Aize Kijlstra

..Since AMD has features of a chronic low-grade systemic inflammatory response, attention to the exact role of lutein in this disease has shifted from a local effect in the eye towards a possible systemic anti-inflammatory function...

..Recent studies have reported that the CD94-Qa-1 system is implicated in the induction of ACAID CD8+Treg, but the functions and characteristics of CD8+CD94+T cells remain unclear...

..This study emphasizes the role of rodents and shrews in the transmission of T. gondii to pigs and the importance of rodent control towards production of T. gondii-free pig meat...

..The responsibility for protecting food safety should be properly divided among the various parties involved: producers, processors, governments, nongovernmental organizations, and consumers...

..Oocyst contamination is difficult to control, whereas in Western countries, the control of T. gondii in meat should be feasible. Here, we discuss strategies aimed at developing a Toxoplasma-safe meat chain...

..Whether introduction of animal-friendly production systems will lead to a reemergence of Toxoplasma infections in pigs is not yet known. Investigating this possibility was the purpose of this study...

..A larger obstacle is the question whether transplanted retinal tissue will regain its functional properties...

..The rationale for more stringent control measures to prevent toxoplasmosis both from disease and economic points of view is emphasized...

..To investigate the potential of a combined assessment of clinical risk factors and biomarker profiling in the prediction of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) after retinal detachment surgery...

..003). Our findings indicate that, at the time of surgery for primary RRD, an altered expression of certain adipokines is associated with the future development of postoperative PVR...

..This study was performed to determine the possible involvement of a wide range of cytokines in the future development of PVR, and to identify predictors of PVR and visual outcome...

..The exact role of these chemokines, their correlation with IL-6 after primary RRD, and their association with the future development of PVR are not yet known...

..Previous studies on expression of VEGF in PVR samples have not distinguished between the two families of isoforms...

..To investigate the association between soluble apoptosis and adhesion molecules and the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) after reattachment surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD)...

..This study was conducted to determine whether subretinal fluid and vitreous fluid collected from patients with RRD have a procoagulant effect...

..No shared Campylobacter genotypes were found between rodent and pig manure isolates. Effective on-farm rodent management is recommended...

..In order to decrease the risk of T. gondii infecting their pigs, farmers should limit the access and number of cats on their farms and refrain from feeding goat whey to their pigs...

..Following the completion of this study, a dioxin monitoring protocol has been set up in the Netherlands to prevent marketing of eggs with raised dioxin levels...

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..Until a vaccine that offers complete protection is developed, the emphasis should be on treatment optimization and prevention...

..Adherence to this option will, however, require a shift in the design of rodent control methods: effectiveness will no longer be the leading principle. It will have to share its position with animal welfare and humaneness...

..In this review article a large number of pathogens that are directly or indirectly transmitted by rodents are described. Moreover, a simplified rodent disease model is discussed...

..Earlier studies have revealed a decreased level of cGMP in vitreous fluid obtained from patients with a retinal detachment. To further investigate this phenomenon, we developed an experimental retinal detachment model in pigs...

..This review aims to provide an overview of the current insights regarding the causative parasite and the mechanisms leading to symptomatic infection with emphasis on ocular toxoplasmosis...

..At least three populations could be distinguished: MHC class II positive and negative tissue macrophages and MHC class II+ dendritiform cells lacking tissue macrophage markers...

..The normal porcine retina is devoid of lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes. The distribution of immunocompetent cells in the porcine retina largely resembles that observed in the human retina...

..The goal of this article was to review the present knowledge about retinal microglia and the function of retinal microglia in pathological conditions...

..To address the clinical pattern and characteristics of uveitis in a tertiary center for uveitis in China and compare the similarity and difference in the distribution of uveitis entities between China and other countries...

..The aim of this study was to investigate kinetics of T-bet expression at the mRNA and protein levels during EIU using real-time PCR and whole-mount immunohistochemistry...

..It is not known whether such an imbalance is already present in early PVR stages. We therefore analyzed VEGF and PEDF concentrations in subretinal fluids prior to PVR development...

..The aim of this study was to quantify cGMP synthesis by RPE cells and to investigate the role of two separate enzymatic pathways (soluble versus particulate guanylyl cyclase) in its production...