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Biomedical subjects

F Lavaud

Publications and source records attributed to F Lavaud.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Mosquito bites allergy, which prevention?].

Mosquito bites may induce allergic reactions in children. Usually underestimated, these reactions are often cutaneous and difficult to distinguish from non-specific histaminic phenomena. Recently, the identification of major allergens in mosquito saliva has allowed the achievement of recombinant allergens, which should facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of allergic reactions. Preventive cares must be performed in all children with large reactions, allergic or even non-allergic. Prevention consists in cutaneous protection, the use of repellents (with special attention to their toxicity), and antihistamines. A practical sheet for patient is provided.

Allergens↗
PubMed2005

Isotopic scaling and the symmetry energy in spectator fragmentation.

Isotopic effects in the fragmentation of excited target residues following collisions of 12C on (112,124)Sn at incident energies of 300 and 600 MeV per nucleon were studied with the INDRA 4pi detector. The measured yield ratios for light particles and fragments with atomic number Z < or = 5 obey the exponential law of isotopic scaling. The deduced scaling parameters decrease strongly with increasing centrality to values smaller than 50% of those obtained for the peripheral event groups. Symmetry-term coefficients, deduced from these data within the statistical description of isotopic scaling, are near gamma = 25 MeV for peripheral and gamma < 15 MeV for central collisions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Long-term exposure to background air pollution related to respiratory and allergic health in schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: The impact of air pollution on asthma and allergies still remains a debate. OBJECTIVE: Our cross-sectional study was intended to analyse the associations between long-term exposure to background air pollution and atopic and respiratory outcomes in a large population-based sample of schoolchildren. METHODS: Six thousand six hundred and seventy-two children aged 9-11 years recruited from 108 randomly schools in six French cities underwent a clinical examination including a skin prick test (SPT) to common allergens, exercise-induced bronchial reactivity (EIB) and skin examination for flexural dermatitis. The prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR) and atopic dermatitis was assessed by a standardized health questionnaire completed by the parents. Three-year-averaged concentrations of air pollutants (NO2, SO2, PM10 and O3) were calculated at children' schools using measurements of background monitoring stations. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounders, EIB, lifetime asthma and lifetime AR were found to be positively related to an increase in the exposure to SO2, PM10 and O3. The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) per increase of 5 microg/m3 of SO2 was 1.39 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.15-1.66) for EIB and 1.19 (1.00-1.41) for lifetime asthma. The aOR for lifetime AR per increase of 10 microg/m3 of PM10 was 1.32 (CI=1.04-1.68). Moreover, SPT positivity was associated with O3 (aOR=1.34; CI=1.24-1.46). Associations with past year symptoms were consistent, even if not always statistically significant. Results persisted in long-term resident (current address for at least 8 years) children. However, no consistent positive association was found with NO2. CONCLUSIONS: A moderate increase in long-term exposure to background ambient air pollution was associated with an increased prevalence of respiratory and atopic indicators in children.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence of food allergy and its relationship to asthma and allergic rhinitis in schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Food allergy (FA) is an important health problem. However, epidemiological studies at the population level are scarce. We assessed the prevalence of FA and its associations with respiratory manifestations among schoolchildren. METHODS: A total of 6672 schoolchildren aged 9-11 years recruited from 108 randomly chosen schools in six French cities underwent a clinical examination including skin prick test (SPT) to common food and aeroallergens and the standardized protocol of the run test to assess exercise-induced bronchial hyper-responsiveness (EIB). Asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR) and clinical symptoms of FA were determined using a standardized questionnaire completed by parents. RESULTS: About 2.1% of the children reported symptoms of FA, 1.9% were sensitized to food allergens, and 0.1% had SP-tested FA. The AR was more prevalent than asthma (20.0% lifetime, 11.9% past year vs 9.8%, 8.7% respectively). Reported FA, food sensitization and SP-tested FA were all positively associated with asthma and AR (P < 0.001). These associations persisted also for FA not manifesting as respiratory symptoms (P < 0.001). Asthma and AR remained significantly associated with reported symptoms of FA and allergic sensitization to food allergens after adjustment for confounders as well as for sensitization to aeroallergens. No relationship existed between EIB (9.0%) and FA. CONCLUSION: The relationships between FA and asthma and AR could be totally explained neither by the existence of respiratory manifestations of FA nor by sensitization to aeroallergens. The FA might intervene differently in asthma and AR.

