828 research outputs found
VAN DEN BERG, M.J. Inventory of documents
No full textCOVERAGE 1930, 1964-1965; 1 File; 0,11 Metre.Private papers of M.J. van den Berg, Labour Party MP Krugersdorp [1934-1948]; National Party MP Krugersdorp [1948-1970]
Co-receptor CD8-mediated modulation of T-cell receptor functional sensitivity and epitope recognition degeneracy
Full text linkThe interaction between T-cell receptors (TCRs) and peptide epitopes is highly degenerate: a TCR is capable of interacting productively with a wide range of different peptide ligands, involving not only cross-reactivity proper (similar epitopes elicit strong responses), but also polyspecificity (ligands with distinct physicochemical properties are capable of interacting with the TCR). Degeneracy does not gainsay the fact that TCR recognition is fundamentally specific: for the vast majority of ligands, the functional sensitivity of a given TCR is virtually null whereas this TCR has an appreciable functional sensitivity only for a minute fraction of all possible ligands. Degeneracy can be described mathematically as the probability that the functional sensitivity, of a given TCR to a randomly selected ligand, exceeds a set value. Variation of this value generates a statistical distribution that characterizes TCR degeneracy. This distribution can be modeled on the basis of a Gaussian distribution for the TCR/ligand dissociation energy. The kinetics of the TCR and the MHCI molecule can be used to transform this underlying Gaussian distribution into the observed distribution of functional sensitivity values. In the present paper, the model is extended by accounting explicitly for the kinetics of the interaction between the co-receptor and the MHCI molecule. We show that T-cells can modulate the level of degeneracy by varying the density of co-receptors on the cell surface. This could allow for an analog of avidity maturation during incipient T-cell responses
Acute administration of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in thrombolysed myocardial infarction patients is associated with a decreased incidence of heart failure, but an increasd re-infarction risk.
No full textINTRODUCTION:
Ventricular remodeling starts very early after the onset of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and can be prevented by ACE-inhibitors. However, very limited data are available on the effect of acute (< 9 hours) treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors after an AMI on mortality, heart failure and re-infarction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of acute ACE-inhibitor treatment.
METHODS:
We performed a pooled analysis of three very similar randomized, placebo-controlled multi-center trials. In 845 thrombolysed patients with mainly first anterior MI, patients were randomised to acute ACE-inhibitor treatment (< 9 hours after MI) or placebo.
RESULTS:
After acute ACE-inhibitor treatment we observed similar 3-months mortality rates, and a significant reduction in the incidence of 3-months heart failure (26.1 vs. 19.3%; RR 0.67; 95% CI 0.45-1.0) as compared to placebo. In contrast, acute ACE-inhibitor treatment was associated with a significant 2.0 times increased 3-months re-infarction risk (7.0 vs. 3.6%; RR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1 to 3.8). Subgroup-analysis showed that patients with small infarct sizes treated with acute ACE-inhibitor (peak CPK < 1000 IU) had a 7.6 times higher re-infarction risk (95% CI 1.7 to 33) than patients with small infarctions treated with placebo.
CONCLUSIONS:
Acute ACE-inhibitor treatment in thrombolysed patients with mainly first anterior AMI resulted in a reduction of heart failure and similar mortality, but an increase in re-infarction rates, especially in patients with small infarct sizes. These results warrant caution for the very early use of ACE-inhibitors in smaller infarctions, although this needs to be confirmed in a larger prospective randomised clinical trial
Clinical utility gene card for: arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).
Full text linkComparison of the effect of individual dietary counselling and of standard nutritional care on weight loss in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy.
Full text linkContains fulltext :
89909.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)Clinical research shows that nutritional intervention is necessary to prevent malnutrition in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. The objective of the present study was to assess the value of individually adjusted counselling by a dietitian compared to standard nutritional care (SC). A prospective study, conducted between 2005 and 2007, compared individual dietary counselling (IDC, optimal energy and protein requirement) to SC by an oncology nurse (standard nutritional counselling). Endpoints were weight loss, BMI and malnutrition (5% weight loss/month) before, during and after the treatment. Thirty-eight patients were included evenly distributed over two groups. A significant decrease in weight loss was found 2 months after the treatment (P = 0.03) for IDC compared with SC. Malnutrition in patients with IDC decreased over time, while malnutrition increased in patients with SC (P = 0.02). Therefore, early and intensive individualised dietary counselling by a dietitian produces clinically relevant effects in terms of decreasing weight loss and malnutrition compared with SC in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy.01 september 201
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