Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “FRANCE”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption and coronary heart disease in France and Northern Ireland: the PRIME study.

Fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with low CHD risk in the USA and Northern Europe. There is, in contrast, little information about these associations in other regions of Europe. The goal of the present study was to assess the relationship between frequency of fruit and vegetable intake and CHD risk in two European populations with contrasting cardiovascular incidence rates; France and Northern Ireland. The present prospective study was in men aged 50-59 years, free of CHD, who were recruited in France (n 5982) and Northern Ireland (n 2105). Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed by a food-frequency questionnaire. Incident cases of acute coronary events and angina were recorded over a 5-year follow-up. During follow-up there was a total of 249 ischaemic events. After adjustment on education level, smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, employment status, BMI, blood pressure, serum total and HDL-cholesterol, the relative risks (RR) of acute coronary events were 0.67 (95% CI 0.44, 1.03) and 0.64 (95% CI 0.41, 0.99) in the 2nd and 3rd tertiles of citrus fruit consumption, respectively (P for trend <0.03). Similar results were observed in France and Northern Ireland. In contrast, the RR of acute coronary events for 'other fruit' consumption were 0.70 (95% CI 0.31, 1.56) and 0.52 (95% CI 0.24, 1.14) respectively in Northern Ireland (trend P<0.05) and 1.29 (95% CI 0.69, 2.4) and 1.15 (95% CI 0.68, 1.94) in France (trend P=0.5; interaction P<0.04). There was no evidence for any association between vegetable intake and total CHD events. In conclusion, frequency of citrus fruit, but not other fruits, intake is associated with lower rates of acute coronary events in both France and Northern Ireland, suggesting that geographical or related factors might affect the relationship between fruit consumption and CHD risk.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Five-year incidence of angina pectoris and other forms of coronary heart disease in healthy men aged 50-59 in France and Northern Ireland: the Prospective Epidemiological Study of Myocardial Infarction (PRIME) Study.

BACKGROUND: The North-South gradient in myocardial infarction and coronary death rates in various western European regions has been described by the WHO MONICA Project over the last decade. The results of the 5-year follow-up of the Prospective Epidemiological Study of Myocardial Infarction (PRIME) Study reported here give the opportunity of extending the comparison to the incidence of angina pectoris in men aged 50-59 living in four regions (Belfast, Lille, Strasbourg, Toulouse) which were covered by the MONICA Project. METHODS: The PRIME Study is a multicentre cohort study with a common protocol and centralized event analysis. It included 10 600 men, of whom 9758 (7359 in France and 2399 in Belfast) were free of coronary disease at entry with 842 (496 in France and 346 in Belfast) having pre-existing coronary disease. RESULTS: In France, subjects free of coronary heart disease at baseline developed 106 cases of myocardial infarction or coronary death (2.93/1000 subjects per year) and 94 cases of angina pectoris (2.61/1000). In Belfast, 61 developed myocardial infarction or coronary death (5.24/1000) and 60 angina pectoris (5.39/1000). Hazard rate ratios for Belfast in comparison to France were respectively 1.79 (95% CI : 1.30-2.47) and 2.07 (1.49-2.86) for each class of clinical complication. CONCLUSION: Rate ratios for angina pectoris incidence between Northern Ireland and France in the PRIME Study are comparable to those for myocardial infarction or coronary death reported by the WHO MONICA Project and suggest that the North-South gradient in Europe applies to different manifestations of coronary disease.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed2002

Psychosocial risk factors for heart disease in France and Northern Ireland: the Prospective Epidemiological Study of Myocardial Infarction (PRIME).

BACKGROUND: France has a substantially lower level of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) relative to its comparators. Compared with Northern Ireland, France has one-half the rate, despite having a similar cardiovascular risk profile to Northern Ireland. In this prospective longitudinal study the psychosocial risk hypothesis for CVD was tested. METHOD: A cohort of 9758 men (7359 in France and 2399 in Northern Ireland) aged 50-59 years who were initially free of any CVD were recruited. At baseline the subjects completed a psychosocial questionnaire, measuring hostility, depression, social support, and the Type A behaviour pattern. At 5-years follow-up their clinical status was determined. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis indicated that, contrary to prediction, France had a substantially more negative psychosocial risk profile than Northern Ireland. The psychosocial risk factors were not successful at predicting at 5-years follow-up the hard clinical endpoint of definite fatal/non-fatal myocardial infarction. In the case of the softer clinical endpoint, angina pectoris/unstable angina, only depression predicted outcome with a small effect size. CONCLUSION: The findings provide little support for the psychosocial risk hypothesis. The psychosocial risk profile was more negative in France, the opposite of that predicted. The finding of a relationship between depression and angina may reflect a tendency for individuals who respond negatively on mood state to report more cardiac symptoms irrespective of physical disease state.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed2003

