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L’auteur présente l’interculturalisme comme modèle d’intégration et de gestion de la diversité ethnoculturelle. Il s’inspire du parcours québécois amorcé depuis les années 1960-1970, mais aussi de la réflexion et des expériences conduites en Europe où la philosophie interculturaliste a d’importantes racines. Au Québec, l’interculturalisme bénéficie présentement de larges appuis dans la population (comme l’ont montré les audiences publiques de la Commission Bouchard-Taylor), mais fait aussi l’objet d’importantes critiques.Un second objectif consiste à répudier certains malentendus qui ont introduit de la confusion dans le débat public, plus spécialement au Québec. L’auteur démontre que : l’intégration collective est un processus global concernant l’ensemble des citoyens et des composantes d’une société et non seulement l’insertion des immigrants ; l’interculturalisme n’est pas une forme déguisée de multiculturalisme ; l’intégration est fondée sur un principe de réciprocité ; le pluralisme et le principe de la reconnaissance ne conduisent nullement à la fragmentation ; le pluralisme est une option générale pouvant recevoir diverses applications correspondant à autant de modèles, dont le multiculturalisme ; le type de pluralisme préconisé par l’interculturalisme peut être qualifié d’intégrateur ; les accommodements ne sont pas des privilèges, ils n’ont pas été conçus uniquement pour les immigrants et ne donnent pas libre cours aux valeurs, croyances ou pratiques contraires aux normes fondamentales de la société ; l’interculturalisme se soucie autant des intérêts de la majorité culturelle que des intérêts des minorités et des immigrants ; et sauf circonstances extrêmes, les solutions radicales conviennent rarement à la nature des problèmes que pose la diversité ethnoculturelle.The author presents interculturalism as a model for the integration and administration of ethnocultural diversity. He not only draws inspiration from the path taken by Quebec since the 1960s and 1970s, but also from personal reflection and from experiments conducted in Europe, where the philosophy of interculturalism has significant roots. In Quebec, interculturalism currently benefits from widespread popular support (as the public hearings of the Bouchard-Taylor Commission demonstrated), but it is also the object of significant criticism.A second goal is to repudiate certain misunderstandings that have caused confusion in the public debate, especially in Quebec. The author demonstrates that: integration is a global process affecting all the citizens and constituents in a society, and not simply the assimilation of immigrants; interculturalism is not a disguised form of multiculturalism; integration is based on a principle of reciprocity; pluralism and the principle of recognition do not in any way lead to fragmentation; pluralism is a general option with many possible applications corresponding to as many different models, including multiculturalism; the kind of pluralism advocated by interculturalism can be described as integrationary; accomm...

Abstract-Essential hypertension is a heterogeneous disorder that is thought to develop because of several overlapping subsets of underlying mechanisms. One such causal pathway may involve pathophysiological alterations induced by obesity. In the present study, we examined whether investigating clinically defined subtypes of hypertension, such as obesity-associated hypertension, facilitates the search for its genes. Fifty-five extended families were selected on the basis of having Ն2 siblings affected by hypertension from a geographically remote French-Canadian population. Fifteen of these families showed a high prevalence (Ն70%) of obesity. Genome-wide scan using qualitative multipoint linkage analysis (GeneHunter 2.1; marker density Ͻ10 cM) was performed in the entire set of hypertensive families and the subset with high prevalence of obesity. In the scan involving all 55 families, the most significant loci (logarithm of odds [LOD] scoreϭ2.5) were identified on chromosomes 1 (D1S1597) and 11 (D11S1999). In the scan including only the subset of families with obesity-hypertension, the most significant locus (LOD scoreϭ3.1) was found on chromosome 1 in the same region as the scan involving all families (D1S1597). Genotyping additional markers increased the significance of this locus (LOD scoreϭ3.5) and refined its position (D1S2672). Several candidate genes of obesity-hypertension are located in close proximity; these include the tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 and atrial natriuretic peptide genes. These results suggest that investigating clinically defined subtypes of hypertension, such as obesity-associated hypertension, may facilitate the search for genes of this complex disorder. Key Words: hypertension, obesity Ⅲ genetics E ssential hypertension is a heterogeneous disorder that develops because of several overlapping subsets of pathophysiological mechanisms. Obesity is a leading risk factor for the disorder, and as such, may be a key element in one of these subsets. Prospective cohort investigations have demonstrated positive correlations between weight gain and blood pressure (BP) elevation. 1 For example, in the Framingham Study, it was estimated that for each 4.5 kg of weight gain, there is an associated increase in systolic BP of 4 mm Hg in both men and women. 2 Pathophysiological mechanisms linking the increases in adiposity to the elevations in BP are not very well understood. They may include alterations in renal handling of sodium and water, sympathetic nervous system activity, insulin sensitivity, and fatty acid metabolism, 3 with some of these alterations being induced by hormones, growth factors, and cytokines expressed by adipose tissue in response to its expansion.Hypertension and obesity are multifactorial traits determined by a complex interplay of genes and environments. 4 A number of genes contribute to the determination of each of these traits, and their actions are simple, additive, or more complex, characterized by phenomena such as epistasis and pleiotropy. Furthermore, hypertension and ...