[Responsibility of psychotropic drugs in road accidents].

Serum concentrations of psychotropic drugs were measured in 363 drivers injured in road accidents and admitted to the emergency department of Angers regional university hospital. The figures obtained were correlated to the presumed responsibility of each driver in the accident. Benzodiazepines and phenobarbitone were found in the serum of 39 drivers, and responsibility was significantly increased in this group.

[Bisalbuminemia (author's transl)].

After a review of first two causes of bisalbuminemia: genetic mutation and overdosage during antibiotherapy with beta-lactamines, the authors underline the importance of searching for a bisalbuminemia during the course of pancreatic disease or when confronted with a serous collection, particularly an ascite of undetermined origin. Effectively, the finding of a bisalbuminemia in these two circumstances, after having eliminated the first two etiologies, permits the confirmation of the diagnostic of a pancreatic fistula. This diagnostic should imply exploratory surgery, even without other confirmation, and a per-op.

[Therapy of fungal septicemia and bounds (author's transl)].

The authors present the results of therapy in 26 cases of fungal septicemia occurring in a 2,471 patients population with 169 septicemia, over a 9 year period in a surgical intensive care service. An analysis of the etiology, clinical and paraclinical factors confirms the notions classically described in the literature. Three points are particularly insisted upon: 1) The effectiveness of preventive measures; 2) The monitoring of the therapy and its tolerance by means of a simple protocol; 3) The eventual possibility of an haematologic toxicity by flucytosine, the primary and secondary resistances to this anti-fungal agent.