The record of the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum in the Ager Basin (Central Pyrenees, Spain)

The sedimentary record straddling the Paleocene/Eocene boundary in the Ager Basin (southern Central Pyrenees) was investigated by combining facies analysis, sequence stratigraphy and stable isotope data, within an interval characterized by a great variability of depositional environments. The occurrence of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) climatic anomaly is tentatively constrained by analogy with its stratigraphic range in the adjacent Tremp-Graus Basin. The main body of the carbon isotope excursion associated with the PETM may be recorded by lacustrine carbonates characterized by a ~ -3‰ shift in d13C with respect to analogous deposits of Thanetian age; a similar shift is recorded between in situ and resedimented pedogenic carbonates, a feature that suggests the partial erosion of the P/E boundary in the Ager Basin

Are fluid inclusions in gypsum reliable paleoenvironmental indicators? An assessment of the evidence from the Messinian evaporites

The paleosalinity of water from which the gypsum precipitated during the Messinian salinity crisis is a controversial issue. Recent microthermometry studies on primary fluid inclusions in gypsum provided very low salinity values not compatible with precipitation from seawater, and suggested strong mixing between seawater and nonmarine waters enriched in calcium sulfate. We applied a new microthermometric protocol on gypsum crystals from nine Mediterranean sections that were experimentally stretched to measure a larger population of fluid inclusions. The results show salinities ranging from 9 to 238 wt‰ NaCl equivalent, largely falling within the evaporation path of normal seawater. The data from previous studies were obtained mostly from those fluid inclusions capable of nucleating a stable bubble after a weak stretching, which probably correspond to those having a lower salinity acquired through post-depositional crack-and-seal processes. Our data suggest instead that the primary gypsum precipitated from a marine brine, later modified by post-trapping processes during tectonics and exhumation

The Messinian "Calcare di Base" (Sicily, Italy) revisited

Three different types of carbonate deposits are included within the "Calcare di Base",commonly envisaged to record the Messinian salinity crisis onset: type 1 consists of sulphur-bearinglimestones, representing the biogenic product of bacterial sulphate reduction after original gypsum;type 2 comprises dm-thick laminated dolomitic limestones interbedded with diatomites, sapropels andmarls found at the top the Tripoli Formation; type 3, the most common variety, consists of m-thickbrecciated limestones interbedded with shales and clastic gypsum.Type 3 shows sedimentary features suggesting a clastic origin and deposition from high- to lowdensitygravity flows; thus, these deposits can be regarded as an end-member of a large variety ofevaporite-bearing gravity flow deposits, with a dominant carbonate component.The genetic and stratigraphic characterization of these carbonates has strong implications for a bettercomprehension of Messinian events; the three types of Calcare di Base seem to have formed duringdifferent stages of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC). Type 2 formed in the first stage (5.96-5.60 Ma),and is the only type that can be regarded as the Lower Gypsum time-equivalent. Type 3 was depositedin the second stage (5.60-5.55 Ma) and its base is associated with a regional-scale hiatus and erosion(Messinian erosional surface). Type 1 formed even later, likely in post-Messinian time, throughdiagenetic processes affecting resedimented gypsum deposited during the second stage of the MSC.It follows that not all the Calcare di Base deposits record the onset of the Messinian salinity crisis, ascommonly thought. Thus, a detailed facies characterization of these carbonate deposits is fundamental for both stratigraphic reconstructions and a better comprehension of Messinian events

Remarks on the Messinian evaporites of Zakynthos Island (Ionian Sea, Eastern Mediterranean)

