The real seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in France and its consequences for virus dynamics.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread world-wide since December 2019, killing more than 2.9 million of people. We have adapted a statistical model from the SIR epidemiological models to predict the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in France. Our model is based on several parameters and assumed a 4.2% seroprevalence in Occitania after the first lockdown. The recent use of serological tests to measure the effective seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the population of Occitania has led to a seroprevalence around 2.4%. This implies to review the parameters of our model to conclude at a lower than expected virus transmission rate, which may be due to infectivity varying with the patient's symptoms or to a constraint due to an uneven population geographical distribution.

Creation of a peptide database of corneous beta-proteins of marine turtles for the identification of tortoiseshell: archaeological combs as case study.

Tortoiseshell is a proteinaceous material derived from the scutes of marine turtles, and was shaped into an abundance of objects, especially luxurious items, at its peak in the seventeenth and eighteenth century. It has continued to be used even after the advent of plastics and remains one of the main causes of illegal poaching of marine turtles, in particular the hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata. Tortoiseshell is made of structural proteins, of which the most abundant are known as ß-keratins, or 'corneous beta-proteins' (CBPs), a family of short proteins containing a central structure in ß-sheets. There are, however, few CBP sequences of marine turtles in protein databases. The scutes of the five main species of marine turtles (Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta, Eretmochelys imbricata, Lepidochelys olivacea and Lepidochelys kempii) were analysed by proteomics, using nano-liquid chromatography-Orbitrap-mass spectrometry to generate peptidic markers for species identification. A total of 187 marker sequences were identified, the large majority of them obtained from automated de novo sequencing. The sequences were classified into peptides A to F: A to D at the N-terminus and central region that forms the ß-pleated sheets, E1-4 for a variable region of glycine-repeats region and F at the C-terminus. The markers were tested against a set of combs discovered in various archaeological sites of modern period in France, successfully identifying hawksbill turtle and highlighting patterns of degradation in archaeological tortoiseshell.

Work adjustments and employment among breast cancer survivors: a French prospective study.

PURPOSE: The objective of our study was to assess the rate of work adjustments 1 year after the diagnosis in a population of female breast cancer (BC) survivors, in the context of the French system of social protection. We also characterised these adjustments and their influence on the reduction of professional exclusion of patients 1 year after the diagnosis. METHODS: This observational, prospective study was conducted from February 2015 to April 2016 among female patients with BC. Inclusion criteria were women aged between 18 and 65 years, treated for BC and integrated into the labour market at the time of diagnosis (working or on sick leave). Exclusion criteria were metastatic BC, retired patients and refusal to participate. A 1-year follow-up was scheduled, and data collection was performed with questionnaires. RESULTS: In total, 213 patients were included between February 2015 and April 2016. One year after the diagnosis (T1), among 185 BC survivors, 78 (42.2%) patients were working. Among them, 13 patients did not interrupt their occupational activity and 65 returned to work after a period of sick leave. Sixty-four patients returned to work after the end of chemotherapy (after 6 months), and one returned to work before this therapeutic threshold. Sixty-six patients (35.7%) benefited from at least one adjustment of their work conditions to facilitate their return to work (RTW) or maintenance at work: working hours were decreased for 43 patients, and workstation changes were performed for 22 patients. An occupational health physician was involved for some patients; work adjustments were prescribed to 42 patients, 7 patients had medical restrictions for physical reasons and 4 patients had restrictions for psychological reasons. Forty-three patients benefited from part-time work prescribed for therapeutic reasons. CONCLUSIONS: Referral to occupational health physicians and work adjustments remain limited in the process of RTW or maintenance at work after BC in France, despite their positive impact.

