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Biomedical subjects

J C Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to J C Anderson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Evaluation of urethral strictures and associated abnormalities using high-resolution and color Doppler ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: To study the role of urethral sonography and color Doppler imaging in the evaluation of patients with urethral strictures and associated abnormalities. METHODS: We reviewed our experience with 41 urethral sonographic studies in 35 patients and compared them to 33 retrograde urethrograms. For 6 recent cases, we also used color Doppler imaging to assess spongiosal tissue blood flow and the location of urethral arteries. RESULTS: Both retrograde urethrography and urethral sonography assessed the caliber and length of the strictures well. Urethral sonography provided additional information about stricture involvement of the spongiosum, location of urethral arteries, and associated abnormalities (that is, periurethral abscess and urethrocutaneous fistula). This information was useful for the clinical stratification of urethral stricture disease and the planning of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: With the advantages of avoiding radiation to testis, providing real-time evaluation of the distensibility of the urethra, and having the capacity of assessing spongiosum and periurethral tissue involvement and urethral artery location, urethral sonography appears to offer more than retrograde urethrography for the evaluation of anterior urethral stricture.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The 'anatomy' of female child sexual abuse: who does what to young girls?

OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to describe the characteristics of sexually abusive acts experienced by female children in order to identify those perpetrators who inflict intrusive and repeated child sexual abuse (CSA). METHOD: Data were collected from a random New Zealand sample of women aged 18 to 65 years who reported CSA, and a similar number of non-abused comparison women. Information on the perpetrator, the type of CSA, and perpetrator strategies were cross-tabulated. RESULTS: The perpetrators were usually young men, well known to the victim or her family. Greater CSA intrusiveness was statistically associated with greater CSA frequency. Father/stepfather abusers were most likely to perpetrate intrusive and frequent CSA. However, family associates and non-paternal relatives were numerically more often reported as perpetrators than fathers/stepfathers. Stranger-perpetrators featured infrequently. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the most frequent and invasive CSA comes from someone well known to the child, particularly a family member or trusted friend. A focus by the courts or health professionals on either incest only (i.e. CSA between biological relatives) or 'stranger danger' will overlook the large categories of CSA perpetrated by secondary relative and family friend abusers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Factors that mediate between child sexual abuse and adult psychological outcome.

The psychological outcome for a random community sample of women who had experienced significant childhood sexual abuse was assessed, using two outcome measures: (i) psychiatric morbidity (measured with the short PSE); (ii) self-esteem. Sexual abused women with a good outcome, i.e. who were not a PSE 'case' or who had high self-esteem were compared with abused women with a poor outcome. This paper describes the post-abuse factors that modified the two outcomes. In general, a range of variables, all correlated with each other in a complex manner, distinguished good outcome subjects from poor outcome subjects. Post-abuse adolescent variables included family factors (poor mother-father and parent-child relationships), high school factors (poor academic, sporting and social performance) and early pregnancy. Women who had a good adolescent relationship with their father did better than expected statistically. Sport emerged as an alternative at secondary school to academic achievement in catalysing a good psychological outcome. Adult factors included the quality of relationship with partner, which was associated with a good outcome on both measures. Current paid employment was linked to high self-esteem but not to lowered psychiatric morbidity, while the converse applied for high socio-economic status. These findings imply that different processes operate for each outcome measure. A clear recognition by the school of childhood sexual abuse may help to provide the opportunity for the girl to experience success in some arena; this in turn may protect her against the likely adult consequences of low self-esteem and increased psychiatric morbidity.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Sexual abuse in childhood and deliberate self-harm.

OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated the association between sexual abuse in childhood and subsequent incidents of deliberate self-harm in women. METHOD: A random community sample of women (N = 252) that reported having been sexually abused as children was interviewed and compared to a similarly sized group (N = 225) that did not report abuse. The subgroup of women sexually abused as children who reported subsequent incidents of deliberate self-harm was then contrasted with abused women who did not report self-harm. RESULTS: There was a clear statistical association between sexual abuse in childhood and self-harm that was most marked in those subjected to more intrusive and more frequent abuse. Self-harm was also associated with major interpersonal problems in the subject's family of origin and with becoming involved in further abusive relationships as an adult. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual abuse in childhood is associated with later incidents of deliberate self-harm and may well be an etiologic factor in its development.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Synaptic output of physiologically identified spiny stellate neurons in cat visual cortex.

Spiny stellate neurons of area 17 of the cat's visual cortex were physiologically characterised and injected intracellularly with horseradish peroxidase. Six neurons from sublamina 4A were selected. Five had the S-type of simple receptive fields; one had a complex receptive field. Their axons formed boutons mainly in layers 3 and 4. An electron microscopic examination of 45 boutons showed that each bouton formed one asymmetric synapse on average. Spines were the most frequent synaptic target (74%); dendritic shafts formed the remainder (26%). On the basis of ultrastructural characteristics, 8% of the target dendrites were characterised as originating from smooth gamma-aminobutyrate-ergic (GABAergic) neurons. Thus the major output of spiny stellate neurons is to other spiny neurons, probably pyramidal neurons in layer 3 and spiny stellates in layer 4.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Map of the synapses formed with the dendrites of spiny stellate neurons of cat visual cortex.

The synaptic input of six spiny stellate neurons in sublamina 4A of cat area 17 was assessed by electron microscopy. The neurons were physiologically characterized and filled with horseradish peroxidase in vivo. After processing the neurons were reconstructed at the light microscopic level using computer-assisted methods and analyzed quantitatively. The extensive branching of the dendritic tree about 50 microns from the soma meant that the distal branches constituted five times the length of proximal dendrite. Proximal and distal portions of a single dendrite from each neuron were examined in series of ultrathin sections (1,456 sections) in the electron microscope. The majority (79%) of the 263 synapses examined were asymmetric; the remainder (21%) were symmetric. Symmetric synapses formed 35% of synapses sampled on proximal dendrites and were usually located on the shaft. They formed only 4% of synapses sampled on distal dendrites. Spines accounted for less than half of the total asymmetric synapses (45%); the remainder were on shafts. Symmetric synapses formed with four of 92 spines. Nine spines formed no synapses. Spiny stellate neurons in cat visual cortex appear to differ considerably from pyramidal neurons in having a significant asymmetric (excitatory) synaptic input to the dendritic shaft.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Polyneuronal innervation of spiny stellate neurons in cat visual cortex.

Our hypothesis was that spiny stellate neurons in layer 4 of cat visual cortex receive polyneuronal innervation. We characterised the synapses of four likely sources of innervation by three simple criteria: the type of synapse, the target (spine, dendritic shaft), and the area of the presynaptic bouton. The layer 6 pyramids had the smallest boutons and formed asymmetric synapses mainly with the dendritic shaft. The thalamic afferents had the largest boutons and formed asymmetric synapses mainly with spines. The spiny stellates had medium-sized boutons and formed asymmetric synapses mainly with spines. We used these to make a "template" to match against the boutons forming synapses with the spiny stellate dendrite. Of the asymmetric synapses, 45% could have come from layer 6 pyramidal neurons, 28% from spiny stellate neurons, and 6% from thalamic afferents. The remaining 21% of asymmetric synapses could not be accounted for without assuming some additional selectivity of the presynaptic axons. Additional asymmetric synapses may come from a variety of sources, including other cortical neurons and subcortical nuclei such as the claustrum. Of the symmetric synapses, 84% could have been provided by clutch cells, which form large boutons. The remainder, formed by small boutons, probably come from other smooth neurons in layer 4, e.g., neurogliaform and bitufted neurons. Our analysis supports the hypothesis that the spiny stellate receives polyneuronal innervation, perhaps from all the sources of boutons in layer 4. Although layer 4 is the major recipient of thalamic afferents, our results show that they form only a few percent of the synapses of layer 4 spiny stellate neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Physiochemical characteristics of flours of faba bean as influenced by processing methods.

