Effects of propofol versus sevoflurane on surgical field visibility during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: During arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR), clear surgical field visibility (SFV) is the basis of successful surgery, but the choice of anesthesia maintenance drugs may have different effects on SFV. In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of propofol- and sevoflurane-based general anesthesia on SFV in patients undergoing ARCR. METHODS: Patients (n = 130) undergoing elective ARCR in the lateral decubitus position were randomized into either the propofol group or sevoflurane group (65 per group). The duration of surgery and increased pressure irrigation (IPI), Boezaart score, rocuronium consumption and usage of remifentanil were recorded. The time of both spontaneous respiration recovery and extubation and the incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting and agitation were also recorded. RESULTS: The Boezaart score, duration of IPI and ratio of the duration of IPI to the duration of surgery (IPI/S ratio) were similar between the groups (P > 0.05). Rocuronium consumption, number of patients requiring remifentanil infusion and total remifentanil consumption were significantly lower in the sevoflurane group (P < 0.05). The spontaneous respiration recovery time was significantly longer in the propofol group (P < 0.05), but there were no differences in the extubation time between the groups(P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with propofol, sevoflurane provides equally clear SFV while improving the convenience of anesthesia maintenance in ARCR patients with interscalene plexus (ISB) combined with general anesthesia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This single-center, prospective, RCT was retrospective registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the registration number ChiCTR2300072110 (02/06/2023).

Design and synthesis of proton-dopable organic semiconductors.

This paper shows how protonated 3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene moieties can be used as an end group to make organic conductors. An organic semiconductor 2,5-bis(5-(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-3-dodecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene is designed and synthesized. This molecule could be doped by protonic acid in both solution and solid-state, resulting in a broad absorption in the near-infrared range corresponding to polaron and bipolaron absorption. Electrical conductivity of ca. 0.1 S cm-1 was obtained at 100 °C (to avoid the water uptake by the acid). The adducts with protons bound at the end-thiophene α-position were confirmed by 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectra.

Biomethanation of blast furnace gas using anaerobic granular sludge via addition of hydrogen.

The high concentrations of CO (toxic) and CO2 (greenhouse gases) in blast furnace gas (a by-product of steelworks) reflect its low calorific value. In this study, anaerobic granular sludge was used to convert carbon from blast furnace gas to methane via exogenous hydrogen addition. The inhibition of methane production by CO partial pressure (P CO) was found to start from 0.4 atm. The intermediate metabolites from CO to methane including acetate, propionate, and H2 accumulated at higher CO concentrations in the presence of 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid. After the introduction of H2 and blast furnace gas, although the hydrogen partial pressure (P H2 ) up to 1.54 atm resulted in the maximum CH4 yield, the whole system was not stable due to the accumulation of a large amount of volatile fatty acids. The optimum P H2 on CH4 production from the simulated blast furnace gas, 5.32 mmol g-1 VSS, was determined at 0.88 atm in this study.