The effect of intravenous administration of variable-dose midazolam after fixed-dose ketamine in healthy awake cats

The effects of intravenous administration of variable-dose midazolam and ketamine (3 mg/kg) were studied in twelve healthy unmedicated cats from time of administration until full recovery. A range of midazolam doses (0.0, 0.05, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 mg/kg) was chosen, so that beneficial and/or detrimental effects could be documented and the therapeutic window for further study determined. One minute after administration of ketamine, all cats had assumed a lateral position, mostly with head up. Muscle tone was increased (100%), apneustic breathing pattern evident in 92% of cats, chewing without stimulation of the oropharyngeal area was observed in most cats (97%), but most cats did not salivate (87%). At 2.5 min after completion of ketamine injection and 1 min after administration of saline, a similar picture was observed, except that salivation was evident. All cats chewed or swallowed in response to a finger or laryngoscope placed in the oropharyngeal area and, while most cats were not aware of a noxious stimulus to the tail, some cats were aware of a noxious stimulus to the paw. Recovery from ketamine alone was rapid and smooth with cats rolling into sternal recumbency and then cautiously walking with ataxia. Recovery to walking without incoordination was also rapid (< 2 h) and no abnormal behavioural patterns were observed during recovery. Administration of midazolam after ketamine, had beneficial effects and the therapeutic window for midazolam was found to lie between 0.05 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg. Administration of any dose of midazolam after ketamine caused a greater proportion of cats to assume a laterally recumbent position with head down compared with ketamine alone, however, the time period of recumbency was only significantly longer with a midazolam dose of 2.0 mg/kg or above. Doses of midazolam of 0.5 mg/kg or above decreased muscle rigidity but did not affect salivation or respiratory pattern observed in cats which received ketamine alone. A significantly greater proportion of cats which received ketamine and midazolam 0.5 mg/kg or above did not swallow in response to a finger or a laryngoscope placed in the mouth compared with that which received ketamine alone. The length of time in which cats did not swallow was only significantly longer at midazolam doses of 1.0 mg/kg and above. At midazolam doses of 0.5 mg/kg or above, the proportion of cats without a nociceptive response to a tail or paw clamp was significantly greater than cats which received ketamine alone. The time period without nociceptive response, however, was not influenced by midazolam administration. The time taken for cats which received ketamine and midazolam 0.05 mg/kg or 0.5 mg/kg to assume sternal position, walk with ataxia, walk without ataxia, behave normally when approached or restrained and recover normal arousal state was not significantly different from cats which received ketamine alone. Ketamine and midazolam 5.0 mg/kg significantly prolonged all recovery times compared with ketamine alone. Unfortunately, a greater proportion of cats which received ketamine and midazolam 0.5 or 5.0 mg/kg exhibited detrimental behavioural effects. These were more likely to be adverse and included restlessness, vocalization and difficulty approaching and restraining cats. In this study, an     

Whole blood transfusions in 91 cats: a clinical evaluation

This survey assessed the feline transfusion practices at the University of Berlin from 1998 to 2001 in regard to patient population, indications, efficacy, and transfusion reactions. Blood was obtained from seven healthy in-house donors and 127 mostly indoor client-owned pet cats. Over a 3-year period 91 cats were transfused with blood type compatible blood. The blood was fresh (within 8 h of collection) or stored no longer than 15 days. Transfusions were required because of blood loss anaemia (n=40), haemolytic anaemia (n=13), ineffective erythropoiesis (n=35), hypoproteinaemia (n=2) or coagulopathy (n=2). The anaemic cats had a pretransfusion haematocrit of 5-20% (m [median]=13), and received one to six transfusions (m=1). The survival rates of the anaemic cats at 1 and 10 days after transfusion were 84 and 64%, respectively. None of the deaths appeared to be related to transfusion reactions. The major crossmatch, undertaken before 117 transfusions, was incompatible for eight cats. All except for one had previously been transfused. Lysis of transfused cells in six cases resulted in a less than expected haematocrit rise and an increase in serum bilirubin. Transient mild transfusion reactions were only noted in two cats during the second or third transfusion. In conclusion, with proper donor selection and appropriate compatibility screening, blood transfusions are well tolerated, appear effective, and may increase chances of survival.     

Avoidance of injuries to migrating fish by hydropower and water intake plants

Every year numerous downstream migrating fish are lethally injured by hydro power plants and inlet works. Especially the katadromous Eel (Anguilla anguilla) and anadromous species like Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), which have to migrate downstream into the ocean for closing their life cycle, are highly endangered. Due to their specific migratory behavioral pattern, size and morphology conventional protection techniques, like screens do not properly keep them out from getting into the power plant intakes. Despite of the relevance of this problem for ecology and fishing, there are no protection and downstream migration facilities in Europe available, which can efficiently avoid the damage of all species and sizes of downstream migrating fish. Nevertheless according to protect the fish populations it's necessary to use consequently fish protection and downstream migration facilities, i.e. mechanical barrieres or alternative techniques like early warning systems as a prerequisit for a fish-friendly operational management of hydro power plants.     

