Avicenne - narrative writing in science and medicine
Nuit gravement à la santé publique
- Publication - Libération du 03-11-2009
La perception de H1N1 comme une « gripette » est accompagnée de la propagation de rumeur électroniques qui sabotent les stratégies de vaccination.
La grippe H1N1 contre laquelle les français semblent rechigner à se faire vacciner est tout sauf une « grippette » : elle tue avant tout des...
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Tackling fraud in medical research and scientific communication :
- A report of the lecture by Dr Franck Wells at the 28th EMWA Conference
In his lecture at the 28th EMWA Conference, held last May in Ljubljana, Dr Frank Wells (Co-Chairman, Cambridgeshire 4 Research Ethics Committee and joint editor with Michael Farthing, of the definitive textbook, Fraud and Misconduct in Biomedical Research) stressed the urgent need to tackle fraud in biomedical research in Europe.. .
La cartographie antigénique : un nouvel outil pour la santé publique
- Ces cartes géographiques inédites, inventées par un virologue et un mathématicien, c’est un nouveau regard sur le monde invisible des virus...
Chaque année, l’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) actualise ses recommandations pour la composition du vaccin contre la grippe saisonnière. Un processus d’expertise éprouvé depuis plus de 60 ans s’engage alors, dont le but est d’analyser les variations des virus grippaux en circulation.
Récemment, un outil d’un nouveau genre est venu enrichir l’arsenal des outils déjà couramment utilisés pour cette analyse : la cartographie antigénique .
EQUATOR Network: An umbrella organisation to tackle bias in the scientific literature
- A report on Ian Needleman’s opening lecture at the 27 th EMWA Conference, 20-22 November 2008, London, UK
«When modern physicians read, in the Treatise of the Scurvy by James Lind [1], that the effect of ‘2 oranges and 1 lemon’ was compared with that of ‘two spoonfuls of vinegar three times a day’ in patients at different stages of the disease, they will have little doubt that experimental bias is present.
Albeit less obvious, in the area of evidence-based medicine, methodological bias still threatens the scientific literature...»
A step further the control of influenza: integrating new knowledge and tools
- Report on scientific sessions at the Third European Influenza Conference, 14-17 September 2008
The threat of an influenza pandemic has given an unprecedented impetus to research in the whole field of influenza encompassing molecular biology, epidemiology, control tools, strategies, and notably vaccines. While considerable scientific and technological advances have accumulated, the overall picture of the disease has changed. Gaps in our knowledge have been revealed and new questions have been raised.
To what extent is seasonal influenza vaccination effective in the elderly and what is the best method to assess it ?
What is the burden of influenza in children during influenza seasons ?
These key questions were addressed and discussed during the scientific sessions of the Third European Influenza Conference organized by the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI) in Portugal last September. This conference brought together scientists, stakeholders, policy
makers, industrials, and health professionals.
“Which options for the control of influenza ? Putting science into strategy”
- Report of the “Option for the control of influenza VI” international conference on influenza. 17- 23 June 2007, Toronto, Ontario (Canada).
«The threat of an influenza pandemic had moved influenza onto the world agenda. This has given a huge impetus to influenza vaccine Research and Development (R&D) programs. Vaccine type, formulation and production substrate are all being explored with the objective of improving the prevention of influenza morbidity, from both seasonal and pandemic perspectives, while new strategies to improve the access to influenza vaccines have been devised.(.. .)»
