Observation of Seven Astrophysical Tau Neutrino Candidates with IceCube

We report on a measurement of astrophysical tau neutrinos with 9.7 yr of IceCube data. Using convolutional neural networks trained on images derived from simulated events, seven candidate ν_{τ} events were found with visible energies ranging from roughly 20 TeV to 1 PeV and a median expected parent ν_{τ} energy of about 200 TeV. Considering backgrounds from astrophysical and atmospheric neutrinos, and muons from π^{±}/K^{±} decays in atmospheric air showers, we obtain a total estimated background of about 0.5 events, dominated by non-ν_{τ} astrophysical neutrinos. Thus, we rule out the absence of astrophysical ν_{τ} at the 5σ level. The measured astrophysical ν_{τ} flux is consistent with expectations based on previously published IceCube astrophysical neutrino flux measurements and neutrino oscillations.

Growth advantage of corrected hepatocytes in a juvenile model of methylmalonic acidemia following liver directed adeno-associated viral mediated nuclease-free genome editing

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is a rare and severe inherited metabolic disease typically caused by mutations of the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MMUT) gene. Despite medical management, patients with MMA experience frequent episodes of metabolic instability, severe morbidity, and early mortality. In several preclinical studies, systemic gene therapy has demonstrated impressive improvement in biochemical and clinical phenotypes of MMA murine models. One approach uses a promoterless adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector that relies upon homologous recombination to achieve site-specific in vivo gene addition of MMUT into the last coding exon of albumin (Alb), generating a fused Alb-MMUT transcript after successful editing. We have previously demonstrated that nuclease-free AAV mediated Alb editing could effectively treat MMA mice in the neonatal period and noted that hepatocytes had a growth advantage after correction. Here, we use a transgenic knock-out mouse model of MMA that recapitulates severe clinical and biochemical symptoms to assess the benefits of Alb editing in juvenile animals. As was first noted in the neonatal gene therapy studies, we observe that gene edited hepatocytes in the MMA mice treated as juveniles exhibit a growth advantage, which allows them to repopulate the liver slowly but dramatically by 8-10 months post treatment, and subsequently manifest a biochemical and enzymatic response. In conclusion, our results suggest that the benefit of AAV mediated nuclease-free gene editing of the Alb locus to treat MMA could potentially be therapeutic for older patients.

Promoterless, Nuclease-Free Genome Editing Confers a Growth Advantage for Corrected Hepatocytes in Mice With Methylmalonic Acidemia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy has shown great promise as an alternative treatment for metabolic disorders managed using liver transplantation, but remains limited by transgene loss and genotoxicity. Our study aims to test an AAV vector with a promoterless integrating cassette, designed to provide sustained hepatic transgene expression and reduced toxicity in comparison to canonical AAV therapy.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

Our AAV vector was designed to insert a methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MMUT) transgene into the 3' end of the albumin locus and tested in mouse models of methylmalonic acidemia (MMA). After neonatal delivery, we longitudinally evaluated hepatic transgene expression, plasma levels of methylmalonate, and the MMA biomarker, fibroblast growth factor 21 (Fgf21), as well as integration of MMUT in the albumin locus. At necropsy, we surveyed for AAV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in all treated MMA mice and control littermates. AAV-mediated genome editing of MMUT into the albumin locus resulted in permanent hepatic correction in MMA mouse models, which was accompanied by decreased levels of methylmalonate and Fgf21, and improved survival without HCC. With time, levels of transgene expression increased and methylmalonate progressively decreased, whereas the number of albumin-MMUT integrations and corrected hepatocytes in MMA mice increased, but not in similarly treated wild-type animals. Additionally, expression of MMUT in the setting of MMA conferred a selective growth advantage upon edited cells, which potentiates the therapeutic response.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that AAV-mediated, promoterless, nuclease-free genome editing at the albumin locus provides safe and durable therapeutic benefit in neonatally treated MMA mice.

Control of mammalian hematopoiesis and humoral immune response by microRNA-142 (IRM10P.617)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of powerful post-transcriptional regulators implicated in the control of diverse biological processes, including regulation of hematopoiesis and the immune response. To define the biological functions of miR-142, which is specifically and abundantly expressed in immune cells, we created a mouse line with targeted deletion of this gene. Our analysis of miR-142-/- mice revealed a critical role for this miRNA in the development and homeostasis of lymphocytes. Marginal zone B cells expand in the knockout spleen, while the number of T and B1 B cells in the periphery is reduced. Abnormal development of hematopoietic lineages in miR-142-/- animals is accompanied by a profound immunodeficiency, manifested by hypoimmunoglobulinemia and failure to mount a productive immune response to soluble antigens and virus. miR-142-/- B cells express elevated levels of BAFF receptor (BAFF-R) and as a result proliferate more robustly in response to BAFF stimulation. Lowering the BAFF-R gene dose in miR-142-/- mice rescued the B cell expansion defect, suggesting that BAFF-R is a bona fide miR-142 target through which it controls B cell homeostasis. Collectively, our results uncover miR-142 as an essential regulator of lymphocyte ontogenesis and suggest that lesions in this miRNA gene may lead to primary immunodeficiency.

