Epidemiology and mortality of glacier crevasse accidents.

INTRODUCTION: Crevasse accidents can lead to severe injuries and even death, but little is known about their epidemiology and mortality. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed helicopter-based emergency services rescue missions for crevasse victims in Switzerland between 2000 and 2010. Demographic and epidemiological data were collected. Injury severity was graded according to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) score. RESULTS: A total of 415 victims of crevasse falls were included in the study. The mean victim age was 40 years (SD 13) (range 6-75), 84% were male, and 67% were foreigners. The absolute number of victims was much higher during the months of March, April, July, and August, amounting to 73% of all victims; 77% of victims were practicing mountaineering or ski touring. The mean depth of fall was 16.5m (SD 9.0) (range 1-35). Overall on-site mortality was 11%, and it was higher during the ski season than the ski offseason (14% vs. 7%; P=0.01), for foreigners (14% vs. 5%; P=0.01), and with higher mean depth of fall (22 vs. 15m; P=0.01). The NACA score was ≥4 for 22% of the victims, indicating potential or overt vital threatening injuries, but 24% of the victims were uninjured (NACA 0). Multivariable analyses revealed that depth of the fall, summer season, and snowshoeing were associated with higher NACA scores, whereas depth of the fall, snowshoeing, and foreigners but not season were associated with higher risk of death. CONCLUSION: The clinical spectrum of injuries sustained by the 415 patients in this study ranged from benign to life-threatening. Death occurred in 11% of victims and seems to be determined primarily by the depth of the fall.

Disegni come documento e disegni come monumento : Giovanni Ciampini, Sebastiano Resta e la fortuna del Medioevo artistico nella Roma di Bellori

