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With the advent of the author-pays business model replacing subscription, mercantile publishers have created journals. They respond to the dissatisfaction of naive researchers faced with the difficulties of publishing quickly and widely. These publishers favour commercial interests over knowledge and do not respect good publication practices. The network of science academies and UNESCO distinguish three groups of publishers: fraudulent (predatory journals), of poor quality (journals of complacency that are not to be recommended) and of good quality (legitimate journals). Good and bad articles can be found in all journals. Quality journals have created special issues with rapid reviews to remain competitive. The proliferation of these journals is a source of misinformation. Paper mills are commercial scientific writing and communication companies that sell articles to researchers in order to put their name among the authors. There are social networks accounts to promote these articles and sell the authors' positions. Review and citation mills are also scams. Five factors have influenced these abuses: the monetisation of research results; the value of publishing a lot; the shortcomings of peer review; the lack of international certification of scientific journals; and artificial intelligence with its best and worst. The system can continue as long as there are satisfied researchers and institutional leaders do nothing. Fortunately, awareness is growing, but we are all waiting for our neighbours to change their practices., (Copyright © 2024 Société Française du Cancer. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) has been reported with many cancer drugs including some recent antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The mechanisms of ILD induced by many chemotherapy drugs, other drug classes and ADCs used in cancer, including breast cancer, are not clearly elucidated. In the absence of specific clinical or radiological signs, the diagnosis of drug-induced ILD is often a diagnosis of exclusion. When present, the most frequent symptoms are respiratory signs (cough, dyspnea, chest pain) and general signs (fatigue, fever). Any suspicion of ILD should be evaluated by imaging and, if in doubt, the CT scan should be evaluated by a pulmonologist and a radiologist. A network of multidisciplinary experts for proactive early management of ILD is important, including oncologist, radiologist, pulmonologist, infectious disease specialist and nurses. Patient education is essential to report new or exacerbated lung symptoms and prevent high-grade ILD. Study drug is discontinued temporarily or permanently according to ILD severity and type of ADC. For asymptomatic cases (Grade 1), the efficacy of corticosteroids is not clearly established; for higher grades, the benefit/risk balance of long-term corticosteroid therapy should be considered for the dose and treatment duration. Hospitalization and oxygen supplementation are required for severe cases (Grades 3-4). For patient follow-up, the expertise of a pulmonologist is necessary with repeated chest scans, spirometry and DLCO. Preventing ADC-induced ILDs and evolution to high grade rests on a network of multidisciplinary experts for assessment of individual risk factors, early management, close follow-up and patient education., (Copyright © 2023 Société Française du Cancer. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Paper patient file sharing has clearly been identified as a risk behavior for the COVID-19 virus transmission in radiotherapy units. In order to overcome this, the ONCORAD radiotherapy units worked on total dematerialization of the paper patient file, within 3 weeks. The methodology is based on a quality approch. This work has led to a convincing improvement in the management of risks a priori and a smoother patient care workflow., (Copyright © 2021 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the GLA gene, which leads to a deficient activity of α-galactosidase A. α-galactosidase A activity can be assayed on dried blood spots on filter paper but the original method has been associated with a number of false positive due in great part to quenching of fluorescence. Here, we describe an adaptation of the original fluorimetric method reducing quenching of the fluorescence., Results: A simple and sensitive fluorimetric method has been described for the determination of the α-galactosidase A activity in dried blood spots on filter paper, convenient for screening of FD in at-risk populations. The procedure uses 4-methylumbelliferyl-α-D-galactose, as a synthetic substrate for the enzyme. In this study, protein precipitation was added after incubation both to stop the enzymatic reaction and eliminate interfering proteins. With the novel method the risk of false-positive due to fluorescence quenching was minimized. A cut-off level of 2.1 μmol.h(-1).L(-1) (control values: 5.6 ± 2.0 μmol.h(-1).L(-1), mean ± SD) was chosen corresponding to 40 % of median control value. In all 60 hemizygotes males, α-gal A activities were below 1.1 μmol.h(-1).L(-1) (0.11 ± 0.2 μmol.h(-1).L(-1)). In the 68 heterozygous females, α-gal A activity ranged from 0 to 7.8 μmol.h(-1).L(-1) (2.2 ± 1.7 μmol.h(-1).L(-1)). Using the improved methodology, one third of the females were not identified using the enzymatic assay, due to significant residual enzyme activity., Conclusion: This improved method for the assay of α-gal A was robust and reduced the number of false-positive results. It can be applied for the screening of at-risk populations. α-galactosidase A enzymatic assay should not be used for screening for FD in women or, if used, should be interpreted cautiously together with the results of genotyping., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of hypothyroidism in 239 elderly patients and to determine the validity of TSH assay on blood dried on filter paper (spot-test) for the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. The sensitivity and specificity of the spot-test were evaluated in a subgroup of 177 subjects. The prevalence of hypothyroidism was 14.2% (34/239). The spot-test did not give satisfactory results for the diagnosis of hypothyroidism in elderly subjects. Due to the lack of specificity, most of the positive results were false positives and the clinician had to rely on laboratory determination of plasma TSH level to confirm hypothyroidism in half of the patients. We do not recommend the spot-test for the diagnosis of hypothyroidism in the elderly. Laboratory assay of plasma TSH is required for confirming hypothyroidism in the elderly.

