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This paper presents a reconfigurable discrete-time audio Sigma-Delta modulator implemented in 0.18-µm CMOS technology. The 600, µm, ×, 400, µm core area SD modulator is based on a 2, +, 2 MASH architecture, and features several different operating modes in which noise-shaping order, number of output word bits, sampling rate, and bandwidth can be programmed ad hoc. By design, the power consumption is minimized for the selected operating mode. The achieved performance ranges from 99-dB DR with 4th-order noise shaping and full standard audio bandwidth, while consuming 0.97 mW down to 85-dB DR with second order noise shaping over reduced bandwidth for vocal control operation, while consuming 100, µW. The developed device can be used either to read-out different sources (microphones) or to operate in different modes within the same system (i.e. with the same microphone in different scenarios). The trade-off between performance and re-configurability is the key element of this work.

Background Underreporting of occupational diseases related to asbestos exposure remains a matter of concern in France. The aim of this study was to evaluate the number of claims for compensation for asbestos-related non-malignant pulmonary or pleural occupational disease in subjects having undergone a chest CT-scan in a multiregional screening programme. Methods Among the 5444 voluntary retired asbestos-exposed subjects recruited in four regions between 2003 and 2005 who had undergone a chest CT-scan, the number of claims for compensation for an asbestos-related pulmonary or pleural benign disease was analysed in 2006 and 2010. Results Following CT-scan screening, 17.2% of participants were acknowledged as presenting with an asbestos-related non-malignant occupational disease, essentially pleural plaques, by the French National Health Insurance fund. Underreporting decreased as duration of follow-up after CT-scan increased. Nevertheless, 4 years after CT-scan, underreporting was still as high as 36% for subjects identified as presenting with pleural plaques. Mean duration between the date of CT-scan and the date of recognition as occupational disease was 7.4 months, shorter in cases where screening was coordinated by specialized centres. Conclusion A plan of action for an easier claiming process for compensation of asbestos-related diseases is desired. This could probably be obtained through improved sensitization of physicians engaged in the follow-up of asbestos-exposed subjects, and by standardization of the interpretation and reporting of asbestos-related abnormalities observed on chest CT-scans.

Resume Contexte et objectifs Dans un contexte de sous-declaration des cancers d’origine professionnelle regulierement soulignee, une etude a ete menee en Ile-de-France sur les cancers de vessie et les cancers naso-sinusiens incidents afin d’evaluer la frequence des expositions a des cancerogenes professionnels, de reperer les secteurs d’activite et les professions concernees, de favoriser les demarches de reconnaissance en maladie professionnelle (MP) le cas echeant et de mettre au point des outils de reperage des expositions utilisables en routine. Methode Etaient eligibles les cas incidents de cancer naso-sinusien residant en Ile-de-France et de cancer de vessie de trois departements d’Ile-de-France pris en charge a 100 % en affection longue duree (ALD30) entre 2005 et 2007 dans le regime general de la Securite sociale, le regime social des independants ou la caisse de coordination aux assurances sociales de la regie autonome des transports parisiens (RATP). Les sujets volontaires ont beneficie d’un questionnaire professionnel detaille. L’exposition aux differents agents cancerogenes pour la vessie (amines aromatiques, hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques) ou pour les sinus du nez ou de la face (poussieres de bois, certains derives du chrome ou du nickel) a ete evaluee par deux experts en pathologie professionnelle avec retour d’information vers le medecin traitant et proposition le cas echeant d’une declaration en MP. Les cas ayant fait l’objet d’une declaration et/ou d’une reconnaissance en MP ont ete evalues. Resultats Parmi les 1162 cancers de vessie eligibles qui ont ete reperes 58 % ont accepte de participer. Une proposition de declaration en MP a ete proposee a 7 % des sujets. Seuls 22 % d’entre eux l’ont effectuee. Sur les 151 cancers naso-sinusiens eligibles pour l’etude, 48 % ont participe. Une declaration en MP a ete proposee a 35 % des sujets et seulement 53 % d’entre eux l’ont effectuee. Toutes les demandes de reconnaissance en MP quel que soit le type de cancer considere ont ete acceptees. Conclusion Un nombre notable de patients relevait d’une declaration en MP, mais peu d’entre eux ont effectue cette declaration. Compte tenu des enjeux medico-sociaux de la declaration en MP, pour le patient comme pour la collectivite, il est important de renforcer l’information des professionnels de sante et des patients. Un dispositif de reperage systematique des expositions professionnelles merite d’etre propose a tous les cas incidents de cancer de vessie ou naso-sinusien.

