PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Leclerc

Publications and source records attributed to A Leclerc.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Novel, soluble isoform of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) receptor nectin1 (or PRR1-HIgR-HveC) modulates positively and negatively susceptibility to HSV infection.

A novel member of the nectin family, nectin1gamma, was molecularly cloned. The cDNA has the same ectodomain as nectin1alpha and nectin1beta, the two known transmembrane isoforms that serve as receptors for herpes simplex virus (HSV) entry into human cell lines (nectin1alpha and nectin1beta, also called PRR1-HveC and HIgR, respectively). The 1.4-kb transcript, which originated by alternative splicing, is expressed in human cell lines, and appears to have a narrow distribution in human tissues. The sequence does not have a hydrophobic anchoring region, and the protein is secreted in the culture medium of cells transfected with the cDNA. Nectin1gamma, purified from culture medium, can compete with membrane-bound nectin1beta and reduce HSV infectivity. The expression of nectin1gamma cDNA in cells resistant to HSV infection and lacking HSV receptors enables HSV to enter the cell, which implies that it is present at the cell surface. Thus, nectin1gamma has the potential both to mediate and to reduce HSV entry into cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Upper-limb disorders in repetitive work.

OBJECTIVES: A longitudinal study was conducted to determine the predictability of personal and occupational factors with respect to the incidence of upper-limb disorders in occupations requiring repetitive work. METHODS: A sample of 598 workers in five activity sectors completed a self-administered questionnaire; the workers were examined by an occupational health physician in 1993-1994 and 3 years later. Three disorders were considered, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), lateral epicondylitis and wrist tendinitis. RESULTS: The results of this longitudinal study indicated that the following three sets of risk factors independently affect the incidence of upper-limb disorders: (i) biomechanical constraints, (ii) psychosocial factors, and (iii) personal factors. The combination of risk factors differed between CTS, lateral epicondylitis, and wrist tendinitis. The presence of psychosomatic problems was a strong predictor of wrist tendinitis. Social support at work was also associated with the incidence of wrist tendinitis. The presence of depressive symptoms and other upper-limb disorders predicted the first occurrence of lateral epicondylitis. Age was associated only with epicondylitis. The results were consistent with those concerning the role of forceful movements of the elbow for epicondylitis and confirmed the role of forceful movements for CTS. CONCLUSIONS: This study considered different sets of risk factors simultaneously with a longitudinal approach, in a population with a high level of occupational exposure. The results indicate that three sets of risk factors independently affect the incidence of upper-limb disorders. In addition to biomechanical constraints, psychosocial and personal factors play a role.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer and occupational exposure to asbestos and man-made vitreous fibers: results of a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The data from a case-control study performed in France between 1989 and 1991 were used to test whether exposure to either asbestos or to man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) is a risk factor for cancer of the larynx or the hypopharynx. METHODS: This study involved 315 incident cases of laryngeal cancer, 206 cases of hypopharyngeal cancer, and 305 hospital-based controls with other types of cancer, all recruited in 15 hospitals in six French cities. The subjects' past occupational exposure to asbestos and to four types of MMVF (mineral wool, refractory ceramic fibers, glass filaments, and microfibers) was evaluated based on their job history, with the aid of a job-exposure matrix. Odds ratios were calculated with unconditional logistic regression, with adjustment for smoking and drinking levels. RESULTS: Exposure to asbestos resulted in a significant increase in the risk of hypopharyngeal cancer (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.08-2.99) and a nonsignificant increase in the risk of laryngeal cancer (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 0.83-1.90). Risk was highest for the epilarynx (highest cumulative level of exposure: OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.05-4.71). Exposure to mineral wools was of borderline significance for the risk of hypopharyngeal cancer (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 0.99-2.41), and nonsignificantly associated with the risk of laryngeal cancer (OR-1.33, 95% CI: 0.91-1.95). The risk was again highest for the epilarynx (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.08-3.17). No significant results were observed for the other MMVF. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that asbestos exposure increases the risk of epilaryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. It is difficult to reach a conclusion about the effects of mineral wools, because nearly all the exposed subjects were also exposed to asbestos. The possible effects of other MMVF were difficult to assess in this study, because of the paucity of exposed subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Validity of self-reported weight and height in the French GAZEL cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity of self-reported weight and height and the resulting body mass index (BMI), and to explore the associations between demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors on the one hand and bias in self-reported weight and height on the other, in order to determine the groups most likely to exhibit bias. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: 7350 middle-aged subjects, 5445 men and 1905 women, from the GAZEL cohort, who have been followed up since 1989 and work at the French national company Electricité De France-Gaz De France (EDF-GDF) in various occupations. MEASUREMENTS: Self-reported weight and height were based on information from yearly mailed questionnaires, and measured weight and height, used here as true values, were provided by occupational physicians from 1994 to 1997. Sex, age, marital status, education, occupation, history of ischemic heart disease, and treatment for cardiovascular risk factors were obtained from the mailed questionnaires or from data provided by the Company's personnel and medical departments. RESULTS: Strong correlations were found between measured and self-reported values, but self-reported weight and height displayed significant systematic errors. Weight was significantly underestimated for men (0.54 kg) and for women (0.85 kg), and height overestimated for men (0.38 cm) and women (0.40 cm). These biases led to significant underestimations of BMI (0.29 and 0.44 kg/m2 for men and women respectively). Consequently, the prevalence of overweight, defined as BMI > 26.9 kg/m2 for women and BMI > 27.2 kg/m2 for men, was also underestimated, by 13% for men and 17% for women. The five factors associated with bias in self-reported weight and height were: overweight status, end-digit preference, age, educational level and occupation. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that self-reported weight and height should be treated with caution, because of biases leading to misclassification for overweight and obesity, especially in certain segments of the population.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Individual and occupational determinants of low back pain according to various definitions of low back pain.

