[Asbestos related cancers: burden and recognition as occupational diseases]. / Cancers liés à l'amiante : fardeau et reconnaissance comme maladies professionnelles.

Although asbestos has been banned in Switzerland since 1989, diseases caused by asbestos are still present and increasing today. In Switzerland, per year, occupational exposure to asbestos is responsible for approximately 135 deaths from mesothelioma and 930 deaths from lung cancer, though the latter is rarely recognized as an occupational disease. Taking an occupational history is essential for all such diagnosis, especially in smokers, whose risk of lung cancer increases due to the synergistic effect of asbestos and tobacco exposure. The medical practitioner can play an important role in occupational diseases being recognized as such, which is essential for the reimbursement of medical expenses by the accident insurance companies and the allocation of indemnities and pensions for the patient or their family.

Bien que l'amiante soit interdit en Suisse depuis 1989, les maladies provoquées par l'amiante sont aujourd'hui toujours présentes et en augmentation. En Suisse, par année, l'exposition professionnelle à l'amiante est responsable d'environ 135 décès par mésothéliome et 930 par cancer du poumon ­ rarement reconnu comme maladie professionnelle. Lors de tout diagnostic, il est essentiel d'effectuer une anamnèse professionnelle, en particulier chez les fumeurs, qui voient leur risque de cancer du poumon augmenter en raison de l'effet synergique amiante-tabac. Le médecin praticien peut jouer un rôle important pour faire reconnaître une maladie comme professionnelle, indispensable pour la prise en charge des frais médicaux par les assurances-accidents ainsi que l'allocation d'indemnités et de rente pour le patient, voire sa famille.

Comparison of electromyographic signals from monopolar current and potential amplifiers derived from a penniform muscle, the gastrocnemius medialis.

Electromyograms (EMGs) are measured by bipolar surface electrodes that quantify potential differences. Bipolar potentials over penniform muscles may be associated with errors. Our assumption was that muscle activity can be quantified more reliably and with a higher spatial resolution using current measurements. The purpose of this work is: (a) to introduce the concept of current measurements to detect muscle activity, (b) to show the coherences observed over a segment of a typical penniform muscle, the gastrocnemius medialis where one would expect a synchronicity of the activation, and (c) to show the amount of mixing that is caused by the finite inter electrode resistance. A current amplifier was developed. EMGs were recorded at 40% of maximum voluntary contraction during isometric contractions of the gastrocnemius medialis. EMGs of twelve persons were recorded with an array of four peripheral and one central electrode. Monopolar EMGs were recorded for "all-potential", "center at current" and "all-current" conditions. Coherence revealed the similarity of signals recorded from neighboring electrodes. Coherence was high for the "all-potential", significant for the "current at center" condition and disappeared in the "all-current" condition. It was concluded that EMG array recordings strongly depends on the measurement configuration. The proposed current amplifier significantly improves spatial resolution of EMG array recordings because the inter-electrode cross talk is reduced.