SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “THORACIC NERVES”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,027 records · Page 57Linked to original sources

PubMed2006

A questionnaire study investigating the prevalence of the neuropathic component of chronic pain after thoracic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Our questionnaire study set out to assess the prevalence of chronic pain after thoracic surgery, the contribution of the neuropathic component of chronic pain and the impact of chronic pain on patients' lives. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 1152 patients who had undergone thoracic surgery in our department between 7 months and 7 years ago. The questionnaire was designed specifically for the study and included questions on neuropathic symptoms. Responses were correlated with data from our prospectively entered database for analysis. RESULTS: Nine hundred and forty-eight people were included in the study, of which 600 responded (63%). Prevalence of chronic pain is 57% at 7-12 months, 36% at 4-5 years and 21% at 6-7 years. Patient age, consultant and time since the operation all have significant effects. Surgical approach (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, thoracotomy) and diagnosis are not significant. Thirty-nine percent of those with pain take analgesia, 46% felt their pain is their worst medical problem and 40% reported it limits their daily activities. The prevalence of each neuropathic symptom is between 35 and 83%. The presence of a neuropathic symptom is associated with significantly more severe pain, more analgesia use and pain more likely to limit daily activity. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic pain has a significant prevalence and impact on patients' lives for several years after thoracic surgery. Nerve dysfunction is associated with more severe pain, a greater impact and tends to persist. The reason for the individual consultant being an important factor in post-thoracotomy pain needs further investigation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Role for the cervical sympathetic trunk in regulating anaphylactic and endotoxic shock.

This study tests the hypothesis that spinal nerves projecting down the cervical sympathetic trunk contribute to the regulation of systemic immune responses. Decentralization or ablation (ganglionectomy) of the superior cervical ganglia (SCG), which receive innervation from spinal segments C8-T8, were found to reduce the pulmonary inflammatory response consequent to induction of anaphylaxis in rats sensitized to the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Furthermore, the hypotensive responses to IV endotoxin were attenuated in sensitized rats by these operations, whereas decentralization without ganglionectomy protected against endotoxic shock in normal (unsensitized) rats. These results suggest that systemic inflammatory events are regulated by the cervical sympathetic nervous system at a level superior to the superior cervical ganglia. Further studies are warranted to investigate the role of the cervical and thoracic sympathetic nerves in the regulation of systemic immunological function.

Anaphylaxis↗

PubMed1977

Cockroach molting. II. The nature of regeneration-induced delay of molting hormone secretion.

1. The amount of regenerating limb tissue does not control the length of molting delay in cockroaches; rather, a programmed delay associated with each autotomy level and segment allows an appropriate delay for accomplishing the necessary regeneration. 2. Delay of molting is accomplished by inhibiting ecdysiotropin release. 3. Each regenerating limb produces a delay independent of other regenerating limbs. 4. Single and simultaneous double autotomies can be used to obtain substantially increased synchrony of the molting cycle of a wide variety of cockroach species. 5. The signal to delay molting is transmitted to the brain along the ventral nerve cord and requires the stereotyped sensory input associated with autotomy to initiate it. 6. There are two phases of ecdysone titer increase during the molting cycle of cockroaches. An early transitory or gradual increase is associated with the regeneration critical period, while a later major peak is associated with apolysis. The major ecdysone peak was shown to be delayed during leg regeneration.

Amputation, Surgical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Transpedicular stabilization in spinal and vertebral column injuries in thoracic and lumbar spine segments].

The authors present their own experience in application of transpedicular internal stabilization of the thoracic and lumbar spine. Clinical analysis was carried out in a group of 12 patients after vertebral column and spinal trauma managed surgically in the Department of Neurosurgery in Poznań between 1.06.95 and 31.12.96. Age of patients ranged from 19 to 56 years (mean age 35.08 +/- 13.04 yrs.). The level of vertebral fracture was as follows: thoracic (2 cases), thoraco-lumbar (6 cases) and lumbar (4 cases). Three patients were completely paraplegic. All patients underwent posterior or posterolateral surgical approach. The fractured parts of bones, translocated into vertebral canal were removed and nervous structures were decompressed. Transpendicular stabilization was performed after the decompression. Improvement of neurological condition was observed in 8 patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Functional innervation of the adrenal cortex by the splanchnic nerve.

