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Biomedical subjects

J C Dubus

Publications and source records attributed to J C Dubus.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The need to improve inhalation technique in Europe: a report from the Aerosol Drug Management Improvement Team.

Although the principles of asthma management are well established in Europe, the available data indicate that asthma in patients is not well controlled. Many patients derive incomplete benefit from their inhaled medication because they do not use inhaler devices correctly and this may compromise asthma control. The Aerosol Drug Management Improvement Team (ADMIT), incorporating clinicians from the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and The Netherlands, reviewed published evidence to examine ways to improve the treatment of reversible airways disease in Europe. Data indicate that there is a clear need for specific training of patients in correct inhalation technique for the various devices currently available, and this should be repeated frequently to maintain correct inhalation technique. Devices which provide reassurance to patients and their physicians that inhalation is performed correctly should help to improve patient compliance and asthma control. Educational efforts should also focus on primary prescribers of inhaler devices. ADMIT recommends dissemination of information on the correct inhalation technique for each model of device by the use of an accessible dedicated literature base or website which would enable to match the appropriate inhaler to the individual patient. There is also a need for standardisation of prescribing practices throughout Europe. Regular checking of inhalation technique by prescribers is crucial as correct inhalation is one of the keystones of successful asthma management.

Administration, Inhalation↗

[The effects of tobacco on children].

INTRODUCTION: Smoking remains an important topic. It is estimated that at present half the children born in France have been, or will be, exposed to the toxic effects of passive smoking. This paper aims to review the evidence of the effects of passive smoking, both intra and extra-uterine. STATE OF THE ART: Extra-uterine passive smoking is implicated in numerous respiratory (asthma, allergy, infections...) and non respiratory diseases (neoplastic, dental, ophthalmic, digestive, cardio-vascular and infective). Intra-uterine exposure is even more dangerous and leads to abnormalities of the pregnancy (placental abnormalities, prematurity...), of the foetus (behavioural problems, malformations) and long term problems for the unborn child. Passive smoking is responsible for pulmonary morphological abnormalities (pulmonary hypoplasia, reduction in elasticity, increased deposition of collagen and alteration of alveolar structure) and functional disorders (reduced compliance, increased airways resistance, bronchial hyperreactivity). Finally it causes a disturbance of respiratory control, promoting all the factors responsible for sudden cot death. CONCLUSIONS: The ill effects of passive smoking fully justify efforts to inform and persuade the medical profession of its duty to fight this scourge.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

[Pediatric features of an influenza A seasonal outbreak and its burden in pediatric emergency rooms and pediatric departments].

AIM OF THE STUDY: To describe epidemiological features of an outbreak of flu A in hospitalized children and to evaluate the flu's burden in pediatric and pediatric emergencies departments. POPULATION AND METHODS: Multicenter prospective study in 2 pediatric university hospitals, in Marseille, France. Nasal swabs for flu A were performed in all the febrile children admitted during winter 2003-2004. Pre and postoutbreak admissions in pediatric and pediatric emergencies departments were compared too. RESULTS: During the outbreak, 941 children were admitted and 605 were tested for flu A. Nasal swabs were positive in 111. Attack's rate was 11.8%. In these children, infants under 2 years were 66%. Respiratory forms were uncommon, although febrile seizures and digestive troubles were much frequent. The mean hospitalization duration was almost 4 days. Flu A outbreak finally increased the pediatric and pediatric emergencies departments rates of admission, of 48% and 37% respectively. CONCLUSION: Flu is frequently underestimated in children, especially in infants. Clinical forms are various. Child's vaccination is questionable in France.

Child, Preschool↗

[Cystic intrathoracic hemolymphangioma: a rare differential diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis in an infant].

Hemolymphangioma is a benign malformation of the lymphatic vessels. Cervical localisation is the most frequent. Mediastinal localisation is rare, but may be life-threatening because of airway compression. We report on a four-month-old boy who presented, in a context of epidemics, with clinical signs of acute bronchiolitis requiring mechanical ventilation for several days. Chest X-rays showed an important mediastinal mass with airways compression. Diagnosis was evoked on CT-scan aspects and confirmed by histology. Surgery allowed complete resolution, but dysphonia and oropharyngeal disorders persisted for several months. This rare congenital malformation is reviewed.

