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Enhanced expression and activation of pro-inflammatory transcription factors distinguish aneurysmal from atherosclerotic aorta: IL-6- and IL-8-dominated inflammatory responses prevail in the human aneurysm

Lindeman, J.H.N. (author), Abdul-Hussien, H. (author), Schaapherder, A.F.M. (author), van Bockel, J.H. (author), von der Thüsen, J.H. (author), Roelen, D.L. (author), Kleemann, R. (author)

Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of an AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm); however, the nature of the inflammatory factors and cellular response(s) involved in AAA growth is controversial. In the present study, we set out to determine the aortic levels of inflammatory cytokines in relation to downstream inflammatory transcription...

article 2008

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Increased infiltration of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in the vessel wall of human veins after perfusion

Kupreishvili, K. (author), ter Weeme, M. (author), Morré, S.A. (author), van den Brule, A.J.C. (author), Huybregts, M.A.J.M. (author), Quax, P.H.A. (author), ten Velden, J. (author), van Hinsbergh, V.W.M. (author), Stooker, W. (author), Eijsman, L. (author), Niessen, H.W.M. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

Background: Several studies have suggested an association between Chlamydophila pneumoniae (Cp) infection and atherosclerosis. A recent study detected Cp DNA in the saphenous vein of 12% of all patients before bypass grafting and in 38% of failed grafts. We used a system in which human veins were perfused with autologous blood under arterial...

article 2008

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Differential gene expression analysis of tubule forming and non-tubule forming endothelial cells: CDC42GAP as a counter-regulator in tubule formation

Engelse, M.A. (author), Laurens, N. (author), Verloop, R.E. (author), Koolwijk, P. (author), van Hinsbergh, V.W.M. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

The formation of new tubular structures from a quiescent endothelial lining is one of the hallmarks of sprouting angiogenesis. This process can be mimicked in vitro by inducing capillary-like tubular structures in a three-dimensional (3D) fibrin matrix. We aimed to analyze the differential mRNA expression in two phenotypically distinct cell...

article 2008

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Preliminary validation of real-time PCR assays for the identification of Yersinia pestis (Authors' personal document)

Tomaso, H. (author), Jacobs, D. (author), Eickhoff, M. (author), Scholz, H.C. (author), al Dahouk, S. (author), Kattar, M.M. (author), Reischl, U. (author), Plicka, H. (author), Strand Olsen, J. (author), Nikkari, S. (author), Matero, P. (author), Beuret, C. (author), Ciammaruconi, A. (author), Lista, F. (author), Gala, J.-L. (author), Broll, H. (author), Appel, B. (author), Sellek Cano, R.E. (author), Ybarra de Villavicencio, M.D.C. (author), Broekhuijsen, M.P. (author), Indra, A. (author), Petersen, R. (author), Neubauer, H. (author)

Background: Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis) is a zoonotic bacterium mainly circulating among rodents and their fleas. Transmission to humans can cause bubonic, pneumonic or septicemic plague with a high case-fatality rate. Therefore, rapid and reliable diagnostic tools are crucial. The objective of this study was to assess the inter-laboratory...

article 2008

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A genome-wide survey of HD-Zip genes in rice and analysis of drought-responsive family members

Agalou, A. (author), Purwantomo, S. (author), Övernäs, E. (author), Johannesson, H. (author), Zhu, X. (author), Estiati, A. (author), de Kam, R.J. (author), Engström, P. (author), Slamet-Loedin, I.H. (author), Zhu, Z. (author), Wang, M. (author), Xiong, L. (author), Meijer, A.H. (author), Ouwerkerk, P.B.F. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

The homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-Zip) genes encode transcription factors that have diverse functions in plant development and have often been implicated in stress adaptation. The HD-Zip genes are the most abundant group of homeobox (HB) genes in plants and do not occur in other eukaryotes. This paper describes the complete annotation of the HD...

article 2008

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Pericellular-acting proteases in human first trimester decidua

Plaisier, M. (author), Koolwijk, P. (author), Willems, F. (author), Helmerhorst, F.M. (author), van Hinsbergh, V.W.M. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

Proteolysis is essential for decidual development during embryonic implantation, but little is known regarding the expression and functions of membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor uPAR in decidua. Therefore, their protein and mRNA levels were analysed in three first...

article 2008

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Endothelium specific matrilysin (MMP-7) expression in human cancers

Sier, C.F.M. (author), Hawinkels, L.J.A.C. (author), Zijlmans, H.J.M.A.A. (author), Zuidwijk, K. (author), Muller, E.S.M. (author), Ferreira, V. (author), Hanemaaijer, R. (author), Mulder-Stapel, A.A. (author), Kenter, G.G. (author), Verspaget, H.W. (author), Gorter, A. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