La tesi di Dottorato, condotta in accordo di colutela tra l'Università di Roma Tor Vergata e l'UNIL di Losanna, ha affrontato l'analisi di un gruppo di undici disegni custodia presso la National Gallery of Scotland di Edimburgo, copie di alcuni dei più significativi mosaici medioevali delle chiese di Roma, ricostruendone la genesi, quindi le vicende legate alla committenza, e il percorso collezionistico. I disegni scozzesi, oggetto di un importante articolo di Julian Gardner pubblicato sul Burlington Magatine nel 1973, furono commissionati intorno agli anni Settanta del XVII secolo dall'antiquario romano Giovanni Giustino Ciampini (1633-1698) in connessione alla stesura della sua opera di erudizione più avvertita e famosa: i Vetera Mommenta in' quibus praecipue Musiva Opera, sacrarum, profanan,mque, Aedìum structura, ac nonnulli antiqui ritus dissertationibus iconìbusque illustrantur. La composizione dei Vetera Mommenta - un'opera riccamente illustrata che nasce per rispondere alle esigenze della ideologia della Chiesa di Roma in un momento di rinnovata crisi del sistema - impone a Ciampini di porsi da un lato nella prospettiva della più alta tradizione antiquaria cinque e seicentesca, di cui recupera i metodi di lettura e di analisi applicati allo studio delle monete e dei monumenti antichi interpretati quali prove per la ricostruzione storica, e dall'altra, come è emerso dalle mie ricerche, lo pone immediatamente in contatto con gli avamposti del più moderno metodo di indagine storica e filologica applicato alle fonti e ai documenti della storia ecclesiastica, inaugurato dall'ambiente bollandista e inaurino. I monumenti paleocristiani e medioevali assumono in quest'ottica lo status di 'fatti incontestabili', le fonti primarie attraverso le quali Ciampini ricuce le tappe salienti della storia della Chiesa, da Costantino fino al XV secolo. Nel 1700 le copie di Edimburgo arrivano nelle mani del mercante e connoisseur milanese il padre oratoriano Sebastiano Resta (1635-1714), di stanza a Roma presso la Chiesa Nuova della Vallicella dal 1660, che decide di rilegarle tutte insieme in un volume da donare al suo maggiore acquirente e patrono, il vescovo di Arezzo Giovanni Matteo Marchetti. Come spiega Resta in alcune sue lettere, il presente avrebbe dovuto costituire insieme una curiosità ed offrire un confronto: infatti «le copie delli mosaici di Roma che erano di Monsignor Ciampini» - afferma Resta - avrebbero mostrato al Marchetti «le maniere di que' tempi gottici, barbari e divoti de cristiani e [fatto] spiccare i secoli seguenti». Questa indagine infatti ha fatto riemergere aspetti della precoce attenzione di Sebastiano Resta per l'arte dei "secoli bassi", mai debitamente affrontata dagli studi. E' infatti sulla scorta di una profonda conoscenza dei testi della letteratura artistica, e in connessione alla esplosione vivacissima della controversia Malvasia/Baldinucci sul primato del risorgere delle arti in Toscana, che Sebastiano a partire dagli anni Ottanta del Seicento comincia a meditare sul Medioevo artistico con il fine di spiegare l'evoluzione del linguaggio tecnico e formale che ha condotto alla perfezione dell'atte moderna. In questa prospettiva ι disegni del XIV e XV secolo che egli riuscì ad intercettare sul mercato valgono quali testimonianze delle maniere degli artefici più antichi e sono imbastiti nei molteplici album che Resta compone nel rispetto della successione cronologica dei presunti autori, e ordinati in base alle scuole pittoriche di pertinenza. La tesi permette perciò di descrivere nelle loro diverse specificità: da un lato il modo dei conoscitori come Resta, interessati nell'opera al dato stilistico, con immediate e sensibili ricadute sul mercato, e disposti anche con passione a ricercare i documenti relativi all'opera in quanto pressati dall'urgenza di collocarla nella sequenza cronologica dello sviluppo del linguaggio formale e tecnico; dall'altro gli antiquari come Ciampini e come Bianchini, per i quali le opere del passato valgono come prove irrefutabili della ricostruzione storica, e divengono quindi esse stesse, anche nel loro statuto di copia, documento della stona. Sono due approcci che si manifestano nel Seicento, e talvolta in una medesima persona, come mostra il caso anche per questo cruciale di Giovati Pietro Bellori, ma che hanno radici cinquecentesche, di cui i protagonisti di queste vicende sono ben consapevoli: e se dietro Resta c'è palesemente Vasari, dietro Ciampini e soprattutto Bianchini c'è la più alta tradizione antiquaria del XVI secolo, da Antonio Augustin a Fulvio Orsini.

Performance comparison of an active matrix flat panel imager, computed radiography system, and a screen-film system at four standard radiation qualities.

Four standard radiation qualities (from RQA 3 to RQA 9) were used to compare the imaging performance of a computed radiography (CR) system (general purpose and high resolution phosphor plates of a Kodak CR 9000 system), a selenium-based direct flat panel detector (Kodak Direct View DR 9000), and a conventional screen-film system (Kodak T-MAT L/RA film with a 3M Trimax Regular screen of speed 400) in conventional radiography. Reference exposure levels were chosen according to the manufacturer's recommendations to be representative of clinical practice (exposure index of 1700 for digital systems and a film optical density of 1.4). With the exception of the RQA 3 beam quality, the exposure levels needed to produce a mean digital signal of 1700 were higher than those needed to obtain a mean film optical density of 1.4. In spite of intense developments in the field of digital detectors, screen-film systems are still very efficient detectors for most of the beam qualities used in radiology. An important outcome of this study is the behavior of the detective quantum efficiency of the digital radiography (DR) system as a function of beam energy. The practice of users to increase beam energy when switching from a screen-film system to a CR system, in order to improve the compromise between patient dose and image quality, might not be appropriate when switching from screen-film to selenium-based DR systems.

