A Monthly Indicator of the French Business Climate

In France, the business tendency surveys conducted in all the important sectors of the economy are key components in diagnosing the economic outlook. Over the years, INSEE has gradually introduced business climate indicators for each business sector. Such indicators summarise the data contained in the many balances of opinion supplied by the surveys and enable to measure the economic situation each month. An indicator of this kind has been lacking, however, for the economy as the whole. To fill this gap and enrich the existing panel of business climate indicators we provide in this paper the first composite indicator based on French business surveys covering all the important economic sectors of the French economy. We chose the dynamic factor analysis to deal with mixed and changing frequencies and time availability of the data. Parameters are estimated by maximum likelihood based on the Kalman filter. Several indicators can be estimated according to the type (sector-based business climate indicators or elementary components) and the number of variables included in the model. To validate our results and choose the best indicator, we defined three criteria : real-time stability, predictive accuracy to forecast GDP growth and ability to reproduce French business cycles. The new monthly synthetic indicator which passed the tests best allows a clear and simple interpretation of all the business surveys and can deliver each month an early and accurate quantitative message concerning the current business climate in France. This indicator can also be used to improve GDP growth forecast.business survey, dynamic factor analysis, unobserved components model, Kalman filter

A statistical survey on death and digital practices: reflexivity on methodological biases

Constructing a questionnaire, both in terms of methodology and ethics, supposes an exercise in reflexivity, especially when the context relates to a taboo subject such as death. Drawing on a statistical survey aimed mainly at understanding the role of digital technologies in mourning practices, this paper explores a raft of methodological and ethical questions raised by the different steps spanning the design, communication and administration of the survey. We pinpoint the limits of statistical data and the need to supplement these with a qualitative approach as well as "quali-quantitative" data to decipher socio-digital uses in mourning, which relates to the emotive dimension

D’une enquête statistique sur mort et numérique.: Réflexivité sur des biais méthodologiques

Programme financé par l'ANR Sociétés innovantes Edition 2013, Février 2014-Février 2018. Article en français (version non publiée) traduit en anglais dans la revue ESSACHESS.International audienceLa construction d'un questionnaire, tant sur des plans méthodologique qu’éthique, suppose un exercice de réflexivité, notamment lorsqu'il intervient dans le contexte d’un sujet tabou comme celui de la mort. D’après une enquête statistique ayant notamment pour objectif de comprendre le rôle du numérique dans les pratiques de deuil, cet article s’intéresse à un ensemble de questions méthodologiques et éthiques posées par les différentes étapes de ce questionnaire depuis sa conception en passant par sa communication et passation. Il pointe les limites de la statistique et la nécessité d’user en complément d’une démarche qualitative, voire de données « quali-quantitatives » pour décrypter les usages socionumériques mortuaires, du ressort du sensible

Vaccination par le BCG : enquête auprès d'enfants de moins de 5 ans consultant dans un service d'urgences hospitalières

International audienceFrance is a country with a low incidence of tuberculosis. However, there are important local variations: some parts of the city of Marseilles (southern France) presented a yearly incidence greater than 30/100,000 in 2010. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the BCG vaccine coverage among at-risk children younger than 5 years consulting in one of the city's pediatric emergency departments. Material and methods. This descriptive study took place in February 2013 and used a semi-directive questionnaire distributed to parents. Results. One hundred and thirty-five children were included, 98 (72.6 %) were considered as being at risk of tuberculosis and among them 75 (76.5 %, 95 % CI [68.0–85.1]) were vaccinated with BCG. Parents' knowledge of tuberculosis was relevant in 48 % of the respondents. Only 19 % of the parents reported that BCG protects against tuberculosis, but 73 % were in favor of this vaccination. Two criteria significantly increased vaccine coverage among at-risk children: birth in Marseilles and age more than 6 months on the consultation day. The child living in a poor family and type of medical follow-up did not significantly influence BCG vaccine coverage. Conclusion. BCG coverage was high in at-risk children younger than 5 years born in Marseilles. Cooperation between private physicians , maternity hospitals and mothers, and children's public health services probably facilitates this high level of protection.Malgré une faible incidence de la tuberculose en France, il existe de grandes variations à l'échelle communale : certains quartiers de Marseille présentent ainsi une incidence annuelle supérieure à 30/ 100 000. Le but de notre étude etait d'évaluer la couverture vaccinale par le vaccin de Calmette et Guérin (BCG) des enfants à risque aâgés de moins de 5 ans consultant dans un service d'urgences pédiatriques. Matériel et méthodes : Cette étude descriptive a eété réalisée en février 2013 à l'aide d'un questionnaire semi-directif proposé aux parents. Résultats : Cent-trente-cinq enfants ont été inclus, 98 (72,6 %) étaient considérés àrisque de tuberculose et parmi ces derniers 75 (76,5 %, IC 95 % [68,0–85,1]) eétaient vaccinés par le BCG. Seuls 48 % des parents connaissaient la tuberculose et 19 % savaient que le BCG protégeait contre cette maladie, mais 73 % étaient favorables à ce vaccin. Deux paramètres étaient liés à la vaccination des enfants à risque : une naissance à Marseille et un âge supérieur à 6 mois le jour de la consultation. La précarité des conditions de vie et le type de suivi médical n' influençaient pas significativement la couverture vaccinale des enfants à risque. Conclusion : En 2013, la couverture vaccinale par le BCG des enfants de moins de 5 ans nés à Marseille et à risque de tuberculose était correcte mais perfectible. Une coopération entre médecins de ville, maternités et services de protection maternelle et infantile (PMI) permet probablement d'obtenir cette bonne couverture vaccinale