Acute Disease↗

[Nebulisation in childhood asthma].

The inhaled route way, which directly brings an appropriate amount of drug in the right place, is at the present time the recommended route for asthma treatments. The development of spacer devices, easier to use, has reduced the indications of nebulised treatments, but these are still essential in some situations. Nebulisation of short acting beta-2-agonists, which usually requires oxygen administration, is still the first line treatment of a severe acute asthma attack. Ipratropium bromide can be added in the nebulisation, depending on the severity of the attack and the response to beta-2-agonists. Sodium cromoglycate is not used in the prophylactic treatment of childhood asthma any more, but nebulised budesonide is still very useful in moderate to severe persistent asthma in children under 5 years of age, after failure of a treatment with a spacer device. The quality of nebulisation is fully dependent on the equipment used, and on the practical conditions of its realization. It is of most extreme importance to use a compressor/nebulizer couple which is validated for the delivered drug, and that the child breathes, depending on age, via a mouth peace or a facial mask.

Administration, Inhalation↗

[Flexible bronchoscopy in children. Experience at French centers of pediatric pneumology].

INTRODUCTION: Fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FB) is an important diagnostic examination in paediatric pulmonology. In 2002 the Paediatric Pulmonology and Allergy Club undertook a retrospective study to establish the current status of fibreoptic bronchoscopy among its members. METHODS: In 2001 sixty five paediatric pulmonologists carried out an average of 116 examinations (+/- 111) in 35 paediatric centres. FB was performed either in an operating theatre (15 centres), a dedicated bronchoscopy suite (6 centres) or an endoscopy suite shared with gastro-enterologists (7 centres). Other examinations were performed in areas dedicated to, or associated with intensive care. General anaesthesia was routinely used in 18 centres. The others used sedation including an equimolar mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide in 14 centres. Ten centres performed less than 50 examinations, 12 between 51 and 100, 4 between 101 and 200 and 8 centres more than 200 in the year. Seventy two per cent of the children were less than 6 years old. The washing and disinfection procedures were manual in 20 centres and automatic in 15. RESULTS: Three principal indications were reported: persistent wheezing, suspicion of a foreign body and ventilatory difficulties. Cough, desaturation and fever were the most frequently reported side effects. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first survey in paediatric pulmonology in France. It shows a wide variation in the practice of fibreoptic bronchoscopy in children.

Bronchoscopes↗

Electrostatic charge on spacer devices and salbutamol response in young children.

Electrostatic charge on plastic spacer devices may affect the efficacy of inhaled drugs, but its consequences have never been evaluated in asthmatic children with airflow limitation. At the end of a positive metacholine challenge, 64 children (51.3+/-12.9 months, 32 boys, specific airway resistance (SRaw) 257.1+/-56.7% and forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV(1)) 64.2+/-17.9% of the predicted value) inhaled one puff of hydrofluoroalkane-134a (HFA-134a) salbutamol (Ventoline((R))), and 15min later two other puffs (total dose of 300 microgram), delivered through either a new static Babyhaler((R)) (n=21), a detergent-coated, reduced static, Babyhaler((R)) (n=20), or a metal NES-Spacer((R)) (n=23) equipped with facemask. SRaw and FEV(1) were measured after each treatment and compared between groups by a Kruskal-Wallis test. The first 100 microgram salbutamol induced a 151.7+/-43.9% decrease in SRaw and a 19.9+/-10.6% increase in FEV(1). Additional 200 microgram salbutamol allowed a supplementary decrease of 35.1+/-25.7% in SRaw and increase of 12.1+/-11.8% in FEV(1), without significant difference between the spacer devices. Electrostatic charge on spacer devices does not affect bronchodilation with HFA-134a salbutamol in metacholine-challenged pre-school children. This could be in part explained by the use of supramaximal doses of salbutamol.

Administration, Inhalation↗

[Inhaled treatments delivery in children].

