Ethnic mirrors: self-representations in the Welsh and Mennonite museums in Argentina and Paraguay

According to some scholars and philosophers, ethnic identities are the best political, social, economic, ethic (and even aesthetic) alternative to State centralism, which is incapable of dealing with cultural diversity. Ethnic communitarism is then defined as a more authentic, humane, democratic and inclusive form of organization. The Welsh colonies of Chubut (Argentine) and the established Mennonite colonies of the Chaco Region (Paraguay) are two ethnic groups with forms of community life that have been thoroughly studied from different perspectives. However, neither has been analyzed their point of view of alterity or their relation with those who do not belong to the community. In their museums the history of the community is represented, self-images and other people's images are constructed and spread. The interesting part of these stories is not what they say but what they do, the form in which contents are expressed. These communitarian historical museums tell about the past but they mainly have an impact on the present. Like national or even imperial museums, Welsh and Mennonite museums tend to naturalize a particular self-centered, prejudicial and evolutionist point of view that often excludes other perspectives, especially those elaborated by the neighboring indigenous communities. In contrast, we believe it is necessary to take a stance for democratic, horizontal relations between communities and more polyphonic and responsible historical representations.Alguns filósofos e acadêmicos assinalam que as identidades étnicas são a melhor alternativa política, social, econômica, ética (e mesmo estética) ao centralismo estatal, que é negligente ao lidar com a diversidade cultural. O comunitarismo étnico é definido como uma forma de organização mais autêntica, humana, democrática e inclusiva. As colônias galesas de Chubut (Argentina) e as colônias rurais dos menonitas no Chaco (Paraguay) são dois grupos étnicos cujas vidas comunitárias têm sido muito estudadas desde diversas perspectivas, mas o seu ponto de vista acerca da alteridade ou sua relação com os atores extracomunitários nunca foi levado em conta. A historia comunitária é representada nos museus galeses e menonitas das respectivas regiões e aí são construídas e difundidas não só as autoimagens mas também as representações dos outros. O aspecto relevante dessas histórias não é o que elas dizem, mas o que fazem, a forma como os conteúdos são expressos. Esses museus históricos comunitários falam sobre o passado, mas seu maior impacto recai sobre o presente. Como os museus nacionais ou imperiais, os museus galeses e menonitas tentam naturalizar pontos de vista particulares, auto-centrados, preconceituosos e evolucionistas que geralmente excluem as perspectivas elaboradas pelas comunidades indígenas vizinhas. Em vez disso, pensamos ser necessário criar relações mais horizontais e democráticas entre as comunidades e difundir representações históricas mais polifônicas e responsáveis

‘Hunger has brought us into this jungle’: understanding mobility and immobility of Bengali immigrants in the Chittagong Hills of Bangladesh

The recent history of the Chittagong Hills in Bangladesh is marked by ongoing conflicts between minority (non-Muslim and nonBengali) locals and state-sponsored (Bengali Muslim) immigrants. In general, these immigrants are framed as land grabbers who have been receiving protection from a pro-Bengali military force. We propose instead, that the understanding of these Bengalis as a homogenous category of mobile perpetrators fails to take into account their complex histories as mobile landless peasants. Our ethnographic research reveals that the framing of the local minorities and the mobile Bengalis as two antagonistic categories with opposing interests obscures the fact that both categories have fallen victim to very similar regimes of mobilities and immobilities of the state and national and local (political, economic and military) elites. Here, we reject binary thinking that counterpoises mobility and immobility as two antagonistic concepts and argue that mobility and immobility are intrinsically related and their relationship is asymmetrical

Microscopic study of chronic Charcot arthropathy foot bones contributes to understanding pathogenesis - a preliminary report.

