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Ferromanganese crusts, coatings of iron oxide and manganese (oxyhydr)oxide minerals, occur in various forms on a broad range of surface materials in the subaerial environment. Manganese (oxyhydr)oxide minerals in particular, have very high adsorption capacities for heavy metals and trace elements. Thus in the scenario whereby metals from ore deposits are liberated and mobilized to the surface and interact with ferromanganese crusts, there is potential for such crusts to adsorb anomalous concentrations of target and pathfinder elements, thereby offering a potential sampling medium during geochemical exploration. Two case studies were undertaken at known base metal deposits, the > 200 m deep Abra and < 50 m deep Prairie-Wolf polymetallic deposits in the Capricorn Orogen terrane in Western Australia, where ferromanganese crusts are abundant at surface. Elemental mapping and microprobe analysis identified alternating laminae of Fe oxide and Mn (oxyhydr)oxide minerals in the crusts, and confirm the presence of Zn preferentially incorporated in Mn (oxyhydr)oxide layers. Selective leaching of Mn (oxyhydr)oxide within ferromanganese crusts followed by ICP-MS analysis yielded a broad range of results. High Zn/Mn ratios (> 6 ∗ 10 − 3 ) were returned from crusts proximal to the Prairie-Wolf deposits, and ratios in crusts decreased to as low as < 1 ∗ 10 − 3 with decreasing proximity to the mineralization. Ferromanganese crusts directly overlying mineralization at Abra, however, yielded low Zn/Mn ratios. This is interpreted to be a function of limited vertical mobilization of metals and preferential Mn scavenging in soils. Our results suggest deposits which lie deep below the base of weathering that are geochemically-blind remain difficult to detect, but the analysis of ferromanganese crusts from semi-arid environments can be used to detect relatively shallow base metal mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of ixekizumab treatment for psoriasis on cardiovascular-related parameters in patients is unknown.Objective: To investigate cardiovascular-related parameters in patients with psoriasis treated with ixekizumab.Methods: In phase 3 trials, patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis were randomized and treated with placebo, ixekizumab, or etanercept during the induction period (weeks 0-12; UNCOVER-1, UNCOVER-2, and UNCOVER-3). At week 12, responders were rerandomized to receive placebo or ixekizumab through the maintenance period (weeks 12-60; UNCOVER-1 and UNCOVER-2). Laboratory measures (fasting lipid profiles, glucose level, or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP] level), weight, blood pressure, and electrocardiograms were obtained through 60 weeks.Results: Baseline parameters were within normal ranges with the exception of elevated triglyceride and hsCRP levels. After maintenance dosing, no significant changes were observed versus placebo for total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, or fasting glucose levels or for systolic/diastolic blood pressure at 60 weeks. Importantly, low-density lipoprotein-to-high-density lipoprotein ratios remained stable during the induction and maintenance periods. HsCRP concentrations were significantly reduced versus placebo at 12 weeks and remained reduced at 60 weeks, although not significantly. Although transient changes were observed for some parameters during the induction period, these changes did not persist into the maintenance period.Limitations: A lack of echocardiogram evaluations.Conclusions: Ixekizumab had a neutral impact on cardiovascular-related parameters in patients with psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]