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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Thyroid cancer in French Polynesia between 1985 and 1995: influence of atmospheric nuclear bomb tests performed at Mururoa and Fangataufa between 1966 and 1974.

BACKGROUND: Between 1966 and 1974, France performed 41 atmospheric nuclear weapon tests in the Mururoa and Fangataufa atolls in French Polynesia. METHODS: We performed a geographic analysis of thyroid cancer incidence, using data from the cancer registry of French Polynesia, medical evacuation files, insurance records and hospital and pathology laboratory files. RESULTS: A total of 153 thyroid cancers were diagnosed between 1985 and 1995 in the population born before 1976 and residing in French Polynesia. The incidence of thyroid cancer was 2-3 times larger in French Polynesia than in Maoris of New Zealand and Hawaiians of Hawaii. Based on few cases, a nonsignificant (p = 0.1) increase with decreasing distance between Mururoa and the birth place was observed in women born between 1950 and 1975 for thyroid cancer. CONCLUSION: Because the difference between Polynesian and reference populations was not larger for Polynesians who were children during the tests than for Polynesians born earlier; as would be expected in the case of radioiodine contamination, the high thyroid cancer rates in French Polynesia could hardly be attributed to radioiodine fallout. Nevertheless, a surveillance of the population born close to Mururoa is necessary to confirm or deny the existence of a higher risk of thyroid cancer in this population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Patterns of prehistoric human mobility in polynesia indicated by mtDNA from the Pacific rat.

Human settlement of Polynesia was a major event in world prehistory. Despite the vastness of the distances covered, research suggests that prehistoric Polynesian populations maintained spheres of continuing interaction for at least some period of time in some regions. A low level of genetic variation in ancestral Polynesian populations, genetic admixture (both prehistoric and post-European contact), and severe population crashes resulting from introduction of European diseases make it difficult to trace prehistoric human mobility in the region by using only human genetic and morphological markers. We focus instead on an animal that accompanied the ancestral Polynesians on their voyages. DNA phylogenies derived from mitochondrial control-region sequences of Pacific rats (Rattus exulans) from east Polynesia are presented. A range of specific hypotheses regarding the degree of interaction within Polynesia are tested. These include the issues of multiple contacts between central east Polynesia and the geographically distinct archipelagos of New Zealand and Hawaii. Results are inconsistent with models of Pacific settlement involving substantial isolation after colonization and confirm the value of genetic studies on commensal species for elucidating the history of human settlement.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Relations between health levels, services and demand in French Polynesia.

During the course of the last 30 years, the pathological landscape of French Polynesia has undergone major changes. All health indicators attest to the fact that the overall level of health has improved. A sickness regime typical of a developed country now coexists with a pathology of a less developed country. The latter remains a matter of concern. There is a general health over-servicing in French Polynesia, but especially Tahiti itself contrasts with the modest means of the surrounding islands. For example 91% of private doctors in French Polynesia practice in Tahiti's city area. Medical utilization has been risen with the level of services offered more than pro rata to population increase. This is a consequence of the sudden development of a modern lifestyle in a marginal territory. Examples make clear that medical facility coverage is widespread and that a system of free public health care has been developed both among the population of Tahiti and also of the surrounding islands.

Female↗
PubMed2004

A large tandem duplication within the COL4A5 gene is responsible for the high prevalence of Alport syndrome in French Polynesia.

A large tandem duplication within the COL4A5 gene is responsible for the high prevalence of Alport syndrome in French Polynesia. Background. The prevalence of X-linked Alport syndrome, a progressive inherited nephropathy associated with mutations in the type IV collagen gene COL4A5, is remarkably high in French Polynesia. Methods. A vast clinical, genealogic, and molecular study was undertaken in Polynesia, based on public records, patients' interviews, linkage analysis, and mutation screening. Results and Conclusions. We show that the high frequency of Alport syndrome in this region is due to a founder mutation that occurred onto a common haplotype shared by affected and unaffected individuals, the presence of which precludes indirect molecular diagnosis. We have characterized the mutation as a tandem duplication of 35 COL4A5 exons, resulting in a approximately 65% increase in the length of the collagenous domain of the alpha 5(IV) chain, which is still able to assemble into type IV collagen network as shown by immunofluorescence analysis. That mutation is associated with severe and highly penetrant ocular symptoms and with uniformly thin glomerular basement membrane (GBM) in male adult patients. However, the rate of progression of the renal disease is very variable from one male patient to another, demonstrating the importance of strong modifier factors. Our results suggest that the 20% to 50% of "missing"COL4A5 mutations in X-linked Alport syndrome may be rearrangements similar to that reported here, which was not detectable by sequencing of either individual COL4A5 exons or overlapping cDNA fragments. Finally, we provide the basis for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that accurately identifies female carriers and allows adequate genetic counseling in this population.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The HBs antigen carriage in blood donors of French Polynesia A new antigenic sub-type (author's transl)].