Abstract 5234: Serum microRNAs reflect microRNA expression in tumor tissues as well as systemic response to disease in HRAS-driven mouse models of HCC

Circulating microRNAs are promising candidates as minimally-invasive biomarkers for tumor detection, disease monitoring, and patient stratification. Increases in serum concentrations have been reported for many microRNAs up-regulated in tumor cells. However, how well global changes in tumor microRNA expression are reflected in circulating microRNAs is less understood.

To answer this question, we performed experiments in a Tet-regulated mouse HRAS model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Male mice develop detectable HCC within a few weeks from activation of the oncogenic HRAS allele. Matched serum and liver tissues for microRNA profiling were collected at three timepoints: right before HRAS activation (normal liver), 3 weeks after activation (moderate tumor burden), and 6 weeks after activation (pervasive tumors). To emulate the effect of targeted treatment, we inactivated the HRAS allele in a group of animals 3 weeks after activation and collected serum and liver tissues at the 6 weeks timepoint (3 weeks HRAS on, 3 weeks off). Global liver and serum microRNA profiles were measured using the OpenArray TaqMan qPCR Platform.

The global microRNA profiling analysis revealed that the overall number of detected serum microRNAs as well as the overall serum expression increased with tumor progression and normalized after the HRAS withdrawal. In the liver, 3 weeks after the HRAS activation we observed small changes with just 7 differentially expressed microRNAs at FDR < 20%. The changes became much more pronounced at 6 weeks with 89 microRNAs passing the FDR < 20% threshold. Most of these changes reversed in the 3 weeks on/3 weeks off group and these samples resembled the normal liver controls. Many microRNAs differentially expressed in the liver were also altered in serum, albeit with smaller average fold changes in serum compared to liver. The fold changes were positively correlated between liver and serum samples (Pearson R = 0.25, p < 0.01). We detected additional significant changes in serum microRNAs not reflected in liver tissues samples. The serum-specific alteration included microRNAs linked to immune response, liver injury and other systemic responses to the tumor burden. Similarly to liver, the serum changes were most pronounced in the 6 weeks HRAS group and partially reverted to normal-like profiles in the 3 weeks on/3 weeks off group.

In conclusion, using a mouse model of HCC we found that (1) deregulation of liver microRNA profiles increases with the tumor size and (2) that serum microRNA profiles reflect both changes in the tumor tissues and well systemic response to tumor burden. Importantly, most of the changes in both liver and serum are reversed upon inhibition of the driving oncogene. Thus circulating microRNAs are promising candidates for tumor detection, disease monitoring, and monitoring of treatment response.

Citation Format: Adam Pavlicek, Vladyslava Ratushna, Shirley Phillips, Cynthia Heinlein, Jian Li, Vivek Kaimal, Sonya Zabludoff, Nelson Chau. Serum microRNAs reflect microRNA expression in tumor tissues as well as systemic response to disease in HRAS-driven mouse models of HCC. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5234. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5234

Abstract 1461: A miR-221 multigene pharmacodynamic signature for assessing miR-221 inhibition

miR-221 targets key cancer pathways, inhibits translation of important tumor suppressors, and is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aberrant miR-221 expression has been linked to HCC progression, while inhibition of miR-221 has been shown to reduce tumor growth. In preclinical models, miR-221 inhibition can be assessed by measuring de-repression of known miR-221 target genes such as p27. However, changes in individual microRNA target genes are often small and model-dependent; and comprehensive assessment of pharmacodynamic (PD) effects following microRNA inhibition is often challenging. Herein, we present a miR-221 multigene PD signature that can assess miR-221 target engagement with a large dynamic window and work across different human HCC models following miR-221 inhibition. In the first stage, we transfected five different human HCC lines with two chemically-modified oligonucleotides that inhibit miR-221 functions (miR-221 anti-miRs) and a microRNA-duplex that mimics miR-221/222 functions (mimic). The resulting global mRNA expression changes were compared to mock treated cells using GeneChip Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array (Affymetrix). Ninety unique human genes with transcripts containing conserved and/or 8-mer target seeds (TargetScan), that significantly went up and down after anti-miR-221s and mimic treatment respectively, were further profiled with qPCR in the second stage. Out of the 90 tested transcripts, 62 of them were significantly up-regulated by anti-miR-221s but not by control oligonucleotides (either mismatch or targeting unrelated microRNAs). From the 62 genes, an optimal multigene signature consisted of 13 unique human genes normalized by 6 reference housekeeping genes was identified. We also devised a “miR-221 signature score” and demonstrated that our multigene signature can separate miR-221 anti-miRs treatment from control oligonucleotides with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. We further validated this multigene signature by demonstrating that it correctly distinguished miR-221 anti-miRs treatment from controls in three additional HCC cell lines in vitro and one HCC model in vivo. In summary, our miR-221 multigene PD signature analysis provided a comprehensive assessment of miR-221 inhibition, with significantly larger dynamic window compare to individual gene analysis, that may be used to discover, rank order and guide the development of novel miR-221 anti-miRs for the treatment of human cancers.

