Surdité professionnelle dans une industrie automobile de la région du centre Tunisien reconnaissance et indemnisation

Objectif : La surdité professionnelle pose encore des problèmes de reconnaissance et d’indemnisation en Tunisie. L’objectif de notre étude est d’analyser les conditions de reconnaissance et d’indemnisation de la surdité professionnelle auprès des travailleurs d’une industrie automobile.Matériel et méthodes : Nous avons mené une étude descriptive rétrospective qui a porté sur les salariés de la Société Tunisienne d’Industrie Automobile (STIA) victimes de surdité professionnelle reconnue par la Commission Médicale du centre sur une période de cinq ans (2003 à 2007).Résultats : Un total de 81 dossiers de surdité professionnelle reconnue a été colligé durant la période d’étude. Notre population était constituée par une main d’oeuvre masculine qualifiée (50,6%) et non qualifiée (38,3%) ayant une ancienneté moyenne dans le poste bruyant de 28,7 ± 6,8 ans. Le niveau moyen d’exposition professionnelle au bruit était de 90,7 ± 3,9dB(A). Il était plus élevé dans les ateliers de presse [92,4dB(A)], de tôlerie [91,6 dB(A)] et de peinture [90 dB(A)]. La perte auditive moyenne (PAM) sur la meilleure oreille était de 65,7 ± 17,4dB. Les potentiels évoqués auditifs ont été pratiqués chez 66 patients (81,5%) et ont confirmé le diagnostic de surdité de perception dans 64 cas et d’une surdité mixte dans les 2 autres cas. L’audiométrie tonale avec prothèse auditive a été pratiquée dans 71,6% des cas et a relevé une amélioration estimée nette chez 81% des patients. Le taux moyen de l’incapacitépermanente partielle était de 21,5 ± 6,8% avec des extrêmes allant de 8 et 51%. La majorité des salariés (92,6%) avaient un taux d’IPP entre 15 et 35%. La PAM > 60 dB a été statistiquement corrélée avec la catégorie professionnelle (p=0,017) et l’ancienneté au travail (p=0,039).Conclusion : La réparation de la surdité professionnelle présente encore des limites et des imperfections liées aux critères de reconnaissances qui doivent être révisées.Mots-clés : Surdité professionnelle, Bruit, Industrie automobile, Réparation

Molecular analysis of HBV genotypes and subgenotypes in the Central-East region of Tunisia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Tunisia, country of intermediate endemicity for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, most molecular studies on the virus have been carried out in the North of the country and little is known about other regions. The aim of this study was to determine HBV genotype and subgenotypes in Central-East Tunisia. A total of 217 HBs antigen positive patients were enrolled and determination of genotype was investigated in 130 patients with detectable HBV DNA. HBV genotyping methods were: PCR-RFLP on the pre-S region, a PCR using type-specific primers in the S region (TSP-PCR) and partial sequencing in the pre-S region.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three genotypes (D, B and A) were detected by the PCR-RFLP method and two (D and A) with the TSP-PCR method, the concordance between the two methods was 93%. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 32 strains, retrieved the same genotype (D and A) for samples with concordant results and genotype D for samples with discordant results. The sequences of discordant genotypes had a restriction site in the pre-S gene which led to erroneous result by the PCR-RFLP method. Thus, prevalence of genotype D and A was 96% and 4%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed the predominance of two subgenotypes D1 (55%) and D7 (41%). Only one strain clustered with D3 subgenotype (3%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Predominance of subgenotype D7 appears to occur in northern regions of Africa with transition to subgenotype D1 in the East of the continent. HBV genetic variability may lead to wrong results in rapid genotyping methods and sequence analysis is needed to clarify atypical results.</p

Low Cognitive Awareness, but Not Complaint, is a Good Marker of Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may result from many conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD)

Awareness of cognitive decline trajectories in asymptomatic individuals at risk for AD

Background: Lack of awareness of cognitive decline (ACD) is common in late-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent studies showed that ACD can also be reduced in the early stages. Methods: We described different trends of evolution of ACD over 3 years in a cohort of memory-complainers and their association to amyloid burden and brain metabolism. We studied the impact of ACD at baseline on cognitive scores’ evolution and the association between longitudinal changes in ACD and in cognitive score. Results: 76.8% of subjects constantly had an accurate ACD (reference class). 18.95% showed a steadily heightened ACD and were comparable to those with accurate ACD in terms of demographic characteristics and AD biomarkers. 4.25% constantly showed low ACD, had significantly higher amyloid burden than the reference class, and were mostly men. We found no overall effect of baseline ACD on cognitive scores’ evolution and no association between longitudinal changes in ACD and in cognitive scores. Conclusions: ACD begins to decrease during the preclinical phase in a group of individuals, who are of great interest and need to be further characterized. Trial registration: The present study was conducted as part of the INSIGHT-PreAD study. The identification number of INSIGHT-PreAD study (ID-RCB) is 2012-A01731-42

First electrical White Rabbit absolute calibration inter-comparison

A time transfer link consisting of PTP White Rabbit (PTP-WR) devices can transfer time with sub-nanosecond accuracy. Originally White Rabbit devices were calibrated as a set of two devices. Progress in calibration makes individual absolute calibrated PTP-WR devices possible. This enables exchange of PTP-WR devices without the need for expensive in-situ end-to-end calibrations. Electrical absolute calibration is the basis of absolute calibration. It calibrates the time relationship between the internal timestamp and the external electrical time reference plane. In this paper we examine the electrical time transfer accuracy when a link is setup using electrical absolute calibrated PTP-WR devices calibrated by different laboratories.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Isolation and molecular characterisation of Mycobacterium bovis from raw milk in Tunisia

Background: Consumption of raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products is common in Tunisia where bovine tuberculosis remains enzootic. We herein investigated the frequency of M. bovis isolation from raw milk. Methods: Three hundred and six milk samples collected from 102 infected cows in different Tunisian regions were analysed. M. bovis isolates were further characterized by spoligotyping and variable number tandem repeat typing. Results: A total of five (4.9 %) M. bovis strains exhibiting three different genotypes were isolated. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that consumers of raw milk or derivatives in Tunisia are at high risk of zoonotic infection with M. bovis