Resume But de l’etude Les cancers de vessie sont la deuxieme localisation la plus frequente de cancer d’origine professionnelle, en relation avec une exposition ancienne a certains amines aromatiques (AA) et hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP). Toutefois, la mise en evidence d’une telle exposition professionnelle reste difficile. L’objet de ce travail est de proposer un questionnaire avec approche par tâches permettant un reperage des salaries exposes ou ayant ete exposes a des agents cancerogenes pour la vessie. Methodes A partir des travaux realises dans le cadre du colloque « Pour en finir avec le cancer de vessie d’origine professionnelle » organise par l’INRS en mars 2007, nous avons selectionne des situations exposantes en nous appuyant sur des criteres de frequence et d’intensite. Les niveaux des expositions, bases autant que faire se peut sur les donnees metrologiques, ont ete modules en fonction des periodes concernees et completes, pour les AA, par la probabilite d’exposition. Resultats Quarante-trois questions ont ete retenues : cinq concernent des situations de travail exposant potentiellement aux AA cancerogenes, 38 aux HAP. L’utilisation des AA cancerogenes a ete notamment rapportee dans le secteur de la plasturgie, l’industrie des colorants, la synthese de produits phytosanitaires, l’industrie du caoutchouc et le secteur de la recherche et de l’industrie pharmaceutique. Les situations d’exposition aux HAP les plus importantes sont les travaux en cokerie, a certains postes en siderurgie et a la fabrication d’aluminium, l’entretien et le ramonage des fours et des chaudieres, le travail en procede Soderberg en electrometallurgie et le decoupage, poncage ou usinage de pieces ayant beneficie d’un traitement anticorrosion. D’autres situations sont presentees. Discussion Ce questionnaire constitue un outil d’evaluation retrospective des expositions professionnelles mais pourrait egalement etre utilise dans le cadre de la mise en surveillance post exposition et post professionnelle. Il ne peut cependant etre considere comme exhaustif. Conclusion Ce questionnaire constitue un outil didactique d’aide au reperage des expositions professionnelles susceptibles d’engendrer une lesion maligne de la vessie. Il s’adresse notamment aux medecins du travail qui pourront repondre aux interrogations eventuelles des personnes questionnees portant sur leur exposition professionnelle.

Resume Introduction L’intolerance environnementale idiopathique (IEI) ou hypersensibilite chimique multiple est « une pathologie chronique regroupant des symptomes subjectifs multiples lies a une exposition aigue ou chronique a des stimuli environnementaux habituellement non nocifs et sans anomalie clinique objective ». Aux Etats-Unis, la prevalence est estimee entre 1 et 4 %. En France, cette pathologie est encore peu connue et les donnees epidemiologiques manquent compte tenu de l’absence d’outils diagnostiques universellement reconnus. Pourtant de tels outils existent, tels que les criteres diagnostiques definis en 1999 par la conference de consensus de l’American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine et les questionnaires valides que sont le Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Index (QEESI © ) et le Chemical Odor Sensitivity Scale (COSS) en langue anglaise. Objectif Mettre a disposition une version francaise du QEESI © . Methode Nous avons realise la traduction francaise du QEESI © , autorisee et approuvee apres traduction inverse par C.S. Miller, auteur du questionnaire original. Celui-ci sera donc desormais disponible pour les francophones. Resultat Le questionnaire QEESI © en version francaise est maintenant telechargeable sur le site http://www.drclaudiamiller.com . Conclusion Ce travail de traduction doit donner lieu a une evaluation quantitative du questionnaire traduit afin de confirmer ses qualites psychometriques : fiabilite, validite et stabilite dans le temps. Differentes perspectives d’utilisation sont envisagees : (1) en clinique, pour documenter les observations de patients souffrant d’IEI (pour lesquels nous proposons l’utilisation d’un dossier type) ou eventuellement d’autres syndromes subjectifs rapportes a l’environnement, pour le suivi des patients par rapport a une proposition therapeutique, par le medecin du travail pour l’investigation sur le terrain d’un episode aigu d’exposition a l’origine d’un syndrome psychogenique de masse ; (2) en recherche, par exemple pour la selection des cas et des temoins, ou pour l’evaluation de l’efficacite d’une therapeutique.

