Work-related laryngeal cancer: Trends in France from 2001 to 2016.

OBJECTIVES: As part of the 2014-2019 cancer plan and in order to improve our knowledge of work-related cancers, we analysed the work-related laryngeal cancer risk situations identified in the French national occupational disease surveillance and prevention network (rnv3p) from 2001 to 2016. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study focused on cases of work-related laryngeal cancer, which the expert physician considered to be directly related to exposure (intermediate or strong causal relationship). Demographic data, occupational exposure circumstances (hazards, occupation, business sector), non-occupational risk factors and the occupational physician's opinion concerning notification as an occupational disease were analysed. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-four cases of laryngeal cancer were registered between 2001 and 2016. One hundred and forty seven cases were considered to be work-related, with an intermediate or strong causal relationship in 87 cases. This exclusively male population had a median age of 59 years. Ninety-seven different forms of exposure were identified, including asbestos in 78 cases. The main business sectors concerned were specialized construction (14 cases) and metallurgy (7 cases). Occupational disease notification was recommended in 60 patients, corresponding to asbestos exposure in 80% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Asbestos is the laryngeal cancer risk factor most commonly reported in the network from 2001 to 2016. This study confirms the role of asbestos in laryngeal carcinogenesis. Laryngeal cancer may therefore need to be compensated as an occupational disease in France, as in other European countries.

The potential distribution of Bactrocera dorsalis: considering phenology and irrigation patterns.

A species in the Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) complex was detected in Kenya during 2003 and classified as Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta & White. Having spread rapidly throughout Africa, it threatens agriculture due to crop damage and loss of market access. In a recent revision of the B. dorsalis complex, B. invadens was incorporated into the species B. dorsalis. The potential distribution of B. dorsalis has been previously modelled. However, previous models were based on presence data and did not incorporate information on the seasonal phenology of B. dorsalis, nor on the possible influence that irrigation may have on its distribution. Methyl eugenol-baited traps were used to collect B. dorsalis in Africa. Seasonal phenology data, measured as fly abundance throughout the year, was related to each location's climate to infer climatic growth response parameters. These functions were used along with African distribution records and development studies to fit the niche model for B. dorsalis, using independent global distribution records outside Africa for model validation. Areas at greatest risk of invasion by B. dorsalis are South and Central America, Mexico, southernmost USA, parts of the Mediterranean coast, parts of Southern and Eastern Australia and New Zealand's North Island. Under irrigation, most of Africa and Australia appear climatically suitable.

[The evaluation of the level of integration within a perinatal network]. / Evaluation de l'intégration des médecins généralistes au sein d'un réseau de santé en périnatalité

OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to evaluate the level of integration of general practitioners within the perinatal network in the Auvergne. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was realized. The questionnaire was sent by post to the 1346 general practitioners who were members of the "Union régionale des médecins libéraux" (Regional association of private doctors in the Auvergne). Follow-up phone calls were also made. RESULTS: The overall response to the questionnaire was 29.8%. Of those who replied, 76.3% were involved in the care of pregnant women or newly born babies. Among them, 51.2% had a consultation with a pregnant woman less than once a week and 53,5% had a consultation with a newly born more than once a week. A third were aware of the network and 25.7% had knowledge of the medical record provided by the network. Among them, 91.3% thought that a common medical record was necessary to improve the coordination of care. The answers differed according to age, area of responsibility, the administrative geographic position in the Auvergne, type of practise (hospital, private), and the sex of those who replied. CONCLUSION: Despite a high a priori agreement, we must improve the level of information and training given to general practitioners within our perinatal network.

