Origin of cadmium enrichments in carbonate rocks deposited in the Alpine Tethys area during the Middle-Late Jurassic

ABSTRACTThe pollution of air, soil and water by heavy metals through anthropogenic activities is an object of numerous environmental studies since long times. A number of natural processes, such as volcanic activity, hydrothermal fluid circulation and weathering of metal-rich deposits may lead to an additional and potentially important input and accumulation of heavy metals in the environment. In the Swiss and French Jura Mountains, anomalous high cadmium (Cd) concentrations (up to 16 ppm) in certain soils are related to the presence of underlying Cd-enriched (up to 21 ppm) carbonate rocks of Middle to Late Jurassic age. The aim of this study is to understand the processes controlling Cd incorporation into carbonate rocks of Middle and Late Jurassic age and to reconstruct the sedimentary and environmental conditions, which have led to Cd enrichments in these sedimentary rocks.Cd concentrations in studied hemipelagic sections in France vary between 0.1 and 0.5 ppm (mean 0.15 ppm). Trace-element behavior and high Mn concentrations suggest that sediment accumulation occurred in a well-oxygenated environment. Increases in Cd contents in the bulk-rock carbonate sediments may be related to increases in surface-water productivity under oxic conditions and important remineralization of organic matter within the water column. In platform settings preserved in the Swiss Jura Mountains, no correlation is observed between Cd contents and evolution of environmental conditions. Cd concentrations in these platform sections are often below the detection limit, with isolated peaks of up to 21 ppm. These important Cd enrichments are associated with peaks in Zn concentrations and are present in carbonate rocks independently of facies and age. The high Cd contents in these shallow-water carbonate rocks are partly related to the presence of disseminated, Cd-rich (up to 1.8%), sphalerite (ZnS) mineralization. The basement rocks are considered to be the source of metals for sulfide mineralization in the overlying Jurassic strata, as the sphalerite Pb isotope pattern is comparable to that of granite rocks from the nearby southern Black Forest crystalline massif. The Rb-Sr ages of sphalerite samples indicate that a main phase of sphalerite formation occurred near the boundary between the late Middle and early Late Jurassic, at around 162 Ma, as a result of enhanced tectonic and hydrothermal activity in Europe, related to the opening of the Central Atlantic and to the tectonic/thermal subsidence during spreading of the Alpine Tethys. I therefore propose to use unusually high Cd concentrations in carbonates as a tracer of tectonic activity in the Jura Mountains area, especially in the case when important enrichments in Zn co-occur. Paleoproductivity reconstructions based on records of authigenic Cd may be compromised not only by post-depositional redistribution, but also by incorporation of additional Cd from hydrothermal solutions circulating in the rock.The circulation of metal-rich hydrothermal fluids through the sediment sequence, in addition to specific environmental conditions during sedimentation, contributes to the incorporation of Cd into the carbonate rocks. However, only hydrothermal activity has led to the unusually high concentrations of Cd in carbonate rocks of Bajocian-Oxfordian age, through the formation of sphalerite mineralization.

New Early to Middle Triassic U-Pb ages from South China: Calibration with ammonoid biochronozones and implications for the timing of the Triassic biotic recovery

New zircon U-Pb ages are proposed for late Early and Middle Triassic volcanic ash layers from the Luolou and Baifeng formations (northwestern Guangxi, South China). These ages are based on analyses of single, thermally annealed and chemically abraded zircons. Calibration with ammonoid ages indicate a 250.6 +/- 0.5 Ma age for the early Spathian Tirolites/Columbites beds, a 248.1 +/- 0.4 Ma age for the late Spathian Neopopanoceras haugi Zone, a 246.9 +/- 0.4 Ma age for the early middle Anisian Acrochordiceras hyatti Zone, and a 244.6 +/- 0.5 Ma age for the late middle Anisian Balatonites shoshonensis Zone. The new dates and previously published U-Pb ages indicate a duration of ca. 3 my for the Spathian, and minimal durations of 4.5 +/- 0.6 my for the Early Triassic and of 6.6+0.7/-0.9 my for the Anisian. The new Spathian dates are in a better agreement with a 252.6 +/- 0.2 Ma age than with a 251.4 +/- 0.3 Ma age for the Permian-Triassic boundary. These dates also highlight the extremely uneven duration of the four Early Triassic substages (Griesbachian, Dienerian, Smithian, and Spathian), of which the Spathian exceeds half of the duration of the entire Early Triassic. The simplistic assumption of equal duration of the four Early Triassic subdivisions is no longer tenable for the reconstruction of recovery patterns following the end Permian mass extinction. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evolution of the Pelagonian carbonate platform complex and the adjacent oceanic realm in response to plate tectonic forcing (Late Triassic and Jurassic), Evvoia, Greece