Thyroid cancers in France and the Chernobyl accident: risk assessment and recommendations for improving epidemiological knowledge.

From 1975 to 1995, the incidence of thyroid cancer in the French population increased by a factor of 5.2 in men and 2.7 in women, thereby raising public concerns about its association with the nuclear accident at Chernobyl. A study performed at the request of French health authorities sought to quantify the potential risk of thyroid cancer associated with the Chernobyl fallout in France in order to determine if this risk could be observed through an epidemiological approach. The study focused on the most exposed population: those living in eastern France and younger than 15 y at the time of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident (26 April 1986). The number of spontaneous thyroid cancers in this population was predicted from French cancer registry data, and the thyroid doses were estimated from all available data about contamination in France. Associated risks were calculated with different risk models, all based on a linear no-threshold dose-effect relationship. Under this hypothesis, from 1.3 to 22 excess thyroid cancer cases were predicted for the 1991-2000 period, compared with the 212 spontaneous cases (0.5 to 10.5%) predicted, and from 11.2 to 55.2 excess cases were predicted for 1991-2015, compared with the 1,342 spontaneous cases (0.8 to 4.1%) predicted. These risk calculations indicate that the Chernobyl fallout cannot explain the entire increase in thyroid cancers in France, and that it is improbable that an epidemiological study could demonstrate such an excess. The surveillance of thyroid cancers in France should be enhanced.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Cancer incidence and mortality in France in 1975-95.

The aims of the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR) are to improve the quality, comparability and availability of cancer registry data in Europe. This paper on cancer incidence and mortality in France presents the most recent available data, with short-term projections to 1995, and a commentary based, where possible, on epidemiological research carried out in France. Cancer incidence in men in France increased throughout the study period 1975 to 1995, from 92,000 new cases in 1975 to about 135,000 in 1995. This increase was partly due to the ageing of the French population, but incidence rates have also increased, particularly from 1975 to 1985. The trend appears to be levelling off in the 1990s, with an incidence rate in 1995 of about 482 per 100,000 (this and subsequent rates quoted are standardized to the European Standard Population). Among women, the all-cancer incidence rates also increased during the 1970s and 1980s. Although the rate of increase was less pronounced than in men, the trend is continuing in the 1990s. The estimated age standardized rate in 1995 was 309 per 100,000, representing 104,000 new cases. The main components of these changes in the last decade were, for men, increases in large bowel and prostate cancer, which have been partly compensated for by decreases in oral cavity, larynx and stomach cancer. For women the trend was dominated by the continuing increase in breast cancer with increases also in large bowel and lung cancers. Of the numerically important cancers in women, only stomach cancer has shown a clear decline. The situation in 1995 was that breast cancer remained the predominant cancer affecting women in France, accounting for almost one third of all new cases of cancer diagnosed and one fifth of cancer deaths. The next most frequent cancers in women were those of the large bowel. Regrettably, incidence rates of both breast and bowel cancer are increasing in women. For men in France the most frequent cancers in 1995 were those of the prostate, large bowel and lung, all of which increased in incidence since 1975. Although it is estimated that there will be more newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer than lung cancer in 1995, the latter will cause many more deaths, particularly of young men.

Female↗
PubMed2004

Alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease: differential effects in France and Northern Ireland. The PRIME study.

BACKGROUND: The effects of wine and other alcoholic beverages on coronary heart disease (CHD) have seldom been studied in several countries using a common methodology. DESIGN: Five-year prospective study conducted among 9750 men (7352 in France and 2398 in Northern Ireland) free of CHD at entry. Outcomes were angina pectoris, myocardial infarction or CHD death. RESULTS: In all, 90% of subjects in France reported drinking at least once per week, versus 61% in Northern Ireland. In France, after adjusting for other CHD risk factors, subjects in the highest quartile of alcohol consumption had a significantly lower risk of developing angina pectoris relative to non-drinkers. For myocardial infarction and all CHD events, the risk also decreased from the first to the fourth quartile (P for trend=0.02). Conversely, in Northern Ireland, no significant relationship was found between alcohol consumption and the incidence of angina pectoris or all CHD events, although alcohol consumption appeared to decrease the risk for myocardial infarction. Similar findings were obtained when the 5% higher alcohol consumers were excluded from the analysis. Finally, splitting the alcohol consumption into wine, beer and spirits did not improve the relationships, the three types of beverage exerting comparable effects on CHD events. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption patterns exert differential effects on CHD risk in middle-aged men from France and Northern Ireland. Further, the amount of alcohol consumption, rather than the type of alcoholic beverage, is related to both angina pectoris and myocardial infarction in France, whereas no relationship was found in Northern Ireland.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2005

Trends in coronary heart disease in France during the second half of the 1990s.

BACKGROUND: Data on the recent evolution in coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality and incidence rates are lacking in France. This paper aims to investigate whether the declining trends observed from 1985-1993 still persist in the second half of the 1990s. METHODS: Population registers of acute CHD have been implemented in three specific geographical areas, first as part of the MONICA Project (1985-1993) and, since 1997, according to a simplified registration procedure. Weighted Poisson regressions have been used to investigate time trends in CHD events in men and women aged 35-64 after correction for registration differences. RESULTS: Data obtained from 1997-2000 showed that the north-to-south gradient of decreasing frequency of CHD events in France was still present. Besides, they revealed no specific trend in CHD morbidity by centre and gender, except in Lille (in the north of France) where events tended to increase in women. Coronary heart disease mortality rates in recent years were decreasing in men, particularly in the north and east of France, but were stable in women with, even, a rising tendency in the north. CONCLUSION: The decreasing trend in CHD events in France observed from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s seemed to markedly slow down in the second half of the 1990s.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Geographical variations of inflammatory bowel disease in France: a study based on national health insurance data.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: A north-south gradient in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence has been found in Europe and the United States. Its existence is inferred from comparisons of registries that cover only small portions of territories. Several studies suggest that IBD incidence in the north has reached a plateau, whereas in the south it has risen sharply. This evolution tends to reduce the north-south gradient, and it is uncertain whether it still exists. In France, patients with IBD are fully reimbursed for their health expenses by the national health insurance system, which is a potential source of data concerning the incidence of IBD at the national level. The aim of this study was to assess the geographical distribution of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in France and to test the north-south gradient hypothesis. METHODS: This study was conducted in metropolitan France and included patients to whom IBD reimbursement was newly attributed between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2002. Data provided relate to age, sex, postcode area of residence, and IBD type. The mapping of geographical distribution of smoothed relative risks (RR) of CD and UC was carried out using a Bayesian approach, taking into account autocorrelation and population size in each département. RESULTS: In the overall population, incidence rates were 8.2 for CD and 7.2 for UC per 100,000 inhabitants. A clear north-south gradient was shown for CD. Départements with the highest smoothed RR were located in the northern third of France. By contrast, the geographical distribution of smoothed RR of UC was homogeneous. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a north-south gradient in France for CD but not for UC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Drinking in France 1965-1979. An analysis of household consumption data.

Alcohol consumption has diminished in France for three decades. In this France is an exception to other industrialized countries. However, in one respect France conforms to a regularity found in longitudinal time-series studies comparing different countries: traditional beverages, in this case wine, have given place to new drinks--beer and imported spirits. In this sense, drinking patterns have become modernized and now resemble those found in other Western industrialized countries. The article, based on a series of household consumption surveys that include purchases of alcoholic beverages by households, studies in what way this modernization is taking place. A break-down of the data by socio-demographic groups shows that saturation as such does not explain the change. The groups that already have been at the lowest level of consumption--the middle classes--have diminished their consumption further and the other groups--the peasantry and the working class--have followed them. The same is true as regards drinking styles, as much as they are revealed by the beverage types. The already modern middle classes have continued to decrease their consumption of wine and the other groups have done likewise but later. In contrast, the rural-urban dimension is and has been weakly related to alcohol use. The development has been parallel both in big cities and rural areas. The analysis by region reveals that in France the use of alcohol and especially wine is no longer related to alcohol production, the way it is in international comparisons--producing countries being also the heaviest consumers. On the other hand, consumption patterns, as reflected in the beverage composition, have not levelled out between regions. One conclusion of the study is that the culturally dominating social dimension in France is that of class. In so far as the lower social groups continue to follow the dominating ones, the development can be expected to continue still for a long time.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2005

Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis in assessment of the thyroid cancer risk related to Chernobyl fallout in Eastern France.

The increase in the thyroid cancer incidence in France observed over the last 20 years has raised public concern about its association with the 1986 nuclear power plant accident at Chernobyl. At the request of French authorities, a first study sought to quantify the possible risk of thyroid cancer associated with the Chernobyl fallout in France. This study suffered from two limitations. The first involved the lack of knowledge of spontaneous thyroid cancer incidence rates (in the absence of exposure), which was especially necessary to take their trends into account for projections over time; the second was the failure to consider the uncertainties. The aim of this article is to enhance the initial thyroid cancer risk assessment for the period 1991-2007 in the area of France most exposed to the fallout (i.e., eastern France) and thereby mitigate these limitations. We consider the changes over time in the incidence of spontaneous thyroid cancer and conduct both uncertainty and sensitivity analyses. The number of spontaneous thyroid cancers was estimated from French cancer registries on the basis of two scenarios: one with a constant incidence, the other using the trend observed. Thyroid doses were estimated from all available data about contamination in France from Chernobyl fallout. Results from a 1995 pooled analysis published by Ron et al. were used to determine the dose-response relation. Depending on the scenario, the number of spontaneous thyroid cancer cases ranges from 894 (90% CI: 869-920) to 1,716 (90% CI: 1,691-1,741). The number of excess thyroid cancer cases predicted ranges from 5 (90% UI: 1-15) to 63 (90% UI: 12-180). All of the assumptions underlying the thyroid cancer risk assessment are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Multiple sclerosis in North African migrants to France.

Among some 7500 respondents with known place of birth who had completed a nationwide questionnaire survey for multiple sclerosis (MS) in France in 1986, there were 260 born in former French North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia). They had migrated to France between 1923 and 1986, but 66% came between 1956 and 1964. Two-thirds were from Algeria, where virtually the entire European population had emigrated in 1962 at the end of the Algerian war for independence. The migrants were younger at prevalence day (mean 43.4 years) and at onset (29.4 years) than the French-born MS (46.6; 31.3 years). Eight migrants lacked age information. The 225 migrants with onset more than 1 year after immigration presumably acquired their MS in France. They provided an age adjusted (US 1960) MS prevalence rate 1.54 times that for all France. If the latter is taken at 50 per 100,000 population their estimated adjusted rate is 76.8 with 95% confidence interval of 67.1 to 87.5. The other 27 with presumed acquisition in North Africa gave an estimated adjusted prevalence of 16.6 per 100,000 (95% CI 10.9-24.1). For those migrants with acquisition in France there was a mean interval of 13 years between immigration or age 11 and clinical onset, with a minimum of 3 years. This series provides further support for the theses: 1) that MS is primarily an environmental disease acquired after childhood; 2) that acquisition requires prolonged or repeated exposure (here 3 years for these medium-to-high MS risk migrants) followed by a prolonged latent or incubation period between acquisition and symptom onset (here 10 years); and 3) that this disease is most likely a widespread but unknown persistent infection which results in clinical MS in only a small proportion of those affected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Imported and autochthonous kala-azar in France.

OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiological, clinical, and biological features of imported and autochthonous kala-azar in France. DESIGN: Prospective survey of all patients in France with kala-azar diagnosed over the two years 1986-7. Information was obtained from parasitology laboratories in regional hospitals and all hospital laboratories and haematology departments capable of diagnosing leishmaniasis in the south of France. SETTING: 107 public hospitals in France. PATIENTS: 89 patients with kala-azar. INTERVENTIONS: All patients were treated with drugs. In the first instance meglumine antimonate was given to all but two patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of the various clinical and biological features of kala-azar; proportion of patients with HIV infection. RESULTS: Half (44) of the patients were children under 8 years old. Seventy patients acquired the disease in France. Imported kala-azar was acquired mainly in Mediterranean countries (9/18 cases). Only 46 (52%) of the patients had all three of the classic associated clinical features of fever, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly. Anaemia was the commonest biological sign, and the association of the four usual biological signs--anaemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hypergammaglobulinaemia--was present in only 14 (33%) of the children under 8 and 26 (60%) adults. Fourteen of the patients over 8 years old were infected with HIV. CONCLUSION: Doctors must be aware of kala-azar in Mediterranean areas, especially as patients often present without the characteristic features and the disease affects young children preferentially.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Opposite evolution in incidence of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in Northern France (1988-1999).