Rationale: Whether occupational exposure to asbestos causes airway obstruction remains controversial.Objectives: This study evaluated lung function in relation to cumulative exposure to asbestos in a large cohort of retired or unemployed workers exposed to asbestos.Methods: The study population consisted of 3,660 volunteer subjects. An individual cumulative exposure index to asbestos was calculated for each subject, and information was obtained on smoking status. Pulmonary function tests were performed in all subjects; high-resolution chest computed tomography was also performed in 3,335 subjects.Measurements and Main Results: Values of FEV1/FVC and FEF25–75% did not differ between five classes (quintiles) of cumulative exposure to asbestos, and no significant correlation was observed between cumulative exposure to asbestos and pulmonary function parameters, after adjustment for sex, tobacco consumption, emphysema, and body mass index. Furthermore, the proportion of abnormal pulmonary function tests did n...

Resume Objectif Le but de cette etude est d’estimer l’exposition au benzene chez les employes de stations-service, les citernistes et les personnels de depots. Materiels et methodes Deux campagnes de mesures ont ete menees, 158 salaries de 24 stations-service et huit depots representatifs du parc francais ont ete inclus dans la premiere etude, 74 salaries de trois depots dans la seconde. Chaque salarie volontaire a beneficie d’une evaluation de son exposition au benzene par un dosage individuel de benzene atmospherique et par un dosage urinaire en fin de poste d’acide trans,trans -muconique urinaire (t,t-MA). Le poste de travail exact de chaque sujet a ete precise ainsi que le tabagisme. Resultats Pour la premiere campagne, 158 sujets ont ete inclus, 146 prelevements atmospheriques etaient exploitables ; 154 dosages urinaires en fin de poste ont ete realises. Dans les stations-service, sur les 109 dosages de benzene atmospherique exploitables, 97 (81 %) etaient inferieurs a la limite de quantification (LQ = 0,07 mg/m 3 ), (mediane 3 ; etendue : 3 ). Sur 114 dosages de t,t-MA urinaire realises en fin de poste, 85 (75 %) etaient en dessous de la limite de detection (LD = 0,02 mg/l). La mediane etait inferieure a la LD (etendue : 3 , la mediane de 0,15 mg/m 3 (etendue : 3 ). De plus, sur les 40 prelevements de t,t-MA realises, 34 (85 %) etaient en dessous du seuil de detection. La mediane etait donc inferieure a la LD (etendue : 3 (etendue : 0,04–1,68 mg/m 3 ), celle des personnels de depot de 0,05 mg/m 3 ( 3 ) pour les tâches generales, 0,27 mg/m 3 (0,22–0,32 mg/m 3 ) pour le depotage « fer » des essences et inferieur a la LQ pour le depotage « barge ». Conclusion Pour la majeure partie des salaries de l’etude, l’exposition etait inferieure aux limites de quantification des methodes utilisees en metrologie et biometrologie. Dans les conditions normales d’exercice professionnel des employes de stations-service et des depots, le niveau d’exposition moyen est inferieur a 10 % de la VME actuelle. Il s’agit donc de groupes professionnels faiblement exposes au benzene. En terme de surveillance medicale vis-a-vis de ce risque chimique, le medecin du travail devra adapter son suivi en fonction de la presence actuelle ou passee de tâches potentiellement exposantes et devra tenir compte d’eventuels dysfonctionnements.

Resume But de l’etude Le panneau de fibres de moyenne densite (MDF) est un panneau derive du bois fabrique a partir de fibres de bois liees entres elles par un adhesif synthetique. Compte tenu de l’emission de poussieres de bois reputees plus fines, du degagement de composes chimiques, tels que le formaldehyde issu des colles, de la progression importante du marche de ce produit et sachant que les poussieres de bois et le formaldehyde sont classes cancerogenes du groupe 1 par le CIRC pour le cancer de l’ethmoide et le cancer nasopharynge, respectivement, la question posee est celle de l’apparition de nouvelles affections professionnelles, touchant en particulier l’appareil bronchopulmonaire. L’objectif de cet article est de determiner les effets toxicologiques du MDF sur la sante des professionnels. Methode La methode repose sur l’analyse de la bibliographie et propose une synthese sur les donnees actuelles des effets sanitaires lies a l’exposition professionnelle aux poussieres de bois MDF. Conclusion Les donnees de toxicite humaine disponibles imputables au MDF sont surtout d’ordre irritatif et allergique des voies aeriennes superieures et de la peau. Aucun lien de causalite n’a pu etre mis en evidence pour des localisations cancereuses autres que celles citees ci-dessus, en particulier pulmonaire.

