Xylazine and tiletamine-zolazepam anesthesia in horses

The cardiopulmonary and anesthetic effects of xylazine in combination with a 1:1 mixture of tiletamine and zolazepam were determined in 6 horses. Each horse was given xylazine IV or IM, as well as tiletamine-zolazepam IV on 4 randomized occasions. Anesthetics were administered at the rate of 1.1 mg of xylazine/kg of body weight, IV, 1.1 mg of tiletamine-zolazepam/kg, IV (treatment 1); 1.1 mg of xylazine/kg, IV, 1.65 mg of tiletamine-zolazepam/kg, IV (treatment 2); 1.1 mg of xylazine/kg, IV, 2.2 mg of tiletamine-zolazepam/kg, IV (treatment 3); and 2.2 mg of xylazine/kg, IM, 1.65 mg of tiletamine-zolazepam/kg, IV (treatment 4). Tiletamine-zolazepam doses were the sum of tiletamine plus zolazepam. Xylazine, when given IV, was given 5 minutes before tiletamine-zolazepam. Xylazine, when given IM, was given 10 minutes before tiletamine-zolazepam. Tiletamine-zolazepam induced recumbency in all horses. Duration of recumbency in group 1 was 31.9 +/- 7.2 (mean +/- 1 SD) minutes. Increasing the dosage of tiletamine-zolazepam (treatments 2 and 3) significantly (P less than 0.05) increased the duration of recumbency. Xylazine caused significant (P less than 0.05) decreases in heart rate and cardiac output and significant (P less than 0.05) increases in central venous pressure and mean pulmonary artery pressure 5 minutes after administration. Respiratory rate was decreased. Arterial blood pressures increased significantly (P less than 0.05) after xylazine was administered IV in treatments 1 and 3, but the increases were not significant in treatment 2. Xylazine administered IM caused significant (P less than 0.05) increases in central venous pressure and significant (P less than 0.05) decreases in cardiac output.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Postanesthetic Pulmonary Edema In an Arab Stallion

A six-year-old arabian stallion was admitted to The Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital for evaluation and repair of a comminuted fracture of the second phalanx. The horse developed impaired arterial oxygenation during surgey and pulmonary edema post-operatively. We postulate that impaired arterial oxygenation resulted from atelectasis of the dependent lung during annesthesia, and the pulmonary edema occurred following re-expansion of the atelectatic of the initiating cause of the edema, removal of excess lung water from the alveoli, and restoration of normal arterial oxygenation. The horse was fully recovered within 12 hours of initiation of clinical signs of respiratory compromise. The horse was fully recovered within 12 hours of initiation of clinical signs of respiratory compromise. This report describes re-expansion pulmonary edema due to reperfusion injury in a horse, treatment of the condition, and a possible explanation of the pathogenesis of this pulmonary pathology.     

A Comparison of Arterial and Lingual Venous Blood Gases in Anethetized Dogs

The purpose of this study was to determine whether lingual vanous blood gas samples reflect arterial acid-base gas status in anethetized dogs. Heparinized blood samples were drawn simultaneously from the lingual vein and a peripheral artery in 50 anestheized dogs that were clinical surgical patients, as well as from four experimental dogs in which hemorrahaic shock was being studied. Blood pH, oxygen tension (PO₂), and bicarbonate (HCO_3-)) from the two sources in clinical patients showed significant liner correlation, although arterial PO₂)(PaO₂)) tended to be approximately 110mm Hg higher than lingual venous PO₂). During hemorrahgic shock, however, PaO₂) and PaCO₂) were significantly different from lingual venous PO₂) and PCO₂), Lingula venous blood gas analysis may be useful in assessing acid-base and blood gas status in routline cases, but should not be relied upon in dogs with low cardiac output or poor perfusion.     

Immunohistochemical differentiation of reactive from malignant mesothelium as a diagnostic aid in canine pericardial disease

Objectives

To develop a provisional immunohistochemistry panel for distinguishing reactive pericardium, atypical mesothelial proliferation and mesothelioma in dogs.

Materials and Methods

Archived pericardial biopsies were subject to haematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin, vimentin, insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3, glucose transporter 1 and desmin. Samples were scored for intensity and number of cells stained.

Results

Ten biopsies of reactive mesothelium, 17 of atypical mesothelial proliferation, 26 of mesothelioma and five of normal pericardium were identified on the basis of haematoxylin and eosin staining. Cytokeratin and vimentin were expressed in all biopsies, confirming mesothelial origin. Normal pericardial samples had the lowest scores for insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3, glucose transporter 1 and desmin. Mesothelioma and atypical proliferative samples were similar to each other, with higher scores for insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3 and glucose transporter 1 than the reactive samples. Desmin staining was variable. Insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3 was the best to distinguish between disease groups.