Secretion of steroid hormones by the adrenal cortex is required to maintain whole body homeostasis; that is the ability to maintain blood pressure and volume, carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism and immune and nervous system function within normal limits is dependent on adrenocortical hormones. The premise of this report is that autonomic-endocrine interactions occurring in the adrenal cortex are required for normal control of steroid secretion. Under non-stress conditions when reduced steroid secretion is required, splanchnic neural activity appears to be inhibitory, whereas during stress conditions when elevated steroid secretion is necessary, neural activity is excitatory. The capacity for innervation to produce both inhibitory and excitatory effects suggests that neural input must be encoded differentially; encoding could be dependent on the neurotransmitter released or on the intra-adrenal target affected. Neural input could act directly at the adrenal cell to affect steroidogenesis or act indirectly by changing adrenal blood flow. An index of the role of innervation has been obtained by assessing adrenal corticosteroid secretion after splanchnicectomy, severing the thoracic splanchnic nerve which is the major source of innervation of the adrenal gland. This approach has resulted in alterations in corticosteroid secretion under non-stress and stress conditions, but in many cases has demonstrated no profound effect on in vivo steroidogenesis. It is likely that splanchnicectomy results in variable secretory responses in part due to the multiplicity of adrenal neurotransmitter systems that are regulated by the splanchnic nerve. Splanchnicectomy alters multiple neurotransmitters at different adrenal sites. Splanchnic innervation acts as an extra-ACTH mechanism in the control of adrenal corticosteroid secretion, yet further elucidation of the physiological conditions under which splanchnic neural activity affects function is clearly warranted.

Adrenal Cortex↗

PubMed1993

Compartmentalization in the pig latissimus dorsi muscle.

Portions of the latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle are frequently employed as free muscle or myocutaneous grafts. The functional consequences for both the graft and the remaining donor tissue must depend in part on the neural organization of the muscle. Previous anatomical and clinical reports have suggested that the LD is organized into independently innervated segments, but experimental documentation has been lacking. This study investigated the neural organization of the LD in pigs using (1) synchronous electromyography (EMG) of several sites within the LD and motion analysis of the shoulder and forelimb, and (2) dissection and stimulation of the primary branches of the thoracodorsal nerve, followed by histochemical analysis, to delineate the areas innervated by each. The findings indicated that while there is minor overlap between adjacent segments, the LD can be considered as consisting of three semi-independent compartments. Further, the teres major is linked to the LD functionally as well as anatomically, so that the two muscles can be considered as a four-part complex.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Selective video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy.

Video-assisted and thermometrically controlled thoracoscopic sympathectomy demonstrates new ways in the treatment of upper-limb hyperhidrosis. An anatomical portrayal of the sympathetic chain is possible as a result of the improved visualization and magnification of the operative area provided by the video-optic technique. The difference in temperature, registered by means of a thermometric sensor in the palm of the hand, indicates that the sympathetic nerves responsible for the hyperhidrotic segments have been severed. The number of postoperative Horner's syndromes will be reduced significantly with this method. Until now, we have successfully treated six thermometrically controlled patients. No recurrences have arisen during an 18 months observation period. Neither intraoperative nor postoperative complications were recorded. One patient complained of increased compensatory sweating of the trunk. Thermometrically controlled thoracoscopic sympathectomy is expected to improve the various forms of treatment available for sympathetic reflex dystrophies in the future.

Body Temperature↗

PubMed1967

Neuromuscular transmitter substance in insect visceral muscle.

Stimulation of the nerves innervating the proctodeum (hindgut) of the cockroach Periplaneta americana (L.) causes a slow-type, graded contraction of the longitudinal muscles. An unidentified substance, or substances, present in the foregut and hindgut, the specific activity of which is highest in the nerves innervating these organs, effects a similar contraction. This "gut-factor" is depleted from the hindgut after surgical section of the proctodeal nerves. None of Factors P(1) and P(2), 5-hydroxytryptamine, acetylcholine, adrenaline, noradrenaline, alpha-ami-nobutyric acid or glutamate duplicates the pharmacological behavior of this substance. The active factor is associated with subcellular particles that require centrifugal forces of approximately 1,000,000 g-min for sedimentation. The substance is inactivated in homogenates of gut tissue in the absence of suitable precautions. It is proposed that the "gut-factor" functions as an excitatory neuromuscular transmitter substance in insect visceral muscle.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1989

Neuromuscular organization of the pectoralis (pars thoracicus) of the pigeon (Columba livia): implications for motor control.