Citation Format: Adam Pavlicek, Thomas Vincent, Oivin Guicherit, Nelson Chau, Sonya Zabludoff, Neil Gibson, Edmund C. Lee. A miR-221 multigene pharmacodynamic signature for assessing miR-221 inhibition. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1461. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1461

Mortality gradient across the labour market core-periphery structure: a 13-year mortality follow-up study in north-eastern France

PURPOSE

This study explores mortality related to temporary employment, about which very little is known to date.

METHODS

In 1996, a health survey was carried out in the French region of Lorraine, and all members of 8,000 randomly chosen households were followed up for mortality over a 13-year period. Mortality of subjects in relation to their employment situation at baseline was analysed using a Cox survival regression.

RESULTS

In comparison with permanent workers, for unemployed men, we found age and occupation-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of 4.1 for all-causes of death and 3.9 for non-violent causes, and for male temporary workers a HR of 2.2 for both all-causes and non-violent causes of death. Bad health, tobacco smoking and alcohol misuse explained 17 % of the excess risk for the unemployed and 41 % of that for temporary workers.

CONCLUSION

The observation of large mortality inequalities across the labour market core-periphery structure has important policy implications, particularly in terms of prevention focused on unhealthy behaviours among male unemployed and temporary workers.

Gender differences in the association between depressive mood and mortality: a 12-year follow-up population-based study

BACKGROUND

Depressive mood has been associated with all-cause mortality in both men and women. This study aimed at exploring gender differences in the association between depressive mood and specific causes of mortality as well as factors that may account for it, including education, marital status, social support, health behaviors, and chronic diseases.

METHODS

A population-based survey including 6043 subjects (2892 men and 3151 women) was conducted in 1996 in the north-east of France with a questionnaire covering education, marital status, social support, health behaviors (smoking status, alcohol consumption, body mass index), and chronic diseases. Depressive mood was measured using the Duke Health Profile questionnaire. Cox regression models were used to examine its association with subsequent natural all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular and cancer mortality.

RESULTS

During a follow-up of 12.5 years, 406 men and 303 women died from a natural cause. Adjusting for all covariates, depressive mood predicted natural mortality in both men [Hazard Ratio (HR)=1.30; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-1.69] and women (HR=1.37; 95% CI: 1.06-1.77). However, this association was significant for cardiovascular mortality in men (HR=1.63; 95% CI: 1.00-2.65) whereas it was significant for cancer mortality in women (HR=1.71; 95% CI: 1.11-2.64).

LIMITATIONS

Baseline data were self-reported and the response rate was low.

DISCUSSION

Preventive strategies aiming at reducing the increased mortality associated with depressive mood should take gender into account. Depressed men may warrant a better screening for cardiovascular risk factors and diseases, whereas depressed women may benefit from better cancer prevention measures.

Gender and age disparities in the associations of occupational factors with alcohol abuse and smoking in the French working population

BACKGROUND

This study assessed the associations of short-term employment, physical and psychological occupational demands, and job dissatisfaction with alcohol abuse (using the Audit-C test) and daily smoking among working French men and women in different age groups.

METHODS

The sample included 13,241 working people, 18-29, 30-39, and 40-59-years-old, randomly selected in France and interviewed by phone. Occupation, type of employment, physical demands, psychological demands, job dissatisfaction, gender, age, educational level, and income were considered. Data were analyzed with logistic models.

RESULTS

Alcohol abuse affected 20.4% of men and 7.5% of women; smoking 32.1% and 24.2%, respectively. Their patterns of association with the occupational factors varied with gender and age. Job dissatisfaction was the leading factor among young men (adjusted odds ratio for alcohol abuse and smoking: 1.71 and 2.02), whereas short-term employment was the leading factor among young women (1.69 and 1.58), this pattern being reversed in older generations. The pattern of associations of physical and psychological demands with outcomes is more complex, but overall psychological demands were more important for women (especially the younger ones) than men, especially for smoking (OR>1.6). Smoking within 5 min after waking was much more common among male and female smokers with these occupational factors, suggesting a potential dependency.

CONCLUSIONS

Workers with short-term employment and occupational demands are subject to a higher risk for alcohol abuse and smoking with high gender and age disparities. Gender and age should be considered when designing measures to prevent substance abuse related to occupation.

Magnetic and Microstructural Aspects of the Bulk Metallic Glassy Materials Nd60Fe30Al10

The ferromagnetic bulk metallic glass (BMG) Nd60Fe30Al10system exhibits extremely large coercivities at low temperature and moderate coercivities near room temperature. The magnetic hardness, as best evidenced by the onset of magnetic irreversibility, was studied in bulk suction-cast and melt-spun alloys with the nominal composition Nd60Fe30Al10. Systematic x-ray diffraction studies of the degree of crystallinity performed as a function of position within the bulk suction-cast samples is found to correlate with the variation in the room-temperature magnetic hysteresis character. X-ray diffraction data clearly shows the presence of both crystallites and amorphous material on the samples' outmost surfaces; the amorphous phase content increases with distance into the cast sample. These results underscore the importance of solidification conditions and attendant nanophase selection, on the resultant magnetic properties of this class of alloys.

