Plasma histamine concentrations in horses administered sodium penicillin,guaifenesin–xylazine–ketamine and isoflurane with morphine or butorphanol

ObjectiveVarious drugs administered to horses undergoing surgical procedures can release histamine. Histamine concentrations were evaluated in horses prepared for surgery and administered butorphanol or morphine intraoperative infusions.Study designProspective studies with one randomized.AnimalsA total of 44 client-owned horses.MethodsIn one study, anesthesia was induced with xylazine followed by ketamine–diazepam. Anesthesia was maintained with guaifenesin–xylazine–ketamine (GXK) during surgical preparation. For surgery, isoflurane was administered with intravenous (IV) morphine (group M: 0.15 mg kg^–1 and 0.1 mg kg^–1 hour^–1; 15 horses) or butorphanol (group B: 0.05 mg kg^–1 and 0.01 mg kg^–1 hour^–1; 15 horses). Histamine and morphine concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassay before opioid injection (time 0), and after 1, 2, 5, 30, 60 and 90 minutes. In a subsequent study, plasma histamine concentrations were measured in 14 horses before drug administration (baseline), 15 minutes after IV sodium penicillin and 15 minutes after starting GXK IV infusion. Statistical comparison was performed using anova for repeated measures. Pearson correlation compared morphine and histamine concentrations. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Significance was assumed when p ≤ 0.05.ResultsWith histamine, differences occurred between baseline (3.2 ± 2.4 ng mL^–1) and GXK (5.2 ± 7.1 ng mL^–1) and between baseline and time 0 in group B (11.9 ± 13.4 ng mL^–1) and group M (11.1 ± 12.4 ng mL^–1). No differences occurred between baseline and after penicillin or between groups M and B. Morphine concentrations were higher at 1 minute following injection (8.1 ± 5.1 ng mL^–1) than at 30 minutes (4.9 ± 3.1 ng mL^–1) and 60 minutes (4.0 ± 2.5 ng mL^–1). Histamine correlated with morphine at 2, 30 and 60 minutes.Conclusions and clinical relevanceGXK increased histamine concentration, but concentrations were similar with morphine and butorphanol.     

Influence of maternal,anesthetic, and surgical factors on neonatal survival after emergency cesarean section in 78 dogs: A retrospective study (2002 to 2020)

Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) may be affected by maternal physical condition, anesthesia, and uterine incision or en-bloc neonate removal. The association of selected factors with number of dogs with dead puppies at hospital discharge was evaluated using 78 records. Data obtained at admittance for emergency cesarean section included: age, small or large body size, rectal temperature, packed cell volume, serum total protein, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, puppy in pelvic canal, and heart rate. Administration of opioids, propofol, alfaxalone, isoflurane, and sevoflurane, and anesthesia/surgical times and surgical technique were evaluated using Fisher’s exact tests. There were 238 live puppies and 38 dogs had 58 dead puppies; the NMR was 19.6%. Mortality was associated with puppy in the pelvic canal (P = 0.003) and duration of anesthesia > 80 minutes (P = 0.029). Age > 8 years (P = 0.054) and induction time to start of surgery > 30 minutes (P = 0.17) may be associated with mortality. Expedient cesarean section with obstructive dystocia and an induction time to start of surgery < 30 minutes are important for puppy survival.     

The immune response to anesthesia: Part 1

ObjectiveTo review the immune response to anesthesia including mechanical ventilation, inhaled anesthetic gases, and injectable anesthetics and sedatives.Study designReview.Methods and databasesMultiple literature searches were performed using PubMed and Google Scholar from spring 2012 through fall 2013. Relevant anesthetic and immune terms were used to search databases without year published or species constraints. The online database for Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia and the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care were searched by issue starting in 2000 for relevant articles.ConclusionRecent research data indicate that commonly used volatile anesthetic agents, such as isoflurane and sevoflurane, may have a protective effect on vital organs. With the lung as the target organ, protection using an appropriate anesthetic protocol may be possible during direct pulmonary insults, including mechanical ventilation, and during systemic disease processes, such as endotoxemia, generalized sepsis, and ischemia-reperfusion injury.     

Reducing the potential for processing contaminant formation in cereal products

Processing contaminants may be defined as substances that are produced in a food when it is cooked or processed, are not present or are present at much lower concentrations in the raw, unprocessed food, and are undesirable either because they have an adverse effect on product quality or because they are potentially harmful. The presence of very low levels of processing contaminants in common foods is becoming an increasingly important issue for the food industry, as developments in analytical techniques and equipment bring foods under closer and closer scrutiny. This review considers the formation of lipid oxidation products, hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids to prevent lipid oxidation and the associated risk of trans fatty acid formation. The formation of acrylamide in the Maillard reaction is described, as well as the genetic and agronomic approaches being taken to reduce the acrylamide-forming potential of cereal grain. The multiple routes for the formation of furan and associated chemicals, including hydroxymethylfurfuryl, are also described. The evolving regulatory and public perception situations for these processing contaminants and their implications for the cereal supply chain are discussed, emphasising the need for cereal breeders to engage with the contaminants issue.     

Direct activation of the ATM protein kinase by the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 complex

The complex containing the Mre11, Rad50, and Nbs1 proteins (MRN) is essential for the cellular response to DNA double-strand breaks, integrating DNA repair with the activation of checkpoint signaling through the protein kinase ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated). We demonstrate that MRN stimulates the kinase activity of ATM in vitro toward its substrates p53, Chk2, and histone H2AX. MRN makes multiple contacts with ATM and appears to stimulate ATM activity by facilitating the stable binding of substrates. Phosphorylation of Nbs1 is critical for MRN stimulation of ATM activity toward Chk2, but not p53. Kinase-deficient ATM inhibits wild-type ATM phosphorylation of Chk2, consistent with the dominant-negative effect of kinase-deficient ATM in vivo.     

Characterization of the bound residues of the fungicide cyprodinil formed in plant cell suspension cultures of wheat

The non-extractable residues of the fungicide cyprodinil formed in heterotrophic cell suspension cultures of wheat were studied by application of [2-pyrimidyl-14C] or [2-pyrimidyl-13C]cyprodinil. The main objective was to examine whether solid-state and liquid 13C NMR spectroscopy can be used to examine plant bound residues of pesticides. For 14C experiments, wheat suspensions grown on glucose as carbon source were treated with 10 mg litre(-1) of 14C-cyprodinil. After incubation for 12 days, 20% of applied 14C was detected as non-extractable residues. The cell debris were treated with 0.1 M HCl (reflux), 1.0 M HCl (reflux), buffer, or 2 M NaOH (50 degrees C); Bj?rkman lignin and acidolysis lignin fractions were also prepared from the debris. Radioactivity liberated and solubilized by these procedures was examined by thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that cyprodinil and primary metabolites contributed to the fungicide's bound residues. Most of the residues (12% of applied 14C) remained associated with polar or polymeric/oligomeric endogenous cell materials in a stable manner. For the study with 13C-cyprodinil, wheat suspensions were cultivated on 13C-depleted glucose for four growth cycles, resulting in maximum 13C depletion of the natural cell components to about 0.10%. During the fourth cycle, 13C-labelled cyprodinil was applied, and cells were incubated (12 days). Cell debris was prepared and examined by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy. Debris was then treated as described above in the 14C experiment. Solubilized fractions were analyzed by liquid 13C NMR spectroscopy. However, none of the 13C NMR spectra recorded gave utilizable or unambiguous results, and all exhibited large inconsistencies, especially concerning the data from the conventional 14C experiment.