Hospital antibiotic consumption in Switzerland: comparison of a multicultural country with Europe.

The consumption of antibiotics in the inpatient setting of Switzerland was assessed to determine possible differences between linguistic regions, and to compare these results with European results. Data on antibiotic consumption were obtained from a sentinel network representing 54% of the national acute care hospitals, and from a private drug market monitoring company. Aggregated data were converted into defined daily doses (DDD). The total consumption density in Switzerland was close to the median consumption reported in European surveys. Between 2004 and 2008, the total consumption of systemic antibiotics rose from 46.1 to 54.0 DDD per 100 occupied bed-days in the entire hospitals, and from 101.6 to 114.3 DDD per 100 occupied bed-days in the intensive care units. Regional differences were observed for total consumption and among antibiotic classes. Hospitals in the Italian-speaking region showed a significantly higher consumption density, followed by the French- and German-speaking regions. Hospitals in the Italian-speaking region also had a higher consumption of fluoroquinolones, in line with the reported differences between Italy, Germany and France. Antibiotic consumption in acute care hospitals in Switzerland is close to the European median with a relatively low consumption in intensive care units. Some of the patterns of variation in consumption levels noticed among European countries are also observed among the cultural regions of Switzerland.

Percussió historiquè? : proposta interpretativa i de notació de la pandereta històrica

Aquest projecte és fruit de la meva necessitat de buscar amb el meu instrument, la percussió, i més concretament amb la pandereta, recursos tècnics i interpretatius per abordar la interpretació de la música antiga. Com a punt de partida he analitzat iconografia i algunes fonts literàries per tal d’entendre i poder explicar que s’entén quan parlem de la percussió històrica. Posteriorment s’observen algunes pràctiques encara existents en les tradicions musicals italianes i àrabs i com aquestes poden ser el punt de partida per a configurar una maner pròpia i moderna d’ interpretar i anotar la música històrica.

Epistola ad Emanuelem Rhome gubernatorem de ritu et moribus Indorum dequem ejus potentia divitiis et excellentia ([Reprod.])

[Lettre du Prêtre Jean (latin). 1495-1500]

De la Franche-Comté à Naples : la charbonnerie entre nation italienne et fédération européenne

Depuis les années quatre-vingt, la maçonnologie -soit l'étude des réseaux et des nouvelles formes de sociabilité constituées principalement par la Franc-Maçonnerie- s'est progressivement imposée comme une nouvelle discipline des sciences historiques, sociales et politiques. Sa démarche novatrice est interdisciplinaire et vise à comprendre l'origine sociale des adeptes, le rôle du secret comme facteur d'agrégation, ainsi que la philosophie et la morale prônées par l'ordre. Cette démarche ne s'adresse d'ailleurs pas exclusivement à la Franc-Maçonnerie ; elle peut sans problèmes être élargie à d'autres organisations secrètes telles : l'ordre des Illuminés de Bavière, la Charbonnerie, la Philadelphie etc... Les ouvrages pionniers de cette discipline -ceux de Maurice Agulhon et de Pierre-Yves Beaurepaire pour la France, de Carlo Francovich pour l'Italie et d'Helmut Reinalter pour l'Autriche et l'Allemagne- ont la particularité de s'être concentrés sur les sociétés secrètes du XVIIIe siècle : approfondissant leur dimension cosmopolite proche de la philosophie des Lumières. Cette thèse propose de se concentrer sur la Charbonnerie : une société aux origines compagnonniques encore active au début du XIXe siècle dans les provinces de Franche-Comté et de Bourgogne. Celle-ci a été transplantée dans le royaume de Naples, durant la période napoléonienne, et, dans cet environnement, elle s'est politisée épousant la cause de la lutte contre les régimes absolutistes et pour l'autodétermination des peuples. Depuis le royaume de Naples, la Charbonnerie s'est répandue, d'abord dans les autres États constituant la péninsule italienne d'alors, puis elle a été exportée, principalement par des exilés italiens, dans d'autres réalités telles: la France, l'Espagne, la Suisse, la Grande-Bretagne, la Grèce et la Russie. Son idéologie et son combat mêlent à la fois une dimension cosmopolite d'amitié entre les peuples et de secours pour les patriotes persécutés, ainsi que de lutte pour l'affirmation du principe de nationalité pour chaque peuple. - Since the 1980s, the study of Freemasonry - namely the study of the networks and forms of sociability associated with the Freemasons - has gradually established itself as a new field of historical, political and social research. This new interdisciplinary approach aims at exploring the social background of the affiliates, the role that secrecy played in their integration, and the philosophy and moral principles promoted by the Order. This approach is not confined to Freemasonry, but can be applied in the same way to other secret societies, such as the Illuminati, the Carbonari and the Philadelphians . The pioneering studies in this field - those developed by Maurice Agulhon and Pierre-Yves Beaurepaire on France, by Carlo Francovich on Italy and by Helmut Reinalter for Austria and Germany - focus on secret societies in the 18th century: consequently they emphasize their cosmopolitan dimension and their affinity to the philosophy of the Enlightenment. This doctoral thesis focuses more particularly on the Carbonari: a society that had its origins in the Compagnonnage, still present in the French provinces of the Franche-Comté and the Bourgogne in the early 19th century. During the Napoleonic period the Carboneria was imported into the Kingdom of Naples, where the society became more politicized, espousing the struggle against absolutism and for the peoples' right to self-determination. From the Kingdom of Naples, the society extended its influence first into the other countries of the Italian peninsula, then, thanks to exiled Italians, to France, Spain, Switzerland, Great Britain, Greece, and Russia. The ideals and objectives of the society combined the pursuit of cosmopolitan friendship between nations, the effort to save persecuted compatriots , and the assertion of the national identity of peoples.