The pectoralis (pars thoracicus) of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia) is divisible into two anatomical parts, the pars sternobrachialis (SB) and the pars thoracobrachialis (TB). Innervation to this complex is from rostral and caudal branches of the brachial ventral cord. In four anesthetized pigeons, the distribution of muscle units associated with each nerve branch was mapped after prolonged stimulation of each nerve and subsequent analysis for muscle fiber glycogen. An additional three animals were used to analyze the morphology, distribution, and histochemical profiles of the muscle fibers in the SB and TB subregions. Fibers were characterized on the basis of their reactions for myofibrillar adenosine triphosphates (alkaline and acid preincubation) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diaphorase (NADH-D). The SB is primarily innervated by the rostral nerve branch and the TB by the caudal nerve branch. For two-thirds of the muscle's length, the SB is separated from the TB by an aponeurosis, the membrana intermuscularis (MI). SB and TB fibers located posteroventral to the caudal margin of the MI are innervated variously by both nerves. Two populations of fibers were recognized, distinguishable primarily by 1) fiber diameter and 2) density of the NADH-D reaction product. Compared to the TB, the SB possesses a higher average percentage of large fibers. Within the SB but not the TB the percentage of large fibers increases from deep to superficial. These data support our previous findings that the pars thoracicus of the pigeon is partitioned into at least two functional subunits, each with a potential for independent action on the wing during flight.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Effects of methylprednisolone on renal nerve response to stimulation of medullary pressor area in endotoxin-induced hypotension.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of glucocorticoids on central sympathetic outflow during endotoxic hypotension in anesthetized rabbits. All animals were given E. coli endotoxin (1 mg/kg) intravenously. In the control group, mean blood pressure (MBP) fell significantly after endotoxin. Endotoxin also caused a significant reduction of renal nerve activity (NA) simultaneously with a decrease in MBP. Peak responses in MBP and NA to repetitive stimulation of the medullary pressor area were attenuated significantly 60 min after endotoxin. Both peak and total activities of renal nerve discharges (RNDe) evoked by the electrical stimulation of the medullary pressor area were significantly reduced. There were no significant differences in the time course changes in the above parameters between the control group and the treated group. Following a vehicle injection in the control group, these parameters decreased by endotoxin progressively declined until the end of the experiment. When methylprednisolone (MPSS, 30 mg/kg) was injected intravenously 60 min after endotoxin, decreases in MBP and NA induced by endotoxin recovered gradually toward preendotoxin levels. Thirty minutes after MPSS administration levels of MBP and NA were significantly higher than those in the control group. Responsiveness in MBP and NA to the repetitive stimulation of the medullary pressor area increased significantly after the treatment with MPSS. Peak activities of RNDe 30 min after MPSS were augmented significantly and total activities of RNDe recovered to preendotoxin levels. Both endotoxin and MPSS did not affect MBP, NA, and RNDe responses following stimulation of the thoracic sympathetic chain. These findings suggest that methylprednisolone may have improved the impaired central blood pressure regulatory circuits during endotoxic hypotension through a facilitation of neuronal excitability, resulting in an enhancement of central sympathetic outflow.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Thoracic radiculopathy from a paravertebral mesothelial cyst.

We report on an extremely rare case of a paravertebral thoracic mesothelial cyst in a young woman who presented with dorsal radiculopathy affecting the T5 dermatome. The patient underwent a standard transthoracic intercostal approach with removal of the cyst. During the operation, the T5 intercostal neurovascular bundle was found firmly attached to the lesion elucidating the origin of the radicular pain. To our knowledge, this is the first report of radiculopathy due to a paravertebral mesothelial cyst. Although highly unusual, paravertebral mesothelial cyst should be considered in the differential diagnosis for lesions inducing dorsal radicular pain.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Vagal afferent inhibition of primate thoracic spinothalamic neurons.

Spinothalamic (ST) neurons in the C8-T5 segments of the spinal cord were examined for responses to electrical stimulation of the left thoracic vagus nerve (LTV). Seventy-one ST neurons were studied in 39 anesthetized monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Each neuron could be excited by manipulation of its somatic field and by electrical stimulation of cardiopulmonary sympathetic afferent fibers. LTV stimulation resulted in inhibition of the background activity of 43 (61%) ST neurons. Nine (13%) were excited, 3 (4%) were excited and then inhibited, while 16 (22%) did not respond. There was little difference among these groups in terms of the type of somatic or sympathetic afferent input although inhibited cells tended to be more prevalent in the more superficial laminae. The degree of inhibition resulting from LTV stimulation was related, in a linear fashion, to the magnitude of cell activity before stimulation. LTV inhibition of background activity was similar among wide dynamic range, high threshold, and high-threshold cells with inhibitory hair input. Any apparent differences in LTV inhibitory effects among these groups were accounted for by the differences in ongoing cell activity as predicted by linear regression analysis. LTV stimulation inhibited responses of 32 of 32 ST cells to somatic stimuli. In most cases the stimulus was a noxious pinch; however, LTV stimulation also inhibited responses to innocuous stimuli such as hair movement. Bilateral cervical vagotomy abolished the inhibitory effect of LTV stimulation on background activity (six cells) or responses to somatic stimuli (seven cells). Stimulation of the cardiac branch of the vagus inhibited activity of three cells to a similar degree as LTV stimulation, while stimulation of the vagus below the heart was ineffective in reducing activity of 10 cells. We conclude that LTV stimulation alters activity of ST neurons in the upper thoracic spinal cord. Vagal inhibition of ST cell activity was due to stimulation of cardiopulmonary vagal afferent fibers coursing to the brain stem, which appear to activate descending inhibitory spinal pathways. Vagal afferent activity may participate in processing of somatosensory information as well as information related to cardiac pain.

