The genome of the organism that produces the world's most lethal toxin has been revealed. This toxin is the major weapon in the genome of Clostridium botulinum: less than two kg is enough to kill every person on the planet.
Tension pneumothorax: The most serious type of pneumothorax, this occurs when the pressure in the pleural space is greater than the atmospheric pressure, either because air becomes trapped in the pleural space or because the entering air is from a positive-pressure mechanical ventilator.
The presence of an excess fluid, air, or gas in the pleural cavity can interfere with our ability to breathe. 1  Among the conditions that adversely affect the pleural cavity: 2  Congestive heart failure (CHF) can cause pleural effusion due to the increased capillary pressure in the lungs.