Biomedical subjects

M Toumi

Publications and source records attributed to M Toumi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Study of the concurrent validity of the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenics (CDSS).

The aim of this study was to investigate the concurrent validity of the French language version of the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenics (CDSS). Ninety-five schizophrenic patients meeting the DSM-III-R criteria were enrolled in the study. The depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenics (CDSS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Montgomery and Asberg Rating Scale (MADRS), and Widlocher Psychomotor Retardation Scale (ERD). The psychotic symptoms were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the extrapyramidal symptoms with the Extrapyramidal Syndrome Rating Scale (ESRS). The CDDS was significantly correlated with all the conventional depression-rating scales. We only found significant positive correlations between the CDSS and the PANSS-positive sub-scale. The CDSS total score was significantly correlated with some PANSS-positive items (delusions and hallucinatory behaviour). No significant correlation between the depression-rating scales and the PANSS-negative sub-scale was observed. For all the depression-rating scales, no correlation with the extrapyramidal symptom was evidenced. The results confirmed the validity of the CDSS in the evaluation of depression in schizophrenia. The relationship between depression and the positive symptoms of schizophrenia is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Evaluation of depression in schizophrenia: psychometric properties of a French version of the Calgary Depression Scale.

The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties (especially validity and reliability) of the French language version of the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) in schizophrenic patients. Ninety-five subjects who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia were enrolled. The studies of the internal structural validity and of the reliability (internal consistency) showed that some items from the CDSS (early awakening and guilty ideas of reference) must be discussed in the constitution of this scale. The total score of the CDSS was significantly correlated with the MADRS total score, the HDRS total score, and the depression item (G6) on the PANSS, which suggests that the CDSS is a valid instrument for the assessment of depression in schizophrenia. The existence of a significant correlation between the CDSS total score and the PANSS positive sub-scale suggests a possible relationship between positive and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Some aspects of the cost of schizophrenia in France.

This study aimed to investigate how patients with schizophrenia were treated and to evaluate the cost of treatment in medical and social terms in France. The study was questionnaire-based. 6000 French hospital and community psychiatrists in the public and private sectors received the questionnaire. The 494 psychiatrists who responded described the treatment prescribed for, and social assistance provided to, the last patient consulting for schizophrenia-as defined by the criteria of the third edition (revised) of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R)-either as an outpatient or as an impatient in the last year. The clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic data collected on 356 (72%) patients receiving outpatient treatment and 138 (28%) patients receiving impatient treatment in the public (242 patients; 49%) or private (252 patients; 51%) sectors were processed by medical and economic modelling. The mean (+/-standard deviation) time from symptom onset to study entry was 11 +/- 8 years, while the mean time from first hospital admission to study entry was 9.5 +/- 8 years. The mean time from symptom onset to initial hospitalisation was 25 +/- 4 months. 224 patients had been hospitalised in a psychiatric ward at least once in the previous year (45%). The average duration of hospitalisation was 82 +/- 96 days. During the year of the study, 122 patients received part-time treatment in a day hospital or intermediate facility (e.g. occupational therapy centres, therapeutic workshops and therapeutic apartments), 39 (8%) on a daily basis and 83 (17%) one or more times a week; medical care lasted 130 +/- 137 days and 107 +/- 89 days, respectively. The annual complete cost of medical management of the 477 evaluable patients in the study was F27471511 (1992 values). The overall annual treatment cost (medical and social) was F1533724 for medication (5.6% of the complete cost), F2600673 for visits (9.5%), F8285900 for intermediate facilities (30.1%) and F15051214 (54.8%) for hospitalisation. The social allowance cost was F10926000. The average annual costs of medical care and social allowance per patient with schizophrenia were respectively estimated at F54970 and F22905. The annual cost of medical management of schizophrenia in France was thus F12.37 billion ($US2.34 billion).

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Housing and house-dust mites.

Because the mite-allergen content in homes is highly variable even in the same geographic area, we tried to determine which variables influence mite infestation. We evaluated mite-allergen content in bedding relative to housing conditions and living habits. This cross-sectional study included 108 homes. Housing conditions were assessed by an architect and living habits by a researcher specialized in social and family economics. Group I allergen level was measured on the mattress dust with monoclonal antibodies, and relative humidity (RH) was monitored in the bedroom during a 2-week period. Homes with low RH did have low mite-allergen content. In contrast, homes with intermediate RH levels had very variable mite-allergen content. Using analysis of variance and a logistic regression analysis, we were unable to identify any variable predictive of mite-allergen content. Thus, factors other than relative humidity seem to influence mite infestation. Moreover, the absence of association between mite infestation and ventilation rate might be accounted for by the gentle climate in our area with notable outdoor RH.

Allergens↗

PubMed1992

Relationship between spontaneous dyspnoea and lability of airway obstruction in asthma.