In the blood transfusion center of Papeete )Tahiti Island), a survey on HBs antigen has been made in 5 406 blood donors by reverse hemagglutination method. Its shown 2,53 p. 100 of carriers. In european donors recently arrived in the territory, the rate of carrier state is 0,27 p. 100 versus 3,01 in the autochtonous donors. From this point of view, the situation of Polynesia is better than that prevailing in some of the suroundings territories but worse than in developped countries. French Polynesia is too extended and too heterogenous to permit an extrapolation of our data to the whole territory. Anyway, the study of the geographical origin of the carriers, if compared to that of the donors, gives evidence that the prevalence of HBs antigen carriage is higher in remote archipelagos than in Tahiti. The research of subtypes of HBs antigen shown the presence of a new subtype adr q negative which seems very particular to South Pacific.. In french Polynesia it seems localized to some archipelagos. In addition, the frequence and preponderance of adw4 subtype in other archipelagos have been compiled. The data collected lead to ethnological hypothesis. More extensive epidemiological studies appear necessary to precise the frequency of HBs antigen carriage-state and the subtypes distribution in the various archipelagos of the territory.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1994

[Biliary atresia in French Polynesia. Retrospective study of 10 years].

BACKGROUND: French Polynesia includes several ethnic groups; thus, it is well suited for evaluation of racial incidence of extrahepatic biliary atresia (BA). On the other hand, its geographic localization, far from specialized centers, does not facilitate early referral, indispensable for effective surgery. POPULATION AND METHODS: The files of 17 infants with BA, born in French Polynesia between 1 December 1981 and 1 December 1991, were retrospectively studied. During this period, there were 53,111 live births. RESULTS: The incidence of BA was 1/3,124. There were eight boys and nine girls; all belonged to the Maohi ethnic group (67% of the total population). They were admitted at the mean age of 71 +/- 33 days (range: 15-120 days); 15 of them were transferred to France at a mean age of 80 +/- 38 days (range: 35-150 days) and were operated on at 99 +/- 43 days (range: 48-195 days). The Kasai procedure was effective in four patients, with a follow-up ranging from 7 to 10 years. Among the 11 other patients, two underwent liver transplantation, four are waiting for transplantation and four have died. CONCLUSIONS: The influence of race on the incidence of BA has not been statistically established here even though this incidence appears high in French Polynesia and similar to Chinese babies in Hawaii. Local geographic conditions explain late admission in pediatric Units whereas possibilities for early surgery are improving.

Biliary Atresia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Control of hepatitis B in French Polynesia with a program of systematic vaccination of newborns with the Genhevac B vaccine].

In 1988, a 5-year vaccination program against hepatitis B was launched for all newborns in a pilot area, the Austral archipelago in French Polynesia. Genhevac B, a recombinant vaccine produced from mammalian cells was administered. Three different immunization schedules were used, none of them including additional specific immunoglobulin: i) four doses, one at each months (M) 0, 1, 2, and 12; ii) three doses one at each MO, M1 and M6; and iii) three doses one at each MO, M1 and M12. Each year during the 5 year period a serological survey was conducted. Of the 837 children who received at least one vaccine dose, 5 were HBsAg carriers. Seroprotection rates for anti-HBs and anti-PreS2 antibodies were 88% after one dose and 97% after two doses. After the third dose, seroprotection rates and geometric mean titers of anti-HBs antibodies were 95% and 217 mIU/ml for schedule (i) (three dose only); 92% and 389 mIU/ml for schedule (ii) and 93% and 344 mIU/ml for schedule (iii) respectively. After four doses (schedule i) the values were 100% and 1228 mIU/ml. Of the 18 newborns whose mothers were positive for both HBsAg and HBeAg, one was a HBsAg carrier. The estimated protective rate for prevention of perinatal transmission was 94%. This study suggests that in field conditions, systematic vaccination of newborns without using specific immunoglobulins can confer early protection. The schedule recommended for use in French Polynesia was three doses, at MO, M1 and M6-12 (between 6 and 12 months) with an additional booster dose at age 6 years, the last year of nursery school. Since April 1992, all children born in French Polynesia have been vaccinated according to this schedule. A catch-up program has been implemented for children aged 4 to 10 years old using a similar immunization schedule.

