The thoracic skeletal morphology of homininae is poorly known and understood. As a result of the representative fossil record of ribs and vertebrae being rare, distorted, fragmentary or unrecognised even when recovered, very little is known about the variability of rib and vertebral morphology when compared to the other cranial and postcranial elements in this lineage. Yet the costal skeleton forms a substantial part of the postcranial skeleton and thus ribs and vertebrae are therefore potentially numerous in the fossil record; but in comparison with other skeletal elements, and for the reasons mentioned above, very little is known about vertebrate and especially hominin rib morphology. The assessment of the structure of the thoracic skeletal elements and its evolutionary and ecological significance, particularly in the Homininae, poses a challenge but is still important as the shape and form of the rib cage has numerous functional and behavioural implications. The present study analysed the ribs of selected primate and non-primate mammalian species by examining fifteen variables, seven indices and eight osteological non-metric features. These observations and measurements were compared to ribs found in the fossil record in order to determine if there are any structural correlates between the extant and the extinct hominin and mammalian species and in order to create a template for the identification of hominin ribs within an abundant and diverse mammalian assemblage. The results suggest that the 1st rib, due to its unique morphology, may be considered most diagnostic in differentiating various taxa. In addition, a template for the morphology of the proximal end of the first rib has been created to be used for both the general as well as the specific identification of fossilised fragments, and to determine thoracic shape. The recently recovered costal elements of the Australopithecus sediba fossils were also examined as one of the most abundant assemblages of the elements in the early hominin record in order to add to our understanding of the morphology, and evolution of this poorly known area of hominin anatomy. The thorax of Australopithecus sediba demonstrates a medio-laterally narrow, ape-like upper thoracic shape, which is different from the broad upper thorax of Homo that has been associated with to the locomotor pattern of endurance walking and running. The lower thorax, however, is less laterally-flared than that of apes, and more closely approximates the morphology found in humans. This indicates a mosaic morphology of the thorax during the human evolutionary linage.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Univ. , 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-171) Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 307-322). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 307-322)

Orientador: Beatriz B. Matsubara / Resumo: Placa de aterosclerose em aorta torácica é uma importante causa de acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) e ataque isquêmico transitório (AIT). Sua gênese estaria relacionada com migração, para a circulação cerebral, de trombos e cristais de colesterol que se desprenderiam de placas complexas, localizadas na aorta torácica proximal. Existem várias semelhanças entre a fisiopatologia do desenvolvimento da placa de aterosclerose e a remodelação miocárdica. Por causa disso, formulou-se a hipótese de que a avaliação de pacientes com AVC e AIT, por meio do ecocardiograma transtorácico ((ETT), pode identificar características associadas com risco aumentado de placa de aterosclerose em aorta. Os objetivos desse estudo foram: 1) avaliar a incidência de placa de aterosclerose em aorta torácica de pacientes com história de AVC e AIT prévios, por meio do ecocardiograma transesofágico (ETE); 2) avaliar se existe associação entre a presença dessas placas e sinais de remodelação ventricular, observados por meio do ETT; e, finalmente, 3) analisar os níveis séricos de proteína C reativa de alta sensibilidade (PCRas), nesses pacientes... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Atherosclerosis plaque in the thoracic aorta is an important cause of acute cerebrovascular events. It would be caused by migration of thrombi and cholesterol cristals released from complex plaques, located at the proximalis thoracic aorta, to the cerebral circulation. Because there are several similarities between the physiopathology of atherosclerosis plaque development and myocardial remodeling. We hypothesized that patients with cerebrovascular events, and atherosclerosis plaque have cardiac morpho-functional alterations. The objectives of the present study were: 1) to evaluate the incidence of thoracic aorta artherosclerosis plaques in patients with a previous cerebrovascular events history, by transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE); 2) to evaluate if there is an association between the presence of plaques and signs of ventricular remodeling, observed by means of transthoracic echocardiogram; and, 3) to analyze the high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) seric levels, in those patients. One hundred and sixteen patients (79 male) with a previous... (Complete abstract click electronic address below) / Doutor