Using a model-based framework for analysing genetic diversity during germination and heterotrophic growth of Medicago truncatula.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The framework provided by an emergence model was used: (1) for phenotyping germination and heterotrophic growth of Medicago truncatula in relation to two major environmental factors, temperature and water potential; and (2) to evaluate the extent of genetic differences in emergence-model parameters. METHODS: Eight cultivars and natural accessions of M. trunculata were studied. Germination was recorded from 5 to 30 degrees C and from 0 to -0.75 MPa, and seedling growth from 10 to 20 degrees C. KEY RESULTS: Thermal time to reach 50 % germination was very short (15 degrees Cd) and almost stable between genotypes, while base temperature (2-3 degrees C) and base water potential for germination (-0.7 to -1.3 MPa) varied between genotypes. Only 35 degrees Cd after germination were required to reach 30 mm hypocotyl length with significant differences among genotypes. Base temperature for elongation varied from 5.5 to 7.5 degrees C. Low temperatures induced a general shortening of the seedling, with some genotypes more responsive than others. No relationship with initial seed mass or seed reserve distribution was observed, which might have explained differences between genotypes and the effects of low temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides a set of reference values for M. trunculata users. The use of the ecophysiological model allows comparison of these values between such non-crop species and other crops. It has enabled phenotypic variability in response to environmental conditions related to the emergence process to be identified. The model will allow simulation of emergence differences between genotypes in a range of environments using these parameter values. Genomic tools available for the model species M. trunculata will make it possible to analyse the genetic and molecular determinants of these differences.

Validation of the I.T50 method for assessing neuronal responsiveness to microiontophoretic applications: a single-cell recording study.

The I.T50 method consists of determining the charge required to obtain a 50% depression of firing activity of neurons recorded extracellularly with microiontophoretic applications of inhibitory agents. This method has been used successfully to detect modification of neuronal responsiveness, but the limits of its validity had never been determined. In the present study, it was found that the use of microiontophoretic currents greater than 3 nA yielded consistent I.T50 values when serotonin (5-HT) was applied to rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons. The departure from linearity of I.T50 values measured from applications carried out with a very low current (0.5 nA) of 5-HT is probably due to the relatively important contribution of the leak when a minimal ejecting current is used. The responsiveness to 5-HT was not altered by the activation of the recorded neuron produced by acetylcholine.

Diurnal rhythms in the responsiveness of hippocampal pyramidal neurons to serotonin, norepinephrine, gamma-aminobutyric acid and acetylcholine.

Radioligand binding studies have revealed the existence of endogenous circadian rhythms in the number of several receptors in the rat brain. The present microiontophoretic study was undertaken to assess diurnal rhythms in the responsiveness of rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons to serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and acetylcholine (ACh). Between December and April, there was a significant diurnal variation in the responsiveness of hippocampal pyramidal neurons to 5-HT and ACh. Between May and August, the responsiveness to NE and ACh showed a diurnal variation. There was no diurnal variation in the responsiveness to GABA in either period of the year. Short-term exposure to constant light or darkness produced a phase-shift of the serotoninergic and cholinergic rhythms, suggesting their endogenous nature and their synchronization to clock-time by the light-dark cycle. The diurnal rhythms in responsiveness to 5-HT and NE underwent phase-shifts from the December-April to the May-August period in rats entrained to 12:12 light-dark cycle, suggesting the existence of seasonal modulation of these rhythms. These circadian rhythms in the postsynaptic responsiveness of hippocampal pyramidal cells and their seasonal fluctuation may be related to the diurnal variation of mood seen in major depression as well as to the seasonal incidence of this illness.

Catecholamines and 5-hydroxytryptamine in photophores of Porichthys notatus. Radioenzymatic detection and radioautographic localization.

Radioenzymatic assays and light microscope radioautographic studies performed on photophores of Porichthys notatus demonstrated (1) significant amounts of catecholamines (dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) in these organs; (2) selective uptake and storage of [3H]noradrenaline ([3H]NA) by axon terminals innervating the photocytes, and (3) strong accumulation of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine ([3H]5-HT) within the photocytes. Uptake and storage of [3H]NA in the nerve fibers were seemingly unaffected by the addition of ten-fold molar concentrations of unlabelled serotonin. Accumulation of [3H]5-HT by the photocytes was dose-dependent and diminished markedly in the presence of ten-fold molar concentrations of non-radioactive noradrenaline. Neither neuronal uptake of [3H]5-HT or [3H]A, nor photocytic accumulation of [3H]A were detectable under the conditions of the present experiments. This information should provide a framework for further investigations of the regulation of photophore luminescence by the biogenic amines.