Quel modèle de gouvernance pour les associations ?

Avec un budget cumulé de 59 milliards d'euros en 2007, un volume d'emploi de plus d'un million d'emploi en équivalent temps plein, 14 millions de bénévoles, les associations (dont le nombre dépasse le million) ont un poids considérable dans l'économie française. Par ailleurs, elles ont de plus en plus tendance à se professionnaliser, à adopter des méthodes de management et à généraliser leur recours aux outils de gestion. Ce phénomène, observable dans de nombreux pays, s'accompagne de l'apparition sur ce secteur de consultants spécialisés et de formations de gestion. Dès lors, les questions de gouvernance qu'elles rencontrent prennent une importance particulière. L'enjeu est maintenant de savoir si cette question du mode de gouvernance associatif peut se résoudre par une simple transposition du modèle de l'entreprise ou du nouveau management public

Quel modèle de gouvernance pour les associations ?

Avec un budget cumulé de 59 milliards d'euros en 2007, un volume d'emploi de plus d'un million d'emploi en équivalent temps plein, 14 millions de bénévoles, les associations (dont le nombre dépasse le million) ont un poids considérable dans l'économie française. Par ailleurs, elles ont de plus en plus tendance à se professionnaliser, à adopter des méthodes de management et à généraliser leur recours aux outils de gestion. Ce phénomène, observable dans de nombreux pays, s'accompagne de l'apparition sur ce secteur de consultants spécialisés et de formations de gestion. Dès lors, les questions de gouvernance qu'elles rencontrent prennent une importance particulière. L'enjeu est maintenant de savoir si cette question du mode de gouvernance associatif peut se résoudre par une simple transposition du modèle de l'entreprise ou du nouveau management public.associations; gouvernance; nouveau management public, non lucratif

Shift from extracellular signal-regulated kinase to AKT/cAMP response element-binding protein pathway increases survival-motor-neuron expression in spinal-muscular-atrophy-like mice and patient cells

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a recessive neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by the selective loss of spinal motor neurons. No available therapy exists for SMA, which represents one of the leading genetic causes of death in childhood. SMA is caused by a mutation of the survival-of-motor-neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, leading to a quantitative defect in the survival-motor-neuron (SMN) protein expression. All patients retain one or more copies of the SMN2 gene, which modulates the disease severity by producing a small amount of stable SMN protein. We reported recently that NMDA receptor activation, directly in the spinal cord, significantly enhanced the transcription rate of the SMN2 genes in a mouse model of very severe SMA (referred as type 1) by a mechanism that involved AKT/CREB pathway activation. Here, we provide the first compelling evidence for a competition between the MEK/ERK/Elk-1 and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/CREB signaling pathways for SMN2 gene regulation in the spinal cord of type 1 SMA-like mice. The inhibition of the MEK/ERK/Elk-1 pathway promotes the AKT/CREB pathway activation, leading to (1) an enhanced SMN expression in the spinal cord of SMA-like mice and in human SMA myotubes and (2) a 2.8-fold lifespan extension in SMA-like mice. Furthermore, we identified a crosstalk between ERK and AKT signaling pathways that involves the calcium-dependent modulation of CaMKII activity. Together, all these data open new perspectives to the therapeutic strategy for SMA patients.This project was supported by the Association Française contre les Myopathies. J.B. is the recipients of a fellowship from the Ministry of Research and Technology, and F.Chal. is the recipient of a fellowship from AXA Research Fund/Garches Foundation.Peer reviewe

The Current Challenges for EU Company and Financial Law and Regulation

European company and financial law and regulation have been evolving over time along with business and financial practices. The resulting ‘social licence’ established by company and financial law and regulation aimed to balance the granted privileges of limited liability and share transferability with the corporate social contribution to economic development and employment. Recent transformations driven by shareholder value and financialisation have been challenging this balance of interests between stakeholders (including employees and shareholders) and society. The EU institutional framework may respond to these challenges by reaffirming the centrality of the enterprise as a going concern. On this basis, corporate accountability and responsibility may be enforced to make ongoing corporate affairs accountable and responsible for their contribution to economy and society. Ongoing corporate capacity to cope with social and environmental responsibilities may be assured along with the fair and sustainable remuneration of stakeholders, including shareholding investors, and a fair tax contribution. The EU institutional design and policy mix may be organised to respond to this comprehensive set of corporate dimensions. Here the most relevant fields to be reconsidered include: enterprise groups and corporate social responsibility; financial reporting and transparency; financial investment and asset management