Endocrine and ovarian changes in response to the ram effect in medroxyprogesterone acetate-primed Corriedale ewes during the breeding and nonbreeding season

Two experiments were performed to determine the endocrine and ovarian changes in medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP)-primed ewes after ram introduction. Experiment 1 was performed during the mid-breeding season with 71 ewes primed with an intravaginal MAP sponge for 12 days. While the control (C) ewes (n = 35) were in permanent contact with rams, the ram effect (RE) ewes (n = 36) were isolated for 34 days prior to contact with rams. At sponge withdrawal, all ewes were joined with eight sexually experienced marking Corriedale rams and estrus was recorded over the next 4 days. The ovaries were observed by laparoscopy 4-6 days after estrus. Four weeks later, pregnancy was determined by transrectal ultrasonography. In eight ewes from each group, ovaries were ultrasonographically scanned; FSH, LH, and estradiol-17beta were measured every 12 hours until ovulation or 96 hours after estrus. The response to the rams was not affected by the fact that ewes had been kept or not in close contact with males before teasing. No differences were found in FSH, LH, estradiol-17beta concentrations, growth of the ovulatory follicle, onset of estrus, ovulation rate, or pregnancy rate. Experiment 2 was performed with 14 ewes during the nonbreeding season. Ewes were isolated from rams for 1 month, and received a 6-day MAP priming. Ovaries were ultrasonographically scanned every 12 hours, and FSH, LH, estradiol-17beta, and progesterone were measured. Ewes that ovulated and came into estrus had higher FSH and estradiol-17beta levels before introduction of the rams than did ewes that had a silent ovulation. The endocrine pattern of the induced follicular phase of ewes that came into estrus was more similar to a normal follicular phase, than in ewes that had a silent ovulation. The follicle that finally ovulated tended to emerge earlier and in a more synchronized fashion in those ewes that did come into estrus. All ewes that ovulated had an LH surge and reached higher maximum FSH levels than ewes that did not ovulate, none of which had an LH surge. We conclude that (a) the effect of ram introduction in cyclic ewes treated with MAP may vary depending on the time of the breeding season at which teasing is performed; (b) patterns of FSH, and estradiol-17beta concentrations, as indicators of activity of the reproductive axis, may be used to classify depth of anestrus; and (c) the endocrine pattern of the induced follicular phase, which is related to the depth of anestrus, may be reflected in the behavioral responses to MAP priming and the ram effect.     

Nephrotic syndrome: a platelet hyperaggregability state

Nephrotic syndrome characterized by hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia is associated with an increased incidence of thromboembolism and increased platelet hyperaggregability. Although plasma coagulation proteins are also abnormal, changes are too inconsistent to attribute thromboembolic complications to the coagulation cascade alone. Antithrombin III (ATIII) has been shown to be deficient in nephrotic syndrome. There is, however, an increase in alpha 2 macroglobulin. It is clear that platelet to platelet interactions require exposure of platelet fibrinogen receptors, the binding of fibrinogen to these receptors, platelet crossbridging, and subsequent platelet aggregation. Fibrinogen is consistently elevated in nephrotic syndrome. Hyperlipidemia and hypoalbuminemia in nephrotic syndrome increases the availability of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) by increasing the availability of TxA2 precursors and the removal of TxA2 inhibitors. Thromboxane A2 is a known inducer of platelet aggregation probably through the exposure of platelet fibrinogen receptors. Recently, fibronectins a group of adhesive proteins, were implicated in platelet to platelet interactions. Since thrombin increases the expression of platelet surface fibronectin, fibronectin may be involved in thrombus formation in nephrotic syndrome. Thromboembolic formation in nephrotic syndrome is a composite mechanism involving the coagulation cascade, platelet-platelet interactions, and platelet-surface interactions.     

Suppressor activity of bovine Fc gamma positive cells during a persistent infection with Mycobacterium avium

The cell mediated immune response (CMI) was measured in calves after experimental infection with Mycobacterium avium. Using the tuberculin skin test a CMI response could be measured from four to 14 weeks after infection, and with a lymphocyte stimulation (LS) test from six to 40 weeks. One year after infection no CMI response was detected by either of the tests, in spite of the fact that in such calves M avium bacteria could be found in the intestinal lymph nodes at autopsy. After removal of mononuclear cells bearing receptors for the Fc part of IgG, the peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from a calf infected one year earlier responded to M avium pure protein derivative in the LS test in contrast to lymphocytes obtained from uninfected calves.     

Toxicological effects of gamma-irradiated sewage solids fed as seven percent of diet to sheep for four years

Breeding ewes in drylot were fed pelleted complete diets with 3% cottonseed meal (CSM) or 7% dried, gamma-irradiated sewage solids (DGSS) for 4 yr. Cytochrome P-450 (P-450) content and enzyme activities for xenobiotics biotransformations were assayed in livers after 2 yr and in livers, kidneys and ileal tissue after 4 yr. Dietary DGSS caused no increase in P-450 and few changes in activities of oxidative, hydrolative and conjugative biotransformational enzymes. Consumption of DGSS for 4 yr caused slight enlargement of spleens (1.1-fold, P less than .10) and ovaries (1.3-fold, P less than .10), but no change in size of livers, kidneys, hearts, adrenals and thyroids (P greater than .10), nor liver vitamin A levels (P greater than .10). Of 22 refractory lipophilic residues assayed in abdominal adipose tissue, few were detected and of those detected DGSS caused none to exceed normal levels. Dietary DGSS increased (P less than .01) Fe in livers 1.5-fold and in spleens 5.6-fold, and increased Cu in livers 1.3-fold (P less than .01) and in kidneys 1.2-fold (P less than .05). Dietary DGSS increased Cd levels in livers (P less than .01) but not in kidneys or spleens (P greater than .10); yet all Cd levels were within ranges for livestock fed conventional feed. Dietary DGSS caused no increase (P greater than .10) in levels of Ag, Ca, Cr, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb or Zn in livers, kidneys or spleens. There were no histopathological lesions of toxicosis except mild hemosiderosis of spleens. Consumption of a diet with 7% DGSS throughout 4 yr caused no hazardous accumulation of toxic elements and little, if any, evidence of toxicosis.