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Biomedical subjects

J W Scott

Publications and source records attributed to J W Scott.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Evolution of the technique of combination therapy for staghorn calculi: a decreasing role for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

Percutaneous nephrostolithotomy with or without extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has been extensively used in the management of staghorn calculi, with stone-free rates varying from 23 to 86%. Explanations for the variability of such results include differences in stone burden, differences in percutaneous techniques and an overreliance on ESWL. The results and changing trends in the relative roles of percutaneous nephrostolithotomy and ESWL in the management of staghorn calculi at the Methodist Hospital of Indiana were examined. We reviewed 343 cases of staghorn calculi (partial and complete) with adequate followup data, which were managed with initial percutaneous nephrostolithotomy. Cases were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (252 cases) from 1984 to 1987 when access was performed by a radiologist and group 2 (91 cases) from 1988 to 1990 when access was performed by a urologist. Although stones in group 2 tended to be larger, a decreasing dependence on ESWL was noted (64.7% in group 1 compared to 35.2% in group 2, p less than 0.001). Despite the larger stone size in group 2, stone-free rates were similar (83.3% in group 1, 86.8% in group 2). In groups 1 and 2 percutaneous nephrostolithotomy alone achieved stone-free rates of 91% and 91.5%, respectively. The stone-free rate with the combination approach was 79.1% and 78.1% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Technical refinements with percutaneous nephrostolithotomy in group 2 include accurate and carefully selected accesses (superior pole in 36.3%) for best approach to the stone, multiple accesses (13.3%) and improved skills in flexible nephroscopy. Blood transfusion has not been required in group 2 compared with 11.1% in group 1. Mean hospital stay was 12.4 days in group 1 and 10.3 days in group 2 (percutaneous nephrostolithotomy alone, 7.2 days). With careful attention to percutaneous nephrostolithotomy techniques, complex renal stones can be successfully managed endourologically, reducing the need for combination ESWL. Complications previously associated with percutaneous nephrostolithotomy have decreased.

Combined Modality Therapy

Staghorn calculi: analysis of treatment results between initial percutaneous nephrostolithotomy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy monotherapy with reference to surface area.

Treatment recommendations and results reported for the management of staghorn calculi are highly variable. In an attempt to provide a more objective means to compare treatment results for staghorn renal calculi, stone burden as measured by stone surface area was used. Stone surface area was determined by computer analysis. A total of 380 cases of staghorn calculi treated at the same institution was evaluated. Treatment consisted of initial percutaneous nephrostolithotomy with or without extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL*) in 298 cases and ESWL monotherapy in 82. When considered as a group, the overall stone-free rate for initial percutaneous nephrostolithotomy (mean surface area 1,378.3 mm.2) was 84.2% compared to 51.2% (p less than 0.0001) for ESWL monotherapy (mean surface area 693.4 mm.2). For staghorn calculi smaller than 500 mm.2 a stone-free rate of 94.4% was achieved in the percutaneous nephrostolithotomy with or without ESWL group compared to 63.2% for ESWL monotherapy (p = 0.0214). For calculi of 501 to 1,000 mm.2 the stone-free rates were 86% and 45.7%, respectively (p less than 0.0001). When stone surface area exceeded 1,000 mm.2 the stone-free rate for percutaneous nephrostolithotomy with or without ESWL was 82.4% but it was only 22.2% for ESWL monotherapy (p = 0.0002). Overall, when adjusted for stone surface area the odds of being stone-free were more than 8 times higher for initial percutaneous nephrostolithotomy versus ESWL monotherapy (odds ratio = 8.36, p less than 0.0001). While percutaneous nephrostolithotomy with or without ESWL appears to be the procedure of choice for most staghorn stones, ESWL monotherapy may have a role for some stones smaller than 500 mm.2. In 12 such cases associated with a nondilated renal collecting system (mean surface area 380.5 mm.2) a stone-free rate of 91.7% was achieved. The number of procedures required to complete therapy was higher in the initial percutaneous nephrostolithotomy group (2.8 versus 2.1, p less than 0.0001). Although complications were more common in the ESWL monotherapy group (manifested as obstruction in 30.5%), bleeding requiring blood transfusion was more frequent in the initial percutaneous nephrostolithotomy group (9.4%).

Adolescent

Mitral cell-to-glomerulus connectivity: an HRP study of the orientation of mitral cell apical dendrites.