Wet- and dry-processing with and without heating treatments were used to dehull faba beans for preparation of flours from the cotyledons. Flour qualities were assessed by levels of tannin and trypsin inhibitor and other measures of proximate composition. High roasting temperature and shorter process time that improved the recovered cotyledon yields were verified significant by path analysis methodologies. In turn, the higher cotyledon recoveries correlated with higher protein levels and inversely with the measured tannin levels. Ash reductions were correlated to the wet processing options in hull removal while reductions in the insoluble dietary fiber were notably influenced by level of heating temperatures applied. Trypsin inhibitor levels ranged from 42 to 56% of the original with reductions tied to applications of wet and/or heat processing in each case improved by increased durations and temperatures of treatments.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1994

Glycosaminoglycan content is increased in dissecting aneurysms of human thoracic aorta.

Ten thoracic aortas were obtained from cases of dissecting aneurysms and 10 from age-matched controls. Full wall thickness samples (1 cm diameter) were taken at 12 sites for both groups. Content, concentration and ratio to total glycosaminoglycan (GAG) were determined for chondroitin sulphate (CS), hyaluronate (HA), heparan sulphate (HS) and dermatan sulphate (DS). When compared with controls, content of CS and HS increased over the whole length of dissected aortas, whereas increased HA and DS were localised to dissected areas of affected aortas as were increased tissue mass and collagen and elastin content. Changes in concentration and ratios, significant for some GAGs and consequent upon these increases, may help to compromise the mechanical properties of the aortic wall. The localised increases in HA and DS content in areas where collagen and elastin were increased suggests that these GAGs are functionally related to these fibrous proteins in aorta, whereas CS and HS are not.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

The effect of child sexual abuse on social, interpersonal and sexual function in adult life.

BACKGROUND: The association was examined between reporting child sexual abuse (CSA) and a range of social, interpersonal and sexual difficulties in adult life. METHOD: A random sample of 2250 women were posted a questionnaire exploring a range of abuse experiences. All 248 reporting CSA were invited for interview, together with an equal number of controls. At interview a detailed inquiry was made into the CSA and into current interpersonal, social and sexual function. RESULTS: Significant associations emerged between reporting CSA and a decline in socioeconomic status, increased sexual problems, and the disruption of intimate relationships by difficulties with trust as well as a propensity to perceive their partners as uncaring and overcontrolling. CSA was more common in those from disturbed and disrupted families and in those who also reported physical and emotional abuse. This explained part, but not all, of the apparent association between CSA and negative outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Those reporting CSA are more likely to suffer social, interpersonal and sexual difficulties in adult life.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Attitudes to reducing violence towards women: punishment or prevention?

AIM: To investigate the attitudes of abused and nonabused women to reducing physical and sexual violence in the community. METHOD: A random community sample of 3000 women was surveyed by postal questionnaire as part of the Otago Women's Health Survey. Seventy three percent (n = 1663) of those under 65 replied. As well as demographic, mental health and abuse information, responses to the question "what steps would you like to see taken to reduce the incidence of sexual and physical harm to women and children?" were analysed. RESULTS: Education was the most favoured approach to reducing violence in the community, followed by increased punishment of the offender. Women who had experienced sexual abuse, particularly as children, were more likely to advocate measures other than punishment. Rural women, those without formal qualifications and those who were not abused were more likely to advocate increased punishment, or made no comment. CONCLUSION: The finding that victims of sexual assault were likely to report a preference for prevention over punishment highlights the importance of representing the views of the community which appear to be at variance with more extreme views publicized in the media.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Bovine aorta contains at least two related forms of heparan sulphate proteoglycan.

