Pseudohypoaldosteronisms, report on a 10-patient series.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA1) is a salt-wasting syndrome caused by mineralocorticoid resistance. Autosomal recessive and dominant hereditary forms are caused by Epithelial Na Channel and Mineralocorticoid Receptor mutation respectively, while secondary PHA1 is usually associated with urological problems. METHODS: Ten patients were studied in four French pediatric units in order to characterize PHA1 spectrum in infants. Patients were selected by chart review. Genetic, clinical and biochemistry data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Autosomal recessive PHA1 (n = 3) was diagnosed at 6 and 7 days of life in three patients presenting with severe hyperkalaemia and weight loss. After 8 months, 3 and 5 years on follow-up, neurological development and longitudinal growth was normal with high sodium supplementation. Autosomal dominant PHA1 (n = 4) was revealed at 15, 19, 22 and 30 days of life because of failure to thrive. At 8 months, 3 and 21 years of age, longitudinal growth was normal in three patients who were given salt supplementation; no significant catch-up growth was obtained in the last patient at 20 months of age. Secondary PHA1 (n = 3) was diagnosed at 11, 26 days and 5 months of life concomitantly with acute pyelonephritis in three children with either renal hypoplasia, urinary duplication or bilateral megaureter. The outcome was favourable and salt supplementation was discontinued after 3, 11 and 13 months. CONCLUSIONS: PHA1 should be suspected in case of severe hyperkalemia and weight loss in infants and need careful management. Pathogenesis of secondary PHA1 is still challenging and further studies are mandatory to highlight the link between infection, developing urinary tract and pseudohypoaldosteronism.

Genetic diversity and differentiation processes in the ploidy series of Olea europaea L.: a multiscale approach from subspecies to insular populations.

Geographical isolation and polyploidization are central concepts in plant evolution. The hierarchical organization of archipelagos in this study provides a framework for testing the evolutionary consequences for polyploid taxa and populations occurring in isolation. Using amplified fragment length polymorphism and simple sequence repeat markers, we determined the genetic diversity and differentiation patterns at three levels of geographical isolation in Olea europaea: mainland-archipelagos, islands within an archipelago, and populations within an island. At the subspecies scale, the hexaploid ssp. maroccana (southwest Morocco) exhibited higher genetic diversity than the insular counterparts. In contrast, the tetraploid ssp. cerasiformis (Madeira) displayed values similar to those obtained for the diploid ssp. guanchica (Canary Islands). Geographical isolation was associated with a high genetic differentiation at this scale. In the Canarian archipelago, the stepping-stone model of differentiation suggested in a previous study was partially supported. Within the western lineage, an east-to-west differentiation pattern was confirmed. Conversely, the easternmost populations were more related to the mainland ssp. europaea than to the western guanchica lineage. Genetic diversity across the Canarian archipelago was significantly correlated with the date of the last volcanic activity in the area/island where each population occurs. At the island scale, this pattern was not confirmed in older islands (Tenerife and Madeira), where populations were genetically homogeneous. In contrast, founder effects resulted in low genetic diversity and marked genetic differentiation among populations of the youngest island, La Palma.

Stent retriever use for retrieval of displaced microcoils: a consecutive case series.

SUMMARY: Coil displacement during endovascular coiling procedures may require coil retrieval in the context of flow limitation or thromboembolic risk. No standard recommended method of coil retrieval exists. We present a consecutive series of 14 patients with displaced coil during aneurysm coiling in whom the complication was effectively managed with the use of a stent retriever system. Two illustrative cases from the 14 are described, and technical notes are detailed regarding use of the technique. The use of stent retrievers presents a simple, safe, and effective choice for removal of prolapsed coils during aneurysm coiling.

A Comparison Of Forecasting Procedures For Macroeconomic Series: The Contribution Of Structural Break Models

This paper compares the forecasting performance of different models which have been proposed for forecasting in the presence of structural breaks. These models differ in their treatment of the break process, the parameters defining the model which applies in each regime and the out-of-sample probability of a break occurring. In an extensive empirical evaluation involving many important macroeconomic time series, we demonstrate the presence of structural breaks and their importance for forecasting in the vast majority of cases. However, we find no single forecasting model consistently works best in the presence of structural breaks. In many cases, the formal modeling of the break process is important in achieving good forecast performance. However, there are also many cases where simple, rolling OLS forecasts perform well.

A Comparison Of Forecasting Procedures For Macroeconomic Series: The Contribution Of Structural Break Models

This paper compares the forecasting performance of different models which have been proposed for forecasting in the presence of structural breaks. These models differ in their treatment of the break process, the parameters defining the model which applies in each regime and the out-of-sample probability of a break occurring. In an extensive empirical evaluation involving many important macroeconomic time series, we demonstrate the presence of structural breaks and their importance for forecasting in the vast majority of cases. However, we find no single forecasting model consistently works best in the presence of structural breaks. In many cases, the formal modeling of the break process is important in achieving good forecast performance. However, there are also many cases where simple, rolling OLS forecasts perform well.

Relationship between trade openness and economic growth of India: A time series analysis

The paper aims to examine the empirical relationship between trade openness and economic growth of India for the time period 1970-2010. Trade openness is a multi-dimensional concept and hence measures of both trade barriers and trade volumes have been used as proxies for openness. The estimation results from Vector Autoregressive method suggest that growth in trade volumes accelerate economic growth in case of India. We do not find any evidence from our analysis that trade barriers lower growth.