The Late Triassic and Jurassic platform and the oceanic complexes in Evvoia, Greece, share a complementary plate-tectonic evolution. Shallow marine carbonate deposition responded to changing rates of subsidence and uplift, whilst the adjacent ocean underwent spreading, and then convergence, collision and finally obduction over the platform complex. Late Triassic ocean spreading correlated with platform subsidence and the formation of a long-persisting peritidal passive-margin platform. Incipient drowning occurred from the Sinemurian to the late Middle Jurassic. This subsidence correlated with intra-oceanic subduction and plate convergence that led to supra-subduction calc-alkaline magmatism and the formation of a primitive volcanic arc. During the Middle Jurassic, plate collision caused arc uplift above the carbonate compensation depth (CCD) in the oceanic realm, and related thrust-faulting, on the platform, led to sub-aerial exposures. Patch-reefs developed there during the Late Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian. Advanced oceanic nappe-loading caused platform drowning below the CCD during the Tithonian, which is documented by intercalations of reefal turbidites with non-carbonate radiolarites. Radiolarites and bypass-turbidites, consisting of siliciclastic greywacke, terminate the platform succession beneath the emplaced oceanic nappe during late Tithonian to Valanginian time.

THE ADULA NAPPE: STRATIGRAPHY, STRUCTURE AND KINEMATICS OF AN EXHUMED HIGH-PRESSURE NAPPE

This study analyses the stratigraphy, structure and kinematics of the northern part of the Adula nappe of the Central Alps. The Adula nappe is one of the highest basement nappes in the Lower Penninic nappe stack of the Lepontine Dome. This structural position makes possible the investigation of the transition between the Helvetic and North Penninic paleogeographic domains. The Adula nappe is principally composed of crystalline basement rocks. The investigation of the pre-Triassic basement shows that it contains several Palaeozoic detrital metasedimentary formations dated from the Cambrian to the Ordovician. These formations contain also some volcanic or intrusive magmatic rocks. Ordovician metagranites dated at ~450 Ma are also a common rock-type of the Adula basement. These formations underwent Alpine and Variscan deformation and metamorphism. Permian granites (Zervreila orthogneiss, dated at ~290 Ma) have intruded this pre-structured basement in a post-orogenic geodynamic context. Due to their age, the Zervreila orthogneiss are good markers for alpine deformation. The stratigraphy of the Mesozoic and Paleogene sedimentary cover of the Adula nappe is essential to unraveling its pre- orogenic history. The autochthonous cover is assigned to a North Penninic Triassic series that testifies for a transition between the Helvetic and Briançonnais Triassic domains. The Adula domain goes through an emersion during the Middle Jurassic, and is part of a topographic high during the first phase of the Alpine rift. The sediments of the late Middle Jurassic show a drowning phase associated with a tectonic activity and a breccia formation. In the neighbouring domains, coeval with the drowning phase in the Adula domain, a strong extensional crustal delamination and a scattered magmatic activity is associated with the main opening of the North Penninic domain. The Upper Jurassic of the Adula nappe is characterized by a carbonate formation comparable with those in the Helvetic or Subbriaçonnais domains. Flysch s.l. deposition starts probably at the end of the Cretaceous. These sediments are deposited on a large unconformity testifying for a Cretaceous sedimentary gap. The Adula nappe exhibits a very complex structure. This structure is formed by several deformation phases. Two