Occupational causes of haematological malignancies are relatively uncommon, under-studied and under-identified. They are also often unrecognized by clinicians. This review summarizes the principal epidemiologic studies on this topic. We analyzed the recent relevant human data found in the Medline, the Pascal and the BDSP databases. Benzene and ionizing radiation are the only agents conclusively demonstrated to be carcinogenic to the haematopoietic system. In particular, both exposures are strongly associated with acute myeloid leukaemia. Low doses of both may also be related to myeloid malignancies. Infectious agents and pesticides are also thought to induce lymphoproliferative cancers. Some studies show an association between haematological malignancies and low-frequency electromagnetic fields and organic solvents. All of these suspected occupational causes must be confirmed by further studies. Better knowledge and understanding of occupational causes of haematological malignancies are necessary to improve their prevention and compensation.

Aims: To investigate psychiatric disorders, somatic health, and professional effects in French train drivers having experienced a “person under train” accident, and somatic health and professional effects. Methods: A total of 202 train drivers were evaluated several times: immediately after the event, three months later, and one, two, and three years later. These drivers were compared with 186 train drivers not exposed to that psychotraumatic shock. The evaluations relied primarily on the GHQ-28 and MINI questionnaires. Results: In the exposed group, at the first evaluation, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress was 4%; scores ⩾5 on the GHQ-28 were significantly higher than in the non-exposed group (32% versus 6%), for both the overall result and three sub-scores (somatic symptoms, anxiety and sleep, and psychosocial functioning). All these differences disappeared within a year. Vulnerability factors concerned prior traumas, acute and lasting life events, and the particular occupational situation where the driver is not accompanied but drives the train away alone in the aftermath of the accident. Over 95% of subjects had no short, medium, or long term impairment of their occupational fitness. Conclusions: Most of the psycho-behavioural disorders were observed in the immediate aftermath of the accident and disappeared within a year. The driver’s occupational future does not seem to be affected by the “person under train” accident. Consideration of a traumatic accident as a job related risk and close psychological support of drivers after an accident probably increase the subject’s ability to recover from the event.

Aims: To compare the prevalence and incidence of respiratory symptoms and lung function values between hairdressing apprentices and office apprentices. Methods: A total of 322 hairdressing apprentices and 277 office apprentices (controls) were studied. Two cross sectional surveys were conducted in 1994 and 1996/97 with longitudinal follow up for a subgroup of apprentices (191 hairdressing apprentices and 189 office apprentices). Results: In the initial phase, the prevalence of respiratory symptoms was significantly lower among hairdressing apprentices than among office apprentices. Lung function test results showed significantly higher values for hairdressing apprentices. Non-specific bronchial reactivity was similar in the two groups. In the final phase, results for respiratory symptoms were similar. The incidence of respiratory symptoms was not significantly different between hairdressing apprentices and office apprentices. Subjects who dropped out had lower values for FVC and FEV1 in the initial phase than those who completed the final phase. There was a significant deterioration of FEV1 and FEF25–75% in hairdressing apprentices compared to office apprentices. There was a link between atopy and the incidence of most of the respiratory symptoms (day/night cough, wheezing, dyspnoea, mucosal hyperresponsiveness) and between smoking and the incidence of bronchial hyperreactivity. There was no significant correlation between change in lung function tests and specific hairdressing activities reported at the end of the apprenticeship or with environmental working conditions in hairdressing salons. Conclusions: Although a healthy worker effect can be suspected, results showed a significant deterioration of baseline values of lung function tests in the hairdressing apprentice group. However, no clear link was shown between change in lung function tests and specific parameters of occupational activities.

Objectives - The aim of the study was to look for a rise in reticulocyte levels in workers exposed to various solvents, in comparison to non exposed control subjects. Methods - A cohort of exposed workers was selected on the criterion of exposure to solvents, among employees regularly attending the Centre of Occupational Medicine of Molsheim (France) during the second trimester of 1995. Controls were selected over the same period from the voluntary blood donors of the Transfusion Centre of Strasbourg (France). Complete blood counts and flow cytometric reticulocyte counts were determined in all blood samples. Results - Analysis of the haematological parameters displaying significant differences revealed the existence of higher levels of circulating reticulocytes and lymphocytes in workers exposed to solvents than in control subjects. These variations did not appear to depend on the intensity or length of exposure. Conclusions This study demonstrates the occurrence of an increase in circulating reticulocytes in relation to occupational exposure to solvents, without as yet providing sufficient information to allow elucidation of the underlying mechanism. An increase in total circulating lymphocytes was observed in the same group of exposed workers. The concomitant rise in absolute values of these two elements of the blood counts is to our knowledge described here for the first time in an epidemiological study.