Child↗
PubMed1998

Cucullanin nematodes from coral reef fishes of French Polynesia, with a description of Cucullanus faliexae n. sp. (Nematoda: Chitwoodchabaudiidae).

Cucullanus faliexae n. sp. is described from the moray eel Gymnothorax javanicus (Muraenidae) collected in Rangiroa (Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia) in the South Pacific and is reported from the same host collected in Moorea (Society Islands, French Polynesia). This nematode is distinguished from its congeners by its protrubant anus and the presence of a single pair of subdorsal postanal papillae. Cucullanus faliexae resembles C. laurotravassosi from which it is distinguished by the farther anterior position of the first pair of male caudal preanal papillae and by the greater size of its spicules. Cucullanus bourdini Petter and Le Bel, 1992 is reported from the coral reef fishes Balistapus undulatus (Balistidae), Lutjanus gibbus (Lutjanidae), and Myripristis kuntee (Holocentridae) from French Polynesia. Additionally, Cucullanus sp. is reported from the coral reef fish Sufflamen bursa (Balistidae) in Moorea and Rangiroa. Given that C. faliexae and C. bourdini have been found in widely disparate locations between which their definitive hosts cannot migrate, it would seem likely that the life cycles of these worms include an intermediate or transport host that has a greater capability for dispersal.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiological surveillance of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in French Polynesia in 1991].

The authors make out a statement about HIV infection in French Polynesia at the date of 1991 December 31. 96 cases all together of seropositive and AIDS infected people were recorded. These patients are young generally (78 p.c. between 21 and 40 years old) sexually contaminated (72 out of 96) and live in Tahiti island (94 p.c.). Sex-ratio is 2.8 male/1 female. Among them, we noted 55 p.c. of Europeans, 38 p.c. of Polynesians and 7 p.c. of Asiatic people. Epidemiological monitoring of the infection was made easy because of a set of laws and possibilities of detection highly favourable. Progress of the infection is constant, with 20 new cases detected each year with a prevalence of 150 cases of AIDS per 1 million of inhabitants, French Polynesia could be classified as the 5th or 6th region of France as far as the importance of the disease. Clinical, biological and epidemiological taking of charge of patients is detailed as well as the prevention campaign.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Seroepidemiological survey of HTLV-I infection in French Polynesia, Cook Islands and Fiji.

Different population groups of French Polynesia, Cook Islands and Fiji were screened for Human T-Lymphotropic Virus type I (HTLV-I) antibodies. Among 1487 individuals sampled in French Polynesia, twelve were considered Western Blot (WB) indeterminate and one was considered WB-positive for HTLV-I infection. This positive subject originated from France and was a blood donor. Out of 196 Polynesians of the Cook Islands, one was WB-indeterminate. Among populations sampled in Fiji, one of 222 Melanesians was found WB-indeterminate and one of 211 Indians was WB-indeterminate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Thaumatocotyle pseudodasybatis Hargis, 1955 (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) from Aetobatus cf. narinari, with a comparison of specimens from Australia, French Polynesia and New Caledonia.

Thaumatocotyle pseudodasybatis Hargis, 1955, has previously been described from Aetobatus narinari in the Atlantic and subsequently recorded from the Pacific. Aetobatus cf. narinari is now considered a species complex; as monocotylids are often strictly species specific, we test the hypothesis that detailed examination of specimens of monocotylids from rays from various localities could reveal morphological differences and eventually help our understanding of the systematics of the host. T. pseudodasybatis, previously known from seven specimens only, is redescribed from an additional 26 specimens from the South Pacific (off New Caledonia, Australia and Ranguiroa, French Polynesia), all from Aetobatus cf. narinari. The female reproductive organs are described in detail. The distal extremity of the male sclerotised copulatory organ, described in detail for the first time, shows a characteristic pattern of longitudinal striations on its edge that might be useful for future distinction from other species. The development of the male and female organs in juveniles is described, showing that growth of the male sclerotised copulatory organ begins with its basal part and precedes development of the ejaculatory bulb. Specimens from New Caledonia, Australia and French Polynesia had similar measurements and morphology, especially in the shape of the distal end of the male sclerotised copulatory organ; they were also similar to the holotype from the Atlantic. This suggests that all specimens from the Pacific and Atlantic belong to a single species; T. pseudodasybatis thus cannot be used to differentiate populations of Aetobatus cf. narinari, perhaps because this monocotylid is not strictly species-specific.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The epidemiological transition in an overseas territory: disease mapping in French Polynesia.

