PubMed · 11637082
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O F Guglia. 1972. [Not Available].. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11637082/
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PURPOSE: Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine, enables the provision of tailored health services to patients. In the prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancers, precision medicine is highly promising, given the increasing use of genomic profiling for diagnosis and adapting therapies in several tumor types. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can support this process by analyzing vast amounts of relevant data. However, high-quality data and financial investments in the health system are essential for the implementation of precision medicine and AI solutions in routine cancer care. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Building on the quantitative outcomes of a foresight exercise published in another study, this article collects qualitative data to gain more detailed insights into the future of precision oncology in Belgium and discusses the role of AI in this field. It reports the results of a series of expert workshops, focusing on four hypothetical future scenarios that are centered around technological and economic issues that must be overcome for the widespread use of precision oncology in Belgium. FINDINGS: The study concludes that all four scenarios discussed in the workshops would require supportive policy measures in Belgium, which should go beyond mere technological and economic considerations, such as involving patient associations and the public in policy design or creating multi-disciplinary expert groups for precision medicine. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to employ foresight methodology to illustrate possible future scenarios, scrutinize feasible approaches for implementing precision oncology in Belgium, and discuss the use of AI in this context.
OBJECTIVES: To propose a cost-effective set of methods (strategy) to improve biomechanical working conditions and prevent the development of musculoskeletal disorders. METHODS: The strategy was developed according to the philosophy already used for other aspects of working conditions. It was then tested in ten industrial situations with various characteristics, to check its understanding, its usability, and its efficiency. RESULTS: The strategy includes a five-page leaflet ( screening) aimed at motivating the operators to check the problems and bring about immediate solutions if possible. A stage-2 observation checklist is then proposed to guide the discussions during a meeting of the protagonists (workers and management). The assistance of an occupational health practitioner might become indispensable at stage 3 to deepen the analysis of the remaining problems, while experts are requested only in exceptional cases (stage 4, expertise). This strategy was positively judged by the users and proved to be effective in motivating and co-ordinating the protagonists. CONCLUSION: The strategy proved to consider effectively all biomechanical aspects that might contribute to the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). It proved also to be participatory, placing the operators and their management at the centre of the intervention as the main actors, and organising when to turn to an occupational health practitioner or an expert for assistance.
For several decades, periodical dredging of river sediments has been necessary to allow for shipping traffic on the river Scheldt. Sediments were disposed along the shores in the alluvial plain without concern for the potential presence of contaminants. The aim of this study was to survey the alluvial plains of the Upper Scheldt river in Belgium for the presence of old dredged sediment landfills, and to appraise the heavy metal contamination at these sites. Up to 82% of the areas that were affected by dredged sediment disposal was found to be polluted by at least one of the metals Cd, Cr, Zn or Pb. Concentrations of Cd, Cr and Zn were, in 10% of the cases, higher than 26, 1900 and 2800 mg/kg, respectively. Cu and Ni concentrations were of no environmental concern on any site. Trends in metal concentrations as a function of location and time were explored and discussed. The highest average concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were found in the most downstream quarter of the Upper Scheldt. Contents of Pb and Cu were significantly lower for sediments disposed after 1965, but no indication for improvement of the sediment quality with time was observed for Cd, Cr and Zn. The pollution levels encountered warrant for caution as most of the soils affected by historical dredged sediment disposal are currently in use for agriculture, nature development or forestry.