Re-evaluation of blood mercury, lead and cadmium concentrations in the Inuit population of Nunavik (Québec): a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Arctic populations are exposed to mercury, lead and cadmium through their traditional diet. Studies have however shown that cadmium exposure is most often attributable to tobacco smoking. The aim of this study is to examine the trends in mercury, lead and cadmium exposure between 1992 and 2004 in the Inuit population of Nunavik (Northern Québec, Canada) using the data obtained from two broad scale health surveys, and to identify sources of exposure in 2004.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 2004, 917 adults aged between 18 and 74 were recruited in the 14 communities of Nunavik to participate to a broad scale health survey. Blood samples were collected and analysed for metals by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and dietary and life-style characteristics were documented by questionnaires. Results were compared with data obtained in 1992, where 492 people were recruited for a similar survey in the same population.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean blood concentration of mercury was 51.2 nmol/L, which represent a 32% decrease (p < 0.001) between 1992 and 2004. Mercury blood concentrations were mainly explained by age (partial r²= 0.20; p < 0.0001), and the most important source of exposure to mercury was marine mammal meat consumption (partial r²= 0.04; p < 0.0001). In 2004, mean blood concentration of lead was 0.19 μmol/L and showed a 55% decrease since 1992. No strong associations were observed with any dietary source, and lead concentrations were mainly explained by age (partial r²= 0.20.; p < 0.001). Blood cadmium concentrations showed a 22% decrease (p < 0.001) between 1992 and 2004. Once stratified according to tobacco use, means varied between 5.3 nmol/L in never-smokers and 40.4 nmol/L in smokers. Blood cadmium concentrations were mainly associated with tobacco smoking (partial r²= 0.56; p < 0.0001), while consumption of caribou liver and kidney remain a minor source of cadmium exposure among never-smokers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Important decreases in mercury, lead and cadmium exposure were observed. Mercury decrease could be explained by dietary changes and the ban of lead cartridges use likely contributed to the decrease in lead exposure. Blood cadmium concentrations remain high and, underscoring the need for intensive tobacco smoking prevention campaigns in the Nunavik population.</p

Through-Silicon Via process module with backside metallization and redistribution layer within a 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS technology

The development of a Through-Silicon Via process module within a high performance SiGe BiCMOS technology is demonstrated. The TSV technology module including both the TSV fabrication process itself, the temporary wafer bonding for BiCMOS thin wafer handling and the thin wafer backside processing is developed on 8-inch wafer level and the optimization of the different process steps are explained. This process module is fully compatible with the qualified SiGe BiCMOS technology environment which enables very uniform and reliable TSV backside fabrication adding new functionalities into IHPs high performance SiGe BiCMOS technologies applicable for thin wafer applications and 3D heterogeneous integration

Oxide surface roughness optimization of BiCMOS beol wafers for 200 mm wafer level microfluidic packaging based on fusion bonding

200 mm wafer level microfluidic packaging is developed by low temperature oxide-oxide fusion bonding. The requirement for high quality fusion bonding is to have less than 1 nm microroughness on the wafer surfaces. An optimization process of the oxide deposition and planarization is done on the wafer surfaces. It is achieved to lower the microroughness from 2.08 nm to 0.4 nm without backside processes on the BiCMOS wafer and to 0.615 nm with backside processes on the BiCMOS processes after optimization

Determinants of food insecurity among adults residing in peri-urban municipal settings in Flanders, Belgium

Food insecurity is a global public health issue associated with noncommunicable diseases. Individual factors are strongly associated with food insecurity, but there is limited literature on the broader impact of both the social and food environments on food insecurity in non-English speaking European countries, given that the research was predominantly conducted in Anglophone settings. In addition, these studies have mostly been conducted in urban areas. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the main determinants of food insecurity among adults living in peri-urban areas in Flanders, Belgium. Data on socio-demographics, neighborhood social cohesion, social isolation, and perceived food environments were collected from 567 adults through a self-administered questionnaire, and objective data on the food environment were obtained through (commercial) databases on food outlets. Food insecurity was measured using the USDA Household Food Security Survey Module. Multivariable logistic regression models revealed that lower socioeconomic status (OR14.11,95%CI:4.72;61.11), reasonable (OR4.16,95%CI: 2.11;8.47) to poor and very poor (OR6.54,95%CI: 2.11;8.47) subjective health status, and living in private (OR7.01, 95% CI:3.0;17.0) or government-assisted (OR6.32,95%CI: 3.13;13.26) rental housing significantly increased the odds of food insecurity. Additionally, residing in a neighborhood with low (OR2.64, 95% CI:1.13;6.26) to medium (OR2.45,95% CI:1.21;5.11) social cohesion, having a neutral opinion (OR4.12,95%CI:1.51;11.54) about the availability of fruit and vegetables in one's neighborhood, and having an opinion that fruit and vegetable prices are too expensive (OR5.43,95% CI 2.26;14.4) significantly increased the odds of experiencing food insecurity. This study underscores the need for policies that consider factors related to social and food environments, in addition to individual factors, to effectively address food insecurity

