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Biomedical subjects

F Kauffmann

Publications and source records attributed to F Kauffmann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Leukocyte count and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

The relationship of total and differential blood leukocyte counts with bronchial methacholine response was studied in a population-based sample of 324 men. Geometric mean total leukocyte counts were significantly higher in reactors (6567 cells/mm3) than in nonreactors (5732 cells/mm3; p = 0.003). After adjusting for smoking habits, a factor contributing to both an elevation in peripheral leukocyte count and an increased level of airway responsiveness, reactor status remained significantly associated with leukocyte count. This association also persisted after controlling, with a logistic model, for atopy and common cold (marker of infection) and after excluding men with a history of asthma, chronic bronchitis, or low FEV1. Study of the differential leukocyte counts has shown that an increase was present for almost every type of leukocyte, and particularly evident for neutrophils. Whether these findings reflect an association between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and cellular inflammation needs more investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The relation of respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function to moderate occupational exposure in a general population. Results from the French PAARC study of 16,000 adults.

Data from the French PAARC (Pollution Atmosphérique et Affections Respiratoires Chroniques) study were used to assess the effect of a priori moderate occupational exposure to dust, gases or chemical fumes on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function. In this community-based population, without households 'headed' by manual workers, 34% of the 8692 men and 23% of the 7772 women, 25-59 years of age, ever occupationally active, reported some exposure. The studied relationships were adjusted for age, height, smoking habits, socio-occupational class, education and air pollution by logistic or linear regression methods. For men and women, some 50% increase (p less than 0.01) in chronic cough, chronic bronchitis, dyspnoea grade 2 and wheezing prevalence was observed in the exposed group compared to the never exposed, with the strongest association for wheezing. FEV1 and FEF25-75% were not associated with occupational exposure. Among men, FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75%/FVC were significantly lower (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.05) among the exposed compared to never exposed, but FVC was significantly greater (p less than 0.05). Among women, occupational exposure was significantly related to a lower FEV1/FVC in the subgroup with a history of asthma or wheezing. Results suggest that occupational exposures of relatively low intensity, encountered in the non-industrial work places may constitute a non-negligible risk for respiratory health.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Relation of perceived nasal and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to FEV1, basophil counts, and methacholine response.

Perceived nasal and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to tobacco smoke and cold air were assessed in 912 working men in the Paris area. Baseline lung function measurements and peripheral leucocyte counts with standard differential counts were performed. At least one perceived nasal or bronchial hyperresponsiveness symptom was reported by 15.7%. Current smoking was significantly less frequent among those with cough induced by tobacco smoke. Rhinitis induced by cold air was associated with lower FEV1 (p less than 0.01) and the association remained after adjustment for smoking, asthma, and wheezing (p = 0.06). Symptoms induced by cold air were related to circulating basophils. Neither perceived nasal nor perceived bronchial hyperresponsiveness was significantly related to the airway response to methacholine in a sample of the group (n = 324) surveyed again five years later. The result suggest that the symptom of rhinitis provoked by cold air is a possible "new" risk factor or marker for chronic airflow limitation.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Seasonal patterns of circulating basophils.

The seasonal patterns of circulating basophils were investigated in a sample of 33,000 French subjects, aged 20-60 years. Circannual variations (minimum in October, maximum in July) which might be related to pollens were observed. Periods with cold weather (temperature below 0 degrees C) correlated to a temporary rise in basophils.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Risk factors of smoking in 11-to-16-year-old adolescents].

The risk factors for smoking have been studied by a self administered questionnaire in 710 boys and 1,233 girls aged 11 to 16 amongst young French school children in the department of Yvelines. The percentage of smokers in this age group was estimated at 15.4%. Comparison of smokers (7.1 cigarettes per day on average) and non-smokers shows an association between smoking in boys and or/girls and the age of the subject, smoking habits of parents, brothers, sisters, members of the family or best friends, socioeconomic status of the parents, one parent families, attitudes and attention of the parents, religious observance, type and area of the school and authorization of smoking in the school yards. Assessed independently the only relationships to tobacco smoking actually were age, smoking habits of best friends, parents, brothers and sisters, and in girls only (for whom the sample size was larger) type and area of the school and one parent families. These results suggest that interventions that are aimed at decreasing smoking amongst the young, should take into account not just individuals, but the young as a group and the familial environment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Relationships between functional measurements and childhood respiratory diseases according to the age of onset.

In a working population of 912 men, aged 22 to 54 years, 8.3% reported a history of childhood respiratory illness before 16 years of age. Those reporting a history of bronchitis or pneumonia (BP) before 2 years of age had significantly lower FEV1 values than those who did not report such a history, whereas those reporting BP at a later age, or primary tuberculosis, did not have lower values. The observed association was unlikely to be due to preferential recall bias, since BP before 2 years of age was not associated with a higher reported prevalence of current respiratory symptoms of cough, phlegm, or dyspnea, and the observed association remained after exclusion of those with a history of wheezing or asthma. Furthermore, the relation remained significant after taking into account parental smoking, Pi phenotype and a history of eczema in childhood. These results suggest that BP before 2 years of age, a period of rapid alveolar multiplication, may be related to the occurrence of adult chronic air-flow limitation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Is respiratory mucus hypersecretion really an innocent disorder? A 22-year mortality survey of 1,061 working men.