ductile deformations are responsible for the nappe emplacement. The first deformation phase is associated with a folding compatible with a top-to-south movement at the top of the nappe. The second phase is dominant and pervasive throughout the whole nappe. It goes with a strong north vergent folding and the main nappe emplacement. These two phases cause the exhumation and emplacement of a coherent, although pre-structured, piece of continental crust. Two further deformation phases postdate the nappe emplacement. - Ce travail concerne l'étude géologique de la partie nord de la nappe de l'Adula dans les Alpes centrales. La nappe de l'Adula est l'une des nappes cristallines la plus élevée dans la pile des nappes du Pennique inférieur des Alpes lepontines. Cette position particulière permet d'étudier la transition entre les nappes des domaines helvétique et pennique inférieur. La nappe de l'Adula est principalement composée de socle cristallin : l'étude de l'histoire géologique du socle est donc l'un des thèmes de cette recherche. Ce socle contient plusieurs formations métasédimentaires paléozoïques du Cambrien à I'Ordovicien. Ces métasédiments sont issus de formations clastiques comprenant souvent des roches magmatiques volcaniques et intrusives. Ces métasédiments ont subi les cycles orogéniques varisque et alpin. La nappe de l'Adula contient plusieurs corps magmatiques granitiques métamorphisés. Les premiers métagranites sont Ordovicien et témoignent d'un environnement de marge active. Ces granites sont aussi polymétamorphiques. Les deuxièmes métagranites sont représentés par les orthogneiss de type Zervreila. Ce métagranite est d'âge permien (-290 Ma). Il est mis en place dans un contexte tectonique post-orogénique. Ce granite est un maqueur de la déformation alpine car il n'est pas affecté par les orogenèses précédentes, flippy Le contenu stratigraphique des roches mésozoïques et cénozoiques de la couverture sédimentaire de la nappe de l'Adula est'important pour en étudier son histoire pré-alpine. La couverture autochtone est composée d'une série d'âge triasique d'affinité nord-pennique, un faciès qui marque la transition entre les domaines helvétiques et briançonnais au Trias. Le domaine paléogéographique représenté dans la nappe de l'Adula connaît une émersion pendant le Jurassique moyen. Cette émersion marque le commencement du rift dans le domaine alpin. La sédimentation de la fin du Jurassique moyen est marquée par une transgression marine accompagnée par des mouvements tectoniques et la formation d'une brèche. Cette transgression est contemporaine des importants mouvements tectoniques et des manifestations magmatiques dans les unités voisines qui marquent la phase principale d'ouverture du bassin nord-pennique. Le Jurassique supérieur est caractérisé par l'instauration d'une sédimentation carbonatée comparable à celle du domaine helvétique ou subbriançonnais. Une sédimentation flyschoïde, probablement du Crétacé à Tertiaire, est déposée sur une importante discordance qui témoigne d'une lacune au Crétacé. La structure complexe de la nappe de l'Adula témoigne de nombreuses phases de déformation. Ces phases de déformation sont en partie issues de la mise en place de la nappe et de déformations plus tardives. La mise en place de la nappe produit deux phases de déformation ductile : la première produit un plissement compatible avec un cisaillement top-vers-le sud dans la partie supérieure de la nappe; la deuxième produit un intense plissement qui accompagne la mise en place de la nappe vers le nord. Ces deux phases de déformation témoignent d'un mécanisme d'exhumation par déformation ductile d'un bloc cohérent.

Dire le futur au Moyen Age : du prologue au récit : du Chevalier au Lion de Chrétien de Troyes au Chevalier au Lion de Pierre Sala

