Assessment of the effects of adjunctive gabapentin on postoperative pain after intervertebral disc surgery in dogs

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of adjunctive gabapentin (GBP) on pain after thoracolumbar intervertebral disc surgery in dogs.Study designProspective, randomized, controlled, clinical, ‘blinded’ trial.AnimalsSixty-three client owned dogs undergoing hemilaminectomyMethodsDogs were assigned to two treatment groups. The GBP group received gabapentin 10 mg kg^?1 orally every 12 hours starting before anaesthesia; the placebo (P) group received empty gelatin capsules. Background analgesia was initiated with intravenous levomethadone 0.6 mg kg^?1 (as the combination ‘L-Polamivet) at anaesthesia induction, followed by a fentanyl patch and levomethadone 0.2 mg kg^?1 subcutaneously every 8 hours for 24 hours. Pain was assessed by the short form of the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Score (CMPS-SF) without the gait category, and by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Serum GBP concentrations and cortisol concentrations were measured. Statistical analyses utilized chi square test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, two-way analysis of variances for repeated measurements, Wilcoxon test and Friedmann test as relevant. Correlations were tested by Spearman's and Pearson's correlation coefficient. p< 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsMedian CMPS-SF was lower in group GBP than in group P on days 0.5, 1, 4 and 5. However, CMPS-SF and VAS were not significantly different between groups. Both pain scores decreased significantly over time. Cortisol concentrations were not significantly different between groups. Minimum serum concentrations of GBP fell below the detection limit of 1 μg mL^?1 in 6 of 29 and 7 of 28 dogs at 24 and 72 hours, respectively.Conclusions and clinical relevance10 mg kg^?1 GBP orally twice a day did not result in a detectable reduction in pain behaviour compared to background opioid analgesia alone, although a trend to lower pain levels (p < 0.1) was present. Further studies are needed to determine if this is related to effective background analgesia or an ineffective dose of GBP.     

Polyphenol oxidase,alpha-amylase and beta-amylase activities of Triticum monococcum, Triticum turgidum and Triticum aestivum: A two-year study

Enzymatic activity often reduces the nutritional value of wheat flour during food manufacturing, causing compound degradation and/or heat damage. The choice of wheat varieties with low enzymatic activity could therefore help to preserve the nutritional quality of food. The aim of this research was to evaluate polyphenol oxidase, alpha-amylase and beta-amylase activities in whole meal flours of 59 accessions belonging to different wheat species and subspecies, cropped in two years. The extraction pH (7.0), reaction pH (5.5) and reaction temperature (45 °C) were determined by preliminary trials. The ANOVA highlighted significant differences for all enzymes among species/subspecies and, for amylases, between cropping years; however, the year influence was overwhelming only for alpha-amylase. Einkorn showed the highest polyphenol oxidase (362.1 ± 9.46 U/g DM) as well as the lowest alpha-amylase (0.20 ± 0.006 CU/g DM) and beta-amylase (12.0 ± 0.36 B3U/g DM) activities. The embryo/scutellum had the highest polyphenol oxidase and alpha-amylase values, followed by the bran and the endosperm; in contrast, beta-amylase was evenly distributed in the bran and the endosperm, and was absent in the embryo/scutellum.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE CANINE ABDOMEN: EFFECT OF PULSE SEQUENCE ON DIAGNOSTIC QUALITY

Motion artifact is an important limiting factor for abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in veterinary patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of pulse sequence on abdominal MRI diagnostic quality in dogs. Ten normal dogs were each scanned using 16 MRI pulse sequences. Sequences included breath‐holding sequences, respiratory navigation sequences, and traditional spin‐echo sequences. Four observers independently scored diagnostic quality for each sequence based on the appearance of specific organs, overall diagnostic quality, and degree of artifactual interference. Signal‐to‐noise ratio and contrast‐to‐noise ratio were also calculated for each sequence. The sequence with the highest overall mean diagnostic quality score was the dorsal T2 turbo spin echo (TSE) with fat saturation and breath‐holding. The sequence with the lowest mean diagnostic quality score was the dorsal T2 fast spin echo. The sequence with the highest signal‐to‐noise ratio for all evaluated organs was the sagittal T1 spin echo. Signal‐to‐noise and contrast‐to‐noise ratios did not correlate with subjective assessment of overall diagnostic quality for the majority of the sequences evaluated (P < 0.05). The three sequences considered to have the highest diagnostic quality for the cranial abdomen were the dorsal T2 TSE with fat saturation and breath‐hold, transverse T1 turbo fast low‐angle shot gradient echo with breath‐hold, and dorsal T2 half‐Fourier acquisition single shot TSE with respiratory navigation. These sequences had short acquisition times, yielded studies of similar diagnostic quality, provided complementary information, and are therefore recommended for routine canine abdominal MRI protocols.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS: FIBRODYSPLASIA OSSIFICANS PROGRESSIVA IN A CAT

