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Background: Liver fibrosis, now assessed by liver biopsy or using non-invasive methods, might be different in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC)., Aim: To compare histological amount and pattern of fibrosis in CHB and CHC., Methods: Sixty CHB and sixty CHC biopsies from naïve patients, standardized for the spectrum of Metavir fibrosis stages, were analysed for (1) semi-quantitative Metavir activity, steatosis, perisinusoidal fibrosis, alpha-smooth muscle actin immunoreactivity, (2) quantitative morphometry of total and perisinusoidal fibrosis ratio (FR and PFR)., Results: Biopsy quality, activity, steatosis, Fibrotest(®) values were not different between the two groups. Correlation between FR and fibrosis stage was stronger in CHB (r = 0.90) than CHC (r = 0.81). Mean FR was 1.5-fold higher in CHC than CHB for early fibrosis stages (F ≤ 2, P = 0.001), with higher PFR in CHC for F0 (P = 0.001), F1 (P = 0.08) and F2 (P = 0.004). Hepatic stellate cell activation index was also higher in CHC than in CHB (P = 0.007). Diagnosis performance of FR for significant fibrosis was not statistically different in CHB than CHC (AUROC 0.92 and 0.87 respectively), but cut-offs optimizing sensitivity and specificity were higher in CHC and their extrapolation to CHB led to 10% decrease in sensitivity. In F ≤ 2 patients, correlation between FR and Fibrotest(®) was only significant in CHC., Conclusions: As compared to CHB, amount of fibrosis is greater in CHC for F ≤ 2 patients, mainly because of higher perisinusoidal fibrosis. These data illustrate difficulty to assess early fibrosis stages by non-invasive methods, and support the need for specific cut-offs in CHB., (© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Smoking represents a major public health problem because of its high morbidity and mortality rates. Nearly half of the deaths in the lower class are caused by smoking. The socially deprived are physically and psychologically vulnerable. The instability of their situation increases the difficulty to invest in smoking cessation and certain time orientations linked to this social deprivation represent negative factors in the prognosis. Socially deprived populations do not understand the consequences of smoking unless they are in denial of the risks. The motivation to stop is essentially financial. The perception of smoking cessation is taken as a deprivation of pleasure. Independently of the social deprivation factors, taking into account the time perspective conveys necessary information of appropriate care.

Alcohol is frequently related to interpersonal aggression, but information regarding the role of alcohol consumption by victims of severe aggression is however lacking. In order to better understand the dynamic of victimization, we investigated contextual, facilitator, and psychological impact variables related to victimization in a French sample composed of 1,033 females aged 18-74 years. The participants were recruited using quota sampling methodology, and responses were measured using Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewer. A logistic regression was conducted using a backward elimination procedure to identify the significant predictors of blows and wounds suffered in the past 24 months. The results indicated that victims, relative to nonvictims, did binge drink significantly more often, had a higher aggression trait, and had experienced more social hardships in the past. The study's limitations are noted.

Few studies have analyzed in the general population psychoactive substance use among athletes, especially among females. In fact, sporting activity is often promoted in prevention actions, as an alternative to addiction or alcohol, tobacco or other substance misuse. So, we propose an analysis of the ESPAD 1999 sample among students (16-18 years old), focused on the relationship between sporting activities and substance use. Boys play sport more frequently than girls (71.5% versus 49.5%) and report 8 hours and more a week 4 more times than girls (14% versus 3.5%). Sixty-eight percent of boys and 36% of girls have already participated in sport competitions, more often at a local, departmental or regional level; a minority of them (26% of boys and 20% of girls) have already participated in sport competitions at a national or international level. Sporting activity is decreasing with age among girls, students from general lycée play sport more frequently than others do (vocational lycée); the higher the father's education level, the more frequently the students play sport. Moderate sporting activity (1-8 hours a week) is a protective factor against regular smoking (OR=0.54 in boys and OR=0.60 in girls) and against regular cannabis use among boys (OR=0.64). Intensive sporting activity (>8 hours a week) is a risk factor for illicit drugs (except cannabis) use (OR=2.74) and sleeping drugs/tranquillizers (OR=1.82) only among girls. Competition level is the most important risk factor for substance misuse as well in boys (except sleeping drugs/tranquillizers) as in girls. Practical implications are: adjusting health policy concerning the beneficial effects of sporting activity, raising sports associations abilities and avoiding doping and addiction in high-level sporting activities.

Over the past decade, we have observed a disparity between alcohol consumption and related mortality, especially in its regional distribution. Two epidemiological surveys carried out by CRSSA and INSERM (unit 472) focused on drinking behaviour patterns among young conscripts and secondary school students. Regular drinkers in particular were studied. Geographical distribution of regular alcohol use differs from that of alcohol-related deaths. Alcohol consumption is higher in the south of France than in the north, while mortality from alcohol abuse remains higher in the north.

Using only ingested alcohol quantity, where individual erroneous values are counted and weigh a lot, alcohol consumption evaluation is biased. An original alcohol consumption evaluation is explained: ordinal factor analysis, and evaluation scales are described. This study shows several people groups, whose sensitivity about alcohol consumption safety varies greatly: from people whose alcohol consumption is low and have a bad picture of alcohol, to people whose consumption is high, have a good picture of alcohol, or think that their consumption is low or normal. In fact, for the last ones, alcohol consumption safety will never be effective.