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- Von Clarmann, T., et al.
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A blind test retrieval experiment for infrared limb emission spectrometry
- 2003
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres. - 2169-897X .- 2169-8996. ; 108:D23
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The functionality and characteristics of six different data processors (i.e., retrieval codes in their actual software and hardware environment) for analysis of high-resolution limb emission infrared spectra recorded by the space-borne Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) have been validated by means of a blind test retrieval experiment based on synthetic spectra. For this purpose a self-consistent set of atmospheric state parameters, including pressure, temperature, vibrational temperatures, and abundances of trace gases and aerosols, has been generated and used as input for radiative transfer calculations for MIPAS measurement geometry and configuration. These spectra were convolved with the MIPAS field of view, spectrally degraded by the MIPAS instrument line shape, and, finally, superimposed with synthetic measurement noise. These synthetic MIPAS measurements were distributed among the participants of the project “Advanced MIPAS level-2 data analysis” (AMIL2DA), who performed temperature and species abundance profile retrievals by inverse radiative transfer calculations. While the retrieved profiles of atmospheric state parameters reflect some characteristics of the individual data processors, it was shown that all the data processors under investigation are capable of producing reliable results in the sense that deviations of retrieved results from the reference profiles are within the margin that is consistent with analytical error estimation.
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- Linden, A, et al.
(author)
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Monitoring of cadmium in the chain from soil via crops and feed to pig blood and kidney
- 2003
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In: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. - 0147-6513. ; 55:2, s. 213-222
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The relationships between cadmium (Cd) levels in soil, feed crops, feed concentrate, pig feed mixture, water, pig blood, and kidney from 49 farms were investigated and the possibility to use pig kidney as a bioindicator of available Cd in the agricultural environment was evaluated. There were correlations between Cd levels in soil and wheat, between wheat and barley, and between feed and kidney. The accumulation ratio between Cd levels in feed and kidney was on average 3. Animals from the same farm, raised in the same environment, given the same feed, and slaughtered at the same age had Cd levels in kidney and blood that could differ several times. This great variation, together with a considerable Cd contribution from nonlocally produced feed ingredients (concentrates). limits the possibilities to use Cd in pig kidney as an indicator of the available Cd in the local environment. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
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- Sarkar, N., et al.
(author)
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Effects of intramyocardial injection of phVEGF-A(165) as sole therapy in patients with refractory coronary artery disease - 12-month follow-up : Angiogenic gene therapy
- 2001
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In: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 250:5, s. 373-381
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective. To test the safety and bioactivity of phVEGF-A(165) after intramyocardial injection during 12-month follow-up. Design. Open-labelled study. Subjects. Inclusion criteria were angina pectoris, Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class III-IV, unamenable to further revascularization, ejection fraction (EF) >30%, perfusion defects extending over >10% of the anterolateral left ventricle wall detectable with adenosine single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) and at least one patent vessel visible by coronary angiography. Seven of 39 patients referred for gene therapy were included. Intervention. Via a mini-thoracotomy under general anaesthesia, phVEGF-A(165) was injected directly into the myocardium at four sites in the anterolateral region of the left ventricle. Results. Operative procedures were uneventful. Perioperative release of myocardial markers and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes were detected in two patients. There were no perioperative deaths but one patient died 7 months postoperatively because of myocardial infarction. Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A levels increased two to threefold peaking 6 days postoperatively (P<0.004) and returning to baseline by day 30. A significant reduction in angina pectoris was reported. The CCS class improved from 3.30.2 to 1.9 +/-0.3 (P<0.01) and nitroglycerine intake decreased from 3915 to 12 +/-5 tablets week(-1) (P<0.001) 2 months after gene transfer. Improvements remained after 12 months when nitroglycerine consumption approached zero. Improved myocardial function in the phVEGF-A(165) injection region was documented in all patients (P<0.016) by tissue velocity imaging (TVI). Reduced reversible ischaemia was detected by adenosine SPECT in four patients. Improved collateralization was detected in four patients with coronary angiography. Conclusion. Intramyocardial injection of phVEGF-A(165) is safe and may lead to improved myocardial perfusion and function with longstanding symptomatic relief in end-stage angina pectoris. Based on these results this therapeutic potential is being tested in a double-blind placebo controlled multicentre trial, EUROINJECT ONE.
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- Sylven, C., et al.
(author)
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Myocardial Doppler tissue velocity improves following myocardial gene therapy with VEGF-A(165) plasmid in patients with inoperable angina pectoris
- 2001
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In: Coronary Artery Disease. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0954-6928 .- 1473-5830. ; 12:3, s. 239-243
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Myocardial tissue velocity and perfusion were studied in patients with severe angina pectoris following gene therapy by intramyocardial injection of phVEGF-A(165) via thoracotomy. Plasma concentrations of VEGF-A increased postoperatively. Two months after treatment anginal status and myocardial tissue velocity improved and perfusion showed a tendency to improve. Tissue velocity imaging appears to be a sensitive, objective method for detecting changes in myocardial function following gene therapy. Objective To study effects on myocardial tissue velocity and perfusion in patients with angina pectoris following intramyocardial injection of phVEGF-A(165) via thoracotomy. Design Open label, phase I/II. Methods Six patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina pectoris functional Glass III - IV and with major defects at adenosine stress single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) were studied. In addition to SPECT, coronary angiography and dobutamine stress echocardiography with tissue Doppler velocity imaging were performed before and two months after gene transfer. Results Plasma concentrations of VEGF-A increased 2 to 3 times (P < 0.04) over baseline from 2 to 14 days after injection with normalization after 4 weeks. The CCS class improved about 40%, from 3.3 +/- 0.2 to 2.0 +/- 0.3 (P < 0.02) and nitroglycerine consumption decreased 30 - 40%, from 44 +/- 17 to 15 +/- 5 tablets per week (P < 0.05). The maximal systolic myocardial tissue velocity increased in all patients about 25% (P < 0.02) but did not reach the reference range. Myocardial perfusion at SPECT improved in four of the six patients. Conclusions Anginal status, myocardial tissue velocity and perfusion can be improved by phVEGF-A(165) intramyocardial injection. Tissue velocity imaging appears to be a sensitive, objective method for detecting changes in myocardial function following gene therapy. Coron Artery Dis 12:239-243
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