Permian high-temperature metamorphism in the Western Alps (NW Italy)

During the late Palaeozoic, lithospheric thinning in part of the Alpine realm caused high-temperature low-to-medium pressure metamorphism and partial melting in the lower crust. Permian metamorphism and magmatism has extensively been recorded and dated in the Central, Eastern, and Southern Alps. However, Permian metamorphic ages in the Western Alps so far are constrained by very few and sparsely distributed data. The present study fills this gap. We present U/Pb ages of metamorphic zircon from several Adria-derived continental units now situated in the Western Alps, defining a range between 286 and 266 Ma. Trace element thermometry yields temperatures of 580-890°C from Ti-in-zircon and 630-850°C from Zr-in-rutile for Permian metamorphic rims. These temperature estimates, together with preserved mineral assemblages (garnet-prismatic sillimanite-biotite-plagioclase-quartz-K-feldspar-rutile), define pervasive upper-amphibolite to granulite facies conditions for Permian metamorphism. U/Pb ages from this study are similar to Permian ages reported for the Ivrea Zone in the Southern Alps and Austroalpine units in the Central and Eastern Alps. Regional comparison across the former Adriatic and European margin reveals a complex pattern of ages reported from late Palaeozoic magmatic and metamorphic rocks (and relics thereof): two late Variscan age groups (~330 and ~300 Ma) are followed seamlessly by a broad range of Permian ages (300-250 Ma). The former are associated with late-orogenic collapse; in samples from this study these are weakly represented. Clearly, dominant is the Permian group, which is related to crustal thinning, hinting to a possible initiation of continental rifting along a passive margin

Cytomegalovirus gN Genotypes Distribution among Congenitally Infected Newborns and Their Relationship with Symptoms at Birth and Sequelae.

Background. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of congenital infection, with morbidity and mortality at birth and sequelae. Both host and viral factors may affect the outcome of infection. CMV strain virulence may depend on genetic variability in "key genes," such as UL73, which encodes the envelope glycoprotein gN. This study aimed to ascertain the role of gN variants as markers of pathogenicity and prognosis in newborns congenitally infected with CMV. Methods. Seventy-four congenitally infected newborns were monitored for symptoms of CMV disease at birth and during long-term follow-up. The distribution of gN variants was analyzed in relation to virological parameters, clinical signs, laboratory and instrumental abnormalities at birth, and sequelae. Multivariate cluster analysis was used to test for differences in the distribution of variables. An independent validation cohort of the same size and modality of recruitment as the original population was examined by logistic regression to validate results. Results. Univariate and cluster analyses suggest that newborns congenitally infected with CMV fall into 2 subpopulations on the basis of definite parameters of CMV disease. The first population with no symptoms at birth, negative instrumental findings, and a favorable long-term outcome was significantly associated with gN-1 and gN-3a genotypes. The second group with symptoms at birth, abnormal imaging results, and sequelae was associated with gN-4 genotypes ([Formula: see text]). The validation cohort further supports the results, indicating that genotypes gN-1 or gN-3a reduce the risk of sequelae 5 fold (95% confidence interval, 1.3-15.6 fold), whereas variants belonging to group gN-4 increase the risk of sequelae 8 fold (95% confidence interval, 2.6-25.8 fold). Conclusions. Results suggest that gN genotypes might be markers for virulence of CMV wild-type strains and a discriminating factor for selection of CMV-infected newborns who are at risk of developing sequelae

gender differences in patients with acute ischemic stroke

2test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify any independent predictors of outcome. A total of 1136 patients were included in this study; of these, 494 (46%) were female. Women were statistically older compared with men: 76.02 (± 12.93) and 72.68 (± 13.27) median years of age, respectively. At admission, females had higher NIH Stroke Scale scores compared with males (9.4 [± 6.94] vs 7.6 [± 6.28] for men; p = 0.0018). Furthermore, females tended to have more cardioembolic strokes (153 [30%] vs 147 [23%] for men; p = 0.004). Males had lacunar and atherosclerotic strokes more often (146 [29%] vs 249 [39%] for men; p = 0.002, and 68 [13%] vs 123 [19%] for men; p = 0.01, respectively). The mean modified Rankin Scale score at 3 months was also significantly different between genders, at 2.5 (± 2.05) for women and 2.1 (± 2.02) for men (p = 0.003). However, at multivariate analysis, female gender was not an indicator for negative outcome. It was concluded that female gender was not an independent factor for negative outcome. In addition, both genders demonstrated different stroke pathophysiologies. These findings should be taken into account when diagnostic workup and treatment are being planned

Complications and risk factors for severe outcome in children with measles

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Risk factors for severe measles are poorly investigated in high-income countries. The Italian Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases conducted a retrospective study in children hospitalised for measles from January 2016 to August 2017 to investigate the risk factors for severe outcome defined by the presence of long-lasting sequelae, need of intensive care or death. RESULTS: Nineteen hospitals enrolled 249 children (median age 14.5 months): 207 (83%) children developed a complication and 3 (1%) died. Neutropaenia was more commonly reported in children with B3-genotype compared with other genotypes (29.5% vs 7.7%, p=0.01). Pancreatitis (adjusted OR [aOR] 9.19, p=0.01) and encephalitis (aOR 7.02, p=0.04) were related to severe outcome in multivariable analysis, as well as C reactive protein (CRP) (aOR 1.1, p=0.028), the increase of which predicted severe outcome (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.67, 95%\u2009CI 0.52 to 0.82). CRP values >2\u2009mg/dL were related to higher risk of complications (OR 2.0, 95%\u2009CI 1.15 to 3.7, p=0.01) or severe outcome (OR 4.13, 95%\u2009CI 1.43 to 11.8, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The risk of severe outcome in measles is independent of age and underlying conditions, but is related to the development of organ complications and may be predicted by CRP value