It has been suggested that the principal output cells of the main olfactory bulb, the mitral cells, along with the glomerulus they enter, form an anatomical and functional column. To test the extent to which mitral cell somata lying close together in the mitral cell layer are connected to the same glomerulus, we reconstructed 267 mitral cells labeled by extracellular injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the external plexiform layer. Results show that apical dendrites tilt rostrally from the somata to the glomeruli and this tilt is gradually greater as the somata are located more and more rostrally in the olfactory bulb. The apical dendrites of most mitral cells in the same region of the bulb are parallel. We analyzed the degree to which dendrites were parallel by measuring the difference in angle of all pairs of apical dendrites in each section, with the restriction that no cells were separated by more than 500 microns. About half of these pairs of dendrites differed in angle by 20 degrees or less and were therefore said to be parallel. The degree of parallelism did not vary with the cell pair location or with intercell distance. Study of glomerular connections of pairs of mitral cells as a function of intercell distance revealed that 96% of mitral cells connected to the same glomerulus were separated by less than 120 microns, while 72% of cells connected to adjacent glomeruli and only 29% of cells connected to distant, i.e., nonadjacent, glomeruli were separated by less than 120 microns.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Localized denervation demonstrates the innervation pattern of olfactory bulb glomeruli and second order cells.

Sensory systems rely upon spatially organized projections for the faithful transfer of receptor activity into the central nervous system. While the mammalian olfactory nerve shows a regional topographical organization, data on the sources of variation within this projection are scarce. We evaluated the degree of precision of olfactory bulb glomerular innervation from the olfactory nerve layer (ONL) by making small cuts across the trajectory of the olfactory nerve fibers and assessing the resulting denervation by wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) labeling of primary nerve fibers. In control animals (no ONL cut), the ONL and glomerular layer showed intense labeling around the entire circumference of the bulb. Transneuronal labeling of the mitral cell layer and the external plexiform layer was also observed in animals surviving at least 2 days, which allowed us to study the nerve fiber innervation of second order cells as well. ONL cuts on the lateral face of the bulb produced a stripe of denervation, as evidenced by the absence of primary and transneuronal label in a well-defined region. Fascicles of fibers within the ONL were never observed to enter the denervated region from more than one or two glomerular widths away, indicating a relatively tight limit of variation in the spatial termination of olfactory nerve fibers on the lateral bulb surface. This limit of variation does not hold around the circumference of the bulb since similar ONL cuts on the dorsal surface failed to produce a distinct stripe of denervation. Field potential measurements from the ONL after similar cuts supported the anatomic findings. These results show that primary olfactory axons and their terminals lie in parallel along the lateral face of the olfactory bulb. These spatial relationships of olfactory input to the bulb are maintained in the second order connections. This organization allows one to study the spatial aspects of interneuronally mediated synaptic mechanisms involved in olfactory coding.

Animals

Central processing of olfaction.

Studies on the properties of olfactory receptors and of the olfactory glomeruli indicate that there is spatial segregation of response to particular characteristics of odorant molecules at the input level of the olfactory bulb. Existing anatomical information and studies of synaptic mechanisms in the olfactory bulb suggest that the bulb circuitry might act as a contrast detection mechanism analyzing a spatially organized input. Recent electrophysiological studies have supported this idea. Extracellular recordings have shown that the similarity between responses of cell pairs to the same stimulus odor depend upon the distance between those cells. Intracellular recordings from mitral and tufted cells have shown spatially organized excitatory and inhibitory responses to localized electrical stimulation of the input layer of the bulb. Some of the major interneurons of the olfactory bulb have also been identified during odor and localized electrical stimulation. These recordings are also consistent with a spatially based organization.

Animals

The lactation consultant as expert witness.

Several factors contributed to the impact of Ms. Scott's testimony on the judge and thereby on the case. Most obvious was the degree of her expertise; just as important was the way in which she presented her testimony. She maintained a moderate tone throughout and never gave the impression that what she was saying was anything but mainstream or that she was speaking from zealotry. Her greatest strength, as for any LC's testimony, is that she spoke in terms of what was best for the child. In any initial custody case the judge must decide what is in the child's best interests or some small variation on that theme. By its very nature, breastfeeding and all the information provided about it speaks to the same issue. In that sense, the testimony is not offered on behalf of one of the parents, but on behalf of the welfare of the child. It is this nonpartisan aspect of an LC's testimony that can make it so powerful.

Breast Feeding

Simplified methods for renal clearance in children: scaling for patient size.

