Divided attention in young drivers under the influence of alcohol.

INTRODUCTION: The present research evaluates driving impairment linked to divided attention task and alcohol and determines whether it is higher for novice drivers than for experienced drivers. METHOD: Novice and experienced drivers participated in three experimental sessions in which blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) were 0.0 g/L, 0.2 g/L, and 0.5 g/L. They performed a divided attention task with a main task of car-following task and an additional task of number parity identification. Driving performance, response time and accuracy on the additional task were measured. RESULTS: ANOVA showed a driving impairment and a decrease in additional task performance from a BAC of 0.5 g/L, particularly for novice drivers. Indeed, the latter adopt more risky behavior such as tailgating. In the divided attention task, driving impairment was found for all drivers and impairment on information processing accuracy was highlighted, notably in peripheral vision. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The divided attention task used here provides a relevant method for identifying the effects of alcohol on cognitive functions and could be used in psychopharmacological research.

[So-called pocket-sized spirometry versus respiratory function tests: a comparative study of vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second and Tiffeneau's coefficient]. / "Spirométrie de poche" contre épreuves fonctionnelles respiratoires: étude comparative de la capacité vitale, du volume expiré maximum-seconde et du coefficient de Tiffeneau.

A simplified preoperative respiratory assessment was carried out in order to assess the reliability of a pocket-sized spirometer. 30 patients were each tested using two methods: 1) the traditional extensive laboratory lung function tests and 2) a bedside test using a pocket-sized spirometer, which measured the vital capacity (VC), the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), the peak flow (PEF) and the ratio of FEV1 to VC. The correlation between the two series of VC and FEV1 measurements was highly significant (p less than 0.001). Therefore, these two parameters could be considered as reliable when testing was performed at the bedside. However, the sensitivity of the FEV1/VC ratio was decreased; in three of the patients, the significance of this third parameter was not the same with the two methods. Measurements of peak flow were only collected at the bedside, and a statistical comparison was not established. Analysis of this last parameter always allowed us to confirm or not an obstructive syndrome when the values of FEV1 or FEV1/VC were in disagreement. The pocket-sized spirometer would seem to be a simple and reliable means of diagnosing respiratory insufficiency, its type (obstructive or restrictive) and its seriousness.

[Severe confusion following a theophylline-cimetidine combination]. / Etat confusionnel grave lors de l'association théophylline-cimétidine.

Cimetidine and theophylline were given together to a 67 year old chronic bronchitic post-operatively: the patient became very confused, shook of all his limbs, vomited, and presented a tachycardia. The greater than normal blood levels of theophylline (27.8 mg . 1(-1) confirmed its involvement in this clinical state. But, as there was no real overdose, the simultaneous administration of cimetidine was probably responsible for inducing this state. Three days after stopping this treatment, the disorder had completely disappeared.