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Biomedical subjects

A Depierre

Publications and source records attributed to A Depierre.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Farmer's lung precipitins in Doubs (a department of France): prevalence and diagnostic value.

In a French region where farmer's lung (FL) is common, we determined the prevalence of FL precipitins in dairy farmers and analyzed the relation between the presence of FL precipitins and the clinical probability of the disease. All the exposed dairy farmers of both sexes (n = 2555) from five districts of the Doubs department were asked to respond to a medical and professional questionnaire. A total of 1763 (69%) farmers agreed to participate. Precipitins tests were conducted in 551 (31%) farmers who showed any respiratory symptom and in a random sample of 100 asymptomatic farmers. Serum for each farmer was analyzed by both double diffusion and immunoelectrophoresis against Micropolyspora faeni (MF) and extracts of moldy hay (HE) from Doubs. The 651 farmers were then divided into four groups (G 1-4) with a decreasing probability of FL (G1: typical FL symptoms; G4: asymptomatic farmers). The estimated prevalence of precipitins in the whole population was as follows: 1) by double diffusion, against HE: 83%, against MF: 27%; 2) by immunoelectrophoresis, against HE: 26%, against MF: 19%. There was a close "linear" relation between the prevalence of precipitins detected by immunoelectrophoresis against HE and the symptoms: 51% in G1, 36% in G2, 29% in G3, and 13% in G4. Precipitins detected by immunoelectrophoresis were also related to exposure and geography (more immunization in tableland area than in plain or mountain area). Presence of precipitins detected by double diffusion was not related to symptoms, exposure, or geography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Influence of barn drying of fodder on respiratory symptoms and function in dairy farmers of the Doubs region of France.

BACKGROUND: A previous study showed there to be fewer microorganisms (especially thermophilic actinomycetes) on farms with artificial barn drying of fodder than on those using traditional storage methods. A cross sectional study was performed to see whether barn drying provides protection against respiratory problems in dairy farmers. METHODS: The respiratory symptoms and function of a group of 123 farmers with daily exposure to cattle foddering from farms which had had a barn drying system for at least three years were compared with those of a representative sample of 274 farmers working in farms with traditional storage in five districts in the Doubs region of France. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable for mean age, weight, height, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, past history of respiratory disease, history of allergy, geographical location of the farm, and length of exposure. Retrospectively estimated exposure to fodder was greater in the group using a barn drying system than in the group working with traditional storage. Acute symptoms at exposure (rhinitis, eye irritation, dry cough, asthma symptoms) and chronic symptoms all tended to be less frequent in the barn drying group, although not individually significantly so. Mean (SD) respiratory function parameters were higher in the barn drying group than in the traditional group: % vital capacity (VC) 104 (14) v 102 (15); % forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 99 (14) v 94 (18); % FEV1/VC 96 (11) v 92 (16); % forced mid expiratory flow (FEF25-75) 87 (24) v 79 (25). CONCLUSION: The results of this cross sectional study suggest that barn drying of fodder may protect respiratory function in dairy farmers.

Acute Disease↗

An ongoing randomized study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in resectable non-small cell lung cancer.

The purpose of this trial is to assess the possible benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery in patients with operable non-small cell lung cancer. Patients with operable stages I (except T 1N0), II, or IIIA disease are eligible for this ongoing trial. Patients are randomized into two arms. Surgery is performed first in group I; patients found to have T3 tumors or N2 lymph nodes are given postoperative radiotherapy. Group 2 patients start with two cycles of chemotherapy; following surgery, two more cycles are administered in responder patients and, as in group I, patients with T3 tumors or N2 lymph nodes are given radiotherapy. Chemotherapy is the MIP protocol: mitomycin 6 mg/m2 day I, ifosfamide 1.5 g/m2 days 1 to 3, cisplatin 30 mg/m2 days I to 3, and mesna 1,200 mg/m2 days 1 to 3. One hundred fifty patients were enrolled between June 1991 and September 1993. By the time this report was prepared, 117 patients had completed all assigned treatment, 63 in group I and 54 in group 2. There were two ineligible patients, one in each group. Forty-nine patients underwent thoracotomy in the chemotherapy-surgery group and 62 in the surgery-only group. There was only one progression after two cycles of chemotherapy. Rates of exploratory and incomplete surgery were 17% in group I and 12% in group 2. The trial is ongoing.

