Assessment of mental health and psychosocial factors in French merchant officer cadets

Background: Several studies have demonstrated the existence of psychological pathologies and psychosocial risks among seafarers, particularly merchant navy officers. To date, there is no study of merchant navy officer cadets. First aims are to assess anxiety and depression disorders, framework, work strain and social support in this population. Materials and methods: A questionnaire including demographic and sailing data to which we added the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and Karasek questionnaire was developed. All students were approached and completed the questionnaire anonymously by electronic means. Results: One hundred and seventy questionnaires could be included. The population was predominantly male (76.4%), and the average age of the students was 21.7 years. The means of the HAD anxiety and HAD depression were 6.9 and 5.37, respectively. According to Karasek classification, we noted that the “active” class was the most represented with 29.4% of students, followed by the “high strain” and “low strain” classes with 27.6%. The “passive” class was the least represented with 15.3%. Conclusions: We found a predominance of anxiety disorders but few signs of depression. Signs of “high strain” according to Karasek were found in 27.6% of the population of these young officers. Job demand was linked to mean of anxiety and depression disorders declared in HAD questionnaire. Being a woman was associated with anxiety but not depression symptoms. Prevention programme to decrease the level of job demand and increase decision latitude and social support seems relevant for mental health disorders in merchant officers

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome associated with COVID-19: An Emulated Target Trial Analysis.

RATIONALE: Whether COVID patients may benefit from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) compared with conventional invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effect of ECMO on 90-Day mortality vs IMV only Methods: Among 4,244 critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 included in a multicenter cohort study, we emulated a target trial comparing the treatment strategies of initiating ECMO vs. no ECMO within 7 days of IMV in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 <80 or PaCO2 ≥60 mmHg). We controlled for confounding using a multivariable Cox model based on predefined variables. MAIN RESULTS: 1,235 patients met the full eligibility criteria for the emulated trial, among whom 164 patients initiated ECMO. The ECMO strategy had a higher survival probability at Day-7 from the onset of eligibility criteria (87% vs 83%, risk difference: 4%, 95% CI 0;9%) which decreased during follow-up (survival at Day-90: 63% vs 65%, risk difference: -2%, 95% CI -10;5%). However, ECMO was associated with higher survival when performed in high-volume ECMO centers or in regions where a specific ECMO network organization was set up to handle high demand, and when initiated within the first 4 days of MV and in profoundly hypoxemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In an emulated trial based on a nationwide COVID-19 cohort, we found differential survival over time of an ECMO compared with a no-ECMO strategy. However, ECMO was consistently associated with better outcomes when performed in high-volume centers and in regions with ECMO capacities specifically organized to handle high demand. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Rôle des cellules dendritiques plasmocytoïdes dans la leucémie myélomonocytaire chronique

Bone marrow infiltration with plasmacytoid CD123high cells was identified in a fraction of patients with a chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), but the mechanisms promoting the generation of these cells and their impact on disease evolution remain poorly known. Using a multiparametric flow cytometry assay, we detect an excess of lineage-negative mononucleated cells expressing CD45, CD123, HLA-DR, BDCA-2, BDCA-4 and CD4 in the bone marrow of 39/161 (24%) CMML patients. Conventional and electron microscopy, flow cytometry and gene expression analyses identify these cells as authentic plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). These pDCs respond to Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) and TLR7 agonists by producing low levels of interferon alpha and high levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), respectively. Whole exome sequencing of sorted monocytes and pDCs detects one or several mutations that constitutively activate the Ras pathway in every pDC-rich patient, with some subclonal heterogeneity. CD34+ cells from pDC-rich CMML produce high level of pDCs in ex vivo culture, even in the absence of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT-3L). In co-culture experiments, pDCs collected from the bone marrow of pDC-rich CMML decrease the proliferation of CD34+ cells in a dose-dependent manner. pDC increase is associated with an expansion of CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Retrospective analysis of a cohort of 216 CMML patients detected a mitigated effect of bone marrow infiltration with CD123high, TLC1+ cells on disease outcome, including a trend for a better overall survival of patients with a pDC excess but also an increased risk of leukemic transformation.Une infiltration médullaire par des cellules plasmocytoïdes CD123+ est présente chez certains patients atteints de leucémie myélomonocytaire chronique (LMMC), mais les mécanismes aboutissant à la génération de ces cellules, et leur impact sur l'évolution de la maladie n'ont jamais été explorés. En cytométrie en flux, nous avons détecté un excès de cellules mononucléées négatives pour les marqueurs de lignée lymphocytaires, monocytaires et granulocytaires, et exprimant CD123, HLA-DR, BDCA-2, BDCA-4 et CD4 dans la moelle de 39/161 patients(24%) . L'analyse de ces cellules en microscopie conventionnelle et électronique, en cytométrie en flux et leur analyse transcriptomique identifient ces cellules comme d'authentiques cellules dendritiques plasmocytoïdes (pDCs). Ces pDCs répondent à la stimulation par des agonistes de Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) et de TLR7 en produisant respectivement de faibles quantités d'interféron alpha et de grandes quantités d'interleukine 8. Le séquençage d'exome complet de monocytes et de pDCs triés détecte une ou plusieurs mutations qui activent constitutivement la voie Ras chez tous les patients riches en pDCs, avec un certain niveau d'hétérogénéité sous-clonale. Les cellules CD34+ de patients LMMC riches en pDCs génèrent de grandes quantités de pDCs en culture ex vivo, y compris en l'absence de FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-ligand (Flt3-L). Dans des expériences de coculture, les pDCs extraites de moelles de LMMC riches en pDC diminuent la prolifération des cellules CD34+ de manière dose-dépendante. L'augmentation des pDCs est associée à une expansion des lymphocytes T régulateurs (Tregs). L'analyse rétrospective d'une cohorte de 212 patients atteints de LMMC a montré un effet mitigé de l'infiltration médullaire par des cellules CD123+ TCL1+ sur la survie, avec une tendance à une meilleure survie globale chez les patients riches en pDCs, mais également un risque accru de transformation en leucémie aigüe