Afferent Pathways↗

PubMed1992

Cardiac denervation in the calf using cryoablation: functional evidence and regional tissue catecholamine content.

Twenty-six calves were subjected to a technique of cryoablation in order to establish an animal model of complete cardiac denervation. All 26 survived the procedure, and 20 were alive to be re-evaluated 2-4 weeks later. Mean heart rate in the denervated animals rose from 77 +/- 7.8 beats/min to 102 +/- 16.4 (P less than 0.01). Cryoablation abolished the heart rate responses to electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve and thoracic sympathetic trunk. The reduction in myocardial noradrenaline concentrations averaged 99% in the right atrium, 90% in the left atrium, 85% in the right ventricle and 90% in the left ventricle, when compared with tissue obtained from control animals. Cryoablation is a relatively simple means of accomplishing complete functional cardiac denervation in the calf. On the basis of the observed change in heart rate, the calf model appears to be more comparable with human heart transplant recipients than the dog.

Animals↗

PubMed1980

Developing innervation of the chick heart: a histofluorescence and light microscopic study of sympthetic innervation.

The available descriptions of the development of sympathetic innervation of the chick heart conflict with the known sympathetic innervation of the adult chicken heart. The adult heart is innervated by bilateral sympathetic cardiac nerves originating from the first thoracic sympathetic ganglia. These nerves travel lateral and anterior to the lung and join the vagi just before entering the pericardium along the great vessels. Using catecholamine histofluorescence techniques and silver preparations, we have observed the development of the sympathetic cardiac nerves. The sympathetic cardiac nerves arise from the first thoracic sympathetic ganglia on the 7th day of incubation. They grow lateral and then ventral to the developing lungs to join the vagi, and are found in the bulbar region of the heart and atrium on the 10th day of incubation. FLuorescent cells without processes mark the course of the sympathetic cardiac nerves and are present in the bulbar region on the 10th day and thereafter. Sympathetic ganglion cells lose their fluorescence between day 8 and day 16 of incubation. This is presumably due to dilution of the transmitter in the rapidly increasing volume of cytoplasm in the sprouting neurons. Small intensely fluorescent (SIF) and adrenal medullary cells do not undergo a diminution of fluorescence during this period. SIF cells appear well differentiated at 16 days.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Greater splanchnic excitation of primate T1-T5 spinothalamic neurons.

Effects of electrical stimulation of the left greater splanchnic nerve (SPL) on T1-T5 spinothalamic (STT) neurons were determined. Eighty-five STT neurons were studied in 36 anesthetized monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). All neurons were excited by manipulation of their somatic receptive fields and by electrical stimulation of cardiopulmonary (CP) sympathetic afferent fibers. SPL stimulation excited 63 (74%) STT neurons. There was an increasing percentage of cells with SPL input at more caudal segments and in deeper laminae. Both SPL and CP sympathetic stimulation elicited early or both early and late responses. Latencies to cell activation were usually shorter for CP sympathetic stimulation than for SPL stimulation (5.4 +/- 0.8 versus 11.3 +/- 2.0 ms for early responses and 44.2 +/- 4.2 versus 111.0 +/- 6.6 ms for late responses). The maximum number of spikes per SPL or CP sympathetic stimulus was determined. In the T2 and T3 segments, early responses to CP sympathetic stimulation were significantly greater. However, at more caudal segments, responses to CP sympathetic input decreased while responses to SPL input increased until at T4 there was no difference in the two responses. In T5, responses to SPL input were greater. No differences in the magnitudes of late responses were observed in any of the segments. The response of six cells to SPL stimulation was inhibited by a train of conditioning stimuli applied to the left thoracic vagus nerve. Maximum inhibition occurred at a CT interval of 50 ms and test responses were significantly reduced at CT intervals as great as 200 ms. Bilateral vagotomy eliminated the inhibitory effect. Cutting the left sympathetic chain between the T5 and T6 rami communicantes eliminated 27% of the response to SPL stimulation. More caudal cuts reduced the response further until 71% of the response was abolished by a cut between T8 and T9. Lesions in the dorsolateral column of the spinal cord had little effect on the responses, while lesions of the lateral and ventrolateral columns reduced or abolished the responses. We conclude that SPL stimulation excites T1-T5 STT neurons by way of extraspinal and intraspinal pathways. SPL information is integrated with information from a variety of other visceral and somatic sources. SPL input to cells with somatic fields in the chest region may explain the clinical phenomenon of chest pain associated with abdominal disorders.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Lateral pectoral nerve conduction.

