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.
accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity, resulting in collapse of the lung on the affected side. The condition may occur spontaneously (spontaneous pneumothorax), as in the course of a pulmonary disease, or it may follow perforating trauma to the chest wall or lung parenchyma (traumatic or open pneumothorax).