S'inscrivant dans le domaine de l'analyse des relations temporelles dans les textes, la présente étude est consacrée à la notion du futur définie en tant qu'anticipation sur les événements à venir dans le récit. Ainsi, la recherche en question se propose de mettre en lumière les différents mécanismes d'anticipation propres aux récits d'aventures au Moyen Âge. Recourant aux moyens heuristiques existants (les bases de la théorie de la réception telle qu'elle est représentée dans les travaux de Jauss, Eco et Greimas), cette thèse se concentre sur l'étude du prologue de l'oeuvre littéraire dont elle élabore une grille de lecture particulière qui tient compte de la complexité de la notion du futur envisagée aux plans grammatical (formes verbales du futur), rhétorique (la figure de la prolepse) et littéraire (les scénarios et les isotopies). La démarche de la lecture détaillée du prologue adoptée au cours de ce travail s'applique d'abord au Chevalier au Lion de Chrétien de Troyes, texte fondateur du corpus, qui constitue, pour parler avec Philippe Walter, un vrai « drame du temps ». L'étude des mécanismes d'anticipation mis en place dans le prologue se prolonge ensuite dans les chapitres consacrés à Claris et Laris et au Chevalier au Lion de Pierre Sala, deux réécritures du célèbre roman du maître champenois. Datant, respectivement, du XIIIe et du début du XVIe siècle, ces oeuvres permettent de saisir le chemin parcouru par le futur dans son aspect thématique et diachronique, ce qui est particulièrement propice au repérage des critères qui influencent l'attente du lecteur par rapport aux événements à venir au fil des siècles. Ainsi, à côté des moyens d'expression « standards » du futur (scénarios intertextuels et isotopies), la présente recherche fait apparaître d'autres facteurs qui influencent l'anticipation, notamment le procédé de la disputatio, le recours à la satire, la démarche de l'engagement indirect et l'opposition vers/prose. La seconde partie de la thèse qui traite, d'un côté, des récits consacrés à la fée Mélusine de Jean d'Arras et de Coudrette, du Livre du Cuer d'amours espris de René d'Anjou de l'autre, sert à vérifier dans quelle mesure la démarche choisie s'applique à des oeuvres du Moyen Âge tardif qui combinent des éléments empruntés à la tradition antérieure avec des éléments d'autre provenance. L'analyse de Mélusine et du Livre du Cuer conduit à ajouter deux facteurs supplémentaires qui influencent l'attente du lecteur, à savoir la démarche de l'engagement partiel et le recours au genre judiciaire. Cette étude démontre que le traitement du futur est d'un enjeu capital pour lire les textes du Moyen Âge, car il permet au lecteur, dès le prologue, de reconnaître la fin vers laquelle tend le récit et de faire par là- même une lecture enrichie, supérieure à d'autres. Telling the Future in the Middle Ages : from the Prologue to the Narrative. From Chrétien de Troyes ' Chevalier au Lion to Pierre Sala 's Chevalier au Lion. Part of the analyses of the time based relations within the texts, the present study deals with the notion of future characterized as an anticipation of the events to come in the narrative. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to bring to light the various mechanisms of anticipation peculiar to the narratives of adventures in the Middle Ages. Making the use of the existing heuristic instruments (the bases of the theory of the reception as it presents itself in the works by Jauss, Eco and Greimas), this thesis is dedicated to the study of the prologue of the work of fiction by means of a particular key for reading which takes into account the complexity of the notion of future with regard to its grammatical side (future tenses), to its rhetorical side (prolepse) and to its literary side (scenario and isotopy). First of all, the close reading of the prologue used in this work is applied to Chrétien de Troyes's Chevalier au Lion (Lion Knight), the founding text of our literary corpus, which represents, according to Philippe Walter, the real « drama of Time ». Then, the study of the mechanisms of anticipation in the prologue is carried over to the chapters devoted to Claris et Laris and to Pierre Sala's Chevalier au Lion, two romances that rewrite Chrétien de Troyes' famous work. Written, respectively, in the XIIIth and in the beginning of the XVI century, these romances enable the reader to ascertain the changes in the manner of telling the future from the thematic and diachronic point of view : this is particularly convenient to the identification of the criteria which influence the reader's expectations relative to the future events in the course of the centuries. Therefore, next to the « standard » means of expression of future (intertextual scenario and isotopy), the present study reveals other factors which influence the anticipation, in particular the method of the disputatio, the use of the satire, the approach of the indirect commitment and the verse/prose opposition. The second part of the thesis which deals with the narratives concerning the fairy Melusine written by Jean d'Arras and by Coudrette on one hand, with René d'Anjou's Livre du Cuer d'amours espris on the other hand, is used to verify to what extent the chosen approach applies to the works of fiction of the Late Middle Ages that combine the elements from the previous tradition with the elements of other origin. The analysis of Melusine's romances and of the Livre du Cuer brings us to add two new factors which influence the reader's expectations : the approach of the partial commitment, and the use of the legal discourse. This study demonstrates that the manner of telling the future is of the utmost importance to read the texts of the Middle Ages, because it enables the reader to know the end of the story from the very beginning, from the prologue, thus leading to a richer and superior reading.

