[Aorto-esophageal fistula. Apropos of a case].

One case of aortoesophageal fistula is presented. This pathology is rare: most of aortoenteric fistulas are in the duodenojujunum. Clinical presentation is rarely as clear as the Chiari triad describes it: mild thoracic pain, sentinel arterial hemorrhage and exsanguination.

[Biermer anemia associated with Kahler disease].

The authors report a simultaneous observation of Biermer's anaemia and myeloma in a 77 year old woman. There are now 22 cases known to this association. A relationship between the two immunological diseases was suggested but the authors think that there is no proof of such a relationship.

Clinical pharmacokinetics of cefotiam.

Cefotiam, a semisynthetic parenteral cephalosporin of the aminothiazole group, exhibits interesting properties: stability against hepatic metabolism and excellent solubility, accounting for an apparent volume of distribution 2 to 3 times higher than that of most other cephalosporins. Its degree of protein binding is about 40%. High concentrations of cefotiam are observed in several tissues (kidney, heart, ear, prostate and genital tract) as well as in fluids and secretions (bile, ascitic fluid).

[Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors: a new therapeutic approach in diabetes and functional hypoglycemia].

Acarbose, a potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, represents a new concept for the treatment of metabolic disorders, and particularly diabetes mellitus. It slows the absorption kinetics of dietary carbohydrates by reversible competitive inhibition of alpha-glucosidase activity, and so reduces the post-prandial blood glucose increment and insulin response. For these reasons, the drug has been successfully used not only in the treatment of type I or type II diabetes, but also in the management of reactive hypoglycemias and dumping syndrome.