S18Y polymorphism in the UCH-L1 gene and Parkinson's disease: evidence for an age-dependent relationship.

We studied the relationship between Parkinson's disease (PD) and the S18Y polymorphism in the UCH-L1 gene and the effect on this relationship of age at onset, smoking, and pesticides. Patients requested free health coverage for PD to the Mutualité Sociale Agricole (MSA), the French health insurance organization for people whose work is related to agriculture. Controls requested reimbursement of health expenses to the MSA.

Association between Parkinson's disease and polymorphisms in the nNOS and iNOS genes in a community-based case-control study.

Excess of nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to exert neurotoxic impacts in the brain. Moreover, inhibition of two NO-synthesizing enzymes, neuronal NOS (nNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS), displays neuroprotective effects in the MPTP model of Parkinson's disease (PD). These data suggest a possible involvement of NOS as factors controlling the resistance of the nigral dopaminergic neurons to environmental insults.

Day-care, early common infections and childhood acute leukaemia: a multicentre French case-control study.

We conducted a case-control study to investigate the role of early infections in the aetiology of childhood acute leukaemias. The study included 280 incident cases (240 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and 40 acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemia) and 288 hospital controls, frequency matched by age, gender, hospital, catchment area of the hospital and ethnic origin. Data were obtained from standardised face-to-face interviews of the mothers.

Family cancer history and risk of childhood acute leukemia (France).

Objective: A case-control study was carried out to investigate the role of a family history of solid tumor or hematologic neoplasm in the etiology of childhood acute leukemia.

Methods: Family cancer history in first- and second-degree relatives was compared in 279 incident cases (242 cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia and 37 of acute myeloid leukemia) and 285 controls. Recruitment was stratified by age, gender, hospital, area of residence, and ethnic origin.

Cigar, pipe, and cigarette smoking and bladder cancer risk in European men.

Objective: Estimating the risk of bladder cancer from cigar and pipe smoking is complicated by a small number of non-cigarette smokers included in most relevant studies.

Methods: We undertook a pooled analysis of the data on men from six published case-control studies from Denmark, France, Germany, and Spain, to assess the association between pipe and cigar smoking and bladder cancer, and to compare it with the risk from cigarette smoking. Complete history of tobacco smoking was ascertained separately for cigarettes, cigars, and pipe.

Occupational exposure to solvents and hairy cell leukaemia.

Objectives: The role of occupational exposures in hairy cell leukaemia was investigated through a multicentre, hospital based, case-control study. This paper analyses the role of exposure to solvents other than benzene in hairy cell leukaemia.

Methods: The study included 226 male cases and 425 matched controls, exposure to solvents was evaluated by expert case by case review of the detailed data on occupational exposures generated by specific interviews.

Hairy cell leukaemia and occupational exposure to benzene.

Objectives: The role of occupational exposures in hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) was investigated through a multicentre, hospital based, case-control study. This paper analyses the role of exposure to benzene in HCL.

Methods: A population of 226 male cases of HCL and 425 matched controls were included in the study.

Farming, pesticide use and hairy-cell leukemia.

Objectives: This paper analyzes the role of farming and pesticide exposures in the occurrence of hairy-cell leukemia (HCL).

Methods: The study included 226 men with HCL and 425 matched hospital referents. Pesticide exposure was assessed by expert review of detailed interview data on occupational histories and agricultural activities and exposures.

Hairy cell leukaemia, occupation, and smoking.

The roles of farm practices, occupational exposures to organic solvents, and ionizing radiation in the risk of hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) were examined in a French hospital-based multicentre case-control study including 291 cases (229 men and 62 women) and 541 controls (425 men and 116 women). No positive association was observed with occupations involving exposure to organic solvents or with self-declared exposures to solvents, but a significant association with self-reported exposure to petrol or diesel was found for men (OR = 1.5 CI95% [1.

Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the risk of bladder cancer: a French case-control study.

Background: The risk of bladder cancer has been shown to be increased in occupations which are likely to involve exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), but up to now, most studies have considered this exposure in terms of job title.

Methods: A hospital-based case-control study of 658 male cases of bladder cancer and 658 male controls was carried out in five areas of France from 1984 to 1987. For each subject, occupational exposure to PAH was assessed from questionnaires by an expert according to a semi-quantitative index of exposure.

Occupational risks of bladder cancer in France: a multicentre case-control study.

The relationships between occupational risk factors in France and bladder cancer were assessed from a hospital-based case-control study conducted between 1984 and 1987 in five regions representing various industries, including mining, textile manufacture, metallurgy and the production of rubber and chemicals. The study concerned 765 cases (658 men and 107 women) and the same number of controls. Odds ratios (OR) adjusted for matching variables (age, place of residence and hospital), and tobacco smoking were estimated by unconditional logistic regression.

Standardization in the retrospective evaluation by experts of occupational exposure to organic solvents in a population-based case-control study.

Epidemiologists carrying out retrospective evaluation of occupational exposure to solvents often use experts to assist in drawing up and interpreting structured questionnaires. However the epidemiologist cannot pass complete responsibility to the expert for deciding on the relative importance of the different exposure variables. Expert assessment of exposure to organic solvents was carried out in a population-based case-control study.

Endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux prior to renal transplantation.

Endoscopic subureteral injection of Teflon was done in 34 potential renal transplant recipients to correct vesicoureteral reflux. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 24 months. After one injection reflux was corrected in 53.

[Natural history of renal calcium lithiasis. Data obtained from a cohort of 667 patients].

Between January 1st, 1988 and May 31st, 1989, 667 patients (419 men, 248 women) with radioopaque, non cystinic and apparently idiopathic (lack of severe renal disease) renal stones were entered in a prospective study. The data obtained at entry enabled us to build up, retrospectively, a quantified presentation of the natural history of calcium nephrolithiasis. At the time the disease was discovered the patients' mean age was 40.

[Results of endoscopic treatment of primary vesico-ureteral reflux with a follow-up of 2-5 years].

34 patients treated by endoscopic injection of Teflon for vesico-ureteric reflux were reviewed with a follow-up of 2 to 5 years. 45 of the 48 treated ureters showed no signs of reflux, i.e.

Coffee consumption and bladder cancer risk.

The relationship between coffee drinking and the risk of bladder cancer was analyzed within the framework of a French hospital-based case-control study conducted between 1984 and 1987, which included 690 cases of histologically confirmed bladder cancer (599 males and 91 females), and 690 age-, sex- and hospital-matched controls. To dissociate the effects of smoking and coffee drinking among males, the analysis of the male group was restricted to 2 contrasted subgroups: non-smokers on the one hand, and current smokers and inhalers of black tobacco cigarettes on the other. Coffee drinking was found to be significantly associated with the risk of bladder cancer among men in both groups and the increase in the risk was dose-dependent (OR = 1, 2.

Tobacco and bladder cancer in males: increased risk for inhalers and smokers of black tobacco.

Relationships between risk of bladder cancer and tobacco smoking were assessed from a hospital-based case-control study conducted in France from 1984 to 1987. Smoking history was analyzed for 954 male patients (477 cases and 477 controls). The odds ratio (OR) of bladder cancer was estimated at 3.

[Serum zinc and copper in hypercholesterolemia].

For some authors, absolute or relative copper deficiency, with an elevated plasmatic zinc/copper ratio, could be a risk factor in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases by altering lipid metabolism. Animal or human studies carried out with zinc and/or copper supplemented or deficient diets on biochemical lipid parameters, led to inconsistent results. Nevertheless, no study was already done in hypercholesterolemic patients, concerning possible correlation between serum levels of these trace elements and cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B blood levels.