Introduction. Charcot arthropathy (CA) is non-infective, chronic destructive condition affecting the pes architecture of long standing diabetic patients with neuropathy. Even though several theories have emerged to disclose its pathogenesis, inflammatory cytokine induced osteoclastogenesis stands as the chief culprit. Studies on micro-architecture of foot bones of acute stage CA patients, describes mainly destructive phase of bone remodelling. Increased osteoclast cell activity is reported in all studies communicated. No study has to the best of our knowledge detailed the microscopic structure of chronic stage CA foot bones. Aim. To study the microscopic structure of foot bones in patients with chronic CA. Materials and methods. Foot bones were collected from the feet of chronic CA patients (six in number) who underwent corrective foot surgery in the department of Podiatric Surgery of a tertiary care hospital. Control samples were collected from the feet of age matched non-diabetic controls (2 in number). The samples were fixed in formalin, decalcified in 10% nitric acid, processed, sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Histopathology and histomorphometry analysis were performed by two different pathologists. Results. Trabeculae of chronic CA foot bones exhibited mainly a lamellar architecture, with reduced number of osteocytes and plenty of empty lacunae. Trabecular connectivity was lost and trabeculae showed considerable thinning. Trabecular osteoids lined by active osteoblast cells was a remarkable observation. Bone area was also considerably reduced in chronic CA foot bones. Conclusion. Chronic stage CA foot bones presented features of both healing and fragile bone. The compromised bone quality may be due to thin and fragmented trabecular structure and reduced cellularity

Prise en charge diagnostique et clinique d’une varicelle en cours de grossesse : autour de cas cliniques

International audienceLa varicelle est une infection survenant très majoritairement durant l’enfance. La primo-infection d’une femme enceinte est donc un phénomènerare s’accompagnant dans moins de 1 % des cas d’un syndrome malformatif lfœtal majeur. Une prévention de la transmission materno-fœtale doit être proposée dès le diagnostic afin de réduire la morbimortalité. Nous présentons trois cas dévoilant les principales situations à risques pour des femmes enceintes au statut immunologique varicelleux inconnu. Le premier cas est une femme présentant une éruption varicelleuse à 15 SA. En l’absence de traitement, la grossesse s’est terminée par la naissance à 33 SA d’un enfant mort-né, présentant des anomalies de position des membres, une amyotrophie majeure et des ulcérations cutanées multiples. Le second cas concerne une femme asymptomatique, en situation de contage varicelleux récent à 15 SA. Le traitement préemptif par immunoglobulines a alors été administré, malgré une sérologievaricelle rendue positive sur les prélèvements initiaux. Le troisième cas présente une patiente en situation de contage varicelleux, en fin de grossesse. La patiente a été traitée par aciclovir, avant et après accouchement, pour limiter les risques materno-fœtaux. En conclusion, en cas de contage varicelleux chez une femme enceinte ne se sachant pas immunisée, une sérologie doit être pratiquée en urgence. En l’absence d’immunité, une prévention de l’infection doit être réalisée par immunoglobulines spécifiques ou valaciclovir. Une varicelleclinique ne nécessite pas de confirmation virologique sauf en cas d’éruption aspécifique mais requiert un traitement immédiat par valaciclovir lorsqu’elle survient au premier trimestre

Outcome of permanent vascular access for haemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease in Cameroon: Results from the pilot experience of the Douala general hospital

Background: Chronic Kidney disease is a major health problem in the world. Native arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) is well established as the best vascular access for haemodialysis. Little is known about the outcome of AVF in sub-Saharan Africa. We aim to analyze the outcome of patients undergoing AVF creation during the pilot program established at the Douala general hospital (DGH). Method: This was hospital-based, longitudinal study with a retrospective phase (April 2010-January 2014) and a prospective phase (January 2014-April 2014). All consecutive patients operated for AVF creation were included in this study. Socio-demographics data, functionality, and complications were analyzed. Results: Eighty-one patients including 52 men were enrolled in this study (49 prospectively and 32 retrospectively). The mean age was 52, 3 years (range 18-81 years). Hypertension (66, 7%), diabetes (17, 3%), and HIV (8, 6%) were the most observed co-morbidities. About 96.3% of AVF were native and 3.7% were prosthetic graft. Radiocephalic AVF was performed at a rate of 77.8%. The primary function rate was 97.7% and the mean follow-up period 43.4 weeks. The overall rate of complications was 44.4% of whom 30.5% were early, 30.5% secondary, and 39% lasted. The treatment of these complications was conservative in 48.7% of cases. Conclusions: The results of the pilot program of AVF creation at the DGH are encouraging. However, the sustainability of this project requires human capacity building.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe