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Biomedical subjects

J Merikanto

Publications and source records attributed to J Merikanto.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Maturation of mitogenic response in foetal guinea-pig.

Lymphocytes obtained from thymus, spleen and heart blood of 33-day-old guinea-pig foetuses and from lymph nodes of 48-day-old foetuses onwards were stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). concanavalin A (Con A) and dextran sulphate (DxS). The results, based on the analysis of ninety-five foetuses, indicated that the mitogenic responses of the guinea-pig T cells matured first in the thymus and then in the spleen and lymph nodes, in that order. The PHA and Con A responses in the thymus, spleen and lymph nodes and the DxS response in the spleen improved with the increasing age of the foetus. A clear improvement of the mitogenic responses did not take place in the blood. Thus, at birth the guinea-pig is immunologically mature as regards the PHA and Con A responses in the thymus, spleen and lymph nodes and the DxS response in the spleen. Regarding the maturation of PHA and Con A responses by lymphocytes from the blood, further studies are needed, since at birth both of these responses are clearly below the adult level.

Aging↗
PubMed1979

Impaired lymphocyte transformation after accidental trauma.

The effect of accidental trauma on lymphocyte transformation induced by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) was studied in 66 patients with minor, moderate or multiple trauma. An in vitro whole blood micromethod was used. The lymphocyte transformation induced by the mitogens and the antigen was impaired in patients with trauma in proportion to the severity of the injury. A decrease of lymphocytic responses to a very low level had prognostic value for the patient as indicated by the two patients with very low lymphocytic responses and serious infectious complications.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessing resectability of lung cancer: the role of computed tomography of the mediastinum, upper abdomen and head.

In order to assess the value of computed tomography (CT) of the mediastinum, upper abdomen and head in the assessment of resectability of lung cancer, the CT findings of 262 patients, of whom 198 underwent thoracotomy, were analyzed retrospectively and the stagings obtained at CT and thoracotomy were compared. Mediastinal CT reliably predicted resectability when there was no evidence of mediastinal involvement. However, it was often impossible to determine whether tumour with apparent mediastinal infiltration on CT was resectable or not. The sole finding of lymph node enlargement did not permit differentiation of benign from malignant lymphadenopathy when the lymph node diameter was less than 25 mm and the lymphadenopathy was confined to one lymph node station. Upper abdominal metastases were found in 6.1% and brain metastases in 4.6% of patients and neither the histological type nor other features of the tumour were found to be useful predictors of their presence. The large number of non-specific findings decreased the utility of abdominal CT. The appropriate strategy for the pre-operative evaluation of patients with lung cancer is discussed.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of symptomatic congenital hepatic cysts with single-session percutaneous drainage and ethanol sclerosis: technique and outcome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous aspiration and ethanol sclerotherapy as the sole treatment for symptomatic, nonneoplastic, congenital hepatic cysts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, 59 symptomatic, congenital hepatic cysts in 25 patients were treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous aspiration and ethanol sclerotherapy. Eleven patients had a solitary cyst, and 14 patients had polycystic liver disease. Mean follow-up was 4 years. RESULTS: Fifty-seven (97%) of 59 sclerotherapy procedures were technically successful, and there were no recurrences. Eight cysts in six patients disappeared totally. The mean diameter of the remaining 49 cysts decreased from 9 cm to 3 cm. At the last follow-up visit, 14 patients were asymptomatic, four had milder epigastric pain than before the treatment, and seven with polycystic liver disease had recurrent symptoms due to growth of nontreated cysts. No major complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous aspiration with ethanol sclerotherapy is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment method for symptomatic congenital cysts. It is the initial treatment of choice for all patients with symptomatic congenital hepatic cysts.

Cysts↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diaphyseal bone lengthening in children using Wagner device: long-term results.

In a series of 32 patients, the tibia was lengthened nine times and the femur 26 times. The lengthening was 4.1 cm in the tibia and 4.9 cm in the femur. The callotasis principle and atraumatic handling of the periosteum were considered important. The leg inequality was corrected appropriately, except in cases where the leg-length inequality was greater than 12 cm as a result of a progressive congenital deformity. Late femoral fractures occurred in six patients, but no tibial fractures were seen. One hip dislocation was seen after femoral lengthening, one talus deformation developed after the tibial lengthening, and one peroneal nerve entrapment was released operatively. One infection caused delayed bone union. Average follow-up time was 5.0 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Percutaneous cholecystostomy in acute cholecystitis in high-risk patients: an analysis of 69 patients.

