[Cardiovascular risk factors in 4,215 subjects in the service and industrial sectors (the CESAME survey)]. / Facteurs de risque cardio-vascularies chez 4,215 sujets du secteur tertiaire et industriel (enquête CESAME).

A prospective transversal study was undertaken by occupational health physicians on more than 4,000 individuals including almost 800 women working in the same company with the following aims: a) to compare the prevalence of a certain number of classically recognized cardiovascular risk factors in 2 types of populations, service versus manufacturing industries, in the Paris region; and b) to understand these populations better so as to develop educational and information campaigns specifically adapted to their needs. Several elements were recorded in a computer data bank during the physical examination: blood pressure, blood cholesterol, smoking history, blood triglycerides, blood sugar, the ratio of measured to theoretical weight and physical activity. For each of these parameters, a value above a determined threshold level was defined as a risk factor. For men working in service industries, the percentages of heavy smokers (24%), hypercholesterolemia (18%), and hyperglycemia (7%) were significantly higher than in the manufacturing sector (19.3, 15 and 2.4%, respectively). In manufacturing industries, the percentages of men with hypertension (15%), hypertriglyceridemia (10%), who were overweight (24%) or had a low high density lipoprotein level (10%) were significantly higher than in the service sector (3.1, 7.5, 20 or 8.2%, respectively). The percentage of women smoking more than 20 g of tobacco per day (25.5%) in the service sector was significantly higher than that in manufacturing industries (4.25%). In contrast, in the manufacturing sector, the percentages of hypertensive (6%) and obese (24%) women were significantly higher than those in the service industries (1.1 and 16%, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Viral respiratory infections in children: new diagnostic methods for early detection. Initial results of a pilot project in Switzerland]. / Virale respiratorische Infektionen bei Kindern: neue diagnostische Methode zur Früherfassung. Erste Resultate eines Pilotprojektes in der Schweiz.

The new methods of rapid viral diagnosis make it possible to specify a number of the most prevalent agents of respiratory tract infections within 24 hours. The techniques are based on the immunological detection of antigens of respiratory syncytial (RSV), adeno, parainfluenza type 1, 2 and 3, as well as of influenza A and B viruses in nasopharyngeal secretions. During a one-year period we have used these methods to evaluate diagnostically 1541 outpatients presenting with upper and lower respiratory tract infections. The patients included babies, infants and children under 16. In about 50% of all sick babies below the age of three months a definite viral infection could be established, and in approximately 30% of infants and children aged up to 4 years. RSV was most frequently observed, accounting for 53.6% of all infections (80% of all babies below the age of 3 months, in whom specified agents could be identified, had RSV infection). The next most frequent pathogens were parainfluenza type 3 (18,8%), influenza A (11,3%) and, finally, adenoviruses (10.2%). The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of these infections are summarized. In addition, the results of these antigen detecting assays have been compared with those of concomitantly conducted virus isolation techniques in cell cultures. This comparative analysis most impressively revealed the time saved by attempting an etiological diagnosis using the antigen detecting system: in only 6% was a specific diagnosis established on the basis of virus isolation, whereas the delay was equal or more than 8 days in 36% of all patients enroled.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)