Supporting companies dealing with asbestos risk: Practical tools for occupational health services, risk prevention specialists, and companies.

Although asbestos has been officially banned in France for over two decades, it remains a major public health and occupational health issue. In 2012, French asbestos regulations became considerably more stringent and complex. Consequently, French Public Works and Building Trades Prevention Organisation (OPPBTP) and occupational health services have been working together for several years to support construction professionals.

Effects of sensory deprivation on glomerular interneurons in the mouse olfactory bulb: differences in mortality and phenotypic adjustment of dopaminergic neurons.

Neurogenesis persists in the mammalian subventricular zone after birth, producing various populations of olfactory bulb (OB) interneurons, including GABAergic and mixed dopaminergic/GABAergic (DA) neurons for the glomerular layer. While olfactory sensory activity is a major factor controlling the integration of new neurons, its impact on specific subtypes is not well understood. In this study we used genetic labeling of defined neuron subsets, in combination with reversible unilateral sensory deprivation and longitudinal imaging, to examine the behavior of postnatally born glomerular neurons.

Short-term association of in-vehicle ultrafine particles and black carbon concentrations with respiratory health in Parisian taxi drivers.

Introduction: Professional drivers are exposed inside their vehicles to high levels of air pollutants due to the considerable time they spend close to motor vehicle emissions. Little is known about ultrafine particles (UFP) or black carbon (BC) adverse respiratory health effects compared to the regulated pollutants.

Objectives: We aimed to study the short-term associations between UFP and BC concentrations inside vehicles and (1) the onset of mucosal irritation and (2) the acute changes in lung function of Parisian taxi drivers during a working day.

Does the air pollution model influence the evidence of socio-economic disparities in exposure and susceptibility?

Studies assessing socio-economic disparities in air pollution exposure and susceptibility are usually based on a single air pollution model. A time stratified case-crossover study was designed to assess the impact of the type of model on differential exposure and on the differential susceptibility in the relationship between ozone exposure and daily mortality by socio-economic strata (SES) in Montreal. Non-accidental deaths along with deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory causes on the island of Montreal for the period 1991-2002 were included as cases.

Karyopherin alpha2: a control step of glucose-sensitive gene expression in hepatic cells.

Glucose is required for an efficient expression of the glucose transporter GLUT2 and other genes. We have shown previously that the intracytoplasmic loop of GLUT2 can divert a signal, resulting in the stimulation of glucose-sensitive gene transcription. In the present study, by interaction with the GLUT2 loop, we have cloned the rat karyopherin alpha2, a receptor involved in nuclear import.