High definition ultrasound imaging of the individual elements of the brachial plexus above the clavicle

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 344-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj Kumar Karmakar ◽  
Jatuporn Pakpirom ◽  
Banchobporn Songthamwat ◽  
Pornpatra Areeruk

Background and objectivesUltrasonography of the brachial plexus (BP) has been described but there are limited data on visualization of the T1 ventral ramus and the inferior trunk. This prospective observational study aimed to evaluate a high definition ultrasound imaging technique to systematically identify the individual elements of the BP above the clavicle.MethodsFive healthy young volunteers underwent high definition ultrasound imaging of the BP above the clavicle. The ultrasound scan sequence (transverse oblique scan) commenced at the supraclavicular fossa after which the transducer was slowly swept cranially to the upper part of the interscalene groove and then in the reverse direction to the supraclavicular fossa. The unique sonomorphology of the C7 transverse process was used as the key anatomic landmark to identify the individual elements of the BP in the recorded sonograms.ResultsThe neural elements of the BP that were identified in all volunteers included the ventral rami of C5–T1, the three trunks, divisions of the superior trunk, and formation of the inferior trunk (C8–T1). The C6 ventral ramus exhibited echogenic internal septation with a split (bifid) appearance in four of the five volunteers. In three of the four volunteers with a bifid C6 ventral ramus, the C7 ventral ramus was also bifid.ConclusionWe have demonstrated that it is feasible to accurately identify majority of the main components of the BP above the clavicle, including the T1 ventral ramus and the formation of the inferior trunk, using high definition ultrasound imaging.Trial registration numberChiCTR1900021749.

2021 ◽  
pp. rapm-2020-102304
Author(s):  
Pornpatra Areeruk ◽  
Manoj Kumar Karmakar ◽  
Miguel A Reina ◽  
Louis Y H Mok ◽  
Ranjith Kumar Sivakumar ◽  
...  

Background and objectivesThe paraneural sheath is a multilayered network of collagen fibers that surround the brachial plexus. Currently, there are no sonographic data on the paraneural sheath of the brachial plexus, which this study aimed to evaluate.MethodsUltrasound imaging datasets of 100 patients who received a costoclavicular brachial plexus block, using high-definition ultrasound imaging, were retrospectively reviewed. Video files, representing sonograms before and after the local anesthetic injection, from the costoclavicular space and lateral infraclavicular fossa were collated and reviewed by three experienced anesthesiologists. Frequency (yes/no) of ultrasound visualization of the paraneural sheath, septum, and the anterior and posterior compartments was assessed. Representative sonograms from the costoclavicular space and lateral infraclavicular fossa were visually correlated with archived cadaver microanatomic sections from the same location.ResultsDatasets of the 98 patients who achieved surgical anesthesia were evaluated. The paraneural sheath, septum, and the anterior and posterior compartments were visualized in 17.3%, 7.1%, 5.1% and 5.1%, respectively, at the costoclavicular space before the brachial plexus block; this contrasts (p<0.001) with their visibility post-block (94.9%, 75.5%, 75.5% and 75.5%, respectively). At the lateral infraclavicular fossa, the corresponding visibility of these structures post-block were 67.7%, 81.5%, 81.5% and 81.5%, respectively. Ultrasound images of the paraneural sheath and septum correlated well with that in the cadaver microanatomic sections.ConclusionWe have demonstrated the paraneural sheath and fascial compartments surrounding the cords of the brachial plexus at the costoclavicular space and lateral infraclavicular fossa using high-definition ultrasound imaging.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04370184), (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/).


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ligia C. S. Fonseca ◽  
Annika K. Nelke ◽  
Jörg Bahm ◽  
Catherine Disselhorst-Klug

