Abstract. Nitric oxides (NOx) play a very important role among the anthropogenic trace gases. They affect human health and have an impact on ozone chemistry and climatic change. Here we describe a new method for the quantification of the global NOx budget from image sequences of the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) spectrometer on board the ERS 2 satellite. In contrast to measurements using ground-based or balloon-or aircraft-borne sensors, this instrument provides, for the first time, the possibility of observing global maps of NO2 column densities. As part of this work, algorithms were developed to analyze GOME spectra numerically and to extract physically relevant parameters from the resulting maps using image-processing techniques. Column densities of NOx were determined using differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) [Platt, 1994]

ESM enhances clinical practice and research. It is empowering, providing co-ownership of the process of diagnosis, treatment evaluation, and routine outcome measurement. Blended care, based on a mix of face-to-face and ESM-based outside-the-office treatment, may reduce costs and improve outcomes.

Abstract. The temporal and spatial distribution of enhanced boundary layer BrO concentrations in both hemispheres during 1997 is presented using observations of the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) on board the European research satellite ERS-2. BrO concentrations (up to 50 ppt) are the major cause for catalytic boundary layer ozone destruction typically observed during polar spring in both hemispheres. While autocatalytic mechanisms are most probably responsible for the release of the observed high concentrations of reactive bromine compounds, uncertainties still remain with respect to the primary release mechanisms and whether the autocatalytic reactions are taking place on sea-salt aerosol or the surface of sea ice. We find that enhanced boundary layer BrO concentrations correlate very well with ozone depletion events. Enhanced BrO concentrations are always found over or near to areas of frozen salt water (above sea ice or also above the frozen surface of the Caspian Sea) consistent with the assumption that such conditions are a prerequisite for the autocatalytic release of high BrO concentrations to the troposphere.

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IBS patients report higher scores for abdominal pain in retrospective questionnaires compared to ESM, with a tendency to report peak rather than average pain scores. ESM can provide more insight in symptom course and potential triggers, and may lead to a better understanding of IBS symptomatology.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients may suffer from symptoms of anxiety and depression. Whether and to what extent symptoms of anxiety and depression may be present in COPD patients entering pulmonary rehabilitation and which patient characteristics are associated with psychological distress remains currently unknown. The objective of the present study is to determine the prevalence and the determinants of clinically relevant symptoms of anxiety and depression in COPD patients entering pulmonary rehabilitation. Symptoms of anxiety and depression have been assessed in 701 COPD patients entering pulmonary rehabilitation using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Additionally, disease-specific health status, pulmonary function, body composition, exercise capacity, co-existing morbidities, smoking status, symptoms, long-term oxygen therapy and the use of antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs have been recorded. Patients had mean anxiety scores of 7.6 points and mean depression scores of 7.2 points. Anxiety scores >or=10 points were present in 225 patients (32%) and depression scores >or=10 points were present in 192 patients (27%). Patients at risk of having symptoms of anxiety were female or used antidepressant or anxiolytic drugs. Patients at risk of having symptoms of depression experienced dyspnea, had a body mass index (BMI) <21 kg/m(2) or used antidepressant or anxiolytic drugs. A considerable proportion of the COPD patients entering pulmonary rehabilitation report symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, which may significantly impair disease-specific health status. Patients at risk of having symptoms of anxiety and/or depression are female, experience dyspnea, have a low BMI or use antidepressant and/or anxiolytic drugs.

Functional urological and gastrointestinal disorders are interrelated and characterized by a chronic course and considerable treatment resistance. Urological disorders associated with a sizeable functional effect include overactive bladder (OAB), interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Poor treatment outcomes might be attributable to untreated underlying psychological and psychiatric disorders, as the co-occurrence of functional urological and gastrointestinal disorders with mood and anxiety disorders is common. The hypothetical bladder-gut-brain axis (BGBA) is a useful framework under which this interaction can be studied, suggesting that functional disorders represent a sensitized response to earlier threats such as childhood adversity or previous traumatic events, resulting in perceived emotional and bodily distress - the symptoms of functional disorders. Psychological and physical stress pathways might contribute to such alarm falsification, and neuroticism could be a risk factor for the co-occurrence of functional disorders and affective conditions. Additionally, physical threat - either from external sources or internal sources such as infection - might contribute to alarm falsification by influencing body-brain crosstalk on homeostasis and, therefore, affecting mood, cognition, and behaviour. Multidisciplinary research and an integrated care approach is, therefore, required to further elucidate and remediate functional urological and gastrointestinal polymorphic phenotypes.

Abstract. Measurements of OC10 total column amounts by means of the Global OzoneMonitoring Experiment (GOME) instrument conducted in the austral and boreal winter stratospheres from 1995 through 1999 are presented, GOME is a four-channel UV/visible spectrometer (240-790 nm) deployed on the polar orbiting European ERS-2 satellite since April 1995. Previous studies have shown that the observations of OC10, the symmetric chlorine dioxide formed in a side channel of the reaction of BrO + CIO, can serve as an indicator for a stratospheric chlorine activation. GOME's 3-day coverage of the global atmosphere allows us to infer the first global data set of OC10, and to study continuous time series of its occurrence in both winter stratospheres. It is found that, while OC10 regularly occurs over Antarctica in similar amounts and seasonal timing during the different winters, its occurrence is much more variable in the Arctic winter stratosphere, primarily because of the larger dynamic activity that result in warmer temperatures there. About 40% higher OC10 column amounts are found in the Antarctic polar stratosphere than in its northern counterpart, a further indication for a significantly more efficient chlorine activation in the Antarctic than the Arctic late winter and spring stratosphere.