Descripció del programa d’intervenció amb interns per delictes contra la seguretat viària

Com a conseqüència dels canvis legislatius introduïts en el Codi penal i l’augment de la població penitenciària per delictes contra la seguretat de trànsit, s’ha elaborat i implementat el programa CONTE (Conducció Temerària) en el Centre Penitenciari d’Homes de Barcelona. Des de la seva implementació a l’abril del 2008, 93 interns han participat en el programa en onze edicions. El programa té una durada d’un mes, amb 16 sessions, quatre setmanals d’una hora i mitja cadascuna. Es descriu el contingut i objectiu de les sessions. Els interns que han participat han manifestat la seva satisfacció amb el programa. En un futur caldria establir mesures per avaluar l’eficàcia d’aquest tipus de programes.

Descripción del programa de intervención con encarcelados por delitos contra la seguridad vial

Como consecuencia de los cambios introducidos en el Código Penal y el aumento de población penitenciaria por delitos contra la seguridad del tráfico, se ha elaborado e implementado el programa CONTE (conducción temeraria) en el Centro penitenciario de Hombres de Barcelona. Desde su implementación en abril de 2008, 93 internos han participado en el programa en 11 ediciones. El programa tiene una duración de un mes, con 16 sesiones, cuatro semanales de una hora y media cada una. Se describe el contenido y objetivo de las sesiones. Los internos que han participado han manifestado su satisfacción con el programa. En un futuro convendría establecer indicadores de evaluación para medir la eficacia de este tipo de programas.

Descripció del perfil psicològic dels interns empresonats per delictes contra la seguretat del trànsit

Com a conseqüència dels canvis legislatius introduïts en el Codi penal i l’augment de la població penitenciària per delictes contra la seguretat del trànsit, es va elaborar i implementar el programa CONTE (Conducció Temerària). Des del seu inici, 93 interns han participat en el programa i sobre aquests s’han recollit dades sociopersonals i altres d’específiques relacionades amb la conducció. Davant de l’absència de dades sobre subjectes empresonats per delictes contra la seguretat viària, es va plantejar avaluar el perfil psicològic d’aquests. En relació amb les dades sociopersonals cal destacar que la franja d’edat en la qual se situa el major nombre d’interns és entre els 30 i 40 anys i un 50% presenta una problemàtica d’alcoholisme. Pel que fa als trets de personalitat, destaquen un elevat neuroticisme, una baixa responsabilitat i obertura i una puntuació elevada en l’agressivitat física i en la impulsivitat motora. La realització d’aquest tipus d’estudis podria afavorir el disseny de programes ajustats a les característiques sociopersonals d’aquesta tipologia d’interns.

Descripción del perfil psicológico de los encarcelados por delitos contra la seguridad vial

Los últimos cambios legislativos introducidos en el Código penal han hecho aumentar las personas que cumplen condena por delitos del tráfico. Este estudio pretende reconocer el perfil psicológico de las personas que se han sometido a un programa de tratamiento para la modificación de los comportamientos peligrosos para la conducción, requisito básico por parte del interno si quiere acceder a beneficios penitenciarios.

Estudi de les variables presents en els penats per delictes de conducció sota els afectes de l’alcohol: (contra la seguretat viària)

