Blood Metal Levels and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Risk: A Prospective Cohort.

Objective: Metals have been suggested as a risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but only retrospective studies are available to date. We compared metal levels in prospectively collected blood samples from ALS patients and controls, to explore whether metals are associated with ALS mortality.

Methods: A nested ALS case-control study was conducted within the prospective EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) cohort.

Is the incidence of motor neuron disease higher in French military personnel?

Previous studies, mostly from the United States, showed an increased risk of motor neuron disease (MND) in military personnel. We compared MND incidence rates in French military personnel to that in the general population. Among persons covered between 2010 and 2016 by the (CNMSS, military personnel) and the (CNAMTS, general population) aged ≥50 years, we identified incident MND cases and estimated populations at risk using national health insurance databases.

Association of Parkinson's disease with industry sectors: a French nationwide incidence study.

In order to identify working environments at risk for Parkinson's disease (PD), we investigated the relation between the importance of industry sectors, used as a surrogate for occupational exposures, and PD incidence in French cantons. The number of incident PD cases (2010-2014) in 3689 cantons of metropolitan France was determined using drug claims from French National Health Insurance databases. The proportions of workers in 38 industry sectors in 2006 were calculated for each canton.

Age-dependent sex ratios of motor neuron disease: French nationwide study and meta-analysis.

Objective: To examine the relation of age with male-to-female (M/F) ratios and incidence rates of motor neuron disease (MND) in a French nationwide study and meta-analysis of incidence studies.

Methods: We used data from the French National Health Insurance databases. Patients with incident MND (2010-2014) were identified based on drug claims (riluzole), hospitalization records, death records, and long-term chronic disease benefits.

Pooled analysis of the HLA-DRB1 by smoking interaction in Parkinson disease.

Objective: Inflammatory response plays an important role in Parkinson disease (PD). Previous studies have reported an association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 and the risk of PD. There has also been growing interest in investigating whether inflammation-related genes interact with environmental factors such as smoking to influence PD risk.