Asthma↗
PubMed2003

[Value of a long duration temporary caval filter in critical thrombo-embolic situations].

In the event of proximal venous thrombosis with a risk of pulmonary embolism, contraindications to or complications of anticoagulant treatment are not uncommon in surgical or intensive care units. These are worrying but temporary situations and represent a classic indication for partial interruption of the inferior vena cava, for which permanent caval filters are not usually suitable. Temporary filters are an attractive option in this context, as long as they are safe and stable, can be left in place long enough to permit normalization of the thrombosis and anticoagulation problems and can then be removed in all circumstances, whether or not they have trapped a thrombus while in place. Most temporary filters do not meet all these criteria and nor do permanent filters with a removal option. We tested the new Tempofilter II filter with increased stability, which has a smooth geometry and can be implanted for up to 6 weeks, in 13 patients. We selected two documented cases concerning, firstly, a contraindication to anticoagulants and, secondly, recurrent thrombosis in heparin-induced thrombopenia. In both cases, the filter trapped a thrombus and prevented a pulmonary embolism, which would have been poorly tolerated and difficult to treat. The filters were removed without any difficulty after 4 and 6 weeks. We did not observe any complications related to infection or migration. Monitoring is recommended throughout the implantation period, in order to identify any clots trapped in the filter and to monitor their lysis or non-emboligenic fibrous structure, authorising removal of the filter.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

[Toxic dermatitis caused by pseudoephedrine: apropos of a case].

Allergy to pseusoephedrine seems to be rare and has been described as responsible of urticaria, contact dermatitis, fixed non-pigmenting erythema or pseudoscarlatina. We report the case of a male patient who presented a recurrent erythema after administration of different treatments including pseudoephedrine. A cutaneous biopsy was compatible with erythema multiform. Patch tests confirmed the diagnosis of allergy to pseudoephedrine but resulted in a reappearance of symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[A "sweet" hydrothorax].

BACKGROUND: Hydrothorax is a rare complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). CASE REPORT: A 68-year-old man on CAPD consulted for rapidly progressive dyspnea. An elevated glucose level in the pleural puncture fluid and Tc-99m peritoneoscitigraphy demonstrated pleuroperitoneal communication via Larrey's cleft led to the diagnosis of "sweet" hydrothorax. Resolution was achieved with pleurocentesis and interruption of CAPD. DISCUSSION: Although rare, hydrothorax should be retained as a possible diagnosis in patients who develop dyspnea within the first 2 months after institution of CAPD. Chemistry of the pleural fluid and Tc-99m scintigraphy provide the diagnosis. Conservative treatment by pleural puncture or pleurodesis is indicated. In most cases, CAPD can be resumed without recurrence.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Evidence for spinodal decomposition in nuclear multifragmentation.

Multifragmentation of a "fused system" was observed for central collisions between 32 MeV/nucleon 129Xe and (nat)Sn. Most of the resulting charged products were well identified due to the high performances of the INDRA 4pi array. Experimental higher-order charge correlations for fragments show a weak but nonambiguous enhancement of events with nearly equal-sized fragments. Supported by dynamical calculations in which spinodal decomposition is simulated, this observed enhancement is interpreted as a "fossil" signal of spinodal instabilities in finite nuclear systems.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Latex hypersensitivity in spinal cord injured adult patients.