Short- versus long-term dual antiplatelet therapy after drug-eluting stent implantation: An individual patient data pairwise and network meta-analysis

Background Randomized controlled trials comparing short- (≤6 months) with long-term (≥1 year) dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after drug-eluting stent(s) (DES) placement have been insufficiently powered to detect significant differences in the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Objectives This study sought to compare clinical outcomes between short- (≤6 months) and long-term (1 year) DAPT and among 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year of DAPT post-DES placement by performing an individual patient data pairwise and network meta-analysis. Methods Randomized controlled trials comparing DAPT durations after DES placement were searched through the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases and in international meeting proceedings. The primary study outcome was 1-year risk of MACE (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or definite/probable stent thrombosis). Results Four trials including 8,180 randomized patients were identified. At 1-year follow-up, short-term DAPT was associated with similar rates of MACE (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.86 to 1.43; p = 0.44), but significantly lower rates of bleeding (HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.94; p = 0.03) versus prolonged DAPT. Comparable results were apparent in the landmark period between DAPT discontinuation and 1-year follow-up (for MACE: HR: 1.20; 95% CI: 0.77 to 1.89; p = 0.42) (for bleeding: HR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.91; p = 0.03). There were no significant differences in 1-year rates of MACE among 3-month versus 1-year DAPT, 6-month versus 1-year DAPT, or 3-month versus 6-month DAPT. Conclusions Compared with prolonged DAPT, short-term DAPT is associated with similar rates of MACE but lower rates of bleeding after DES placement

Effect of clopidogrel discontinuation at 1 year after drug eluting stent placement on soluble CD40L, P-selectin and C-reactive protein levels: DECADES (Discontinuation Effect of Clopidogrel After Drug Eluting Stent): a multicenter, open-label study

Antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel has been shown to reduce major adverse cardiac events in acute coronary syndromes and after percutaneous interventions. This effect is not only due to its anti-platelet effect but also possibly due to an anti-inflammatory effect. The effect of clopidogrel cessation after one year of therapy on markers of inflammation has been investigated in diabetics and showed an increase in platelet aggregation as well as hsCRP and surface P-selectin levels. This was an exploratory multicenter prospective open-label single arm study of 98 non-diabetic patients who had received one or more drug eluting stents and were coming to the end of their 12 months course of clopidogrel therapy. The effect of clopidogrel cessation on expression of biomarkers: sCD40L, soluble P-selectin and hsCRP was measured right before clopidogrel cessation (day 0), and subsequently at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after drug withdrawal. A median increase in sCD40L expression from 224 to 324.5 pg/ml was observed between baseline and 4 weeks after clopidogrel cessation, which corresponded to a 39% mean percent change based on an ANCOVA model (P < 0.001). Over the 4 weeks observation period the change in sCD40L expression correlated weakly with soluble P-selectin levels (at 4 weeks Spearman’s correlation coefficient = 0.32; P = 0.0024). Increase in P-selectin expression from baseline was statistically significant at week 1 and 2. Conversely, hsCRP level decreased by 21% at 1 week (P = 0.008) and was still reduced by 18% by 4 weeks (P = 0.062). The change in sCD40L expression appeared to vary with the type of drug eluting stent. Patients treated with drug eluting stents at 1 year after implantation display significant increase in sCD40L and decrease in hsCRP after clopidogrel cessation. Further studies should elucidate if this increase in sCD40L levels reflects solely the removal of the inhibitory effects of clopidogrel on platelet activity or rather an increase in pro-inflammatory state. The latter hypothesis may be less likely given decrease in hsCRP levels. Randomized studies are urgently needed to establish potential link of clopidogrel discontinuation and vascular outcomes

Clinical outcomes according to permanent discontinuation of clopidogrel or placebo in the CHARISMA trial

