Scientific Performance of the ISDC Quick Look Analysis

The INTEGRAL Science Data Centre (ISDC) routinely monitors the Near Real Time data (NRT) from the INTEGRAL satellite. A first scientific analysis is made in order to check for the detection of new, transient or highly variable sources in the data. Of primary importance for this work is the Interactive Quick Look Analysis (IQLA), which produces JEM-X and ISGRI images and monitors them for interesting astrophysical eventsComment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Proceedings of 5th INTEGRAL Workshop: The INTEGRAL Universe, Munich, 16-20 February 2004. Accepted for publication in European Space Agency Special Publication 552. See paper for institute affiliation

Breakthrough invasive fungal disease in patients receiving posaconazole primary prophylaxis: a 4-year study

AbstractPosaconazole (PSC) is currently recommended as primary prophylaxis in neutropenic patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and in allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) recipients with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Studies focusing on breakthrough invasive fungal disease (IFD) upon PSC prophylaxis show disparate results. In order to evaluate the incidence of IFD in patients on PSC prophylaxis and identify IFD risk factors, we carried out a retrospective study of all consecutive patients on PP from January 2007 to December 2010 in our hospital. Breakthrough IFDs were identified from the database of the central pharmacy and the French administrative database (PMSI), registering final medical diagnoses of hospitalized patients. Medical data were reviewed to study proven or probable IFD, according to EORTC/MSG definition. PSC plasma concentrations (PPC) were also retrieved. Poisson models were used for statistical analysis. Two hundred and seventy-nine patients received PSC prophylaxis for a median duration of 1.4 months (range 0.2–17.9). Proven (n = 6) or probable (n = 3) IFDs were diagnosed in nine cases (3.2%). IFD incidence rate per 100 person-month was 1.65 (95% CI, 0.79–2.97). IFDs were candidaemia (Candida glabrata, n = 2), pulmonary invasive aspergillosis (n = 3), disseminated fusariosis (n = 2) and pulmonary mucormycosis (n = 2). Seven deaths were reported, directly related to IFD in three patients (33.3%). First dosage of PPC under 0.3 mg/L was the single significant risk factor for IFD (RR, 7.77; 95% CI, 1.30–46.5; p 0.025). Breakthrough IFD in patients receiving PSC prophylaxis is rare but associated with a poor outcome. Low PSC plasma concentrations are associated with an increased risk of IFD

In flight calibration of the ISGRI camera

ISGRI, the IBIS low energy camera (15 keV - 1 MeV) on board INTEGRAL, is the first large CdTe gamma-ray imager in orbit. We present here an overview of the ISGRI in-flight calibrations performed during the first months after launch. We discuss the stability of the camera as well as the CdTe pixels response under cosmic radiation. The energy calibra tions were done using lead and tungsten fluorescence lines and the $\mathrm{^{22}Na}$ calibration unit. Thermal effects and charge correction algorithm are discussed, and the resulting energy resolution is presented. The ISGRI background spatial and spectral non-uniformity is also described, and some image correction results are presented

The INTEGRAL/IBIS Scientific Data Analysis

The gamma-ray astronomical observatory INTEGRAL, succesfully launched on 17th October 2002, carries two large gamma-ray telescopes. One of them is the coded-mask imaging gamma-ray telescope onboard the INTEGRAL satellite (IBIS) which provides high-resolution (~ 12') sky images of 29deg x 29deg in the energy range from 15 keV to 10 MeV with typical on-axis sensitivity of ~ 1 mCrab at 100 keV (3 sigma, 10E6 s exposure). We report here the general description of the IBIS coded-mask imaging system and of the standard IBIS science data analysis procedures. These procedures reconstruct, clean and combine IBIS sky images providing at the same time detection, identification and preliminary analysis of point-like sources present in the field. Spectral extraction has also been implemented and is based on simultaneous fitting of source and background shadowgram models to detector images. The procedures are illustrated using some of the IBIS data collected during the inflight calibrations and present performance is discussed. The analysis programs described here have been integrated as instrument specific software in the Integral Science Data Center (ISDC) analysis software packages currently used for the Quick Look, Standard and Off-line Scientific Analysis.Comment: 7 pages, 13 figures (6 color), accepted for publication in A&A Lett (INTEGRAL special issue). Full resulution color figures can be found in the printed version of the paper (see http://www.edpsciences.org/articles/aa/abs/2003/43/contents/contents.html