During the last 200 years in French Polynesia the people have experienced several dramatic changes in the pathological scene. First the discovery of Tahiti and the surrounding islands at the end of the eighteenth century caused the spread of diseases previously unknown, usually in the form of epidemic outbreaks. In contrast, from the 1860s to soon after the end of the Second World War, health amelioration in French Polynesia was slowly occurring. This constituted a first epidemiological transition in which infectious disease mortality was sharply reduced. The distribution of vaccines, hygiene education and legislation stemmed the long period of some 100 years of demographic disaster and at last the population was able to increase. However for a long time infectious or parasitic diseases remained the main causes of morbidity and mortality. Only from the end of the 1950s has the situation evolved to the present state where morbidity and mortality of the circulatory system and cancer are similar in prevalence to industrialized countries. Diachronistic mapping of some of the most noteworthy diseases is presented to illustrate this last and most important phase of the epidemiological transition.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1993

[Geographic aspects of mortality in French Polynesia].

The fast pace of social and economic changes which have occurred in French Polynesia over the last 30 years, have made this territory a choice ground for studying trends in mortality by revealing a fast and outstanding epidemiological transition. However, the breakdown of the population in small scattered human groups raises the statistical problem of measuring mortality. The crude mortality rate has decreased steadily from 17.5/1000 in 1945-1949 to 5.3/1000 over the last five years. However, the various infant mortality rate, in spite of their decline, is still exceeding those of Metropolitan France. The contrasted trends in the causes of mortality provides a means to classify French Polynesia in the group of small fast developing countries but still ranks it far behind its 'reference models' such as Metropolitan France or the developed countries in the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. Moreover, there are significant regional disparities which still exist between Tahiti and the outlying archipelagoes, mainly among causes of death. As a whole, distant islands remain significantly more affected by deaths resulting from infectious and parasitic diseases, in line with the model of epidemiological transition, where as the islands of Tahiti with 70% of the total population appears as a place of cumulation of infectious and degenerative diseases, in particular of overloading and cultural problems. The centre/periphery opposition between a metropolitan country and an overseas territory repeats itself at the local level between urban and rural environments.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Epidemiological transition and geographical discontinuities: the case of cardiovascular mortality in French Polynesia.

The need to maintain the unity of geography justifies the use of every possible approach to the study of spatial discontinuities. The geography of health can be enriched by studying and applying routine methods of regional geography. To achieve this aim, the use of epidemiological transition theory, involving its transposition from the domain of time to space, is proposed. This requires careful analysis of sources of data not commonly used in geography and emphasizes links between health, environment and development. French Polynesia constitutes a prime study area for such an approach, especially because of its multiple contrasts in geographic scale and levels of development between the different archipelagoes and even within individual islands. To demonstrate the utility of this approach, cardiovascular mortality is studied at different geographic scales. Results are displayed as health spatiograms which show the discontinuities of human geography in French Polynesia at different scales. The results appear to constitute synthetic indicators of socio-spatial disparities and permit the geography of health to contribute not only to the measurement of regional health conditions but also to the matters of global human geography.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed2001

Identical digeneans in coral reef fishes from French Polynesia and the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) demonstrated by morphology and molecules.