A Role for Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Une infiltration médullaire par des cellules plasmocytoïdes CD123+ est présente chez certains patients atteints de leucémie myélomonocytaire chronique (LMMC), mais les mécanismes aboutissant à la génération de ces cellules, et leur impact sur l'évolution de la maladie n'ont jamais été explorés. En cytométrie en flux, nous avons détecté un excès de cellules mononucléées négatives pour les marqueurs de lignée lymphocytaires, monocytaires et granulocytaires, et exprimant CD123, HLA-DR, BDCA-2, BDCA-4 et CD4 dans la moelle de 39/161 patients(24%) . L'analyse de ces cellules en microscopie conventionnelle et électronique, en cytométrie en flux et leur analyse transcriptomique identifient ces cellules comme d'authentiques cellules dendritiques plasmocytoïdes (pDCs). Ces pDCs répondent à la stimulation par des agonistes de Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) et de TLR7 en produisant respectivement de faibles quantités d'interféron alpha et de grandes quantités d'interleukine 8. Le séquençage d'exome complet de monocytes et de pDCs triés détecte une ou plusieurs mutations qui activent constitutivement la voie Ras chez tous les patients riches en pDCs, avec un certain niveau d'hétérogénéité sous-clonale. Les cellules CD34+ de patients LMMC riches en pDCs génèrent de grandes quantités de pDCs en culture ex vivo, y compris en l'absence de FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-ligand (Flt3-L). Dans des expériences de coculture, les pDCs extraites de moelles de LMMC riches en pDC diminuent la prolifération des cellules CD34+ de manière dose-dépendante. L'augmentation des pDCs est associée à une expansion des lymphocytes T régulateurs (Tregs). L'analyse rétrospective d'une cohorte de 212 patients atteints de LMMC a montré un effet mitigé de l'infiltration médullaire par des cellules CD123+ TCL1+ sur la survie, avec une tendance à une meilleure survie globale chez les patients riches en pDCs, mais également un risque accru de transformation en leucémie aigüe.Bone marrow infiltration with plasmacytoid CD123high cells was identified in a fraction of patients with a chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), but the mechanisms promoting the generation of these cells and their impact on disease evolution remain poorly known. Using a multiparametric flow cytometry assay, we detect an excess of lineage-negative mononucleated cells expressing CD45, CD123, HLA-DR, BDCA-2, BDCA-4 and CD4 in the bone marrow of 39/161 (24%) CMML patients. Conventional and electron microscopy, flow cytometry and gene expression analyses identify these cells as authentic plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). These pDCs respond to Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) and TLR7 agonists by producing low levels of interferon alpha and high levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), respectively. Whole exome sequencing of sorted monocytes and pDCs detects one or several mutations that constitutively activate the Ras pathway in every pDC-rich patient, with some subclonal heterogeneity. CD34+ cells from pDC-rich CMML produce high level of pDCs in ex vivo culture, even in the absence of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT-3L). In co-culture experiments, pDCs collected from the bone marrow of pDC-rich CMML decrease the proliferation of CD34+ cells in a dose-dependent manner. pDC increase is associated with an expansion of CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Retrospective analysis of a cohort of 216 CMML patients detected a mitigated effect of bone marrow infiltration with CD123high, TLC1+ cells on disease outcome, including a trend for a better overall survival of patients with a pDC excess but also an increased risk of leukemic transformation

L'encadrement juridique de la fonction de remédiation de produits phytosanitaires par les zones humides artificielles

