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Biomedical subjects

C Frette

Publications and source records attributed to C Frette.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

The French haemovigilance system.

Haemovigilance is a national system of surveillance and alarm, from blood collection to the follow-up of the recipients, gathering and analysing all untoward effects of blood transfusion in order to correct their cause and prevent recurrence. In France haemovigilance was created by law and notification of transfusion incidents is a legal obligation. The haemovigilance network associates local correspondents in each hospital and blood centre with regional co-ordinators and is centralised by the Agence Française du Sang. After 4 years the incident reporting rate is 2.3 per 1,000 allogeneic blood components transfused, justifying for example increased efforts in the prevention of bacteria-associated transfusion reactions, haemolytic transfusion reactions or vascular overload. However, haemovigilance still has to be strenghtened by improved information management or further progress in standardisation from one region to the other. The most important factor of success is collaboration between blood centres and hospitals. Haemovigilance clearly is the ultimate quality indicator of a transfusion service.

Blood Banks↗
PubMed1998

Relationship of serum neutral endopeptidase E.C.3.4.24.11 activity to alcohol consumption.

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is an ubiquitous enzyme that inactivates numerous endogenous peptides in the brain, kidney, and lung in vivo. The origin of the circulating soluble form and its determinants are largely unknown. The relationships of smoking habits and alcohol consumption to serum NEP activity have been explored in a longitudinal epidemiological study conducted in 204 Lorraine coal miners. At both surveys, 4 years apart, NEP activity was significantly related to alcohol consumption (in grams/day) reported by questionnaire, with correlation coefficients of 0.26 (p = 0.001) in 1990 and 0.23 (p = 0.001) in 1994. The correlations of gamma-glutamyltransferase to NEP activity were even stronger with correlation coefficients of 0.71 (p = 0.0001) in 1990 and 0.79 (p = 0.0001) in 1994. Longitudinally, the change in NEP activity between the first and the second surveys was significantly correlated with change in alcohol consumption (r = to 0.18, p = 0.02) and with change in gamma-glutamyltransferase level (r = 0.60, p = 0.0001). Serum NEP activity was unrelated to smoking habits. Results support the hypothesis of a causal role of alcohol on serum NEP activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Relationship of serum elastin peptide level to single breath transfer factor for carbon monoxide in French coal miners.

BACKGROUND: Clinical and epidemiological studies have given discordant results on the usefulness of the level of circulating elastin peptide (EP), a potential marker of both elastin destruction (a key phenomenon in pulmonary emphysema) and neosynthesis, for assessing structural changes in the lung extracellular matrix. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between levels of EP and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and single breath transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TLCO and KCO) in coal miners. METHODS: The study population comprised 227 working coal miners aged 34-50 years consisting of 75 miners heavily exposed to underground coal dust with pulmonary radiographs classified as 0/1 or 1/0 by the International Labour Office classification, 75 exposed miners with radiographs classified as normal (0/0), and 77 miners slightly exposed to coal dust with normal radiographs. The subjects answered a standardised questionnaire and performed spirometric tests and a carbon monoxide (CO) transfer test. RESULTS: No association was observed between EP levels and % predicted FEV1 (or FEV1/FVC). The level of EP increased significantly with decreased % predicted TLCO (r = -0.20). Miners in the lowest % predicted KCO quintile had higher EP levels than the rest (3.28 (1.37) vs 2.47 (1.16)). A significantly lower EP level was observed in miners with radiographs classified as 1/0 or 0/1, especially in those with round opacities, compared with miners with a normal radiograph, and in current smokers compared with the rest. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the level of EP may reflect some remodelling activity in emphysema and lung fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effect of active and passive smoking on ventilatory function in elderly men and women.

Although it is well known that pulmonary function declines with age and that this decline is accelerated by cigarette smoking, the effects of such factors are not well established in elderly individuals. Tha authors examined the effect of active and passive smoking on ventilatory function assessed by spirometry in 1,397 community-dwelling men and women aged 51-95 years and observed that active smoking affected ventilatory function into advanced old age. Smokers who quit before age 40 had an age- and height-adjusted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)(in liters) that did not differ from that of never smokers in either men (3.06 (standard deviation (SD) = 0.58) vs. 3.06 (SD = 0.60), p = 0.99) or women (2.09 (SD = 0.51) vs. 2.13 (SD = 0.46), p = 0.51). In smokers who quit between ages 40 and 60, FEV1 was lower than that of never smokers and higher than that of current smokers in both men and women. Male and female smokers who quit after age 60 had a FEV1 similar to current smokers. FEV1 correlated significantly with the duration since quitting smoking (r = 0.24, p = 0.0001 in men; and r = 0.26,p = 0.0001 in women) and with the duration of smoking (r = -0.30, p = 0.0001 in both men and women). FEV1 and forced midexpiratory rate in 25-75 seconds were not lower in either male or female nonsmokers passively exposed to cigarette smoke at home. These results confirm the deleterious effect of active smoking and demonstrate a beneficial effect of quitting smoking before age 40, with an apparent lack of benefit on pulmonary function if cessation is delayed to age 60.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Decrease in selenium status in relation to coal dust exposure.