Social disparities in musculoskeletal disorders and associated mental malaise: findings from a population-based survey in France

AIMS

Various types of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have comorbid mental disorders, which may in turn have a negative influence on disease course and role impairment, but the contribution of social factors to this type of comorbidity is a much under-researched area. This study investigates whether there is a socially patterned association of MSDs with different dimensions of mental malaise.

METHODS

The sample included 3,368 economically active participants aged 18-64 years, randomly selected from the Lorraine region in north-eastern France. Information was provided through a post-mailed questionnaire on fatigue, sadness/depression (Duke questionnaire) and cognitive disability during the last eight days.

RESULTS

MSDs were significantly more prevalent in manual workers, clerks and other occupations than in upper and intermediate professionals, and similar occupational disparities were found for cognitive disability, fatigue and sadness/ depression. Stratifying the sample, we found the occupational disparities in cognitive disability to be much stronger among participants suffering from MSDs than among participants not suffering from MSDs, and the occupational disparities in fatigue and sadness/depression to be limited to the subsample of subjects suffering from MSDs.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings demonstrate that the association of MSDs with mental malaise is much stronger in the lower occupational groups than in the higher groups. Given that psychological factors are implicated in disease prognosis and in the development of disabilities, awareness of the social dimension of the association and treatment of the comorbid mental disorders could open a promising avenue for reducing social inequalities in disability related to MSDs.

Suicidal ideation among young French adults: association with occupation, family, sexual activity, personal background and drug use

BACKGROUND

To assess associations among young adults between suicidal ideation in the previous year and adverse childhood events, occupation, education, tobacco use, alcohol abuse, cannabis use in the previous month, illicit drug use, sexual orientation and activity, depression, physical violence in the previous year, and lifetime forced sexual intercourse.

METHODS

A subsample of 4075 French adults aged 18-30 years was drawn from a random national telephone survey in 2005. Major depressive episode and alcohol abuse were assessed using CIDI-SF and AUDIT-C (score above 4). Data were analysed with logistic regressions.

RESULTS

Suicidal ideation affected 5.7% of men and 4.9% of women. Among men depression had the highest adjusted odds ratio (ORa=8.06, 5.07-12.79), followed by homosexual intercourse (3.37, 1.62-7.04), absence of sexual activity (2.83, 1.80-4.44); ORa between 1.6 and 2.0 were observed for living alone, daily tobacco smoking, being unemployed, serious health event concerning the father, age 26-30 and bad relationships between parents. Among women, depression had the highest ORa (7.60, 4.70-12.29), followed by lifetime experience of forced sexual intercourse (5.37, 2.89-9.96), having consumed illicit drugs other than cannabis (4.01, 1.48-10.89); ORa between 1.7 and 2.5 were observed for living alone, being unemployed, bad relationship between parents and age 26-30.

LIMITATIONS

Cross-sectional survey, sexual orientation inferred from sexual activity.

CONCLUSION

Suicide prevention should integrate the fact that besides depression, unemployment, family history, age, and sexual activity and orientation are specific risk factors among men, whereas illicit drug use, violence and forced sexual intercourse are more important among women.

Relationship between job, lifestyle, age and occupational injuries

BACKGROUND

Physical job demands (PJD), age, disability and lifestyle may influence the risk of occupational injury.

AIM

To assess the relationships between PJD, lifestyle and injury in workers of various ages.

METHODS

A total of 2888 randomly selected workers from northeastern France, aged >or=15, completed a postal questionnaire. The PJD score was defined as the total number of the following reported job demands: using pneumatic tools, other vibrating hand tools, hammers, machine tools or vibrating platforms and exposure to manual handling tasks, awkward postures, high pace of work, high physical workload, work at heights, work in adverse climates or exposure to noise, cold or heat. Data were analysed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Nine per cent of subjects reported an injury during the previous 2 years. The PJD score was related to the injury rate for workers aged >or=45: crude odds ratio (OR) 3.5 (95% confidence interval = 1.5-8.0) for PJD = 1, 5.0 (2.2-11.3) for PJD = 2-3 and 14.5 (6.5-32.2) for PJD >or=4, versus PJD = 0. Lower ORs were found for those aged <30 (1.4, 4.2 and 9.9, respectively) and 30-44 (1.5, 4.4 and 6.5, respectively). The differences between age groups remained when controlling for all factors studied. Obesity, smoking and musculoskeletal disorders were associated with injury risk in workers aged >or=45 (adjusted ORs 1.7-2.6). Smoking was also an injury risk factor for workers aged <30.

CONCLUSIONS

PJD and lifestyle have a higher impact on injury rates among older workers than among younger ones. Injury prevention should address reducing PJD and improving relevant lifestyle factors, especially for older workers.

Roles of age, length of service and job in work-related injury: a prospective study of 446 120 person-years in railway workers

OBJECTIVES

Because work-related injuries are common and yet the mechanisms through which various types of injuries relate to age, length of service and job remain unknown, this study assessed the role of age, length of service and job in work-related injury.

