BackgroundPerioperative opioid administration results in postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and acute opioid tolerance that manifests in increased postoperative pain. Esmolol is an ultra short acting cardioselective β1-adrenergic receptor antagonist, and it has been successfully used for perioperative sympatholysis and it reduces the opioid requirement during total intravenous anesthesia. We tested the hypothesis that perioperative esmolol administration results in decreased PONV and postoperative pain.MethodsSixty patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy were randomly assigned to two groups (Group E and Group C). The Group E patients were administered 5-10 µg/kg/min esmolol with remifentanil that was titrated to the autonomic response. The Group C patients received normal saline that was of the same volume as the esmolol in Group E, and the remifentanil was also titrated to the vital sign. Before intubation and extubation, the Group E patients were administered 1.0 mg/kg esmolol, and the Group C patients were administered normal saline of the same volume. The incidence and severity of PONV, the pain score, the rescue antiemetics and the rescue analgesics were assessed 30 min, 6 h and 24 h after surgery. The mean arterial pressure and heart rate under anesthesia were also recorded.ResultsPONV and postoperative pain were significantly increased in Group C. These patients needed more antiemetics and analgesics in the first 24 postoperative hours. The mean arterial pressure and heart rate were significantly higher in Group C at the time of intubation and extubation.ConclusionsPerioperative esmolol administration contributes to the significant decrease in PONV and postoperative pain, and so this facilitates earlier discharge.

This study was carried out to evaluate growth characteristics of Kimchi cabbage cultivated in various highland areas, and to create a predicting model for the production of highland Kimchi cabbage based on the growth parameters and climatic elements. Regression model for the estimation of head weight was designed with non-destructive measured growth variables (NDGV) such as leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW), head height (HH), head width (HW), and growing degree days (GDD), which was y = 6897.5 -3.57 × GDD -136 × LW + 116 × PH + 155 × HH -423 × HW + 0.28 × HH × HW × HW, (r 2 = 0.989), and was improved by using compensation terms such as the ratio (LW estimated with GDD/measured LW ), leaf growth rate by soil moisture, and relative growth rate of leaf during drought period. In addition, we proposed Excel spreadsheet model for simulation of yield prediction of highland Kimchi cabbage. This Excel spreadsheet was composed four different sheets; growth data sheet measured at famer's field, daily average temperature data sheet for calculating GDD, soil moisture content data sheet for evaluating the soil water effect on leaf growth, and equation sheet for simulating the estimation of production. This Excel spreadsheet model can be practically used for predicting the production of highland Kimchi cabbage, which was calculated by (acreage of cultivation) × (number of plants) × (head weight estimated with growth variables and GDD) × (compensation terms derived relationship of GDD and growth by soil moisture) × (marketable head rate).Additional key words: Brassica campestris ssp. pekinesis, excel spreadsheet model, regression model, relative growth rate, soil moisture

A new lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) with elliptic and dark green leaves, 'Sambokhacheong', which is tolerant to tipburn with good yield, was developed from a cross between 'Meokchima' (dark red leaves) and 'Yeoreumcheongchima' (high yield, green leaves). The crossing and selection for advanced lines was conducted by the pedigree method in 2006-2012. The advanced lines were evaluated for yield and adaptability at several locations in Korea (Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Jeollabuk-do, Gyeongnam-do, and Jeju-do) over three years starting from 2015. The evaluations revealed that this lettuce was early-and medium-maturing leaf lettuce, with a shelf-life of four weeks at 4 ℃, longer than that of 'Yeoreumcheongchima'. 'Sambokhacheong' showed no symptoms of tipburn during hot seasons in the southern parts of South Korea compared 'Yeoreumcheongchima'. The content of bitter sesquiterpene lactones (latucin, latucin+8-deoxylactucin+lactucopicrin) of 'Sambokhacheong' at 57.16 (μg/g, dry weight) was higher than that of 'Yeoreumcheongchima'. Compared with 'Yeoreumcheongchima', the marketable yield of 'Sambokhacheong' was 2% higher (at 551 g per plant) and showed late bolting at 111 days after sowing in the summer cultivation season. Its leaves are better, crispier, and sweeter than those of 'Yeoreumcheongchima'. Therefore, we recommend the new cultivar 'Sambokhacheong' for cultivation in hot seasons (Registration No. 6915).

Gwanha' is new strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivar, which was released by Highland Agriculture Research Center, Rural Development Administration, in 2011. In 2007, this cultivar was originated from a cross between 'Sucambodiaberry' and 'Selva' that showed excellent ever-bearing characteristics including continuous pink flowering habit under long-day and high temperature condition. It was named 'Saebong No.4' after examining its characteristic and productivity in summer culture from 2009 to 2011. After characteristic and productivity test in 2011, 'Gwanha' was selected as an elite cultivar. The general characteristics of 'Gwanha' include spreading type, middle vigor, elliptic leaf, and long cluster in growth. The fruit shape is wedge, and the red fruit is edible and unique among the domestic ornamental strawberry cultivars. Flower color of 'Gwanha' is pink, and flower cluster is more appearance than 'Pinkpanda'. The average fruit weight of 'Gwanha' is about 7.8 g and the marketable yield is relatively low because of low marketable rate. It is resistant against fusarium wilt. 'Gwanha' is suitable for four season cultivation as an ornamental strawberry cultivar because it shows continuous flowering habit under long-day and high temperature condition.

A new lettuce cultivar 'Misun' (Lactuca sativa L.) with wrinkled traverse narrow elliptic and deep red leaf, which has late bolting and high yield. It was developed from a cross between 'Yeoreum Jeocgchima' (deep red leaf color) and 'Yeoreum dukseomjeokchukmyeon' (high yield). The cross and selection for advanced lines had been done by the pedigree method from 2001 to 2008. The advanced lines were evaluated for yield and adaptability at several locations in Korea (Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, Jeollabuk-do, Gyeongnam-do, and Jeju-do) from 2009 to 2011 year. The 'Misun' has gray seed color and traverse narrow elliptic leaves. The shelf-life of 'Misun' was four weeks longer than 'Dukseomjeokchukmyeon' at 4℃. The anthocyanin content of 'Misun' (88.32 mg/100 g) was higher than that of 'Dukseomjeokchukmyeon'(74.78 mg/100g). The BSL (latucin+8-deoxylactucin+lactucopicrin) content of 'Misun' (5.0 ug/g, DW) is lower than that of 'Dukseomjeokchukmyeon' (12.0 ug/g, DW). Compared to 'Dukseomjeokchukmyeon', marketable yield of 'Misun'(289 g per plant) was 11% higher than that of it, showed good yield in fall season cultivation and has particularly improved expression of red leaf color at high temperature cultivation in the field. Furthermore, its taste is better, more crispy, and sweeter than those of 'Dukseomjeokchukmyeon'. Thus, this new cultivar 'Misun' can be suitable for cultivation in low temperature during spring and fall season season.