SummaryBackgroundLate discontinuation of clopidogrel after an acute coronary syndrome or stent placement may be associated with a clinical rebound effect.AimsTo describe the characteristics and evolution of patients non-compliant to study drug in the prospective, randomized, double-blind CHARISMA trial.MethodsOf 15,603 patients aged 45 or older years with established atherothrombotic disease (coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease) or multiple cardiovascular risk factors, 2999 permanently interrupted (withdrawers) study drug (clopidogrel or placebo) during follow-up. The primary endpoint was first occurrence since randomization of myocardial infarction, stroke or cardiovascular death.ResultsWithdrawers displayed a higher risk profile and rates of death/myocardial infarction/stroke (13.5% versus 5.6%; hazard ratio [HR]: 3.18; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.05–3.32; p<0.001) and severe bleeding (4.9% versus 0.7%; odds ratio [OR]: 7.42; 95% CI: 5.67–9.70; p<0.001) versus non-withdrawers. Death/myocardial infarction/stroke occurred after an average of 228 days (95% CI: 197–258) and was less frequent in patients assigned to clopidogrel versus placebo (9.7% versus 11.9%; HR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.64–1.00; p=0.051); the rate of severe bleeding was the same (4.0% versus 4.3%; OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.65–1.32; p=0.66). Among withdrawers, initial clopidogrel treatment was an independent correlate of survival (HR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.59–0.93; p=0.011), but not severe bleeding (OR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.65–1.35; p=0.74). Kaplan-Meier curves for the primary endpoint suggested no rebound effect or disease reactivation after discontinuation of clopidogrel compared with placebo.ConclusionsPatients who stopped medication had increased rates of ischaemic and bleeding events and mortality. Patients initially on clopidogrel had fewer ischaemic events than those on placebo; discontinuation was not associated with any clinically detectable rebound effect

Évaluation du risque simplifiée du tomato brown rugose fruit virus pour la France métropolitaine: Avis de l'Anses. Rapport d'expertise collective

Évaluation du risque simplifiée du tomato brown rugose fruit virus pour la France métropolitaine. Avis de l'Anses. Rapport d'expertise collectiv

Three, six, or twelve months of dual antiplatelet therapy after DES implantation in patients with or without acute coronary syndromes:An individual patient data pairwise and network meta-analysis of six randomized trials and 11473 patients

AIM: We sought to determine whether the optimal dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) duration after drug-eluting stent (DES) placement varies according to clinical presentation. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed an individual patient data pairwise and network meta-analysis comparing short-term (≤6-months) versus long-term (1-year) DAPT as well as 3-month vs. 6-month vs 1-year DAPT. The primary study outcome was the 1-year composite risk of myocardial infarction (MI) or definite/probable stent thrombosis (ST). Six trials were included in which DAPT after DES consisted of aspirin and clopidogrel. Among 11 473 randomized patients 6714 (58.5%) had stable CAD and 4758 (41.5%) presented with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the majority of whom (67.0%) had unstable angina. In ACS patients, ≤6-month DAPT was associated with non-significantly higher 1-year rates of MI or ST compared with 1-year DAPT (Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.48, 95% Confidence interval (CI) 0.98-2.22; P = 0.059), whereas in stable patients rates of MI and ST were similar between the two DAPT strategies (HR 0.93, 95%CI 0.65-1.35; P = 0.71; Pinteraction = 0.09). By network meta-analysis, 3-month DAPT, but not 6-month DAPT, was associated with higher rates of MI or ST in ACS, whereas no significant differences were apparent in stable patients. Short DAPT was associated with lower rates of major bleeding compared with 1-year DAPT, irrespective of clinical presentation. All-cause mortality was not significantly different with short vs. long DAPT in both patients with stable CAD and ACS. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal DAPT duration after DES differs according to clinical presentation. In the present meta-analysis, despite the fact that most enrolled ACS patients were relatively low risk, 3-month DAPT was associated with increased ischaemic risk, whereas 3-month DAPT appeared safe in stable CAD. Prolonged DAPT increases bleeding regardless of clinical presentation. Further study is required to identify the optimal duration of DAPT after DES in individual patients based on their relative ischaemic and bleeding risks