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The new federal Act on registration of oncological diseases requires since January 1st 2020 institutions and treating physicians to transmit regulated data on all Swiss cancer cases and some precancerous pathologies to the competent tumour registry, and to inform their patients about it. This legal basis is intended to enlarge cancer data collection and registration in a traceable, better standardized, more complete and rapid manner. These legal provisions are expected to improve the reliability and efficiency of the analysis of the data, which is crucial for the epidemiological surveillance of cancer in Switzerland, for the benefit of public health policy, clinical management and for the population.

Consistent with the principles of evidence-based medicine, communicating clinical risks to patients and their families is an essential part of informed consent and decision-making. Communication of clinical risks can take place during and after consultations, orally or in writing, based on the latest available scientific data, when available. Numerous studies show that there are different degrees of innumeracy in the general population, meaning more or less significant difficulties mastering numbers in everyday situations. It is therefore imperative to communicate risks in a way that is adapted to the patients' variable numeracy and health literacy levels. This article presents a synthesis of international research on risk communication, as well as recommendations for clinical practice.

To study the antikinetoplastid 3-nitroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine pharmacophore, a structure-activity relationship study was conducted through the synthesis of 26 original derivatives and their in vitro evaluation on both Leishmania spp and Trypanosoma brucei brucei. This SAR study showed that the antitrypanosomal pharmacophore was less restrictive than the antileishmanial one and highlighted positions 2, 6 and 8 of the imidazopyridine ring as key modulation points. None of the synthesized compounds allowed improvement in antileishmanial activity, compared to previous hit molecules in the series. Nevertheless, compound 8, the best antitrypanosomal molecule in this series (EC50 = 17 nM, SI = 2650 & E° = -0.6 V), was not only more active than all reference drugs and previous hit molecules in the series but also displayed improved aqueous solubility and better in vitro pharmacokinetic characteristics: good microsomal stability (T1/2 > 40 min), moderate albumin binding (77%) and moderate permeability across the blood brain barrier according to a PAMPA assay. Moreover, both micronucleus and comet assays showed that nitroaromatic molecule 8 was not genotoxic in vitro. It was evidenced that bioactivation of molecule 8 was operated by T. b. brucei type 1 nitroreductase, in the same manner as fexinidazole. Finally, a mouse pharmacokinetic study showed that 8 displayed good systemic exposure after both single and repeated oral administrations at 100 mg/kg (NOAEL) and satisfying plasmatic half-life (T1/2 = 7.7 h). Thus, molecule 8 appears as a good candidate for initiating a hit to lead drug discovery program.

High breast density decreases the sensitivity of mammography. Regardless of masking effect, it is also a stronger predictor for breast cancer than most other risk factors, including family history. Up to 50% of women have dense breast (categories C+D). The relative risk is 2.1 to 2.3 in women with extremely dense breast (category d). There is little consensus on the potential need of additional measures. Breast Ultrasound (US) may be proposed as an adjunctive test, as it is non-invasive and non-irradiating. Since 2012, our program for breast cancer screening propose to realise an additional US to the women with category d breasts. An evaluation of the data of the first year showed that less 50% of the women act upon the recommendation. In spite of the low compliance supplementary cancers were found. Since, no more evaluation was performed. The aim of this study was: To evaluate the effect of the recommendation in term of additional cancer's identification, additional biopsies and additional investigations. To identify the reasons of non compliance.

An organized screening program in Vaud, Switzerland aims to offer the choice of fecal-immunological testing (FIT) and colonoscopy for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening -At baseline, wide variations between primary care physicians (PCPs) in prescription of FIT and colonoscopy. -Shared decision making (SDM) might reduce variations in care. AIM : Increase the proportion of PCPs who intend to offer their patients FIT and colonoscopy on an equal basis Methods : Training program in 2015 with before and after survey ; Parallel comparison through mailed survey to PCPs not attending ; Training program: 2 hour seminar with interactive quizzes, 8-minute video of SDM consultation, and distribution a decision aid and evidence synopsis.

Purpose of the study. To develop an operational method for identifying workers potentially exposed to manufactured nano-objects and their aggregates and agglomerates (NOAA) and assessing their potential exposure in frame of epidemiological surveillance program EpiNano. Method. The method was developed by a multidisciplinary working group. It consists of a company visit guided by a standardized tool "Field technical logbook". This tool enables assessing a set of parameters necessary for identification and characterization of workstations concerned with NOAA exposure, namely a detailed description of tasks and processes, personal and collective protection equipment, NOAA characteristics before and after transformation and other exposure surrounding conditions. The method was tested in ten companies. After each visit, all information collected in the logbook was computerized via a friendly-using application. A pdf copy of data was sent to the company along with proceedings of the visit listing workstations classified as concerned with NOAA exposure, for verification and validation. Results. All proceedings were validated. Among 53 workstations. observed during all the visits, 30 (57 %) were classified as concerned with NOAA exposure, namely workstations dealing with NOAA synthesis, sampling, transfer and functionalization. In private companies, there were 60 % of workstations classified as concerned with NOAA exposure versus 54 % in public companies. Numerous parameters were likely to determine the exposure classification, particularly humidity and dustiness of the NOAA powders. The assessment of these parameters might be useful for all companies since it also serves in implementing exposure control banding. Conclusion. This simple and non-instrumental method (without aerosol sampling and measurements) was developed for epidemiologists but could be useful to all occupational health actors in the field of nanotechnology.; Objectif : Proposer une méthode opérationnelle pour identifier les travailleurs potentiellement exposés aux nano-objets manufacturés, leurs agrégats et agglomérats (NOAA) et caractériser leur exposition potentielle dans le dispositif de surveillance épidémiologique EpiNano. Méthode : La méthode a été conçue par un groupe de travail pluridisciplinaire. Elle repose sur une visite d’entreprise, guidée par un outil intitulé carnet d’observation technique (COT). Il permet de relever, dans un ordre logique, des éléments nécessaires au repérage et à la caractérisation des postes exposants, notamment les procédés mis en œuvre, l’aéraulique des ateliers, les équipements de protection, les caractéristiques des NOAA à l’entrée et à la sortie du poste, les conditions de leur manipulation, de la tenue du poste et de sa maintenance. La méthode a été testée au sein de dix entreprises. À l’issue de chaque visite, un compte rendu de mission listant les postes potentiellement exposant aux NOAA était envoyé à l’entreprise visitée. La copie des informations informatisées du COT était jointe au compte rendu pour vérification et validation. Résultats : L’ensemble des comptes rendus des missions a été validé. Parmi les 53 postes observés, 30 (57 %) ont été classés potentiellement exposant, notamment les postes de synthèse, d’échantillonnage, de transfert et de fonctionnalisation des NOAA. La proportion de postes de travail potentiellement exposant aux NOAA était de 54 % dans les entreprises privées et de 60 % dans les entreprises publiques. De nombreux paramètres semblent déterminants dans le classement d’un poste de travail, notamment la pulvérulence et la teneur en humidité des NOAA. La connaissance de ces paramètres peut également servir dans l’application de l’approche de gestion graduée du risque, et par conséquent être utile à l’entreprise. Conclusion : Cette méthode simple et non instrumentale (sans prélèvement et sans mesure de l’aérosol) conçue pour des épidémiologistes pourrait servir à l’ensemble des acteurs en santé et prévention au travail impliqués dans la gestion des risques liés aux nanomatériaux.

International audience; no abstract

Cet article présente la méthode ayant été testée et optimisée dans le cadre du dispositif de surveillance épidémiologique des travailleurs potentiellement exposés aux nanomateriaux en France, EpiNano. Cette méthode intègre les préconisations de l'INRS, de l'INERIS et du CEA dans l'étude dite de situation préalable à une campagne de mesurage. Elle se matérialise par un outil pragmatique : le Carnet d'observation technique (COT). Il s'agit d'un outil de collecte d'informations, conçu pour des épidémiologistes, qui pourrait servir à l'ensemble des acteurs de la santé et prévention au travail impliqués dans la gestion des risques liés aux nanomatériaux.

The French national epidemiological surveillance program EpiNano aims at surveying mid- and long-term health effects possibly related with occupational exposure to either carbon nanotubes (NTC) or titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2). EpiNano is limited to workers potentially exposed to these nanomaterials (NM) including their aggregates and agglomerates. In order to identify those workers during the in-field industrial hygiene (IH) visits, a standardized non-instrumental method is necessary especially for epidemiologists and occupational physicians unfamiliar with ENM exposure metrology. A working group, Quintet ExpoNano, including national experts in NM metrology and occupational hygiene reviewed available methods, resources and their practice in order to develop a standardized tool for conducting company IH visits and collecting necessary information. This tool, entitled “Field technical logbook”, includes 3 parts: company activity, workplace, and workstation allowing a detailed description of each task, process and exposure surrounding conditions. This logbook is intended to be completed during the company IH visit. Each visit is conducted jointly by an occupational hygienist and an epidemiologist of the program and lasts one or two days depending on the company size. When all collected information is computerized in a friendly-using database it is easy to classify workstations with respect to their potential direct and/or indirect exposure. Workers appointed to workstations classified as concerned with exposure are considered as eligible for EpiNano program and invited to participate. Since January 2014, the Field technical logbook has been used in ten company visits. The companies visited were mostly involved in research and development. A total of 53 workstations with potential exposure were pre-selected and observed: 5 with TiO2, 16 with single-walled NTC, 27 multiwalled NTC. Among the tasks observed there were: ENM analysis (8), weighing (7), synthesis (6), functionalization (5), and transfer (5). The manipulated quantities were usually very small. After analysis of the data gathered in logbooks, 30 workstations have been classified as concerned with exposure to NTC or TiO2. Additional tool validity as well as inter-and intra-evaluator reproducibility studies are ongoing. These first results are promising.

International audience

24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, 21-25 September 2009, Hamburg, Germany; 2533-2536, In our present investigation, different kinds of metallic substrates (MS) with dielectric and conductive diffusion barrier layers (BL) were studied for the subsequent fabrication of polycrystalline silicon solar cells. The permeation of contaminants from MS has been studied using Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) technique as an indirect method of impurity detection in silicon. Dielectric barrier layers of a thickness, 1 μm were prepared using FOx solution by spin coating and conducting TiN barrier layers of similar thickness by cathodic arc evaporation. The potential impurities identified from the DLTS measurements are Fe and Ni. The results were reported and discussed in detail in view of the evaluation of choice of the metallic substrate and effective diffusion barrier.

International audience

23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 1-5 September 2008, Valencia, Spain; 2236-2241, Structural and electrical properties of solid-phase crystallized amorphous silicon thin films were studied. Silicon layers were deposited onto silicon nitride coated glass substrates by high rate electron beam evaporation. Structure of the films was analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron spectroscopy and electron backscattered diffraction. Amorphous films deposited at 425 °C substrate temperature exhibit enhanced crystallization kinetics, due to optimal medium-range order. Structural investigations carried out on fully crystallized films also revealed larger grain size in these samples, indicating an enhanced growth rate. Electrical properties of the polycrystalline silicon thin films were studied through Hall Effect resistivity and Suns-VOC measurements on mesa diodes. Rapid thermal annealing and hydrogen passivation treatments leaded to significant improvement of the electronic quality of the polycrystalline silicon layers studied in this work with VOC measured on mesa diodes rising from ~130 to 260 mV.