Le Régime québécois d’assurance parentale : un système discriminatoire à l’endroit des enfants adoptés

Le Régime québécois d’assurance parentale (RQAP) crée une distinction dans l’attribution du nombre de semaines assurées selon que le congé est demandé par des parents biologiques ou des parents adoptants. Ces derniers bénéficient d’un congé parental nettement plus court au moment de l’arrivée de leur enfant, l’objectif du législateur étant vraisemblablement de tenir compte de la réalité de la grossesse et de l’accouchement. Se peut-il toutefois que le régime occulte la situation des familles adoptantes et les difficultés qui leur sont propres, au point d’être discriminatoire ? Afin de répondre à cette question, les auteurs proposent de déplacer le foyer d’analyse traditionnellement placé sur les droits des parents pour le tourner vers les droits et l’intérêt supérieur des enfants. Considérant le vécu et les besoins particuliers des enfants adoptés, ils démontrent que le RQAP, comme les conventions collectives qui reproduisent une distinction similaire, ne résisterait pas à un examen judiciaire fondé sur le droit à l’égalité garanti par les chartes. En conséquence, les auteurs proposent une nouvelle façon de concevoir le régime plus respectueuse des droits de tous.Abstract: The Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) provides for a benefit period that varies according to whether the applicants are the biological parents or the adoptive parents of the child. Adoptive parents are entitled to a significantly shorter parental leave upon their child’s arrival. It would appear that the legislative intent is to take into account distinguishing factors based on pregnancy and delivery. Couldn’t one argue that the QPIP overlooks the situation of adoptive families and their specific challenges to the extent where it might be deemed discriminatory? To address this question, the writers suggest shifting the analytic focal point away from the traditional focus on the rights of the parents, to the rights and best interests of the children. Considering the personal history and specific needs of adopted children, the writers argue that the QPIP, like all collective agreements that set out similar distinctions, would not withstand a legal challenge based on the right to equality guaranteed under the Canadian and Quebec Charters. Consequently, the writers come up with a proposal that takes into account the rights of all stakeholders

Image-derived input function in dynamic human PET/CT: methodology and validation with 11C-acetate and 18F-fluorothioheptadecanoic acid in muscle and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose in brain

International audienc

One-Year Risk of Stroke after Transient Ischemic Attack or Minor Stroke

BACKGROUND Previous studies conducted between 1997 and 2003 estimated that the risk of stroke or an acute coronary syndrome was 12 to 20% during the first 3 months after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke. The TIAregistry.org project was designed to describe the contemporary profile, etiologic factors, and outcomes in patients with a TIA or minor ischemic stroke who receive care in health systems that now offer urgent evaluation by stroke specialists. METHODS We recruited patients who had had a TIA or minor stroke within the previous 7 days. Sites were selected if they had systems dedicated to urgent evaluation of patients with TIA. We estimated the 1-year risk of stroke and of the composite outcome of stroke, an acute coronary syndrome, or death from cardiovascular causes. We also examined the association of the ABCD2 score for the risk of stroke (range, 0 [lowest risk] to 7 [highest risk]), findings on brain imaging, and cause of TIA or minor stroke with the risk of recurrent stroke over a period of 1 year. RESULTS From 2009 through 2011, we enrolled 4789 patients at 61 sites in 21 countries. A total of 78.4% of the patients were evaluated by stroke specialists within 24 hours after symptom onset. A total of 33.4% of the patients had an acute brain infarction, 23.2% had at least one extracranial or intracranial stenosis of 50% or more, and 10.4% had atrial fibrillation. The Kaplan–Meier estimate of the 1-year event rate of the composite cardiovascular outcome was 6.2% (95% confidence interval, 5.5 to 7.0). Kaplan–Meier estimates of the stroke rate at days 2, 7, 30, 90, and 365 were 1.5%, 2.1%, 2.8%, 3.7%, and 5.1%, respectively. In multivariable analyses, multiple infarctions on brain imaging, large-artery atherosclerosis, and an ABCD2 score of 6 or 7 were each associated with more than a doubling of the risk of stroke. CONCLUSIONS We observed a lower risk of cardiovascular events after TIA than previously reported. The ABCD2 score, findings on brain imaging, and status with respect to large-artery atherosclerosis helped stratify the risk of recurrent stroke within 1 year after a TIA or minor stroke. (Funded by Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb.)Supported by an unrestricted grant from Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb

Susceptibility of the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica (Newman) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), to entomopathogenic Hypocreales fungi

The susceptibility of adults and larvae of the Japanese beetle to isolates of the fungi Beauveria bassiana, B. brongniartii, Metarhizium anisopliae, Lecanicillium longisporum and L. muscarium (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) was evaluated in laboratory bioassays. The presence of intra- and interspecific variations regarding the pathogenicity of the isolates was investigated. Results show that most of the fungal isolates caused mortality in adults and larvae. Isolates M. anisopliae INRS 705 and B. bassiana INRS 236 induced 70.3% and 65.2% of mortality in P. japonica adults, respectively, and both caused the death of about 37% of larvae. Of the 17 tested isolates, 13 caused larval mortality. However, no significant difference was found between the susceptibility of larvae to isolates from different species and those from a same species. Lecanicillium species are undoubtedly not pathogenic to adults and seem to have few effects on larvae. Based on the results obtained with the selected isolates, intra- and interspecific differences relative to the pathogenicity of the isolates appeared to be present. Overall, this study expanded the knowledge about P. japonica susceptibility towards entomopathogenic Hypocreales fungi. The implications of this study regarding the development of a biological control agent are discussed.La vulnérabilité des adultes et des larves du scarabée japonais aux isolats des champignons Beauveria bassiana, B. brongniartii, Metarhizium anisopliae, Lecanicillium longisporum et L. muscarium (Ascomycota : Hypocreales) a été évaluée lors de tests biologiques en laboratoire. La présence de variations intra- et interspécifiques concernant le pouvoir pathogène des isolats a été étudiée. Les résultats montrent que la plupart des isolats fongiques provoquent de la mortalité chez les adultes et les larves. Les isolats M. anisopliae INRS 705 et B. bassiana INRS 236 ont mené à des taux de mortalité de 70,3 % et 65,2 % chez les adultes de P. japonica, respectivement, et les deux isolats ont provoqué la mort d’environ 37 % des larves. Des 17 isolats testés, 13 ont causé de la mortalité larvaire. Cependant, aucune différence importante n’a été notée entre la vulnérabilité des larves aux isolats de différentes espèces et à ceux de la même espèce. Les espèces Lecanicillium n’ont clairement pas de pouvoir pathogène chez les adultes et semblent n’avoir que peu d’effet chez les larves. En se fondant sur les résultats obtenus avec les isolats choisis, des différences intra- et interspécifiques concernant le pouvoir pathogène des isolats semblent être présentes. Dans son ensemble, l’étude a permis d’accroître les connaissances sur la vulnérabilité de P. japonica aux champignons pathogènes de l’ordre Hypocreales. Les conséquences de cette étude pour le développement d’un biopesticide sont présentées