http://repub.eur.nl/res/aut/25382/ List of Publications en http://repub.eur.nl/static-eur/img/logo.png http://repub.eur.nl http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/39228/ 2012-02-01T00:00:00Z Objective: Adipose tissue is known to release inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. In this exploratory study, the authors examined whether the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) closely located to cartilage in the knee joint can affect cartilage metabolism. In addition, the authors analysed whether the macrophage types present in IPFP could explain the effect on cartilage. Methods: IPFP explants obtained during total knee replacement of 29 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were used to make fat-conditioned medium (FCM). Explants of bovine cartilage were cultured with or without FCM. Nitric oxide (NO) and glycosaminoglycan release and gene expression of matrix-degrading enzymes in cartilage were analysed. To stimulate catabolic processes in the cartilage, the authors added interleukin 1β, and the effect of six FCMs was evaluated. The presence of different types of macrophages (CD68+, CD86+ and CD206+) in OA IPFPs was compared with subcutaneous adipose tissue samples and IPFP samples from patients with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Results: FCM alone reduced NO and glycosaminoglycan release and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1 gene expression by the cartilage. Moreover, when catabolic conditions were enhanced with interleukin 1β, FCM inhibited NO production as well as MMP1 and MMP3 gene expression and increased collagen type II gene expression. Significantly more CD206+ cells were present in OA IPFP samples than in subcutaneous fat or anterior cruciate ligament IPFP samples. Conclusion: In contrast to the authors' expectations, medium conditioned by end-stage OA IPFP inhibited catabolic processes in cartilage. CD206+ cells present in the IPFPs used for making the FCM might have contributed to the inhibition of catabolic processes in the cartilage. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/20848/ 2010-09-01T00:00:00Z Background Little data are available on the relationship between indirect antibiotic exposure of the child in utero or during lactation and allergic diseases. On the other hand, several studies have been conducted on the association with direct post-natal antibiotic exposure, but the results are conflicting. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate pre- and post-natal antibiotic exposure and the subsequent development of eczema, recurrent wheeze and atopic sensitization in children up to the age of 4 years. Methods We conducted an aetiologic study in 773 children based on a prospective birth cohort project in which environmental and health information were collected using questionnaires. Antibiotic exposure was assessed as maternal antibiotic intake during pregnancy and during lactation and as medication intake of the child. The chronology of exposures and outcomes was taken into account during the data processing. At the age of 1 and 4 years, a blood sample was taken for the quantification of specific IgE. Results Prenatal antibiotic exposure was significantly positively associated with eczema, whereas no association was found with recurrent wheeze and atopic sensitization. We found a positive, although statistically not significant, association between antibiotic exposure through breastfeeding and recurrent wheeze. Neither eczema nor atopic sensitization was significantly associated with antibiotic exposure through breastfeeding. Finally, we observed a negative association between the use of antibiotics in the first year of life and eczema and atopic sensitization, and also between antibiotic use after the first year of life and recurrent wheeze, eczema and atopic sensitization. Conclusion Indirect exposure to antibiotics (in utero and during lactation) increases the risk for allergic symptoms in children, while direct exposure to antibiotics appears to be protective. The biological mechanisms underlying these findings still need to be elucidated. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/24799/ 2009-08-01T00:00:00Z Several studies have investigated the association between socioeconomic status and the occurrence of allergies. Nevertheless, the results remain contradictory. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between parental education and the occurrence of atopic sensitization, recurrent wheezing and eczema during the first year of life, differentiating between atopic and non-atopic disorders based on specific serum IgE. We conducted an aetiological study in 690 children, based on a prospective birth cohort project in which environmental and health information was gathered using questionnaires. At the age of 1 yr a blood sample was taken for quantification of specific IgE. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were computed as measures of association between the outcomes and parental education. Parental educational level was positively associated with the occurrence of atopic sensitization (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0-4.4) and eczema (OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.4), but negatively with the occurrence of recurrent wheezing (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.8) in the first year of life. Atopic recurrent wheezing was positively associated with the education of the parents, whereas non-atopic recurrent wheezing was negatively associated. When maternal and paternal education were considered separately, only maternal education had a significant influence. Our results suggest that aspects associated with a high maternal educational level may play an important role in the development of atopic disorders. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/36423/ 2007-08-01T00:00:00Z Breast feeding (BF) provides many advantages to the offspring; however, at present there is an ongoing debate as to whether or not it prevents allergic diseases. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of duration of BF on eczema in the first year of life. A birth cohort of 1128 infants was followed prospectively from 5 months of pregnancy. Data were collected using questionnaires, a medical examination and blood tests for allergy at the age of 1 yr. Breast feeding was not statistically significant associated with eczema in the first year of life [adj ORs with 95% CIs: 0.8 (0.4-1.3), 0.8 (0.5-1.3) and 1.0 (0.6-1.5) for BF duration of 1-6 wk, 7-12 wk and ≥13 wk, respectively]. Eczema was positively associated with atopy and educational level of the mother, use of antibiotics in pregnancy and passive smoking by the child during the first 12 months. Regular postnatal contact of the infants with dogs was inversely associated with eczema. Breast feeding was positively associated with eczema among children with non-atopic parents [adj ORs with 95% CIs: 2.1 (0.4-10.6), 2.2 (0.4-11.3) and 1.9 (0.4-8.5) for BF duration of 1-6 wk, 7-12 wk and ≥13 wk, respectively], whereas an inverse association was found among children with atopic parents [adj ORs with 95% CIs: 0.6 (0.3-1.3), 0.7 (0.3-1.4) and 0.9 (0.5-1.7) for the same BF durations]. However, these associations were not statistically significant. Breast feeding has no significant effect on the prevalence of eczema in the first year of life. The effect of BF on eczema in children depends on parental atopy.