Taxonomic studies of the subgenus Helcocyrtomya: I. Series Oswaldoi (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)

Attempting to review the species of sandflies in the series oswaldoi of the subgenus Helcocyrtomyia, we examined 7650 specimens collected in different Brazilian regions during 35 years and deposited in the collection of the Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG. As main results of this study new species of Helcocyrtomyia were described (Lutzomya pusilla and Lutzomya capixaba), in addition to the females of Lutzomyia ferreirana and Lutzomyia peresi; which had been described only by the males. The geographic distribution of the material examined is also presented.

Series enlazadas de algunos agregados económicos nacionales y regionales, 1955-2007 Versión 2.1

I construct "homogeneous" series of GVA at current and constant prices, employment and population for the Spain and its regions covering the period 1955-2007. The series are obtained by linking the Regional Accounts of the National Statistical Institute with the series constructed by Julio Alcaide and his team for the BBVA Foundation. The "switching point" at which this last source stops being used as a reference to construct the linked series is determined using a procedure that allows me to estimate which of the two competing series would produce an estimator with the lowest MSE when it is used as dependent variable in a regression on an arbitrary independent variable. To the extent that it is possible, the difference between the two series found at the point of linkage is distributed between the initial levels of the older series and its subsequent growth using external estimates of the relevant variables at the beginning of the sample period.

A mixed splicing procedure for economic time series

This note develops a flexible methodology for splicing economic time series that avoids the extreme assumptions implicit in the procedures most commonly used in the literature. It allows the user to split the required correction to the older of the series being linked between its levels and growth rates on the basis what he knows or conjectures about the persistence of the factors that account for the discrepancy between the two series that emerges at their linking point. The time profile of the correction is derived from the assumption that the error in the older series reflects the inadequate coverage of emerging sectors or activities that grow faster than the aggregate.

Taxonomic studies of the subgenus Helcocyrtomyia: II. series Vexator (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)

Continuing to review the subgenus Helcocyrtomyia (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotomiane) some specimens of sandflies from the vexator series were examined. Taxonomic remarks, geographic distribution and drawings of those species are presented.

Radiocarbon dating of modern groundwater: the role of the unsaturated zone

Biological and physical processes occurring in soils may lead to significant isotopic changes between the isotopic compositions of atmospheric CO2 and of soil CO2. Also, during water and gas transport from the soil surface to the water table, isotopic changes likely occur due to numerous physical processes such as gas production and diffusion, water advection, and gas-water-rock interactions. In most cases, these changes are not included in the correction models developed for groundwater dating, whereas they can significantly impact the calculation of the 14C age. We explore the role of these processes using: i) experimental data from two aquifer sites (Fontainebleau sands and Astian sands, France), ii) a distributed model to simulate the 14C activities of soil CO2, and iii) numerical simulations in order to highlight the role of the physical processes.¦The 13C content in soil CO2 showed seasonal variations and highlighted the competition between CO2 production and CO2 diffusion. Their respective contributions played a significant role in defining the isotopic composition of CO2 at the water table. On both study sites, variations of the 14C activity in soil CO2 reflect the competition between the fluxes of root derived-CO2 and organic matter derived-CO2. Since the nuclear weapon tests in the fifties and sixties, soil CO2 became significantly depleted in 14C compared to modern atmospheric CO2. Models that take into account this 14C depletion in soil CO2 for dating modern groundwater would lead to apparent younger 14C ages than models that only consider the 14C activity in atmospheric CO2. Moreover, since 2000-2005, the inverse effect is observed as soil CO2 is enriched in 14C compared to atmospheric CO2.¦Therefore, we conclude that the isotopic composition of CO2 at the water table have to be taken into account for the dating of modern groundwater. This requires a systematic sampling of soil CO2 and the measurement of its 13C and 14C contents. We used this information in a numerical simulation to calculate the evolution of isotopic composition of CO2 from the soil surface to the water table. This simulation integrated physical processes in the unsaturated zone (e.g. CO2 production and diffusion, water advection, etc.) and gas-water-rock interactions.

Adapting dating violence prevention to francophone Switzerland: a story of intra-western cultural differences.

Dating violence prevention programs, which originated in the United States, are beginning to be implemented elsewhere. This article presents the first adaptation of a violence prevention program for a European culture, Francophone Switzerland. A U.S. dating violence prevention program, Safe Dates (Foshee & Langwick, 1994), was reviewed in 19 youth and 4 professional focus groups. The most fundamental program concepts--"dating" and "violence"--are not the same in Switzerland and the United States. Swiss youth were not very focused on establishing monogamous romantic relationships, and there is no ready translation for "dating." Violence has not become the focus of a social movement in Switzerland to the same extent that it has in the United States, and distinctions among terms such as "dating violence" and "domestic violence" are not well known. Psychoeducational approaches are also less common in the Swiss context. As the movement to prevent violence extends worldwide, these issues need greater consideration.

Series enlazadas de empleo asalariado y rentas del trabajo regionales (RegDat versión 2.2)

I construct "homogeneous" series of salaried employment, employee compensation and total labor income for Spain and its regions covering the period 1955-2008. I also estimate labor's share in regional and national GVA and construct an indicator of the average cost of labor including both employees and non-salaried workers.