Geochemical characterization of “Lorraine limestones” from the SaintPaul Cathedral of Liège (Belgium): assumptions for the true provenance of the building stones

We investigate the provenance of the ochre building stones called “Lorraine limestones” used for architectural specifc elements of the Saint-Paul Cathedral in Liège (Belgium) between the thirteenth and ffteenth century. A multi-analytical approach, including archives study, petrography and Rare Earth Elements geochemistry, has been performed to characterize the stones used in the church and to compare them with ochre limestones outcropping in the north-east of the Paris Basin. Our study suggests that a very restricted geographical area near the ancient port of Donchery (Ardennes, France) including Dom-le-Mesnil and Hannogne ancient quarries of Bajocian limestones (Middle Jurassic) should clearly be regarded as the potential origin location for the stones used in the Saint-Paul Cathedral.project n°706579

Les calcaires lorrains dans l’architecture et la sculpture de la Meuse moyenne au Moyen Âge (XIIIe - XVIe siècles) :origines, diffusion et utilisation

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

One-Year Sequelae and Quality of Life in Adults with Meningococcal Meningitis: Lessons from the COMBAT Multicentre Prospective Study

Trial registration: ClinicalTrial.Gov identification number NCT01730690.International audienceIntroduction: COMBAT is a prospective, multicentre cohort study that enrolled consecutive adults with community-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM) in 69 participating centres in France between February 2013 and July 2015 and followed them for 1 year.Methods: Patients aged at least 18 years old, hospitalised with CABM were followed during their hospitalisation and then contacted by phone 12 months after enrolment. Here we present the prevalence of sequelae at 12 months in a subgroup of patients with meningococcal meningitis.Results: Five of the 111 patients with meningococcal meningitis died during initial hospitalisation and two died between discharge and 12 months, leaving 104 patients alive 1 year after enrolment, 71 of whom provided 12-month follow-up data. The median age was 30.0 years and 54.1% of the patients had no identified risk factor for meningitis. More than 30% reported persistent headache, more than 40% were not satisfied with their sleep and 10% had concentration difficulties. Hearing loss was present in about 15% of the patients and more than 30% had depressive symptoms. About 13% of the patients with a previous professional activity had not resumed work. On the SF-12 Health Survey, almost 50% and 30% had physical component or mental component scores lower than the 25th percentile of the score distribution in the French general population. There was a non-significant improvement in the patients' disability scores from hospital discharge to 12 months (p = 0.16), but about 10% of the patients had residual disability.Conclusions: Although most patients in our cohort survive meningococcal meningitis, the long-term burden is substantial and therefore it is important to ensure a prolonged follow-up of survivors and to promote preventive strategies, including vaccination

Persistent headaches one year after bacterial meningitis: prevalence, determinants and impact on quality of life

International audienceBackground: Little is known on headaches long-term persistence after bacterial meningitis and on their impact on patients' quality of life.Methods: In an ancillary study of the French national prospective cohort of community-acquired bacterial meningitis in adults (COMBAT) conducted between February 2013 and July 2015, we collected self-reported headaches before, at onset, and 12 months (M12) after meningitis. Determinants of persistent headache (PH) at M12, their association with M12 quality of life (SF 12), depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) and neuro-functional disability were analysed.Results: Among the 277 alive patients at M12 87/274 (31.8%), 213/271 (78.6%) and 86/277 (31.0%) reported headaches before, at the onset, and at M12, respectively. In multivariate analysis, female sex (OR: 2.75 [1.54-4.90]; p < 0.001), pre-existing headaches before meningitis (OR: 2.38 [1.32-4.30]; p < 0.01), higher neutrophilic polynuclei percentage in the CSF of the initial lumbar puncture (OR: 1.02 [1.00-1.04]; p < 0.05), and brain abscess during the initial hospitalisation (OR: 8.32 [1.97-35.16]; p < 0.01) were associated with M12 persistent headaches. Neither the responsible microorganism, nor the corticoids use were associated with M12 persistent headaches. M12 neuro-functional disability (altered Glasgow Outcome Scale; p < 0.01), M12 physical handicap (altered modified Rankin score; p < 0.001), M12 depressive symptoms (p < 0.0001), and M12 altered physical (p < 0.05) and mental (p < 0.0001) qualities of life were associated with M12 headaches.Conclusion: Persistent headaches are frequent one year after meningitis and are associated with quality of life alteration

Relationship between serotypes, disease characteristics and 30-day mortality in adults with invasive pneumococcal disease

International audienc