Detailed mapping of the Neogene deposits on Zakynthos Island shows that the Messinian primary evaporite basins, formed over Ionian basement, are delimited by the westernmost outcrop of the Triassic evaporitic diapirs, located west of the Kalamaki-Argasi Messinian gypsum unit. The post-Miocene external Ionian thrust is emplaced west of the Triassic diapirs. Planktonic foraminifera biostratigraphy indicates that primary evaporite accumulation took place probably during the first stage of the Messinian salinity crisis (5.96-5.60 Ma), in shallower parts of a foreland basin, formed over the Pre-Apulian and the Ionian zone basement. Establishment of these depositional environments, before the Ionian thrust emplacement, was probably due to the particularities of the foreland basin, which extended from the external Ionian to the internal Pre-Apulian zone. Field observations, borehole data and an onshore seismic profile show that the Neogene sediments over the Pre-Apulian basement correspond to the foredeep through forebulge domain of the foreland basin, as it is documented from their spatial thickness distribution. In contrast, the Neogene sediments over the Ionian basement correspond to the wedge top of the foreland basin, which was less subsiding, as it is deduced by their reduced thickness. This lower subsidence rate was the result of the concurrent diapiric movements of the Ionian Triassic evaporites. In Agios Sostis area, located over Pre-Apulian basement, the Neogene sequence is intercalated by decametre-thick resedimented blocks consisting of shallow water selenite. To the southeast, this mass-wasting Messinian gypsum passes to mainly gypsum turbidite. In Kalamaki-Argasi area, located over Ionian basement, the shallow water environment led to the deposition of the observed primary gypsum. Erosion of the primary gypsum of both forebulge and wedge top supplied the foreland basin’s depocenter with gypsum turbidites. Η λεπτομερής χαρτογράφηση των Νεογενών αποθέσεων της Ζακύνθου δείχνει ότι οι λεκάνες πρωτογενούς Μεσσήνιας εβαποριτικής απόθεσης, που σχηματίστηκαν πάνω σε Ιόνιο υπόβαθρο, οριοθετούνται από τη δυτικότερη εμφάνιση των Τριαδικών εβαποριτικών διάπειρων (δυτικά της Μεσσήνιας ενότητας γύψου Καλαμάκι-Αργάσι). Η μετα-Μειοκαινική εξωτερική Ιόνια επώθηση τοποθετείται δυτικά αυτών των Τριαδικών διάπειρων. Βιοστρωματογραφική ανάλυση των συναθροίσεων πλαγκτονικών τρηματοφόρων στα Νεογενή ιζήματα δείχνει ότι η συσσώρευση πρωτογενούς εβαπορίτη έλαβε χώρα πιθανά κατά το πρώτο στάδιο της κρίσης αλμυρότητας του Μεσσηνίου (5.96-5.60 Εκατ.χρ.), στα αβαθέστερα τμήματα της λεκάνης προχώρας, η οποία σχηματίστηκε πάνω στο Προ-Απούλιο και Ιόνιο αλπικό υπόβαθρο. Ο σχηματισμός των περιβαλλόντων ιζηματογένεσης, πριν από την Ιόνια επώθηση, πιθανά οφείλεται στις ιδιαιτερότητες της λεκάνης προχώρας, η οποία εκείνο το διάστημα εκτείνονταν από την εξωτερική Ιόνια ως την εσωτερική Προ-Απούλια ζώνη. Νέα δεδομένα υπαίθρου, σε συνδυασμό με τη βιοστρωματογραφία, τα στοιχεία γεωτρήσεων και μία διαθέσιμη σεισμική τομή δείχνουν ότι τα Νεογενή ιζήματα πάνω στο Προ-Απούλιο υπόβαθρο αντιστοιχούν στον τμήμα της λεκάνης προχώρας, από το προβύθισμα (foredeep) ως την πρόσθια ανύψωση (forebulge), όπως αυτό διαπιστώνεται από την χωρική κατανομή του πάχους τους. Αντίθετα, τα Νεογενή ιζήματα πάνω στο Ιόνιο υπόβαθρο αντιστοιχούν στο τμήμα της λεκάνης προχώρας που βρίσκεται πάνω στο μετωπικό πρίσμα της ορογένεσης (wedge top), το οποίο βυθίζονταν λιγότερο όπως συνάγεται από το ελαττωμένο πάχος των ιζημάτων. Ο μικρότερος ρυθμός βύθισης οφείλεται στις διαπειρικές κινήσεις των Τριαδικών εβαποριτών. Στη Νεογενή ακολουθία, που βρίσκεται πάνω σε Προ-Απούλιο υπόβαθρο (περιοχή Άγιος Σώστης), παρεμβάλλονται επανιζηματοποιημένα μπλοκ δεκαμετρικού πάχους αποτελούμενα από σεληνίτη μικρού βάθους απόθεσης. Προς νότο, αυτή η βαρυτικά μεταφερόμενη μάζα της Μεσσήνιας γύψου μεταπίπτει κυρίως σε τουρβιδιτική γύψο. Στην περιοχή Καλαμάκι-Αργάσι που βρίσκεται πάνω σε Ιόνιο υπόβαθρο, το αβαθές περιβάλλον οδήγησε στην απόθεση της παρατηρούμενης πρωτογενούς γύψου. Η διάβρωση της πρωτογενούς γύψου τόσο της πρόσθιας ανύψωσης όσο και του μετωπικού πρίσματος επώθησης τροφοδότησαν το προβύθισμα της λεκάνης προχώρας με τουρβιδίτες γύψου