Development and validation of simplified renal clearance methods has required a research data base of multiple blood samples drawn over a substantial time interval, which is difficult to obtain for children. While the medical risks entailed in drawing multiple samples may be negligible, the problems of parental and institutional consent make such studies more difficult in the pediatric population. Scaling for patient size permits combining data from patients of different age and limits the number of studies required. A scaling technique is presented and evaluated here. With scaling, adult data can be used successfully to predict pediatric responses and to develop pediatric methods based on adult data alone. Inclusion of pediatric data improves the fit and permits development of generic methods that work with both adults and children.

Adolescent

Anastomotic suture granuloma following radical retropubic prostatectomy.

We report 2 cases of symptomatic suture granuloma formation after erosion of the silk suture (used to ligate the dorsal venous complex) into the urethrovesical anastomosis. Irritative or obstructive voiding complaints, sterile pyuria or hematuria found after radical retropubic prostatectomy mandates urological evaluation, including cystoscopy to rule out anastomotic suture granuloma formation. Although erosion appears to be a rare occurrence, we recommend use of absorbable suture to control the dorsal venous complex and avoid this possible complication.

Aged

Control of renal function during intrarenal infusion of endothelin.

It has been demonstrated that bolus injections of a vasoconstrictor derived from endothelial cells, endothelin 1 (ET-1), constricts isolated arteries and increases blood pressure in animals when infused intravenously. The purpose of this study was to examine the direct effects of intrarenal infusions of ET-1 on renal function at doses that do not alter systemic arterial pressure. The effects of ET-1 on renal hemodynamics and electrolyte excretion were examined during 40 min of intrarenal infusions of ET-1 at rates of 1.15 and 5 ng.kg-1.min-1. Infusion of ET-1 (1.15 ng.kg-1.min-1) resulted in a transient increase in renal blood flow (RBF) followed by a progressive vasoconstriction, which reduced RBF by 23%. ET-1 decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and had no significant effect on filtration fraction. Intrarenal infusion of ET-1 (1.15 ng.kg-1.min-1) had no effect on fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) or potassium. Infusion of ET-1 at a higher dose (5 ng.kg-1.min-1) produced further reductions in RBF, GFR, and FENa. These data indicate that ET-1 is a potent renal vasoconstrictor that could play a role in controlling renal hemodynamics.

Animals

Intracellular responses of identified rat olfactory bulb interneurons to electrical and odor stimulation.

1. Intracellular recordings were made from 28 granule cells and 6 periglomerular cells of the rat olfactory bulb during odor stimulation and electrical stimulation of the olfactory nerve layer (ONL) and lateral olfactory tract (LOT). Neurons were identified by injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or biocytin and/or intracellular response characteristics. Odorants were presented in a cyclic sniff paradigm, as reported previously. 2. All interneurons could be activated from a wide number of stimulation sites on the ONL, with distances exceeding their known dendritic spreads and the dispersion of nerve fibers within the ONL, indicating that multisynaptic pathways must also exist at the glomerular region. All types of interneurons also responded to odorant stimulation, showing a variety of responses. 3. Granule cells responded to electrical stimulation of the LOT and ONL as reported previously. However, intracellular potential, excitability, and conductance analysis suggested that the mitral cell-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) is followed by a long inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP). An early negative potential, before the EPSP, was also observed in every granule cell and correlated with component I of the extracellular LOT-induced field potential. We have interpreted this negativity as a "field effect," that may be diagnostic of granule cells. 4. Most granule cells exhibited excitatory responses to odorant stimulation. Odors could produce spiking responses that were either nonhabituating (response to every sniff) or rapidly habituating (response to first sniff only). Other granule cells, while spiking to electrical stimulation, showed depolarizations that did not evoke spikes to odor stimulation. These depolarizations were transient with each sniff or sustained across a series of sniffs. These physiological differences to odor stimulation correlated with granule cell position beneath the mitral cell layer for 12 cells, suggesting that morphological subtypes of granule cells may show physiological differences. Some features of the granule cell odor responses seem to correlate with some of the features we have observed in mitral/tufted cell intracellular recordings. Only one cell showed inhibition to odors. 5. Periglomerular (PG) cells showed a response to ONL stimulation that was unlike that found in other olfactory bulb neurons. There was a long-duration hyperpolarization after a spike and large depolarization or burst of spikes (20-30 ms in duration). Odor stimulation produced simple bursts of action potentials, Odor stimulation produced simple bursts of action potentials, suggesting that PG cells may simply follow input from the olfactory nerve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals

Selection of a management strategy for pediatric brainstem tumors.

