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Biomedical subjects

T Viljanen

Publications and source records attributed to T Viljanen.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Strength characteristics of a healthy urban adult population.

A random sample of 778 subjects representing ages 25, 35, 45 and 55 years were studied for the amount of habitual physical activity, their anthropometric structure, vertical jumping height, trunk extension and flexion torques and dynamic endurance fitness of trunk extension and flexion. The proportion of subjects who were habitually physically active did not change systematically with age. The highest number of physically inactive subjects was found in men and women in the 35-year age group. The results in all the tests used to assess the strength characteristics were statistically significant when related to sex (P less than 0.001) and in all, except the relative maximal isometric torque of trunk extension, when related to age (P less than 0.001). Everyday physical activity was related to the variation in vertical jumping height (P less than 0.001), as well to the dynamic endurance fitness (P less than 0.001) of trunk extension and flexion. The decline in vertical jumping height and dynamic endurance fitness of trunk extension and flexion fitness was found to start at earlier ages than that of relative maximal isometric trunk extension and flexion torques. Dynamic endurance fitness of trunk flexion showed a more pronounced decline with age than trunk extension fitness.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Lumbar muscles: structure and function.

We review new data derived from careful dissection studies on the macroscopic anatomy, innervation and function of the lumbar muscles, as well as information on the fibres in these muscles. The new findings correct previous misconceptions of the functional anatomy of the lumbar muscles. The innervation and function of the erector spinae and multifidus muscles are so different that they cannot be classified as a single unit. The new interpretation of the innervation of multifidus muscle is of importance, for example, for the neurophysiological examination of the lumbar muscles. The relative number of the slow and fast type of muscle fibres in lumbar muscles varies considerably, and selective atrophy of the fast fibres seems to ensue from inactivity, not only in patients with back pain but also in sedentary controls. The atrophy may be corrected by adequate exercise. Both the fibre type composition and degree of atrophy may well influence a person's susceptibility to low back pain arising from the muscles.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Bronchospasm during cardiopulmonary bypass--a potentially fatal complication of open-heart surgery.

Severe bronchospasm at the termination of cardiopulmonary bypass is an unusual but dangerous complication of open-heart surgery. We report two cases. In both of them the final etiology remained unsettled. In one of the cases vigorous and immediate bronchodilatory therapy resulted in a favourable remission. In the second case bronchospasm contributed to a very harmful bulging of the left lung through the opened mediastinal pleura, stretching and damaging the left internal mammary artery graft, which obviously contributed to the fatal outcome. We emphasize especially the following points: 1) a carefully evaluated medical history of patients scheduled for open-heart surgery may reveal some details pointing to an increased risk of bronchospasm during cardiopulmonary bypass; in such cases prophylactic measures may be indicated; 2) immediate vigorous bronchodilatory therapy early at the onset of bronchospasm during the weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass may reverse the alarming situation.

Bronchial Spasm↗
PubMed1986

Histological pattern and changes in extracellular matrix in aortic dissections.

Samples from 34 patients were studied both histologically and immunocytochemically by the indirect biotin-avidin peroxidase technique to analyse the distribution of the extracellular matrix components (type IV collagen, fibronectin, types I and III collagens) in dissection of the aorta. Most showed defects in type IV collagen around medial smooth muscle cells. Defects in smooth muscle cell basement membrane were found throughout the media in cystic medial degeneration and in medionecrosis, whereas in atherosclerosis such unlabelled areas were found only above advanced atherosclerotic plaques. In aortitis other defects in the smooth muscle cell basement membrane were found in areas of inflammatory infiltrates. In all of these conditions similar defects in fibronectin expression were also found. No defects in the expression of interstitial collagens type I and III were seen in the dissecting aortas. Moreover, cystic medial degeneration, medionecrosis, and atherosclerosis were characterised by intense staining of these interstitial matrix components. In the pathogenesis of the aortic dissection local changes in the basement membranes of the medial layer may be important.

Aortic Dissection↗
PubMed1986

Surgical treatment of aortic dissection in 60 patients.

During the years 1964-82 a total of 60 patients underwent surgery for aortic dissection. Forty of them were males, with a mean age of 48.8 years (22 to 69) and 20 were females, with a mean age of 49.0 years (31 to 65). Forty-five patients were operated in an acute stage of aortic dissection and 15 patients in a chronic stage of this disease. The mortality rate of patients operated on for acute dissections was 51.1% and of patients with a chronic dissection 13.3%, the over-all hospital mortality rate being 41.7%. Cardiac and haemorrhagic complications were the commonest cause of death. Among the 35 operative survivors, there were seven late deaths (11.7%); 4 patients died of cardiovascular causes. The mean follow-up time was 6.1 years (2.7 to 13.4). Twenty-six long-term survivors were re-examined in the hospital.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1986

Diagnostic difficulties in aortic dissection. Retrospective study of 89 surgically treated patients.

During the years 1964-1985, a total of 89 patients were operated on for aortic dissection: 55 were treated for proximal dissection and 34 for distal dissection of the aorta. In the former group a diagnostic delay more than 24 hours after hospitalization occurred in 17 instances (31%), and in the latter group in 18 instances (53%). The most common incorrect diagnosis in both groups was myocardial infarction. In the proximal group of aortic dissection, other cardiac diseases suspected were pericarditis, endocarditis and congestive heart failure. In the distal group of aortic dissection, acute surgical abdomen was the most common cause of incorrect diagnosis after ischaemic heart disease. Four case reports with diagnostic delay are presented.

Aortic Dissection↗
PubMed1985

Late results of the surgical treatment for aortic dissections.

The results of 32 patients who had undergone surgery for aortic dissections were analyzed. Twenty-six patients were examined in hospital during the follow-up study while one patient refused the examination and 5 others had succumbed. The average follow-up was 42.6 months. Late functional status was generally good. Resuspension of the aortic annulus for incompetent aortic valves in type I and II dissections resulted in grave aortic regurgitation and death in one case, and in mild valvular incompetence in another case, while 5 patients had competent valves after resuspension. Computed tomography (CT) and angiographic studies frequently revealed residual changes such as double lumen of the aorta. Five subsequent aortic aneurysms were discovered, 4 of them having been reoperated after the study was completed. Periodical follow-up and screening of the aorta of operative survivors is recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Practical considerations of the vascular surgical "out-patients".

Continuity in vascular patient control is important. Physiological methods useful in diagnosis and follow-up of vascular surgical out-patients are discussed. Measurement of systolic blood pressure in the big toe gave good assessment of their peripheral perfusion pressure and helped in selecting patients for vascular reconstruction. Walking capacity was measured on a treadmill together with simultaneous ECG. We recommended that all our patients stop smoking.

Aged↗