S’han estudiat els interns per delictes contra la seguretat viària de dos centres penitenciaris per esbrinar quin percentatge representen del total i les seves possibles característiques diferencials respecte dels altres interns i de la població general. Especialment s’ha estudiat si són persones que presenten psicopatologia o alcoholisme o bé són socialment i psicopatològicament normatives però han patit un cúmul de circumstàncies fortuïtes relacionades amb la conducció i l’alcohol que els ha dut a la presó. Els principals resultats són: - Un 5% del total dels internaments dels dos centres penitenciaris estudiats estan relacionats amb el consum d’alcohol. Aquest és un percentatge prou alt que indica la influència de l’alcohol en les conductes delictives, cosa ben coneguda fa anys en els àmbits sanitari i social i que desmitifica la imatge “socialitzadora” de l’alcohol. - El 88% de la mostra estudiada presentava algun indicador d’alcoholisme, la qual cosa confirma la sospita que per ingressar en un centre penitenciari per un delicte contra la seguretat viària cal un patró estable i inflexible de conducta desadaptada i perillosa de consum d’alcohol, com és l’alcoholisme. És improbable que una persona amb consums puntuals sigui tan irreflexiva com per no modificar una conducta de tant de risc. - Es detecten percentatges de psicopatologia baixos (10%), inferiors als que es troben a les presons i contradictoris amb l’abundància dels diagnòstics d’alcoholisme, l’elevada comorbiditat psiquiàtrica dels malalts alcohòlics i el consum abusiu de benzodiazepines, cànnabis i altres drogues. Probablement hi ha queixes de diversos símptomes psicològics conjunturals relacionats amb l’internament, però alhora una elevada ocultació, o manca de consciència de la patologia crònica, prèvia a l’internament i possiblement relacionada amb la personalitat de base. - Malgrat que és una població aparentment normalitzada i adaptada socialment (de més edat, amb més feina estable), les tres quartes parts dels interns tenien antecedents: l’alcohol fa perdre progressivament els valors normatius i els contactes socials. Gent inicialment “bevedora social” pot acabar en una espiral de reincidència penitenciària desencadenada per l’alcohol.

Estudio de las variables presentes en los penados por delitos de conducción bajo los efectos del alcohol: (contra la seguridad vial)

El estudio se ha centrado en conocer las diferencias en los perfiles de los penados en prisión por delitos de conducción y sus diferencias respecto con la población penitenciaria ordinaria. Se ha querido conocer la influencia del alcohol en este tipo de delitos.

When nightclub security agents assault clients.

In 2006, a medico-legal consultation service devoted to adult victims of interpersonal violence was set up at the Lausanne University Hospital Centre, Switzerland: the Violence Medical Unit. Most patients are referred to the consultation by the Emergency Department. They are received by forensic nurses for support, forensic examination (in order to establish medical report) and community orientation. Between 2007 and 2009, among community violence, aggressions by security agents of nightclubs on clients have increased from 6% to 10%. Most of the victims are young men who had drunk alcohol before the assault. 25.7% presented one or several fractures, all of them in the head area. These findings raise questions about the ability of security agents of nightclubs to deal adequately with obviously risky situations and ensure client security.

Hypoglycémie chez des patients porteurs de pompe a insuline [Hypoglycemia in patients treated with an external insulin pump].

Hypoglycemia is a potentially serious complication of insulin therapy. Some insulin-dependent diabetic patients can benefit from continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy (an "insulin pump"), which in most case improves glycemia control and decreases the occurrence of hypoglycemic episodes. However, such events may occur, particularly during initial treatment phases or pregnancy. Severe hypoglycemia is mainly managed by stopping the insulin pump and insuring an adequate carbohydrate intake. Patients with insulin pumps and their entourage should receive specific instruction in the adjustment of pump flow in the presence of dysglycemia-inducing circumstances (illness, physical exertion), as well as in anticipation of high-risk situations, such as motor-vehicle driving.

Gaussian estimates for the density of the non-linear stochastic heat equation in any space dimension

In this paper, we establish lower and upper Gaussian bounds for the probability density of the mild solution to the stochastic heat equation with multiplicative noise and in any space dimension. The driving perturbation is a Gaussian noise which is white in time with some spatially homogeneous covariance. These estimates are obtained using tools of the Malliavin calculus. The most challenging part is the lower bound, which is obtained by adapting a general method developed by Kohatsu-Higa to the underlying spatially homogeneous Gaussian setting. Both lower and upper estimates have the same form: a Gaussian density with a variance which is equal to that of the mild solution of the corresponding linear equation with additive noise.

Optimum in vitro expansion of human antigen-specific CD8 T cells for adoptive transfer therapy.

