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Crystallized salt can be extracted by boiling brine in pottery over fire. This technique was implemented in many ancient civilizations throughout the world and is used even today. We identified the raw materials and technological aspects of potteries used in salt workshops from the Early Classic period (AD 250–550) of Nueva Esperanza (Pacific coast of El Salvador) by subjecting 19 samples to a petrographic analysis and wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Previous research suggests salt pots were local, but decorated pots were transported from inland communities through markets. However, all 19 samples were made from similar main raw materials, indicating that a variety of techniques and processes were used to manufacture different types of potteries in the associated salt workshops. In sum, this study’s approach should enhance understanding of ancient salt workshops, particularly regarding related pottery production systems and the nature of trade.

Background: The J-Land 3S trial demonstrated that landiolol is effective and tolerated for treating sepsis-related tachyarrhythmias. Patient characteristics (e.g. baseline heart rate [HR], type of tachyarrhythmia, and concomitant disorders) may impact the outcomes of landiolol therapy. We performed subanalyses of J-Land 3S to evaluate the impact of patient characteristics on the efficacy and safety of landiolol for treating sepsis-related tachyarrhythmia. Methods: Patients (≥20 years old; N = 151) hospitalised with sepsis at 54 participating hospitals in Japan with HR ≥100 beats/min for ≥10 min accompanied by diagnosis of tachyarrhythmia were randomised 1:1 to conventional sepsis therapy alone (control group) or conventional sepsis therapy plus landiolol (landiolol group). The efficacy and safety of landiolol were assessed in prespecified analyses of patients divided into subgroups by baseline characteristics and in post hoc, multivariate analyses with adjustment for age and HR at baseline. Findings: The percentage of patients with HR of 60–94 beats/min at 24 h after randomisation (primary endpoint) was greater in the landiolol group in most subgroups in univariate unadjusted analyses and in multivariate logistic regression. The incidence of new-onset arrhythmia by 168 h and mortality by 28 days were also lower in the landiolol group in most subgroups in univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. No subgroups showed a markedly higher incidence of adverse events in univariate or multivariate logistic regression analyses. Interpretation: These results of the J-Land 3S study suggest that the efficacy and safety of landiolol are generally unaffected by key patient characteristics. Funding: Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.