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The occurrences of pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum are rare, but considered to be potentially life-threatening conditions in patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery under general anesthesia. Tracheobronchial rupture may results in serious complications, such as pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. It may occur accidentally by endotracheal tube when the patient's neck is flexed or extended. We report the case of a 48-year-old female patient who developed massive subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum seven hours after functional endoscopic sinus surgery under general anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We compared clinical properties and patient satisfaction between spinal anesthesia and popliteal sciatic nerve block (PSNB) for hallux valgus surgery. Methods: Forty patients undergoing hallux valgus surgery were divided into spinal group (spinal anesthesia with 2.5 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine [n = 20]) and PSNB group (PSNB with 30 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine mixed with 10 ml of normal saline solution using a nerve stimulator [n = 20]). The PSNB group used a patient-controlled-analgesia (PCA) pump for postoperative pain control. The quality and side effects were compared between the two groups. A questionnaire was used to evaluate patient satisfaction with the use of anesthetic techniques and postoperative pain control in the PSNB group. This study was assessed 3 days postoperatively by a blinded observer. Results: Procedure time and time from anesthesia until start of sugery were significantly shorter in the spinal group than those in the PSNB group (P < 0.01). Anesthesia-related complications such as hypotension, bradycardia, shivering, nausea/vomitting, post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) and urinary retension were observed in 15%, 10%, 5%, 5%, 10%, and 20% of patients in the spinal group, respectively. PSNB was not associated with these complications. Patient satisfaction was slightly higher for PSNB than for spinal anesthesia. In the PSNB group, patient satisfaction with postoperative pain-control was 95% above ordinary satisfaction. Conclusions: Despite the long duration of the procedure, PSNB is relatively safe, provides an adequate level of anesthesia, effectively controls postoperative pain and reduces side effects. Therefore, PSNB could be a potential anesthetic technique for hallux valgus surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new cultivar of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) with wrinkled traverse elliptic and deep red leaf, 'Chunpungjeokchukmyeon' which has late bolting and deep red expression leaf color was developed from a cross between 'Pojabijeokchukmyeon' (red leaf color and late bolting) and 'Meokchima' (Deep red and low yield). The cross and selection for advanced lines had been done by the pedigree method during 2000-2007. The advanced lines were evaluated for yield and adaptability at several locations in Korea (Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, Jeollabuk-do, Gyeongnam-do, and Jeju-do) from 2008 to 2009. The 'Chunpungjeokchukmyeon' has gray seed color and traverse elliptic leaves. The type of matured stage is medium shape between 'chukmyeon' and 'chima' leaf lettuce. Compared to 'Dukseomjeokchukmyeon', marketable yield of 'Chunpungjeokchukmyeon' was higher by 6% (at 372 g per plant) and 'Chunpungjeokchukmyeon' has particularly improved expression of deep red leaf color in high temperature cultivation in the field. The shelf-life of 'Chunpungjeokchukmyeon' was three weeks longer than 'Dukseomjeokchukmyeon' at 4?. The anthocyanin content of 'Chunpungjeokchukmyeon' was higher than that of 'Dukseomjeokchukmyeon' with 17.5 mg/100g. The BSL (latucin+8-deoxylactucin+lactucopicrin) content of 'Chunpungjeokchukmyeon' is lower than that of 'Dukseomjeokchukmyeon'. Furthermore, its taste is better, more crispy, and sweeter than those of 'Dukseomjeokchukmyeon'. So we recommend that new cultivar 'Chunpungjeokchukmyeon' can be suitable for cultivation in spring season than summer season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of wood flour content, coupling agent and stress loading level on the creep behavior of wood flour–polypropylene composites was investigated. Maleated polypropylene (MAPP; Epolene G-3003™) was used as the coupling agent to treat the wood flour used as reinforcing filler for polypropylene composite. The tensile strength and modulus of various wood flour–polypropylene composites (WPCs), manufactured using the melt blending, extrusion, and palletizing methods, were measured before performing the creep test. The residual tensile strength, creep strain, and fractional deflection of the resultant wood flour–polypropylene composites were measured by means of the creep test. It was shown that the tensile strength decreased with increasing wood flour level in the composites. The creep strain also decreased as the wood flour level increased. The presence of the coupling agent increased the tensile strength of the wood flour–polypropylene composites, compared with the specimens made of pure polypropylene. For those composites containing the coupling agent, the creep deflection was significantly lower than those made without any coupling agent. The creep strains of the WPC specimens observed during the creep test fitted perfectly with the four-element burger creep model. Further investigation is required of the effects of combined mechanical and environmental loading in varying proportions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]