BACKGROUND: Optimal treatment of acute cholecystitis in high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis continues to be a difficult therapeutic problem. With the development of more advanced radiological imaging techniques, percutaneous cholecystostomy (PCS) has been presented as an effective treatment alternative in critically ill patients. This paper reports our experiences of percutaneous cholecystostomy in the treatment of acute cholecystitis in a well defined high-risk patient group. METHODS: The data concerning 69 high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis treated by percutaneous cholecystostomy in Oulu University Hospital and Kokkola Central Hospital were analyzed. RESULTS: Ultrasound showed gallbladder stones in 71% (49/69) of the patients and 29% of them presented with acalculous cholecystitis. After PCS, pain diminished in 94% (61/65), fever in 90% (35/39), CRP values in 87% (53/61) and leucocyte count in 84% (46/55) of the patients. Before PCS, the CRP value was 132+/-106 mg/l and after PCS 79+/-73 mg/l (P = 0.001) and corresponding leucocyte counts were 14.7+/-5.0 and 9.3+/-3.2 (P = 0.001), respectively. The antegrade cholecystocholangiography was performed in 29 patients after PCS, and common bile duct stones were detected in 8 patients; these stones were treated by endoscopic papillotomy. Complications after PCS occurred in 17 patients (26%), but only two patients required emergency laparotomy. Mortality was 19% (13/69). Acute cholecystitis alone was the cause of death in only three patients. Mostly, fatal outcome was caused by the serious underlying diseases. CONCLUSION: According to our results, PCS should be the method of choice in high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Totally absorbable screws in fixation of subtalar extra articular arthrodesis in children with spastic neuromuscular disease: preliminary report of a randomized prospective study of fourteen arthrodeses fixed with absorbable or metallic screws.

Seven patients with spastic neuromuscular disease and severe hindfoot valgus deformity were treated by subtalar arthrodesis. Arthrodesis was performed in both feet at the same operation and fixed on one side with a self-reinforced poly-L-lactide (SR-PLLA) screw, and with a standard AO screw on the other side. The functional status state was improved, and radiographic union of the arthrodesis occurred in all feet. The radiograph showed better solid fusion in five feet treated with PLLA screws, similar fusion in both sides in one patient, and one slower fusion in the side treated initially with a PLLA screw. Totally absorbable SR-PLLA screws appear to be firm enough for fixation of subtalar extraarticular arthrodesis in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vertebral abnormalities associated with congenital sacrococcygeal teratomas.

An orthopedic and radiologic follow-up study was performed on 45 patients who had undergone surgery for a benign congenital sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT). Eighty percent of the patients had one to three vertebral abnormalities at the mean age of 21 years. Extrapelvic primary tumors were associated with subsequent development of spondylolysis in the lumbosacral spine, and intrapelvic primary tumors were associated with multiple spina bifida occulta lesions and other spinal anomalies. In addition, an increased incidence of congenital dislocation of the hip (7%) was observed in patients with SCTs.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nephrotoxicity of contrast media in patients with diabetes mellitus. A comparative urographic and angiographic study with iohexol and metrizoate.

A double-blind urographic and angiographic study was done with the ionic contrast medium meglumine metrizoate and the non-ionic iohexol in 90 patients with diabetes mellitus. Twenty patients were insulin dependent, and 70 non-insulin dependent diabetics. Diabetic patients with decreased as well as normal renal function prior to the examination sustained a reversible and small increase in the plasma creatinine level postexamination. The small increase caused by meglumine metrizoate was significantly higher than the increase caused by iohexol. There was also a significantly higher increase in plasma creatinine among the patients with diabetic nephropathy compared with those without nephropathy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radiographic diagnosis of bile duct cysts. Retrospective analysis of thirteen cases.

Twelve patients and a foetus with congenital bile duct cysts suggested in the majority of cases at routine upper abdominal sonography were examined by two or more of the following investigations: ultrasonography (10 patients), computed tomography (5 patients), CT-cholangiography (2 patients), oral cholecystography (7 patients), intravenous cholangiography (4 patients), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (6 patients) and cholescintigraphy (2 patients). The sensitivity of each investigation for the diagnosis of bile duct cysts was: ultrasound 40 per cent, computed tomography 20 per cent, CT-cholangiography 100 per cent, oral cholecystography 17 per cent, intravenous cholangiography 75 per cent, ERCP 83 per cent and cholescintigraphy 50 per cent. When a bile duct cyst has been suggested by ultrasonography or other examinations, without a conclusive diagnosis being made, CT-cholangiography is recommended as the next examination. In patients with impaired biliary excretion of contrast medium, ERCP may be required to achieve the diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Computed tomography in primary and secondary adrenal tumours.

The purpose of the study was to find out how reliably benign and malignant adrenal tumours can be differentiated on the basis of CT characteristics. The material included 86 adrenal tumours with the following confirmed diagnoses: 48 primary adrenal tumours (8 carcinomas, 1 neuroblastoma, 4 pheochromocytomas, 31 adenomas, 3 cysts, 1 haemangioma) and 38 metastases. The size, density, homogeneity, enhancement and growth of the tumours were evaluated. No specific CT findings could separate benign from malignant tumours. Coexistence of cancer and bilateral non-homogeneous adrenal masses is probably sufficient for the diagnosis of adrenal metastases. In cases of coincidental small (less than 3 cm), homogeneous and relatively hypodense masses with no signs of hormonal activity, a follow-up examination of the lesion within three months is recommended. Other masses may indicate further diagnostic procedures.

Adenoma↗