The most efficient method to deliver drugs to the lungs in children is the inhaled way. Its success depends on the characteristics of the aerosol, on those of the patient, and mainly on the inhalatory system. Before the age of 8 years, the most efficient system is the pressurised metered dose inhaler used together with a spacer device. Above this age, the use either of the pressurised metered dose inhaler, with a spacer device or a breath-actuated inhaler, or of a dry powder inhaler is discussed. Nebulisation is rarely indicated, except in cystic fibrosis. Demonstration with repeated medical instructions allows adequate inhalation technique. Inhaled treatments are efficient when used in diseases requiring this type of treatment, when several inhalers with different inhalatory techniques are not prescribed together, and when delivery is once or twice daily. At last, inhaled way is a new approach for different drugs with an extra-respiratory activity.

Administration, Inhalation↗

[The beta-2-agonists in asthma in infants and young children].

beta 2-agonists, by inducing a fast and long relaxation of the bronchial smooth muscle, are considered as the more potent bronchodilators. beta 2-receptors are present from the 16th gestational week, explaining a possible bronchial response in the youngest children. beta 2-agonists do not induce any bronchodilator response in healthy children. Short-acting beta 2-agonists (salbutamol or albuterol, terbutaline) are indicated for asthma attacks, as needed in chronic asthma, and for prevention of symptoms during effort. They are safe and secure. The more efficient route of administration in preschool children is pressurized metered-dose inhaler used with a spacer device. Therefore, whatever the route of inhalation chosen (inhalation, injection, or continuous nebulization in acute asthma attack), more specified indications and doses are needed in young children. Long-acting beta 2-agonists (formoterol, salmeterol) are not authorized in France in children under 4 to 5 years of age depending on the drug used. Because of new oral formulations and recent considerations about their use in asthma attack, instead of short-acting beta 2-agonists, their indication in preschool asthmatic children might be reconsidered.

Administration, Oral↗

[Inhalers and nebulizers in the children].

Inhaled way is the most efficient method to deliver drugs for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Pulmonary deposition depends upon the inhalation system and technique. The evaluation of the drug deposition is difficult, particularly in children. Because of irradiation, scintigraphic studies which permit the best approach of the pulmonary deposition are rare in children. Various inhalation systems are available: nebuliser, metered-dose inhaler with or without spacer device, dry powder inhaler. Whatever the system used, the control of asthma will be only possible with the regular evaluation of the child inhalatory technique.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Delivery of HFA and CFC salbutamol from spacer devices used in infancy.

The aim of the study was to compare the in vitro delivery of four salbutamol pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) via the three spacer devices commonly used in European infants: Aerochamber-Infant, Babyhaler, and metallic NES-spacer. Emitted dose (ED) and fine particle dose (FPD, particles<5.8 microm) of each combination of spacer device and pMDI (chlorofluorocarbon-based Ventoline, Eolène, Spréor, and hydrofluoroalkane-based Airomir were measured respectively using unit dose sampling tubes (n=30 per combination) and an 8-stage cascade impactor (n=6 per group). The results were compared by analysis of variance and the Student-Newman-Keuls method. ED of Airomir was always greater than for Ventoline (P<0.05). FPD obtained with Ventoline was the lowest, with Eolène>Airomir=Spréor>Ventoline (P<0.05). Only Airomir produced a similar FPD with all three spacer devices. Chlorofluorocarbon-salbutamol pMDIs are not generics when used with spacer devices. The three spacer devices may be used interchangeably with Airomir.

Albuterol↗

[Inhalation spacer devices in childhood asthma: is utilization easy?].

