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Changes of ions in experimental frostbite
188
76:23:1 and 72:25:3 respectively. Trauma to the head (61 per cent) and thorax (17 per cent) dominated as the main cause of death. When the whole injury pattern is viewed the relative share of head traumas drops to 29 per cent, and simultaneous serious injuries to 1,2 and 3 or more body areas, account for 34, 26 and 40 per cent, respectively. To prevent this type of medically and socially disasterous traffic accident, it seems necessary, in addition to the compulsary use of a helmet, to prevent in some way or another the use of powerful, fast motor-cycles. Lahti, R. A. (Department Helsinki, Finland) ON REACTIONS
of Forensic
OF THE CEREBRAL
AN EXPERIMENTAL
ENZYME
Medicine,
CORTEX
HISTOCHEMICAL
University
TO LOCAL
of Helsinki,
MECHANICAL
TRAUMA.
STUDY
After mechanically producing a small cortical lesion in the lateral part of frontal lobe in rats a comparison has been made of the changes in the activities of 3 oxidative and of 3 hydrolytic enzymes in the region at the vicinity of the actual tissue destruction area. The changes in the activities of the different enzymes varied. In general, an increase was observed in the activities of the oxidative enzymes in glial cells and a decrease in neurons and neuropile. Concerning the hydrolytic enzymes studied, the same trend in activity changes in glial cells was observed Acid phosphatase activity in neurons also increased. An attempt has been made to correlate the activity changes to the elapsed post-traumatic time. Laiho, K. (Department Helsinki, Finland) CHANGES
of Forensic
OF IONS IN EXPERIMENTAL
Medicine,
University
of Helsinki,
FROSTBITE
The frostbites were induced during 1 minute on rats skin by a metal block cooled by liquid nitrogen. The specimens were taken after various periods of vital and post-mortal reaction immediately and after 5 days storage at room temperature. The dry ashed specimens were used for K’, Na+, Mg” and Ca++ determinations made by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In the specimens taken immediately after different vital periods from the frozen skin, the K’ content had decreased below 50 per cent from the level of paired controls after 30 - 60 minutes, or longer periods. In the same specimens the Na’ content had increased over 200 per cent and the Mg” content decreased below 50 per cent after 2 hours or longer periods. The Cd’ content of the frozen skin did not show remarkable changes during the observation periods used in the experiments. The frostbites induced postmortem did not result in significant changes of ions. However the ion shifts of the vital frostbites were not able to tolerate a longer post-mortal autolysis. In the specimens taken from rats stored 5 days at room temperature those shifts of ions were no longer detectable.
76:23:1 and 72:25:3 respectively. Trauma to the head (61 per cent) and thorax (17 per cent) dominated as the main cause of death. When the whole injury pattern is viewed the relative share of head traumas drops to 29 per cent, and simultaneous serious injuries to 1,2 and 3 or more body areas, account for 34, 26 and 40 per cent, respectively. To prevent this type of medically and socially disasterous traffic accident, it seems necessary, in addition to the compulsary use of a helmet, to prevent in some way or another the use of powerful, fast motor-cycles. Lahti, R. A. (Department Helsinki, Finland) ON REACTIONS
of Forensic
OF THE CEREBRAL
AN EXPERIMENTAL
ENZYME
Medicine,
CORTEX
HISTOCHEMICAL
University
TO LOCAL
of Helsinki,
MECHANICAL
TRAUMA.
STUDY
After mechanically producing a small cortical lesion in the lateral part of frontal lobe in rats a comparison has been made of the changes in the activities of 3 oxidative and of 3 hydrolytic enzymes in the region at the vicinity of the actual tissue destruction area. The changes in the activities of the different enzymes varied. In general, an increase was observed in the activities of the oxidative enzymes in glial cells and a decrease in neurons and neuropile. Concerning the hydrolytic enzymes studied, the same trend in activity changes in glial cells was observed Acid phosphatase activity in neurons also increased. An attempt has been made to correlate the activity changes to the elapsed post-traumatic time. Laiho, K. (Department Helsinki, Finland) CHANGES
of Forensic
OF IONS IN EXPERIMENTAL
Medicine,
University
of Helsinki,
FROSTBITE
The frostbites were induced during 1 minute on rats skin by a metal block cooled by liquid nitrogen. The specimens were taken after various periods of vital and post-mortal reaction immediately and after 5 days storage at room temperature. The dry ashed specimens were used for K’, Na+, Mg” and Ca++ determinations made by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In the specimens taken immediately after different vital periods from the frozen skin, the K’ content had decreased below 50 per cent from the level of paired controls after 30 - 60 minutes, or longer periods. In the same specimens the Na’ content had increased over 200 per cent and the Mg” content decreased below 50 per cent after 2 hours or longer periods. The Cd’ content of the frozen skin did not show remarkable changes during the observation periods used in the experiments. The frostbites induced postmortem did not result in significant changes of ions. However the ion shifts of the vital frostbites were not able to tolerate a longer post-mortal autolysis. In the specimens taken from rats stored 5 days at room temperature those shifts of ions were no longer detectable.