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K Laiho

Publications and source records attributed to K Laiho.

61 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
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Autolytic changes in blood cells and other tissue cells of human cadavers. I. Viability and ion studies.

The viability of white blood cells, spermatozoa of the epididymis, cells from minced spleen, lymph node and lung, and cells aspirated from the bone marrow of the sternum was studied using the vital dye exclusion test. The material comprised 123 medicolegal autopsy cadavers which had been stored in a mortuary cold room at +4 degrees C up to 10 days after death. Cells which excluded trypan blue were found in various specimens from all cadavers. However, there was marked individual variation in the results. The loss of viability of the white blood cells showed a moderate correlation (r = -0.78) with the increase in the post-mortem (p.m.) time, whereas the results for other tissues were not so significant. The K+ and Mg2+ and haemoglobin content and the osmotic resistance of the red cells correlated poorly with the p.m. time. The present results suggest that despite the general assumption that autolytic changes proceed rapidly at the cellular level, individual cells and especially blood cells may remain viable for a long time in cadavers kept at +4 degrees C.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Autolytic changes in blood cells of human cadavers. II. Morphological studies.

The morphology of various types of cells in the peripheral blood of human cadavers was investigated. The material comprised 123 medicolegal autopsy cases with post-mortem (p.m.) times ranging fro 1.7 to 270.4 hours. The corpses were kept at +4 degrees C. The haematocrit values of the blood increased rapidly after death. The haematocrit-corrected red cell count, and the total white cell and platelet counts remained quite stable during the whole p.m. time range. Red cells were quite rapidly transformed from a discoid configuration to crumbled discs, echinocytes and spherocytes, but no debris or burst cell configurations were seen. Rapid deterioration of the staining properties and marked morphological changes in many leucocytes occurred quite rapidly after death. Lymphocytes seemed to be the most resistant and basophils the least resistant to the effects of autolysis. Morphologically altered platelets and aggregates of them were seen in each cadaver. The present morphological observations and the quantitative results suggest that various cellular elements of the blood seem to be quite resistant to autolytic effects, and many cells apparently retain their viability for longer periods of time in the blood of cadavers kept at reduced temperature.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cervical spine in patients with juvenile chronic arthritis and amyloidosis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe cervical spine abnormalities in a group of adult patients with refractory juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) complicated by secondary amyloidosis (SA). METHODS: The series consists of 49 patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of the European League Against Rheumatism for JCA, here complicated by secondary amyloidosis (SA). We evaluated their clinical records and most recent cervical spine radiographs taken in adult age (> 18 years) at or after the diagnosis of SA. RESULTS: Forty-two (86%) patients evinced inflammatory changes in the cervical spine. Apophyseal joint ankylosis was seen in 31 (63%) and atlantoaxial impaction (AAI) in 28 (57%) patients; anterior atlantoaxial subluxation (aAAS) was noted in 17 (35%) patients, and 19 (39%) had the combination of AAI and apophyseal joint ankylosis. The size of the 4th vertebral body was small or narrow in 14 (29%) patients with JCA onset at a median of 3 years of age (range 1-12). CONCLUSION: Inflammatory cervical spine disorders are common and may be detected along the entire length of the cervical spine in patients with severe refractory JCA. The disorders tend to ankylose the apophyseal joints and destroy the atlantoaxial joints, resulting in aAAS or impaction. These changes will restrict rotatory and bending movements in the cervical spine. A peculiarly small or narrow cervical vertebral body was seen mainly in patients with early onset disease. The present findings shed light on the characteristics and course of the inflammatory changes in the cervical spine in patients with refractory JCA.

Adult↗