Professional exposure to pesticides and Parkinson disease.

Objective: We studied the relation between Parkinson disease (PD) and professional exposure to pesticides in a community-based case-control study conducted in a population characterized by a high prevalence of exposure. Our objective was to investigate the role of specific pesticide families and to perform dose-effect analyses.

Methods: PD cases (n = 224) from the Mutualité Sociale Agricole (France) were matched to 557 controls free of PD affiliated with the same health insurance.

[1966-2006: from occupational medicine to occupational health in agriculture].

Occupational medicine in agriculture was established in 1966 in a different and specific way as compared to occupational medicine in the commerce and industry social security scheme. The long preliminary debates resulted in the establishment of an occupational medicine for all farm employees and voluntary operators. This mission was entrusted to the Mutualité sociale agricole (MSA), a French welfare agency, which directly hires specifically trained occupational physicians.

S18Y polymorphism in the UCH-L1 gene and Parkinson's disease: evidence for an age-dependent relationship.

We studied the relationship between Parkinson's disease (PD) and the S18Y polymorphism in the UCH-L1 gene and the effect on this relationship of age at onset, smoking, and pesticides. Patients requested free health coverage for PD to the Mutualité Sociale Agricole (MSA), the French health insurance organization for people whose work is related to agriculture. Controls requested reimbursement of health expenses to the MSA.

[Prevalence of infection by hepatitis viruses in a rural area. Analysis according to risk factors and alcohol consumption].

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of serum markers of hepatitis A, B and C viruses in a rural area according to risk factors and alcohol consumption.

Methods: Transversal study of unselected subjects living and working in a rural area. Each subject included was asked to fill out an anonymous self-administered questionnaire dealing with his own risk factors, sexual behaviour and alcohol consumption.

Carpal tunnel syndrome and work organisation in repetitive work: a cross sectional study in France. Study Group on Repetitive Work.

Objectives: To study the determinants of signs of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in repetitive industrial work, with special attention to occupational constraints at group level and management practices of the companies.

Method: A cross sectional study was conducted in three sectors: assembly line; clothing and shoe industry; food industry. A total of 1210 workers in repetitive work, from 53 different companies, was compared with a control group of 337 workers.

Farming, pesticide use and hairy-cell leukemia.

Objectives: This paper analyzes the role of farming and pesticide exposures in the occurrence of hairy-cell leukemia (HCL).

Methods: The study included 226 men with HCL and 425 matched hospital referents. Pesticide exposure was assessed by expert review of detailed interview data on occupational histories and agricultural activities and exposures.

Occupational exposure to poultry and prevalence of antibodies against Marek's disease virus and avian leukosis retroviruses.

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of antibodies against Marek's disease herpes virus (MDV) and against avian leukosis viruses type C (ALV) in groups of workers exposed to poultry and in unexposed groups.

Methods: Antibodies directed against avian viral proteins were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in 549 subjects. Exposure to chickens was high in two subgroups: farmers on intensive chicken farms and workers at chicken slaughterhouses.

Occupational exposure to animals and antibodies against Pasteurella multocida.

The relation between occupational exposure to cattle and prevalence of antibodies against Pasteurella multocida was evaluated in 680 workers. Three groups of exposed workers in abattoirs and slaughterhouses (S), in industrial breeding (I), and in traditional breeding (T) were compared with control workers not exposed to cattle or chicken (C). The prevalence of antibodies against capsular antigen A determined by indirect haemagglutination was significantly higher in the exposed groups (S: 26.