This chapter is about the design and experimental characterization of an integrated prototype for tracing food preservation quality along the distribution chain by monitoring its environmental preservation conditions. The system includes humidity, temperature, and light intensity sensors with the respective interface circuits and an A/D converter. The target application of the microsystem is a smart tag including an RFID transponder for collecting energy and transmitting data, as well as a micro-battery for energy storage. The developed microsystem has been fabricated in a 0.18 μm CMOS technology and achieves better than 0.5 °C and 6 W/m2 accuracy for temperature and light intensity respectively, while nominally consuming less than 1 μA at 1.8 V supply. Chemical on-chip capacitor dielectric composition, based on Sylgarl 184 polymer, is being optimized for maximum sensitivity response in terms of permittivity with respect to air relative humidity, while further investigation about correlation between real food samples preservation and measured environmental parameters exposure history is being carried out.

In this paper a 0.35μm CMOS complete gas-sensor array front-end circuit is presented. The device provides measured read-out dynamic range of 162dB and effective independent row temperature regulation of 1.5°C within the range [25°C-500°C]. The overall system features a power consumption of 2mW/sensor and may be completely configured and read-out thanks to an embedded I2C bus interface, thus allowing the synthesis of ad-hoc sensor grid temperature gradient profiles over time and space through digital setpoint bitstream. Massive compliance with heterogeneous gas microsensors types is guaranteed, achieving maximum performance when connected to chemo-resistive metal-oxide gas-sensor arrays. The read-out circuit consists of a current to digital converter and an intrinsic series lossless insertion 20-channel multiplexer, while temperature regulation circuit is made up of five closed loop independent modules reading and driving their associated thermometers and heating actuators, respectively, reaching the setpoint temperature in less than 30ms.

This paper presents a low-dropout voltage regulator capable of delivering ±5 mA to the load with a quiescent current as low as 8 μA and a temperature coefficient equal to 7-ppm/°C, over a temperature range from -40 °C to +125 °C. The output voltage can be either 1.25 V or 1.8 V, while the input voltage can range from 1.8 V to 5.5 V. The bipolar output current is achieved by using a class-AB error amplifier with a quiescent current control circuit based on a translinear loop. The low temperature coefficient is guaranteed by a current mode bandgap circuit with curvature compensation.

The development and performance of a reconfigurable integrated read-out circuit for resistive heterogeneous 2D Metal-Oxide gas-sensor grids with local temperature control capability are reported. The MOX grid interface circuit is based on a resistance-to-frequency converter able to deliver up to 380 operating read-out configurations for a 5 x 5 sensing device. Temperature regulation of each row of the grid is provided thanks to independent sensor embedded platinum heaters and thermometers and separated control loops. The gas sensor front-end circuit prototype, developed in 0.35 μm technology with 3.3 V supply, features 170 dB dynamic range, while temperature regulation is guaranteed between ambient and 500°C with an accuracy of 1°C including residual dynamic ripple. To run a given sequence of measurements, reading-out digital output converted values, I2C serial interface is provided. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media.

An I2C programmable 0.35μm CMOS System-on-Chip (SoC) for bi-dimensional gas-sensor arrays providing extended dynamic range read-out with suitable embedded A/D converter and digitally controlled row temperature has been developed. The SoC also features low-power consumption, low-cost production, wide re-configurability and thus large scale compliance with several types of micro-sensors, achieving maximum performance if connected to resistive metal-oxide gas-sensor grids. The CMOS SoC read-out sub-circuit is inspired to laboratory professional electrometers and made up of a current to digital converter plus suitable very low insertion loss analog multiplexers. If connected to a 5×5 gas-sensor array, it features 380 possible measurement configurations. Arbitrary read-out sequences and temperature profiles, in time and in space, in the range [25°C÷500°C] may be run through embedded I2C interface and, without requiring calibration circuits, the SoC features over 160dB measured dynamic range in sensor current read-out with a worst-case output rate of 1 reading per second. Concerning instead digital row temperature regulation, the SoC sub-circuit features an accuracy, including ripple, better than 1°C reaching the set-point temperature value in less than 30ms.