Increasing evidence suggests that adoptive transfer of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells could represent an effective strategy in the fight against chronic viral infections and malignancies such as melanoma. None the less, a major limitation in the implementation of such therapy resides in the difficulties associated with achieving rapid and efficient expansion of functional T cells in culture necessary to obtain the large numbers required for intravenous infusion. Recently, the critical role of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7 and IL-15 in driving T cell proliferation has been emphasized, thus suggesting their use in the optimization of expansion protocols. We have used major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I/peptide multimers to monitor the expansion of antigen-specific CD8 T lymphocytes from whole blood, exploring the effect of antigenic peptide dose, IL-2, IL-7 and IL-15 concentrations on the magnitude and functional characteristics of the antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells generated. We show here that significant expansions of antigen-specific T cells, up to 50% of the CD8(+) T cell population, can be obtained after a single round of antigen/cytokine (IL-2 or IL-15) stimulation, and that these cells display good cytolytic and interferon (IFN)-gamma secretion capabilities. Our results provide an important basis for the rapid in vitro expansion of autologous T cells from the circulating lymphocyte pool using a simple procedure, which is necessary for the development of adoptive transfer therapies.

Temporary caval stenting improves venous drainage during cardiopulmonary bypass

OBJECTIVES: Assess the benefit of temporary caval stenting for remote venous drainage during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Temporary caval stenting was realized in bovine experiments (65+/-6 kg) by the means of self-expanding (18F for insertion, 36F in situ) venous cannulas (Smartcanula LLC, Lausanne, Switzerland) with various lengths: 43 cm, 53 cm, 63 cm vs. a standard 28F wire armed cannula in trans-jugular fashion. Maximal blood flows were assessed for 20, 25 and 30 mmHg of driving pressure with a motorized table height adjustment system. In addition, the inferior caval diameters (just above its bifurcation) were measured in real time with intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS). RESULTS: Venous drainage (flow in l/min) at 20 mmHg, 25 mmHg, and 30 mmHg drainage load was 3.5+/-0.5, 3.7+/-0.7 and 4.0+/-0.6 for the 28F standard vs. 4.1+/-0.7, 4.0+/-1.3 and 3.9+/-1.1 for the 36F smart 43 cm, vs. 5.0+/-0.7, 5.3+/-1.3 and 5.4+/-1.4 for the 36F smart 53 cm, vs. 5.2+/-0.5*, 5.6+/-1.1* and 5.8+/-1.0* for the 36F smart 63 cm. The inferior vena caval diameters at 30 mmHg were 13.5+/-4.8 mm for 28F standard, 11.1+/-3.6 for 36F smart 43 cm, 11.3+/-3.2 for 36F 53 cm, and 17.0+/-0.1* for 36F 63 cm (*P<0.05 for 28F standard vs. 36F smart 63 cm long) CONCLUSIONS: The 43 cm self-expanding 36F smartcanula outperforms the 28F standard wire armed cannula at low drainage pressures and without augmentation. Temporary caval stenting with long self-expanding venous cannulas provides even better drainage (+51%).

Climate-based empirical models show biased predictions of butterfly communities along environmental gradients

A better understanding of the factors that mould ecological community structure is required to accurately predict community composition and to anticipate threats to ecosystems due to global changes. We tested how well stacked climate-based species distribution models (S-SDMs) could predict butterfly communities in a mountain region. It has been suggested that climate is the main force driving butterfly distribution and community structure in mountain environments, and that, as a consequence, climate-based S-SDMs should yield unbiased predictions. In contrast to this expectation, at lower altitudes, climate-based S-SDMs overpredicted butterfly species richness at sites with low plant species richness and underpredicted species richness at sites with high plant species richness. According to two indices of composition accuracy, the Sorensen index and a matching coefficient considering both absences and presences, S-SDMs were more accurate in plant-rich grasslands. Butterflies display strong and often specialised trophic interactions with plants. At lower altitudes, where land use is more intense, considering climate alone without accounting for land use influences on grassland plant richness leads to erroneous predictions of butterfly presences and absences. In contrast, at higher altitudes, where climate is the main force filtering communities, there were fewer differences between observed and predicted butterfly richness. At high altitudes, even if stochastic processes decrease the accuracy of predictions of presence, climate-based S-SDMs are able to better filter out butterfly species that are unable to cope with severe climatic conditions, providing more accurate predictions of absences. Our results suggest that predictions should account for plants in disturbed habitats at lower altitudes but that stochastic processes and heterogeneity at high altitudes may limit prediction success of climate-based S-SDMs.