Imported Malaria in Children in Industrialized Countries, 1992–2002

Children account for a considerable proportion of cases imported to the United States and Europe

Influence of oxygen on asexual blood cycle and susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine: requirement of a standardized in vitro assay

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to assess the influence of gas mixtures on in vitro Plasmodium falciparum growth and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) for chloroquine. METHODS: The study was performed between February 2004 and December 2005. 136 Plasmodium falciparum isolates were used to evaluate gas mixtures effect on IC(50 )for chloroquine by isotopic microtest. The oxygen effect on asexual blood cycle of 3D7 and W2 clones was determined by thin blood smears examination and tritiated hypoxanthine uptake. RESULTS: From 5% O(2 )to 21% O(2 )conditions, no parasiticide effect of O(2 )concentration was observed in vitro on the clones 3D7 and W2. A parasitostatic effect was observed during the exposure of mature trophozoïtes and schizonts at 21% O(2 )with an increase in the length of schizogony. The chloroquine IC(50 )at 10% O(2 )were significantly higher than those at 21% O(2), means of 173.5 nM and 121.5 nM respectively (p < 0.0001). In particular of interest, among the 63 isolates that were in vitro resistant to chloroquine (IC(50 )> 100 nM) at 10% O(2), 17 were sensitive to chloroquine (IC(50 )< 100 nM) at 21% O(2). CONCLUSION: Based on these results, laboratories should use the same gas mixture to realize isotopic microtest. Further studies on comparison of isotopic and non-isotopic assays are needed to establish a standardized in vitro assay protocol to survey malaria drug resistance

Genotypic profiles of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis

Background: Forty-four strains isolated from a cohort of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients who did or did not respond to one course of treatment with meglumine antimoniate were investigated to explore genetic polymorphisms in parasite kinetoplast DNA minicircles. Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis strains isolated from responder (R) and non-responder (NR) patients who acquired infection in Rio de Janeiro or in other Brazilian states were studied using low-stringency single-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (LSSP-PCR) to identify genetic polymorphisms. Results: Polymorphisms were observed in parasites recovered from patient lesions. No association was found between a specific genotype and R or NR patients. Phenetic analysis grouped the genotypes into three main clusters, with similarity indices varying from 0.72 to 1.00. Although no specific genotype association was detected, at least one group of L. (V.) braziliensis genotypes that circulates in Rio de Janeiro was discriminated in clusters I and III, showing phenotypes of good and poor responses to treatment, respectively. Cluster I comprised parasite profiles recovered from R patients from Rio de Janeiro and in cluster III, NR samples were prevalent. Cluster II comprised 24 isolates, with 21 from Rio de Janeiro and three from other states, equally distributed between R and NR patients. Additionally, we found that parasites sharing all common genetic characteristics acted differently in response to treatment. Conclusions: These results are of clinical-epidemiological importance since they demonstrate that populations of L. (V.) braziliensis that exhibit high levels of genetic similarity also display different phenotypes associated with meglumine antimoniate responses in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients

Leishmania infantum leishmaniasis in corticosteroid – treated patients

BACKGROUND: The number of leishmaniasis cases associated with immunosuppression has increased regularly over the past 20 years. Immunosuppression related to HIV infection, immunosuppressive treatment, organ transplantation, and neoplastic diseases increases the risk for Leishmania-infected people to develop visceral illness. CASE PRESENTATION: Three cases of Leishmania infantum leishmaniasis in corticosteroid (CS)-treated patients are reported: an isolated lingual leishmaniasis in a farmer treated with CS for asthma, a severe visceral leishmaniasis associated with cutaneous lesions in a woman with myasthenia gravis, and a visceral involvement after cutaneous leishmaniasis in a man receiving CS. CONCLUSION: Physicians should recognise CS-treated patients as a population likely to be immunesuppressed. In immunodeficiency conditions, unusual forms of leishmaniasis can develop and foster the risk of a diagnostic delay and of poor response to therapy

Tropheryma whipplei in Children with Gastroenteritis

This bacterium may be an etiologic agent of gastroenteritis

Utjecaj izloženosti 1,6-heksametilen diizocijanatu (HDI) na vršni ekspiratorni protok u autolakirera u Iranu

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of occupational exposure to 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) on peak flowmetry in automobile body paint shop workers in Iran. We studied a population of 43 car painters exposed to HDI at their workplaces. Peak expiratory fl ow was tested for one working week, from the start to the end of each shift. Air was sampled and HDI analysed in parallel, according to the OSHA 42 method. Daily and weekly HDI exposure averages were (0.42±0.1) mg m-3 and (0.13±0.05) mg m-3, respectively. On painting days, 72 % of workers showed more than a 10 % variation in peak expiratory fl ow. Inhalation exposure exceeded the threshold limit value (TLV) ten times over. This strongly suggests that HDI affected the peak fl owmetry in the studied workers.Cilj je ovog ispitivanja bio utvrditi vršni protok u 43 iranska autolakirera profesionalno izložena 1,6-heksametilen diizocijanatu (HDI). Vršni ekspiratorni protok testiran je tjedan dana na početku i kraju svake smjene. Uzorkovanje i mjerenje HDI-ja u zraku radilo se istodobno s testiranjem vršnoga protoka, prema metodi OSHA 42. Prosječna dnevna izloženost radnika HDI-ju iznosila je (0.42±0.1) mg m-3, a tjedna (0.13±0.05) mg m-3. U 72 % radnika vršni ekspiratorni protok tijekom dana varirao je više od 10 %. Radnici su udisali deset puta više razine HDI-ja od graničnih te je moguće da je HDI utjecao na mjerenja plućne funkcije