Folded fabric tunes rock deformation and failure mode in the upper crust.

The micro-mechanisms of brittle failure affect the bulk mechanical behaviour and permeability of crustal rocks. In low-porosity crystalline rocks, these mechanisms are related to mineralogy and fabric anisotropy, while confining pressure, temperature and strain rates regulate the transition from brittle to ductile behaviour. However, the effects of folded anisotropic fabrics, widespread in orogenic settings, on the mechanical behaviour of crustal rocks are largely unknown. Here we explore the deformation and failure behaviour of a representative folded gneiss, by combining the results of triaxial deformation experiments carried out while monitoring microseismicity with microstructural and damage proxies analyses. We show that folded crystalline rocks in upper crustal conditions exhibit dramatic strength heterogeneity and contrasting failure modes at identical confining pressure and room temperature, depending on the geometrical relationships between stress and two different anisotropies associated to the folded rock fabric. These anisotropies modulate the competition among quartz- and mica-dominated microscopic damage processes, resulting in transitional brittle to semi-brittle modes under P and T much lower than expected. This has significant implications on scales relevant to seismicity, energy resources, engineering applications and geohazards.

Comparison of the effects of barbiturate, benzodiazepine and ketamine on visual evoked potentials in rabbits.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of barbiturate, benzodiazepine and ketamine on flash-evoked potentials (F-VEP) in adult rabbits. A total of 36 animals were studied, 16 after pentobarbital endovenous (EV) infusion, 10 after midazolam EV administration, and 10 after ketamine EV infusion. Pentobarbital induced triphasic F-VEP, first negative (N1), second positive (P1), third negative (N2) waves, all with large amplitudes and P1 with well-defined morphology. Mean P1 latency was 33ms. Midazolam induced similar but less defined triphasic waves, with mean latency of 27ms. Ketamine induced poliphasic and poorly defined F-VEP, with mean first positive (P1) latency of 27ms. Statistical analysis showed more elongated latency for the pentobarbital group than the midazolam and ketamine groups. The results of this study suggest that the pharmacological effects of pentobarbital and midazolam on GABA neurotransmission in rabbit visual cortex may be different; another neurotransmission system, possibly cholinergic, may be involved. The ketamine effect seen in rabbit visual cortex seems to be different from pentobarbital and midazolam.

"New" autosomal-dominant infantile sensorineural non-progressive high-frequency hearing loss: report on a Brazilian family.

We report on a three-generation Brazilian family with seven patients affected with non-progressive high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss with no associated anomalies first noted in early infancy. To our knowledge this is the first report on this autosomal-dominant condition. Clinical, audiological, and genetic aspects are discussed.

[Pseudolithiasis caused by ceftriaxone in children: a case report]. / Pseudolitiasi da ceftriaxone in età pediatrica: descrizione di un caso clinico.

Recently, there are in literature some reports concerning the sonographic observation of transient gallbladder precipitates in children and adults during ceftriaxone treatment. The condition is defined as ceftriaxone-reversible "pseudolithiasis" and the gallbladder precipitates resolve spontaneously after cessation of therapy. We present a case of a 1 year old children treated with ceftriaxone who presented asymptomatic pseudolithiasis that resolved partially two weeks after cessation of treatment. The sonographic observation performed four months after cessation of therapy show a normally gallbladder, without precipitates or sludge.

[Non-specific spondylodiscitis in children: report of a case in an infant. Review of the literature]. / La spondilodiscite aspecifica del bambino: un caso in un lattante. Revisione della letteratura.

A case of non-specific spondylitis in an infant has prompted us to an ample review of the literature. The disease is acknowledged as characteristically benign in children. However some publications seem to imply that in the very young child it would display a remarkable seriousness. From our case and half a score of others that we found in the literature, it appears that in the first year of life the nonspecific spondylitis has the same features as in the older children, namely a mild course and a good prognosis. The above publications probably refer to peculiar cases, which give rise to an as yet unsolved nosological problem. The characteristics of the disease, with special emphasis on its clinical and radiological presentation and evolution, are exposed.

[Kawasaki disease: between mystery and reality. A clinical contribution]. / La malattia di Kawasaki: fra mistero e realtà. Contributo clinico.

Kawasaki disease was described by T. Kawasaki in Japan in 1967 and since then numerous cases have been reported from all over the world. The Authors reports a review of the literature on the main epidemiologic, clinical, etiopathogenetic aspects of the Kawasaki disease, pointing up the present therapeutical trends and the importance of a correct follow-up. A case is reported of children with a particularly complete M.K.: she presented fever, mucosal hyperemia, lymph node swelling, cutaneous rash and desquamation of the fingers of hands and feet. Furthermore leukocytes platelets, alpha 2 globulins and ESR were raised.

[Silver-Russell syndrome. Presentation of a case with autosomal dominant heredity]. / La sindrome di Silver-Russell. Presentazione di un caso ad ereditarietà autosomica dominante.

The Authors describe one case of Silver-Russel syndrome. An autosomic dominant pattern of heredity is presumed, because dysmorphic elements and low stature were noted in the mother and in other relatives.

[Acute diarrhea: recent etiopathogenetic findings]. / Diarrea acuta: recenti acquisizioni eziopatogenetiche.

Acute diarrhoeas in children represent still now a very serious problem for Public Health either in developing or in industrialized Countries. In the last years great progress has been made in the aetiology and epidemiology of this disease. The most important results, which are worth recording, obtained in this field are: the detection of Rotavirus as a more common agent causing infectious enteritis in children; the "rediscover" of some pathogenic agents (Campylobacter and Yersinia) ignored since some years ago and now emerging; a renewed interest for "old" etiological agents (Giardia lamblia, that seems to be more frequent in industrialized Countries, and E. Coli, from which various pathogenetic mechanisms are now known). Either remarkable are the recent acquaintances on pathogenic mechanisms developed by the agents causing enteritis (production of cytotonic and cytotoxic toxins, invasion and adhesion of intestinal mucosa).