OBJECTIVES: To test associations between non-specific low back pain and several risk factors when definitions of low back pain vary. DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: A cross sectional study was set up in 1991, 725 workers from four occupational sectors answered a self administrated questionnaire including the Nordic questionnaire and questions about intensity of pain and individual and occupational factors. MAIN RESULTS: Prevalence of low back pain varied from 8% to 45% according to the definition used. Psychosomatic problems, bending or carrying loads were often associated to low back pain, whereas other risk factors were related to some specific dimensions of the disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors of low back pain vary with the definition. This could explain inconsistencies found in literature reviews. To be able to compare data, it seems important to be precise what definition is used and to use comparable questionnaires.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers and occupational exposure to formaldehyde and various dusts: a case-control study in France.

OBJECTIVES: A case-control study was conducted in France to assess possible associations between occupational exposures and squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx and hypopharynx. METHODS: The study was restricted to men, and included 201 hypopharyngeal cancers, 296 laryngeal cancers, and 296 controls (patients with other tumour sites). Detailed information on smoking, alcohol consumption, and lifetime occupational history was collected. Occupational exposure to seven substances (formaldehyde, leather dust, wood dust, flour dust, coal dust, silica dust, and textile dust) was assessed with a job exposure matrix. Exposure variables used in the analysis were probability, duration, and cumulative level of exposure. Odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression, and were adjusted for major confounding factors (age, smoking, alcohol, and when relevant other occupational exposures). RESULTS: Hypopharyngeal cancer was found to be associated with exposure to coal dust (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.21 to 4.40), with a significant rise in risk with probability (p<0.005 for trend) and level (p<0.007 for trend) of exposure. Exposure to coal dust was also associated with an increased risk of laryngeal cancer (OR 1.67, 95% CI 0.92 to 3.02), but no dose-response pattern was found. A significant relation, limited to hypopharyngeal cancer, was found with the probability of exposure to formaldehyde (p<0.005 for trend), with a fourfold risk for the highest category (OR 3.78, 95% CI 1.50 to 9.49). When subjects exposed to formaldehyde with a low probability were excluded, the risk also increased with duration (p<0.04) and cumulative level of exposure (p<0.14). No significant association was found for any other substance. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that exposure to formaldehyde and coal dust may increase the risk of hypopharyngeal cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Psychometric properties of the French version of the Effort-Reward Imbalance model].