Adult↗

[Treatment of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC)].

The survival of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLS) is closely related to surgery, but the tumour is resectable in only 25% of them. With the exception of T1 N0, where the 5-year survival rate exceeds 60%, the 2-year survival does not rise above 50%. New data are raising hopes of better results, and it appears that the so-called "neoadjuvant" treatments might increase the curability of resectable tumours. Recent randomized trials have shown that it could be of interest to combine chemotherapy and radiotherapy in unresectable localized tumours. On the other hand, therapeutic combinations containing cisplatin constitute a step forward in the treatment of metastatic cancers, with a high response rate (28 to 56%) prolonging the patients' survival. Finally, the advances achieved in treatments aimed at combating the undesirable effects of chemotherapy, notably nausea and vomiting, will make it more acceptable and therefore provide a better quality of life. Several randomized trials are in progress and will perhaps facilitate the setting up of new decision making trees for the treatment of NSCLC.

Brachytherapy↗

Recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factor reduces the infectious complications of cytotoxic chemotherapy.

The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (r-metHuG-CSF) following conventional chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer. 130 previously untreated patients were randomised to receive either r-metHuG-CSF (230 micrograms/m2) or placebo on days 4-17 following CDE (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and etoposide) chemotherapy. Over all cycles, 53% of 64 patients on placebo and only 26% of 65 patients on r-metHuG-CSF had at least one experience of neutropenia with fever defined as a neutrophil count less than 1.0 x 10(9)/l and a temperature > or = 38.2 degrees C (P < 0.002). It resulted in a reduction in the requirement for parenteral antibiotics from 58% in placebo patients compared with 37% in the r-metHuG-CSF group (P < 0.02), and a significant reduction in the incidence of infection-related hospitalisation. Chemotherapy doses were reduced by 15% or more at least once in 61% of the placebo group compared with 29% in the r-metHuG-CSF group (P < 0.001). 47% of the patients treated with placebo and 29% of the patients treated with r-metHuG-CSF experienced at least one cycle with a delay of 2 days or more in the administration of chemotherapy (P < 0.04). r-metHuG-CSF was well tolerated. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of response or survival.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

A comparative study of cefepime and ceftazidime in the treatment of community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections.

Antibiotic treatment for community-acquired pneumonia must target Gram-positive pathogens, especially frequently isolated organisms such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. The severity of community-acquired pneumonia is often related to underlying factors. Occasionally it may be complicated by staphylococcal or Gram-negative bacillary infection. We have compared the safety and efficacy of cefepime 1 g bd with ceftazidime 1 g tds as empirical treatment in adults with community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). One hundred and thirty-one patients with moderate to severe LRTIs were randomized to two treatment groups: 87 received cefepime and 44 received ceftazidime. The treatment groups were comparable with regard to sex, age and treatment duration. Of the 116 pathogens isolated, 57 were Gram-positive (46 strains of S. pneumoniae) and 59 were Gram-negative (33 strains of Haemophilus influenzae). Of the 111 patients evaluated, clinical cure rates were 87% (65/75) in the cefepime group and 86% (31/36) in the ceftazidime group. Pathogen eradication rates were 95% (74/78 and 36/37, respectively) in both groups. Both drugs were well tolerated and the incidence of adverse events in each group was comparable. Cefepime 2 g per day (1 g bd) was as safe and effective as ceftazidime 3 g per day (1 g tds) in the treatment of community-acquired LRTIs.

Adult↗

Prevalence and risk factors for chronic bronchitis and farmer's lung in French dairy farmers.

