The Cretaceous of the Swiss Jura Mountains: an improved lithostratigraphic scheme

In the course of the HARMOS project of the Swiss Geological Survey, the lithostratigraphic subdivisions of the Cretaceous sedimentary rocks outcropping in the Swiss Jura Mountains were revisited. New formation names are proposed where only inadequate facies terms existed so far. As in some cases outcrop conditions in the Swiss Jura do not allow for logging complete sections to characterise the formations, type localities in neighbouring France have been chosen. The following formations (Fm.) are defined to describe the Cretaceous lithological units (from bottom to top): Goldberg Fm., Pierre-Châtel Fm., Vions Fm., Chambotte Fm., Vuache Fm., Grand Essert Fm., Gorges de l’Orbe Fm., Vallorbe Fm., Perte du Rhône Fm., Narlay Fm. Dating of the formations is based on biostratigraphy (ammonites, echinids, dasycladalean algae, foraminifera, calpionellids, dinocysts, nannofossils). The fossils indicate Berriasian through to Coniacian ages. The lithostratigraphic units describe the general evolution from a shallow, peritidal platform to deeper-water shelf environments, then the installation of a carbonate platform, and finally the drowning of this platform followed by the predominance of pelagic conditions. The common lateral and vertical changes in facies and sedimentation rates as well as numerous hiatuses within the formations testify to a complex interplay of tectonics, climate, and sea level that controlled the Swiss Jura realm during the Cretaceous

Preliminary characterization of (nucleoside-2′-O-)-methyltransferase crystals from Meaban and Yokose flaviviruses. Corrigendum

A corrigendum to the paper by Mastrangelo et al. (2006), Acta Cryst. F62, 768–770

Younger age at onset and sex predict celiac disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: an Italian multicenter study

OBJECTIVE— To estimate the prevalence of biopsy-confirmed celiac disease in Italian children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and to assess whether age at onset of type 1 diabetes is independently associated with diagnosis of celiac disease. RESEARCH DESIGNANDMETHODS— The study group was a clinic-based cohort of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes cared for in 25 Italian centers for childhood diabetes. Yearly screening for celiac disease was performed using IgA/IgG anti-gliadin and IgA anti-endomysium antibodies. RESULTS— Of the 4,322 children and adolescents (age 11.8 4.2 years) identified with type 1 diabetes, biopsy-confirmed celiac disease was diagnosed in 292 (prevalence 6.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.0 –7.6), with a higher risk seen in girls than in boys (odds ratio [OR] 1.93, 1.51–2.47). In 89% of these, diabetes was diagnosed before celiac disease. In logistic regression analyses, being younger at onset of diabetes, being female, and having a diagnosis of a thyroid disorder were independently associated with the risk of having diabetes and celiac disease. In comparison with subjects who were older than 9 years at onset of diabetes, subjects who were younger than 4 years at onset had an OR of 3.27 (2.20–4.85). CONCLUSIONS— We have provided evidence that 1) the prevalence of biopsy-confirmed celiac disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes is high (6.8%); 2) the risk of having both diseases is threefold higher in children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 4 years than in those age 9 years; and 3) girls have a higher risk of having both diseases than boys

High Risk of Secondary Infections Following Thrombotic Complications in Patients With COVID-19

Background. This study’s primary aim was to evaluate the impact of thrombotic complications on the development of secondary infections. The secondary aim was to compare the etiology of secondary infections in patients with and without thrombotic complications. Methods. This was a cohort study (NCT04318366) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients hospitalized at IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital between February 25 and June 30, 2020. Incidence rates (IRs) were calculated by univariable Poisson regression as the number of cases per 1000 person-days of follow-up (PDFU) with 95% confidence intervals. The cumulative incidence functions of secondary infections according to thrombotic complications were compared with Gray’s method accounting for competing risk of death. A multivariable Fine-Gray model was applied to assess factors associated with risk of secondary infections. Results. Overall, 109/904 patients had 176 secondary infections (IR, 10.0; 95% CI, 8.8–11.5; per 1000-PDFU). The IRs of secondary infections among patients with or without thrombotic complications were 15.0 (95% CI, 10.7–21.0) and 9.3 (95% CI, 7.9–11.0) per 1000-PDFU, respectively (P = .017). At multivariable analysis, thrombotic complications were associated with the development of secondary infections (subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.788; 95% CI, 1.018–3.140; P = .043). The etiology of secondary infections was similar in patients with and without thrombotic complications. Conclusions. In patients with COVID-19, thrombotic complications were associated with a high risk of secondary infections

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p < 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)

The risk of occupational asthma[RISCHIO DI ASMA BRONCHIALE PROFESSIONALE]

Abstract The authors define the 'asthma risk' and its difference from 'allergy risk' based upon the present knowledge on bronchial asthma induction; later they discuss the pathogenic mechanism and the main causal factors of allergic and non-allergic bronchial asthma. Results of epidemiological studies are then presented. A case-control study shows the relative risk (RR) of bronchial asthma in different occupations; the RR is highest in furniture painting workers and in the wood industry. A cross-sectional study shows the prevalence of bronchial asthma in populations working in chemical, textile, mechanical engineering and wood industries

Accidents longitudinaux dans la Molasse rouge auct. et dans son substratum sur le versant oriental du Salève (Haute-Savoie, France)

A detailed mapping of the Salève Mountains reveals tectonically important new Molasse rouge auct. outcrops on the NW side of the Petit Salève and on the SE flank of the Grand Salève. On the SE flank the various dips indicate faults, kinks and folds that can be followed up to 5 km long and parallel to the axis of the chain and also affecting the Cretaceous substratum. This demonstrate a more complex connection of the eastern flank of the Salève Mountains with the adjacent plateau des Bornes than was previously suppose Dans le cadre d'un récent levé détaillé de la carte géologique du Salève, de nouveaux affleurements de Molasse rouge auct. (Marnes et Grès bariolés) ont été découverts sur le versant NW du Petit Salève et sur le flanc SE du Grand Salève, où ils présentent des pendages variés. Ces derniers révèlent la présence de failles et de plis dans le substratum crétacé, dans lequel ont également été observés des « kinks » en plusieurs points. Ces accidents, qui se suivent sur au moins 4 à 5 km de longueur, parallèlement à l'axe du chaînon, révèlent un raccord complexe, jusqu'ici insoupçonné, entre le versant oriental du Salève et le plateau des Bornes adjacent

Prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory disease in a farming population

Summary. An epidemiological survey on the prevalence of respiratory diseases was conducted in the province of Cremona (Italy). Methods: a population of 2.932 farmers (response rate 90.9%) was examined. As a control group was randomly selected a sample of 290 non-rural people who lived in the same area. A standardized questionnaire for the collection of respiratory symptoms and the analysis of the risk factors for the respiratory system was administered to both groups, together with chest x-ray and pulmonary function test (FVC and FEV1). After the initial screening, the study of CO diffusion capacity, allergic skin tests, using common allergens and serum precipitin test was performed. Results: the prevalence of chronic bronchitis was significantly higher among farmers than in the control group (9.9% vs 4.8%). The prevalence of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP=Farmer's lung) was 1.4%, no HP case was demonstrated in the control group. The prevalence of bronchial asthma did not differ between the two groups: 2.8 and 2.4% respectively, but FEV1 values were lower between farmers. The risk of chronic respiratory disease was high only in farmers working on small farms and stables with traditional housing