Experiments were carried out to investigate the extent to which habituation of the flexor reflex depended on mechanisms operating at spinal interneurones. An attempt was made to cause selective degeneration of interneurones in the spinal cord of the rat by subjecting the cord to a period of ischaemia. Ischaemia was produced by temporary occlusion of the thoracic aorta. The flexor withdrawal reflex was tested 3, 7 or 14 days after occlusion. When compared with data from control animals it was found that ischaemia had resulted in both a qualitative change and a quantitative diminution in the amount of habituation which occurred during the presentation of 400 uniform stimuli. It was concluded that this impairment of the habituation process was a consequence of degeneration of interneurones which normally cause progressive inhibition of the excitatory flexor reflex pathway. / Medicine, Faculty of / Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Various techniques and drug regimes for thoracic paravertebral block (PVB) have been evaluated for post-thoracotomy analgesia, but there is no consensus on which technique or drug regime is best. We have systematically reviewed the efficacy and safety of different techniques for PVB. Our primary aim was to determine whether local anaesthetic (LA) dose influences the quality of analgesia from PVB. Secondary aims were to determine whether choice of LA agent, continuous infusion, adjuvants, pre-emptive PVB, or addition of patient-controlled opioids improve analgesia. Indirect comparisons between treatment arms of different trials were made using metaregression. Twenty-five trials suitable for metaregression were identified, with a total of 763 patients. The use of higher doses of bupivacaine (890¿990 mg per 24 h compared with 325¿472.5 mg per 24 h) was found to predict lower pain scores at all time points up to 48 h after operation (P=0.006 at 8 h, P=0.001 at 24 h, and P<0.001 at 48 h). The effect-size estimates amount to around a 50% decrease in postoperative pain scores. Higher dose bupivacaine PVB was also predictive of faster recovery of pulmonary function by 72 h (effect-size estimate 20.1% more improvement in FEV1, 95% CI 2.08%¿38.07%, P=0.029). Continuous infusions of LA predicted lower pain scores compared with intermittent boluses (P=0.04 at 8 h, P=0.003 at 24 h, and P<0.001 at 48 h). The use of adjuvant clonidine or fentanyl, pre-emptive PVB, and the addition of patient-controlled opioids to PVB did not improve analgesia. Further well-designed trials of different PVB dosage and drug regimes are needed.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine the meaning parents give to their family's experience when they have a child awaiting corrective heart surgery. A secondary purpose was to identify appropriate interventions for nurses who deal with families during the transition period, from initial diagnosis of congenital heart disease until admission to hospital for corrective heart surgery. A convenience sample of six couples were interviewed at various times during the identified transition period, for a total of 11 interviews. An interview guide of open-ended questions provided some loose structure for the initial interviews. Analysis of the verbatim transcriptions began concurrently with data collection and continued during the formal analytic phase with meaning units emerging from the data. The parents described four facets of the experience: diagnosis of congenital heart disease, adjusting to caring for child once home, living with a child with a chronic condition, and waiting for corrective heart surgery. Not only did parents talk about how they felt during the four facets but they also described the range of coping strategies they employed through their experience. In discussing these findings within the context of other chronic illness experiences it became evident that parents draw from a common pool of coping strategies whether the child is in a chronic or more acute phase of an illness. Most of the parents in discussing their overall impressions of the experience had not found their child's illness to be as disruptive to family life as they had first anticipated. Those families with the most symptomatic infants seemed to have a particular need for an alliance with one health care professional to support them through the transition period. Generally, parents did not spend a lot of time dwelling on the corrective surgery until close to the anticipated date for that event; instead they employed various coping strategies which allowed them to normalize their lives. Implications for nursing practice which arise from these conclusions are multiple. Overall, nurses must assess the meaning that individual families give to their experience, assist families to employ suitable coping strategies, and offer support as necessary. General implications for nursing research are in the realm of studies which will further nurses' understanding of the waiting period for corrective heart surgery both from the parents' and the siblings' perspective. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003. x, 101 leaves / Anecdotal evidence and some developmental theory suggest that lower respiratory tract pathologies may be associated with thoracic spine pain and dysfunction. This hypothetical association may be better described either as respiratory conditions occurring as a result of musculoskeletal dysfunction of the thoracic spine, or as respiratory conditions causing thoracic musculoskeletal dysfunction. Optimal function of the lungs and the process of ventilation is dependant on the normal function of the thoracic spine and the rib cage. Disturbances of the musculoskeletal components of the thoracic spine may lead to increased respiratory efforts, decreased lung function and in turn affect bronchopulmonary function. Obstructive respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema place an increased demand on the musculoskeletal components involved in expiration, as air has to be forcefully expired. The purpose of this quantitative, non experimental, demographic retrospective clinical survey was to retrospectively describe lower respiratory tract disorders and thoracic spine pain and dysfunction in subjects presenting to the Durban Institute of Technology Chiropractic Day Clinic, in terms of the prevalence of lower respiratory tract disorders as well as any association between the presenting respiratory conditions and their vertebral distribution in the thoracic spine.