Variability in molecular characteristics of Hepatitis E virus quasispecies could modify viral surface properties and transmission.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) usually causes self-limited liver diseases but can also result in severe cases. Genotypes 1 (G1) and 2 circulate in developing countries are human-restricted and waterborne, while zoonotic G3 and G4 circulating in industrialized countries preferentially infect human through consumption of contaminated meat. Our aims were to identify amino acid patterns in HEV variants that could be involved in pathogenicity or in transmission modes, related to their impact on antigenicity and viral surface hydrophobicity.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis of the hip.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare disease that can affect any joint, bursa or tendon sheath.The hip is less frequently affected than the knee, and hence is less discussed in scientific journals.PVNS of the hip mainly occurs in young adults, requiring early diagnosis and adequate treatment to obtain good results.

[Educational strategies and tools in a public health program at the University of Geneva].

In the Swiss context, the newly developed MPH programme at the University of Geneva is experimental in educational matters. Indeed the programme is fully learner-centered and community-oriented. Throughout the curriculum students plan, implement and evaluate intervention programmes or/and research projects related to health problems of the communities they are in charge of.

[Availability and quality of necessary data for establishing health assessment in the canton of Geneva: implications for the monitoring of the development of problems and impact of health policies].

The global health assessment of the population of the canton of Geneva, based on the WHO's 38 "Health-for-ALL" targets, shown several gaps in the health information system. The quality of the available data is discussed in regard of various criteria (type of statistics, representativeness, frequency of data collection, diffusion, comparability, concern for validation). Two examples are presented: 1.

[An innovative program for public health training at the University of Geneva. Program during employment centered on the student and oriented to the population's health needs].

Switzerland's first Master degree course in public health was launched in the autumn of 1990 at the Geneva University School of Medicine. It is a 3 year, part-time course, which is learner-centred and community-oriented. The aim of the course is to prepare students to use a multi-disciplinary approach to plan, implement and evaluate activities intended to solve public health problems.