Analyse der Hepatitis-C-Situation bei den drogenkonsumierenden Personen in der Schweiz

Die Analyse der Hepatitis-C-Situation bei den drogenkonsumierenden Personen in der Schweiz beruht auf verschiedenen Methoden: Analyse der publizierten und grauen Literatur zu diesem Thema, Sekundäranalyse verfügbarer Daten, Befragung nationaler Fachpersonen, Befragung drogenkonsumierender Personen (DU), Fallstudien in vier Kantonen (Zürich, Waadt, Aargau, Wallis), Internetumfrage bei den Einrichtungen, die DU stationär oder ambulant behandeln, sowie bei den niederschwelligen Einrichtungen zur Risikominderung. In den vergangenen zwei Jahrzehnten erreichte die Zahl der neu gemeldeten Infektionen mit dem Hepatitis-C-Virus (HCV) Ende der 90er-Jahre eine Spitze mit mehr als 2500 Fällen pro Jahr, wobei mehr als 30 % dieser Fälle Personen betrafen, die intravenös Drogen konsumieren (IDU). Die Zahl neu gemeldeter Fälle sank anschliessend bis auf 1500 Fälle im Jahr 2011 und stieg dann wieder auf mehr als 1700 Fälle im Jahr 2013 an. Der Anteil der IDU belief sich auf etwas mehr 20 % (436 Fälle, kein Wiederanstieg der Anzahl neuer Fälle in dieser Bevölkerungsgruppe). Die für die Gesamtbevölkerung der Schweiz geschätzte Prävalenz der HCV-Infektionen bewegt sich je nach Autor zwischen 0,7 % und 1,75 %. Bei Männern, die Sex mit Männern haben (MSM), ist dieser Wert etwas höher (2 %). Bei Staatsangehörigen aus Ländern mit einer höheren Prävalenz (Afrika südlich der Sahara, bestimmte Länder des Nahen Ostens und Südostasiens) ist die Prävalenzrate vermutlich erhöht; es sind jedoch keine Werte bekannt. Auch in Gefängnissen ist die HCV-Prävalenz höher als in der Gesamtbevölkerung, da DU und Staatsangehörige aus Ländern mit höherer Prävalenz stärker vertreten sind (zwischen 5 und 10 %). Es wird davon ausgegangen, dass es bei etwa zwei Drittel der Fälle zu einem chronischen Krankheitsverlauf kommt.

Epidémiologie et prévention du mélanome cutané en Suisse. [Epidemiology and prevention of melanoma in Switzerland].

[Quintessence] - L'incidence du mélanome malin augmente rapidement depuis plus de 50 ans. - La Suisse, avec 1700 nouveaux cas diagnostiqués par an, est, avec la Norvège, le pays d'Europe le plus touché par le mélanome. - Des différences régionales sont récemment apparues avec une incidence plus élevée dans les cantons romands. - Les changements observés en Suisse dans l'attitude et le comportement face au soleil sont trop récents et modestes pour influencer l'incidence. - La détection précoce effectuée depuis près de 20 ans a permis d'augmenter la survie et le taux de mélanomes fins sans toutefois altérer l'incidence des lésions épaisses. - La mortalité associée au mélanome malin a récemment diminué, d'abord chez les femmes. L'efficacité de la prévention devrait se confirmer à terme si les efforts entrepris se poursuivent. [Auteurs] [Summary] - The incidence of malignant melanoma has steadily increased in Caucasian populations over the last 50 years. - With some 1700 new cases per year, Switzerland has, with Norway, the highest rate of melanoma in Europe. - Regional differences within Switzerland are emerging, with a higher incidence in western (French-speaking) cantons. - Observed changes in sun protection attitudes and knowledge in the Swiss population have yet to impact on the incidence trend. - Early detection, as pursued since the mid-1980s in Switzerland, has led to a substantial increase in survival and rates of thin melanoma, without major change in rates of thick melanoma. - Mortality from melanoma has recently decreased, initially in women. The effectiveness of prevention campaigns should eventually be confirmed if current efforts persist. [Authors]

