Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of Luminous Extragalactic Infrared Transients and Variables from the Spitzer Infrared Intensive Transients Survey

The SPitzer InfraRed Intensive Transients Survey (SPIRITS) searched for luminous infrared (IR) transients and variables in nearly 200 nearby galaxies from 2014 to 2019, using the warm Spitzer telescope at 3.6 and 4.5 μm. Among the SPIRITS variables are IR-bright objects that are undetected in ground-based optical surveys. We classify them as (1) transients, (2) periodic variables, and (3) irregular variables. The transients include eSPecially Red Intermediate-luminosity Transient Events (SPRITEs), having maximum luminosities fainter than supernovae, red IR colors, and a wide range of outburst durations (days to years). Here we report deep optical and near-IR imaging with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) of 21 SPIRITS variables. They were initially considered SPRITE transients, but many eventually proved instead to be periodic or irregular variables as more data were collected. HST images show most of these cool and dusty variables are associated with star-forming regions in late-type galaxies, implying an origin in massive stars. Two SPRITEs lacked optical progenitors in deep preoutburst HST images; however, one was detected during eruption at J and H, indicating a dusty object with an effective temperature of ∼1050 K. One faint SPRITE turned out to be a dusty classical nova. About half the HST targets proved to be periodic variables, with pulsation periods of 670-2160 days; they are likely dusty asymptotic-giant-branch (AGB) stars with masses of ∼5-10 M ⊙. A few of them were warm enough to be detected in deep HST frames, but most are too cool. Out of six irregular variables, two were red supergiants with optical counterparts in HST images; four were too enshrouded for HST detection. © 2022. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Unstable B-chromosomes in Ranunculus bulbosus

A B-chromosome system has been found in Ranunculus bulbosus. 87 plants from Monte Croce della Serra in Umbria (Italy) have been examined and 12 of these have shown Bs. Bs in R. bulbosus are unstable (in roots, leaves and male meiocytes), very small (less than 1 mu m), can reach relatively high numbers (up to 19B) and are heterochromatic (visible in interphase nuclei after Feulgen or Giemsa staining procedures). In spite of the wide intra tissue range of B number the mitotic behaviour of B is very often regular. Also microsporogenesis observations have shown that Bs can pair and segregate regularly in the A chromosome fashion, especially when the B-number in meiocytes is low. Irregularities (clumps, laggards, micronuclei) ate much more frequent when Bs are more than six

Discovery of an Intermediate-luminosity Red Transient in M51 and Its Likely Dust-obscured, Infrared-variable Progenitor

Contains fulltext : 207534.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Long term outcome of acute pancreatitis in Italy: Results of a multicentre study

Background: In Italy, no long-term studies regarding the natural history of acute pancreatitis have been carried out. Aim: To report the results of a follow-up on a large series of patients hospitalised for pancreatitis. Methods: Data of 631 patients admitted to 35 Italian hospitals were retrospectively evaluated 51.7 ± 8.4 months after discharge. Results: The average recovery time after mild or severe pancreatitis was 28.2 and 53.4 days respectively. Fourteen sequelae were not resolved and 9 cases required late surgical intervention. Eighty patients (12.7%) had a second hospital admission. Of the patients with mild biliary pancreatitis, 67.9% underwent a cholecystectomy. The overall incidence of relapse was 12.7%. Mortality was 9.8% and no death was related to pancreatitis. Three patients died from carcinoma of the pancreas. Conclusion: Reported recovery time after an attack of pancreatitis was longer than expected in the mild forms. The treatment of sequelae was delayed beyond one year after discharge. The incidence of relapse of biliary pancreatitis in patients not undergoing a cholecystectomy was low, due to endoscopic treatment. Mortality from pancreatic-related causes is low, but there is an association with malignant pancreatic or ampullary tumours not diagnosed during the acute phase of the illness

Long term outcome of acute pancreatitis in Italy: Results of a multicentre study

Background: In Italy, no long-term studies regarding the natural history of acute pancreatitis have been carried out. Aim: To report the results of a follow-up on a large series of patients hospitalised for pancreatitis. Methods: Data of 631 patients admitted to 35 Italian hospitals were retrospectively evaluated 51.7 \ub1 8.4 months after discharge. Results: The average recovery time after mild or severe pancreatitis was 28.2 and 53.4 days respectively. Fourteen sequelae were not resolved and 9 cases required late surgical intervention. Eighty patients (12.7%) had a second hospital admission. Of the patients with mild biliary pancreatitis, 67.9% underwent a cholecystectomy. The overall incidence of relapse was 12.7%. Mortality was 9.8% and no death was related to pancreatitis. Three patients died from carcinoma of the pancreas. Conclusion: Reported recovery time after an attack of pancreatitis was longer than expected in the mild forms. The treatment of sequelae was delayed beyond one year after discharge. The incidence of relapse of biliary pancreatitis in patients not undergoing a cholecystectomy was low, due to endoscopic treatment. Mortality from pancreatic-related causes is low, but there is an association with malignant pancreatic or ampullary tumours not diagnosed during the acute phase of the illness. \ua9 2013 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l

