[Emergency treatment of thoracic trauma]. / Erstversorgung bei Thoraxtrauma.

Thoracic trauma, most often associated with other serious injuries, is the main cause of death in the first 45 years of life. The percentage of chest injuries in multiple trauma, mainly from blunt impact, has remained relatively constant at 80% during the last 30 years. Isolated thoracic injuries comprise only 25% of all trauma cases, 90% of chest injuries are due to blunt impact, while penetrating injuries make up 5-10%. Since 25% of deaths from trauma are attributable to chest injuries, they determine the survival rate in multiple trauma to a significant extent. The pattern of chest injuries is variable, frequently in different combinations comprising rib cage and diaphragm, lung parenchyma, airway and mediastinal organs. This article details the immediate simultaneous diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the prehospital phase, management in the emergency room, the relative importance of computed tomography, ultrasound examination and endoscopy in the primary diagnostic evaluation and the principles of anaesthetic management of thoracic trauma.

Marine biosurfactants, I. Screening for biosurfactants among crude oil degrading marine microorganisms from the North Sea.

Three bacterial strains of marine origin were isolated during a screening for biosurfactants among n-alkane degrading microorganisms. One strain-identified as Alcaligenes sp. MM1-produced a novel glucose lipid. In the case of Arthrobacter sp. EK 1 the well-known trehalose tetraester was found as major component. From another pure culture classified as Arthrobacter sp. SI 1, extracellular emulsifying agents with properties indicating high molecular weight substances were detected. Furthermore trehalose corynomycolates were found at up to 2 g/l. The isolated biosurfactants showed good interfacial and emulsifying properties.

Marine biosurfactants, III. Toxicity testing with marine microorganisms and comparison with synthetic surfactants.

Eight synthetic and nine biogenetic surfactants were tested on their toxicity. Because of their possible application as oil dispersants against oil slicks on sea, the test organisms used were marine microorganisms (mixed and pure cultures of bacteria, microalgae, and protozoa). Bacterial growth was hardly effected or stimulated, whilst that of algae and flagellates was reduced. All substances tested were biodegraded in sea water. The bioluminescence of Photobacter phosphoreum (Microtox test) was the most sensitive test system used. A ranking shows that most biogenetic surfactants were less toxic than synthetic surfactants. No toxicity could be detected with the glucose-lipid GL, produced by the marine bacterium Alcaligenes sp. MM1.