Infection and Immunity nieuws
Jul 30: Gene defect predicts chronic eye inflammation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Researchers at University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht have discovered a genetic defect that predicts whether a patient with JIA (juvenile idiopathic arthritis or childhood rheumatism) will develop severe chronic eye inflammation (uveitis). This discovery offers prospects for a tailor-made treatment for these patients. This may be cheaper, less time-consuming and less burdensome.
Read moreJul 5: Disease-transcending research for treatment tailored to psoriatic arthritis
UMC Utrecht starts a study with the aim of finding an earlier diagnosis, a better prediction of the disease course and the most optimal treatment strategy for the chronic inflammatory disease psoriatic arthritis. A disease-transcending approach and big data analyzes play an important role in the first large clinical study in this field with a budget of more than € 15 million.
Read moreJun 29: Combat juvenile idiopathic arthritis together
The current method for treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis is not sufficient and should be replaced by the recently developed treat-to-target treatment. In the latter case, specific targets are set by physician and patient within set timeframes. And so doctors can sooner identify patients that need more intensive treatment. This is the conclusion of pediatric rheumatologist-immunologist Joost Swart at UMC Utrecht, who received his doctorate on 28 June.
Read moreJun 19: Prophylactic antibiotics at the ICU do not result in fewer bloodstream infections
In intensive care (IC) departments with moderate-to-high prevalence of antibiotic resistance, prophylactic decontamination did not result in fewer IC-acquired bloodstream infections or mortality. These conclusions were drawn by Nienke Plantinga and Bastiaan Wittekamp from UMC Utrecht during the defense of their theses on 19 June in Utrecht.
Read moreJun 18: Unclear food labels cause allergic reactions
People with food allergies regularly get an allergic reaction due to unclear warnings on food labels. This is shown by research by UMC Utrecht and TNO among 157 people with a food allergy. These patients were followed for a year and nearly half of them, 46 percent, received one or more allergic reactions due to incorrect or incomplete warnings on food labels. Six of them ended up in the emergency department.
Read moreJun 13: Vaccination of elderly people against pneumonia results in good immune response
Vaccination of the elderly with a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) against pneumonia leads to a good immune response and a transient decrease in carrier status of the types against which the vaccine protects. However, it is still unclear what the best way is to treat pneumococcal disease in the elderly, according to Annemarie van Deursen, who was awarded a PhD in Utrecht on 7 June.
Read moreJun 8: Special immune cells in the intestinal wall play a role in chronic intestinal inflammations
Special immune cells in the gut wall may play a role in chronic inflammatory diseases of the gut such as Crohns disease. They also seem to contribute to the protection against pathogenic bacteria. This is the conclusion of David Hoytema van Konijnenburg who was awarded a PhD in Utrecht on 7 June.
Read moreJun 1: Anti-TNF therapy good alternative for treatment of sarcoidosis
The rare inflammatory disease sarcoidosis can be well treated with anti-TNF therapy (anti-inflammatory biotechnological drugs). These drugs are therefore a good alternative for patients whose current medicines do not work well and/or cause too many side effects, says Heleen Crommelin, who was awarded a PhD in Utrecht on 29 May.
Read moreMay 31: Blood test promising for distinguishing between active and sleeping tuberculosis
Utrecht PhD research has shown that doctors can distinguish between an active and latent sleeping form of tuberculosis by means of a special blood test. This is important because determining the right stage of the disease determines the most effective treatment.
Read moreMay 3: Better pertussis vaccine urgently needed
The current pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine gives fewer side effects, but also offers less protection against the disease than the vaccine that was replaced in 2005. The number of pertussis cases has recently increased considerably. One of the possible reasons for this is that the bacterium Bordetella pertussis has genetically adapted, which can have a negative effect on the effect of the vaccine. It is therefore time that a new pertussis vaccine is developed, according to Elise Hovingh who was awarded a PhD in Utrecht on 3 May.
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