¡iAbstract¡j Vagal sensory neurons play an important role in the neural control of airway and other visceral organs. Regional distribution of vagal sensory neurons in the vagal ganglia that correspond to different viscera is uncertain. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was applied to the right thoracic vagus nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve to be retrogradely transported to the neurons in vagal nodose and jugular ganglia. Labeling of neuronal cell bodies was visualized with diaminobenzidine reaction. Ricinus communis agglutinin-60 (RCA-60) was injected into the right thoracic vagus nerve and transported retrogradely to cause destruction of the ribosome in the vagal ganglia neuron cell bodies. The magnitude of neurogenic plasma extravasation induced by capsaicin was measured by the area density of the India ink-labeled leaky blood vessels in the trachea and bronchi. The present study demonstrated that there was no distinct localization of HRP- labeled neurons, except at the level of pharyngeal nerve that was connected to the middle of the nodose ganglion. There were approximately 42.2 % of labeled neurons in the nodose ganglion and 30.5 % in the jugular ganglion 3 days after application of HRP in the thoracic vagus nerve. After application of HRP to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, 13.3 % of labeled neurons was found in the nodose ganglion and 8.3 % in the jugular ganglion. One to two weeks after RCA injection into the thoracic vagus nerve, many cell bodies of neurons had a striking degenerative alteration and the cytoplasmic density was markedly reduced. Nissl¡¦s bodies obviously disappeared and vacuoles were the usual feature. Application of RCA-60 also inhibited the neurogenic plasma extravasation in the right bronchial tree that were reduced by 71- 89 %. It is suggested that RCA- 60 selectively destroyed the vagal sensory neurons that innervated the ipsilateral branchial tree. It is concluded that vagal nodose and jugular ganglia supplied different number of sensory neurons to the vagal branches and regulated the physiological function of the visceral organs.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Med.)--University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2014.

Objective: Evaluation of surgical quality ensures consistency of care and facilitates improvements in the quality of care delivered. Methods: An overview of surgical quality measurement is presented. A system for monitoring thoracic morbidity and mortality (TM&M) at the Ottawa Hospital is introduced and evaluated. Results of a needs assessment survey on the involvement in thoracic surgical research and quality improvement initiatives are presented. Results: Structure, process, and outcomes reflect different viewpoints on how to evaluate surgical quality. The feasibility of the TM&M system is evaluated using descriptive and univariate statistics, while its inter-rater reliability is assessed amongst the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons. Conclusions: Outcomes have been fundamental in the evaluation of surgical quality. TM&M classification system advocates for a practice of continuous quality improvement and provides standardized and reliable feedback on surgical outcomes. Results of the needs assessment have built a strong foundation of knowledge on prospective ways to enhance the monitoring of surgical quality.

This study addressed the lack of knowledge regarding the epidemiology of waking symptoms attributable to the cervico-thoraic spine. Five inter-linked studies were undertaken to investigate the relationships between reports of waking cervical pain, cervical stiffness, headache and scapular pain, cervico-thoracic spine posture in the side lying position and anthropometry. This has culminated in evidence based advice regarding pillow use. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2004.

Thesis (MAppSc) -- University of South Australia, 1997

Disc degenerative changes are directly or indirectly associated with spinal pain and disability. Literature revealed a high prevalence of disc degeneration in the thoracic region, however thoracic MRI degeneration trends and information on disc biochemical matrix constituents are limited for thoracic discs compared to lumbar and cervical discs. The objective of this thesis was to use MRI to investigate the prevalence of disc degenerative changes affecting the human thoracic spine, and to determine the factors affecting spinal disc biochemical matrix. A 3-point subjective MRI grading scale was used to grade the films. The feasibility of using archived formalin-fixed cadaver material was investigated to analyse collagen and elastin crosslinks. The prevalence of degenerative changes in human thoracic discs and vertebrae (T1 to T12) was determined retrospectively from an audit of 216 MRI cases, using sagittal T1- and T2-weighted MR images. In a subsequent series of ex-vivo studies, human thoracic discs and LF from 26 formalin-fixed and two fresh spines, involving all thoracic levels, were examined macroscopically to determine the degeneration status. Subsequently, disc and ligament tissues were analysed biochemically for collagen (pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline) and elastin (desmosine and isodesmosine) crosslinks. These crosslinks were extracted from hydrolysed samples by cellulose partition chromatography, and analysed by reverse-phase HPLC. Collagen content was determined using its hydroxyproline content, and proteoglycan content was assayed using a modified DMB assay for chondroitin sulphate. Finally the MRI and macroscopic assessments of thoracic discs, were compared with the biochemical data from two fresh cadaver thoracic spines. The 3-point MRI grading scale had a high inter- (k = 0.57 to 0.78) and intra-rater (k = 0.71 to 0.87) reliability. There were no significant differences in the collagen and elastin content and extent of collagen crosslinks between formalin fixed and unfixed ligament and disc tissues, after 25 weeks of formalin fixation. From the in-vivo MRI series of investigations (n = 216 MRI films), the prevalence of thoracic disc degenerative and vertebral morphological changes revealed significant age, gender and spinal level trends (p < 0.05).Generally, males had a higher propensity for disc degeneration in contrast to females, especially older females, where the trend showed a higher prevalence of osteophytes and vertebral body changes. In particular, the mid and lower thoracic levels have a higher prevalence of degenerative changes, except for osteophytes and anterior vertebral wedging. With increased age, there was a concomitant increase in anterior wedging and bi-concavity and disc degenerative changes except for end-plates. The biochemical investigations on the ex-vivo series of formalin-fixed thoracic discs (n = 303) also revealed significant changes in the disc matrix due to degeneration status, age, gender and spinal regional factors. With increased age, normal disc matrices have significantly lower collagen content and extent of pyridinoline (p < 0.001). In contrast, the degenerated disc matrix revealed significantly higher collagen content and extent of deoxypyridinoline (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that an altered matrix existed in normal ageing discs, which render the disc prone to injury and degeneration over the life span. The higher collagen and deoxypyridinoline in degenerated disc matrices reflects an increase in chondrocyte synthesis, and is also a novel finding, suggesting that they may be used as markers of ageing and degeneration processes. The biochemical investigations on another series of ex-vivo spinal LF tissues (n = 364), revealed that this had a lower collagen and pyridinoline, but significantly higher elastin and deoxypyridinoline compared to spinal discs (p < 0.05). Elastin crosslinks however were difficult to detect in spinal discs, being present in negligible amounts in a few lumbar discs. The elastin crosslinks in the LF were not significantly affected by age, but were significantly higher in calcified, and female ligamentum tissues, and also in the lumbar region (p < 0.05). These MRI prevalence findings enhanced our knowledge of vertebral body and disc degeneration trends in the thoracic region and contributed to the interpretation of MR images for pathology in the human thoracic spine. Information on the associated collagenous and elastic changes in the disc and ligamentum matrices provide original data and insight on the pathogenesis of degeneration in the disc matrix from a biochemical perspective, highlighting gender, age and spinal level influences on the matrix tensile strength and cellular synthetic activities.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Nursing)--Mahidol University, 1979. / Financial support by China Medical Board of New York Inc.

Thesis (M.S.)--Duquesne University, 2009. / Abstract included in electronic submission form. Title from document title page. Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-71) and index.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1980. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-84).