Biomedical subjects

I Romieu

Publications and source records attributed to I Romieu.

78 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

[Breast cancer. A historical account, present and future].

This essay describes the different theoretical constructions of breast cancer models, such as the biological, hygienist-preventive and epidemiological. An anecdotal account of the Hippocratic model is also presented. This disease will be one of the major challenges posed by noncommunicable diseases in coming years, due to a significant increase of life expectancy and to a decrease of the overall annual growth rate-resulting in the ageing of the population-, as well as to lifestyle changes-particularly the considerable decrease of fertility rates and breastfeeding practices-, and to the poor efficiency and effectiveness of breast cancer screening programs. In this context, one of the main challenges for breast cancer control is to secure the multidisciplinary approach offered by public health. After analyzing the different models, we favor the sociomedical model as the one that incorporates several areas of knowledge to formulate an effective response to breast cancer.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Asthma in a population of children and its relation to airborne environmental pollutants in Mexico City. A cohort study. Mexico, 1991. Experimental design].

We developed a panel study to evaluate the association between intermittent exposure to ozone and acute attack of asthma. The population study consists in 136 asthmatic children residents in the southwest and northeast of Mexico City. They were attended in the allergic services of the two main Pediatric Hospital of Mexico City. In this paper we present the methodological issues following in the study and the results of the descriptive analysis of the relation between ozone exposure and acute attack of asthma.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Calcium intake and blood lead in women in reproductive age].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between calcium intake and blood lead levels in women of reproductive age living in Mexico City. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood lead was assayed in 198 women of 15-48 years of age. By interrogation, the calcium intake was calculated from the frequency of consumption of 11 foods which provide nearly 95% of the intake of calcium in Mexico. RESULTS: The mean blood lead was 9.71 micrograms/dL (range 1 to 39). We observed a statistically significant decreasing trend between the risk of having blood lead levels exceeding 10 mu/dL and the increase in calcium intake. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests the need to evaluate interventions such as modifications in the consumption of milk, cheese, and other calcium rich foods, and their effect on blood lead levels.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema in school children in the city of Cuernavaca, Mexico].

OBJECTIVE: The measurement of asthma, rhinitis and eczema have been subject of controversy due to lack of a standardized methodology. To test the applicability of a standardized methodology for comparisons of time and space we determined the prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases in a random sample of schoolchildren (n = 6,238) from 6 to 8 and 11 to 14 years of age living in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The methodology proposed by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) to determine prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinitis and eczema was applied. Current and accumulated information on prevalence was obtained by means of a standardized questionnaire answered by the children's parents. RESULTS: The accumulated prevalence of asthma by medical diagnosis and wheezing was 5.8% (5.2-6.4) and 21.8% (20.7-22.9) respectively; prevalence of wheezing in the last 12 months was 8.9% in the group of 6 to 8 years against 6.6% in the 11 to 14 year old group p < 0.001. Prevalence of the medical diagnosis of rhinitis was 4.9% (4.3-5.5). Regarding the typical symptoms of rhinitis, in the last 12 months prevalence was 9.6% (6-8 years) and 10.1% (11-14 years). Prevalence of eczema by medical diagnosis was 4.1% (3.6-4.6). Prevalence of eczema symptoms in the last 12 months was 10.1% (6-8 years) and 10.6% (11-14 years). Prevalence of severe asthma symptoms was significantly higher in the 6 to 8 year olds and in the autumn. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of asthma by medical diagnosis and by symptoms is relatively low with respect to other studies performed with the same methodology. The benefits of using a standardized methodology were analyzed.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of environmental pollution on medical visits for respiratory infections in children in Mexico City].

OBJECTIVE: To model the variability of medical visits by children for respiratory reasons as a consequence of the daily changes in environmental pollution observed in the emergency and family medicine departments of a hospital of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social located in the southwest of Mexico City during 1993. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The correlation between the presence of upper and lower respiratory tract infections and exposure to ozone and nitrogen dioxide was studied. To model this association, the authors used multivariate Poisson regression models with linear and non-linear risk, with lag periods between the environmental measurements and the medical visits of one, two and three days, as well as the average of the measurements of three, five and seven days previous to the visit. RESULTS: The model estimates that an increment of 50 ppb in the daily average of ozone would cause an increase of 9.9% in emergency visits due to high respiratory tract infections during the winter, which could rise to 30% if the increment would last five consecutive days in average. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that exposure of children younger than 15 years of age to ozone and nitrogen dioxide significantly affect the number of medical visits for respiratory causes in this part of Mexico City.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Accumulation of lead in bone and its effects on health].

The adverse effects of lead have been known for long since the metal affects practically all organs and systems of the human body. Recently, toxic effects have been reported in the cardiovascular and nervous systems at lead levels previously considered to be secure. The main lead storage site in the body is bone. The toxicologic significance of this fact has been clarified only recently. The present study analyzes the role of lead as an endogenous source of exposure, as a chronic exposure biomarker and as a target organ. Recent advances to measure bone lead through fluorescent X-Rays are discussed. Additionally, the importance of bone lead from a public health perspective in places with a chronic history of exposure such as Mexico City, and in some occupational environments is reviewed with particular attention placed on reproductive age women, who are potential lead sources for the fetus and lactating infant.

Adult↗