Short term evolution of a highly transmissible methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clone (ST228) in a tertiary care hospital.

Staphylococcus aureus is recognized as one of the major human pathogens and is by far one of the most common nosocomial organisms. The genetic basis for the emergence of highly epidemic strains remains mysterious. Studying the microevolution of the different clones of S. aureus is essential for identifying the forces driving pathogen emergence and spread. The aim of the present study was to determine the genetic changes characterizing a lineage belonging to the South German clone (ST228) that spread over ten years in a tertiary care hospital in Switzerland. For this reason, we compared the whole genome of eight isolates recovered between 2001 and 2008 at the Lausanne hospital. The genetic comparison of these isolates revealed that their genomes are extremely closely related. Yet, a few more important genetic changes, such as the replacement of a plasmid, the loss of large fragments of DNA, or the insertion of transposases, were observed. These transfers of mobile genetic elements shaped the evolution of the ST228 lineage that spread within the Lausanne hospital. Nevertheless, although the strains analyzed differed in their dynamics, we have not been able to link a particular genetic element with spreading success. Finally, the present study showed that new sequencing technologies improve considerably the quality and quantity of information obtained for a single strain; but this information is still difficult to interpret and important investments are required for the technology to become accessible for routine investigations.

Redundant Notch1 and Notch2 signaling is necessary for IFNγ secretion by T helper 1 cells during infection with Leishmania major.

The protective immune response to intracellular parasites involves in most cases the differentiation of IFNγ-secreting CD4(+) T helper (Th) 1 cells. Notch receptors regulate cell differentiation during development but their implication in the polarization of peripheral CD4(+) T helper 1 cells is not well understood. Of the four Notch receptors, only Notch1 (N1) and Notch2 (N2) are expressed on activated CD4(+) T cells. To investigate the role of Notch in Th1 cell differentiation following parasite infection, mice with T cell-specific gene ablation of N1, N2 or both (N1N2(ΔCD4Cre)) were infected with the protozoan parasite Leishmania major. N1N2(ΔCD4Cre) mice, on the C57BL/6 L. major-resistant genetic background, developed unhealing lesions and uncontrolled parasitemia. Susceptibility correlated with impaired secretion of IFNγ by draining lymph node CD4(+) T cells and increased secretion of the IL-5 and IL-13 Th2 cytokines. Mice with single inactivation of N1 or N2 in their T cells were resistant to infection and developed a protective Th1 immune response, showing that CD4(+) T cell expression of N1 or N2 is redundant in driving Th1 differentiation. Furthermore, we show that Notch signaling is required for the secretion of IFNγ by Th1 cells. This effect is independent of CSL/RBP-Jκ, the major effector of Notch receptors, since L. major-infected mice with a RBP-Jκ deletion in their T cells were able to develop IFNγ-secreting Th1 cells, kill parasites and heal their lesions. Collectively, we demonstrate here a crucial role for RBP-Jκ-independent Notch signaling in the differentiation of a functional Th1 immune response following L. major infection.

Female-biased infection and transmission of the gastrointestinal nematode Trichuris arvicolae infecting the common vole, Microtus arvalis.

Previous studies addressing the importance of host gender in parasite transmission have shed light on males as the more important hosts, with the higher transmission potential of males being explained by the fact that they often harbour higher parasite loads than females. However, in some systems females are more heavily infected than males and may be responsible for driving infection under such circumstances. Using a wild population of common voles (Microtus arvalis), we showed that females were more frequently infected by the intestinal nematode Trichuris arvicolae than males (i.e. prevalence based on the presence of eggs in the faeces) and that females were shedding greater numbers of parasite eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) than males. By applying an anthelmintic treatment to either male or female voles, we demonstrated that treating females significantly reduced parasite burdens (i.e. prevalence and EPG) of both male and female hosts, while treating males only reduced parasite burden in males. These findings indicate that in this female-biased infection system females play a more important role than males in driving the dynamics of parasite transmission.