The relation of chronic air-flow limitation and respiratory mucus hypersecretion to all causes of mortality was studied in a population of 1,061 men working in the Paris area, surveyed initially in 1960/1961, and followed for 22 yr. During this period, 369 deaths occurred; VC, FEV1, FEV1/H3, and FEV1/VC were significantly associated with mortality, even when age, smoking, occupational dust exposure, and chronic phlegm were taken into account. Besides the obstructive disorder, the hypersecretory disorder (chronic phlegm) was significantly associated with mortality. Controlling, using Cox's model, for age, FEV1/H3, smoking habits, and dust exposure, all factors associated with chronic mucus hypersecretion and mortality, showed that phlegm production remained significantly related to death (relative risk, = 1.35; p less than 0.01). Although relatively weak, this relationship is not negligible in terms of public health because of the high prevalence of chronic phlegm.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Eosinophils, smoking, and lung function. An epidemiologic survey among 912 working men.

The relationship of eosinophilia with smoking habits and with baseline lung function measurements has been studied in a working population of 912 men in the Paris area. Absolute numbers of eosinophils were related significantly to a history of asthma and eczema in childhood as well as to current tobacco consumption, whereas the percentage of eosinophils was related only to the occurrence of asthma and eczema. Forced expiratory volume in one second adjusted for smoking was significantly related to asthma, the presence of a common cold on the day of examination among those with a history of wheezing, and the percentage of eosinophils. The association between FEV and eosinophils was restricted to never smokers. Among never smokers without a history of asthma, eczema, wheezing, or a common cold on the day of examination, eosinophil percentages and counts were significantly associated with the level of FEV; eosinophil percentages explained 4.4% of the variance of FEV. These results suggest that eosinophilia might be a risk factor for chronic air-flow limitation among adult nonsmokers.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Common cold with cough on the day of examination: a factor that should be taken into account in epidemiological studies on pulmonary function.

Epidemiologists using pulmonary function tests agree that a number of factors have to be taken into account. In a study carried out among 912 men aged 22 to 54 we found that those having a common cold and cough on the day of examination had lower pulmonary function values. So we suggest that these symptoms should also be considered as a potential confounding factor.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Adult passive smoking in the home environment: a risk factor for chronic airflow limitation.

Using the data of the French Cooperative Study PAARC (Pollution Atmosphérique et Affections Respiratoires Chroniques), which in 1975 surveyed more than 7800 adult residents of seven cities throughout France, the authors compared the spirometric measurements of two groups of nonsmokers: those with and without exposure to passive smoking in the home. They restricted the analysis to subjects aged 40 years of more (i.e., those presumably exposed for 15 years or more to smoking by their spouses) and who were living in households without other persons aged 18 years or older (to avoid potential misclassification as true nonsmokers of persons living with non-interviewed individuals). The authors found that nonsmoking subjects of either sex whose spouses were current smokers of at least 10 g of tobacco a day had significantly lower forced mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF25-75) than those married to nonsmokers. This difference was not explained by social class, educational level, air pollution, or family size. Women, among whom passive smoking is much more prevalent than it is among men, also showed a significant difference in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and a clear dose-effect relationship to amount of smoking by their husbands was found in the large subgroup of women without paid work (i.e., those not exposed to workplace smoking).

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Occupational exposure and 12-year spirometric changes among Paris area workers.

A follow-up study over 12 years was conducted among 556 men aged 30 to 54 in 1960 and working at that time in factories around Paris (France). Various occupational exposures were recorded at the time of the 1960 survey after a technical study of each workplace. The annual rate of decline of FEV1 during 12 years was estimated for each subject from the measurements in 1960 and 1972. This rate (the FEV1 slope) was related independently of FEV1 level (which reflects the loss since the beginning of adult life) and of smoking habits to occupational exposure to dust, gases, and heat. FEV1 slope was significantly related to inhalation of mineral dust (even in the absence of silica) as well as to grain dust, and the slope was steeper with increased intensity of exposure to dust. Analysis of job changes showed that among heavily exposed subjects, those who changed jobs had a less steep slope than those who did not. Our results support the hypothesis of a causal role of exposure to dust in the development of chronic airflow obstruction and of a benefit when exposure to dust ceases. Exposure to dust, gas, and heat usually occurred together so data on gas and heat were analysed after taking account of exposure to dust. The influence of heat on FEV1 decline showed a clear trend. Results suggest that exposure to gases associated with exposure to dust or heat or both had a deleterious effect. After adjusting for age, smoking, and FEV1 level (ASLA) the following average slopes were obtained: 44 ml/a (for exposure to none or to only a slight amount of dust, or to gases alone), 51 ml/a (heat), 53 ml/a (noticeable dust), 55 ml/a (noticeable dust and heat), 60 ml/a (noticeable dust, heat, and high concentration of gases). Independently of the occupational exposures, ASLA FEV1 slopes among manual workers were related to skill, being 44 ml/a for skilled and 51 ml/a for unskilled men. Independently of social class and occupational exposures recorded, there were differences in FEV1 slopes by factory, suggesting that one should not rely on using one factory as the control of studies of occupational exposure to another.

Chemical Industry↗