Clinical Significance

An immunohistochemistry panel of cytokeratin, vimentin, insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3 and glucose transporter 1 could provide superior information compared with haematoxylin and eosin staining alone in the diagnosis of cases of mesothelial proliferation in canine pericardium, but further validation is warranted.     

Using unsupervised learning techniques to assess interactions among complex traits in soybeans

Soybean yield components and agronomic traits are connected through physiological pathways that impose tradeoffs through genetic and environmental constraints. Our primary aim is to assess the interdependence of soybean traits by using unsupervised machine learning techniques to divide phenotypic associations into environmental and genetic associations. This study was performed on large scale, jointly analyzing 14 quantitative traits in a large multi-parental population designed for genetic studies. We collected phenotypes from 2012 to 2015 from a soybean nested association panel with 40 families of approximately 140 individuals each. Pearson and Spearman correlations measured phenotypic associations. A multivariate mixed linear model provided genotypic and environmental correlations. To evaluate relationships among traits, the study used principal component and undirected graphical models from phenotypic, genotypic, and environmental correlation matrices. Results indicate that high phenotypic correlation occurs when traits display both genetic and environmental correlations. In genetic terms, length of reproductive period, node number, and canopy coverage play important roles in determining yield potential. Optimal grain yield production occurs when the growing environment favors faster canopy closure and extended reproductive length. Environmental associations found among yield components give insight into the nature of yield component compensation. The use of unsupervised learning methods provides a good framework for investigating interactions among various quantitative traits and defining target traits for breeding.     

Comparison of two doses of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein in absorbable collagen sponges for bone healing in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of 2 doses of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in an absorbable collagen sponge (rhBMP-2/ACS) on bone healing in dogs. ANIMALS: 27 adult dogs. PROCEDURES: Dogs underwent a mid-diaphyseal (1-mm) tibial osteotomy (stabilized with external skeletal fixation) and received an ACS containing 0.28 mg (0.2 mg/mL) or 0.56 mg (0.4 mg/mL) of rhBMP-2 or no treatment (control dogs). All dogs were examined daily; bone healing was assessed via radiography and subjective lameness evaluation every 2 weeks. After euthanasia at 8 weeks, tibiae were evaluated biomechanically and histologically. RESULTS: Control dogs required antimicrobial treatment for pin-site-related complications more frequently than did rhBMP-2/ACS-treated dogs. At 4 and 6 weeks, weight bearing was greater in dogs treated with rhBMP-2/ACS (0.2 mg/mL) than in control dogs, albeit not significantly. Compared with control treatment, both doses of rhBMP-2/ACS accelerated osteotomy healing at 4, 6, and 8 weeks, and the 0.2 mg/mL dose enhanced healing at 2 weeks; healing at 6 weeks was greater for the lower-dose treatment than for the higher-dose treatment. Histologically, healing at 8 weeks was significantly improved for both rhBMP-2/ACS treatments, compared with control treatment. Among groups, biomechanical variables did not differ, although less osteotomy-site failures occurred in rhBMP-2/ACS-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In dogs that underwent tibial osteotomy, rhBMP-2/ACS (0.2 mg/mL) appeared to accelerate bone healing and reduce lameness (compared with control treatment) and apparently augmented bone healing more than rhBMP-2/ACS (0.4 mg/mL). Compared with control dogs, rhBMP-2/ACS-treated dogs required antimicrobial treatments less frequently.     

Asymmetric densitometric and mechanical adaptation of the left fifth metacarpal bone in racing greyhounds

The densitometric and mechanical structural properties of the left and right fifth metacarpal bones of 10 racing greyhounds with a fracture of the central tarsal bone and 10 without a fracture were investigated by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and a servo-hydraulic materials testing machine. In all the greyhounds the bone mineral density of the left fifth metacarpal bone was significantly greater than that of the right (P<0.001), but there was no significant difference between the degree of asymmetry in bone mineral density in the two groups. The ultimate torque and energy-to-failure of the left fifth metacarpal bone of the greyhounds with a fracture of the right central tarsal bone were significantly higher than in the right fifth metacarpal bone and higher than in both the left and right fifth metacarpal bones of the greyhounds with no fracture (P<0.05). The ultimate torque and energy-to-failure were significantly related to bone mineral density (P<0.005), and 22 per cent of the variation in these structural properties could be explained by variations in bone mineral density. Fifth metacarpal remodelling in response to asymmetric cyclic loading is bone-specific, and structural properties are enhanced in the left fifth metacarpal of greyhounds with a fracture of the right central tarsal bone.     