BACKGROUND: Northern France was characterised by a high incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) and a low incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) according to the first inquiry undertaken in the late 1980s. AIMS: To assess the trends in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over a 12 year period (1988-1999) in the same area of Northern France. PATIENTS: Patients living in Northern France (Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Somme, and Seine Maritime--total of 5,790,526 inhabitants) between 1988 and 1999 were included in the study. Case ascertainment was established according to methodology previously described. METHODS: Trends in incidence were studied using a Poisson regression model in four three year periods (1988-90, 1991-93, 1994-96, and 1997-99) adjusted for age at diagnosis and sex. Incidence rates were standardised for age with the European standard population. RESULTS: During 1988-99, 7066 cases of IBD were recorded (56.8% CD, 37.7% UC, and 5.5% indeterminate colitis). Mean annual incidence rate of CD increased from 5.2/100,000 inhabitants in 1988-90 to 6.4 in 1997-99 (adjusted p for trend <0.001). In contrast, the incidence of UC decreased from 4.2 to 3.5 (adjusted p for trend <0.001). The ileocolonic subtype of CD increased by 25% even though median age at diagnosis and frequency of digestive investigations were not different. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to what has been reported in other countries in Northern Europe, the incidence of CD increased by 23% in 12 years in Northern France while that of UC decreased by 17% during the same period. This indicates that some factors which influence IBD frequency (in both directions) are still at work in this area of Europe, and that further studies aimed at identifying these should be performed. The rising incidence of CD could enhance the burden of this disease on the public health system in France.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Surveillance of sexually transmitted diseases in France: recent trends and incidence.

OBJECTIVE: To present recent trends in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in France and to estimate the gonorrhoea incidence in 1990. METHODS: Trends were analysed from data of three surveillance systems: (1) STD clinics: number of diagnoses, (2) a sentinel voluntary General Practitioner (GP) network: mean number of acute male urethritis/week/GP, characteristics of the notified urethritis (age, presence of discharge, sexual orientation), (3) a sentinel voluntary laboratory network: mean number of gonorrhoea isolates/month/laboratory, characteristics of patients with positive isolates (sex, age, site of sampling) and of strains (PPNG and TRNG rates). To estimate the gonorrhoea incidence in France in 1990, results of a study held among a national sample of laboratories were used, combined with data from surveillance systems and specific studies. RESULTS: Decreasing trends in gonorrhoea in STD clinics and in the laboratory network as well as in acute male urethritis in the GP network have been observed since implementation of the networks in 1985. The rate of PPNG strains has regularly increased in the laboratory network to reach 14% in 1991. Data suggest that the incidence in some acute non recurrent STDs could have increased among homo/bisexual men since 1988. Chlamydia trachomatis is now the most frequent diagnosis in STD clinics. Estimation of male gonorrhoea incidence rate in France in 1990 of 74/100,000 inhabitants (15-59 years) is consistent with figures observed in England and Wales, where the age distribution is very similar. On the other hand, the estimated female gonorrhoea incidence rate of 14/100,000, which concerns only microbiologically ascertained cases, is one third in France than that observed in England and Wales. CONCLUSION: The consistency of the decreasing trends in gonorrhoea and acute male urethritis observed from the different networks reduces the possibility of a bias due to any change in notification or in prescription. Trends in Chlamydia trachomatis will be better appraised in the near future with the recent implementation of new systems. The French STD surveillance appears quite satisfactory for male infections and has been able to show a marked decrease in the incidence of some STDs in the last years. Surveillance of female STDs is to be improved, in terms of monitored diagnoses and selected health care facilities. Differences between the female gonorrhoea incidence rate observed in England and Wales and the one computed for France could be attributed to differences in contact tracing policies between the two countries or to differences in sexual lifestyles.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Attractiveness of France for clinical trials: evaluation of laboratories and promoters].