The prevalence of chronic bronchitis and of clinical farmer's lung was studied in 30 districts of the French Doubs province in relation to individual (age, sex, smoking) and geographical (altitude) factors. 5703 exclusively dairy farmers (response rate 83%) participated in the study by answering a medical questionnaire. Prevalences of chronic bronchitis and clinical farmer's lung were 9.3% and 1.4% respectively. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate risk factors for chronic bronchitis and clinical farmer's lung. A risk of chronic bronchitis was associated with male sex (p < 10(-4)), age (p < 10(-4)), smoker category (p < 10(-4)), and altitude (p < 10(-4)). A risk of clinical farmer's lung was associated with non-smokers (p < 0.05), and linearly with altitude (p < 10(-4)). Also there was a strong positive relation between chronic bronchitis and clinical farmer's lung (odds ratio 19.5 (95% confidence interval 12.1-31.4) after adjustment for confounding variables. The main finding of this study is the highly significant increase of prevalence of the diseases in relation to altitude.

Adolescent↗

Etiologic factors of chronic bronchitis in dairy farmers. Case control study in the Doubs region of France.

Relationships were investigated between chronic bronchitis and plant dust exposure assessed by quantification of barn threshing and cattle foddering and chronic bronchitis and acute respiratory syndromes after plant mold dust exposure. Two groups of male dairy farmers were studied in the Doubs region, France: 197 with chronic bronchitis and 163 control subjects without chronic bronchitis. There was no relationship between chronic bronchitis and exposure. Thirty-three chronic bronchitis patients had semidelayed respiratory syndromes (SDRS) vs two control subjects. Twenty-seven times out of 33 (16 of 17 in the nonsmokers), the SDRS preceded chronic bronchitis. Past history of acute respiratory syndromes during barn threshing (RSBT) was more frequent in chronic bronchitis; RSBT always preceded chronic bronchitis. It is concluded that host factors are important in chronic bronchitis and that acute effects after exposure may be predisposing factors to chronic bronchitis.

Adult↗

[Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and cystic fibrosis. 2 case reports in adults].

The authors report two cases of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis complicating cystic fibrosis in adults: respectively an acute and an exacerbation stage. Association cystic fibrosis-allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is not uncommon and should be considered in all patients with cystic fibrosis especially with atopic disorders. These two cases are a reminder of the diagnosis criteria (clinical, radiologic and biological) and treatment.

Acute Disease↗

[Disseminated infection due to an unusual strain of Nocardia farcinica].

Nocardia farcinica, isolated by Nocard in 1888, has recently been redefined as a separate species to asteroides and has been recognised as human pathogen since 1975. Following airborne contamination, lung infection is most usual with frequent dissemination especially to central nervous system. Usually drug resistance makes treatment difficult. The authors describe the first case of Nocardia farcinica disseminated infection in France with lung primarily affection, empyema and encephalitis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A comparison of ondansetron with alizapride plus methylprednisolone in the control of cisplatin-induced emesis. The French Pneumology Group for the Ondansetron Study.

This randomised, single-blind, parallel-group study was carried out in 48 French pneumology centres to compare the anti-emetic efficacy of ondansetron and an alizapride plus methylprednisolone (ALI/MPS) combination in patients receiving high-dose cisplatin. A total of 220 patients were recruited of whom 209 were evaluable (100 on ondansetron and 109 on ALI/MPS). Thirty minutes before cisplatin, patients received either ondansetron (8 mg i.v.) or alizapride (4 mg/kg i.v.) combined with methylprednisolone (500 mg i.v.). The ondansetron and alizapride injections were repeated 4 and 8 h later. Thereafter, patients received oral ondansetron (8 mg) or alizapride (50 mg) 3 times daily for 5 days. Ondansetron was significantly superior to ALI/MPS in the control of acute emesis (p less than 0.001); 88/100 (88%) of ondansetron, and 69/109 (63%) of ALI/MPS patients experienced less than 3 emetic episodes. Similarly, ondansetron was superior to ALI/MPS for the control of acute nausea (visual analogue scale at 24 h; 13 vs. 22 mm respectively, p = 0.0012). The superiority of ondansetron over days 2-6 was not as great as that over the first 24 h, although there was a trend in favour of ondansetron. More patients treated with ondansetron wished to take the same anti-emetic treatment again (83% for ondansetron vs. 56% for ALI/MPS, p less than 0.001). Both treatments were well tolerated. This study shows that ondansetron is superior to a benzamide-corticosteroid combination in the control of acute cisplatin-induced emesis.

