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The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern has greatly influenced the immune correlates of protection, and there are little data about the antibody threshold concentrations to protect against infection with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 or BA.2. We analyzed the antibody responses of 259 vaccinated healthcare workers, some of whom had been previously infected by SARS-CoV-2. The median follow-up was 179 days (IQR: 171–182) after blood collection. We detected 88 SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infections during the follow-up period, 55 (62.5%) with SARS-CoV-2 BA.1, and 33 (37.5%) with SARS-CoV-2 BA.2. A neutralizing antibody titer below 8 provided no protection against a BA.1 infection, a titer of 16 or 32 gave 73.2% protection, and a titer of 64 or 128 provided 78.4% protection. Conversely, the BA.2 infection rate did not vary as a function of anti-BA.2 neutralizing antibody titers. Binding antibody concentrations below 6000 BAU/mL provided no protection against Omicron BA.1 infection, 6000–20,000 BAU/mL provided 55.6% protection, and 20,000 or more provided 87.7% protection. There was no difference in BA.2 infection depending on the binding antibody concentration. Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between antibody concentrations and infection with the Omicron BA.4/5 variants that are becoming predominant worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The relationships between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer remain controversial. OBJECTIVES: We examined the association between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer incidence. METHODS: Volunteer retired workers previously exposed to asbestos were invited to participate in the French ARDCo screening program between 2003 and 2005. Additional data on risk factors for colorectal cancer were collected from the ARDCo-Nut subsample of 3,769 participants in 2011. Cases of colon and rectal cancer were ascertained each year through 2014 based on eligibility for free medical care following a cancer diagnosis. Survival regression based on the Cox model was used to estimate the relative risk of colon and rectal cancer separately, in relation to the time since first exposure (TSFE) and cumulative exposure index (CEI) to asbestos, and with adjustment for smoking in the overall cohort and for smoking, and certain risk factors for these cancers in the ARDCo-Nut subsample. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 10.2 years among 14,515 men, including 181 colon cancer and 62 rectal cancer cases (41 and 17, respectively, in the ARDCo-Nut subsample). In the overall cohort, after adjusting for smoking, colon cancer was significantly associated with cumulative exposure (HR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.26 for a 1-unit increase in In-CEI) and [greater than or equal to] 20-40 years since first exposure (HR = 4.67; 95% CI: 1.92, 11.46 vs. 0-20 years TSFE), and inversely associated with 60 years TSFE (HR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.70). Although rectal cancer was also associated with TSFE 20-40 years (HR = 4.57; 95% CI: 1.14, 18.27), it was not associated with ln-CEI, but these findings must be interpreted cautiously due to the small number of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide support for an association between occupational exposure to asbestos and colon cancer incidence in men. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP153, Introduction Asbestos exposure is associated with several malignancies including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and more recently, ovarian and laryngeal cancers (IARC 2012). However, the role of asbestos in the pathogenesis of [...]

Objectives: Previous studies in the working environment have underlined the high prevalence of drug consumption. The aim of this study was to present the main characteristics of this consumption in French workers and to identify changes from the 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016 surveys. Methods: The design was a repeated cross‐sectional study in 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016. At each wave, demographic and socio‐professional characteristics, self‐reported consumption of medications during the week before the occupational medical visit, and perceived difficult working conditions and extraprofessional problems were collected among a sample of workers. Factors associated with consumption of any drug and of main therapeutic classes were investigated through multivariate logistic regression models, using 2016 as the reference for investigating temporal trends. Results: Prevalence of use of any drug was significantly higher in 2016, with marked changes observed in comparison with 1986: absolute decrease of psychotropic (−5.1%, p < 0.0001), antibiotics (−2.7%, p < 0.0001) and cardiovascular drug use (−3.8%, p < 0.0001), increase of analgesic use (+8.3%, p < 0.0001). Difficult working conditions, age and female gender were independently associated with analgesic drug use, and extraprofessional problems and female gender associated with psychotropic drug use. Conclusions: This analysis of self‐reported drug use in the working environment illustrates the global patterns of medication use in a French active population over 3 decades. The favorable development in the level of consumption of psychotropic drugs should not underestimate the attention to be paid to the determinants of chronic consumption, or possible transfers to less stigmatized medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the relevancy of flexible nasoendoscopy as a routine screening procedure of sinonasal adenocarcinoma among people occupationally exposed to wood dust. Methods: This study included woodworkers, occupationally exposed to wood