The effect of the mixing ratio of curing agent to epoxy prepolymer on the isothermal polymerization of common epoxy systems has been characterized by ultrasonic spectroscopy. During polymerization, changes in longitudinal ultrasonic wave properties (velocity and attenuation) were observed. These changes were related to the glass transition temperature of the resins. The profile of velocity and attenuation clearly depended on the mixing ratio. In all resins, the wave attenuation exhibited a peak in the primary relaxation (α).

Our findings demonstrate that reduction of IAP to 4 mmHg using the retraction method prevents the transient renal dysfunction caused by prolonged 12 mmHg pneumoperitoneum during LC, suggesting that the retraction method reduces the risk of perioperative renal dysfunction during laparoscopic surgery.

An 84-year-old woman presented with ileus. Ultrasonography, a computed tomography scan, and small bowel contrast examination showed a Richter-type hernia in her left obturator orifice. Under general anesthesia, laparoscopic surgery with low-pressure (4mmHg) pneumoperitoneum was carried out using a peritoneal needle retractor, and a reduction of the strangulated intestinal loop was thus achieved. Because the hernial opening measured 5mm in diameter, it could be closed with four pieces of End-Universal stapler without polypropylene mesh. The ischemic ileum was resected, and the bowel was anastomosed extracorporeally with a minimal skin incision. She was ambulant on the first postoperative day, and her postoperative course was good. Obturator hernias are rare, but when a definitive diagnosis is made in such elderly patients, laparoscopic repair using the peritoneal needle retractor is recommended for minimally invasive surgery. We recommend doing the repair with an End-Universal stapler, since this procedure is more simple and useful for preventing infection than using polypropylene mesh in such a strangulated case.

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The products of the degradation of chlorhexidine by two chlorhexidine‐resistant strains of Achromobacter xylosoxidans, isolated from an ultrasonic hand washer, were identified by three‐dimensional HPLC. In the degradation process a pathway forming p‐chlorophenol, probably through p‐chloroaniline, was also observed, as was a pathway forming phenol and pyrogallol. The quantitative measurement of these products at their maximum absorption spectra by two‐dimensional HPLC suggested the presence of chlorhexidine‐degrading enzymes.