Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Infante.
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The incidence of the cancer of the pancreas is particulary high in Geneva. To determine the possible effects of tobacco, alcohol and/or food, the consumption habits of patients with digestive diseases have been studied at the University Hospital of Geneva since 1977. The present contribution deals with pancreatic patients only. These patients' consumption of tobacco, alcohol and food has been compared with that of standardized controls randomly selected from the Geneva population. A relationship between pancreatic cancer and lifetime tobacco consumption was found on the one hand, and on the other a relationship between chronic pancreatitis and lifetime alcohol consumption.
In German the consumption of food among cirrhotic patients, whether male or female and among male patients with primary liver cancer (PLC), is virtually the same as in normals. Alcohol consumption is very high in all three groups. The heaviest drinkers are the cirrhotic males, but the highest patient/control ratio is found among cirrhotic females (X 5.4). Total alcohol ingestion during life appears to be higher in patients with PLC plus cirrhosis than in those with PLC without cirrhosis. Tobacco consumption by male cirrhotic and PLC patients is the same as in controls. Conversely, cirrhotic females smoke seven times as much as their standardized controls.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
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The sensitization to pollen from the Amarantaceae and Chenopodiaceae families is responsible for some pollinoses according to various authors. Following an aeropalynological carried out by the Botany Division of our University, we investigated the sensitization to Chenopodium in our pollinic patients in order to establish their clinical patterns. We evaluated 14 variables in Chenopodium-sensitive (CHE +) and nonsensitive (CHE -) patients; the results were analysed by using a computerized statistical programme. Of the 1,000 records reviewed, 38% corresponded to pollinic patients, of whom 8.42% were sensitive to pollen from this family. We found no significant differences between the two groups in the parameters representative of atopic features (e.g. eosinophilia, IgE). However, marked differences were indeed found in the age of appearance of symptoms, frequency of clinical pictures, origin of the patients, duration of the symptoms and evolution upon immunotherapeutic treatment not involving this antigen. These findings endow the sensitization to Chenopodium with special features which should be taken into account in choosing a specific treatment.
We have carried out a study on the annual and diurnal variation of pollen from the Gramineae family in the atmosphere of Córdoba (Southern Spain) during three consecutive years. This family, according to its high sensitizing capacity and to data from allergologists, is responsible for most of the pollenoses diagnosed in the city. Pollen grains from Gramineae were found to occur in the atmosphere virtually throughout the year, starting in February. Yet, they reach their highest levels in spring, particularly in May and the first fortnight of June. Such levels decrease gradually during the summer and become virtually imperceptible from October. The concentration of pollen grains from Gramineae were found to be positively correlated with the average temperature, and negatively correlated with the average humidity. The diurnal variation pattern of the concentration of pollen grains from this family was rather homogeneous throughout the three years studied, with a marked increase early in the morning, a moderate decrease in the afternoon and stable values throughout the night.
This work deals with the variation in the atmosphere of the airborne pollen produced by winter blooming plants and is aimed to establish correlations between the concentration of pollen grains in the atmosphere of Córdoba and meteorological parameters such as the temperature, humidity, rainfall, pressure, hours of sunlight and wind speed and direction. The work was conducted for two consecutive years (1981-82 and 1982-83). The sampling was carried out in Córdoba (Spain) with a BURKARD sporetrap. The data obtained in the aeropalinological study are correlated to the above-mentioned meterological parameters. Along the period investigated grains were found from Ulmus minor, Fraxinus sp., Populus sp., Alnus glutinosa and Cupressaceae, and less frequently, Artemisia sp., Pinaceae, Urticaceae, type Helianthus and Gramineae. Pollen grains from Cupressaceae were found at the highest absolute and relative concentrations in the atmosphere of Córdoba during the winter, where they occurred almost throughout. The correlation analysis applied showed that the parameters most markedly influencing the grain concentration of most taxa were the temperature and humidity. Alnus glutinosa was the least affected species, probably because of the scarcity of its pollen grains.
A case-control study was carried out in Geneva on the basis of an interview involving 88 new cases of pancreatic cancer and 336 controls. The percentage of histologically confirmed cases was 67 p. 100. Controls were drawn at random from the general population. An excess risk was observed with increased consumption of fatty foods. This excess, however, was only significant for butter; in contrast, margarine was associated with a reduction in risk (relative risk = 0.35, p less than 0.05). Meat intake did not modify the risk, except for lean pork, for which the risk was significantly reduced. For carbohydrates, an excess risk was observed, with a dose-response effect. Fresh fruit and vegetables led to a marked and significant reduction in risk. Among beverages, beer was the only one for which consumption entailed an increased risk (RR = 2.85, p less than 0.05). The results concerning tea and coffee were not significant, but there appeared to be a trend towards an increase in relative risk.
We have studied the occurrence of Alternaria, a genus of allergenic interest in the indoor atmosphere of 14 homes in Córdoba throughout 1984. The sampling was carried out by sedimentation on a broad-spectrum mycological culture medium (2% Agar-Malt extract) in Petri dishes. Samples were collected every fortnight in 14 homes (three dishes per home were exposed in the following rooms, namely the kitchen, the toilet and the bedroom, for 20 minutes) located in different areas of the city and as much as possible representing the various physical conditions found. An overall of 727 Alternaria colonies belonging to six species (A. consortiale, A. crassa, A. dendritica, A. japonica, A. tenuis and A. tenuissima) were detected. Some of them were proven allergenics. They accounted for 5.2% of all fungal colonies found indoors. A. tenuis was by far the most frequently found species, followed by A. tenuissima (second in number) and A. consortiale (the most cosmopolitan) as they were the only species found in all 14 homes. On the other hand, A. crassa was the least frequent of all species collected. We have also determined the general variation of Alternaria and that of the different species found indoors throughout the year, finding a trend with the appearance of peaks towards spring and early summer, especially in June.