Over-expression of matrilysin (MMP-7) is predominantly associated with epithelial (pre)malignant cells. In the present study MMP-7 expression is also found in endothelial cells in various human cancer types. Endothelial MMP-7 was associated with CD34 and/or CD105 expression. These immunohistochemical data were confirmed by RT-PCR on VEGF...

article 2008

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Transcriptome analysis provides new insights into liver changes induced in the rat upon dietary administration of the food additives butylated hydroxytoluene, curcumin, propyl gallate and thiabendazole

Stierum, R. (author), Conesa, A. (author), Heijne, W. (author), Ommen, B.v. (author), Junker, K. (author), Scott, M.P. (author), Price, R.J. (author), Meredith, C. (author), Lake, B.G. (author), Groten, J. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author), KvL (author)

Transcriptomics was performed to gain insight into mechanisms of food additives butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), curcumin (CC), propyl gallate (PG), and thiabendazole (TB), additives for which interactions in the liver can not be excluded. Additives were administered in diets for 28 days to Sprague-Dawley rats and cDNA microarray experiments were...

article 2008

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Molecular cloning, functional characterization and expression analysis of a novel monosaccharide transporter gene OsMST6 from rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Wang, Y. (author), Xiao, Y. (author), Zhang, Y. (author), Chai, C. (author), Wei, G. (author), Wei, X. (author), Xu, H. (author), Wang, M. (author), Ouwerkerk, P.B.F. (author), Zhu, Z. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

Monosaccharides transporters play important roles in assimilate supply for sink tissue development. In this study, a new monosaccharide transporter gene OsMST6 was identified from rice (Oryza sativa L.). The predicted OsMST6 protein shows typical features of sugar transporters and shares 79.6% identity with the rice monosaccharide transporter...

article 2008

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Moderate alcohol consumption increases insulin sensitivity and ADIPOQ expression in postmenopausal women: A randomised, crossover trial

TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author), Joosten, M.M. (author), Beulens, J.W.J. (author), Kersten, S. (author), Hendriks, H.F.J. (author)

Aims/hypothesis: To determine whether 6 weeks of daily, moderate alcohol consumption increases expression of the gene encoding adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and plasma levels of the protein, and improves insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women. Methods: In a randomised, open-label, crossover trial conducted in the Netherlands, 36 apparently healthy...

article 2008

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Molecular cloning and expression analysis of a monosaccharide transporter gene OsMST4 from rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Wang, Y. (author), Xu, H. (author), Wei, X. (author), Chai, C. (author), Xiao, Y. (author), Zhang, Y. (author), Chen, B. (author), Xiao, G. (author), Ouwerkerk, P.B.F. (author), Wang, M. (author), Zhu, Z. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

Monosaccharide transporters mediate the membrane transport of a variable range of monosaccharides, which plays a crucial role in sugar distribution throughout the plant. To investigate the significance of monosaccharide transporters for rice (Oryza sativa L.) seed development, cDNA of a new putative monosaccharide transporter gene OsMST4 was...

article 2007

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Detection of ruminant meat and bone meals in animal feed by real-time polymerase chain reaction: Result of an interlaboratory study

Prado, M. (author), Berben, G. (author), Fumière, O. (author), van Duijn, G. (author), Mensinga-Kruize, J. (author), Reaney, S. (author), Boix, A. (author), von Holst, C. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

The commercialization of animal feeds infected by prions proved to be the main cause of transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Therefore, feed bans were enforced, initially for ruminant feeds, and later for all feeds for farmed animals. The development and validation of analytical methods for the species-specific detection of...

article 2007

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Kosteneffectiviteitsanalyse van verschillende strategieën ter preventie van neonatale infectie met groep B-streptokokken [Cost-effectiveness analysis of a number of strategies in the prevention of neonatal infection with group-B streptococci]

Rijnders, M.E.B. (author), van den Akker-van Marle, M.E. (author), van Dommelen, P. (author), Amelink-Verburg, M.P. (author), van Wouwe, J.P. (author), Verkerk, P.H. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

Objective. To assess the cost effectiveness of four strategies in the prevention of neonatal infection with group-B streptococci (GBS). Design. Cost-effectiveness analysis. Method. A modelling study was carried out in which the effects and the fondercosts of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) in accordance with the guideline from the Dutch...

article 2007

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Inhibition of neointima formation by local delivery of estrogen receptor alpha and beta specific agonists

Krom, Y.D. (author), Pires, N.M.M. (author), Jukema, J.W. (author), de Vries, M.R. (author), Frants, R.R. (author), Havekes, L.M. (author), van Dijk, K.W. (author), Quax, P.H.A. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