Lung cancer survivors and employment: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this systematic review is to identify, in a comprehensive manner, the impact of lung cancer on the employment status of survivors. METHODS: The Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement was used as a formal guideline. The systematic review includes scientific papers published between January 2000 and October 2018. The search strategy queried the database MEDLINE. Inclusion criteria comprised: (1) inclusion of patients diagnosed with lung cancer (LC) (2); assessment of employment status or employment outcomes or work adjustments or return to work (3); inclusion of scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals (4); inclusion of articles written either in English or in French. Literature reviews were not included. RESULTS: A total of 642 scientific papers were retrieved. Twenty-three articles were included in the systematic review: 5 longitudinal studies and 18 cross-sectional studies. LC survivors are 2-3 times more likely to be unemployed as compared with control groups. Previous studies highlight a median duration of sickness absence increased for LC survivors compared to control groups. The strongest decline in earnings was observed among LC survivors as compared to other cancer types. CONCLUSIONS: LC is associated with a significant impact on employment of patients. The promising results of recent therapeutic strategies could lead to a better social and professional prognosis. A reduction of indirect costs is to be expected.

Barriers to seeking help for physicians with substance use disorder: A review.

BACKGROUND: Substance use disorders (SUD) might concern as many as 8-15% of physicians. Previous studies suggest that self-diagnosis and self-medication are common practices among physicians. The aim of this review was to identify if barriers to seeking help and medical care for impaired physicians exist. We also aimed at characterizing the nature of these barriers. METHODS: The review included scientific papers published on the MEDLINE and PsychINFO databases between January 2000 and September 2018. The inclusion criteria were: (i) articles that focused on SUD in physicians. The exclusion criteria were: (i) no mention of SUD; (ii) no mention of barriers to seeking help; (iii) articles focused on burn-out and work-related stress; (iv) articles focused on risk factors or treatments for SUD; (v) articles focused on psychiatric comorbidities and (vi) those focused on other professionals. RESULTS: Potential barriers to seeking help that were identified for impaired physicians with SUD included denial of the disease and of loss of performance, fear of stigma, psychiatric comorbidities, fear of familial/social/professional and economic consequences and a lack of knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Different barriers to seeking help could be identified. Priority should be given to educating medical students to ameliorate this. Increased awareness should reduce the stigma, which, even nowadays, still prevents some physicians from seeking help.

The impact of chronic myeloid leukemia on employment: the French prospective study.

Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with breakpoint cluster region-Abelson tyrosine kinase inhibitors are likely to survive in excess of 20 years after diagnosis. New challenges appear as we consider life after the disease, including professional challenges and the social reintegration of patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of chronic myeloid leukemia on employment within 2 years after diagnosis. This prospective, observational study included patients diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia and treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Two populations were defined as patients who reported modifications in their professional activity during the study (Acti-Pro+) and patients who did not report a modification (Acti-Pro-). Cancer survivors received a self-assessment questionnaire. The primary endpoint was to determine the professional status of patients. One hundred patients completed the questionnaire. Sixty-six patients out of 100 reported professional activity within 2 years after their diagnosis. During the 2 years after the diagnosis, 65.2% (95% confidence interval (CI), 53.7-76.7) of patients faced modifications in their professional activity due to chronic myeloid leukemia or adverse effects of drug treatments (group Acti-Pro+); in contrast, 34.8% of patients did not report any impact on their occupational activity (group Acti-Pro-). Among modifications to work organization, a change in the number of working hours was the most represented. Other modifications comprised changes in status or work pace. A majority of chronic myeloid leukemia patients face professional consequences of their disease and treatments. Our findings suggest that adverse drug reactions are a major factor affecting the occurrence of work modifications in this context.

