TURBEAU – Turbinage des eaux potables

Dans le cadre de la Loi sur l'Approvisionnement en Electricité (LApEI) et l'Ordonnance sur l'Energie (OEne), le Conseil fédéral a édité des recommandations concernant la rétribution de l'électricité de producteurs indépendants à partir de sources d'énergie renouvelables. Concernant la force hydraulique, cette rétribution favorise les microcentrales et les petites centrales. Une solution potentiellement intéressante est l'installation des microcentrales sur des réseaux d'adduction d'eau potable existants. Les auteurs de la présente communication présentent un outil informatique appelé TURBEAU (TURBinage des EAUx potables) qui permet d'une manière efficace d'identifier les sites favorables à l'installation d'une station de turbinage en calculant leur potentiel énergétique et leur rendement économique. Le logiciel a été développé par le LCH en collaboration avec le bureau d'ingénieurs Hydrocosmos SA. A part les auteurs, plusieurs étudiants sous la direction de Jean-Louis Boillat, Philippe Heller et Martin Bieri ont contribué dans le cadre de leur projet de master ainsi que de projets de semestre au développement et à la vérification du logiciel à l'aide des cas d'étude. Le Canton du Valais a soutenu financièrement ce projet de recherche appliquée par son service de l'énergie et des forces hydrauliques (SEFH)

B cell depletion reduces the development of atherosclerosis in mice

B cell depletion significantly reduces the burden of several immune-mediated diseases. However, B cell activation has been until now associated with a protection against atherosclerosis, suggesting that B cell–depleting therapies would enhance cardiovascular risk. We unexpectedly show that mature B cell depletion using a CD20-specific monoclonal antibody induces a significant reduction of atherosclerosis in various mouse models of the disease. This treatment preserves the production of natural and potentially protective anti–oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) IgM autoantibodies over IgG type anti-oxLDL antibodies, and markedly reduces pathogenic T cell activation. B cell depletion diminished T cell–derived IFN-γ secretion and enhanced production of IL-17; neutralization of the latter abrogated CD20 antibody–mediated atheroprotection. These results challenge the current paradigm that B cell activation plays an overall protective role in atherogenesis and identify new antiatherogenic strategies based on B cell modulation

New autoimmune diseases after cord blood transplantation: a retrospective study of EUROCORD and the Autoimmune Disease Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

To describe the incidence, risk factors, and treatment of autoimmune diseases (ADs) occurring after cord blood transplantation (CBT), we analyzed both CBT recipients reported to EUROCORD who had developed at least 1 new AD and those who had not. Fifty-two of 726 reported patients developed at least 1 AD within 212 days (range, 27-4267) after CBT. Cumulative incidence of ADs after CBT was 5.0% \ub1 1% at 1 year and 6.6% \ub1 1% at 5 years. Patients developing ADs were younger and had more nonmalignant diseases (P < .001). ADs target hematopoietic (autoimmune hemolytic anemia, n = 20; Evans syndrome, n = 9; autoimmune thrombocytopenia, n = 11; and immune neutropenia, n = 1) and other tissues (thyroiditis, n = 3; psoriasis, n = 2; Graves disease, n = 1; membranous glomerulonephritis, n = 2; rheumatoid arthritis, n = 1; ulcerative colitis, n = 1; and systemic lupus erythematosus, n = 1). Four patients developed 2 ADs (3 cases of immune thrombocytopenia followed by autoimmune hemolytic anemia and 1 Evans syndrome with rheumatoid arthritis). By multivariate analysis, the main risk factor for developing an AD was nonmalignant disease as an indication for CBT (P = .0001). Hematologic ADs were most often treated with steroids, rituximab, and cyclosporine. With a median follow-up of 26 months (range, 2-91), 6 of 52 patients died as a consequence of ADs. We conclude that CBT may be followed by potentially life-threatening, mainly hematologic ADs

Prevalence and Clinical Outcomes of Poor Immune Response Despite Virologically Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy Among Children and Adolescents With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Europe and Thailand: Cohort Study

International audienceIn human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive adults, low CD4 cell counts despite fully suppressed HIV-1 RNA on antiretroviral therapy (ART) have been associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. We assessed the prevalence and outcomes of poor immune response (PIR) in children receiving suppressive ART