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Vagal afferent inhibition of spinothalamic cell responses to sympathetic afferents and bradykinin in the monkey.

Effects of stimulating the left thoracic vagus nerve on the responses of spinothalamic neurons to electrical stimulation of cardiopulmonary sympathetic afferent fibers and to intracardiac injections of bradykinin were determined. Experiments were performed on 39 monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) tranquilized with ketamine and anesthetized with alpha-chloralose. The 30 spinothalamic cells studied had the following characteristics. They were excited by manipulation of their somatic receptive fields, were excited by electrical stimulation of cardiopulmonary sympathetic afferent fibers, and exhibited viscerosomatic convergence. Responses of 15 of 19 cells to sympathetic afferent test stimuli were inhibited by conditioning stimuli applied to left thoracic vagus nerve. A conditioning-test interval of 40-50 msec resulted in maximal inhibition of responses to both A delta and C fiber sympathetic afferents. A long time course of inhibition was present to at least a conditioning-test interval of 200 msec. Left thoracic vagus nerve stimulation inhibited 14 of 14 cells responding to intracardiac injection of bradykinin. Entrainment of activity of five cells to the cardiac cycle occurred in response to bradykinin. In each case, left thoracic vagus nerve stimulation, in addition to reducing frequency of cell discharge, disrupted the cardiac related pattern of cell activity. Bilateral cervical vagotomy abolished all inhibitory effects of left thoracic vagus nerve stimulation. These results demonstrate that vagal afferents may participate in processing of information related to cardiac pain.

Angina Pectoris↗

Topological changes of the human autonomic cardiac nervous system in individuals with a retroesophageal right subclavian artery: two case reports and a brief review.

The topological changes of the human autonomic cardiac nervous system in two cadavers with a retroesophageal right subclavian artery (Rersa) were compared with the normal autonomic cardiac nervous system. The following new results were obtained in addition to the conventional deficient finding of the right recurrent laryngeal nerve. (1) Right superior cardiac nerves arising from the superior cervical ganglion were consistently observed in both cadavers, in addition to the right thoracic cardiac nerves along the Rersa. (2) A segmental accompanying tendency of the right cardiac nerves was recognized: the cardiac nerves arising from the sympathetic trunk cranial to the middle cervical ganglia ran along with the right common carotid artery, whereas the cardiac nerves arising from the sympathetic trunk caudal to the vertebral ganglion ran along the Rersa. (3) The right thoracic cardiac nerves, which have never been observed to accompany the normal right subclavian artery, ran along the proximal part of the Rersa. According to previous reports of individuals with the Rersa, a thick right thoracic cardiac nerve is commonly observed instead of a right superior cardiac nerve. However, all the cardiac nerves were recognized in both the individuals described in the present report. Therefore, we strongly disagree with the previous idea that the origin of the right cardiac nerves from the sympathetic trunk and ganglia is shifted caudally in individuals with the Rersa. The topological changes of the autonomic cardiac nervous system in two cases of Rersa also reflected spatial changes of great arteries.

Aged, 80 and over↗

Normal ulnar nerve conduction velocity across the thoracic outlet: comparison of two measuring techniques.

Comparison of ulnar nerve conduction across the thoracic outlet in 30 normal individuals using caliper and steel tape measurements is reported. A difference of 11.3 m/s was noted between the two methods (58.9 +/- 4.20 m/s by caliper; 70.2 +/- 5.20 m/s by tape). Comparison of these values with previous studies and the use of the opposite limb as a control are discussed. This procedure is of clinical importance in the diagnosis of nerve compression in the thoracic outlet syndrome.

Adult↗

Morphometric evidence from C-synapses for phased Nissl body response in alpha-motoneurones retrogradely intoxicated with diphtheria toxin.

Diphtheria toxin (DTX) kills cells by inactivating ribosomal translocation and when used to retrogradely intoxicate cat intercostal motoneurones produces marked morphological alterations in Nissl bodies, including those specifically sited postsynaptic to C-type axon terminals. Here, qualitative examinations of 'intoxicated' postsynaptic Nissl bodies reveal a progressive structural alteration marked by rER dilatation, rER lamellae fragmentation but retention of both the highly ordered multilamellate organization and ribosomal attachment until final stages of Nissl body dissolution. Morphometric results identified 3 broad phases to the postintoxication response which differed in the degree of rER cisternal dilation, and the numerical and spatial relationships between rER-lamellae, rER-bound ribosomes and rER-associated polyribosomes. These phases reflect the known molecular basis of diphtheritic toxicity and contrast with the fast developing Nissl body reaction associated with the neurotoxin ricin which also invokes ribosomal dysfunction and has been used to mimic certain features of motor neurone disease. The cytopathology of DTX and ricin are compared in the Discussion.

Animals↗

Expiratory neurons in the region of the retrofacial nucleus: inhibitory effects of intercostal tendon organs.

