PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Freour

Publications and source records attributed to P Freour.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Attitudes of French cardiologists towards smoking].

The object of this study was to evaluate the attitudes and opinions of French cardiologists towards smoking. A postal enquiry was performed with the aid of the French Society of Cardiology and the French Federation of Cardiology in 1993 using a questionnaire developed by the World Health Organisation and the International Union against Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (IUATRD). Seven hundred and thirty cardiologists replied (34% of the study population). The average age was 47 +/- 9 years; 84% were male. The prevalence of smoking was 27% (14% daily smokers and 13% occasional smokers); 47% were former smokers and 26% had never smoked. The proportion of physicians who had never smoked was higher in the younger age groups (29 to 45 years) than in the older age groups (33% versus 21% in the over 45). Forty-two per cent of daily smokers had tried seriously to stop smoking at least once but only 16% hoped to stop smoking in the following 5 years. Young cardiologists were more aware of the cardiovascular and respiratory diseases related to tobacco consumption. Only 64% of cardiologists (54% of daily smokers) systematically warned a smoker if the patient had no tobacco-related illness or did not ask about smoking systematically. Forty-seven per cent of those who replied stated that they were underinformed about the methods of helping patients to stop smoking. The authors conclude that fewer French cardiologists smoke than their general practitioner counterparts (14% of daily smokers versus 21%). They have a better understanding of the respiratory and cardiovascular risks of tobacco consumption but seem to be insufficiently prepared to help their patients to stop smoking. In addition, their personal behaviour with regards to smoking influences their attitude towards patients who smoke.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Attitudes and opinions of French cardiologists towards smoking.

To assess attitudes and opinions of French cardiologists towards tobacco, a postal survey was performed in 1993 of all members of the French Society of Cardiology using a questionnaire designed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Union against tuberculosis and lung diseases (IUATLD) for health professionals. 730 cardiologists responded to the mailing. The mean age of them was 47 + or - 9 years, 84% were males. The prevalence of smoking was 27% (14% daily smokers and 13% occasionally smokers). There were more never smokers in age group < 45 than in those aged 45 and more (33% vs 21%). Of daily smokers, 42% claimed to have made a serious attempt to stop smoking, but only 16% expected to have stopped within five years of the survey. French cardiologists aged 29-45 years had a better knowledge of tobacco related respiratory and cardiovascular diseases than those over 45 years old. Only 64% (54% of daily smokers) would counsel a patient to stop smoking if he did not have a smoking related illness and did not himself raise the question. 53% thought they had sufficient knowledge to advise their patients on stopping smoking. The results compared to those of the French general practitioners survey, showed a lower prevalence of daily smokers. French cardiologists especially those aged 29-45, have a better knowledge of the risk of cardiovascular diseases. But only 64% of them would advise any smoker patients. These results also demonstrated the influence of personal smoking on the attitude of cardiologists towards smoker patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Actual usage of medical facilities by asthmatics in two French rural settings: a preliminary study.

Until recently the medical management of asthmatic patients with respect to their socio-cultural environment had only been superficially studied. Four hundred and fifty eight adult asthmatics were identified through a two-stage questionnaire in two rural districts of south west France. The study has mainly demonstrated: 1) the large number of subjects experiencing more than one attack per week (33% in Gironde, 40% in Lot et Garonne); 2) the large number of subjects feeling disabled in their occupational and day-to-day life (52% in Gironde, 54% in Lot et Garonne); 3) the absence of a relationship between the severity of the disease and the use of medical facilities in the community. Despite the frequency of the attacks and the perceived disability, 27% of the patients felt that their asthma did not require any treatment and up to 60% did not seek medical help even during an attack; 4) the role of population density, type of dwelling and social status in the management of asthma. We conclude that under-treatment is widespread in these two rural settings and is closely related with the association of at least two of these three characteristics: 1) living in a low population density area; 2) living in an isolated dwelling; and 3) being a farm owner.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Smoking habits and attitudes of medical students towards smoking and antismoking campaigns in fourteen European countries.