METHODS

Prospective study of all 164,814 permanently employed male workers at the French national railway company during 1998-2000, based on the company's injury database: 446,120 person-years, 15,195 injuries with working days lost, coded using the company's injury classification, which is derived from that of the French health insurance scheme. We investigated the incidence of 10 types of injury: fall on same level, fall to lower level, handling materials/machine parts during assembly, handling objects, lifting/handling equipment, collision with/by moving objects, collision with/by vehicles, operating machines/equipment, using hand tools and other injuries. Data were analysed using negative binomial regression.

RESULTS

Workers aged <25 years were subject to a higher injury risk from handling materials/machine parts during assembly, and collision with/by moving objects or vehicles. Older workers, especially those aged 50-55 years, were subject to a higher risk of fall and injury resulting from lifting/handling materials/equipment/objects or from collision with/by moving objects/vehicles. Using hand tools was a risky task for workers aged <30 or > or =40 years. The relative risk decreased steadily with increasing length of service with the company, from 2.6 for 1 year to 1.0 for > or =30 years, and the slope of the trend is stronger for fall to lower level, lifting/handling materials/equipment and collision with/by moving objects.

CONCLUSION

Younger and older ages and shorter length of service are at risk for various types of injuries. Preventive measures should improve working conditions, especially for younger/older ages, provide knowledge through specific training during the first years in a job and help workers to be more aware of risks associated with their age, years of employment and job.

Strong association of physical job demands with functional limitations among active people: a population-based study in North-eastern France

PURPOSE

To assess the association between physical job demands (PJD) and physical/cognitive functional limitations, and the role of adverse health behaviours, obesity, and socio-demographic factors as confounders of those associations.

METHODS

The sample included 3,368 active subjects aged 18-64 years, randomly selected from North-eastern France. Subjects completed a post-mailed questionnaire. PJD score was defined as the product of years of employment with the cumulative number of a wide range of high job demands. Data were analysed through the logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The physical and cognitive functional limitations affected 16.9 and 28.6% of subjects, respectively. A strong relationship was found between PJD and physical functional limitation: significant odds ratios (OR) adjusted for all the factors studied 1.41 for PJD1-29, 1.72 for PJD30-99, and 2.57 for PJD >or=100 versus PJD0; and between PJD and cognitive functional limitation: OR 1.28 for PJD1-29, 1.60 for PJD30-99, and 2.00 for PJD >or=100 versus PJD0. Adverse health behaviours, obesity and job category were modest confounders of those associations.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified a wide range of job demands and individual characteristics related to physical/cognitive functional limitations. Prevention should aim at improving working conditions and adverse health behaviours.

Determinants of school injury proneness in adolescents: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE

Injury proneness is common in adolescents, but the role of individual factors has received little attention. This study assessed the relationships of a number of individual characteristics with frequency of school injuries.

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted on 2396 students from middle schools and high schools in an urban area in France over one school year. A questionnaire was completed by each student at the beginning of the school year, and an injury questionnaire was completed for all injuries that occurred at school during the year. Data were analysed using the chi2 independence test and logistic models.

RESULTS

Over the study year, 10.6% of the students had a single injury. Frequent injuries (two or more) were common (2.3%) and were strongly related to younger age [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.52, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.28-1.79], frequent use of psychotropic drugs (aOR 2.03, 95%CI 1.06-3.86) and a poorer average school mark (<10/20, aOR 2.58, 95%CI 1.30-5.12). The occurrence of a single injury was less strongly related to younger age (aOR 1.20, 95%CI 1.11-1.30) and frequent use of psychotropic drugs (aOR 1.43, 95%CI 1.04-1.96), and was also associated with parental absence (aOR 1.33, 95%CI 1.00-1.77), not being calm (aOR 1.41, 95%CI 1.03-1.89) and not being easily irritated (aOR 1.56, 95%CI 1.14-2.13).

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified a number of factors associated with injury frequency. This information could be useful for injury prevention. Physicians could help students, parents, teachers and school staff to be more aware of the risks and to find remedial measures.

Functional disability in France and its relationship with health-related quality of life - a population-based prevalence study

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of functional disability in France and assess its association with the health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

METHODS

Each member in 8,000 households randomly selected in the Lorraine population were mailed a questionnaire asking about their sociodemographic characteristics; the presence of chronic locomotor or non-rheumatic diseases; functional disability on the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ); and HRQoL on the Duke Health Profile. The prevalence of functional disability was described, and its relationship with HRQoL was assessed by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among the 6,148 subjects who responded (mean age 46 years +/- 18.3, 48% men), the prevalence of moderate (HAQ >or= 1) and severe (HAQ >or= 2) functional disability, adjusted for age and sex, was 6.5% and 1.6% respectively. HRQoL was significantly low in all dimensions for subjects with severe functional disability. Functional disability of locomotor origin significantly affected the physical (OR = 10.6 [5.1-22.1]), mental (OR = 4.4 [2.5-7.8]), and social (OR = 2.4 [1.4-4.3]) dimensions, with a threshold effect according to the disability level and perceived health (OR= 10.6 [5.8-19.4]), with a cause-effect relationship.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of reported (i.e., not observed) functional disability in terms of its impact on HRQoL helps physicians to better understand its differential consequences, which should ease patient dependence, facilitate the analysis of health care needs and the development of prevention measures, and improve the HRQoL of patients and their families.