Two-stage, extreme albitization of A-type granites from Rajasthan, NW India

Albitization is a common process during which hydrothermal fluids convert plagioclase and/or K-feldspar into nearly pure albite; however, its specific mechanism in granitoids is not well understood. The c. 1700 Ma A-type metaluminous ferroan granites in the Khetri complex of Rajasthan, NW India, have been albitized to a large extent by two metasomatic fronts, an initial transformation of oligoclase to nearly pure albite and a subsequent replacement of microcline by albite, with sharp contacts between the microcline-bearing and microcline-free zones. Albitization has bleached the original pinkish grey granite and turned it white. The mineralogical changes include transformation of oligoclase (similar to An(12)) and microcline (similar to Or(95)) to almost pure albite (similar to An(0 center dot 5-2)), amphibole from potassian ferropargasite (X-Fe 0 center dot 84-0 center dot 86) to potassic hastingsite (X-Fe 0 center dot 88-0 center dot 97) and actinolite (X-Fe 0 center dot 32-0 center dot 67), and biotite from annite (X-Fe 0 center dot 71-0 center dot 74) to annite (X-Fe 0 center dot 90-0 center dot 91). Whole-rock isocon diagrams show that, during albitization, the granites experienced major hydration, slight gain in Si and major gain in Na, whereas K, Mg, Fe and Ca were lost along with Rb, Ba, Sr, Zn, light rare earth elements and U. Whole-rock Sm-Nd isotope data plot on an apparent isochron of 1419 +/- 98 Ma and reveal significant disturbance and at least partial resetting of the intrusion age. Severe scatter in the whole-rock Rb-Sr isochron plot reflects the extreme Rb loss in the completely albitized samples, effectively freezing Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios in the albite granites at very high values (0 center dot 725-0 center dot 735). This indicates either infiltration of highly radiogenic Sr from the country rock or, more likely, radiogenic ingrowth during a considerable time lag (estimated to be at least 300 Myr) between original intrusion and albitization. The albitization took place at similar to 350-400 degrees C. It was caused by the infiltration of an ascending hydrothermal fluid that had acquired high Na/K and Na/Ca ratios during migration through metamorphic rocks at even lower temperatures in the periphery of the plutons. Oxygen isotope ratios increase from delta O-18 = 7 parts per thousand in the original granite to values of 9-10 parts per thousand in completely albitized samples, suggesting that the fluid had equilibrated with surrounding metamorphosed crust. A metasomatic model, using chromatographic theory of fluid infiltration, explains the process for generating the observed zonation in terms of a leading metasomatic front where oligoclase of the original granite is converted to albite, and a second, trailing front where microcline is also converted to albite. The temperature gradients driving the fluid infiltration may have been produced by the high heat production of the granites themselves. The confinement of the albitized granites along the NE-SW-trending Khetri lineament and the pervasive nature of the albitization suggest that the albitizing fluids possibly originated during reactivation of the lineament. More generally, steady-state temperature gradients induced by the high internal heat production of A-type granites may provide the driving force for similar metasomatic and ore-forming processes in other highly enriched granitoid bodies.

Shaping the interaction landscape of bioactive molecules.

MOTIVATION: Most bioactive molecules perform their action by interacting with proteins or other macromolecules. However, for a significant fraction of them, the primary target remains unknown. In addition, the majority of bioactive molecules have more than one target, many of which are poorly characterized. Computational predictions of bioactive molecule targets based on similarity with known ligands are powerful to narrow down the number of potential targets and to rationalize side effects of known molecules. RESULTS: Using a reference set of 224 412 molecules active on 1700 human proteins, we show that accurate target prediction can be achieved by combining different measures of chemical similarity based on both chemical structure and molecular shape. Our results indicate that the combined approach is especially efficient when no ligand with the same scaffold or from the same chemical series has yet been discovered. We also observe that different combinations of similarity measures are optimal for different molecular properties, such as the number of heavy atoms. This further highlights the importance of considering different classes of similarity measures between new molecules and known ligands to accurately predict their targets. CONTACT: olivier.michielin@unil.ch or vincent.zoete@unil.ch SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Cardiovascular influences of alpha1b-adrenergic receptor defect in mice.