Abstract:Coping strategies of patients with obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) are highly individual. Up to now, individual movement performance is assessed by visual observations of physicians or therapists - a procedure, which is highly subjective and lacks objective data. However, objective data about the individual movement performance are the key to evidence-based and individualized treatment. In this paper, a new approach is presented, which provides objective information about the upper extremity movement performance of patients with OBPP. The approach is based on the use of accelerometers in combination with a classification procedure. The movement performance of 10 healthy volunteers and 41 patients with OBPP has been evaluated by experienced physiotherapists and has been assigned to one of 4 categories representing the Mallet Scale (MS) IV to I. Three triaxial-accelerometers were placed at chest, upper arm and wrist of the affected side of the patient. Acceleration signals have been recorded during repetitive movements with relevance regarding daily life. Here, especially the results from the “hand to mouth” task are presented. From the 9 recorded acceleration signals 13 relevant features were extracted. For each of the 13 features 4 thresholds have been determined distinguishing best between the 4 patient categories of the MS and the healthy subjects. With respect to the thresholds each feature value has been assigned to the discrete numbers 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4. Afterwards, each discrete number has been weighted by a factor regarding the correlation between the feature’s value and the MS score. The resulting weighted discrete numbers of all 13 features have been added resulting in a score, which quantifies the individual upper extremity movement performance. Based on this score the movement performance of each patient has been assigned to the classes “very good”, “good”, “regular” and “bad”. All movements of the 10 healthy volunteers were classified as “very good”. The movement performance of two patients MS IV were classified as “very good” as well and the movements of the other 16 patients as “good”. The movements of the entire group of MS III patients fell into the class “regular”. Just one MS II patient was assigned to the class “regular” while the others were classified as “bad”. It was not possible to classify the movements of MS I patients. This was mainly due to the fact that none of these patients MS I was able to complete the task successfully. The developed approach demonstrated its ability to quantify the movement performance of upper extremity movements based on accelerometers. This provides an easy to use tool to assess patient’s movement strategies during daily tasks for diagnosis and rehabilitation.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 4393
Author(s):  
Cesar Auguste Badji ◽  
Jean Dorland ◽  
Lynda Kheloul ◽  
Dimitri Bréard ◽  
Pascal Richomme ◽  
...  

Essential oils of aromatic plants represent an alternative to classical pest control with synthetic chemicals. They are especially promising for the alternative control of stored product pest insects. Here, we tested behavioral and electrophysiological responses of the stored product pest Tribolium confusum, to the essential oil of a Brazilian indigenous plant, Varronia globosa, collected in the Caatinga ecosystem. We analyzed the essential oil by GC-MS, tested the effects of the entire oil and its major components on the behavior of individual beetles in a four-way olfactometer, and investigated responses to these stimuli in electroantennogram recordings (EAG). We could identify 25 constituents in the essential oil of V. globosa, with anethole, caryophyllene and spathulenole as main components. The oil and its main component anethole had repellent effects already at low doses, whereas caryophyllene had only a repellent effect at a high dose. In addition, the essential oil abolished the attractive effect of the T. confusum aggregation pheromone. EAG recordings revealed dose-dependent responses to the individual components and increasing responses to the blend and even more to the entire oil. Our study reveals the potential of anethole and the essential oil of V. globosa in the management of stored product pests.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 382
Author(s):  
Laura Arru ◽  
Francesca Mussi ◽  
Luca Forti ◽  
Annamaria Buschini

The Mediterranean-style diet is rich in fruit and vegetables and has a great impact on the prevention of major chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In this work we investigated the ability of spinach extracts obtained by different extraction methods and of the single main components of the phytocomplex, alone or mixed, to modulate proliferation, antioxidant defense, and genotoxicity of HT29 human colorectal cells. Spinach extracts show dose-dependent activity, increasing the level of intracellular endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) when tested at higher doses. In the presence of oxidative stress, the activity is related to the oxidizing agent involved (H2O2 or menadione) and by the extraction method. The single components of the phytocomplex, alone or mixed, do not alter the intracellular endogenous level of ROS but again, in the presence of an oxidative insult, the modulation of antioxidant defense depends on the oxidizing agent used. The application of the phytocomplex extracts seem to be more effective than the application of the single phytocomplex components.


1994 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. OCHI ◽  
Y. IKUTA ◽  
M. WATANABE ◽  
K. KIMOR ◽  
K. ITOH

Findings in 34 patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury documented by surgical exploration and intra-operative somatosensory-evoked potentials were correlated with findings on myelography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine whether MRI can identify nerve root avulsion. The coronal and sagittal planes were not able to demonstrate avulsion of the individual nerve roots. The axial and axial oblique planes did provide useful information to determine which nerve root was avulsed in the upper plexus, although it was difficult to clearly delineate the lower cervical rootlets. The accuracy of MRI was 73% for C5 and 64% for C6 and that of myelograpby 63% for C5 and 64% for C6. Thus, the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for upper nerve roots was slightly superior to myelography. Although its primary diagnostic value is limited to the upper nerve roots whose avulsion is relatively difficult to diagnose by myelography, MRI can provide useful guidance in the waiting period prior to surgical exploration after brachial plexus injury.