ISGRI: the INTEGRAL Soft Gamma-Ray Imager

For the first time in the history of high energy astronomy, a large CdTe gamma-ray camera is operating in space. ISGRI is the low-energy camera of the IBIS telescope on board the INTEGRAL satellite. This paper details its design and its in-flight behavior and performances. Having a sensitive area of 2621 cm$^2$ with a spatial resolution of 4.6 mm, a low threshold around 12 keV and an energy resolution of $\sim$ 8% at 60 keV, ISGRI shows absolutely no signs of degradation after 9 months in orbit. All aspects of its in-flight behavior and scientific performance are fully nominal, and in particular the observed background level confirms the expected sensitivity of 1 milliCrab for a 10$^6$s observation.Comment: INTEGRAL A&A special issu

INTEGRAL: In flight behavior of ISGRI and SPI

International audienceThe payload of INTEGRAL, the space gamma-ray observatory launched in October 2002, features two gamma-ray telescopes that take advantage of the semiconductor technologies. The spectrometer SPI, is equipped with 19 high-purity germanium detectors cooled at 85 K. We will report on the SPI in-flight background, performance, the detector evolution and the annealings performed every 6 months. The INTEGRAL Soft Gamma-Ray Imager (ISGRI) is the low-energy camera of the IBIS telescope. It is the first large camera equipped with CdTe detectors. We will present some system aspects, in particular the noisy pixel handling and will report on its in-flight background, performance and their evolution

Cytochrome 2B6 polymorphism and efavirenz-induced central nervous system symptoms : a substudy of the ANRS ALIZE trial

International audienceOBJECTIVES:Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2B6 gene have been associated with high interindividual variation in efavirenz pharmacokinetics. However, clinical data on the relationship of CYP2B6 polymorphisms with the occurrence of efavirenz-induced central nervous system (CNS) symptoms are limited.METHODS:We analysed four polymorphisms in the CYP2B6 (516 G>T), CYP3A5 (6986 A>G) and ATP-binding cassette, sub-family B, member 1 (ABCB1) (2677 G>T/A and 3435 C>T) genes in HIV-infected adults virologically suppressed on a protease inhibitor-based regimen who switched to a regimen containing emtricitabine, didanosine and efavirenz in the setting of the ANRS ALIZE trial. Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression analysis were used to investigate their association with efavirenz plasma levels and CNS events up to 48 months after switching.RESULTS:In total, 191 patients with a median age of 41 years, who were 87% male and 85% Caucasian, were enrolled in the study. Variant allelic frequencies were 0.49, 0.93, 0.59 and 0.63 for CYP2B6 516, CYP3A5 392, ABCB1 2677 and ABCB1 3435, respectively. The median efavirenz plasma concentration (MEPC) was 2.2 mg/L [interquartile range (IQR) 1.7-2.8 mg/L] and was significantly higher in patients with the deficient CYP2B6 516T. Overall, 242 CNS events were reported in 104 individuals (54%). No correlation was found between MEPC and CNS events. The occurrence of a first CNS event was lower in patients with the CYP2B6 516 G/G genotype vs. CYP2B6 516 T genotypes [50% (IQR: 40-60%) vs. 66% (IQR: 56-75%), respectively; P = 0.02]. In an adjusted Cox regression model, there was a tendency towards a higher risk of a first CNS event among carriers of the variant CYP2B6 516 T allele (relative risk 1.4 [95% CI, 0.99-2.1]; P?=?.06), compared with noncarriers.CONCLUSIONS:The deficient CYP2B6 516 T allele is associated with higher efavirenz plasma drug levels and more frequent CNS-related symptoms