From an ongoing global international survey we present the results for 14 European countries. The survey was carried out through a WHO-based questionnaire given to the students at the beginning of their first year and during the course of their final year. Daily smokers comprised 13.7% in first year and 21.5% in final year, with an overall variation between 3 and 33% according to country. There were already 16% of ex-smokers among first year students. More than 50% of smokers had made attempts to quit. 60% of daily smokers, and almost all others, thought that they would no longer be smoking in five years time. Knowledge of aetiology was moderate in first year. It later improved but there remained many lacunae in final year, e.g. less than 30% were aware that smoking was a cause of coronary artery disease. There was little knowledge of public health measures for smoking control. Attitudes were greatly influenced by smoking; ex-smokers were similar to non-smokers, with occasional smokers intermediate between these and daily smokers. Only 25% accepted a preventive and educative role in advising patients. As regards smoking, students were concerned with their personal health and with advising patients whom they knew to have smoking-related disease, but in general had little conception of smoking as a public health problem. The differences between countries indicate that both habits and attitudes are social and cultural problems. In most of the centres there seemed to be much room for improvement of medical education in this field.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1988

Respiratory function and bronchial reactivity in mill workers.

Professional exposure to vegetable dusts affect the respiratory function of the exposed subjects. A previous survey conducted in an industrial flour-mill demonstrated a higher frequency of respiratory symptoms in workers compared to a control group. Ten subjects employed in a work site particularly exposed to dust were studied. Each subject answered a questionnaire and performed on Mondays and Fridays, at the beginning and end of his work shift, a flow volume curve and an isocapnic hyperventilation test. The aerobiology of the professional environment was also measured. We noted: 1) in the flow volume curves: a drop in the FEV1 during the Monday morning shift, a significant difference between the FEV1 (p less than 0.05) and the MMEFR 25-75 (p less than 0.05) measured at 6 am on Monday and Friday, and between the MMEFR 25-75 values obtained at 12 noon on Monday and Friday (p less than 0.05). 2) after isocapnic hyperventilation, a significant drop in the MMEFR 25-75 at 6 am on Monday (p less than 0.01) and in the FEV1 and MMEFR 25-75 at 12 noon on Mondays (p less than 0.05), a significant drop in the FEV1 at 1 pm on Monday (p less than 0.01).

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Multicenter study of the clinical efficacy and tolerance of roxithromicin compared to doxycycline in lower respiratory infections].

In a double-blind, randomised investigation in 305 in-patients, roxithromycin and doxycycline were compared in two groups of patients with low respiratory tract infections. Three hundred cases were analyzable for safety and 276 for clinical efficacy. Mean duration of treatment was 9 days in both groups. Clinical effectiveness was 83% (112/135) for roxithromycin (150 mg bd) and 84% (118/141) for doxycycline (200 mg once daily), the difference not being statistically significant. A 90% clinical response rate was obtained with roxithromycin in pneumoniae. Safety and tolerance were good and comparable in both groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Prevention of exercise-induced asthma by oxitropium bromide.

A vagal mechanism appears to be involved in the development of exercise-induced asthma (EIA), although previous studies have failed to demonstrate a protective effect of anticholinergic drugs against post-exercise bronchoconstriction. To reassess this hypothesis the effect of a new anticholinergic drug, Oxitropium Bromide (OTB) has been studied in ten subjects with documented EIA. There was no change after inhalation of a placebo. Administration of OTB led to bronchodilatation and totally blocked post-exercise bronchoconstriction in 7 patients, and it did so partly in 2. The response to the drug appeared to depend on pretest respiratory function. Thus, the anticholinergic drug OTB may protect against EIA in most patients, confirming the role of a vagal cholinergic mechanism in EIA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Platelet kinetics in stable atopic asthmatic patients.