Questions have been raised regarding the attractiveness of France versus other countries for performing clinical trials. A questionnaire was sent to pharmaceutical companies with offices in France to assess their level of activity and to get information on the pros and cons of performing phase I-IV international clinical trials in France. Eleven companies, of large to medium size and representing 44% of the shared market returned answers. In 2001, they spent 131 million euros on clinical trials--53% for phase I-III, with a staff of 1469 (not including Contact Research Organisations)--and involved 21,000 investigators recruiting 98,000 patients on local budgets, and 2257 investigators recruiting 10,270 patients on international budgets. France ranked well as regards size of market or resource availability, with an intermediate rank as regards costs, access to patients and disease prevalence, and was weak with regard to speed of recruitment and quality of investigators. Ways of improving France's attractiveness will be discussed.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed2004

Norovirus foodborne outbreaks associated with the consumption of oysters from the Etang de Thau, France, December 2002.

In January 2003, the Institut de Veille Sanitaire received notification of clusters of gastroenteritis (GE) thought to be associated with consumption of oysters harvested from Etang de Thau in the south of France. At the same time Italy reported an outbreak (200+ cases) associated with oysters from the Etang de Thau. An investigation was carried out to determine the source and vehicle of the outbreaks. Descriptive analysis of reported clusters in France, microbiological analysis of stool and oyster samples, genotyping of noroviruses and an environmental investigation of the Etang de Thau were carried out. A retrospective cohort study was also undertaken among those attending a number of family meals in Paris. Thirteen family clusters in four districts of France (69 cases) could be attributed to the consumption of Thau oysters based on descriptive evidence. Oysters distributed at an office in Paris and consumed at fourteen family meals between 19 and 24 December led to a further outbreak. In this outbreak the attack rate was 21/36 (58%) for Thau oyster consumers and 0/22 for non-consumers (p=0.00002). Noroviruses (genogroups I and II) were found in stool samples from four clusters and oysters from three clusters (including Paris). Environmental investigations revealed heavy rainfall, an overflow of a water purification station and faecal contamination of the Etang de Thau in December. Oysters from the Etang de Thau were responsible for a number of clusters of norovirus GE in winter 2002 in France and also in Italy. High Escherichia Coli levels in Thau water and shellfish led to an official request, mid-December, for oyster purification before distribution. This was not possible, due to lack of purification facilities. This investigation has contributed to a change in the way that shellfish harvesting areas are classified in France.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The founding of the chair of comparative embryogeny at the Collège de France (1844)].

The first chair of embryology was founded in 1844 at the College de France. Yet the founding met with hostility. The first occupant Victor Coste (1807-1873) was imposed on the institution. The administrator-professors of the College de France criticized the governmental procedure. Some professors, such as Georges-Louis Duvernoy, made a stand against the appointment of the young embryologist. Duvenoy continued for several years to protest against Coste's teachings at the College of France. But Coste was tacked by De Blainville and eventually Flourens. Credit should be given to Coste for having introduced a scientific embryology in France. The history of the founding of the chair of comparative embryogeny at the College de France is here described by drawing mainly on an umpublished archival source.

Education, Graduate↗
PubMed1999

[Do obstetric causes of death explain the differences in maternal mortality between France and Europe?].

In view of understanding why the level of maternal mortality is higher in France than in other European countries, a specific study of frequency and causes has been carried out in these 13 countries. Two different sources of data were used: the annual civil death data from national offices which are published by the WHO, and the MOMS data. It was hypothesized that the pattern of causes plays a role in the level of maternal mortality. This hypothesis was checked with results issuing from a European concerted action where deaths were classified by a European group of medical experts using identical criteria. There were apparently more cases of hemorrhage, direct obstetric causes, and indirect obstetric causes in France than in the other European countries. The higher level of indirect obstetric causes may be explained by stronger registration regulations for maternal deaths recently implemented in France. Due to the higher level of hemorrhage as cause of maternal death in France, we suggest in-depth research is needed in the near future to study prevalence and management of obstetrical hemorrhage in France.

Cause of Death↗