Controllng Influenza : in the wake of the “Who Global Agenda”
- Report of the fifth international conference on Influenza OPTIONS V, Okinawa, Japan, 7-11 october 2003
« The growing global interest in influenza has driven a considerable improvement in the tools required for its control.The benefits of vaccination are now widely recognized. (...) Technological and regulatory advances are ongoing to accelerate the making of a pandemic vaccine, as well as to increase production capacities. The most realistic approach to be privileged however, is the gradual increase of vaccine use in the population. Expanding usage of vaccines will not only reduce the actual burden of the disease, but will also contribute to global preparedness for the next pandemic. »
“Influenza pandemic preparedness: Reaching WHO vaccination coverage objectives in Europe Satellite symposium organized by the European Vaccine Manufacturers (EVM)”
- Report of the symposium organised by the European Vaccine Manufacturers, Second ESWI Conference - September 11-14 2005, Malta
« The European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI) recently set an objective of vaccinating one third of the European population annually by 2010. This is an obvious route to secure pandemic vaccine supply. This article highlights ways to reach this objective, identified as the result of a symposium organized by the European Vaccine Manufacturers (EVM). Success depends on a strong political will to adapt “universal” drivers of implementation to national specificities. (...)»
“Vaxigrip. Product monograph”
- Monograph on the influenza vaccine (produced for Sanofi Pasteur and Sanofi Pasteur MSD)
«The natural hosts of influenza A virus:
Wild aquatic birds are thought to form the natural influenza A virus reservoir, from which viruses can be transmitted to poultry as well as to mammals (e.g., horses, pigs, marine mammals…) and to humans. Influenza viruses can also be transmitted from poultry and pigs to humans. This is thought to contribute to the mixing of different strains of influenza viruses and thus to the emergence of potential pandemic strains (Reproduced from 4).(...).»
“Where does the little man come from ?”
- Synopsis for a book on the theories of the reproduction, from antics to nowadays
«Plus de mille s’agitaient dans un espace grand comme un grain de sable. Dans la partie épaisse, ils gisaient presque sans mouvement.» Antoine van Leeuwenhoek, 1677.
« Je prétends que tous les animaux et l’homme même tirent leur origine d’un oeuf... qui existe avant le coït dans les testicules des femmes.» Reiner de Graaf, 1672
« Histoire géologique des Monts d’Or »
- Animation multimédia réalisée pour le centre multimédia “Erasme” et le Syndicat Mixte des Monts d’Or (2006-2007))
Design and coordination for the realization of the multimedia animation.
Du Bon Usage des Diagnostiques Génétiques
- Synthèse du colloque organisé par l’INSERM, Institut Pasteur, 26-27 janvier 2001
« Quelle est la frontière entre patient symptomatique et patient asymptomatique ? Comment la loi protège-t-elle contre l’usage potentiel des résultats des tests génétiques par les assurances et par les employeurs ? Quelles sont les maladies qui justifient d’un dépistage génétique ? Quelle est la place du diagnostic génétique chez le mineur ? Comment mieux structurer la pratique des tests génétiques ? Toutes ces questions ont été débattues au cours du colloque d’animation organisé par les Comités d’interface de l’Inserm, les 26 et 27 janvier 2001 à l’Institut Pasteur (Paris). »
Flunews
- Tri-monthly pamphlet on influenza for sanofi pasteur MSD (2002-2005)
« Do never shake the baby ! »
- Animation multimédia réalisée pour le center multimédia “Erasme” et le Conseil Général du Rhône” (2004)
Design and coordination for the realization of the multimedia animation
Ces animations ont été réalisées en 2004 à la demande du Conseil Général du Rhône et résultent d’un travail d’équipe entre les professionnels du département du Rhône et Avicenne.
“Pandemic vaccine production: ready to meet the global challenge ?”
- Satellite symposium organized by Sanofi Pasteur Options for the control of influenza VI. Thursday 21th 2007.
« This symposium shed light on the importance of carefully addressing all the steps in the production process of pandemic vaccines, in order to secure production and distribution. This involves a global effort between all the stakeholders. Awareness of the pandemic threat unblocked the wheels of this process. The huge progress that has been made since has lubricated them. (...)»
“Influenza vaccines: a moving landscape”
- Report of the Second International Conference on Influenza Vaccines for the World (IVW 2006), 18-20 October 2006, Palais Ferstl, Vienna, Austria (for sanofi pasteur MSD).