IMPROVED DRUG DELIVERY: Spacer devices improve the pulmonary deposition of drugs delivered from pressurized metered-dose inhalers because they decrease the diameter of the aerosol particles. Spacer devices are the best delivery system of inhaled drugs in children younger than 8 years. TECHNICAL ASPECTS: Small volume spacer devices, with inspiratory and expiratory valves, are particularly interesting to use. The use of a facemask is only recommended in the youngest and the oldest have to breathe through the mouth piece. Electrostatism is generated from the plastic walls of the spacer devices and decreases the drug delivery. Using a metallic spacer device or washing a plastic spacer device with a domestic detergent, without rinsing with water nor rubbing the walls, avoids this problem. OPTIMAL USE: Spacer devices are not generics. Each drug has a specific behaviour in a spacer device. Correct inhalatory technique has to be checked at each visit for an optimal efficacy of the treatment.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Local side-effects of inhaled corticosteroids in asthmatic children: influence of drug, dose, age, and device.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to investigate the local side-effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in daily life in asthmatic children, particularly the younger ones, by an observational prospective cross-sectional cohort study. METHODS: Asthmatic children (n=639, 75.9+/-48.9 months, 61.3% boys), treated with beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) (721.0+/-287.3 microg per day) or budesonide (BUD) (835.5+/-684.9 microg per day) for at least 1 month, were recruited at the time of a scheduled visit. Local side-effects were researched by questionnaire (cough during inhalation, hoarseness, dysphonia, and thirsty feeling) and clinical examination (perioral dermatitis, oral candidiasis, and tongue hypertrophy). RESULTS: Exactly 63.3% of the children aged under 6 years and 59.5% of the older ones reported one local side-effect. Cough (39.7%) was dependent on young age, use of BDP, and mainly use of spacer device, with an OR of 4.7 (95% CI: 2.7-8.2). Thirsty feeling (21.9%) and hoarseness (14.1%) occurred in children using ICS and long-acting beta2-agonists. Dysphonia (11.1%) was favored by high doses of BDP and BUD, and by inhalation from spacer devices or nebulizers. No factor favored oral candidiasis (10.7%). Perioral dermatitis (2.9%) and tongue hypertrophy (0.1%) were associated with nebulization. CONCLUSION: Local side-effects of ICS are common in asthmatic children of all ages, and the device used constitutes the most influential factor.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Delivery of salbutamol pressurized metered-dose inhaler administered via small-volume spacer devices in intubated, spontaneously breathing rabbits.

Little is known about the ability of small-volume valved spacer devices to deliver a significant amount of an aerosolized drug to the lungs of babies. This study compared the in vitro delivery of salbutamol administered via Aerochamber-Infant (145 mL), Babyhaler (350 mL), and metallic NES-spacer (250 mL), as well as the in vivo delivery using an animal model. The lung deposition study of technetium-99m-labeled salbutamol was conducted in six anesthetized, intubated (3.0-mm endotracheal tube simulating oropharyngeal deposition), spontaneously breathing New Zealand White rabbits, a model for 3-kg babies. Each rabbit was studied on three separate occasions, once with each spacer device. The amount of radioactivity deposited in the spacer device, the endotracheal tube, the lungs, or the body was measured by a gamma camera and expressed as a percentage of the emitted labeled dose. The emitted dose and particle size distribution of salbutamol via the three spacer devices were measured using unit dose sampling tubes and an eight-stage Anderson cascade impactor, respectively. The results were compared by ANOVA or Student-Newman-Keuls test when indicated. In vitro, the NES-spacer and Babyhaler were equivalent for delivering particles <5.8 microm in diameter (NES-spacer = Babyhaler > Aerochamber-Infant; p < 0.05). In vivo, the lung and body deposition was low with all spacer devices (range: 0.52-5.40% of the delivered dose) but greater with the NES-spacer than with the Aerochamber-Infant or the Babyhaler (5.40 +/- 2.40%, 2.91 +/- 0.86%, 0.52 +/- 0.46%, respectively; p = 0.002). These results suggest the metal-valved spacer device may be preferable for delivering pressurized aerosols to spontaneously breathing infants.

Administration, Inhalation↗

[Virus and respiratory allergy in children].

Links between viruses and respiratory allergy are not easy to understand in children. For example, the risk of atopy or asthma is increased after an infection with syncytial respiratory virus. In some studies, more the child suffers from viral infections, more the risk of atopy increases. On the other hand, other studies state that the development of allergy is reduced if a child enters day nursery before 12 months, and consequently if he is exposed early in life to viruses. Measles and hepatitis A viruses could also protect from allergy. In fact, viruses seem modulate the expression of a preexisting atopic status. Depending on their nature and their circumstances of occurrence, they could induce some sensitizations or inversely protect from atopy by facilitating the lymphocyte Th2 or Th1 response.

Air Pollution↗