[Desflurane and errors of gas selection on vaporizer analyzer].

With monochromatic infrared gas spectrometers (MIS), the displayed concentration is computed from measured IR absorption and a gain factor specific for the selected volatile agent (VA). As MIS cannot detect which VA is actually present, the displayed concentration can be very different from the actual one. As bottles and vaporizers are very specific for desflurane, it is impossible to misfill a vaporizer; however an erroneous selection of VA on MIS remains possible.

Blood levels of water-soluble vitamins in pediatric patients on total parenteral nutrition using a multiple vitamin preparation.

Although guidelines for the parenteral use of vitamin preparations in pediatric patients have been published, there are very limited data on the efficiency of these preparations and on the exact needs of infants and children on total parenteral nutrition (TPN). We report here an open, prospective, study of the blood levels of water-soluble vitamins in infants and children on TPN before and during supplementation with a new water-soluble multivitamin formula containing per vial unit: B1, 3 mg; B2, 3.6 mg; B6, 4 mg; niacin, 40 mg; pantothenate, 15 mg; ascorbate, 100 mg; biotin, 60 micrograms; folic acid, 400 micrograms; B12, 5 micrograms.

[Acute pancreatitis and biochemical markers. Isoamylase].

Amylase activity in blood and urine, lipase activity in blood, and amylase/creatinine clearance ratio have been prospectively compared in order to test these parameters against estimation of pancreatic isoamylase. Pancreatic isoamylase had been evaluated by inhibition methodology and not by electrophoresis. One hundred patients admitted for strictly sus-umbilical abdominal pain in emergency unit have been studied.