The aim of this study was to measure the motor conduction time (MCT) and velocity of the lateral pectoral nerve (LPN) in normal subjects and patients with neuropathy. For the LPN, we determined thus the average MCT was 3.9 m/s using Erb stimulation with needle recording, and the average motor conduction velocity was 70.6 m/s using Erb stimulation and axilla stimulation with needle recordings in normal subjects. In patients, prolonged MCT in LPN was found in 3 of 6 patients with unilateral plexopathy and 3 of 4 patients with polyneuropathy. It was determined that MCT and motor conduction velocity in LPN was as sensitive as biceps brachii MCT in patients with unilateral plexopathy. Furthermore, the motor conduction velocity in the LPN may be beneficial to elucidate the localization of involvement in polyneuropathies, such as distal or proximo-distal.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Long-term in vivo modulation of synaptic efficacy at the neuromuscular junction of Rana pipiens frogs.

Prolonged changes in motor neurone activity can result in long-term changes in synaptic transmission. We investigated whether mechanisms commonly thought to be involved in determining synaptic efficacy of vertebrate motor neurones are involved in these long-term changes. The nerve supplying the cutaneous pectoris muscle was chronically stimulated via skin surface electrodes in freely moving frogs for 5-7 days. Chronic stimulation induced a 50% reduction in evoked endplate potential (EPP) amplitude at stimulated neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). These changes appear to be presynaptic since miniature EPP (mEPP) amplitude was unchanged while mEPP frequency was decreased by 46% and paired-pulse facilitation was increased by 26%. High frequency facilitation (40 Hz, 2 s) was also increased by 89%. Moreover, stimulated NMJs presented a 92% decrease in synaptic depression (40 Hz, 2 s). An increase in mitochondrial metabolism was observed as indicated by a more pronounced labelling of active mitochondria (Mitotracker) in stimulated nerve terminals, which could account for their greater resistance to synaptic depression. NMJ length visualized by alpha-bungarotoxin staining of nAChRs was not affected. Presynaptic calcium signals measured with Calcium Green-1 were larger in stimulated NMJs at low frequency (0.2 Hz) and not different from control NMJs at higher frequency (40 Hz, 2 s and 30 s). These results suggest that some mechanisms downstream of calcium entry are responsible for the determination of synaptic output, such as a down-regulation of some calcium-binding proteins, which could explain the observed results. The possibility of a change in frequenin expression, a calcium-binding protein that is more prominently expressed in phasic synapses, was, however, refuted by our results.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2005

Neurovascular anatomy and variation in the fourth, fifth, and sixth intercostal spaces in the mid-axillary line: a cadaveric study in respect of chest drain insertion.

Chest drains are normally inserted in the fifth intercostal space in the mid-axillary line. The classical technique for chest drain insertion involves locating the drain in an interspace just superior to the inferior rib, so as to avoid the neurovascular bundle. While teaching thoracic wall anatomy on cadavers, considerable variation was noted in the position of the neurovascular bundles, frequently lying well away from the generally accepted subcostal groove. We endeavoured to perform a comprehensive cadaveric study of the neurovascular relationships in the mid-axillary line in the fifth and adjacent spaces to try to describe a 'Safe Zone' for drain insertion to minimise damage to associated structures. The idea that the neurovascular bundle is safely protected in the subcostal groove should be dispelled, as should the concept that there is nothing to damage in the zone immediately superior to the inferior rib. Clinicians should be aware that the Safe Zone is narrower than hitherto appreciated and should be between 50-70% of the way down an interspace to avoid the variably positioned superior intercostal neurovascular bundle and the inferior collateral artery.

Arteries↗