dust. Evaluations were scheduled at the time of inclusion (T0) and after a 2‐year period (T1). A questionnaire was used for standardized data collection. The score was based on anatomic landmarks on each side that are parts of the olfactory clefts: the area of middle turbinate, the anterior part of the olfactory cleft, the top of the choanal arch, the spheno‐ethmoidal recess, the posterior part of the olfactory cleft, and the middle part of the olfactory cleft. Results: A total of 965 nasoendoscopies (T0+T1) were performed. Olfactory clefts were visualized in 72% of the cases. Nasoendoscopies revealed pathological findings in 33.6% of cases: polyps, thick nasal secretion aspect, mucous edema, retractile scars and synechia, crusts, mucous erythema, and growth. One case of carcinoma was confirmed. Adverse effects (epistaxis, blood mark on the endo‐sheath, sneezing, or rhinorrhea) after the medical procedure occurred in 30% of cases without severe complications. Conclusion: Flexible nasoendoscopy offers meaningful efficacy and a promising safety profile, and, therefore, could become the new cornerstone of the routine screening procedure of sinonasal adenocarcinoma among woodworkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is the main causative agent of bovine zoonotic tuberculosis. The aim of this systematic review is to highlight the occupational exposure to bovine tuberculosis due to M. bovis. Methodology/principal findings: A computer based literature search was carried out to identify papers published between January 2006 and March 2017. “PubMed, Cochrane Library and Science Direct” databases were searched systematically. Articles presenting the following properties were included: (i) focusing on M. bovis; (ii) concerning occupational exposure to bovine tuberculosis. A quality assessment was performed after selection of studies. Our search strategy identified a total of 3,264 papers of which 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. Of the 29 articles, 17 were cross-sectional studies (6 were of high quality and scored in the range of 6–7, 11 were of moderate quality and scored in the range 3–5), 10 were case reports, and 2 were reviews. Different occupational fields exposing to the disease were described: livestock sector, particularly in contact with dairy cattle (farmers, veterinaries and assistants, abattoir workers) and working in contact with wildlife (hunters, taxidermists). Conclusions: A specific guideline for occupational practitioners taking care of employees exposed to bovine tuberculosis is warranted and should be tailored to level of exposure. This review was intended to be the first step of such a project. Articles were identified from various continents and countries with different socio-economic situations, broadening our understanding of the worldwide situation. Published data on occupational exposure in developed countries are scarce. We had to extrapolate findings from countries with higher prevalence of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The relationships between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer remain controversial. OBJECTIVES: We examined the association between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer incidence. METHODS: Volunteer retired workers previously exposed to asbestos were invited to participate in the French ARDCo screening program between 2003 and 2005. Additional data on risk factors for colorectal cancer were collected from the ARDCo-Nut subsample of 3,769 participants in 2011. Cases of colon and rectal cancer were ascertained each year through 2014 based on eligibility for free medical care following a cancer diagnosis. Survival regression based on the Cox model was used to estimate the relative risk of colon and rectal cancer separately, in relation to the time since first exposure (TSFE) and cumulative exposure index (CEI) to asbestos, and with adjustment for smoking in the overall cohort and for smoking, and certain risk factors for these cancers in the ARDCo-Nut subsample. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 10.2 years among 14,515 men, including 181 colon cancer and 62 rectal cancer cases (41 and 17, respectively, in the ARDCo-Nut subsample). In the overall cohort, after adjusting for smoking, colon cancer was significantly associated with cumulative exposure (HR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.26 for a 1-unit increase in ln-CEI) and ≥ 20-40 years since first exposure (HR = 4.67; 95% CI: 1.92, 11.46 vs. 0-20 years TSFE), and inversely associated with 60 years TSFE (HR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.70). Although rectal cancer was also associated with TSFE 20-40 years (HR = 4.57; 95% CI: 1.14, 18.27), it was not associated with ln-CEI, but these findings must be interpreted cautiously due to the small number of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide support for an association between occupational exposure to asbestos and colon cancer incidence in men. CITATION: Paris C, Thaon I, Hérin F, Clin B, Lacourt A, Luc A, Coureau G, Brochard P, Chamming's S, Gislard A, Galan P, Hercberg S, Wild P, Pairon JC, Andujar P. 2017. Occupational asbestos exposure and incidence of colon and rectal cancers in French men: the Asbestos-Related Diseases Cohort (ARDCo-Nut). Environ Health Perspect 125:409-45; http://dx.doi. org/10.1289/EHP153 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores how anti–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination reduces symptomatic and asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections with information on the relative strengths of the neutralizing antibody responses conferred by vaccination and a natural infection or on the benefit of vaccinating a previously infected person. It mentions that about ongoing studies on the persistence of neutralizing antibodies after a first infection.

