Risk factors and characteristics of respiratory and allergic phenotypes in early childhood.

Background: Unsupervised approaches can be used to analyze complex respiratory and allergic disorders.

Objective: We investigated the respiratory and allergic phenotypes of children followed in the Pollution and Asthma Risk: An Infant Study (PARIS) birth cohort.

Methods: Information on respiratory and allergic disorders, medical visits, and medications was collected during medical examinations of children at 18 months of age; biomarker data were also collected (total and allergen-specific IgE levels and eosinophilia).

Can early household exposure influence the development of rhinitis symptoms in infancy? Findings from the PARIS birth cohort.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) has become the most prevalent chronic allergic disorder in childhood, and the role of environment has been questioned, particularly in early life.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for rhinitis symptoms in infants included in the PARIS (Pollution and Asthma Risk: an Infant Study) birth cohort.

Methods: Infants were invited to participate at age 18 months in a health examination conducted by a pediatrician.

Coverage and compliance of Human Papilloma Virus vaccines in Paris: demonstration of low compliance with non-school-based approaches.

Objective: To evaluate the coverage and compliance of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine in Paris.

Methods: We selected a female population living in Paris, between the ages of 14 and 23 years (French recommendations) on December 31st, 2008, that was affiliated to social security (n = 77,744). We evaluated the dynamic of HPV vaccine dose reimbursement between July 2007 and April/May 2009 for this population.

Prevalence of liver fibrosis and risk factors in a general population using non-invasive biomarkers (FibroTest).

Background: FibroTest and elastography have been validated as biomarkers of liver fibrosis in the most frequent chronic liver diseases and in the fibrosis screening of patients with diabetes. One challenge was to use them for estimating the prevalence of fibrosis, identifying independent risk factors and to propose screening strategies in the general population.

Methods: We prospectively studied 7,463 consecutive subjects aged 40 years or older.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in France in 2004: social factors are important predictors after adjusting for known risk factors.

To monitor the prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2004 among French metropolitan residents. A complex sampling design was used to enroll 14,416 adult participants aged 18-80 years. Data collected included demographic and social characteristics and risk factors.

Association between estrogen and androgen receptor genes and prostate cancer risk.

Objective: Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the principal causes of death among men. Steroid hormones are involved in normal prostate growth and carcinogenesis. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects on PC risk of polymorphisms from three steroid hormone receptor genes: the androgen (AR), and the alpha (ESR1) and beta (ESR2) estrogen receptors.

FEV1/FVC and FEV1 for the assessment of chronic airflow obstruction in prevalence studies: do prediction equations need revision?

Little is known on the long-term validity of reference equations used in the calculation of FEV(1) and FEV(1)/FVC predicted values. This survey assessed the prevalence of chronic airflow obstruction in a population-based sample and how it is influenced by: (i) the definition of airflow obstruction; and (ii) equations used to calculate predicted values. Subjects aged 45 or more were recruited in health prevention centers, performed spirometry and fulfilled a standardized ECRHS-derived questionnaire.

Combination of polymorphisms from genes related to estrogen metabolism and risk of prostate cancers: the hidden face of estrogens.

Purpose: The association between common functional polymorphisms from the CYP17, CYP19, CYP1B1, and COMT genes involved in the estrogen metabolism and the risk of prostate carcinoma was evaluated.

Patients And Methods: The study investigated 1,983 white French men (1,101 patients with prostate cancer and 882 healthy controls) aged between 40 and 98 years. The different alleles and genotypes were analyzed according to case-control status, aggressiveness pattern of the tumors, age at onset, and family history of cancers.

[Colorectal cancer: assessment of two-yearly screening of the population in health care examination centres].

Objective: To present the first assessment of the two-yearly faecal occult blood test used to screen patients attending health care centres for examinations. Method The Hemoccult II test was proposed by correspondence to 26 530 subjects aged 52-74 years, having exhibited a negative test during their periodical check-up 2 years before.

Results: The test was performed by 20 590 subjects and the corrected participation rate, taking into account unjustified sending, was of 83.

[Mammography use among women aged 35 to 75 years].

The aim of the study was to evaluate mammography use and indications (diagnosis or screening) among 19,253 women aged 35 to 75 attending a health screening centre. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire completed after by an interview with a nurse. Mammography use is frequent in women attending a health screening centre, even before the age of 50: 79.