Petrographic data from the Oligocene-lower Langhian succession of the Arquata Scrivia area in the Tertiary Piedmont Basin (NW Italy).

This petrographic database is a compilation made to study the Oligocene-Langhian succession of the Arquata Scrivia area, consisting of different shallow to deep-water marine sedimentary units deposited in the eastern Tertiary Piedmont Basin (NW Italy). This database is unique for the studied succession, which was not priorly investigated for the petrographic content of its component units. The samples were collected from lower, middle and upper parts of each sedimentary unit and analyzed for identifying their petrographic composition via qualitative and quantitative methods by means of polarized-light microscope. The collected petrographic data are presented within quartz-feldspar-lithic ternary plots. Even though these data are elementary analytical outputs, they represent the starting point for future analyses in order to understand the evolution of the basin on a larger scale.

[Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation: a single center experience on 148 cases]. / Risultati del trapianto simultaneo di rene e pancreas: esperienza su 148 casi.

AIM: To evaluate the outcome of simultaneous pancreas transplantation (SKPT) focusing on the surgical technique applied. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred forty-eight patients were submitted to SKPT 33 with segmental pancreas with duct occlusion (from 1985 to 1990), 77 with whole pancreas with bladder diversion (from 1990 to 1998) and 38 whole pancreas with enteric diversion (29 with systemic and 9 with portal drainage) (from 1998 to December 2001). RESULTS: Patient survival was 92%, 82%, 63% at 1, 5, and 10 years respectively. Kidney survival was 87%, 75%, and 48% at 1, 5, 10 years. Pancreas graft survival was 71%, 58%, and 46% at 1, 5, 10 years. In the enteric diversion group patient, kidney, pancreas survival at one year was 93%, 92%, and 75%. A positive effect on patient survival was evident in enteric diversion versus duct occlusion group (p = 0.03), but not versus bladder diversion group and on pancreas graft survival in enteric diversion versus duct occlusion group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that SKPT has become a successful intervention for patients with type I diabetes and end stage renal disease. Reasons for these improvements include improved donor and patient selection criteria, refinements in surgical technique and better immunosuppression.