BACKGROUND: The alpha1-adrenergic receptors (alpha1-ARs) play a key role in cardiovascular homeostasis. However, the functional role of alpha1-AR subtypes in vivo is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular influences of alpha1b-AR. METHODS AND RESULTS: In transgenic mice lacking alpha1-AR (KO) and their wild-type controls (WT), we evaluated blood pressure profile and cardiovascular remodeling induced by the chronic administration (18 days via osmotic pumps) of norepinephrine, angiotensin II, and subpressor doses of phenylephrine. Our results indicate that norepinephrine induced an increase in blood pressure levels only in WT mice. In contrast, the hypertensive state induced by angiotensin II was comparable between WT and KO mice. Phenylephrine did not modify blood pressure levels in either WT or KO mice. The cardiac hypertrophy and eutrophic vascular remodeling evoked by norepinephrine was observed only in WT mice, and this effect was independent of the hypertensive state because it was similar to that observed during subpressor phenylephrine infusion. Finally, the cardiac hypertrophy induced by thoracic aortic constriction was comparable between WT and KO mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that the lack of alpha1b-AR protects from the chronic increase of arterial blood pressure induced by norepinephrine and concomitantly prevents cardiovascular remodeling evoked by adrenergic activation independently of blood pressure levels.

Expansion and tissue infiltration of an allospecific CD4+CD25+CD45RO+IL-7Ralphahigh cell population in solid organ transplant recipients.

It has been recently shown (Seddiki, N., B. Santner-Nanan, J. Martinson, J. Zaunders, S. Sasson, A. Landay, M. Solomon, W. Selby, S.I. Alexander, R. Nanan, et al. 2006. J. Exp. Med. 203:1693-1700.) that the expression of interleukin (IL) 7 receptor (R) alpha discriminates between two distinct CD4 T cell populations, both characterized by the expression of CD25, i.e. CD4 regulatory T (T reg) cells and activated CD4 T cells. T reg cells express low levels of IL-7Ralpha, whereas activated CD4 T cells are characterized by the expression of IL-7Ralpha(high). We have investigated the distribution of these two CD4 T cell populations in 36 subjects after liver and kidney transplantation and in 45 healthy subjects. According to a previous study (Demirkiran, A., A. Kok, J. Kwekkeboom, H.J. Metselaar, H.W. Tilanus, and L.J. van der Laan. 2005. Transplant. Proc. 37:1194-1196.), we observed that the T reg CD25(+)CD45RO(+)IL-7Ralpha(low) cell population was reduced in transplant recipients (P < 0.00001). Interestingly, the CD4(+)CD25(+)CD45RO(+)IL-7Ralpha(high) cell population was significantly increased in stable transplant recipients compared with healthy subjects (P < 0.00001), and the expansion of this cell population was even greater in patients with documented humoral chronic rejection compared with stable transplant recipients (P < 0.0001). The expanded CD4(+)CD25(+)CD45RO(+)IL-7Ralpha(high) cell population contained allospecific CD4 T cells and secreted effector cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma, thus potentially contributing to the mechanisms of chronic rejection. More importantly, CD4(+)IL-7Ralpha(+)and CD25(+)IL-7Ralpha(+) cells were part of the T cell population infiltrating the allograft of patients with a documented diagnosis of chronic humoral rejection. These results indicate that the CD4(+)CD25(+)IL-7Ralpha(+) cell population may represent a valuable, sensitive, and specific marker to monitor allospecific CD4 T cell responses both in blood and in tissues after organ transplantation.

Determination of radionuclide levels in rainwater using ion exchange resin and gamma-spectrometry.

The evaluation of radioactivity accidentally released into the atmosphere involves determining the radioactivity levels of rainwater samples. Rainwater scavenges atmospheric airborne radioactivity in such a way that surface contamination can be deduced from rainfall rate and rainwater radioactivity content. For this purpose, rainwater is usually collected in large surface collectors and then measured by gamma-spectrometry after such treatments as evaporation or iron hydroxide precipitation. We found that collectors can be adapted to accept large surface (diameter 47mm) cartridges containing a strongly acidic resin (Dowex AG 88) which is able to quantitatively extract radioactivity from rainwater, even during heavy rainfall. The resin can then be measured by gamma-spectrometry. The detection limit is 0.1Bq per sample of resin (80g) for (137)Cs. Natural (7)Be and (210)Pb can also be measured and the activity ratio of both radionuclides is comparable with those obtained through iron hydroxide precipitation and air filter measurements. Occasionally (22)Na has also been measured above the detection limit. A comparison between the evaporation method and the resin method demonstrated that 2/3 of (7)Be can be lost during the evaporation process. The resin method is simple and highly efficient at extracting radioactivity. Because of these great advantages, we anticipate it could replace former rainwater determination methods. Moreover, it does not necessitate the transportation of large rainwater volumes to the laboratory.