Brainstem tumors arise in portions of the rhombencephalon and mesencephalon. Some authorities include diencephalic tumors in this group. We have reviewed our clinical experience of 69 children (less than 21 years of age) with brainstem tumors evaluated and treated at Duke University Medical Center (DUMC) from 1960 to 1986. There were 19 patients with group 1 tumors (thalamus, third ventricle region, or midbrain) and 50 with group II tumors (pons, medulla oblongata). The common presenting signs and symptoms were ataxia, headache, motor loss, and cranial nerve palsies. The most commonly employed diagnostic imaging studies were air examinations and CT. Preradiotherapy confirmation of malignancy was obtained in five group I patients (astrocytoma, 4; germinoma, 1) and 8 group II patients (astrocytoma, 3; anaplastic astrocytoma, 2; glioblastoma multiforme, 3). All patients received radiotherapy. The 5-year survival rate for the entire population was 40%. The survival rate for group I patients was significantly better than that observed for group II patients. In the 50 group II patients neither patient sex nor age nor presence of cranial nerve palsies nor pretreatment CT scan findings nor field size influenced survival. A long duration of symptoms positively influenced survival. The vast majority of tumor recurrences were within the radiation field. Half of the patients had either stable or improved Karnofsky status 6 months following completion of irradiation. The management strategy for childhood brainstem tumors is discussed.

Adolescent

Estimation of ERPF in adults from plasma clearance of 131I-hippuran using a single injection and one or two blood samples.

The plasma clearance of [131I]o-iodohippurate, which is an estimate of effective renal plasma flow, can be measured from one or two blood samples drawn after an i.v. bolus of tracer. The most widely used method is based on a single sample. Here, it is shown that the error (relative to a complete curve of six or more blood samples) can be halved by using two samples rather than one. Since the one-sample method is satisfactory for most clinical purposes, the two-sample method is recommended only when special accuracy is needed.

Blood Specimen Collection

Discrimination among odorants by single neurons of the rat olfactory bulb.

1. Intracellular and extracellular recordings were made from rat olfactory bulb mitral and tufted cells during odor stimulation and during electrical stimulation of the olfactory nerve. Neurons were identified by horseradish peroxidase injections and/or antidromic activation. The presentation of multiple concentrations of at least one odorant in a cyclic artificial sniff paradigm, as reported previously (10), allowed the study of odor responses. This approach was extended to multiple odorants to compare their concentration-response profiles. This procedure avoids the problems of interpretation resulting from nonequivalence of the effective concentrations of different odorants used as stimuli that have characterized previous studies of odor quality effects. Comparisons of intracellular events and responses to electrical stimulation with the odor-induced spike train activity allow us to begin to delineate the local circuitry involved in generating odor-induced responses. 2. The concentration-response profiles of the 72 cells in the present study are comparable to those previously reported for output neurons of the olfactory bulb, showing ordered changes in the temporal patterning of spike activity with step changes in odor concentration. However, eight of the neurons exhibited inhibitory responses to lower concentrations, but excitation, at similar latency, to higher concentrations of the same odorant. These data emphasize that to study pattern changes induced by changing odor quality the influence of stimulus intensity must also be carefully examined. The data also provide evidence that the temporal pattern evoked by an odorant is probably not in itself the code for odor quality recognition. 3. Complete concentration-response profiles, including subthreshold concentrations, to more than one odorant show that, although responses to the different odorant can evolve systematically with concentration, the responses to different odorants can evolve through very different patterns. For example, in some cells, the response patterns to different odors were complementary in form. These results demonstrate that the patterned responses of olfactory bulb neurons can reflect changes in odor quality as well as intensity. 4. Intracellular recording was employed to compare the temporal patterning of spikes during odor stimulation with membrane potential changes. In some cases, the spike pattern was closely correlated with apparent postsynaptic potentials. However, there were several clear exceptions. In five cells, a prominent hyperpolarization, seen in the first sniff of a series of 10 consecutive sniffs, was associated with pauses in spike activity. In the following

Animals

Cytochrome oxidase staining marks dendritic zones of the rat olfactory bulb external plexiform layer.