Associations of job, living conditions and lifestyle with occupational injury in working population: a population-based study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the roles of job demands, living conditions and lifestyle in occupational injury.

METHODS

The sample included 2,888 workers, aged > or =15 years, randomly selected from the north-eastern France. The subjects completed a mailed questionnaire. Data were analyzed with adjusted odds ratios (ORa) computed with the logistic model.

RESULTS

In total, 9.2% of workers had an injury during the previous 2 years. The high job demands: tasks at height, handling objects, pneumatic tools, other vibrating hand tools, work in adverse climate, physical workload, vibrating platform, machine tools, cold, heat, awkward posture, noise, hammer, and pace had crude odds ratios between 1.81 and 5.25 for injury. A strong exposure-response relationship was found between the cumulated job demands (CJD, defined by their number) and injury: OR 1.88 (95% CI 1.23-2.87) for CJD1, 4.39 (2.98-4.46) for CJD2-3, and 9.93 (6.70-14.7) for CJD > or = 4, versus CJD0. These ORs decreased to 1.68, 3.70, and 7.15 respectively, when adjusted for sex, age, and living conditions/lifestyle confounders; and to 1.54, 2.99, and 5.45 respectively when also adjusted for job category. The following factors had significant ORa: age <30 years (1.54, 1.12-2.12), male (1.64, 1.18-2.30), smoking (1.60, 1.22-2.10), musculoskeletal disorders (1.54, 1.17-2.04), and frequent drug use for fatigue (2.03, 1.17-3.53). The workmen, farmers/craftsmen/tradesmen, and foremen had a 5.7-8.7-fold while the clerks and technicians a 2.7-3.6-fold higher risk compared with upper class. The risk associated with CJD was twofold higher among the workers aged > or =40 or with frequent drug use for fatigue compared with the others. Obesity had ORa 2.05 (1.11-3.78) among the subjects aged > or =40, and excess alcohol use had ORa 2.44 (1.26-4.72) among those free of disease.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified a wide range of job demands and living conditions/lifestyle which predicted injury. Preventive measures should be conducted to reduce job demands and to help workers to be aware of the risk and to improve their living conditions/lifestyle.

The quality of phase I trial (P1T) abstracts submitted to ASCO meetings

6532

Background: Conference abstracts of P1T communicate important information of anticancer drug development. Our objectives were to determine elements considered by experts as essential for good P1T abstract reporting, to assess the quality of P1T abstracts submitted to ASCO meetings, and to propose guidelines for future reporting. Methods: Elements important for P1T abstract reporting were determined by a survey of experts in developmental therapeutics, and a scoring system for abstract quality was generated. All P1T abstracts published in ASCO Proceedings from 2002–2006 were reviewed, and a quality score was assigned. Results: An electronic survey was sent twice to 69 experts, with a response rate of 39% (27/69). Characteristics of the 27 experts were: average age = 48; male = 74%, USA:Europe:Canada = 78%:15%:7%; 89% had 10+ years experience in drug development; 93% from academic institutions versus 7% from governmental agencies; 56% currently involved in clinical research versus 44% in translational research. Experts were asked to rate each of 37 elements using a five-point Like rt scale, and elements with average expert ratings over 3.75 were included in the final quality score calculations. A total of 920 P1T abstracts over 5 years were reviewed. A positive and linear association was observed between average expert rating of the elements and proportion of P1T abstracts that included those elements (Spearman correlation coefficient, ρ=0.65). The median quality score for all 920 abstracts was 65% (range 26%–95%, SD 12.6%). Deficiencies existed in abstract reporting; for instance, dose-limiting toxicity was described in only 63% of abstracts, while recommended dose or maximum tolerated dose was reported in only 38%. A significant association between year of presentation was found (ρ=0.36, P<0.001), with later years possessing better quality scores. The quality score was also statistically significant as a predictor of type of presentation (odds ratio 0.20, 95% CI 0.08–0.54, P=0.002), with oral presentations having the highest scores. Conclusion: The quality of P1T abstract reporting at ASCO has improved over time, although there is room for optimization. The quality of P1T abstract reporting may be enhanced using guidelines derived from our expert consensus.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Transcripts targeted by the microRNA-16 family cooperatively regulate cell cycle progression

microRNAs (miRNAs) are abundant, approximately 21-nucleotide, noncoding regulatory RNAs. Each miRNA may regulate hundreds of mRNA targets, but the identities of these targets and the processes they regulate are poorly understood. Here we have explored the use of microarray profiling and functional screening to identify targets and biological processes triggered by the transfection of human cells with miRNAs. We demonstrate that a family of miRNAs sharing sequence identity with miRNA-16 (miR-16) negatively regulates cellular growth and cell cycle progression. miR-16-down-regulated transcripts were enriched with genes whose silencing by small interfering RNAs causes an accumulation of cells in G(0)/G(1). Simultaneous silencing of these genes was more effective at blocking cell cycle progression than disruption of the individual genes. Thus, miR-16 coordinately regulates targets that may act in concert to control cell cycle progression.