Selenium (Se) plasma levels were studied in 222 coal miners to assess whether selenium is decreased in relation to coal dust exposure, taking age, alcohol, and tobacco consumption into account. Selenium levels decreased significantly with age and current tobacco consumption, among miners aged 34-50. Long-term and current exposure to coal dust were studied. The lowest Se values were observed for those with both long-term and current exposure (60.2 ng/ml), the highest for those never or slightly exposed (64.1 ng/ml); those with long-term exposure not currently exposed fell in an intermediate position (61.3 ng/ml). No relation was observed with alcohol consumption. The association of coal dust with low selenium remained significant after adjustment for age and smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Associations of blood group-related antigens to FEV1, wheezing, and asthma.

Discordant results have been observed regarding the associations of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases with secretor, Lewis, and ABO histo-blood groups, which are defined by glycosyltransferases. These enzymes build up oligosaccharide structures that play a role in the adhesion of environmental factors to epithelial cells. The objectives of the present study were to assess the role of all three systems, Lewis (Le), salivary ABH secretor (Se), and red cell blood group ABO, on lung function, wheezing, and asthma in a cohort of 228 coal miners studied cross-sectionally, considering the potential modifying effect of environmental factors on these associations. Asthma was significantly related to nonsecretor phenotype. Significantly lower lung function and higher prevalences of wheezing and asthma were observed in Lewis-negative or nonsecretor subjects of blood group O. Very low lung function values were observed in the small group of Lewis-negative nonsecretors who lack both Le and Se controlled fucoses (1% of Caucasians). Lewis-positive, salivary ABH secretors who have these two fucoses represent 70% of Caucasians. Among these subjects, lower lung function was observed in blood group A, and in a lesser extent in blood group B, i.e., with terminal alpha GaINAc or alpha Gal respectively, than in blood group O subjects. ABO, Lewis, and secretor phenotypes did not account for the potential genetic heterogeneity of subjects toward smoking, but alcohol consumption appeared to exert a protective effect on lung function in Lewis-negative subjects (10% of Caucasians). If confirmed in other populations, the magnitude of the effects observed regarding low lung function in Lewis-negative ABH nonsecretors, and the protective effect of Lewis negative on the deleterious effect of alcohol, may be of clinical importance. Further studies of the combined effects of various histo-blood group genetic systems seem worthwhile, particularly for airflow limitation, wheezing, and asthma, possibly with reference to susceptibility to infectious agents.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1996

Lack of a relationship of elastin peptide level to emphysema assessed by CT scans.

Clinical reports suggest that peptide (EP) concentration may be used as a subclinical marker of pulmonary emphysema. This hypothesis was tested in a clinical study by comparing EP concentration in male emphysematous patients with the level in two control groups, and by exploring the relation of elastin peptide level to high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan emphysema score among emphysematous patients. Serum EP level was determined among male emphysematous patients with at least 20% of emphysema (n = 27) and in two populations of male workers, drawn from epidemiologic studies (227 coal miners and 310 policemen). No difference in elastin peptide concentration was observed between emphysematous patients and control subjects (mean +/- SD = 2.39 +/- 1.18 micrograms/ml in patients versus 2.55 +/- 1.34 micrograms/ml in policemen and 2.59 +/- 1.20 micrograms/ml in coal miners). The correlation of elastin peptide concentration with percentage of pulmonary emphysema was negative and of borderline significance (r = -0.36; p = 0.06). These results cast doubts on the usefulness of elastin peptide level as a predictive marker of pulmonary emphysema.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

NIDDM, impaired glucose tolerance, and pulmonary function in older adults. The Rancho Bernardo Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether NIDDM or plasma glucose level in subjects without diabetes is associated with reduced pulmonary function in 525 men and 714 women, 51-95 years of age. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The analysis was based on data from a community-based study, the Rancho Bernardo Study. Between 1984 and 1987, 82% of community-dwelling residents had an oral glucose tolerance test. Between 1988 and 1991, 80% had lung function assessed by spirometry (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1] and forced vital capacity [FVC]). RESULTS: In analyses adjusted for age, height, and cigarette smoking, pulmonary function was not associated with known or newly diagnosed NIDDM in men or women. However, FEV1 and FVC were each independently reduced in men with diabetes of 10 or more years' duration. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were correlated with FEV1 and FVC in men without diabetes. No associations were found in women. CONCLUSIONS: The overall absence of an association of NIDDM with pulmonary function in these older adults may reflect survival bias and the small number of subjects with severe diabetes or diabetes of prolonged duration. The apparent relation of FPG levels to FEV1 and FVC suggests that any effect of glycemia precedes diabetes and contradicts any putative causal role for duration and severity of glycemia, however. More epidemiological studies are needed to provide further information about the relationship between NIDDM and lung function.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Relation of serum elastin peptide concentration to age, FEV1, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and protease inhibitor phenotype: an epidemiological study in working men.

