[Food allergy in the chronic alcoholic and alcohol in food allergy: apropos of 38 cases]. / L'allergie alimentaire chez l'alcoolique chronique et l'alcool dans l'allergie alimentaire: à propos de 38 cas.

Exacerbation or appearance of hypersensitivity of food origin in chronic alcoholics appears to be linked to a basis of catabolism of histamine, a facilitation of penetration of allergens under the impetus of the mucosa-irritating power of alcohol and its potential as a histamine-liberator; it results frequently in an elevated total IgE that predisposes to conflictual sub-cutaneous mechanisms, so explaining the easy appearance or exacerbation of food allergies. We have used skin tests of the principal food allergens to evaluate the influence of alcohol in the development of allergies, by determining the allergy profile of each patient and consequently, the titres of total IgE. Our results show the potentiating role in the physiopathology of allergy and food intolerance without which it helps as much by an evident inducing role in the appearance of true food allergy.

[The physician-pharmacist team in the education of patients concerning inhalant therapy]. / Duo medecin-pharmacien dans l'education du malade face aux therapeutiques inhalees.

The value of educational measures in consideration of the asthmatic patient appeared at first twenty years ago to the eyes of clinical physicians, generalists or specialists. Round about the year 76 the first associations for asthmatic patients were born, under pressure from pneumologists, with the aim of clarifying their illness to asthmatics, to counsel them and especially to enable them to associate their symptoms with their treatment, to assure them of a ready availability of materials more or less onerous to test, aerosolizers, nebulizers, ionizers of the environment, peak flow meters, inhalation chambers, acaricides.... Twenty years after these pioneers of this education of the patient to these responsibilities, the associations devoted to asthma as well as schools of asthma have recently been instigated in order to complete the venture on the ground, often with only feeble means. It is hardly necessary to make an illusion: asthmatic patients, children or adults within these associations are always the same: it is those who are prepared to stir themselves to take part in meetings. There remains the great majority of asthmatics who necessarily need a particular treatment that is adapted to their personal case: it is the duo of physician-pharmacist which is and which constitutes always the best point of impact to devote the time necessary at the best appropriate moment. Such is the aim of this presentation which should not be considered as a return to the past, but an advance towards the individualized formulation of patients by benefitting from the former experiences of corporative formations.

[Value of esophageal scintigraphy in exploration of a gastro-esophageal reflux in a respiratory patient]. / Intérêt de la scintigraphie oesophagienne dans l'exploration d'un reflux gastro-oesophagien chez le patient respiratoire.

Patients with respiratory pathologies in the forms of tracheitis, rhino-sinusitis, and asthma sometimes have symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux, that should be taken into consideration in order to treat the co-factors associated with the etiopathology. However, these patients, because of their respiratory handicaps, are frequently unwilling to submit themselves to traumatic investigations. Oesophageal scintigraphy, because of its perfect tolerance and reliability, seems to be an examination that is adapted to the situation to resolve this dilemma.

[History-taking of the allergic patient]. / L'interrogatoire du malade allergique.

Etiological diagnosis of an allergic condition is assured mostly clinically and in particular by the data from a specific and minute interrogation. Complementary investigations only confirm the diagnostic suspicion produced by this interrogation, which includes several essential steps: The history of the patient from the first symptom to the day of consultation. The common criteria of unity of time, place or action on the different manifestations of hypersensitivity. The provocation factors and improvement of critical episodes. The mode of life of the subject and the factors of environmental imbalance.