Residual venous obstruction, alone and in combination with D-dimer, as a risk factor for recurrence after anticoagulation withdrawal following a first idiopathic deep vein thrombosis in the prolong study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the predictive value of residual venous obstruction (RVO) for recurrent venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) in a study using D-dimer to predict outcome. DESIGN: This is a multicentre randomised open-label study. METHODS: Patients with a first episode of idiopathic VTE were enrolled on the day of anticoagulation discontinuation when RVO was determined by compression ultrasonography in those with proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs. D-dimer was measured after 1 month. Patients with normal D-dimer did not resume anticoagulation while patients with abnormal D-dimer were randomised to resume anticoagulation or not. The primary outcome measure was recurrent VTE over an 18-month follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 490 DVT patients were analysed (after excluding 19 for different reasons and 118 for isolated pulmonary embolism (PE)). Recurrent DVT occurred in 19% (19/99) of patients with abnormal D-dimer who did not resume anticoagulation and 10% (31/310) in subjects with normal D-dimer (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.1; p = 0.02). Recurrences were similar in subjects either with (11%, 17/151) or without RVO (13%, 32/246). Recurrent DVT rates were also similar for normal D-dimer, with or without RVO, and for abnormal D-dimer, with or without RVO. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated D-dimer at 1 month after anticoagulation withdrawal is a risk factor for recurrence, while RVO at the time of anticoagulation withdrawal is not.

Phylogeography and recolonization of the Swiss Alps by the Valais shrew (Sorex antinorii), inferred with autosomal and sex-specific markers.

Using one male-inherited, one female-inherited and eight biparentally inherited markers, we investigate the population genetic structure of the Valais shrew (Sorex antinorii) in the Swiss Alps. Bayesian analysis on autosomal microsatellites suggests a clear genetic differentiation between two groups of populations. This geographically based structure is consistent with two separate postglacial recolonization routes of the species into Switzerland from Italian refugia after the last Pleistocene glaciations. Sex-specific markers also confirm genetic structuring among western and eastern areas, since very few haplotypes for either Y chromosome or mtDNA genome are shared between the two regions. Overall, these results suggest that two already well-differentiated genetic lineages colonized the Swiss Alps and came into secondary contact in the Rhône Valley. Low level of admixture between the two lineages is likely explained by the mountainous landscape structure of lateral valleys orthogonal to the main Rhône valley.