Cytochrome oxidase staining of the rat olfactory bulb external plexiform layer (EPL) produces a darkly stained intermediate zone bordered by lightly stained superficial and deep zones. Similar zonal staining was seen in cats, rabbits, and hamsters. These zones vary in relative thickness around the circumference of the olfactory bulb; the deep zone is proportionally thicker in the most dorsal and ventral parts of the bulb. Tufted cell somata are unevenly distributed within the EPL; the outer part of the EPL has more somata. The distribution of the cytochrome oxidase reaction product shows that the darkly stained intermediate zone is not produced by staining of tufted cell somata. Zones of cytochrome oxidase staining correspond to the sublaminar distribution of mitral and tufted cell basal dendrites. This was demonstrated by labeling mitral and tufted cells with small extracellular horseradish peroxidase injections and processing alternate sections for horseradish peroxidase and for cytochrome oxidase. Because there was cross-reaction of the cytochrome oxidase procedure with horseradish peroxidase, it was possible to trace many neurons through both series of sections. Middle tufted cells of the superficial EPL have basal dendrites confined to the superficial zone of light cytochrome oxidase staining. Internal tufted cells and middle tufted cells of the intermediate zone send their basal dendrites into the intermediate zone. One group of mitral cells (type I) has basal dendrites confined to the deep zone of lighter cytochrome oxidase staining. A second group of mitral cells (type II) and tufted cells of the intermediate EPL has basal dendrites primarily confined to the intermediate zone of dark cytochrome oxidase staining. The correlation of the enzyme staining with the dendritic laminar patterns supports the existence of three relatively distinct sublaminae in the EPL and supports the designation of two types of mitral cells. The staining pattern also provides an independent method for evaluating the sublaminae of the EPL without the necessity of labeling individual groups of cells. Finally, the staining pattern suggests that the intermediate zone of the EPL may be subjected to more tonic synaptic input, causing it to have an increased level of metabolic activity.

Animals

Effects of renal artery pressure on interstitial pressure and Na excretion during renal vasodilation.

Renal vasodilation has a marked effect on the pressure-natriuresis relationship. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) in mediating the effect of renal perfusion pressure (RPP) on urinary sodium excretion rate (UNaV) in control and vasodilated kidneys. The effects of RPP on UNaV and RIHP were determined in dogs under control conditions and during renal vasodilation with acetylcholine (Ach, 2.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) or secretin (SEC, 0.025 micrograms.kg-1.min-1). Decreases in RPP in control kidneys from 130 to 60 mmHg decreased UNaV from 2.9 +/- 0.1 to 0.6 +/- 0.3 microeq/min and fractional excretion of Na (FENa) from 0.15 +/- 0.08 to 0.06 +/- 0.04%. These changes were associated with significant reductions in RIHP (8.9 +/- 0.6 to 5.6 +/- 1.2 mmHg). In Ach-vasodilated kidneys, reductions in RPP from 130 to 60 mmHg decreased UNaV from 149.8 +/- 52.4 to 0.2 +/- 0.1 microeq/min and FENa from 3.42 +/- 1.18 to 0.012 +/- 0.01%. RIHP decreased from 17.8 +/- 3.4 to 8.4 +/- 1.3 mmHg, despite autoregulation of RBF. Renal vasodilation with SEC, which did not affect RIHP, had only a small effect on the relationship between RPP and UNaV. These data suggest that RIHP may be playing an important role in mediating the effect of RPP on UNaV.

Acetylcholine

Short axon cells of the rat olfactory bulb display NADPH-diaphorase activity, neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity, and somatostatin-like immunoreactivity.

Several types of short axon cells of the mammalian olfactory bulb have been described after Golgi impregnation. Two of these types have been observed in our material after treatment with the NADPH-diaphorase procedure or after immunohistochemistry for neuropeptide-Y (NPY). The cells stained by the two procedures have similar morphologies and distributions. A less extensive series of observations confirms that similar cells also display somatostatin (SS)-like immunoreactivity. One of these cell types corresponds to the superficial short axon cell of Golgi and electron microscopic studies. The dendrites of this cell lie within the periglomerular region and in the superficial external plexiform layer (EPL), generally lying parallel to the glomerular layer. In some cases the axon has been traced across the EPL into the granule cell layer (GCL). This cell may provide another route of interaction between the periglomerular region and the granule cells in addition to the influences conducted by basal dendrites and axon collaterals of some mitral and tufted cells. A type of deep short axon cell is also visible with these two procedures. It lies deep in the granule cell layer, frequently near the ventricular layer and its dendrites lie parallel to that layer. This deep short axon cell is stained with much greater frequency by the NADPH-diaphorase and NPY procedures than is the superficial short axon cell. It corresponds most closely to the Blanes or Golgi cells of the Golgi impregnation literature, but it appears to differ from these cells in the position and orientation of its dendrites. No spines have been observed on either the superficial or deep cells in this series. Many glomeruli are also stained by the NADPH-diaphorase procedure, but are not NPY or SS immunoreactive. This may provide additional evidence for functional differences between glomeruli in local regions of the olfactory bulb.

Animals