, with an average Target-to-Background Ratio (TBR) of 1.7 ± 0.5. In vivo imaging results were validated by ex vivo SPECT/CT imaging, with a TBR up to 11.5 (range 2.6 to 11.5). Plaques, identified by Oil Red O lipid-staining on excised arteries, co-localized with 111In-DANBIRT uptake as determined by ex vivo autoradiography. Subsequent histological processing and in vitro autoradiography confirmed 111In-DANBIRT uptake at plaque areas containing CD68 expressing macrophages and LFA-1 expressing inflammatory cells. Ex vivo incubation of a human carotid endarterectomy specimen with 111In-DANBIRT (~ 950 nmol, ~ 190 MBq) for 2 hours showed heterogeneous plaque uptake on SPECT/CT, after which immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated co-localization of 111In-DANBIRT uptake and CD68 and LFA-1 expressing cells. Conclusions: Our results indicate the potential of radiolabeled DANBIRT as a relevant imaging radioligand for non-invasive evaluation of atherosclerotic inflammation

    Imaging inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques, targeting SST2 with [111In]In-DOTA-JR11

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    Background: Imaging Somatostatin Subtype Receptor 2 (SST2) expressing macrophages by [DOTA,Tyr3]-octreotate (DOTATATE) has proven successful for plaque detection. DOTA-JR11 is a SST2 targeting ligand with a five times higher tumor uptake than DOTATATE, and holds promise to improve plaque imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of DOTA-JR11 for plaque detection. Methods and Results: Atherosclerotic ApoE−/− mice (n = 22) fed an atherogenic diet were imaged by SPECT/CT two hours post injection of [111In]In-DOTA-JR11 (~ 200 pmol, ~ 50 MBq). In vivo plaque uptake of [111In]In-DOTA-JR11 was visible in all mice, with a target-to-background-ratio (TBR) of 2.23 ± 0.35. Post-mortem scans after thymectomy and ex vivo scans of the arteries after excision of the arteries confirmed plaque uptake of the radioligand with TBRs of 2.46 ± 0.52 and 3.43 ± 1.45 respectively. Oil red O lipid-staining and ex vivo autoradiography of excised arteries showed [111In]In-DOTA-JR11 uptake at plaque locations. Histological processing showed CD68 (macrophages) and SST2 expressing cells in plaques. SPECT/CT, in vitro autoradiography and immunohistochemistry performed on slices of a human carotid endarterectomy sample showed [111In]In-DOTA-JR11 uptake at plaque locations containing CD68 and SST2 expressing cells. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate DOTA-JR1

    Phosphorylcholine antibodies preserve cardiac function and reduce infarct size by attenuating the post-ischemic inflammatory response

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    Phosphorylcholine monoclonal immunoglobulin G antibody attenuates the immediate post-ischemic inflammatory response by reducing the proinflammatory chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 chemokine and circulating Ly-6C(hi) monocytes. This subsequently enhances the post-ischemic repair process, resulting in limited adverse cardiac remodeling and preservation of cardiac function. Therefore, phosphorylcholine monoclonal immunoglobulin G antibody therapy may be a valid therapeutic approach against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation.Cardiolog
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