Hypobaric versus normobaric hypoxia: same effects on postural stability?

AIMS: To test the hypothesis that postural stability would be more affected during acute exposure in hypobaric (HH) than in normobaric (NH) hypoxia.¦METHODS: In separate trials, 12 subjects stood on a posturographic platform for two successive 25.6 sec tests in three conditions: eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), and verbal dual task (DT). Ambient pressure in O(2) was matched between HH and NH at 1700 and 3000 m, respectively.¦RESULTS: Compared to NH, the length of Centre of Pression trajectory in Y-axis was increased (p<0.05) in HH for EO at 1700 m, EC at 1700 and 3000 m, and for DT at 1700 m, whereas the variance of speed of CoP was decreased (p<0.05) in EO, EC, and DT at 1700 m. Compared to normobaric normoxia (NN; 400 m), the surface of CoP trajectory was increased (p<0.05) in HH in EO and EC at 3000 m.¦CONCLUSIONS: HH deteriorated postural stability in the antero-posterior plane, for the variance of speed and the surface of CoP in 3 conditions, whereas no difference was observed between NH and NN. These results suggest that hypobaria instead of hypoxia per se plays an important role to the altered balance classically reported in altitude.

The PEDRO (Pocketable Electronic Devices in Radiation Oncology) project: how clinical practice is changing among young radiation oncologists.

Purpose. To evaluate the impact of mobile devices and apps on the daily clinical activity of young radiation oncologists. Methods. A web-based questionnaire was sent to 382 young (≤40 years) members of the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology (AIRO). The 14 items investigated the diffusion of mobile devices (smartphones and/or tablets), their impact on daily clinical activity, and possible differences perceived by the participants over time. Results. A total of 158 questionnaires were available for statistical evaluation (response rate 41%). Up to 75% of respondents declared they used an electronic device during their clinical activity. Conversely, 82% considered the impact of smartphones/tables on daily practice low to moderate. Daily device use increased significantly from 2009 to 2012, with high daily use rates rising from 5% to 39.9%. Fulfillment of professional needs was declared by less than 42% of respondents and compliance with app indications by 32%. Almost all physicians desired in 2012 a comprehensive website concerning a variety of apps covering radiation oncologists' needs. Conclusions. Mobile devices are widely used by young Italian radiation oncologists in their daily clinical practice, while the indications so obtained are not always followed. Nevertheless, it would be important to verify the consistency of information found within apps, in order to avoid potential errors that might be detrimental to patients.

Traitement des surdités cochléaires et déficits vestibulaires brusques idiopathiques

