Biomedical subjects
J Korpi
Publications and source records attributed to J Korpi.
Radiographic mobility of the lumbar spine and its relation to clinical back motion.
A sample of 194 examinees (117 women and 77 men), representative of the population, with a history of low back pain, were examined clinically and radiographed. The angles between vertebrae at the levels of L4-L5 and L5-S1 were measured from the lateral lumbar erect, maximal flexion, and maximal extension views. Average mobility at L4-L5 was 14.5 degrees in women and 13.4 in men, and at L5-S1 11.5 degrees in women and 12.1 in men. Mobility became more restricted with increasing age both in women and men; especially at L4-L5. In women decreased radiographic mobility at L4-L5 was significantly (p = 0.002) correlated with restricted side-bending and rotation found at the physical examination. These correlations were clearly less significant among men. At L5-S1, restricted extension in women but restricted flexion and Schober's test in men were significantly correlated with decreased radiographic mobility.
Lumbar disc syndrome in Finland.
The prevalence of lumbar disc syndrome (herniated disc or typical sciatica) and its consequences in terms of disability, handicap, and need for medical care were studied as part of the Mini-Finland Health Survey. A sample of 8000 persons representative of the Finnish population aged 30 or over was asked to come for examination, and 7217 (90%) participated. A diagnosis of lumbar disc syndrome based on medical history, symptoms, and standardised physical examination was made for 5.1% of the men and for 3.7% of the women. Half of these patients were assessed to be in need of medical care, over 80% of which was considered to be adequately met. One third of all patients with lumbar disc syndrome had been previously hospitalised for that syndrome, and one fifth of the patients had undergone lumbar surgery. At least slight disability was found in almost 60% of the patients, though severe functional limitations were rare. About 6% of the population's work disability was estimated to be attributable to lumbar disc syndrome.
Occupation, work load and the size and shape of lumbar vertebral canals.
Measurements made from plain lumbar radiographs were used to compare the size and shape of the lumbar vertebral canals between various categories of occupation and work load among 77 men and 118 women with a history of low-back pain. The mean anteroposterior foraminal diameters proved to be wider in female farm workers than in other women, especially in the vertebra L3 (17.1 versus 15.4 mm). However, the men who did heavy manual work had smaller anteroposterior foraminal diameters than the men whose work involved less physical labor (difference at L5 9.4 versus 10.8 mm). Female farm workers were found to have shorter interarticular distances than females in other occupational groups. In the men who reported working in stooped postures or reported lifting and carrying heavy objects at work, the interarticular distances were wider than in men who had no such exposures.
Herniated lumbar disc syndrome and vertebral canals.
Herniated lumbar disc or definite sciatica was diagnosed in 16 of 195 men and women who had reported a history of low-back pain in a health survey. Measurements related to the size and shape of the lumbar spinal canal were subsequently made from the survey radiographs and compared between various types of back syndromes. Age, body height, body mass index, occupation, and parity of women were controlled as potential confounders using analysis of covariance. Several dimensions of lumbar vertebral canals appeared more shallow in the subjects who had herniated disc or definite sciatica than in the other ones. In particular, the interarticular distance of the first sacral vertebra was found to be narrowed in the presence of sciatica, the difference of the adjusted distances to the other back pain category being in men 30.5 mm versus 35.1 mm (P = 0.02) and in women 23.8 mm versus 30.3 mm (P = 0.002), respectively.
Radiographic measurements of lumbar spinal canal size and their relation to back mobility.
A total of 197 men and women with history of previous back pain were radiographed and clinically examined. Measurements related to the shape and size of the spinal canal were subsequently made from the lumbar radiographs. Interarticular distance and the ratio between interarticular and interpedicular distances were significantly less in women with restriction of lumbar extension, sidebending, and rotation: not in men. Anteroposterior (AP) foraminal distances and pedicular lengths were less in men with restricted extension and sidebending, although not in women. Midsagittal diameters were not significantly less in those with restricted mobility. The radiographic differences between men and women with restricted back mobility arise partly from the sexual differences in interarticular and AP foraminal distance, the former being less in women, the latter in men. This suggests a different pathogenetic factor in the two sexes.
Simultaneous analysis of hydrocortisone and hydrocortisone phosphate by high-pressure liquid chromatography: reversed-phase, ion-pairing approach.
The reversed-phase, ion-pairing approach to high-pressure liquid chromatography was applied to the simultaneous analysis of hydrocortisone and its phosphate ester in laboratory-prepared samples and injectable solutions. Results of this technique were evaluated and compared with results of the official procedure.