Eptingiacea and Saturnaliacea (Radiolaria) from the middle Carnian of Turkey and some late Ladinian to early Norian samples from Oman and Alaska

This article is a taxonomic study of the radiolarian species of the superfamilies Eptingiacea and Saturnaliacea occurring in the middle Carnian fauna from the Koseyahya section, near the town of Elbistan, southeastern Turkey. This fauna is characteristic of the Tetraporobrachia haeckeli Radiolarian Zone as defined in Austria and later found also in Turkey and Oman. It comes from an 8 m thick succession of clayey/cherty limestones from the lower part of the section. In addition, a few species from the late Ladinian and Carnian from Oman and the early Norian from Alaska have also been included in this study, in order to improve some generic diagnoses and to show the diversity and evolutionary trends of some genera. 32 radiolarian species of which 22 are new are described and illustrated, and assigned to 16 genera of which three are new (Capnuchospyris, Veleptingium, and Triassolaguncula). The diagnoses of some species, genera, subfamilies and families have been revised, and the family Eptingiidae has been raised to the rank of superfamily.

Middle and Late Jurassic carbon stable-isotope stratigraphy and radiolarite sedimentation of the Umbria-Marche basin (Central Italy)

A continuous carbon isotope curve from Middle-Upper Jurassic pelagic carbonate rocks was acquired from two sections in the southern part of the Umbria-Marche Apennines in central Italy. At the Colle Bertone section (Terni) and the Terminilletto section (Rieti), the Upper Toarcian to Bajocian Calcari e Marne a Posidonia Formation and the Aalenian to Kimmeridgian Calcari e Marne a Posidonia and Calcari Diasprigni formations were sampled, respectively. Biostratigraphy in both sections is based on rich assemblages of calcareous nannofossils and radiolarians, as well as some ammonites found in the upper Toarcian-Bajocian interval. Both sections revealed a relative minimum of delta(13)C(PDB) close to + 2 parts per thousand in the Aalenian and a maximum around 3.5 parts per thousand in early Bajocian, associated with an increase in visible chert. In basinal sections in Umbria-Marche, this interval includes the very cherry base of the Calcari Diasprigni Formation (e.g. at Valdorbia) or the chert-rich uppermost portion of the Calcari a Posidonia (e.g at Bosso). In the Terminilletto section, the Bajocian-early Barthonian interval shows a gradual decrease in delta(13)C(PDB) values and a low around 2.3 parts per thousand. This part of the section is characterised by more than 40 m of almost chart-free limestones and correlates with a recurrence of limestone-rich facies in basinal sections at Valdorbia. A double peak with values of delta(13)C(PDB) around + 3 parts per thousand was observed in the Callovian and Oxfordian, constrained by well preserved radiolarian faunas. The maxima lie in the Callovian and the middle Oxfordian, and the minimum between the two peaks should be near the Callovian/Oxfordian boundary. In the Terminilletto section, visible chert increases together with delta(13)C(PDB) values from the middle Bathonian and reaches peak values in the Callovian-Oxfordian. In basinal sections in Umbria-Marche, a sharp increase in visible chert is observed at this level within the Calcari Diasprigni. A drop of delta(13)C values towards + 2 parts per thousand occurs in the Kimmeridgian and coincides with a decrease of visible chert in outcrop. The observed delta(13)C positive anomalies during the early Bajocian and the Callovian-Oxfordian may record changes in global climate towards warmer, more humid periods characterised by increased nutrient mobilisation and increased carbon burial. High biosiliceous (radiolarians, siliceous sponges) productivity and preservation appear to coincide with the delta(13)C positive anomalies, when the production of platform carbonates was subdued and ceased in many areas, with a drastic reduction of periplatform ooze input in many Tethyan basins. The carbon and silica cycles appear to be linked through global warming and increased continental weathering. Hydrothermal events related to extensive rifting and/or accelerated oceanic spreading may be the endogenic driving force that created a perturbation of the exogenic system (excess CO2 into the atmosphere and greenhouse conditions) reflected by the positive delta(13)C shifts and biosiliceous episodes.