Occupational exposure to human Mycobacterium bovis infection: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is the main causative agent of bovine zoonotic tuberculosis. The aim of this systematic review is to highlight the occupational exposure to bovine tuberculosis due to M. bovis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A computer based literature search was carried out to identify papers published between January 2006 and March 2017. "PubMed, Cochrane Library and Science Direct" databases were searched systematically. Articles presenting the following properties were included: (i) focusing on M. bovis; (ii) concerning occupational exposure to bovine tuberculosis. A quality assessment was performed after selection of studies. Our search strategy identified a total of 3,264 papers of which 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. Of the 29 articles, 17 were cross-sectional studies (6 were of high quality and scored in the range of 6-7, 11 were of moderate quality and scored in the range 3-5), 10 were case reports, and 2 were reviews. Different occupational fields exposing to the disease were described: livestock sector, particularly in contact with dairy cattle (farmers, veterinaries and assistants, abattoir workers) and working in contact with wildlife (hunters, taxidermists). CONCLUSIONS: A specific guideline for occupational practitioners taking care of employees exposed to bovine tuberculosis is warranted and should be tailored to level of exposure. This review was intended to be the first step of such a project. Articles were identified from various continents and countries with different socio-economic situations, broadening our understanding of the worldwide situation. Published data on occupational exposure in developed countries are scarce. We had to extrapolate findings from countries with higher prevalence of the disease.

A French crop-exposure matrix for use in epidemiological studies on pesticides: PESTIMAT.

Pesticide exposure assessment is a key methodological issue for epidemiological studies. The history of pesticide has proven difficult to obtain from individuals' report because of the wide range of active ingredients (AIs). We developed a crop-exposure matrix, which intends to reconstitute parameters of pesticide exposure in France since 1950. PESTIMAT is composed of tables crossing crops and AIs by year and providing the following metrics: (1) probability (proportion of farmers having used the AIs); (2) frequency (number of treatment days); and (3) intensity (application rate of the AIs in kg/ha). Metrics were obtained by the combination of six sources: (i) registration information from the Agriculture Ministry; (ii) information from agricultural bodies on products marketed; (iii) agricultural recommendations by the Plant Health Protection body; (iv) treatment calendars provided by farmers; (v) data from associations of farmers; and (vi) data from the industry. To date, 529 AIs usable between 1950 and 2010 are included in PESTIMAT: 160 fungicides; 160 herbicides; and 209 insecticides. When combined with duration and determinants of intensity, the metrics in PESTIMAT will make it possible to calculate exposure scores and to search for dose-effect relationships, an important criterion for causality judgment in epidemiology.

Predictive risk factors for chronic regional and multisite musculoskeletal pain: a 5-year prospective study in a working population.

The role of psychosocial and physical factors in the development of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) has now been clearly demonstrated. However, it is unclear whether these factors contribute to specific regional MSP or to multisite pain. The main goal of this study was to assess the impact of work-related factors according to gender on the development of regional and multisite MSP. A total of 12,591 subjects (65% men and 35% women) who were born in 1938, 1943, 1948, and 1953 and were participating in a French longitudinal prospective epidemiological survey (ESTEV) in 1990 to 1995 were eligible. Personal factors and work exposure were assessed by self-administered questionnaires. Statistical associations between chronic MSP (regional body site or multisite), personal factors, and occupational factors were analyzed using logistic regression modeling. The incidence of regional MSP and multisite pain in 1995 were, respectively, 17% and 25.6%. For women, highly repetitive movements predicted neck/shoulder pain; posture and vibrations predicted arm and low back pain; and effort with tools predicted arm pain. For men, forceful effort and vibrations predicted neck/shoulder pain; posture and forceful effort predicted lower limb and low back pain; and forceful effort and effort with tools predicted arm pain. Physical constraints (ie, forceful effort or vibrations) were associated with multisite pain in both genders. Only for women, psychological factors were risk factors predictive of upper limb pain and in 3 or 4 painful anatomical sites. These results support the hypothesis that some physical and psychological work-related factors are predictive of regional or multisite MSP but differ according to gender. Gender differences and risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal pain should be also taken into account to more effectively target preventive measures.