BACKGROUND: In clinical investigations elastin peptide concentration has been proposed as one potential marker of lung elastin degradation. No epidemiological study has yet confirmed this hypothesis. METHODS: The relation of elastin peptide concentration to some factors closely related to pulmonary emphysema (age, smoking habits, FEV1 alpha protease inhibitor (PI) phenotype) and to alcohol consumption was examined in an epidemiological study of 310 working men. The elastin peptides used for obtaining antibodies and as reference in an ELISA assay were prepared from chemically hydrolysed elastin. RESULTS: The elastin peptide concentration significantly decreased with age from 2.92 (1.54) micrograms/ml among subjects younger than 30 years to 2.18 (1.14) micrograms/ml among subjects older than 50. Elastin peptide concentration did not differ with smoking habits and was clearly unrelated to FEV1. A lower elastin peptide concentration was observed in all groups of subjects with a protease inhibitor phenotype other than PI MM (PI FM, IM, MP, MS, MZ, and S phenotypes). CONCLUSIONS: The results cast doubts on the usefulness of the elastin peptide concentration as a marker of lung destruction in middle aged, predominantly healthy men. Blood elastin peptide concentration may reflect both elastin degradation and resynthesis. The results of this analysis suggest that several factors (age, alcohol consumption, non-PI MM phenotype) may be associated with decreased resynthesis of lung elastin. Further studies, conducted in various age groups and including estimates of the degree of lung destruction, are needed to unravel the mechanisms underlying lysis and resynthesis of lung elastin.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Total circulating IgE and FEV1 in adult men. An epidemiologic longitudinal study.

Epidemiologic data relating total circulating immunoglobulin E (IgE), an objective marker of allergy, to cross-sectional and longitudinal FEV1 as well as to methacholine bronchial hyperresponsiveness were obtained from 310 French adult men surveyed five years apart. Skin prick test responses to common aeroallergens, IgE level, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness were assessed at the end of the follow-up. IgE level was not associated with PD20 to methacholine. Cross-sectionally, age and height-adjusted FEV1 score was inversely related to total IgE level (regression coefficient of FEV1 score on Log[IgE] beta = -.20; p = 0.02). Stratified analysis showed that IgE level was associated with FEV1 score only in nonsmokers (beta = -0.52; p less than 0.001), an association that remained after exclusion of asthmatics. Longitudinally, five-year FEV1 decline was related to IgE in nonsmokers (regression coefficient of FEV1 decline on Log[IgE] beta = 19.9; p = 0.03) and exsmokers (beta = 18.9; p = 0.06) but not in current smokers. The relationship persisted, even if with lesser significance, among exsmokers after exclusion of asthmatics (beta = 17.2) and further exclusion of skin prick test-positive men (beta = 18.8). Whether IgE production also reflects factors other than allergy, possibly nonallergic inflammation, needs further investigations.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Relationships of haptoglobin level to FEV1, wheezing, bronchial hyper-responsiveness and allergy.

The relationships of haptoglobin level to respiratory and allergic parameters have been assessed in an epidemiological study conducted in a working population surveyed twice 5 years apart. At the first survey conducted in 892 working men, haptoglobin level was significantly related to FEV1 (r = -0.18; P less than 0.001) and smoking habits. After adjustment for smoking, a history of wheezing was significantly related to lower haptoglobin level. A second survey conducted in 304 men of the original sample 5 years later confirmed that haptoglobin was related to FEV1 (r = -0.21; P less than 0.001) and that wheezing was significantly related to hypohaptoglobinaemia (lower decile; P = 0.04). Men who exhibited bronchial hyper-responsiveness to methacholine had haptoglobin levels 0.35 g/l higher than those who did not (P = 0.01). Haptoglobin level was unrelated to IgE level and skin prick tests. These results support the hypothesis of the role of inflammation in both lower lung function and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. They suggest that some heterogeneity exists within subjects with a history of wheezing.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Blood eosinophilia and FEV1. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

A previous cross-sectional analysis of 1980 data from a population of working men in the Paris area has shown a significant relationship of blood eosinophilia to a reduced FEV1 among nonsmokers, remaining after excluding men with a history of asthma. In the present report, we reexamine this relationship, after taking into account asthma, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and positive skin prick tests, using data collected in 1985 in a subsample of 363 men from the initial population. Blood eosinophilia, defined by 5% or more eosinophils or by 250 or more eosinophils per cubic millimeter appeared to be associated with a lower FEV1, primarily in nonsmokers. A difference of approximately 0.40 L was observed in never-smokers with eosinophilia (greater than or equal to 5% of eosinophils) compared with those without. This association persisted after exclusion of subjects with atopy, asthma, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Longitudinally, no significant association was observed between 1980 eosinophilia and the annual FEV1 decline between 1980 and 1985, even in nonsmokers. The results of our cross-sectional analyses suggest that asthma or asthma-like disorder does not explain the association between eosinophilia and FEV1. The role of eosinophil in respiratory disorders may go beyond its intervention in allergy. Further longitudinal studies are needed to better understand discrepancies between cross-sectional and longitudinal data and whether eosinophilia is a risk factor for chronic air-flow limitation.

Adult↗