Determinants of accident proneness: a case-control study in railway workers

BACKGROUND

Accident proneness or workers who have more frequent occupational injuries is common but the role of occupational and individual factors has rarely been studied.

AIM

To assess the relationships of certain occupational and individual characteristics with frequency of occupational injuries.

METHOD

This case-control study included 1305 male workers with occupational injuries during 1999-2000 and 1305 controls from a railway company. A standardized questionnaire was completed by the occupational physician in the presence of the subject. The data were analysed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Having more than one injury was associated with short service in the present job, younger age, sleep disorders, smoking, requesting a job change, physical disability and lack of physical activity. Safety training was negatively related to injury frequency. Short service in the present job was the only significant factor for single injuries.

CONCLUSION

This study identified a number of work and individual factors that predicted occupational injury frequency and may be useful in designing preventative measures. Occupational physicians could assist workers to be more aware of the risks and to find remedial measures.

Prévalence des déficiences et disparités sociales

BACKGROUND

Population ageing and longer duration of the working career could increase the prevalence of impairments and disabilities whereas there have been few data to help prevention and care. This study aimed at describing the prevalence of various types of impairments and assessing their social inequalities in the Lorraine population (north-eastern France).

METHODS

The sample included 6.214 subjects aged 15 or more from 8.000 households randomly selected in the Lorraine population. A mailed questionnaire including socio-demographical characteristics, job, and various types of impairments was used. The data were analysed with the chi2 independence test, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and the Mantel-Haenszel test.

RESULTS

The prevalence of at least one impairment was 30% in both sexes. It varied from about 20% for subjects aged less than 40 years to about 60% for the subjects aged 70 years or more. It was higher in men than in women among the individuals aged more than 50 years (OR adjusted on age: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.04-1.44). The impairments were generally multiple for the subjects aged over 50. The prevalence of at least one impairment was higher for workmen (OR adjusted on age: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.68-2.66), farmers, craftsmen, traders and heads of firms (OR adjusted on age: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.17-2.18) and for employees (OR adjusted on age: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.29-2.03) in comparison with executives, intellectual professionals and teachers. For workmen a higher prevalence was observed for all types of impairments: intellectual and psychological functions, language, hearing, vision, visceral functions, and skeleton and posture. Farmers, craftsmen, traders, heads of firms and employees showed an excess for most types of impairments. Social inequalities were significant for various age groups during their period of occupational activity, but not after retirement. Unemployed people also had an excess of impairments.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of impairments strongly increased with advancing age. Marked inequalities were observed between various socio-occupational categories. Men were more affected than the women over 50 years of age. Impairments represent a health index which is useful for prevention to reduce their causes and consequences.

Tabac, alcool et médicaments psychotropes en Lorraine, enquête épidémiologique en population générale

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of the use of tobacco, alcohol and psychotropic drugs by the people of Lorraine and characterise the consumption behaviours of that population. The sample consisted of 6571 people from the ages of 18 to 74 who were randomly selected from the telephone directory and were interviewed through the use of a self-questionnaire sent out by mail. The behaviours vary according to sex and gender. Tobacco is the product with the highest prevalence rate of consumption. This rate decreases with age and is most frequent in sectors of the population who are less educated, holding low or poorly skilled jobs or unemployed. Excessive alcohol consumption is observed in 13.8% of men and 3.8% of women. Regular consumption of psychotropic drugs is two times higher in women than in men, and it increases with age. Women who are single, divorced or widowed are at the most risk, as are those who are not engaged in any professional activity. The prevalence of the consumption of psycho-active licit toxic substances in the Lorraine population differs little from the national French average as far as men are concerned, yet appears to be higher for women. These results are very useful for regional prevention activities such as those within the Regional Health Programmes framework.

Individual characteristics in occupational accidents due to imbalance: a case-control study of the employees of a railway company

BACKGROUND

Falls are frequent occupational accidents, and are responsible for a significant amount of lost working time and, more importantly, for a high mortality. The factors involved in falling mechanisms can be of external or individual origin, the latter being less well identified.

AIMS

To assess the relations between certain individual characteristics and occupational accidents due to imbalance.

METHODS

A total of 427 male employees, who had been victims of at least one occupational accident with sick leave due to imbalance (cases) and 427 controls were recruited among the employees of a large French railway company. A standardised questionnaire on life conditions and professional factors, and a description of the accidents was filled in by an occupational physician for each subject.

RESULTS

Some job categories were more affected by a specific release mechanism of work related falls. Certain individual characteristics such as smoking, alcohol consumption, inactivity, sleep disorders, and request for a job change were correlated with the occurrence of occupational accidents. Sick leaves of eight days or over were more frequent in older and overweight injured workers. Some lesions were linked with the specific fall released mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

Individual characteristics can increase the risk of occupational accidents, especially falling. This study identified subjects most at risk on whom prevention related to working conditions and falls could be focused.