Antiemetics↗

[Value of sophisticated explorative techniques of the pulmonary function in the preoperative evaluation of respiratory risk].

In order to estimate the preoperative evaluation of the respiratory risk, a well adapted clinical examination associated with a routine pulmonary function test (VC, FEV1) can be sufficient. Although some patients with cardiopulmonary disorders or candidates to lung resection need more complex assessments: the flow-volume loop to detect small airways obstruction (MEF 50%, MEF 25%), measure of bronchial hyperreactivity to predict bronchospasm during anaesthesia, residual volume for the diagnosis of emphysema, diffusing capacity (DCO) to discover lung fibrosis: these parameters disruption always make the pronostic worse. It is also useful to couple together preoperative function test and pulmonary scintigraphy to predict post-operative values after lung resection. But, these criteria for operability are not always a good indicator of post-operative complications. So it is possible to use in addition the results of exercise testing to determine cardio-respiratory performances and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2MAX) which seem better correlated with mortality and post-operative lung surgical complications. Preliminary results of our study concerning thirty patients hospitalized in Besancon-St-Jacques Hospital, agree with the hypothesis that exercise testing is an important criterion in the pre-operative evaluation and to predict post-operative mortality and morbidity of patients candidates to thoracic surgery.

Humans↗

[Evaluation of mediastinal lymphatic involvement].

The analysis of extension to mediastinal lymph nodes during the initial assessment of primary bronchial cancers relies on computed tomography, MRI and mediastinoscopy. Two reports of the consensus conference analysed the respective sensitivity and specificity of these three techniques. The impact of these examinations on the survival of the patients undergoing them is difficult to measure. The successive introduction of these techniques into daily practice has not been analysed in terms of impact on survival. Randomized studies in homogeneous groups of patients of the influence of examinations such as mediastinoscopy on survival are lacking today. While computed tomography has become essential, mainly because it is easy to use and allows re-reading, mediastinoscopy remains an examination for which the indications are controversial according to the schools.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗

[Adjuvant therapy of surgically treated non-small cell lung cancer].

Adjuvant treatments of non-small cell lung cancers consist of radiotherapy and chemotherapy administered jointly or separately before or after surgery. These treatments have been tested in numerous trials, notably as regards postoperative chemotherapy. For a long time the results were disappointing, and in a randomized study none of the therapeutic regimens prescribed could improve the patients' survival. New hopes of advances in this matter were raised by Goldie and Coldman whose mathematical concept recommended a systemic treatment applied as early as possible in cases with localized tumour. The advent of platinum, the results obtained in metastatic tumours by including this agent in a variety of combinations, and those obtained in localized tumours by chemotherapy and radiotherapy combined have been the second promising element. Multicentre randomized trials have been set up after the encouraging results of a feasibility study on preoperative chemotherapy.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗

A phase II study of Navelbine (vinorelbine) in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Navelbine (vinorelbine, NVB) is the first semisynthetic 5'-nor-vinca-alkaloid selected for clinical trial. NVB has been shown to have a good level of activity against different experimental solid tumors in animals, with low neurotoxicity. In the phase II study, 78 patients with an inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated with NVB at a weekly dose of 30 mg/m2. No patient had previously received chemotherapy. Twenty-three of the 78 eligible patients showed a partial response (29.4% with a 95% confidence limits: 19.5-39.5). Eight patients were not evaluable and the percentage of partial response were 32.8% in the evaluable patients group. The median response duration was 34 weeks, and the median survival time for the overall population reached 33 weeks. Grade 3-4 leukopenia was seen in 12.5% of cycles. No thrombocytopenia occurred. At the dosage schedule used, NVB seems a very promising agent in the treatment of NSCLC.

Adenocarcinoma↗