Droit de l'environnement, des territoires et des risque

Degree of fixation of amine copper solutions in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Amines are solvents used in copper based wood preservatives. Understanding their influence on chemical fixation in wood is crucial for improvements to be made to the fixation of copper. In this study, Scots pine sapwood blocks were treated with monoethanolamine copper and ethylenediamine copper solutions. The influence of chemical factors, such as copper concentration and amine to copper mole ratio in the treating solution, and the physical factor temperature, were investigated. Chemical analysis of treated wood showed that monoethanolamine and ethylendiamine have different influences on the fixation chemistry of copper. As well, copper concentration and amine to copper ratio are directly related to copper retention and the amine to copper mole ratios in treated wood. The minimum wood preservative retention required by the American Wood Preservers' Association (AWPA) and Canadian Standard Association (CSA) is met with low solution concentration (0.5%) treatment. This exploratory work suggests that there is a 1:1 mole ratio of amine to copper in both monoethanolamine copper and ethylenediamine copper treated wood after leaching. Furthermore it implies that an amine-copper-wood complex is primarily formed during fixation and is supported by further spectroscopic analysis. However, the formation of copper precipitate, unbound to amine, may be produced at high solution concentrations, and at temperatures above 60°C. The copper leaching resistance can be improved from one week at ambient temperature to one hour at temperature above 60°C. In general, spectroscopic analysis showed that there are no significant changes on the spectra as the temperature is increased, nor for increased duration of post-treatment time at any temperature. Further analysis demonstrated that heating may not produce a large amount of copper(I) species (< 1%), however, extended exposure to X-rays during analysis promoted the reduction of copper(II). This study also suggests that an ammonia/monoethanolamine mixture in copper based preservatives has minor effects on copper fixation. Amine-copper-wood compound formation is preferred, but some copper(II) carbonate precipitate may form during ammonia evaporation. The addition of ammonia to monoethanolamine copper solution noticeably improved the leaching resistance of copper.Forestry, Faculty ofGraduat

Assessment of mental health and psychosocial factors in French merchant officer cadets

International audienceBackground: Several studies have demonstrated the existence of psychological pathologies and psychosocial risks among seafarers, particularly merchant navy officers. To date, there is no study of merchant navy officer cadets. First aims are to assess anxiety and depression disorders, framework, work strain and social support in this population. Materials and methods: A questionnaire including demographic and sailing data to which we added the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and Karasek questionnaire was developed. All students were approached and completed the questionnaire anonymously by electronic means. Results: One hundred and seventy questionnaires could be included. The population was predominantly male (76.4%), and the average age of the students was 21.7 years. The means of the HAD anxiety and HAD depression were 6.9 and 5.37, respectively. According to Karasek classification, we noted that the "active" class was the most represented with 29.4% of students, followed by the "high strain" and "low strain" classes with 27.6%. The "passive" class was the least represented with 15.3%. Conclusions: We found a predominance of anxiety disorders but few signs of depression. Signs of "high strain" according to Karasek were found in 27.6% of the population of these young officers. Job demand was linked to mean of anxiety and depression disorders declared in HAD questionnaire. Being a woman was associated with anxiety but not depression symptoms. Prevention programme to decrease the level of job demand and increase decision latitude and social support seems relevant for mental health disorders in merchant officers

A World of Viruses Nested within Parasites: Unraveling Viral Diversity within Parasitic Flatworms (Platyhelminthes)

International audienceLittle is known about the diversity of parasite-associated viruses and how these viruses may impact parasite fitness, parasite-host interactions, and virus evolution. The discovery of over a hundred viruses associated with a range of free-living and parasitic flatworms, including parasites of economic and clinical relevance, allowed us to compare the viromes of flatworms with contrasting lifestyles

A New Electrification Model to End Energy Poverty: An example from a novel rural electrification approach in Madagascar

International audienceHighlighted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to ensure universal access to clean, reliable and modern energy services by 2030, the world is increasingly getting concerned by the energy poverty and its consequences on human development and the environment. Yet, even if numerous initiatives and a significant amount of money are directly addressed to tackle the energy-access challenges, a billion people are still denied access to basic and modern electricity services, especially in rural places of Sub-Saharan Africa and SouthEast Asia. The African continent has seen in the past two decades an encouraging improvement as the number of people gaining access to electricity rose from 9 million per year between 2000 and 2013 to 20 million per year between 2014 and 2019, outpacing for the first time population growth. However, the vast majority of those recent improvements are mainly restricted to urban and peri-urban areas of a small number of countries located in Eastern or Western Africa and the population without access to electricity in Africa is expected to increase in the coming years following the health crisis and economic downturn caused by Covid-19. This definitely proves the fragility and the poor resilience of the electrification solutions favored nowadays. While grid extension and conventional microgrids suffer from low inclusivity and replicability, Solar Home Systems are only a stopgap measure failing to boost socioeconomic development. A third way must be proposed to combine quick and affordable access to basic electricity services and a community uplift through socioeconomic development, answering both greatest challenges that the developing countries are struggling to cope with nowadays. With this objective in mind, Nanoé, a French-Malagasy social company, is developing the Lateral Electrification model based on the collaborative and progressing building of electric infrastructures, which is presented in this article, first from a general point of view then through a focus on Nanoé's experience in Madagascar

ORASOL: a French research program for solar cooling process optimization

International audiencePresentation about ORASOL: a French research program for solar cooling process optimizatio