Middle and late Cenomanian oceanic anoxic events in shallow and deeper shelf environments of western Morocco

The response of shallow-water sequences to oceanic anoxic event 2 and mid-Cenomanian events 1a and 1b was investigated along the west African margin of Morocco north of Agadir (Azazoul) and correlated with the deep-water sequence of the Tarfaya Basin (Mohammed Beach) based on biostratigraphy, mineralogy, phosphorus and stable isotopes. In the deeper Mohammed Beach section results show double peaks in delta 13C(org) for mid-Cenomanian events 1a and 1b (Rotalipora reicheli biozone, lower CC10a biozone), the characteristic oceanic anoxic event 2 delta 13C excursion (Rotalipora cushmani extinction, top of CC10a biozone) and laminated (anoxic) black shale. In the shallow environment north of Agadir, a fluctuating sea-level associated with dysoxic, brackish and mesotrophic conditions prevailed during the middle to late Cenomanian, as indicated by oyster biostromes, nannofossils, planktonic and benthonic foraminiferal assemblages. Anoxic conditions characteristic of oceanic anoxic event 2 (for example, laminated black shales) did not reach into shallow-water environments until the maximum transgression of the early Turonian. Climate conditions decoupled along the western margin of Morocco between mid-Cenomanian event 1b and the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary, as also observed in eastern Tethys. North of Agadir alternating humid and dry seasonal conditions prevailed, whereas in the Tarfaya Basin the climate was dry and seasonal. This climatic decoupling can be attributed to variations in the Intertropical Convergence Zone and in the intensity of the north-east trade winds in tropical areas.

Late Cretaceous and Paleogene Radiolaria from the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: a tectonostratigraphic application

Detailed field mapping and paleontological dating in the central and southeastern Nicoya Peninsula has revealed Late Cretaceous and Paleogene radiolarian-bearing siliceous mudstones. These rocks belong to two terranes (Matambfi and Manzanillo) that are partially contemporaneous with the Nicoya Complex, but are genetically different. While the Nicoya Complex is formed exclusively by intraplate igneous rocks with associated radiolarites, the studied sections include variable amounts of are-derived volcanic and terrigenous materials. These fore-arc terranes include mafic to intermediate volcaniclastics and associated pelagic and hemipelagic rocks rich in biogenic silica. Radiolarian preservation in these sediments is often enhanced by the presence of silica-saturated volcanic tuffs and debris. Seven out of 29 samples from different outcrops yielded relatively well-preserved radiolarian faunas. In total, 60 species belonging to 34 genera were present in these faunas, ranging in age from middle Turonian-Santonian to late Thanetian-Ypresian.

The complex history of the olive tree: from Late Quaternary diversification of Mediterranean lineages to primary domestication in the northern Levant.

The location and timing of domestication of the olive tree, a key crop in Early Mediterranean societies, remain hotly debated. Here, we unravel the history of wild olives (oleasters), and then infer the primary origins of the domesticated olive. Phylogeography and Bayesian molecular dating analyses based on plastid genome profiling of 1263 oleasters and 534 cultivated genotypes reveal three main lineages of pre-Quaternary origin. Regional hotspots of plastid diversity, species distribution modelling and macrofossils support the existence of three long-term refugia; namely the Near East (including Cyprus), the Aegean area and the Strait of Gibraltar. These ancestral wild gene pools have provided the essential foundations for cultivated olive breeding. Comparison of the geographical pattern of plastid diversity between wild and cultivated olives indicates the cradle of first domestication in the northern Levant followed by dispersals across the Mediterranean basin in parallel with the expansion of civilizations and human exchanges in this part of the world.