Objective: Assessing inter- and intra- observer agreement in the reading of fetal heart rate (FHR) between two different paper speeds (1 and 2cm/min) using FIGO classification., Material and Methods: Single-centre experimental study consisting in reading 60minutes FHR tracings by six readers (3 midwives and 3 obstetricians) during 1cm and 2cm/min sessions within a period of three weeks. The reading guideline was based on FIGO classification. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was assessed thanks to Kappa coefficient (K) and percentage of agreement (PA) using the classification of FHR tracings drawn up by readers., Results: Intra-observer agreement reached 60% between the two paper speeds, and PA ranged from 48 to 67%. Inter-observer agreement was poor to moderate (K=0.42 for 1cm/min sessions and K=0.38 for 2cm/min sessions). Inter-observer agreement was significantly higher for normal tracings (PA ranged from 55.2% for 2cm/min sessions to 57.4% for 1cm/min sessions). The preterminal category had the lowest concordance rates (PA=19% for 1cm/min sessions and 20, 7% for 2cm/min sessions)., Conclusion: This study did not highlight significant differences in intra- and inter-observer variability between the two FHR paper speeds. The 1cm/min paper speed, which is commonly used in France, is more economical and gives a better bedside overview of FHR. Therefore, it should be recommended., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Processed baby foods designed for infants (4-12 months) and toddlers (12-36 months) (excluding infant formula, follow-on formula, the so-called growing-up milks, and cereal-based foods for infants), which are referred to as baby foods, are specific products defined by a European regulation (Directive 2006/125/CE). According to this Directive, such foods have a composition adapted to the nutritional needs of children of this age and should comply with specifications related to food safety in terms of ingredients, production processes, and prevention of infectious and toxicological hazards. Hence, they differ from ordinary foods and from non-specific processed foods. This market segment includes the full range of foods that can be part of children's diet: dairy products (dairy desserts, yoghurts, and fresh cheese), sweet products (nondairy desserts, fruit, and drinks), and salty products (soups, vegetable-based foods, meat, fish, and full dishes). This market amounted to 89,666 MT in France in 2011 and 83,055 MT in 2010 (a total of 325,524 MT in the 27 countries of the European Union in 2010, including 90,438 MT in Germany, 49,144 MT in Spain, and 40,438 MT in Italy). The consumption of baby foods in France varies with infant age and parental choice. Baby foods account for 7 % of total energy intake at 4-5 months, 28 % at 6-7 months, 27 % at 8-11 months, 17 % at 1-17 months, and 11 % at 18-24 months. Among parents, 24 % never offer their children any baby foods, 13 % do so 1-3 days/week and 63 % 4-7 days/week. Among consumers, 55 % of children eat more than 250 g/day of baby foods. As baby foods only account for a minor fraction of overall food intake, their impact on the quality of young children's diet is much less than that of growing-up milks, particularly for preventing insufficient iron and vitamin D intake. Their consumption, however, has an indirect benefit on the nutritional quality of the diet and on food safety, particularly regarding toxicological hazards, as it postpones the introduction of non-specific processed foods, which are inadequate for this age group owing to both their nutritional composition and lower food safety control. Baby foods represent a family of products meeting parents' expectations and adapted to infants and young children. They are clearly beneficial in terms of food safety, but the nutritional benefit to be expected from their consumption is minimal: their main advantage is postponing or decreasing the consumption of non-specific industrially processed foods., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Every scientific article has to undergo a critical reading before its conclusions can be accepted. This article discusses the tools for assessing the scientific value of a study. A sequence of methodological criteria allows quality evaluation of an article and its classification in a scale of level of proof.

Systematic screening for congenital hypothyroidism was started in Lyon in september 1976. This screening was coupled with PKU, using the same dried blood samples on filter paper obtained on the 5th day of life. TSH levels were determined by radioimmunoassay adapted for dried blood samples (Kit Abbott). In 24 months, 56 176 samples were analyzed. The critical level calling for control was successively raised from from 20 to 30, now 40 microUI/ml of serum. A high level of TSH was found in 307 children (0,55%). Pathological deliveries were found in most of these infants (neonatal injury, cesarean, section forceps or ocytocic perfusion, neonatal icterus) and a second or a third measurement showed normal TSH level. Congenital hypothyroidism, was found detected in 18 infants: 12 ectopic gland, 5 athyreosis and 1 dyshormonogenesis. Treatment was begun at a mean age of 38 days (29 to 50 days).

High sensitivity attained in radioimmunoassays explains the important role played by specialized laboratories as screening partners for early neonatal hypothyroidism detection. In this paper, the author tries to point out optimal technical conditions to be followed while performing at routine scale T4 and TSH paper immunoassays choice of filter paper, blood collection and storage, assay, quality control, assay mecanization, computer calculation of results).