A reconfigurable, low-cost, wide-dynamic-range, 0.35 mu m CMOS read-out ASIC for resistive bi-dimensional Metal-Oxide gas-sensor grids, providing local temperature regulation, has been developed. The MOX grid read-out circuit is based on a resistance to digital converter plus suitable low insertion loss analog multiplexers, delivering up to 380 possible measurement configurations for a 5x5 sensing device. Desired grid read-out sequences and temperature profiles, in time and in space, within the range [25 degrees C divided by 500 degrees C], may be executed by simply loading suitable configuration data onto embedded slave (IC)-C-2 registers. Without the aid of bulky calibration circuits the ASIC features 167dB dynamic range for sensor resistance value read-out with a guaranteed output rate of 1Hz, and an estimated accuracy, including ripple, better than 1 degrees C in each sensor row temperature regulation, while actuating the maximum temperature set-point transient in less than 30ms

In this chapter we present a low-cost multiplexed interface circuit based on a resistance-to-time converter suitable for the complete read-out of a 5x5 gas sensors matrix. The front-end circuit includes a bias branch, a continuous time integrator, a couple of discriminators, a control logic and 20 sets of analog multiplexers. Low-cost feature is achieved by means of the fact that the interface circuit is shared between different read-out configurations and that no calibration or bulky auto-ranging are mandatory. The worst case linearity error that is about 0.3%, when using a single fixed integrating capacitor. The presented read-out circuit performance satisfies the requirements of most environmental gas monitoring applications for which a precision better than 1% is enough in order to be sure to detect every gas type of interest with adequate accuracy. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

In this work the long term reliability and performance of a developed fully-integrated smart label system for food tracing has been validated, while carrying out the case study of monitoring the qualitative conservation of a packaged food product, i.e. sliced Emmental cheese, preserved under four different storage conditions in controlled environment for one month. Parameters of interest both for the end-customers and the distributors, which are subject to variation due to exposure to unsuitable storage temperature and light radiation, like dry matter, pH value, color index, and water activity, have been analyzed to estimate the quality of preservation of the food samples over time. The developed CMOS 0.18μm integrated smart label traces temperature, light intensity and optionally humidity data in digital domain for the food storage environment. Concerning the case study, collected sensors data have been compared with laboratory analyses results on samples to define a correlation between conservation quality and environmental parameters data log.

Background It is uncertain whether isolated pleural plaques cause functional impairment. Objective To analyse the relationship between isolated pleural plaques confirmed by CT scanning and lung function in subjects with occupational exposure to asbestos. Methods The study population consisted of 2743 subjects presenting with no parenchymal interstitial abnormalities on the high-resolution CT (HRCT) scan. Asbestos exposure was evaluated by calculation of an individual cumulative exposure index (CEI). Each subject underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and HRCT scanning. Variables were adjusted for age, smoking status, body mass index, CEI to asbestos and the centres in which the pulmonary function tests were conducted. Results All functional parameters studied were within normal limits for subjects presenting with isolated pleural plaques and for those presenting with no pleuropulmonary abnormalities. However, isolated parietal and/or diaphragmatic pleural plaques were associated with a significant decrease in total lung capacity (TLC) (98.1% predicted in subjects with pleural plaques vs 101.2% in subjects free of plaques, p=0.0494), forced vital capacity (FVC) (96.6% vs 100.4%, p 1 ) (97.9% vs 101.9%, p=0.0032). In contrast, no significant relationship was observed between pleural plaques and FEV 1 /FVC ratio, forced expiratory flow at 25–75% FVC and residual volume. A significant correlation was found between the extent of pleural plaques and the reduction in FVC and TLC, whereas plaque thickness was not related to functional impairment. Conclusions The results show a relationship between isolated parietal and/or diaphragmatic pleural plaques and a trend towards a restrictive pattern, although the observed decrease in FVC and TLC is unlikely to be of real clinical relevance for the majority of subjects in this series.

Underreporting of occupational diseases related to asbestos exposure remains a matter of concern in France. The aim of this study was to evaluate the number of claims for compensation for asbestos-related non-malignant pulmonary or pleural occupational disease in subjects having undergone a chest CT-scan in a multiregional screening programme.Among the 5444 voluntary retired asbestos-exposed subjects recruited in four regions between 2003 and 2005 who had undergone a chest CT-scan, the number of claims for compensation for an asbestos-related pulmonary or pleural benign disease was analysed in 2006 and 2010.Following CT-scan screening, 17.2% of participants were acknowledged as presenting with an asbestos-related non-malignant occupational disease, essentially pleural plaques, by the French National Health Insurance fund. Underreporting decreased as duration of follow-up after CT-scan increased. Nevertheless, 4 years after CT-scan, underreporting was still as high as 36% for subjects identified as presenting with pleural plaques. Mean duration between the date of CT-scan and the date of recognition as occupational disease was 7.4 months, shorter in cases where screening was coordinated by specialized centres.A plan of action for an easier claiming process for compensation of asbestos-related diseases is desired. This could probably be obtained through improved sensitization of physicians engaged in the follow-up of asbestos-exposed subjects, and by standardization of the interpretation and reporting of asbestos-related abnormalities observed on chest CT-scans.

