An epidemiological surveillance network of lumbar disc surgery to help prevention of and compensation for low back pain.

Background: In the context of the establishment of a new surveillance system, the aim was to assess the proportion of cases of lumbar disc surgery (LDS) attributable to work according to occupation category and industry sector.

Methods: The sociodemographic and socioeconomic data of 3150 inpatients living in a French region discharged in 2007-2008 from spine centers of the region following LDS were compared with those of the regional population. Occupational history was gathered using a mailed questionnaire.

Screening for Elevated Blood Lead Levels in Children: Assessment of Criteria and a Proposal for New Ones in France.

The decline in children's Blood Lead Levels (BLL) raises questions about the ability of current lead poisoning screening criteria to identify those children most exposed. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the performance of current screening criteria in identifying children with blood lead levels higher than 50 µg/L in France, and to propose new criteria. Data from a national French survey, conducted among 3831 children aged 6 months to 6 years in 2008-2009 were used.

Sensitivity of Bovine Tuberculosis Surveillance in Wildlife in France: A Scenario Tree Approach.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a common disease in cattle and wildlife, with an impact on animal and human health, and economic implications. Infected wild animals have been detected in some European countries, and bTB reservoirs in wildlife have been identified, potentially hindering the eradication of bTB from cattle populations. However, the surveillance of bTB in wildlife involves several practical difficulties and is not currently covered by EU legislation.

Phenology and host preferences Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera: Phlebotominae) in a focus of Toscana virus (TOSV) in South of France.

This paper reports on an entomological survey performed over the period 2009-2011 in endemic focus of peri-urban TOSV in South of France located from 24km east of Marseille. Sand flies were captured using CDC light traps set in sand fly resting places overnight, and temperature, relative humidity and wind were recorded to establish possible relations between meteorological factors and vector densities. The most common species, of 5,432 specimens collected and identified, was Phlebotomus perniciosus (74%), followed by Sergentomyia minuta (6%) and Phlebotomus ariasi (1%).

Prevalences of scabies and pediculosis corporis among homeless people in the Paris region: results from two randomized cross-sectional surveys (HYTPEAC study).

Background: Dermatological infections constitute the most common health problem in the homeless population.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalences of scabies and pediculosis corporis and to identify associated factors in the homeless population.

Methods: Two randomized cross-sectional surveys were performed, one on the homeless population sleeping in public places in Paris, and the other on the homeless population in various shelters in the Ile-de-France administrative region.

Evolution of psychosocial factors at work in a French region.

Background: Psychosocial factors at work (PFW) can be defined as all non-physicochemical occupational risks. Several epidemiological models have been proposed to measure PFW, but one of the most widely used is Karasek's model.

Aims: To determine whether psychosocial factors, evaluated by Karasek's questionnaire, had increased in a cohort of workers.

Carpal tunnel syndrome and computer exposure at work in two large complementary cohorts.

Objectives: The boom in computer use and concurrent high rates in musculoskeletal complaints and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among users have led to a controversy about a possible link. Most studies have used cross-sectional designs and shown no association. The present study used longitudinal data from two large complementary cohorts to evaluate a possible relationship between CTS and the performance of computer work.

Spatial variation of PM elemental composition between and within 20 European study areas--Results of the ESCAPE project.

An increasing number of epidemiological studies suggest that adverse health effects of air pollution may be related to particulate matter (PM) composition, particularly trace metals. However, we lack comprehensive data on the spatial distribution of these elements. We measured PM2.

Toward a multi-country monitoring system of reproductive health in the context of endocrine disrupting chemical exposure.

Background: Worrying trends regarding human reproductive endpoints (e.g. semen quality, reproductive cancers) have been reported and there is growing circumstantial evidence for a possible causal link between these trends and exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

Association between long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in France: A 25-year follow-up study.

Introduction: Long-term exposure to air pollution (AP) has been shown to have an impact on mortality in numerous countries, but since 2005 no data exists for France.

Objectives: We analyzed the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality at the individual level in a large French cohort followed from 1989 to 2013.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 20,327 adults working at the French national electricity and gas company EDF-GDF.

Major decrease in malaria transmission on Mayotte Island.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for most malaria cases on Mayotte Island, in the Comorian Archipelago. Malaria is endemic and a major public health problem in the archipelago with an intense, stable and permanent transmission. This study reports results of 8 years of malaria surveillance from 2007 to 2014 after the strengthening of malaria control activities in Mayotte and the neighbouring islands.

Investigation of a leptospirosis outbreak in triathlon participants, Réunion Island, 2013.