[School-related injuries: incidence, causes, and consequences]

BACKGROUND

School accidents are frequent but little epidemiological information is available to guide prevention. In this study we examined the incidence, causes, and consequences of school accidents as a function of the pupil's characteristics.

METHODS

An epidemiological study was conducted in all 2 396 adolescents attending two secondary school groups. Sociodemographic characteristics of the pupils and data on school accidents during a one-year period were collected using a questionnaire filled out by the school nurse in the presence of the victims. The chi-square independence test, Fisher's exact test and the logistic regression method were used for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Sports and physical training (SPT) accidents accounted for 52.8% of the accidents, recreation accidents for 12.7% and other accidents for 33.6%. The annual incidence of one accident or more, for all types of accidents combined, was 12.9%, that for two or more accidents 2.3%. The rate of SPT and recreation accidents decreased strongly with age. SPT accidents were more frequent in girls, the other accidents more frequent in boys. Among the SPT accidents, 69.2% occurred under training conditions and 33.7% were caused by another person. Causes mentioned by the victims were: carelessness (26.0%), clumsiness (17.5%), misappreciation of risk (13.8%), tiredness (9.5%), nervous irritation (8.6%), rowdyism (6.0%), disrespect of the teacher's instructions (6.0%). The lesions were: contusions (50.7%), wounds (18.7%), tendinitis (11.7%), wrenches (9.2%), others (7.3%). They differed between age groups, sex, and category of sports. Localizations were mainly: fingers (27.4%), other localizations of the upper limb (20.1%), head (20.6%). A physician was consulted for 19.5% of the accidents and hospitalization followed 2.7%. Absence from school and exemption from SPT were frequent (11.4% and 16.3% respectively).

CONCLUSION

The results could be used to inform adolescents so they and their families could become more aware of the risk of school accidents. Prevention should mainly focus on the younger children. An effort must be made regarding risk assessment in order to help the pupils become more careful and responsible during their sports activities. The choice of these activities and the materials used should be made more suitable for adolescents.

Falls and working individuals: role of extrinsic and intrinsic factors

Falls are frequent occupational accidents involving workers and lead to important social and economic consequences both for the individual and for the employer. Different factors can modify balance control and lead to falling, especially environment-related and individual factors. The literature would appear to indicate that there have been few studies on the intrinsic factors involving the mechanisms of generating falls. This review determines the main factors involved in the mechanisms of falling, whether related to the environment, work or the individual. Knowledge of the extrinsic and intrinsic factors contributing to the fall could allow securer environment planning and occupational conditions for employers, and the use of balance rehabilitation methods for individuals to reduce the risk of falls.

Quality of life in patients at risk of medullary thyroid carcinoma and followed by a comprehensive medical network: trends for future evaluations

BACKGROUND

As shown in a previous study, the knowledge of the genetic risk in individuals belonging to families at risk of medullary-thyroid carcinoma (MTC) could be associated with impaired quality of life (QoL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In the present study, we compared the QoL scores obtained in the same period with the subjective quality of life profile (SQLP): in 82 individuals at risk of MTC who had been tested for Ret-mutations; in 200 women at risk of familial breast/ovarian cancer syndrome (BOC); and in a control population of 3,501 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS

Significant differences were observed in favour of healthy volunteers as well as individuals at risk of MTC, over women at risk of BOC (mean scores: 0.89, 0.85, and 0.64, respectively, P < or = 0.001), but QoL scores were not statistically different between individuals at risk of MTC and the control population (P = 0.2). However, they were significantly inferior in the subgroup of germline Ret-mutation carriers, as compared to the control population (mean scores: 0.73 and 0.89, P = 0.04). In the latter, the relationships with the children and the family were the most important facets of their QoL.

CONCLUSION

Our results confirm the potentially negative impact of the knowledge of the genetic risk of cancer and its consequences in terms of morbidity and follow-up, on the QoL in people followed at oncogenetic visits.

Relationship between plasma retinol and infectious diseases in the elderly. A case-control study

This study assessed the relationship between plasma retinol deficiency and infectious diseases. The plasma retinol, anthropometric (Body Mass Index, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm muscle circumference) and biological indices (proteins, albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, retinol binding protein) of protein-energy malnutrition of 63 patients with infectious diseases (ID) were compared to those of two control groups of similar age: 527 patients with other diseases (C1) and 92 healthy people (C2). Plasma retinol, albumin, transferrin and prealbumin were significantly lower in the ID group than in the C1 group. A lower body mass index was noted in men only. The ID and C1 groups had lower values for all indices (except for mid-arm muscle circumference). The ID group had lower albumin, transferrin, and prealbumin than the C1 group. The percentage of patients with plasma retinol below 300 microg/l was higher in the ID group (48.0% in men, 39% in women) than in the C1 group (25.0 and 21.5%); the odds ratio adjusted on age and sex equaled 2.46, 95% CI (1.39-4.37). It was lower than 2% in the C2 group. The results obtained with multiple regression analysis showed that, in the patients, the association between plasma retinol and infectious diseases remained significant when age, sex, anthropometric and biological indices were taken into account. Consequently, it is useful to check up the food intake habits of the elderly.