Intercostal muscle tendon organs have an inhibitory effect on the medullary neurons driving all inspiratory muscles, and on a subpopulation of medullary bulbospinal expiratory neurons. Results from this study showed that the activity of expiratory related neurons in the region of the retrofacial nucleus (Botzinger complex) decreases during tendon organ afferent stimulation; the response is similar to that of caudal bulbospinal expiratory neurons. We conclude that these expiratory neurons do not mediate the tendon organ inhibition of medullary inspiratory neuronal activity.

Action Potentials↗

Percutaneous cryotherapy for post-thoracotomy neuralgia.

Fourteen patients had percutaneous cryotherapy for persistent post-thoracotomy neuralgia. Although a significant proportion had their condition improved, relief was temporary. However, a third felt that symptoms were exacerbated by the therapy.

Cryosurgery↗

A technique for maximizing biceps recovery in brachial plexus reconstruction.

In 21 cadaver dissections the intramuscular anatomy of the musculocutaneous nerve and the relative relationship of the motor and sensory components of this nerve were evaluated. Nearly one half of the fibers entering the musculocutaneous nerve terminate in cutaneous receptors. We report five cases in which biceps reinnervation was performed by a surgical technique that minimizes the period of denervation by using motor nerves (medial pectoral nerves) very close to the biceps muscle. This technique also redirects the cutaneous portion (lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve) of the musculocutaneous nerve into the biceps muscle to ensure that the motor fibers are not directed toward cutaneous receptors.

Adult↗

The use of thoracodorsal nerve transfer in restoration of irreparable C5 and C6 spinal nerve lesions.

There are only a few reports on the use of thoracodorsal nerve (TDN) transfer to the musculocutaneous or axillary nerves in cases of directly irreparable brachial plexus injuries. In this study, we analysed outcome and time-course of recovery in correlation with recipient nerves and type of nerve transfer (isolated or in combination with other collateral branches) for 27 patients with transfer to the musculocutaneous or axillary nerves. Using this nerve as donor, we obtained useful functional recovery in all 12 cases for the musculocutaneous nerve, and in 14 (93.3%) of 15 nerve transfers for the axillary nerve. Although, we found no significant statistical difference between analysed patients according to the percentage of recoveries and mean values, we established a better quality and shorter time of recovery for the musculocutaneous nerve. According to obtained results, we consider that transfer may be a valuable method in reconstruction after directly irreparable C5 and C6 spinal nerve lesions.

Adolescent↗

Nerve crossover techniques for urinary bladder reinnervation: animal and human cadaver studies.

Interruption of spinal pathways integrating central and peripheral bladder control mechanisms will result in neurogenic bladder dysfunction. If central pathways could be restored to the decentralized bladder through a microneural reconstructive technique a return of useful function might be achieved. This anatomical study describes the nerve crossover techniques used in human cadaver dissections for connecting intercostal nerves to sacral roots intraspinally. The techniques were modified from and compared to similar procedures used in an animal model where adjacent extradural roots were connected through a nerve graft. We have shown previously that the unilaterally decentralized bladder of the cat can be recentralized after a nerve crossover procedure. If additional laboratory studies can document return of useful bladder function we anticipate that selected patients may benefit from similar nerve crossover techniques to bypass a spinal cord lesion to recentralize the bladder.

Animals↗

Direct nerve crossing with the intercostal nerve to treat avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus.

One hundred seventy-nine patients with root avulsion brachial plexus injuries were treated with direct nerve crossing with the intercostal nerve and 159 cases were followed more than 1 1/2 years after the operation. When suture was done to the musculocutaneous nerve, 90% of 10 children who had operation within 7 months of injury and 81.8% of 110 adults, younger than 40 years with operation within 6 months of injury regained grade 3 or 4 elbow flexion power. This direct method seems to produce better results than those of nerve crossing, which uses intermediary nerve grafts.

Adolescent↗

Intercostal-lumbar-spinal nerve anastomoses for cord transection. A preliminary investigation.

Since 1978, 10 intercostal nerve-cauda equina anastomoses and 11 intercostal nerve-lumbar anastomoses were performed for thoracolumbar spinal cord transection. Three to four pairs of intercostal nerves above the traumatic level of the cord were anastomosed with two to four pairs of cauda equina or lumbar nerve roots below the traumatic level, using microsurgical technique. The surgical techniques used for the latter 11 cases were performed through an extraperitoneal approach. The operative technique is described in detail. These 21 cases have been followed-up for six to 48 months. Electromyography (EMG) shows that action potentials are present in several previously paralyzed muscles in 11 cases. Muscle strength of some previously paralyzed muscles in three cases recovered to Grades 1 to 3. There is evidence that intercostal-lumbar-spinal nerve anastomoses provide a chance for neuronal regeneration, but unsatisfactory functional results are still questions for further study.

Adult↗