We report herein the investigation of a leptospirosis outbreak occurring in triathlon competitors on Réunion Island, Indian Ocean. All participants were contacted by phone or email and answered a questionnaire. Detection and molecular characterization of pathogenic Leptospira was conducted in inpatients and in rodents trapped at the vicinity of the event.

Description of two waterborne disease outbreaks in France: a comparative study with data from cohort studies and from health administrative databases.

Waterborne disease outbreaks (WBDO) of acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) are a public health concern in France. Their occurrence is probably underestimated due to the lack of a specific surveillance system. The French health insurance database provides an interesting opportunity to improve the detection of these events.

Community Incidence of Campylobacteriosis and Nontyphoidal Salmonellosis, France, 2008-2013.

Community incidence estimates are necessary to assess the burden and impact of infections on health and to set priorities for surveillance, research, prevention, and control strategies. The current study was performed to estimate the community incidence of campylobacteriosis and nontyphoidal salmonellosis in France from the number of laboratory-confirmed cases reported to the national reference center (NRC). The probabilities of a case in the community visiting a doctor, having a stool sample requested, having a positive laboratory test, and having the case reported to the NRC were estimated using data of national surveillance systems, national hospitalization and health insurance databases, and specific surveys informing about these parameters.

Surveillance programme for uncompensated work-related diseases in France.

Background: The surveillance programme for uncompensated work-related diseases (UWRDs) in France relies on a network of occupational physicians (OPs) who volunteer to report all UWRDs diagnosed during a biannual 2-week observation period.

Aims: To describe this programme and the usefulness of its results.

Methods: During the observation period, OPs record job title and employment sector for each worker.

An original imputation technique of missing data for assessing exposure of newborns to perchlorate in drinking water.

Introduction: Incompleteness of epidemiological databases is a major drawback when it comes to analyzing data. We conceived an epidemiological study to assess the association between newborn thyroid function and the exposure to perchlorates found in the tap water of the mother's home. Only 9% of newborn's exposure to perchlorate was known.

How to estimate exposure when studying the temperature-mortality relationship? A case study of the Paris area.

Time series studies assessing the effect of temperature on mortality generally use temperatures measured by a single weather station. In the Paris region, there is a substantial measurement network, and a variety of exposure indicators created from multiple stations can be tested. The aim of this study is to test the influence of exposure indicators on the temperature-mortality relationship in the Paris region.

Assessment of exposure to soils contaminated with lead, cadmium, and arsenic near a zinc smelter, Cassiopée Study, France, 2008.

After 150 years of industrial activity, significant pollution of surface soils in private gardens and locally produced vegetables with lead, cadmium, and arsenic has recently been observed in Viviez (Southern France). A public health intervention was conducted in 2008 to identify individual health risks of Viviez inhabitants and to analyze their environmental exposure to these pollutants. Children and pregnant women in Viviez were screened for lead poisoning.

The undiagnosed chronically-infected HCV population in France. Implications for expanded testing recommendations in 2014.

Background: Recent HCV therapeutic advances make effective screening crucial for potential HCV eradication. To identify the target population for a possible population-based screening strategy to complement current risk-based testing in France, we aimed to estimate the number of adults with undiagnosed chronic HCV infection and age and gender distribution at two time points: 2004 and 2014.

Methods: A model taking into account mortality, HCV incidence and diagnosis rates was applied to the 2004 national seroprevalence survey.

Chikungunya outbreak in Montpellier, France, September to October 2014.

In October 2014, an outbreak of 12 autochthonous chikungunya cases, 11 confirmed and 1 probable, was detected in a district of Montpellier, a town in the south of France colonised by the vector Aedes albopictus since 2010. A case returning from Cameroon living in the affected district was identified as the primary case. The epidemiological investigations and the repeated vector control treatments performed in the area and around places frequented by cases helped to contain the outbreak.

National trends in rate of patients hospitalized for heart failure and heart failure mortality in France, 2000-2012.

Aims: The objectives of this study were to describe annual trends in patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) and HF-associated mortality rates in France between 2000 and 2012.

Methods And Results: Hospital discharge data were extracted from the French National Hospitalization Database (PMSI). Mortality data were obtained from the French National Mortality Database.

Impact of socio-economic position on health and quality of care in adults with Type 2 diabetes in France: the Entred 2007 study.

Aim: To describe the association between socio-economic position, health status and quality of diabetes care in people with Type 2 diabetes in France, where people may receive full healthcare coverage for chronic disease.

Methods: Data from a national cross-sectional survey performed in people pharmacologically treated for diabetes were used. They combined data from medical claims, hospital discharge, questionnaires for patients (n = 3894 with Type 2 diabetes) and their physicians (n = 2485).