1. The proteoglycan peak from anion exchange chromatography of an extract of bovine aorta was digested with chondroitinase ABC. The residual heparan sulphate proteoglycans were further purified by chromatography on Sepharose CL4B and DEAE-Sephacel to yield two species, of high and low charge density. 2. Higher molecular weight material had a higher proportion of high charge density proteoglycan, while the lower molecular weight species had a higher proportion of low charge density heparan sulphate proteoglycan. 3. The two species shared epitopes as they both reacted with an antibody to heparan sulphate proteoglycan from bovine glomerular basement membrane. 4. On electron microscopy, both high and low charge density proteoglycans were visualized as 'tadpole-like' molecules, which showed a tendency to aggregate via their globular heads. 5. Bovine aortic smooth muscle cells were cultured in the presence of [35S]sulphate and [3H]glucosamine. Proteoglycans were isolated from medium and cell layer extract by the methods outlined above. 6. The major HSPG species isolated from medium were significantly larger than those from cell layer and displayed substantial heterogeneity in both size of HS chain after papain digestion and size of protein core after heparitinase digestion. 7. The major cell layer species yielded two HS species of widely differing mol. wt after papain digestion, and a very small protein core after heparitinase digestion. Therefore cell layer-associated HSPGs show a good deal more homogeneity than those found in the medium. 8. Further ion-exchange chromatography after digestion with chondroitinase ABC revealed HSPG species of lower charge density, possibly derived from a hybrid chondroitin sulphate-dermatan sulphate proteoglycan (CS/DSPG) after removal of the CS/DS chains.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Transvaginal versus laparoscopic gamete intrafallopian transfer: a case-controlled retrospective comparison.

OBJECTIVE: To compare pregnancy rates (PRs) obtained by transvaginal ultrasound (US)-guided GIFT with PRs from conventional laparoscopy-based GIFT. DESIGN: Retrospective case-controlled study. SETTING: Large, private assisted conception service. PATIENTS: Twenty consecutive cycles of transvaginal GIFT, each matched with three cycles of laparoscopic GIFT on the basis of patient age, number of previous unsuccessful attempts at GIFT, number of eggs transferred, and total number of eggs obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Probability of clinical pregnancy. RESULTS: The PR from transvaginal GIFT was 20.0% (95% confidence limits 13% to 27%), compared with a PR from laparoscopic GIFT of 35.0% (23% to 50%). CONCLUSION: Transvaginal GIFT with present techniques seems to be less effective than laparoscopic GIFT, but it can be considered as a practical alternative to ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination and to peritoneal ovum-sperm transfer.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Increased elastin content and decreased elastin concentration may be predisposing factors in dissecting aneurysms of human thoracic aorta.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate whether changes in elastin distribution in the thoracic aorta are associated with occurrence of dissecting aneurysms. METHODS: Ten thoracic aortas were obtained at necropsy from dissections (mean patient age 74.3 years, SD 7.3) and from 10 age matched controls (mean age 73.1 years, SD 6.9). Full wall thickness samples (1 cm diameter) were taken at 12 sites between heart and diaphragm from aortas of dissections and controls. Elastin content (total elastin per sample), concentration (mg.mg-1 tissue dry weight), degree of cross linking, and amino acid composition were determined. RESULTS: Comparison of areas of dissected aortas involved in dissection with corresponding areas of controls showed significant increases in content of elastin (p < 0.05), content and concentration of proteins other than elastin and collagen (p < 0.01), and a decrease in elastin concentration (p < 0.01). Comparison of areas remote from dissection with corresponding areas in controls showed no significant differences except for decreased elastin concentration (p < 0.05). There were no differences in elastin cross linking. Elastin from dissected aortas had a higher content of aspartate, threonine, serine, glutamate, and lysine and a lower content of glycine, alanine, and valine than elastin from controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical changes in dissections are localised to the dissected area, with increased deposition of elastin, collagen, and other proteins. The altered matrix composition is likely to change the mechanical properties, possibly increasing the tendency to rupture.

Aged↗