Ascertaining late-life depressive symptoms in Europe: an evaluation of the survey version of the EURO-D scale in 10 nations. The SHARE project.

The reported prevalence of late-life depressive symptoms varies widely between studies, a finding that might be attributed to cultural as well as methodological factors. The EURO-D scale was developed to allow valid comparison of prevalence and risk associations between European countries. This study used Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Rasch models to assess whether the goal of measurement invariance had been achieved; using EURO-D scale data collected in 10 European countries as part of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) (n = 22,777). The results suggested a two-factor solution (Affective Suffering and Motivation) after Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in 9 of the 10 countries. With CFA, in all countries, the two-factor solution had better overall goodness-of-fit than the one-factor solution. However, only the Affective Suffering subscale was equivalent across countries, while the Motivation subscale was not. The Rasch model indicated that the EURO-D was a hierarchical scale. While the calibration pattern was similar across countries, between countries agreement in item calibrations was stronger for the items loading on the affective suffering than the motivation factor. In conclusion, there is evidence to support the EURO-D as either a uni-dimensional or bi-dimensional scale measure of depressive symptoms in late-life across European countries. The Affective Suffering sub-component had more robust cross-cultural validity than the Motivation sub-component.

Late outcome of spinal cord stimulation for unreconstructable and limb-threatening lower limb ischemia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the initial benefits of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) treatment for critical limb ischemia (CLI) persist over years. DESIGN: Analysis of data prospectively collected for every CLI patient receiving permanent SCS. Follow-up range 12 to 98 months (mean 46+/-23, median 50 months). POPULATION: 87 patients (28% stage III, 72%stage IV) with unreconstructable CLI due (83%) or not (17%) to atherosclerosis and with an initial sitting/supine transcutaneous pO2 gradient >15 mmHg. METHODS: Assessment of actuarial patient survival (PS), limb salvage (LS) and amputation-free patient survival (AFPS). Analysis of the impact of 15 risk factors on long-term outcomes using the Fischer's exact test for categorical variables and the t test for continuous variables. RESULTS: Follow-up was complete for patient and limb survival. A single non-atherosclerotic patient died during follow-up. Among atherosclerotic patients PS decreased from 88% at 1y, to 76% at 3y, 64% at 5y and 57% at 7y. LS reached 84% at 1y, 78% at 2y, 75% at 3y and remained stable thereafter. Diabetes was found to affect LS (p<0.05) and heart disease to reduce PS (p<0.01). AFPS was reduced in heart patients (p<0.01), diabetics (p<0.05) and in patients with previous stroke (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In CLI patients the beneficial effects of SCS persist far beyond the first year of treatment and major amputation becomes infrequent after the second year.

Functional late outgrowth endothelial progenitors isolated from peripheral blood of burned patients.

BACKGROUND: Bioengineered skin substitutes are increasingly considered as a useful option for the treatment of full thickness burn injury. Their viability following grafting can be enhanced by seeding the skin substitute with late outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). However, it is not known whether autologous EPCs can be obtained from burned patients shortly after injury. METHODS: Late outgrowth EPCs were isolated from peripheral blood sampled obtained from 10 burned patients (extent 19.6±10.3% TBSA) within the first 24h of hospital admission, and from 7 healthy subjects. Late outgrowth EPCs were phenotyped in vitro. RESULTS: In comparison with similar cells obtained from healthy subjects, growing colonies from burned patients yielded a higher percentage of EPC clones (46 versus 17%, p=0.013). Furthermore, EPCs from burned patients secreted more vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) into the culture medium than did their counterparts from healthy subjects (85.8±56.2 versus 17.6±14pg/mg protein, p=0.018). When injected to athymic nude mice 6h after unilateral ligation of the femoral artery, EPCs from both groups of subjects greatly accelerated the reperfusion of the ischaemic hindlimb and increased the number of vascular smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSIONS: The present study supports that, in patients with burns of moderate extension, it is feasible to obtain functional autologous late outgrowth EPCs from peripheral blood. These results constitute a strong incentive to pursue approaches based on using autotransplantation of these cells to improve the therapy of full thickness burns.