1. As marked lability of bronchial obstruction is a risk factor for asthma severity, it may influence dyspnoea, the most common subjective complaint in asthma. We therefore studied the relationship between spontaneous dyspnoea and the degree of bronchial lability, as assessed by the daily variability in peak expiratory flow rate and the bronchial responsiveness to either carbachol or salbutamol, in 33 stable symptomatic asthmatic patients. 2. Three times daily, for 10 consecutive days, the patients rated the intensity of their dyspnoea on a visual analogue scale and immediately afterwards recorded their peak expiratory flow rate. Within the next 5 days, we determined the bronchial response by measuring the forced expiratory volume in 1 s and the specific resistance of airways to either carbachol or salbutamol according to baseline airway obstruction. 3. We characterized dyspnoea for each patient by using two parameters: (1) the relationship with underlying airway obstruction, as assessed by the correlation coefficient r between dyspnoea scores and corresponding values of peak expiratory flow rate (r DSc-PEFR), and (2) the intensity, as assessed by the mean visual analogue scale dyspnoea score adjusted for comparable airway obstruction. Bronchial lability was characterized by (1) variability in mean daily peak expiratory flow rate and (2) bronchial responsiveness to either carbachol (as assessed by the threshold dose and the slope of the dose-response curve) or salbutamol (as assessed by the threshold dose and maximal response). We assessed the relationship between dyspnoea and bronchial lability by correlating each of their respective characteristics. 4. We found large inter-subject differences in both characteristics of dyspnoea.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Altitude and allergy to house-dust mites. A paradigm of the influence of environmental exposure on allergic sensitization.

To further investigate the possibility of a cause and effect relationship between exposure to house-dust mite (HDM) allergens and respiratory disease associated with dust mite sensitivity, we compared schoolchildren living in the Alps, where exposure to HDM is low, with those living at sea level, where it is high. The study included 933 schoolchildren from the fourth and fifth grades. The protocol included the standardized 1978 American Thoracic Society (ATS) questionnaire for children, skin testing using common aero-allergens and controls, and antigenic measurements of dust samples from mattresses (Group I antigen). The prevalence of asthma with positive skin test to HDM and the overall prevalence of positive skin test to HDM were significantly lower in mountain schoolchildren. The mean geometric HDM antigenic level in mattresses was much lower in the Alps (0.36 micrograms/g dust) than at sea level (15.8 micrograms/g dust). In contrast, the prevalence of hay fever and positive skin test to grass pollens as well as the overall prevalence of positive skin tests to grass pollens were significantly higher in the Alps. These data illustrate a striking relationship between exposure to environmental allergens and atopic sensitization.

Altitude↗

PubMed1990

Influence of the menstrual cycle on theophylline pharmacokinetics in asthmatics.

The effect of menstrual cycle on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline has been studied in 9 female asthmatic patients. At three different times during the cycle (first, tenth and twentieth days) each subject received an i.v. infusion of 240 mg theophylline. Significant changes were found in the kinetics of theophylline according to the menstrual cycle. The maximum plasma drug concentration, minimum mean residence time, and minimum elimination half-life were observed at mid-cycle. The lowest clearance was observed at D 20. The AUC and volume of distribution did not vary significantly during the cycle.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Manufacturer's information insert and subjective theophylline side-effects.

In Western Europe medicine packages contain an insert prepared by the manufacturer which enumerates the drug side-effects. We investigated the influence of this insert on alleged theophylline side-effects. Forty literate adult asthmatics were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 20 each): theophylline packages contained the manufacturer's insert in group A but not in group B. Theophylline was prescribed (10 mg.kg-1 body weight qd) for one week. During this period the patients filled a diary grading 13 different symptoms from 0 to 3; 5 of these symptoms were listed on the insert as theophylline side-effects. On the eighth day the patients were interviewed and theophylline blood levels measured. Theophylline side-effects were significantly more marked in group A than in group B, whereas the other symptoms were of similar magnitude. Eight patients prematurely stopped their treatment in group A vs 3 in group B, because of alleged intolerance. Theophylline blood levels did not differ significantly in the two groups; neither did they in the subgroup which stopped treatment and in the one which complied to prescription. We conclude that side-effects were suggested to the patients by the insert and/or that the insert increased their awareness of side-effects, with a subsequent detrimental influence upon compliance to therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Asthma and allergy to house-dust mites in populations living in high altitudes.

Do subjects living in high altitude where house-dust mites are known to be uncommon exhibit a lower prevalence of asthma and allergy to house-dust mites? To answer this question, we compared the prevalence rates of asthma and skin reactions to house-dust mites in two towns with contrasted environments: Marseille, located on the seashore, and Briançon, 1350 m in altitude. The study population consisted of a random sample of 4,008 people in Marseille and 1,055 people in Briançon. All subjects received a home questionnaire, and a sample of patients and asymptomatic subjects had a skin-prick test evaluation. The cumulative prevalence of asthma was equal to 4.1 percent in Marseille and 2.4 percent in Briançon, a difference which was significant (p = 0.01). The prevalence of positive skin tests to housedust mites in asymptomatic subjects was equal to 27.5 percent in Marseille and 10.2 percent in Briançon (p less than 0.001). This study supports the hypothesis that exposure to environmental factors may have a major influence on developing allergic diseases.

Adult↗

PubMed1988