BACKGROUND: Two main models are currently used to evaluate psychosocial factors at work: the Job Strain model developed by Karasek and the Effort-Reward Imbalance model. A French version of the first model has been validated for the dimensions of psychological demands and decision latitude. As regards the second one evaluating three dimensions (extrinsic effort, reward, and intrinsic effort), there are several versions in different languages, but until recently there was no validated French version. The objective of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the French version of the Effort-Reward Imbalance model in terms of internal consistency, factorial validity, and discriminant validity. METHODS: The present study was based on the GAZEL cohort and included the 10 174 subjects who were working at the French national electric and gas company (EDF-GDF) and answered the questionnaire in 1998. A French version of Effort-Reward Imbalance was included in this questionnaire. This version was obtained by a standard forward/backward translation procedure. RESULTS: Internal consistency was satisfactory for the three scales of extrinsic effort, reward, and intrinsic effort: Cronbach's Alpha coefficients higher than 0.7 were observed. A one-factor solution was retained for the factor analysis of the scale of extrinsic effort. A three-factor solution was retained for the factor analysis of reward, and these dimensions were interpreted as the factor analysis of intrinsic effort did not support the expected four-dimension structure. The analysis of discriminant validity displayed significant associations between measures of Effort-Reward Imbalance and the variables of sex, age, education level, and occupational grade. CONCLUSION: This study is the first one supporting satisfactory psychometric properties of the French version of the Effort-Reward Imbalance model. However, the factorial validity of intrinsic effort could be questioned. Furthermore, as most previous studies were based on male samples working in specific occupations, the present one is also one of the first to show strong associations between measures of this model and social class variables in a population of men and women employed in various occupations.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

One-year predictive factors for various aspects of neck disorders.

STUDY DESIGN: A longitudinal epidemiologic study conducted over 12 months among active workers in different occupations. The study was primarily designed to evaluate intervention for prevention of low back and other spinal disorders. OBJECTIVE: To determine factors that predict incidence, recurrence, and persistence of neck disorders (ND), taking into account various dimensions of ND. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Neck pain is often supposed to have essentially the same risk factors as back pain; however, there is comparatively little data relevant to this issue. Moreover, there is a lack of prospective studies that take into account a diversity of predictive factors. METHODS: The Nordic questionnaire for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms was completed twice at a 12-month interval by 568 workers. Predictive factors were studied with logistic models for four dimensions of ND from the second questionnaire: 1) any ND in the past 6 months; 2) ND for more than 30 days; 3) treatment for ND; and 4) visit to a health care professional for ND. The predictive factors were obtained from the first questionnaire and included gender, age, occupational group, level of psychological distress and psychosomatic problems, and ND at baseline. RESULTS: Female gender and older age were predictors of ND. Headaches or pain in the head, psychological distress, and psychosomatic problems were predictors for all dimensions of ND. These effects were observed for both incidence and persistence of ND. CONCLUSIONS: The results emphasize the role of psychosomatic and psychological factors in the occurrence and course of ND for various dimensions of the disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Sinonasal cancer, occupation, and tobacco smoking in European women and men.

BACKGROUND: In this analysis of European case-control studies on sinonasal cancer, we examined the risk for occupation and smoking, by gender and histological type. METHODS: The pooled data included 104 female and 451 male cases, and 241 female and 1,464 male controls. Lifetime smoking and occupational history were recoded following uniform criteria, and job-exposure matrices were applied for wood and leather dust. RESULTS: Wood dust exposure was associated with an excess risk in men (OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.75-3.2) but not in women (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 0.31-4.47). Exposure to leather dust was associated with an excess risk in both genders. Both wood and leather dust were associated with adenocarcinomas rather than squamous cell carcinomas. Excess risks for smoking were higher for squamous cell carcinomas and higher in men than in women. CONCLUSIONS: In these European populations, occupation was associated with about 11% of all sinonasal cancers in women and 39% in men. This difference can, in part, be attributed to variation in exposure patterns between genders.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

Predictors of change in alcohol consumption among Frenchmen of the GAZEL study cohort.

AIMS: To identify the predictors of changes in alcohol intake among French men. DESIGN: Longitudinal study over a 2-year period. SETTING: The GAZEL volunteer cohort comprising workers employed by Electricité de France-Gaz de France. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 11,613 men aged 40-50 years who had answered a self-administered questionnaire in 1989 and 1991. MEASUREMENTS: Subjects were defined according to initial levels of alcohol intake and changes in that intake (cessation, decrease and increase) and compared with subjects with corresponding levels but unchanged intake by logistic regression. The effects of individual characteristics and of occupational and health conditions were investigated. FINDINGS: Different variables measured in 1989 were predictive of changes in alcohol consumption in 1991, depending on the change. Self-perception of bad health, consumption of sleeping pills and unmarried status were predictive of the cessation of alcohol consumption. Working under favourable conditions (with no specific occupational risks) and being a non-smoker tended to be associated with reduced consumption. Increased consumption was associated with the number of reported disease and the smoking status. Among abstainers or light daily drinkers, being exposed to more than one constraint enlarged the risk of increased consumption. For moderate drinkers, the risk of increased consumption was higher, irrespective of the number of physical constraints. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the fact that many inter-related factors help to determine changes in drinking habits.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

-Cerebral air embolism after removal of an internal jugular vein catheter-.

