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Biomedical subjects

G I Scott

Publications and source records attributed to G I Scott.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Tidal creek and salt marsh sediments in South Carolina coastal estuaries: II. Distribution of organic contaminants.

Twenty-eight tidal creeks along the South Carolina coast were sampled during the summer of 1995 to determine the levels of sediment contamination including organic chemicals (i.e., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs], polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], and DDT and its metabolites) associated with different types and varying levels of watershed development (i.e., industrial/urban, suburban, forested, and salt marsh). Organic analysis utilized high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection and capillary gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry (GC-ITMS) for PAHs, and gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) for pesticides and PCBs. Results indicated that creeks with industrial/urban watersheds had significantly higher concentrations of PAHs, PCBs, and DDT compared with creeks with suburban and forested (reference) watersheds. The suburban watershed class of creeks had concentrations of half the PAH analytes and the total PCBs which exceeded the concentrations found in the forested watershed class of creeks. The spatial distribution of organic contaminants was evaluated in four of these tidal creek-salt marsh systems representing urban/industrial, suburban, and forested watersheds, from the creek channel to the adjacent uplands. The distribution of organic contaminants within each representative creek was not concordant with the total organic carbon or the clay content of the sediment. The representative industrial/urban creek-marsh system, Diesel Creek, had the highest concentration of PAHs in the creek channel and the highest concentration of PCBs and DDT on the marsh surface, primarily in the upper portion of the system. The representative suburban creek-marsh system, Shem Creek, had elevated levels of both PAHs and PCBs throughout the entire system. This system also had one site with a total PAH concentration of 324,000 ppb and a total DDT concentration that was 20-100 times higher than the other sites. One of the representative forested creek-marsh systems, Rathall Creek, had low levels of the three organic contaminants except for one sampling site that had PAH concentrations a factor of 10 higher than the other sites. The other representative forested creek-marsh system, Long Creek, had low levels of PAHs and PCBs, but elevated levels of DDT were observed, particularly in the upper portion on the marsh surface. The results of this study suggest that (1) anthropogenic alteration of the land cover in the watersheds of tidal creek-salt marsh systems may increase the organic contaminant loadings in the sediment, and (2) tidal creek-salt marsh sediments, particularly in the creek channel, are repositories and potentially conduits of organic contaminants from the upland environment to the deeper estuarine areas.http://link.springer-ny. com/link/service/journals/00244/bibs/37n4p458.html</++ +HEA

Chromatography, Gas↗

Anatomic site and interanimal variability in morphologic characteristics of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) skin likely to affect dermal absorption studies.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate anatomic site and interanimal variability in dolphin skin for use in development of models for cutaneous absorption studies. SAMPLE POPULATION: Skin from 30 healthy free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (17 males and 13 females grouped by age) and 10 captive males between 13 and 19 years old. PROCEDURE: Biopsy specimens were collected from the 10 male dolphins at 3 anatomic sites and from the 30 dolphins at 1 site; specimens were evaluated by light microscopy. Stratum externum thickness, minimal depth to the vasculature, and maximal epidermal depth were measured at 4 locations on 4 sequential sections. Comparisons of replicate measurements for 3 skin characteristics were made within and among anatomic sites, between dolphins of the same sex and approximate age, and across males and females of various ages. RESULTS: The stratum externum in male dolphins was thicker. Differences attributable to age and anatomic site were not significant. Variation attributable to differences in stratum externum thickness between dolphins was significant. Differences among body sites within the same dolphin were significant but were not consistent from dolphin to dolphin. Mean stratum externum thickness was not different between males of the 2 cohorts, but mean maximal epidermal depth and mean minimal depth to the vasculature were different. Variances within the 2 male cohorts were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Studies affected by stratum externum thickness should eliminate the effect attributable to sex difference by using dolphins of the same sex or grouping analytical data by sex. Precision could be improved without increasing the total number of dolphins by collecting more than 1 sample/dolphin.

Animals↗

The effect of certain intrinsic and extrinsic variables on the acute toxicity of selected organophosphorus insecticides to the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus.

The acute toxicity of two organophosphorus (OP) insecticides, azinphosmethyl and acephate, was evaluated in the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus. In addition, the effects of certain intrinsic (sex) and extrinsic (salinity and multiple toxicant interraction) variables on the toxic response were also investigated. Azinphosmethyl was by far the most toxic of the two OP insecticides with a 96h LC50 approximately 100,000 x lower than that for acephate. Slight sex differences were observed in the sensitivity of mummichogs to each of the OP insecticides with male fish being marginally more sensitive. Significant effects of low salinity stress were observed only with acephate exposure and, in this case, low salinity appeared to be slightly protective. In general, all of the insecticide mixtures (azinphosmethyl/endosulfan, azinphosmethyl/fenvalerate and acephate/fenvalerate) tested exhibited simple additive toxicity.

Animals↗

Vas cannulation with implanted sperm reservoirs for obstructive azoospermia or ejaculatory failure.

Seven patients with azoospermia due to obstruction of the abdominal part of the vas deferens, and five paraplegic men with ejaculatory failure, were treated with implanted sperm reservoirs. In eight patients (67%) motile spermatozoa were recovered. Two pregnancies (17%) were achieved with subsequent live births (by AIH). In two patients the fertilising capacity of the spermatozoa was unsuccessful as assessed by IVF. Infection required the removal of two reservoirs.

Catheterization↗

Lethal and sublethal effects of chlorine, phenol, and chlorine-phenol mixtures on the mud crab, Panopeus herbstii.

The mud crab, Panopeus herbstii, was acutely exposed (96-hr) to chlorine-produced oxidants (CPO), phenol, and a CPO-phenolic mixture (1:1) to determine lethal and sublethal effects. The 96-hr (LC50) values were determined for each individual compound and mixture. Additionally, whole-animal respiration rates were measured following acute exposure to sublethal concentrations of each compound or mixture. Phenol uptake/depuration rates were measured in the phenol and CPO-phenol mixture concentrations. Results indicated 96-hr LC50 values of 1.06 mg/L for CPO (fiducial limits (FL) = 0.53-2.01 mg/L), 52.8 mg/L for phenol (FL = 45.6-64.5 mg/L), and 184.7 mg/L total toxicant units (TTU) for the CPO-phenol mixture (FL = 143.7-250.2 mg/L TTU). Statistical analysis indicated that the acute toxicity of the CPO-phenol mixture was less than additive. Sublethal studies indicated that only acute exposure to sublethal concentrations of CPO caused altered respiration rates. After 96-hr depuration, metabolic rates in all CPO-exposure crabs generally returned to control rates. Uptake/depuration rate studies indicated significantly lower phenol uptake rates in crabs exposed to the CPO-phenol mixture. These findings suggest that the less-than-additive toxicity of the CPO-phenol mixture may result from lowered uptake/depuration rate kinetics and indicate that the discharge of chlorinated-phenolic waste may not result in additive and/or synergistic interactions, but rather in less-than-additive effects on decapod aquatic species.

Animals↗

A double-blind controlled trial of a new alpha-1 blocking drug in the treatment of bladder outflow obstruction.

Thirty-one patients with urodynamically proven bladder outflow obstruction were treated with Alfuzosin in a 3-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The irritative symptoms of bladder outflow obstruction were improved significantly in the treatment group, according to both objective and subjective evaluation. There was no objective evidence of a reduction in outflow resistance or obstruction in either group.

Adult↗