Three coral reef fish species, Zanclus cornutus, Chaetodon vagabundus and Naso lituratus, were collected in French Polynesia and on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. These fish species were each infected by one morphologically similar digenean species in both localities; Schistorchis zancli Hanson, 1953 was found in Zanclus cornutus, Preptetos laguncula Bray and Cribb, 1996 in Naso lituratus and Neohypocreadium dorsoporum Machida and Uchida, 1987 in Chaetodon vagabundus. In addition, on the Great Barrier Reef P. laguncula was also found in Naso unicornis and N. dorsoporum in Chaetodon ephippium and Chaetodon flavirostris. Morphometric differences between the species from the two sites were only slight. Sequences from the second internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal DNA of each worm revealed total homology or negligible divergence between samples from hosts caught in French Polynesia and on the Great Barrier Reef. These results show that across more than 6000 km these digeneans are similar in morphology and genotype. Some species of fishes and molluscs are considered to have distributions that encompass the entire tropical Indo-West Pacific. These findings suggest that at least some of their parasites have similarly broad distributions.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Cancer registry of French Polynesia: results for the 1990-1995 period among native and immigrant population.

We present the data of the Cancer Registry of French Polynesia (FP) for the 1990-1995 period, highlighting the difference between the incidences among inhabitants born in FP and in immigrants. A total of 1606 incident cases of cancer were registered during the 6-year period from 1990 to 1995, about 90% of which were histologically confirmed. Among these incident cases, 1361 occurred in native French Polynesians (FPs) and 245 in immigrants. Overall cancer incidence was found to be very slightly higher among women in the native population (209/10(5)) than among immigrants (191/10(5)), and lower among men in the native population (186/10(5)) than in the immigrants (241/10(5)). Cervix, corpus uteri, and thyroid cancer incidence rates were higher among women born in FP than among immigrant women. In contrast, colorectal cancer and melanoma incidences rates were lower, and colorectal cancer was similar. Laryngeal cancer incidence was higher among men born in FP than among immigrant men. In contrast, cancers of the oral cavity, colon and rectum, prostate gland, bladder and melanoma were less frequent. This first report, based on the data from the Cancer Registry of French Polynesia, shows high cancer incidence rates in females and low incidence in males born in FP, as compared to those recorded in France; and low cancer incidence rates, as compared to New Zealand Maoris and Hawaiians. For certain cancers, for example colorectal cancer, the incidence in the immigrant population seems to be between that of the native FP population and that of the population living in France, and lower than in New Zealand Maoris and Hawaiians.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Origin and significance of a founding settlement in Polynesia.

Selected prehistoric potsherds from the deepest cultural level of the oldest known archaeological site in the Kingdom of Tonga, within the Eastern Lapita province of western Polynesia, display decorative motifs characteristic of the Western Lapita province of modern-day Island Melanesia, to the west. Most of the stylistically anomalous sherds contain temper sands exotic to Tonga but, in one case, petrographically indistinguishable from temper in a Lapita sherd recovered from the Santa Cruz Islands of Melanesia, and are inferred to record maritime transport of Lapita ceramics into Tonga from Melanesia far to the west. The non-Tongan sherds found on Tongatapu provide direct physical evidence for interisland transfer of earthenware ceramics between Western and Eastern Lapita provinces, and the Nukuleka site, where they occur, is interpreted as one of the founding settlements of Polynesia.

Anthropology↗
PubMed1995

Basalt Pb isotope analysis and the prehistoric settlement of Polynesia.

The prehistoric settlement of the Pacific Ocean has intrigued scholars and stimulated anthropological debate for the past two centuries. Colonized over a few millennia during the mid to late Holocene, the islands of the Pacific--displaying a wide diversity of geological and biotic variability--provided the stage for endless "natural experiments" in human adaptation. Crucial to understanding the evolution and transformation of island societies is documenting the relative degree of interisland contacts after island colonization. In the western Pacific, ideal materials for archaeologically documenting interisland contact--obsidian, pottery, and shell ornaments--are absent or of limited geographic distribution in Polynesia. Consequently, archaeologists have relied increasingly on fine-grained basalt artifacts as a means for documenting colonization routes and subsequent interisland contacts. Routinely used x-ray fluorescence characterization of oceanic island basalt has some problems for discriminating source rocks and artifacts in provenance studies. The variation in trace and major element abundances is largely controlled by near-surface magma-chamber processes and is broadly similar between most oceanic islands. We demonstrate that Pb isotope analysis accurately discriminates rock source and is an excellent technique for charting the scale, frequency, and temporal span of imported fine-grained basalt artifacts found throughout Polynesia. The technique adds another tool for addressing evolutionary models of interaction, isolation, and cultural divergence in the eastern Pacific.

Geography↗