The kinetics of platelets labeled with indium-111 were investigated in 13 healthy subjects as well as in 9 patients in the asymptomatic interattack stage of asthma. The survival times of platelets in healthy subjects was 8.9 +/- 1 days; in asthmatic subjects it was 4.7 +/- 1.3 days (p less than 0.001). The survival curve is of a biexponential form in asthmatics, thus suggesting the presence of 2 populations: one with a short life span (23 +/- 7 h), representing a third of the total population (33 +/- 9%), and the other with a normal life span. No single preferred site of platelet sequestration was found. These results suggest the presence of functional or anatomic lesions of platelets in asthmatic patients, which can be explained only hypothetically at the present time.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Bromocriptine in Parkinson's disease: pleuropulmonary toxicity].

The authors report a case of pleuro-pulmonary fibrosis after 9 months of high dose bromocriptine therapy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. When the drug was stopped there was a significant improvement of the clinical state with complete regression of chest pain and dyspnea of effort. The major inflammatory biological syndrome disappeared completely. Chest X-rays showed partial improvement with signs of pleural pneumonitis. The results of ventilatory and respiratory function tests stabilised. After one year follow-up, the causal relationship of this iatrogenic pathology has therefore been established. The initial diagnostic problems are stressed, particularly with respect to malignant disease (mesothelioma) when there has been exposure to asbestos, as in our case. The early stages must be carefully looked for so as to prevent fibrosing complications. The presence of immune complexes in our case could indicate immuno-allergic mechanism.

Bromocriptine↗
PubMed1984

Treatment of adult asthma: controlled double-blind clinical trial of oxitropium bromide.

Sixteen young adult sufferers from extrinsic paroxysmal asthma with pollen hypersensitivity took part in a therapeutic trial of the synthetic anticholinergic agent oxitropium bromide administered by a metered dose inhaler. The study comprised three 3-week periods. The first, run-in period was carried out to confirm the ability of the patients to maintain a daily record of symptoms. During the second and third periods, the patient received 3 X 2 inhalations of drug or placebo in a cross-over design. The medical staff was blind to the nature of the aerosol (drug or placebo), which was given in random order. The run-in clinical score was high. Asymptomatic days were relatively infrequent and daily drug consumption was high. Functional studies between the cross-over periods showed flow-rate values close to normal, with an increase in residual volume and functional residual capacity. During treatment either with placebo or oxitropium, there was a statistically significant decrease in clinical scores. Results for oxitropium bromide treatment were significantly better than the run-in values (p less than 0.005) and the placebo period (p less than 0.02). There was no significant change in non-trial drug consumption. Functional values showed no difference in terms of flow rate, although oxitropium did cause a significant improvement in the RV/TLC ratio (p less than 0.05). No adverse reactions were reported.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1978

[Bronchofibroscopy. 6 questions, 6 fundamental answers].

The authors report the aims, methods, techniques of sampling and the tolerance of broncho-fibroscopy, correlating literature and their personal experience of a thousand examinations. They consider it a very simple examination which without any inconvenience can be used in very serious cases as well as for out-patients. They insist on the technique of biopsy and directed aspiration and demonstrate that with experience the yield of the method can be improved. They conclude by saying that a histo-cytological diagnosis can be made in 95% of cases of bronchial cancers. In their experience, tolerance to this examination is always very good.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1976

[Mediastinopulmonary sarcoidosis; the indications for corticosteroid therapy].

The authors, following prolonged observation for from one to ten years, on average 5 years, of 60 cases of thoracic sarcoidosis, of lymph node or miliary type, propose a therapeutic attitude which, although not new, is frankly oriented towards therapeutic abstinence in the lymph node forms, and very restricted indications for hormone therapy in the miliary forms. In this respect, they agree with many authors, in particular English language authors, who consider that corticosteroid therapy is only justified in the acute forms, with a disturbance of general health and characteristic functional involvement. Such an attitude may appear shocking to those who tend to prescribe corticosteroids for their immediate efficacy, but in the long-term, it appears justified.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