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Objectives: We aimed to assess safety and, secondarily, the efficacy of intramyocardial high-dose plasmid-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) 165 (pVEGF165) gene transfer in no-option patients with coronary artery disease (CAD)., Background: Controlled trials of pVEGF165 in CAD have shown little benefit. One possible reason is shortness of dosage. We have shown in large mammalian models of chronic myocardial ischemia and acute myocardial infarction that intramyocardial pVEGF165 at doses significantly higher than those used in recent phase II trials is safe and efficacious on myocardial perfusion, left ventricular function, and infarct size limitation., Methods: Using an injection catheter, 10 patients with severe CAD not amenable for revascularization received 10 intramyocardial injections of 0.38 mg (total dose, 3.8 mg) pVEGF165 in zones exhibiting myocardial ischemia, as assessed by combined stress 99mTc-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography and stress echocardiography., Results: No serious adverse events related to either VEGF or the injection procedure occurred over the 2-year follow-up. One patient suffered femoral artery thrombosis after a follow-up coronary angiography, successfully resolved with medical treatment. Six patients suffered uncomplicated coronary ischemic events during the second year follow-up. Angina functional class decreased from 2.6 ± 0.2 to 1.2 ± 0.3 (mean ± SEM, P < 0.05), quality of life increased from 56.9 ± 3.2 to 82.6 ± 2.4 (P < 0.05), the summed difference score of myocardial perfusion decreased from 13.4 ± 2 to 7.7 ± 1.8 (P < 0.04), and stress ejection fraction did not change (44.2 ± 3.6% to 47.8 ± 3.1%, P = NS)., Conclusions: High-dose intramyocardial pVEGF165 is safe at 2 years follow-up in patients with severe CAD. The efficacy results observed must be taken cautiously given the uncontrolled, open-label study design., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum (cv. Spunta) was transformed with a chimeric transgene containing the Potato virus Y (PVY) coat protein (CP) sequence. Screening for PVY resistance under greenhouse conditions yielded over 100 independent candidate lines. Successive field testing of selected lines allowed the identification of two genetically stable PVY-resistant lines, SY230 and SY233, which were further evaluated in field trials at different potato-producing regions in Argentina. In total, more than 2,000 individuals from each line were tested along a 6-year period. While no or negligible PVY infection was observed in the transgenic lines, infection rates of control plants were consistently high and reached levels of up to 70-80%. Parallel field studies were performed in virus-free environments to assess the agronomical performance of the selected lines. Tubers collected from these assays exhibited agronomical traits and biochemical compositions indistinguishable from those of the non-transformed Spunta cultivar. In addition, an interspecific out-crossing trial to determine the magnitude of possible natural gene flow between transgenic line SY233 and its wild relative Solanum chacoense was performed. This trial yielded negative results, suggesting an extremely low probability for such an event to occur.

A multi-institutional double blind study was performed in 66 patients in order to evaluate the action of human leukocyte interferon, type alpha (IFN) in lesions produced by herpes simplex virus. Lesions were localized in genital area in 34 cases and in facial area in 32 of them. From the total, 38 patients were treated with 7,000 Ul/gm. of interferon ointment and 28 with carbowax 4,000 as placebo. The symptoms pain, ardor, itching and paresthesia were evaluated asking to patients. Erythema, vesicles, crust, scale adenopathy were objectivated. Signs and symptoms were controlled on days 3 and 7 of treatment. In 42 patients, lesions specimens were taken for virus isolation. In 23 of them, cytopathic effect was detected (54.76%). Results showed a rapid relief from pain (p less than 0.05), ardor (p less than 0.01) and paresthesia (p less than 0.001) and also accelerated healing of vesicles in patients treated with interferon. Tendency to reduce the total time of the disease in those patients treated with IFN was observed.