Arterial hypertension in aortic valve stenosis: A critical update

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a very common valve disease and is associated with high mortality once it becomes symptomatic. Arterial hypertension (HT) has a high prevalence among patients with AS leading to worse left ventricle remodeling and faster degeneration of the valve. HT also interferes with the assessment of the severity of AS, leading to an underestimation of the real degree of stenosis. Treatment of HT in AS has not historically been pursued due to the fear of excess reduction in afterload without a possibility of increasing stroke volume due to the fixed aortic valve, but most recent evidence shows that several drugs are safe and effective in reducing BP in patients with HT and AS. RAAS inhibitors and beta‐blockers provide benefit in selected populations based on their profile of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Different drugs, on the other hand, have proved to be unsafe, such as calcium channel blockers, or simply not easy enough to handle to be recommended in clinical practice, such as PDE5i, MRA or sodium nitroprusside. The present review highlights all available studies on HT and AS to guide antihypertensive treatment

Prevention of Secondary Injury after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Relationship between Pelvic-Drop and Dynamic Knee Valgus.

Background: Optimal neuromuscular, Lumbo-Pelvic-Hip Complex, and lower extremity control are associated with decreased risk factors for secondary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. This study aimed to analyze any asymmetries and malalignments in the Lumbo-Pelvic-Hip Complex and the lower limbs at 6 months after ACL reconstruction (ACLR). (2) Methods: We conducted an exploratory retrospective observational single-center study in patients during the outpatient postoperative rehabilitation program at ICOT (Latina, Italy). From January 2014 to June 2020, 181 patients were recruited, but only 100 patients (86 male 28 ± 0.6 years, 178 ± 0.5 height; 14 female 24 ± 2.0 years, 178 ± 3.0 height) were eligible for the inclusion criteria and studied 6 months after ACL reconstruction surgery. (3) Statistical analysis: Student's t-tests and Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient were used to determine significant differences between affected and non-affected limbs and variables' association. (4) Results: The study shows a decrease in neuromuscular control of the Lumbo-Pelvic-Hip Complex and dynamic adaptive valgus of the knee at 6 months after ACLR (mean difference between pathological and healthy limb of dynamic adaptive valgus was -10.11 ± 8.19° 95% CI -14.84 to -9.34; mean value was 16.3 ± 6.8° 95% CI 14.04 to 18.55 for healthy limb and 4.2 ± 3.1° 95% CI 3.15 to 5.21 for pathological limb, p < 0.0001). The results also showed a relationship between dynamic adaptive valgus and contralateral pelvic drop (r = 0.78, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.88, magnitude of correlation very large). (5) Conclusions: The analysis showed an associative correlation between decreased postural control of the pelvic girdle and dynamic adaptive valgus of the knee in 38% of patients; this study highlights the usefulness of the Single-Leg Squat Test (SLST) as a clinical/functional assessment to evaluate the rehabilitation process and as a preventive tool to reduce the risk of second ACL injuries during the return to sport

The modulation of sirtuins and apoptotic proteins in rats after exhaustive exercise

A large body of evidence shows that a single bout of strenuous exercise induces oxidative stress in circu- lating human lymphocytes leading to lipid peroxide- tion, DNA damage, mitochondrial perturbations, and protein oxidation. In a training experiment, Wistar rats were divided into control group (CG) and exer- cise group (EG). After a running level exercise until exhaustion, we observed an increase in the mRNA content and protein expression of SIRT1 and SIRT7 in the EG compared to the CG. Moreover, such train- ing exercise did not change mRNA transcripts and protein expression of FOXO3A and GADD45. We also observed an increase of pro-apoptotic protein bax and a decrease of the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 in the EG. Accordingly, we observed a caspase-3 activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage only in EG rats. Statistical analysis of the data showed a significant correlation between SIRT1 and SIRT7 expression and apoptotic proteins such as bax, bcl-2 in both tissues. We conclude that, in both muscle, such exercise activates both a damaging apoptotic mecha- nism with bax increase and bcl-2 decrease and a counterbalancing protective mechanism with SIRT1 and SIRT7 increase

Intra-Messinian truncation surface in the Levant Basin explained by subaqueous dissolution

The Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) is an extreme event in Earth history during which a salt giant (>1 × 106 km3) accumulated on the Mediterranean seafloor within ~640 k.y. Erosional unconformities extending from the continental margins into the deep basins are key features for reconstructing the MSC; however, the nature of the erosional processes and their subaerial versus subaqueous origin are highly controversial. This study focuses on the top erosion surface (TES) in the deep Levant Basin, which is notably flat, truncating a basinward-tilted Messinian evaporitic succession. Based on high-resolution seismic surveys and wireline logs, we show that (1) the TES is actually an intra-Messinian truncation surface (IMTS) located ~100 m below the Messinian-Zanclean boundary; (2) the topmost, post-truncation Messinian unit is very different from the underlying salt deposits and consists mostly of shale, sand, and anhydrite; and (3) the flat IMTS is a dissolution surface related to significant dilution and stratification of the water column during the transition from stage 2 to stage 3 of the MSC. Dissolution occurred upslope where salt rocks at the seabed were exposed to the upper diluted brine, while downslope, submerged in the deeper halite-saturated layer, the salt rocks were preserved. The model, which requires a stratified water column, is inconsistent with a complete desiccation of the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Relationship between aerobic fitness and metabolic power metrics in elite male soccer players

The aim was to assess the relationship between aerobic fitness and metabolic power metrics in elite male soccer players, and the possible differences that playing positions might impose during match play over new metabolic power metrics. Sixty-two elite professional male soccer players (13 central backs, 13 side backs, 22 midfielders, and 14 forwards) took part in the study. Players were monitored during eleven months of full training (including pre-season and in-season) and over all official matches (Serie A matches, Italy Cup matches). Aerobic fitness tests were conducted one week after the start of the preseason, and 8, 24 and 36 weeks after the beginning of the Championship. Players' aerobic fitness and metabolic power metrics were considered as the mean of all seasonal testing and of pooling data of 38 championship matches and 3 or 6 Italy Cup matches for all the calculations respectively. The velocity at 4 mmol·L-1 (VL4) was significantly related to metabolic power metrics match variables with correlation ranging from trivial to very large (r = 0.32 to r = 0.89). Receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that speed at VL4 was sensitive in detecting high metabolic power distance (HMPD) changes in all but central back players as revealed by area under the curve (central back .78, 95%CI .47 to .95; full back .93, 95%CI .64 to 0.99; midfielder .88, 95%CI .67 to 0.98; forward .90, 95%CI .62 to 0.99). This study's findings provide further evidence for the ecological validity of aerobic fitness in elite male soccer players. Players having a HMPD cut-off equal to or higher than > 1450 m for central backs, > 1990 m for full backs, > 2170 m for midfielders and > 1670 m for forwards may be considered as possessing superior aerobic fitness status. In light of this study's findings, the VL4 test may be considered a valid test to evaluate meaningful information for direct generic aerobic training in soccer players

Autonomic nervous system responses to strength training in top-level weight lifters

In athletes, spectral analysis of HR variability (HRV) has been shown capable to detect the adaptational changes in sympatho-vagal control attending physical training. So far, studies investigated autonomic nervous system (ANS) changes occurring with endurance training, whereas adaptations to markedly different exercise modes, for example, strength training, have never been investigated. We assessed the changes in cardiac ANS parameters during long-term training in weight lifters of the Italian team preparing for the European Championship, where athletes competed for obtaining the pass for Olympic Games. We investigated nine athletes. Subject trained 3 sessions/day, 6 days a week. The intensity of strength exercises varied from 70% to 95% 1 RM. Training load (TL) was calculated as: volume (min)  7 intensity (%1RM).All ANS parameters were significantly and highly correlated on an individual basis to the dose of exercise with a second-order regression model (r2 ranged from 0.96 to 0.99; P < 0.001). The low-frequency (LF) component of HRV and LF/HF ratio showed an initial increase with the progression of TL and then a decrease, resembling a bell-shaped curve with a minimum at the highest TL. The high-frequency (HF) component of HRV and R-R interval showed a reciprocal pattern, with an initial decrease with progression of TL followed by an increase, resembling an U-shaped curve with a maximum at the highest TL. These adaptations were at the opposite to those previously reported in endurance athletes. These results suggest that in Olympic weight lifters, ANS adaptations to training are dose-related on individual basis and that ANS adaptations are mainly sport-specific