A 1‐year‐old female cat was presented for progressive alopecia, gait abnormalities, and stiffness. Radiography demonstrated multiple calcified lesions within the soft tissues of the cervical and thoracic spine, shoulder, and limbs. Postmortem computed tomography provided more detailed information on the distribution, pattern, and extension of lesions. In addition, computed tomography helped guide sample selection for histopathology. The final diagnosis was fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. This is a rare disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by fibrosis and heterotopic bone formation in connective tissues. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report describing this disease in a European cat.     

Effects of altering the sequence of midazolam and propofol during co‐induction of anaesthesia

ObjectiveTo assess the effects of varying the sequence of midazolam and propofol administration on the quality of induction, cardiorespiratory parameters and propofol requirements in dogs.Study designRandomized, controlled, clinical study.AnimalsThirty‐three client owned dogs (ASA I‐III, 0.5–10 years, 5–30 kg).MethodsDogs were premedicated with acepromazine (0.02 mg kg^?1) and morphine (0.4 mg kg^?1) intramuscularly. After 30 minutes, group midazolam‐propofol (MP) received midazolam (0.25 mg kg^?1) intravenously (IV) before propofol (1 mg kg^?1) IV, group propofol‐midazolam (PM) received propofol before midazolam IV at the same doses, and control group (CP) received saline IV, instead of midazolam, before propofol. Supplementary boluses of propofol (0.5 mg kg^?1) were administered to effect to all groups until orotracheal intubation was completed. Behaviour after midazolam administration, quality of sedation and induction, and ease of intubation were scored. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, and systolic arterial blood pressure were recorded before premedication, post‐premedication, after midazolam or saline administration, and at 0, 2, 5, and 10 minutes post‐intubation. End‐tidal CO₂ and arterial oxygen haemoglobin saturation were recorded at 2, 5 and 10 minutes post‐intubation.ResultsQuality of sedation and induction, and ease of intubation were similar in all groups. Incidence of excitement was higher in the MP compared to CP (p = 0.014) and PM (p = 0.026) groups. Propofol requirements were decreased in MP and PM groups with respect to CP (p < 0.001), and in PM compared to MP (p = 0.022). The HR decreased after premedication in all groups, and increased after midazolam and subsequent times in MP (p = 0.019) and PM (p = 0.001) groups. Incidence of apnoea and paddling was higher in CP (p = 0.005) and MP (p = 0.031) groups than in PM.Conclusions and clinical relevanceAdministration of midazolam before propofol reduced propofol requirements although caused mild excitement in some dogs. Administration of propofol before midazolam resulted in less excitatory phenomena and greater reduction of propofol requirements.     

Pestalotiopsis biciliata,a new leaf pathogen of Eucalyptus spp. recorded in Italy

The present paper describes new symptoms on Eucalyptus spp. in Central Italy associated with the fungal pathogen Pestalotiopsis biciliata. This fungal species has been previously recorded in Italy on grape associated with fruit rot. Artificial inoculation trials on leaves confirmed the pathogenicity of the fungus to Eucalyptus camaldulensis. P. biciliata is included in the list of Pestalotiopsis spp. responsible for leaf disease on eucalypts worldwide.     

Quantitative Analysis of the Biologically Active Compounds Present in Leaves of Mexican Sweet Potato Accessions: Phenols,Flavonoids, Anthocyanins, 3,4,5-Tri-Caffeoylquinic Acid and 4-Feruloyl-5-Caffeoylquinic Acid

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Sweet potato is one of the oldest crops cultivated in Mexico, and Mesoamerica is considered as a region with the greatest diversity of this species. Therefore, the...