Background: Fipronil represents a chemical class of insecticides acting at the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor in pests. Fipronil has been associated with a significant increase in the incidence of thyroid gland tumors concomitant with prolonged exposure to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in rats. An association between human TSH concentration and thyroid cancer has been also reported. The primary objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that chronic occupational fipronil exposure may be associated with abnormal thyroid function tests. Methods: In 2008, 159 workers of a factory manufacturing fipronil-containing veterinary drugs were assessed. Serum concentrations of TSH, total thyroxine, free thyroxine, fipronil, and fipronil sulfone were measured. Results: A positive and significant correlation was observed between serum fipronil or fipronil sulfone levels and duration of fipronil exposure. Serum fipronil sulfone concentration was negatively correlated with TSH concentration in fipronil-exposed workers, but with no significant increase in thyroid function test abnormalities. Conclusion: This study did not show that chronic fipronil exposure was associated with an increase of thyroid function test abnormalities. But, despite the fact that fipronil exposure in rats has been associated with increased serum TSH, fipronil sulfone concentrations were negatively correlated with serum TSH concentrations in fipronil-exposed workers, raising the possibility that fipronil has a central inhibitory effect on TSH secretion in humans. Close occupational medical surveillance, therefore, appears to be required in factory workers manufacturing fipronil-containing veterinary drugs. Larger epidemiological studies as well as investigations on possible thyroid-disrupting mechanisms of fipronil are also required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• To our knowledge, it is the first study to gather, in a comprehensive manner, employment data on LC patients. • Being employed is correlated with a better quality of life regarding physical functioning. • On a societal perspective, RTW of LC patients represents a priority as the costs associated with work loss and reduction of productivity have a significant impact. • New drug therapies may increase the patients' chance of resuming their former activities (including working). • Therefore, potentially reduce the economic burden they place on healthcare systems. The aim of this systematic review is to identify, in a comprehensive manner, the impact of lung cancer on the employment status of survivors. The Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement was used as a formal guideline. The systematic review includes scientific papers published between January 2000 and October 2018. The search strategy queried the database MEDLINE. Inclusion criteria comprised: (1) inclusion of patients diagnosed with lung cancer (LC) (2); assessment of employment status or employment outcomes or work adjustments or return to work (3); inclusion of scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals (4); inclusion of articles written either in English or in French. Literature reviews were not included. A total of 642 scientific papers were retrieved. Twenty-three articles were included in the systematic review: 5 longitudinal studies and 18 cross-sectional studies. LC survivors are 2–3 times more likely to be unemployed as compared with control groups. Previous studies highlight a median duration of sickness absence increased for LC survivors compared to control groups. The strongest decline in earnings was observed among LC survivors as compared to other cancer types. LC is associated with a significant impact on employment of patients. The promising results of recent therapeutic strategies could lead to a better social and professional prognosis. A reduction of indirect costs is to be expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neutralizing antibody response is a key component of adaptive immunity and a primary protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The increased transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and its capacity to cause more severe disease could be linked to a significant reduction in neutralizing antibodies generated during a previous infection or vaccination. We analyzed blood samples from 162 unvaccinated health care workers (HCWs) collected 1 to 3 months postinfection and from 263 vaccinated health care workers 1 month after the last injection. We have compared the neutralizing antibody titers obtained using two virus strains, B.1.160 and B.1.617.2 (Delta variant). Binding antibody concentrations were measured by an immunoassay. The median neutralizing antibody titer against the B.1.160 strain was 128 (interquartile range [IQR], 16 to 256) and 32 (IQR, 8 to 128) against the Delta variant. To obtain a neutralizing antibody titer of 32 or 64, a binding antibody concentration of 182 binding antibody units (BAU)/mL (IQR, 81 to 974) was required with the strain B.1.160, while a concentration of 2,595 BAU/mL (IQR, 1,176 to 5,353) was required with the Delta variant. Our data indicate that antibodies neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant 4 times less efficiently than they neutralize an earlier strain. Half of the HCWs had decreased protection from 94% to 76.8% or less for the same total antibody concentration. But neutralization might be correlated with other immune responses. The contributions of other responses, such as those of the T cell and B cell systems, to protection require further investigation. IMPORTANCE Recent studies showed that the neutralizing antibody titer is an important contributor to protection against SARS-CoV-2. With the emergence of new variants, the question arises of maintaining the neutralizing capacities of vaccines and/or of a past infection. We had protective data associated with total antibody concentrations and neutralizing antibody titers for a B.1.160 strain. We showed that to maintain the same levels of protection and, therefore, the same levels of neutralizing antibodies, a total antibody concentration 8.5 times greater is required with the Delta strain. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT04385108.).

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the relevancy of flexible nasoendoscopy as a routine screening procedure of sinonasal adenocarcinoma among people occupationally exposed to wood dust., Methods: This study included woodworkers, occupationally exposed to wood dust. Evaluations were scheduled at the time of inclusion (T0) and after a 2-year period (T1). A questionnaire was used for standardized data collection. The score was based on anatomic landmarks on each side that are parts of the olfactory clefts: the area of middle turbinate, the anterior part of the olfactory cleft, the top of the choanal arch, the spheno-ethmoidal recess, the posterior part of the olfactory cleft, and the middle part of the olfactory cleft., Results: A total of 965 nasoendoscopies (T0+T1) were performed. Olfactory clefts were visualized in 72% of the cases. Nasoendoscopies revealed pathological findings in 33.6% of cases: polyps, thick nasal secretion aspect, mucous edema, retractile scars and synechia, crusts, mucous erythema, and growth. One case of carcinoma was confirmed. Adverse effects (epistaxis, blood mark on the endo-sheath, sneezing, or rhinorrhea) after the medical procedure occurred in 30% of cases without severe complications., Conclusion: Flexible nasoendoscopy offers meaningful efficacy and a promising safety profile, and, therefore, could become the new cornerstone of the routine screening procedure of sinonasal adenocarcinoma among woodworkers., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)