529 research outputs found
The role of regulatory B cells in allergen immunotherapy
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is currently the only curative treatment available for allergic diseases, and has been used in clinical practice for over a century. Induction and maintenance of immune tolerance to nonhazardous environmental and self-antigens is essential to maintain homeostasis and prevent chronic inflammation. Regulatory B (BREG) cells are immunoregulatory cells that protect against chronic inflammatory responses primarily through production of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10, transforming growth factor-β, and IL-35. The importance of BREG cells has been extensively demonstrated in the context of autoimmune diseases. Data showing their role in the regulation of allergic responses are slowly accumulating. This review summarizes recent findings relevant to the topic of BREG cells and their potential role in AIT. RECENT FINDINGS BREG cells support AIT in models of allergic airway inflammation and intestinal inflammation through induction of regulatory T (TREG) cells. In humans BREG frequency increases during venom immunotherapy while the phenotype of allergen-specific B cells changes. Mechanisms of BREG-mediated tolerance to allergens include IL-10-mediated suppression of effector T cell, including TH2 responses, induction of TREG cells, IL-10-mediated inhibition of Dendritic cell maturation, modulation of T follicular helper responses, and production of anti-inflammatory IgG4 antibodies. SUMMARY Current evidence supports a potential role for BREG cells in induction and maintenance of allergen tolerance during AIT. A better understanding of the role of B cells and BREG cells in AIT could open potential new windows for developing targeted therapies specifically focused on promoting BREG responses during AIT
Teachers grading practice: an analysis of the reliability of teacher-assigned grade point average (GPA)
Teachers grading practice: an analysis of the reliability of teacher-assigned grade point average (GPA)
In eerder onderzoek wordt gesteld dat docenten subjectieve beoordelaars zijn die zich bij het geven van cijfers niet beperken tot het becijferen van alleen de leerlingvaardigheid, maar cijfers geven voor een mengelmoes (‘hodgepodge’) van eigenschappen: de ‘hodgepodge’hypothese. Ook zouden docenten verschillen in mildheid; de mildheidshypothese. In dit onderzoek worden deze beide hypothesen onderzocht. Voor dit onderzoek zijn bij twee steekproeven proefwerkcijfers verzameld. De eerste steekproef telt 5988 proefwerkcijfers gegeven aan 192 leerlingen gedurende één schooljaar door 64 docenten. De tweede steekproef telt 29462 proefwerkcijfers gegeven aan 306 leerlingen gedurende drie opeenvolgende schooljaren door 52 docenten. Om de beoordelingsbias te onderzoeken werden een G-studie en D-studie uitgevoerd. De resultaten geven geen overtuigend bewijs voor de twee hypotheses. In het algemeen blijkt dat rapportcijfers een redelijk betrouwbaar onderscheid maken tussen minder en meer vaardige leerlingen (Eρ2 ≥ .70) en een betrouwbare beoordeling geven over de cesuur voldoende-onvoldoende (Φλ ≈ .90). Wanneer rapportcijfers op minder dan 8 proefwerken zijn gebaseerd dan is de betrouwbaarheid lager dan het criterium .70. Een aanzienlijk deel van de onbetrouwbaarheid in beoordeling kan worden verklaard door verschillen in de kwaliteit van de proefwerken en niet door mildheid of hodgepodgegedrag in de beoordeling van docenten
Regulatory Immune Mechanisms in Tolerance to Food Allergy
Oral tolerance can develop after frequent exposure to food allergens. Upon ingestion, food is digested into small protein fragments in the gastrointestinal tract. Small food particles are later absorbed into the human body. Interestingly, some of these ingested food proteins can cause allergic immune responses, which can lead to food allergy. So far it has not been completely elucidated how these proteins become immunogenic and cause food allergies. In contrast, oral tolerance helps to prevent the pathologic reactions against different types of food antigens from animal or plant origin. Tolerance to food is mainly acquired by dendritic cells, epithelial cells in the gut, and the gut microbiome. A subset of CD103+ DCs is capable of inducing T regulatory cells (Treg cells) that express anti-inflammatory cytokines. Anergic T cells also contribute to oral tolerance, by reducing the number of effector cells. Similar to Treg cells, B regulatory cells (Breg cells) suppress effector T cells and contribute to the immune tolerance to food allergens. Furthermore, the human microbiome is an essential mediator in the induction of oral tolerance or food allergy. In this review, we outline the current understanding of regulatory immune mechanisms in oral tolerance. The biological changes reflecting early consequences of immune stimulation with food allergens should provide useful information for the development of novel therapeutic treatments
Archeologisch onderzoek bij Graetheide, gemeente Sittard-Geleen. Twee schatvondsten met Keltische munten uit de 1ste eeuw voor Chr. en houtskoolmeilers uit de IJzertijd en Romeinse tijd
Association between workarounds and medication administration errors in bar-code-assisted medication administration in hospitals
Objective: To study the association of workarounds with medication administration errors using barcode-assisted medication administration (BCMA), and to determine the frequency and types of workarounds and medication administration errors. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study in Dutch hospitals using BCMA to administer medication. Direct observation was used to collect data. Primary outcome measure was the proportion of medication administrations with one or more medication administration errors. Secondary outcome was the frequency and types of workarounds and medication administration errors. Univariate and multivariate multilevel logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association between workarounds and medication administration errors. Descriptive statistics were used for the secondary outcomes. Results: We included 5793 medication administrations for 1230 inpatients. Workarounds were associated with medication administration errors (adjusted odds ratio 3.06 [95% CI: 2.49-3.78]). Most commonly, procedural workarounds were observed, such as not scanning at all (36%), not scanning patients because they did not wear a wristband (28%), incorrect medication scanning, multiple medication scanning, and ignoring alert signals (11%). Common types of medication administration errors were omissions (78%), administration of non-ordered drugs (8.0%), and wrong doses given (6.0%). Discussion: Workarounds are associated with medication administration errors in hospitals using BCMA. These data suggest that BCMA needs more post-implementation evaluation if it is to achieve the intended benefits for medication safety. Conclusion: In hospitals using barcode-assisted medication administration, workarounds occurred in 66% of medication administrations and were associated with large numbers of medication administration errors
Innate lymphoid cell subsets in obese asthma patients: Difference in activated cells in peripheral blood and their relationship to disease severity
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