Comparison of whole blood and plasma colloid osmotic pressure in healthy dogs

Objective – To determine the difference between colloid osmotic pressure (COP) values determined from plasma versus those determined from whole blood. Design – Prospective observational study. Settings – University veterinary teaching hospital. Animals – Fifty‐three healthy dogs. Interventions – None. Measurements and Main Results – Whole blood and plasma COP, CBC, plasma biochemistry. In all dogs, plasma COP values were significantly lower (P=0.02) than whole blood COP, with a mean of difference of 0.5 mm Hg. The mean and median whole blood COP was 21.75 and 21.4 mm Hg, respectively, with a range of 17.9–27.1 mm Hg. The mean and median plasma COP was 21.2 and 20.9 mm Hg with a range of 16.7–28.9 mm Hg. Conclusions – While significant difference exists between plasma and whole blood COP, the individual values are within expected reference intervals for dogs (21–25 mm Hg). Using either sample appears to provide the same information in clinically healthy dog; however, it is recommended that clinicians utilize the same sample type for comparison in an individual patient.     

Efficacy of Intravenous Administration of Combined Acid Suppressants in Healthy Dogs

Background

Short‐term intravenous co‐administration of famotidine and pantoprazole is used by some veterinarians to treat gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill dogs. However, clinical studies have not evaluated the efficacy of combination acid suppressant treatment in dogs.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To compare the effect of intravenous co‐administration of famotidine and pantoprazole to monotherapy with pantoprazole on intragastric pH in dogs. We hypothesized that single agent pantoprazole would be more effective than combination with famotidine.

Animals

Twelve healthy adult colony dogs.

Methods

Randomized, 2‐way crossover design. All dogs received placebo (0.9% saline) for 24 hours followed by 1.0 mg/kg IV q12h pantoprazole or combination treatment with famotidine and pantoprazole for 3 consecutive days. Intragastric pH monitoring was used to continuously record intragastric pH for 96 hours beginning on day 0 of treatment. Mean percentage time (MPT) that intragastric pH was ≥3 and ≥4 were compared between groups using ANOVA with a posthoc Tukey‐Kramer test (α = 0.017).

Results

The MPT ± standard deviation intragastric pH was greater than ≥3 and 4 were 79 ± 17% and 68 ± 17% for pantoprazole and 74 ± 19% and 64 ± 23% for combination treatment, respectively. There were no significant differences in MPT intragastric pH was ≥3 and 4 between groups. Pantoprazole administered alone achieved pH goals established for humans with acid‐related disorders.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

These results suggest that short‐term combination treatment with famotidine and pantoprazole is not superior to pantoprazole alone for increasing intragastric pH in dogs.     

Transmission and storage properties of a tropical loamy sand soil as influenced by organic-based and inorganic fertilizers

Short-term effect of organic and inorganic amendments on soil physical quality (SPQ) is marked when dealing with tropical soils which are naturally exposed to a high risk of water erosion. This study assessed the suitability of Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican Sunflower) when incorporated as green manure (GM) and also composted with poultry manure (PM) and other organic-based and inorganic fertilizers to improve some hydraulic properties of an Alfisol subject to excessive drainage. Treatments applied include fresh T. diversifolia (GM), PM, T. diversifolia composted with PM, organo-mineral fertilizers (OMF), neem fertilizer (NF), inorganic fertilizer (20-10-10 NPK), and control in a randomized complete block design and replicated four times. Soil samples were collected at 0–20 cm depth to determine near steady-state infiltration rates (I_s), sorptivity, transmissivity, saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s), macroporosity (MacP), microporosity (MicP), air capacity (AC), and relative water capacity (RWC). The I_s rates were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced to optimum range with the addition of the organic fertilizers over very high value (128.7 cm hr^?1) observed for control. Whereas, K_s was enhanced in the order: GM > compost (CP) > NF > inorganic fertilizer > control > organo-mineral fertilizer > PM. Sorptivity and transmissivity were highest in control and inorganic fertilizer plots, indicating that the addition of organic fertilizers lowered these parameters while MacP, MicP, AC, and RWC were generally increased with the addition of organic-based and inorganic fertilizers. Specifically, NF increased MicP by 34% over control. Values for RWC which were within the optimum range (0.60–0.70) were only obtained with NF (0.74), OMF (0.72), NPK (0.70), and GM (0.60). The SPQ parameters assessed in this study were enhanced by the addition of fresh T. diversifolia applied as GM and CP compared to other treatments. Therefore, T. diversifolia usually burned by farmers should instead be incorporated into the soil as manure.     

State‐of‐the‐Art‐Review: Immunomodulatory effects of opioids

Objective – To review the immunomodulatory effects of opioids. Data Sources – Original research publications and review articles using the PubMed search engine with the following keywords – opioids, morphine, immuomodulation, and immunosuppression. Veterinary and Human Data Synthesis – Opioids have been shown to modulate the immune system in animal models by affecting both the acquired and innate arms of the immune system. Natural killer cell activity, T‐cell proliferation, antibody production, phagocytic cell function, and cytokine production have all been shown to be affected by opioids. Many of these effects are reversed by opioid antagonists. Opioids have also been shown to induce sepsis in laboratory animals. Opioid administration alters immune parameters in healthy humans at analgesic doses and may increase the risk of infection in some patient populations. Conclusions – While opioids remain the most powerful and widely used analgesics available, their negative effects on the immune system are well established in the laboratory setting. Thoughtful consideration should be given to the use of certain opioids in critically ill patients, especially those with pre‐existing immunocompromise.     

Combined Effect of Ethanolic Coconut Husk Extract and Modified Atmospheric Packaging (MAP) in Extending the Shelf Life of Asian Sea Bass Slices

Combined impact of ethanolic coconut husk extract (ECHE) (200 ppm) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) with two separate gas mixtures [60% CO₂/30% N₂/10% O₂ (M1) and 80% CO₂/10% N₂/10% O₂ (M2)] on the shelf life of Asian sea bass slices during 4°C storage was investigated. Microbial load of slices was lowered when packaged under MAP, regardless of ECHE treatment, compared to the control (no ECHE treatment, packed in air). For control, slices treated with ECHE packaged in air, and samples packaged under M1, TVBC (total viable bacteria count) exceeded 6.0 log CFU/g at day 6, 9, and 12, respectively. TVBC of samples treated with 200-ppm ECHE and packaged under M1 and those packaged under M2 without and with ECHE treatment were lower than 6.0 log CFU/g at day 15. Peroxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values in samples treated with ECHE, regardless of the packaging method, were lower than those kept under MAP and the control. Thus, shelf life extension of Asian sea bass slices could be achieved by treatment with 200-ppm ECHE in combination with M1 packaging, in which they could be stored longer than 15 days at 4°C.