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Thoracic epidural anaesthesia followed by postoperative epidural analgesia is increasingly being used for abdominal, major vascular and cardiothoracic surgery. The objective of thoracic block is not solely to block noxious afferent stimuli from the surgical site, but to impart a bilateral selective thoracic sympathectomy. Provision of pain relief and sympatholysis of such magnitude that allows patients to cough, breath deeply, drink and mobilize can contribute to enhanced postoperative outcomes such as improved respiratory function, reduction in ileus and protein sparing. The challenge is how to translate the encouraging results of randomized controlled studies and meta-analyses into clinical practice. Provision of sufficient intraoperative epidural anaesthesia such that the patient awakes pain-free and maintenance of a continuous bilateral sensory block covering the entire surgical site for several days is not an easy task. The aim of this review is to discuss the practical issues related to thoracic epidural analgesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of European Journal of Wood & Wood Products / Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The assessment of propofol to produce diurnal sedation in critically ill patients.Design: Prospective clinical study.Setting: Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital.Patients and Participants: Thirty consecutive patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit older than 18 years who were expected to be sedated for more than 50 h.Interventions: The patients were randomised into two groups. All received sedation with a constant background infusion of morphine and a variable infusion rate of propofol, which was altered hourly to maintain the intended sedation score. The first group received constant light sedation (CLS) over 50 h aiming for a Ramsay score of 2-3. The second group received CLS between 0600 h and 2200 h and additional night sedation (ANS) with propofol between 2200 h and 0600 h, aiming for a sedation score of 4-5.Measurements and Results: Patients were studied for 50 h from 1800 h on the first day of admission. Recordings of heart rate, blood pressure, sedation scores and propofol and morphine infusion rates were made hourly. An APACHE II score was recorded for each patient. Sedation scores were analysed by blind visual assessment and cosinor analysis, which is used in chronobiology to examine the correlation of data with a cosine curve. Patients in the ANS group had significantly better rhythmicity of sedation levels using cosinor analysis (r = 26% v 8%) p < 0.01. There was no difference between the CLS and ANS groups with respect to age, sex or APACHE II scores. Nine out of 15 patients in the ANS group achieved diurnal sedation. Three patients in the CLS group showed diurnal rhythmicity of sedation, which can be attributed to natural sleep, and had a median APACHE II score of 12. Five patients in the CLS group and three in the ANS group showed a deep constant sedation pattern. They had high APACHE II scores (median 21.5) and an obtunded conscious level on admission due to severe sepsis.Conclusion: Propofol can safely provide diurnal sedation in the critically ill when titrated against the Ramsay score. Sedation levels cannot be manipulated in some severely ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantum efficiency of photosynthesis was measured between 270 mμ and 435 mμ by a polarographic method. Quantum efficiencies of 0.067 oxygen molecules per quantum in the near ultraviolet, drop rapidly below 350 mμ as the absorption of non-photosynthetic cell components compete with chlorophyll for the incident light quanta. Photosynthetic oxygen evolution could not be shown below 270 mμ by the present method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comparative sensitivity of several algae, during growth, to 2537 Å is as follows: (1) a low sensitivity during the lag phase of growth, followed by an increase during the logarithmic phase of growth, and (2) a decline in sensitivity during the stationary phase of growth. There is a concomitant change in pigment content which parallels the impairment of photosynthesis by 2537 Å. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]