Use of drugs, tobacco, alcohol and illicit substances in a French student population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate perceived health status and prevalence of drug use, tobacco smoking, consumption of alcohol and illicit substances in a student population. METHODS: Data were obtained from an anonymous questionnaire distributed to first-year students of the Toulouse University. Collected data concerned socio-demographic characteristics, perceived health status, and consumption of tobacco, alcohol, illicit substances and drugs. RESULTS: Fifty seven percent of the 3 561 responders declared to have taken at least one drug during the week preceding the questionnaire. Most commonly Anatomical, Therapeutic and Chemical (ATC) classes used were genito-urinary system and sex hormones (29.6%), nervous system (16.4%) and alimentary tract and metabolism (14.1%). Twenty three percent of students were smokers. Differences according to health perception were found for tobacco and cannabis consumption. Anxiety was significantly more prevalent among students reporting that they did not consume alcohol (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: More than half of students use drugs. Other consumptions (tobacco, alcohol and illicit substances) are related with perceived health status.

Predictors of chronic shoulder pain after 5 years in a working population.

The role of psychosocial and physical factors in the development of shoulder pain has now been clearly demonstrated. However, only a few studies have analyzed these associations over time. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of work-related psychological and mechanical factors on chronic shoulder pain. A total of 12,714 subjects (65% men) born in 1938, 1943, 1948, and 1953 participating in a French prospective longitudinal epidemiological investigation in 1990 to 1995 Enquête Santé Travail Et Vieillissement (ESTEV) were included. Clinical examination was performed by 400 trained occupational physicians. Personal factors and work exposure were assessed by self-administered questionnaires. Statistical associations between chronic shoulder pain and personal and occupational factors were analyzed using logistic regression modeling. A total of 1706 subjects experienced chronic shoulder pain in 1990, and 2089 experienced chronic shoulder pain in 1995. The incidence of chronic shoulder pain in 1995 was 11% (n=1355). Forceful effort (odds ratio [OR]=1.24 95% CI [1.05-1.44], awkward posture (OR=1.34 95% CI [1.19-1.52]), decision latitude (OR=1.19 [1.04 to 1.35]), and psychological demand (OR=1.19 95% CI [1.06-1.32]) in 1990 were significantly associated with chronic shoulder pain in 1995, even after adjustment for personal factors and previous shoulder pain status. Awkward posture (OR=1.43 [1.25 to 1.63]), psychological demand (OR=1.24 [1.09 to 1.40]), and decision latitude (OR=1.21 [1.04 to 1.41] work-related factors in 1990 were associated with the development of chronic shoulder pain between 1990 and 1995. These results suggest that awkward posture, forceful effort, job demand, and decision control are predictors of chronic shoulder pain at work. Interventions designed to reduce the incidence of chronic shoulder pain must include both mechanical and psychological factors.

Thyroid function tests in persons with occupational exposure to fipronil.

BACKGROUND: Fipronil represents a chemical class of insecticides acting at the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor in pests. [corrected] Fipronil has been associated with a significant increase in the incidence of thyroid gland tumors concomitant with prolonged exposure to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in rats. An association between human TSH concentration and thyroid cancer has been also reported. The primary objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that chronic occupational fipronil exposure may be associated with abnormal thyroid function tests. METHODS: In 2008, 159 workers of a factory manufacturing fipronil-containing veterinary drugs were assessed. Serum concentrations of TSH, total thyroxine, free thyroxine, fipronil, and fipronil sulfone were measured. RESULTS: A positive and significant correlation was observed between serum fipronil or fipronil sulfone levels and duration of fipronil exposure. Serum fipronil sulfone concentration was negatively correlated with TSH concentration in fipronil-exposed workers, but with no significant increase in thyroid function test abnormalities. CONCLUSION: This study did not show that chronic fipronil exposure was associated with an increase of thyroid function test abnormalities. But, despite the fact that fipronil exposure in rats has been associated with increased serum TSH, fipronil sulfone concentrations were negatively correlated with serum TSH concentrations in fipronil-exposed workers, raising the possibility that fipronil has a central inhibitory effect on TSH secretion in humans. Close occupational medical surveillance, therefore, appears to be required in factory workers manufacturing fipronil-containing veterinary drugs. Larger epidemiological studies as well as investigations on possible thyroid-disrupting mechanisms of fipronil are also required.

Links between nurses' organisational work environment and upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms: independently of effort-reward imbalance! The ORSOSA study.