Central venous catheters are usually inserted and manipulated by anaesthetists-intensivists and others familiar with their use under surgical conditions, yet they are often removed on the wards by junior doctors or nurses insufficiently trained in the removal procedure. In order to illustrate the risks presented by such a practice, we report a case of cerebral air embolism following the withdrawal of an internal jugular catheter in a sitting patient. The mechanisms of air entry into the venous and systemic circulation are considered, as well as the preventive and therapeutic measures.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Regional disparities in cardiovascular risk factors in France: a five-year analysis of the GAZEL cohort.

OBJECTIVES: the study was set up to explore regional disparities in France in the annual prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, high lipids, obesity, diabetes and tobacco consumption) and protective factors (alcohol intake) in members of the GAZEL Cohort and to determine which, if any, risk factors followed the same north-south gradient as the one known for cardiovascular mortality. METHODS: the population studied comprised 18,070 subjects aged from 35 to 50 years, employed by the French national gas and electricity company. Every year from 1989 to 1993 they received a self-administered questionnaire by mail. From the replies, differences in risk factor prevalence were evaluated by an odds ratio adjusted for sex and age, using a marginal model. RESULTS: a regional effect was found (p < 0.001) for arterial hypertension, with high odds ratios in northern France and low ratios in the south east, for high lipids, with high odds ratios in Champagne, the Loire region and Upper Normandy and low ratios in the south east and the Paris area, and for obesity, with high odds ratios in the north and north east and low ratios in the south, south east and west. CONCLUSION: these results show a gradient between the north and south east for hypertension, obesity, and to a lesser degree high lipids. This gradient corresponds to the known regional disparities for cardiovascular mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Psychosocial work environment and cardiovascular risk factors in an occupational cohort in France.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Concordant results have been reported in several studies for the effects of job stress on cardiovascular disease, but the potential mechanisms of these effects have seldom been explored. The aim of this study was therefore to examine, in women and men, the cross sectional relations between psychosocial work variables (psychological demands, decision latitude, and social support) and cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, overweight, smoking, and alcohol consumption). PARTICIPANTS: The original cohort comprised 20,625 volunteers (men aged from 40 to 50 and women from 35 to 50) employed by the French Company Electricité De France-Gaz De France and followed up yearly since 1989. The study was restricted to the 13,226 volunteers in the cohort who were still working and answered a self administered questionnaire on psychosocial work factors in 1995. DESIGN: Data were based on replies to this questionnaire. Three psychosocial work environment exposure scores were used to assess psychological demands, decision latitude, and social support at work respectively. The main outcome measures were the prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and diabetes within the previous 12 months, overweight, smoking, and alcohol consumption. MAIN RESULTS: Psychosocial work factors were significantly associated with hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, overweight, smoking, and alcohol consumption, but not with diabetes. In men, low decision latitude was associated with hypertension, high decision latitude and high social support with overweight, low decision latitude with alcohol consumption. Moreover, the risk of hyperlipidaemia increased in men exposed to both high psychological demands and low social support. In women, low decision latitude was related to hyperlipidaemia, high psychological demands with overweight, high psychological demands and high decision latitude with smoking, and low social support with alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: These cross sectional results underline the potential effects of psychosocial work characteristics on cardiovascular risk factors and the differences between the effects of job stress in men and women, and confirm the direct mechanisms (through physiological variables) and indirect mechanisms (through behavioural risk factors) potentially involved in the relation between psychosocial work characteristics and cardiovascular disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Psychosocial factors at work and sickness absence in the Gazel cohort: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether psychosocial factors at work are predictors of rates of sickness absence. METHODS: The study population consisted of middle aged men and women employed by the French national electricity and gas company (EDF-GDF) in various occupations and followed up since 1989 by annual self administered questionnaires and independent data obtained from the medical and personnel departments of EDF-GDF. The 1995 questionnaire provided information about three psychosocial work factors: psychological demands, decision latitude, and social support at work. Sick-ness absence data were provided by the company's social security department. The occurrence of spells and days of absence in the 12 months after completion of the 1995 questionnaire was studied. Potential confounding variables were age, smoking, alcohol, and marital status, assessed in the 1995 questionnaire, and educational level and occupation, assessed from data provided by the personnel department. This study was restricted to the 12,555 subjects of the initial cohort who were still working and answered the self administered questionnaire in 1995. RESULTS: Low levels of decision latitude were associated with more frequent and longer sickness absences among men and women. Low levels of social support at work increased the numbers of spells and days of absence among men only. These associations weakened after adjustment for potential confounding factors, but remained significant. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that psychosocial factors at work, especially decision latitude, are predictive of sickness absence.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Carpal tunnel syndrome and work organisation in repetitive work: a cross sectional study in France. Study Group on Repetitive Work.