2021 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 10-20
Author(s):  
A. V Kiriakova ◽  
◽  
V.V. Moroz ◽  

Interest in creativity as a subject of research has been growing exponentially since the second half of the 20th century in all areas of human history. A wide range of both domestic and foreign studies allows authors to assert that creativity is a personality trait, inherent to one degree or another. Whereas the development of such trait becomes an urgent necessity in the new reality. The entire evolutionary process of the social development illustrates its dependence on personal and collective creativity. The aim of this research is to study the phenomenon of creativity through the perspective of axiology, i.e. the science of values. Axiology allows us to consider the realities of the modern world from the perspective of not only external factors, circumstances and situations, but also of deep value foundations. Creativity has been studied quite deeply from the point of view of psychology: the special characteristics of a creative person, stages of the creative process, the relationship between creative and critical thinking, creativity and intelligence. Some psychologists emphasize motivation, creative skills, interdisciplinary knowledge, and the creative environment as the main components that contribute to the development of creativity. The authors of the article argue that values and value orientations towards cognition, creativity, self-realization and self-expression are the drivers of creativity. In a broad sense, values as a matrix of culture determine the attitude of society to creativity, to the development of creativity of the individual and the creative class, and to how economically successful a given society will be. Since innovation and entrepreneurship are embodied creativity. Thus, the study of creativity from the perspective of axiology combines the need for a deep study of this phenomenon and the subjective significance of creativity in the context of new realities


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 732-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Cooley ◽  
J. C. Sharman

We present a new, more transnational, networked perspective on corruption. It is premised on the importance of professional intermediaries who constitute networks facilitating cross-border illicit finance, the blurring of legal and illegal capital flows, and the globalization of the individual via multiple claims of residence and citizenship. This perspective contrasts with notions of corruption as epitomized by direct, unmediated transfers between bribe-givers and bribe-takers, disproportionately a problem of the developing world, and as bounded within national units. We argue that the professionals in major financial centers serve to lower the transaction costs of transnational corruption by senior foreign officials. Wealthy, politically powerful individuals on the margins of the law are increasingly globalized as they secure financial access, physical residence, and citizenship rights in major OECD countries. These trends are evidenced by an analysis of the main components of the relevant transnational networks: banks, shell companies, foreign real estate, and investor citizenship programs, based on extensive interviews with key informants across multiple sites.


Author(s):  
Olha Volodymyrivna Popelo ◽  
◽  
Tetiana Volodymyrivna Zabashtanska ◽  
Kateryna Oleksandrivna Chorna ◽  
◽  
...  

Abstract. In modern conditions of aggravation of competition the question of creation of effective system of motivation of the personnel at the enterprise acquires extreme urgency. The level of employees’thirst for work depends on the chosen system of motivation. That is why company executives need to rationally combine tangible and intangible methods of staff motivation. Foreign experience proves that intangible and tangible methods of motivation play an equally important role in organizing the work of subordinates. That is why the study of the process of choosing a method of staff motivation in the enterprise is becoming increasingly important, which confirms the relevance of the chosen to research topic.The article investigates the theoretical foundations of the formation of an effective system of motivation in the enterprise.The main motives that underliemotivation are highlighted. Motivation theories are outlined and analyzed. The analysis of the main components of the motivation system: tangible and intangible. The factors contributing to the formation of an effective system of motivation in the enterprise are revealed. Possibilities of combination of tangible and intangible types of motivation at the enterprise are substantiated. It has been proven that motivation has a significant impact on the life of every person and is a driving force in any economic activity.Everyone is an individual, so the goal of company leaders is to choose motivational factors in accordance with the individual qualities of employees. To get the maximum effect from the work of subordinates, the manager must determine the motives of each employee


2004 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1326-1327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anahi Perlas ◽  
Vincent W. S. Chan

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