The role of psychosocial factors in the development of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders has now been clearly demonstrated. However, only a few studies have analysed the association between the organisational work environment and musculoskeletal disorders in health care workers. The main goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that some specific organisational constraints may be related to upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by registered nurses, independently of the effort/reward imbalance model and major confounding factors. In 2006, 2194 female registered nurses in 7 French teaching hospitals, recruited from the baseline screening of an epidemiological cohort study (the ORSOSA study), responded to valid self-report questionnaires (ERI [effort-reward imbalance], Nordic-style questionnaire). The organisational work environment was assessed by the self-rated Nursing Work Index-Extended Organisation scale. Multilevel models were used for analyses. We found that 2 organisational health care constraints: low level of shared values about work between members in the unit and lack of support from the administration were significantly associated with upper limb symptoms, independently of ERI perceptions. This study identified and quantified specific health care organisational factors that have an impact on nurses' upper limb symptoms, sometimes independently of ERI perception. A prospective study is needed to clarify the causal role of psychosocial and organisational work factors in upper limb injury in nurses. Organisational approaches may be more effective in improving health at work and may also have a longer-lasting impact than individual approaches.

Blood pressure and working conditions in hospital nurses and nursing assistants. The ORSOSA study.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers often are unsatisfied with their working conditions despite declaring to like their jobs. Psychosocial constraints in the workplace have increased recently due to changes in work organization. These psychosocial constraints are linked to cardiovascular diseases. AIM: To analyze the relationship between blood pressure levels and organizational occupational risk factors in female hospital workers, using a new questionnaire (the Nursing Work Index-Extended Organization [NWI-EO] questionnaire), which quantifies psychological and organizational work factors. METHODS: The ORSOSA study is a national, multicentre, cohort study conducted in seven voluntary French university hospitals, including 214 work units with a total of 2307 nurses and 1530 nursing assistants. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure appeared to be significantly associated with age (P<0.001) and excess weight (P<0.001). The difference between systolic blood pressure in day-shift and night-shift workers was 2.5mmHg (P<0.001). The NWI-EO dimension most strongly correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure was poor team relationships (P<0.01 for both). For a one-point difference in the NWI-EO stress score, systolic blood pressure was higher by a mean of 0.2mmHg. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that poor relationships within teams are related to high blood pressure among hospital workers. They add to the evidence that working conditions should be considered and investigated further among other risk factors as a pathway to primary prevention of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

Eligibility and willingness of first-year students entering university to participate in a HPV vaccination catch-up program.

OBJECTIVES: In France, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is routinely recommended for 14-year-old girls; a catch-up vaccination should be offered to girls and women 15-23 years of age before the first time they have sex or within the first year after sexual activity begins. The aim of the present study was to examine the eligibility and willingness of first-year college students of Toulouse University (France) to participate in a HPV vaccination catch-up program, and to estimate their knowledge of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening. STUDY DESIGN: The study was conducted from January to April 2008 simultaneously at the three university medical centres (Science, Literature-Psychology, Law-Social Sciences). Female students entering the University were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire at the time of their preventive medical visit. The questionnaire included questions on demographics, knowledge about HPV vaccination, sexual behaviour, and willingness to participate in the French vaccination program. RESULTS: In total, 606 women from the 3 colleges were included. The response rate of the questionnaire was 93.1%. The median age of participants was 19 and 8.3% of them had already been vaccinated. Of the respondents, 67.2% were sexually experienced and 25.3% of sexually experienced students had their first intercourse less than 1 year prior. Knowledge of HPV infections, associated diseases, and prevention was limited, a finding that indicates the need to pursue educational campaigns. Among respondents, 42.7% were eligible for catch-up vaccination, and 64.1% of them were willing to be vaccinated. We did not observe significant differences among the three colleges. CONCLUSIONS: First-year college preventive consultation is an opportunity to vaccinate near 43% of women according to French recommendations. Improved education about HPV-related diseases and their prevention is needed.