The thermal circuits of the Argentera Massif (western Alps, Italy): An example of low-enthalpy geothermal resources controlled by Neogene alpine tectonics

This work presents geochemistry and structural geology data concerning the low enthalpy geothermal circuits of the Argentera crystalline Massif in northwestern Italian Alps. I n this area some thermal springs (50-60 degreesC), located in the small Bagni di Vinadio village, discharge mixtures made up of a Na-Cl end-member and a Na-SO4 component. The latter is also discharged by the thermal springs of Terme di Valdieri located some kilometres apart within the same tectonic complex. Both end-members share the same meteoric origin and the same reservoir temperature, which is close to 150 degreesC. Explanations are thus required to understand how they reach the surface and how waters of the same origin and circulating in similar rocks can attain such different compositions. Sodium-sulphate waters discharged at both sites, likely represent the common interaction product of meteoric waters with the widespread granitic-migmatitic rocks of the Argentera Massif, whereas Na-CI waters originate through leaching of mineralised cataclastic rocks, which are rich in phyllosilicatic minerals and fluid inclusions, both acting as Cl- sources. Due to the relatively low inferred geothermal gradient of the region, -25C/km, meteoric waters have to descend to depths of 5.5-6 km to attain temperatures of similar to 150 degreesC. These relevant depths can be reached by descending meteoric waters, due to the recent extensional stress field, which allows the development of geothermal circulations at greater depths than in other sectors of the Alps by favouring a greater fractures aperture. The ascent of the thermal waters rakes place along brittle shear zones. In both sites, the thermal waters emerge at the bottoms of the valleys, close to either the lateral termination of a brittle shear zone at Terme di Valdieri, or a step-over between two en-echelon brittle shear zones at Bagni di Vinadio. These observations attest to a strong control operated on the location of outlet regions by both brittle tectonics and the minima in hydraulic potential inside the fractured massif.

Regional differences in self-reported screening, prevalence and management of cardiovascular risk factors in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: In Switzerland, health policies are decided at the local level, but little is known regarding their impact on the screening and management of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs). We thus aimed at assessing geographical levels of CVRFs in Switzerland.¦METHODS: Swiss Health Survey for 2007 (N = 17,879). Seven administrative regions were defined: West (Leman), West-Central (Mittelland), Zurich, South (Ticino), North-West, East and Central Switzerland. Obesity, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes prevalence, treatment and screening within the last 12 months were assessed by interview.¦RESULTS: After multivariate adjustment for age, gender, educational level, marital status and Swiss citizenship, no significant differences were found between regions regarding prevalence of obesity or current smoking. Similarly, no differences were found regarding hypertension screening and prevalence. Two thirds of subjects who had been told they had high blood pressure were treated, the lowest treatment rates being found in East Switzerland: odds-ratio and [95% confidence interval] 0.65 [0.50-0.85]. Screening for hypercholesterolemia was more frequently reported in French (Leman) and Italian (Ticino) speaking regions. Four out of ten participants who had been told they had high cholesterol levels were treated and the lowest treatment rates were found in German-speaking regions. Screening for diabetes was higher in Ticino (1.24 [1.09 - 1.42]). Six out of ten participants who had been told they had diabetes were treated, the lowest treatment rates were found for German-speaking regions.¦CONCLUSIONS: In Switzerland, cardiovascular risk factor screening and management differ between regions and these differences cannot be accounted for by differences in populations' characteristics. Management of most cardiovascular risk factors could be improved.

Ad summum pontificem Innocentium papam octavum oratio ([Reprod.])

Collection : Italian books before 1601 ; 459.4

De bello Italico adversus Gothos ([Reprod.])

Collection : Italian books before 1601 ; 411.3

Libro de la guerra de Ghotti ([Reprod.]) / composto da M. Leonardo Aretino in lingua latina ; et fatto volgare da Lodovico Petroni,...

Collection : Italian books before 1601 ; 65.6

Parboiled rice whole bran in laying diets for Japanese quails

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of parboiled rice whole bran (PRWB) inclusion in laying diets for Japanese quails, on their performance, egg quality, and economic viability. A total of 448 17-week-old quails were weighed and distributed in a completely randomized design with seven treatments and eight replicates of eight birds each. A control diet (no PRWB) and six diets, containing 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30% of PRWB, were tested. The increasing levels of PRWB did not affected nutrient digestibility coefficient, dietary energy use, feed intake, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, and the economic viability indices. However, there was a linear decrease in egg shell percentage, specific weight, and yolk color. The inclusion of up to 30% PRWB in the diet allows nutrient utilization and performance similar to those obtained by the control group, and it is economically viable.