Les surdités cochléaires brusques et les déficits vestibulaire brusque idiopathiques constituent l'un des sujets les plus débattus en otologie. Ces deux pathologies naisse d'altération du labyrinthe de l'oreille interne, dont l'étiologie exacte reste aujourd'hui méconnue. Plusieurs hypothèses ont cependant été formulées. Parmi les plus discutées, on retient celle d'une atteinte virale, celle d'une altération de la vascularisation cochléaire ou encore celle d'une affection autoimmune.¦La méconnaissance des mécanismes physiopathologiques et l'importance clinique d'un traitement efficace contribuent à multiplier les études, malheureusement celles-ci manquent souvent de rigueur pour être exploitées. Ainsi plus de 1700 publication sur le sujet sont disponibles dans la littérature médicale. Malgré cette abondance , la pertinence du traitement médicamenteux reste controversée.¦Il s'est donc agit ici de faire une revue de la littérature, afin de tenter d'établir l'efficacité éventuelle des traitements selon les critères de l'Evidence-Based-Medecine (EBM). Etant donné le nombre de publications, nous nous sommes limités aux méta-analyses et aux revues systématisées.¦Nous avons sélectionné trois méta-analyses et quatre revues de littérature pour notre recherche. Elles évaluaient l'efficacité des traitements médicamenteux suivants ; corticostéroïdes, antithrombotique, vasodilatateurs, agents hémodiluants, antiviraux, anesthésiques locaux. Aucun de ceux-ci n'a démontré de preuves suffisantes, aussi bien pour les surdités brusques que pour les déficits vestibulaires brusques. Aussi, une abstention médicamenteuse se justifie à ce jour. Par contre, parmi les thérapies non médicamenteuses, la réhabilitation vestibulaire est conseillée après déficit vestibulaire brusque et se détache des autres prises en charge par son efficacité et sa sûreté.¦Notons que ces résultats se base sur un niveau de preuve faible. De nouvelles études cliniques sont indispensables. Nous avons tenté d'élaborer quelques pistes pour celles à venir, afin qu'elles soient utilisables dans un second temps par des méta-analyses. Cela permettrait une amélioration du niveau de preuve actuel.

The role of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in oncological and non-oncological clinical settings: highlights from the 7th Meeting of AIRO - Young Members Working Group (AIRO Giovani).

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy is a modern cancer treatment strategy able to deliver highly focused radiation in one or a few fractions with a radical intent in several clinical settings. Young radiation oncologists need a constant and tailored update in this context to improve patient care in daily clinical practice. A recent meeting of AIRO Giovani (AIRO - Young Members Working Group) was specifically addressed to this topic, presenting state-of-the-art knowledge, based on the latest evidence in this field. Highlights of the congress are summarized and presented in this report, including thorough contributions of the speakers dealing with the role of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in both oncological and non-oncological diseases, divided according to anatomical and clinical scenarios: intra-cranial settings (brain malignant primary tumors, metastases, benign tumors and functional disorders) and extra-cranial indications (lung primary tumors and metastases, thoracic re-irradiation, liver, lymph node and bone metastases, prostate cancer). With literature data discussed during the congress as a background, stereotactic ablative radiotherapy has proved to be a consolidated treatment approach in specific oncological and non-oncological scenarios, as well as a promising option in other clinical settings, requiring a further prospective validation in the near future. We herein present an updated overview of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy use in the clinic.

Kinship, ritual kinship and political milieus in an alpine Valley in 19th century

In my paper I will present some results about ritual kinship and political mobilization of popular groups in an alpine Valley: the Val de Bagnes, in the Swiss canton of Valais. There are two major reasons to choose the Val de Bagnes for our inquiry about social networks: the existence of sharp political and social conflicts during the 18th and the 19th century and the availability of almost systematic genealogical data between 1700 and 1900. The starting point of my research focuses on this question: what role did kinship and ritual kinship play in the political mobilization of popular groups and in the organization of competing factions? This question allows us to shed light on some other uses and meanings of ritual kinship in the local society. Was ritual kinship a significant instrument for economic cooperation? Or was it a channel for patronage or for privileged social contacts? The analysis highlights the importance of kinship and godparentage for the building of homogeneous social and political networks. If we consider transactions between individuals, the analysis of 19th century Val de Bagnes gives the impression of quite open networks. Men and women tried to diversify their relations in order to avoid strong dependency from powerful patrons. Nevertheless, when we consider the family networks, we can notice that most relations took place in a structured social space or a specific "milieu", were intense contacts enhanced trust, although political allegiances and social choices were not fully predictable on the basis of such preferential patterns. In a politically conflictual society, like 19th century Bagnes, ritual kinship interacted with kinship solidarities and ideological factors shaping dense social networks mostly based on a common political orientation. Such milieus sustained the building of political factions, which show surprising stability over time. In this sense, milieus are important factors to understand political and religious polarization in 19th century Switzerland.