Objective: Neointima formation is the underlying mechanism of (in-stent) restenosis. 17β-Estradiol (E2) is known to inhibit injury-induced neointima formation and post-angioplasty restenosis. Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) has been demonstrated to mediate E2 anti-restenotic properties. However, the role of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) is not...

article 2007

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Toenails: An easily accessible and long-term stable source of DNA for genetic analyses in large-scale epidemiological studies [8]

van Breda, S.G. (author), Hogervorst, J.G. (author), Schouten, L.J. (author), Knaapen, A.M. (author), van Delft, J.H. (author), Goldbohm, R.A. (author), van Schooten, F.J. (author), van den Brandt, P.A. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

article 2007

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Differentiation of primary adult microglia alters their response to TLR8-mediated activation but not their capacity as APC

Zuiderwijk-Sick, E.A. (author), van der Putten, C. (author), Bsibsi, M. (author), Deuzing, I.P. (author), de Boer, W. (author), Persoon-Deen, C. (author), Kondova, I. (author), Boven, L.A. (author), van Noort, J.M. (author), 't Hart, B.A. (author), Amor, S. (author), Bajramovic, J.J. (author), TNO Defensie en Veiligheid TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

Activated microglia are found in a variety of neuroinflammatory disorders where they have attributed roles as effector as well as antigen-presenting cells (APC). Critical determinants for the multifaceted role of microglia are the differentiation potential of microglia and their mode of activation. In this study, we have investigated the effects...

article 2007

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Collagen degradation in the abdominal aneurysm: A conspiracy of matrix metalloproteinase and cysteine collagenases

Abdul-Hussien, H. (author), Soekhoe, R.G.V. (author), Weber, E. (author), von der Thüsen, J.H. (author), Kleemann, R. (author), Mulder, A. (author), Hajo Van Bockel, J. (author), Hanemaaijer, R. (author), Lindeman, J.H.N. (author), TNO Biomedical Instrumentation (author)

Growth and rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) result from increased collagen turnover. Collagen turnover critically depends on specific collagenases that cleave the triple helical region of fibrillar collagen. As yet, the collagenases responsible for collagen degradation in AAAs have not been identified. Increased type I collagen...

article 2007

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Dynamics in prophage content of invasive and noninvasive M1 and M28 Streptococcus pyogenes isolates in the Netherlands from 1959 to 1996

Vlaminckx, B.J.M. (author), Schuren, F.H.J. (author), Montijn, R.C. (author), Caspers, M.P.M. (author), Beitsma, M.M. (author), Wannet, W.J.B. (author), Schouls, L.M. (author), Verhoef, J. (author), Jansen, W.T.M. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

Invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) disease reemerged in The Netherlands in the late 1980s. To seek an explanation for this resurgence, the genetic compositions of 22 M1 and 19 M28 GAS strains isolated in The Netherlands between 1960s and the mid-1990s were analyzed by using a mixed-genome DNA microarray. During this four-decade period, M1 and...

article 2007

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Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, stromal cell-derived factor-1, and CXCR4 in human limb muscle with acute and chronic ischemia

van Weel, V. (author), Seghers, L. (author), de Vries, M.R. (author), Kuiper, E.J. (author), Schlingemann, R.O. (author), Bajema, I.M. (author), Lindeman, J.H.N. (author), van Delis-Diemen, P.M. (author), van Hinsbergh, V.W.M. (author), van Bockel, J.H. (author), Quax, P.H.A. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

OBJECTIVE - Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) has been implicated in angiogenesis in ischemic tissues by recruitment of CXCR4-positive bone marrow-derived circulating cells with paracrine functions in preclinical models. Here, evidence for this is provided in patients with peripheral artery...

article 2007

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The effect of interleukin-10 knock-out and overexpression on neointima formation in hypercholesterolemic APOE*3-Leiden mice

Eefting, D. (author), Schepers, A. (author), de Vries, M.R. (author), Pires, N.M.M. (author), Grimbergen, J.M. (author), Lagerweij, T. (author), Nagelkerken, L.M. (author), Monraats, P.S. (author), Jukema, J.W. (author), van Bockel, J.H. (author), Quax, P.H.A. (author), TNO Kwaliteit van Leven (author)

Objective: Inflammatory factors are thought to play a regulatory role in restenosis. Interleukin-10 (IL10) is an important anti-inflammatory cytokine with anti-atherogenic potentials. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of IL10 modulation on cuff-induced neointima formation in hypercholesterolemic APOE*3-Leiden mice. Methods: The...

article 2007