Latex hypersensitivity is a major cause of anaphylaxis during anaesthesia. Patients with spina bifida, health care or rubber industry workers have been considered at risk for latex sensitization. By analogy, the existence of other at-risk subsets of patients with latex exposure due to frequent surgical procedures has been suggested. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of latex sensitization in a cohort of adult patients with spinal cord injury and repeated latex exposure. Forty-two adult patients with spinal cord injury were studied and retrospectively compared to a group of 30 children with spina bifida evaluated using a similar protocol. Patients were administered a questionnaire concerning history of latex hypersensitivity, atopy, and surgical procedures. Latex sensitivity was investigated by skin prick-tests and latex-specific IgE assay. The search for atopy was based on in vivo and in vitro tests against a panel of environmental allergens. No chronic spinal cord injured patient had a history of latex allergy. When compared with spina bifida, the number of surgical procedures was not statistically different. Although not significantly different, the prevalence of atopy was higher in spina bifida patients. The high level of latex sensitization in spina bifida patients contrasted sharply with the absence of sensitization observed on both skin and in vitro tests in patients with spinal cord injury (P<0.0001). This study confirms that adult patients with chronic neurologic defects resulting from spinal cord injury exhibit a low risk of latex sensitization. These results suggest that considering adult patients with repeated surgical procedures as a group at risk for latex sensitization because of a high degree of latex exposure should be re-examined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Allergy to the bites of blood-sucking insects: clinical manifestations].

Blood-sucking insects and other arthropods may occur allergic reactions when stinging. Usually, inflammatory symptoms are mild with a locoregional extension. Pruritus may be painful and sometimes patients experienced a functional impotency. Systemic reactions are possible. Anaphylaxis is rare and rather observed with ticks (Ixodes and Argas) and kissing-bugs. The circumstances and mechanisms of the sting related to the knowledge of the insect biology elicit the clinical symptoms. Skin prick-tests are usually not practicable. Indeed, the diagnosis remains based upon anamnestic and entomological data because the poor sensibility of in vitro tests. However, some immunological investigations gave signs of interest for prospective studies. Symptomatic drugs and prevention advices must be purchased for exposed patients.

Anaphylaxis↗
PubMed1999

[Solenophagy and telmophagy: biting mechanisms among various hematophagous insects].

Blood-sucking insects do not all take blood from the host in the same way. Mechanisms are different according to capillary feeding or pool feeding and this explains the differences between clinical reactions. A better knowledge of the insect biology is helpful for an aetiological diagnosis. So, in the case of an allergic reaction, procedures of complementary investigations will be optimised.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and increased specific IgE levels in West-African workers exposed to isocyanates.

Respiratory symptoms and immunological effects from chronic exposure to isocyanates (toluene diisocyanate) were studied in a cross survey of workers from West African factories producing paints and polyurethane foam. A questionnaire, a pulmonary function test, immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and an atmospheric sample to quantify isocyanate exposures were carried out in the workplace for each worker. Ninety-six workers, of whom 44 had occupational isocyanate-induced asthma, were included in the study. Twenty-four viral-infected subjects were excluded from the immunological study. Specific antibodies to isocyanates were detected in two of the symptomatic individuals. This low proportion appeared to be a common feature of this disease. The prevalence of isocyanate-induced asthma in a West African working population appears to be significant in the context of chronic human exposure, as current data are based on excessive acute exposure due to an accident as seen in India.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Mechanisms of occupational asthma induced by isocyanates.

Isocyanates are some of the most important low molecular weight chemicals associated with occupational asthma. These compounds are often volatile and they are highly reactive on mucous membranes, especially the conjunctivae and respiratory tract. Despite numerous data derived from experimental and clinical investigations, there is no agreement concerning the real mechanisms involved in isocyanate-induced occupational asthma. In fact, the cause of occupational asthma is multifactorial. The aim of this paper is to review the involved physiological causes of isocyanate-induced asthma; the main mechanisms are immunological, pharmacological and/or irritative.

Asthma↗
PubMed1996

[Latex allergy in 16 children].

BACKGROUND: Latex allergy is now well-known in adults and children. It represents the first cause of anaphylactic operating shock in pediatrics. POPULATION: A diagnosis of latex allergy was made in 16 children (five girls and 11 boys), aged 2 to 15 years, because of evoking signs and symptoms, from simple urticaria to Quincke edema in presence of latex. The revealing factor was wheezing in balloons in 13 out of the 16 patients. An atopic past history was frequent. Previous eventually sensitizing surgical operations were present in five patients; associated food allergy existed in four. Skin tests were positive in nine out of 12 patients, as well as latex specific IgE (13 out of 16). The diagnosis was made with a labial provocation test in one patient. CONCLUSION: Latex allergy can be severe and requires that patients avoid any contact with rubber objects, especially gloves. A detailed medical certificate should be given to the family in view of any medical, surgical or dental intervention.

Adolescent↗