« Over the past 2 years, insights into the feasibility of strategies to cope with an influenza pandemic have been gained (...). Which paths should be favoured to develop the best formulation of a pandemic vaccine? Is it worth building stockpiles of prepandemic vaccines? What should be done to overcome regulatory and political hurdles? How should vaccine usage be increased?
All these questions were discussed during the second IVW conference that gathered more than 600 participants in Vienna, Austria, from 18th to 20th October 2006. (..).»
Expanding Influenza Vaccination
- Report of the Second European Influenza conference, Malta, 11-14 September 2005
Interpandemic INFLUENZA: importance for pandemic preparedness
- Satellite symposium organised by Aventis Pasteur. October 7, 2003 - Okinawa, Japan
Expanding influenza vaccination
- Report of the First International Conference on “Influenza Vaccines for the World” (IVW), Lisbon (Portugal), May 24-26, 2004.
« In his presentation, Albert Osterhaus (Erasmus University,
Rotterdam, The Netherlands) presented the 2003 episode
of H7N7 in the Netherlands, as a lesson of how to identify
prioritized measures of intervention at the different
stages of the emergence of prepandemic avian strains
(Figure 4) (19). Genetic analyses show that the virus
incriminated in this episode stemmed from H5
and H7 Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) viruses
previously isolated in ducks. Once transmitted to poultry,
the H7N7 LPAI virus evolved into a High Pathogenic Avian
Influenza (HPAI) virus, that caused(...). »
“Influenza in Europe: from interpandemic management to pandemic preparedness”
- Report of the First European Influenza Conference organized by the European Scientific Working group on Influenza (ESWI), St Julian, Malta, 20-23 Octobre 2002.
“ Influenza takes a heavy toll not only during pandemics but also during inter-pandemic periods. Over the past century, annual epidemics have had a greater cumulated impact than that of the three pandemics (1). Control and prevention are the only realistic goals for its management.(...) What do we know about the burden of influenza in other populations ? How can surveillance be improved ? How can we prepare for the next pandemic ? All these questions have been widely discussed during the First European Influenza Conference organized by the European Scientific Working group on Influenza (ESWI) in Malta from 20 to 23 October 2002. ”
« Where does baby come from ? »
- for multimédia center “Erasme” and the “Conseil Général du Rhône” (2004)
Design and coordination for the realization of the multimedia animation
Ces animations ont été réalisées en 2004 à la demande du Conseil Général du Rhône et résultent d’un travail d’équipe entre les professionnels du département du Rhône et Avicenne.
« Journey to the land of sleep”
- for multimédia center “Erasme” and the “Conseil Général du Rhône” (2004)
Design and coordination for the realization of the multimedia animation
Ces animations ont été réalisées en 2004 à la demande du Conseil Général du Rhône et résultent d’un travail d’équipe entre les professionnels du département du Rhône et Avicenne.
« diet balance»
- for multimédia center “Erasme” and the “Conseil Général du Rhône” (2004)
Design and coordination for the realization of the multimedia animation
Ces animations ont été réalisées en 2004 à la demande du Conseil Général du Rhône et résultent d’un travail d’équipe entre les professionnels du département du Rhône et Avicenne.
« Neil and the mysterious lamp »
- In collaboration with the French Institutes for Agronomical Research (INRA)
Synopsis for a book telling the uses of rapeseed oil, from the antics to nowadays...
“Chronic Hepatitis B : Overcoming a Complex Clinical Challenge"
- A Highlight report of the data presented at the satellite symposium organised by GILEAD during the 41st annual meeting of the European Association for the study of the liver, April 28th, 2006, Vienna, Austria (for Medunet).
“Meeting iron needs”
- Nutritopics N°24, Danone Vitapole
« Le fer est impliqué dans de nombreuses fonctions biologiques, en particulier dans le transport de l’oxygène par les globules rouges.
Au stade tardif, sa carence se traduit par l’anémie, associée chez le jeune enfant à un retard du développement cognitif et chez la femme enceinte, à un risque accru d’accouchement prématuré et de mort maternelle. (...)»