Associations between the objective and perceived food environment and eating behavior in relation to socioeconomic status among adults in peri-urban settings : results from the CIVISANO study in Flanders, Belgium

Obesity, a significant public health concern, disproportionately affects people with lower socioeconomic status (SES). Food environments have been identified as part of the causal chain of this disparity. This study investigated variations in the food environment across groups with different SES profiles residing in peri-urban municipal settings. In addition, it examined the association of the perceived and objective food environments with eating behaviour and assessed if these associations were moderated by SES. Utilizing GIS and survey data (n = 497, aged 25-65), results showed differences in the objective and perceived food environments based on SES. Respondents with higher SES perceived their food environments as better but resided farther from all food outlets compared to respondents with lower SES. However, there was no difference in outlet density or mRFEI between SES groups. SES moderated associations between the objective and perceived food environments and most eating behavior outcomes except fast food consumption frequency. For fruits and vegetables, SES moderated the association between neighborhood availability and consumption frequency (beta 0.23,CI0.03;0.49). Stratified analysis revealed a positive association for both lower (beta 0.15, CI0.03;0.27) and higher (beta 0.37, CI 0.12;0.63) SES groups. For snack foods, SES moderated the association between healthy outlet density and consumption frequency (beta-0.60, CI-0.94; -0.23), showing statistical significance only for respondents with higher SES (beta 0.36,CI 0.18;0.55). Similarly, for sugar-sweetened beverages, a statistically significant interaction was observed between unhealthy outlet density in the 1000m buffer and consumption frequency (beta 0.06, CI 0.02; 0.11). However, this association was only statistically significant for respondents with higher SES (beta-0.02,CI -0.05;-0.0002). These results emphasize the significance of SES as a crucial element in comprehending the connection between the food environment and eating behaviour. Indicating the need for policymakers to take SES into account when implementing food environment interventions, particularly when focusing on the neighborhood food environment without considering residents' SES and their perceptions

Discrimination of Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells by measuring their UHF-Dielectrophoresis Crossover Frequency

International audienceThis paper introduces firsts results of characterization of glioblastoma cell lines; measuring their crossover frequencies by dielectrophoresis (DEP) technics in the UHF frequency range (above 50 MHz). LN18 line cells were cultured following different conditions, in order to achieve an enrichment of cancer stem cells (CSCs). The DEP electrokinetic method is used to discriminate the CSCs from the differentiated cells. In this study, microfluidic lab-on-chip systems implemented on Bipolar-Complementary Oxide Semiconductor (BiCMOS) technology is used allowing single cell handling and analysis. Based on measurements of their own intracellular specificities, the enriched CSCs population, cultured in dedicated defined medium, have shown clear differences of DEP crossover frequency signatures compared to differentiated cells cultured in normal medium. That demonstrates the concept and validates the technique efficiency for CSC discrimination in glioblastoma pathology

Relationship between survival and increased radiation dose to subventricular zone in glioblastoma is controversial

To test the hypothesis on prolonged survival in glioblastoma cases with increased subventricular zone (SVZ) radiation dose. Sixty glioblastoma cases were previously treated with adjuvant radiotherapy and Temozolamide. Ipsilateral, contralateral and bilateral SVZs were contoured and their doses were retrospectively evaluated. Median follow-up, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 24.5, 8.5 and 19.3 months respectively. Log-rank tests showed a statistically significant correlation between contralateral SVZ (cSVZ) dose > 59.2 Gy (75th percentile) and poor median PFS (10.37 [95% CI 8.37-13.53] vs 7.1 [95% CI 3.5-8.97] months, p = 0.009). cSVZ dose > 59.2 Gy was associated with poor OS in the subgroup with subtotal resection/biopsy (HR: 4.83 [95% CI 1.71-13.97], p = 0.004). High ipsilateral SVZ dose of > 62.25 Gy (75th percentile) was associated with poor PFS in both subgroups of high performance status (HR: 2.58 [95% CI 1.03-6.05], p = 0.044) and SVZ without tumoral contact (HR: 10.57 [95% CI 2.04-49], p = 0.008). The effect of high cSVZ dose on PFS lost its statistical significance in multivariate Cox regression analysis. We report contradictory results compared to previous publications. Changing the clinical practice based on retrospective studies which even do not indicate consistent results among each other will be dangerous. We need carefully designed prospective randomized studies to evaluate any impact of radiation to SVZ in glioblastoma