Objective. To assess whether flexible nasoendoscopy can be used to visualize all parts of the olfactory cleft (OC) without morbidity. Study Design. Single-center, prospective, observational study. Setting. French tertiary referral center. Subjects and Methods. 100 consecutive patients were divided in 2 groups of 50. Group 1 underwent nasal fibroscopy without vasoconstriction or local anesthesia with an endosheath- protected endoscope. Group 2 was examined by a fiberscope without an endosheath after application of naphazoline Xylo- caine. Each OC was divided in 16 items recorded as visualized or not. Four scores were compared between both groups: out of 16 (1 side), out of 32 (both sides), out of 12 concerning only the nar- rowest and highest bilateral spaces, and out of 4 to divide these specific areas in anterior, middle, and posterior parts. Length of procedure, pain, epistaxis, blood mark on the endosheath, sneez- ing, rhinorrhea, and causes of failure were recorded. Results. There was no significant difference between both groups concerning score out of 16 or 32. The visibility of the narrower and higher spaces was better in group 2: scores out of 12 were significantly different between the groups (P = .025), as were scores out of 4 for the anterior and middle parts of the OC (P = .02 and .01 respectively). Morbidity was low without differences between the groups. Deviated nasal sep- tum was the only cause of failure and increased the patients' pain during the examination (P = .045). Conclusion. Nasal fibroscopy could be used to explore the dif- ferent portions of the OC efficiently and with low morbidity.

In this paper a low-cost integrated wide-range gas sensor interface based on a resistance-to-time converter is presented. The circuit in transistor level simulation achieves a linearity better than 0.5% over a range of 6 decades i. e. 1 k Omega divided by 1 G Omega, without requiring any calibration or auto-ranging. The maximum sensing time is 0.5 s, while measuring the highest resistance value. The state-of-the-art of this measurement has been improved by extending the acceptable input resistance range, while lowering the maximum power consumption. Moreover, a very high linearity has been achieved by canceling the parasitic effects of the multiplexer addressing the sensor matrix

This paper presents an integrated microsystem for tracing food information and monitoring its preservation conditions. The system embeds humidity, temperature, and light intensity sensors with the respective interface circuits and also an A/D converter. The target application of the microsystem is a smart label, which will include an RFID transponder for collecting energy and transmitting data, as well as a micro-battery for energy storage. The proposed microsystem, designed in a 0.18µm CMOS technology, achieves better than 0.5°C and 6W/m2 accuracy regarding temperature and light intensity respectively, while consuming less than 90µA with 1.8V supply. On-chip capacitor dielectric permittivity, based on Sylgarl 184 polymer, has been optimized for best relative humidity response at ambient temperature for the given microsystem.

This paper presents an integrated smart label for tracing food information and monitoring its preservation conditions. The system includes humidity, temperature, and light intensity sensors with the respective interface circuits, an A/D converter, and a 13.56-MHz RFID transponder for transmitting and receiving data, as well as for gathering from an external reader the energy for recharging the on-board microbattery and powering the transmitter. The proposed systems, designed in a 0.18-µm CMOS technology, achieves in simulation the required performance, in terms of functionality, accuracy, and power consumption.

To recognize the mechanisms and the different oncogenic pathways of ethmoid adenocarcinoma (EADC) in woodworkers.A systematic review of the literature and evaluation according to scientific evidences.Wood dust less than 10 microm settles on the external aspects of the ethmoid sinus that is the middle turbinate, the middle meatus and the olfactory cleft. The risk of developing an EADC is important from the first year. It is impossible to know what determines the latency period. Usually, this period exceeds 30 years and only 10% of patients are younger than 50 years of age. Chromosomal instability of the respiratory mucosa appears to be one of the major phases in the oncogenic process. Certain biomolecular and genetic factors are shared with the adenocarcinoma of the colon but they are not activated with the same importance and in the same context suggesting two distinct mechanisms of evolution. The local anatomo-clinical setting in the nasal cavity and carcinogenic substances in the wood dust play a key specific role in the development of EADC. No oncoproteins or immunohistochemistry features were identified in the process suggesting a cascade of genetic or molecular series of events.