A prospective multicentre survey on the treatment of acute pancreatitis in Italy

Background: The Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas released a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for acute pancreatitis in 1999. Aim: This study focused on the analysis of the therapeutic approach for the treatment of acute pancreatitis in Italy. Patients: One thousand, one hundred and seventy-three patients were recruited: 1006 patients (85.8%) had mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and 167 (14.2%) had the severe acute pancreatitis (SAP); 161 patients showed pancreatic necrosis at computed tomography; 121 patients (10.3%) had sequelae and 36 (3.1%) died. Results: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and tramadol were used more frequently in patients with the MAP whereas opioids and the association schedules were used more frequently in patients with the SAP (P < 0.001). Gabexate mesilate was utilised in 831 out of 1173 patients (70.8%); in particular, gabexate mesilate was used in 70.6% patients with MAP and in 73.1% of those with SAP (P = 0.521). The duration of the drug administration was significantly shorter in those having MAP than in those having the SAP (P < 0.001). The antibiotics most frequently used for the prophylaxis against infection from pancreatic necrosis (43.1%) were carbapenems. Only a small number of patients received enteral nutrition (4.7%). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was carried out in 344 of the 1173 patients (29.3%). Surgery was performed in 48 with SAP (19 had elective biliary surgery and 29 had pancreatic surgery). Conclusions: The results of this survey indicate a lack of compliance with the guidelines which regard the indications mainly for interventional endoscopy and surgery. \ua9 2007 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l

Diagnostic assessment and outcome of acute pancreatitis in Italy: Results of a prospective multicentre study. ProInf-AISP: Progetto informatizzato pancreatite acuta, Associazione Italiana Studio Pancreas, phase II

Background and aim: Up till now, only one study providing practically complete information on acute pancreatitis in Italy has been published. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, in terms of diagnostic assessment and outcome, of a large series of patients affected by acute pancreatitis in Italy. Materials and methods: The study involved 56 Italian centres, homogeneously distributed throughout the entire national territory. Each participating centre was furnished with an ad hoc software including 530 items along with subsequent collection, tabulation and quality control of the data. Results: One thousand five hundred and forty case report forms of patients affected by acute pancreatitis were collected but 367 of them (24%) were subsequently eliminated from the final analysis. Therefore, 1173 patients (581 females and 592 males) were recruited. Mean age of patients was 62.0 \ub1 18.2 years (95% confidence interval, 60.9-63.0). On the basis of Atlanta classification, 1006 patients (85.8%) were defined as mild and 167 (14.2%) as severe pancreatitis. Biliary forms represented the most frequent aetiological category (813 cases, 69.3%) while alcoholic forms only 6.6% (77 cases); the remaining aetiologies accounted for 7.1% (83 cases) while 200 cases (17.1%) remained without a definite aetiological factor. Complete recovery was achieved in 1016 patients (86.6%) whereas morphological sequelae were found in 121 patients (10.3%) and mortality in 36 patients (3.1%; 0.4% in mild and 19.2% in severe acute pancreatitis). Ultrasonography was largely utilised as a first line diagnostic tool in all patients, with valuable visualisation of the pancreas in 85% of patients. Computer tomography scan was also widely used, with 66.7% of exams in mild and 33.3% in severe pancreatitis. Patients affected by biliary pancreatitis presented more severe (p = 0.004) and necrotizing forms (p = 0.021). Mortality was significantly related (p < 0.001) with the extension of pancreatic necrosis and with an age of over 70 years. Body mass index presented significantly greater values in severe than in mild forms (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Association of creatinine serum level over 2 mg/dl with an abnormal chest X-ray showed a high significant correlation with a more severe outcome in terms of morphological sequalae and mortality (p = 0.0001). Acute pancreatitis in Italy more commonly presents biliary aetiology and favourable outcome with low rate of complications and mortality. From a cost-effectiveness standpoint, diagnostic approach to this disease needs to be better standardised. \ua9 2007

Erratum: Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality for 282 causes of death in 195 countries and territories, 1980–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (The Lancet (2018) 392(10159) (1736–1788)(S0140673618322037)(10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32203-7))

GBD 2017 Causes of Death Collaborators. Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality for 282 causes of death in 195 countries and territories, 1980–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet 2018; 392: 1736–88—The bottom row in figure 7 was cut off. This correction has been made to the online version as of Nov 9, 2018, and has been made to the printed Article. © 2018 Elsevier Lt