Total intravenous anesthesia with ketamine–medetomidine–propofol in horses

Propofol is a potentially useful intravenous anesthetic agent for total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) in horses. The purpose of this study was to compare the anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of TIVA following the administration of propofol alone(P–TIVA) and ketamine–medetomidine–propofol (KM–P–TIVA) in adult horses. The carotid artery was translocated to a subcutaneous position during TIVA with P–TIVA (n = 6) or KM–P–TIVA (n = 6). All horses were premedicated with medetomidine [0.005 mg kg^–1, intravenously (IV)]. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.04 mg kg^–1 IV) and ketamine (2.5 mg kg IV). All horses were orotracheally intubated and breathed 100% oxygen. The KM drug combination (ketamine 40 mg mL^–1 and medetomidine 0.05 mg mL^–1) was infused at a rate of 0.025 mL kg^–1 hour^–1. Subsequently, a loading dose of propofol (0.5 mg kg^–1, bolus IV) was administered to all horses; surgical anesthesia (determined by horse response to incision and surgical manipulation, positive response being purposeful or spontaneous movement of limbs or head) was maintained by varying the propofol infusion rate as needed. Arterial blood pressure and HR were also monitored. Both methods of producing TIVA provided excellent general anesthesia for the surgical procedure. Anesthesia time was 115 ± 17 (mean ± SD) and 112 ± 11 minutes in horses anesthetized with KM–P–TIVA and P–TIVA, respectively. The infusion rate of propofol required to maintain surgical anesthesia with KM–P–TIVA was significantly less than for P–TIVA (mean infusion rate of propofol during anesthesia; KM–P–TIVA 0.15 0.02 P–TIVA 0.23 ± 0.03 mg kg^–1 minute^–1, p = 0.004). Apnea occurred in all horses lasting 1–2 minutes and intermittent positive pressure ventilation was started. Cardiovascular function was maintained during both methods of producing TIVA. There were no differences in the time to standing after the cessation of anesthesia (KM–P–TIVA 62 ± 10 minutes versus P–TIVA 87 ± 36 minutes, p = 0.150). The quality of recovery was good in KM–P–TIVA and satisfactory in P–TIVA. KM–P–TIVA and P–TIVA produced clinically useful general anesthesia with minimum cardiovascular depression. Positive pressure ventilation was required to treat respiratory depression. Respiratory depression and apnea must be considered prior to the use of propofol in the horse.     

Tarsometatarsal subluxation in dogs: partial arthrodesis by plate fixation

In a retrospective study of tarsometatarsal joint subluxation in eight dogs, secondary fractures were identified in six dogs, particularly of the fourth tarsal bone and the proximal fifth metatarsal bone. Common causes of tarsometatarsal joint injury included jumping or falling and direct trauma to the foot. Partial tarsal arthrodesis, with the use of bone-plate stabilization and cancellous bone grafting of joint spaces after removal of articular cartilage, led to progressive bone healing in all dogs. Implant breakage did not occur in any dog.     

Clinical assessment of left ventricular relaxation

Ventricular relaxation is altered in a number of cardiac disorders affecting domestic animals. Clinical determination of the ventricular relaxation rate can provide useful information regarding disease severity and response to therapy. We believe that the current gold standard for assessing left ventricular relaxation requires measurement of ventricular luminal pressure at end-expiration using a high-fidelity catheter. Ventricular pressure should be digitized at ≥200 Hz for the period of pressure fall between the minimum rate of change of ventricular pressure and 10 mm Hg above left ventricular end-diastolic pressure of the preceding beat. The rate of relaxation then should be determined from the digitized data by Marquardt nonlinear least squares parameter estimation using an exponential decay model with nonzero asymptote. The major disadvantage in using an invasive method for evaluating left ventricular relaxation is that it requires general anesthesia in animals that frequently are categorized as high-risk anesthetic patients. Noninvasive estimates of ventricular relaxation using echocardiographic parameters such as isovolumic relaxation time, peak early filling rate, and time from end-systole to peak filling rate provide a crude and nonspecific assessment of ventricular relaxation that can be obtained from conscious animals. Determinations of these echocardiographic indices are of limited usefulness in assessing changes in ventricular relaxation associated with disease progression or therapeutic intervention, unless concurrent estimates of left atrial pressure, mitral valve characteristics, and left ventricular compliance are available.