Resume Objectifs La definition des competences professionnelles requises par les medecins du travail et des besoins pedagogiques dans leur formation initiale a fait l’objet de plusieurs etudes en Europe ou aux Etats-Unis ces dix dernieres annees. Ces etudes n’ont toutefois pas pris en compte les besoins de l’ensemble des parties concernees. Nous avons donc entrepris de definir les besoins educatifs des futurs medecins du travail, en impliquant l’ensemble des groupes professionnels concernes. Materiels et methodes Une premiere liste de competences a ete elaboree par des enseignants de medecine du travail, sur la base des travaux menes en Europe, aux Etats-Unis et en Asie. Cette liste a ensuite ete soumise a des medecins du travail en formation, des medecins en exercice, des employeurs, des representants de salaries et des directeurs de services interentreprises, par une approche de type groupes de discussion dirigee (focus group). Six reunions ont ete organisees au total et les avis des groupes ont ensuite ete incorpores au document initial. Resultats La methode a ete tres bien acceptee par l’ensemble des groupes, qui ont souligne son interet et la necessite de la demarche de modernisation des objectifs d’enseignement de la medecine du travail. Trente-quatre items presents dans la liste initiale ont ete modifies ou supprimes, et des notions concernant les contraintes psychiques et organisationnelles ont ete ajoutees. La lisibilite de la liste initiale a ete notablement amelioree. Discussion La technique des groupes de discussion dirigee a confirme son interet dans cette demarche de definition des competences et l’implication de la plupart des partenaires impliques dans la sante au travail permet une approche consensuelle. L’importance du nombre d’objectifs pedagogiques ainsi definis rend necessaire une reflexion sur leur repartition entre formation initiale et formation continue.

An epidemiological study was conducted in 55 subjects (mean age: 41) in hospitals to determine the prevalence of lens opacities and cataracts in workers exposed to ethylene oxide in six sterilisation units. The 21 exposed subjects over 45 were then compared with 16 non-exposed subjects, matched for age and sex. The relation between occupational exposure to ethylene oxide and white blood cell concentrations was also investigated. Lens opacities (independently of visual acuity) were observed in 19 of the 55 exposed. Among both exposed and non-exposed aged over 45, there were no significant differences with regard to the characteristics of lens opacities--prevalence (19 in the 21 exposed; 10 in the 16 non-exposed), distribution of the location, and importance and type (opalescence or discontinuous opacities). No link was found between the characteristics of the lens opacities and the characteristics of exposure: habitual exposure, measured between 0.06 and 39 ppm (cumulated in ppm-number of weekly hours-years) and accidental over-exposures (regular and irregular). For cataracts, defined by the association of lens opacities and a visual acuity less than 20/25 (this loss not being attributable to another cause), their prevalence differed significantly (p less than 0.05) between the exposed (six of 21) and the non-exposed (0 of 16); there was no relation between their existence and overexposures (the analysis for habitual exposure was not possible because of the small size of the sample). The risk of lens opacifications by ethylene oxide in cases of massive exposures as previously described could also exist during chronic exposure to low concentrations. It could be explained by saturation of protective mechanisms against alkylating action of this product. Linear relations were found between the logarithms of blood concentrations of polymorphoneutrophils (R=-0.54; p

To assess the frequency of computed tomography (CT) scan pleural and interstitial changes in a population of urban transportation workers with low cumulative exposure to asbestos, and to measure inter-reader agreement.A total of 269 male volunteers (mean age 54.0 +/- 2.3 years, mean estimated cumulative exposure index 1.7 +/- 2.3 fibres/ml-years), underwent a CT scan which was read independently by three experienced readers, with further consensus reading in case of pleural or parenchymal abnormalities. Inter-reader agreement was assessed by means of Kappa statistic.On consensus reading, four subjects had interstitial opacities, three had diffuse pleural thickening and 26 (9.7%) had pleural plaques that were unilateral in 65% of cases andor =2 mm thick in 54% of cases. No correlation was observed between pleural plaques and latency, duration of exposure or cumulative exposure. The inter-reader agreement for the detection of pleural abnormalities was fair.In this relatively young population with low cumulative exposure to asbestos, the prevalence of pleural abnormalities was low. These abnormalities were very limited in thickness and extent, leading to marked inter-reader variability and making it difficult to assess their relationship to asbestos exposure.