OBJECTIVES: To study the determinants of signs of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in repetitive industrial work, with special attention to occupational constraints at group level and management practices of the companies. METHOD: A cross sectional study was conducted in three sectors: assembly line; clothing and shoe industry; food industry. A total of 1210 workers in repetitive work, from 53 different companies, was compared with a control group of 337 workers. Constraints at the workplace were partly self declared, and partly assessed by the occupational physicians in charge of the employees of the company. The definition of CTS was based on a standardised clinical examination. RESULTS: CTS was associated with repetitive work, especially packaging. It was more frequent among subjects who declared psychological and psychosomatic problems and those with a body mass index > or = 27. Dissatisfaction with work, lack of job control, short cycle time, and having to press repeatedly with the hand were associated with the syndrome. An odds ratio (OR) of 2.24 was found for "just in time" production. CONCLUSION: The results emphasise the complexity of the determinants of CTS, the role of psychosocial factors at work and the potentially negative effects of some practices of the companies aimed at enhancing their competitiveness.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Psychosocial factors at work and subsequent depressive symptoms in the Gazel cohort.

OBJECTIVE: This study attempted to establish whether psychosocial factors at work are predictors of depressive symptoms in a prospective cohort of men and women employed in a wide variety of occupations by the French national company Electricité De France - Gaz De France (EDF-GDF). METHODS: This prospective cohort study followed the Gazel cohort by means of annual self-administered questionnaires and independent data obtained from the medical and personnel departments of the company. The self-administered questionnaire, in 1995, provided information about the psychosocial work environment characteristics, psychological job demands, decision latitude, and social support at work. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale in the 1996 questionnaire. Potential confounding variables were age, marital status, and number of children, assessed in the 1995 questionnaire, stressful personal and occupational events during the previous 12 months, assessed in the 1996 questionnaire, and educational level, occupation and previous absenteeism for mental disorders, assessed from the independent data provided by EDF-GDF. The subjects were 11 552 workers (8422 men aged 46-56 years in 1995 and 3130 women aged 41-56 years) who answered the 1995 and 1996 questionnaires and were working during this period. RESULTS: High levels of psychological demands, low levels of decision latitude, and low levels of social support at work were significant predictors of subsequent depressive symptoms in both the men and the women. These results were unchanged after adjustment for potential confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: The results strongly support the possibility that psychosocial factors at work are predictive of depressive symptoms.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Combined flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry analyses for the assessment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell kinetics by in vivo bromodeoxyuridine infusion.

Thirty-eight previously untreated patients with a histologically proved diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were evaluated for in vivo cell kinetics before treatment by conventional radiation therapy. Thirty-seven tumors were analyzed by flow cytometry. Values of median potential doubling time (Tpot), labelling index (LI), and duration of S phase (Ts) were, respectively, 10.9 days, 3.8%, and 10.8 hours. In 35 cases, the results obtained from two biopsies of the same tumor were compared. A good reproducibility was obtained for LI and Tpot (P < 0.01). Thirty-one tumors were analysed by immunohistochemistry and labelling index (HLI) was determined in 24 tumors with a percentage of labelled cells varying from 6.1% to 39.2% (median value = 18.5%). No correlation was found between LI and HLI, but when observations were focused on the restricted group of DNA aneuploid samples, mean values of LI and HLI were closer (respectively, 12.8 +/- 4.5% and 18.3 +/- 7.7%) and a good correlation was obtained (P = 0.01). Moreover, no difference in proliferation was found between diploid and aneuploid tumors. Considering these results, a combined Tpot was calculated that allowed classification of tumors as highly or slowly proliferative.

Adult↗