Recent advances in inhalation anesthesia.

Both desflurane and sevoflurane offer theoretical and practical advantages over other inhalation anesthetics for horses. The lower solubility of both agents provides improved control of delivery and helps to counteract the confounding influence of the voluminous patient breathing circuit commonly used for anesthetizing horses. The lower solubility should account for faster rates of recovery compared with the older agents; whether or not the quality of recovery differs remains to be objectively evaluated in a broad range of circumstances. The pharmacodynamic effects are, in large part, similar to those of isoflurane (e.g., low arrhythmogenicity) but with some differences. For example, desflurane may be overall more sparing to cardiovascular function (especially during controlled ventilation) compared with isoflurane and sevoflurane, which are roughly similar. Respiratory depression with both new agents is equal to or more depressing than isoflurane, suggesting the use of mechanical ventilation, especially in circumstances of prolonged management (i.e., hours of anesthesia). Both new anesthetics, not surprisingly, are expensive. From this point there are some agent-unique considerations. The anesthetic potency of both agents is less than that of isoflurane, which influences the cost of anesthesia, but also places an upper limit on inspired oxygen concentration (of particular concern with desflurane). Both agents require new vaporizers, but because of the high boiling point and steep vapor-pressure curve of desflurane, new technology was required. This translates into more costly equipment, adding to the cost of desflurane use. In addition, electricity is necessary for the new desflurane vaporizer to function, which limits its portability and adds additional practical considerations in its clinical use. On the other hand, desflurane strongly resists degradation both in vitro and in vivo, but in vitro degradation of sevoflurane by CO2 absorbents may produce renal injury. This may be true especially in association with low fresh-gas inflow rates (used to reduce the cost of using the new agent), and university based practices, where prolonged anesthesia is common.     

Use of opioids for pain and anesthetic management in horses.

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION: There is limited, but convincing, evidence that epidural administration of morphine and some other mu-agonist opioids consistently relieves regional pain in horses. In addition, this effect is not accompanied by notable undesirable effects. On the other hand, a clinically important analgesic action has not been demonstrated for similarly administered kappa-agonist opioids. There has been little objective data presented to support the analgesic effectiveness of intra-articularly administered opioids in horses. However, the evidence of local opioid receptors legitimately encourages work to substantiate the value of intra-articular opioid administration to relieve joint-associated pain in horses. SYSTEMIC ADMINISTRATION: So far, study results do not provide convincing, objective evidence to support the opinion that systemically administered opioids consistently and effectively relieve pain in horses. Given this lack of evidence, and considering that opioids stimulate locomotor and other forms of unwanted excitant behavior, reduce propulsive gastrointestinal motility, decrease alveolar ventilation (especially in association with general anesthesia), and require regulatory and practical considerations for abuse potential in both humans and horses, we conclude that routine, indiscriminate administration of opioids for pain relief in horses is not justified. Identification and focused, objective study of selective beneficial opioid actions to provide guidance for appropriate clinical use is long overdue.     

Detomidine reduces isoflurane anesthetic requirement (MAC) in horses

Objective To quantitate the dose‐ and time‐related magnitude of the anesthetic sparing effect of, and selected physiological responses to detomidine during isoflurane anesthesia in horses. Study design Randomized cross‐over study. Animals Three, healthy, young adult horses weighing 485 ± 14 kg. Methods Horses were anesthetized on two occasions to determine the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in O₂ and then to measure the anesthetic sparing effect (time‐related MAC reduction) following IV detomidine (0.03 and 0.06 mg kg^?1). Selected common measures of cardiopulmonary function, blood glucose and urinary output were also recorded. Results Isoflurane MAC was 1.44 ± 0.07% (mean ± SEM). This was reduced by 42.8 ± 5.4% and 44.8 ± 3.0% at 83 ± 23 and 125 ± 36 minutes, respectively, following 0.03 and 0.06 mg kg^?1, detomidine. The MAC reduction was detomidine dose‐ and time‐dependent. There was a tendency for mild cardiovascular and respiratory depression, especially following the higher detomidine dose. Detomidine increased both blood glucose and urine flow; the magnitude of these changes was time‐ and dose‐dependent Conclusions Detomidine reduces anesthetic requirement for isoflurane and increases blood glucose concentration and urine flow in horses. These changes were dose‐ and time‐related. Clinical relevance The results imply potent anesthetic sparing actions by detomidine. The detomidine‐related increased urine flow should be considered in designing anesthetic protocols for individual horses.     

Effect of high-pressure hot water washing treatment on fruit quality, insects, and disease in apples and pears: Part IV: Use of silicone-based materials and mechanical methods to eliminate surface arthropod eggs

The presence of surface arthropods on commercially processed apples and pears poses a problem when these fruits are exported to countries where there are either limits on the numbers of eggs or a total quarantine restriction against these pests. Removal of mite and other arthropod eggs, such as European red mite (ERM) and codling moth (CM) eggs, may be enhanced by the use of a surface cleaning system, such as a hot water, high-pressure spray. Even if organosilicones, like Silwet L-77, have been used to kill spider mites, it was unclear if these chemicals could also facilitate the removal of arthropod eggs from the surface of fruit. In the present study, high-pressure washing process was highly effective in removing CM and ERM eggs at pressures as low as 400 kPa, resulting in greater than 60% removal of ERM eggs and 90% of CM eggs. High-pressure washing was the most important factor in removal of codling moth and European red mite eggs than organosilicone dips or hot water sprays.     

Effect of high-pressure hot water washing treatment on fruit quality, insects, and disease in apples and pears: Part II. Effect on postharvest decay of d’Anjou pear fruit

A hot water pressure process (HWP) was evaluated for its effect on conidia of Penicillium expansum and on development of blue mold, gray mold, and mucor rot of d’Anjou pear fruit. Spores were removed from the water system through dilution and also as a result of hot water in the system that was lethal to the spores. When the system was heated, viable spores were not detected after 2–4 h of operation. Reductions in decay in the HWP system were 36, 29, and 13% for Botrytis cinerea, Mucor piriformis, and P. expansum, respectively. The response of P. expansum appeared related to the length of time fruit was in cold storage. Heat injury was observed on fruit treated with 40 and 50 °C water but not on fruit at 30 °C nozzle temperature. The HWP system described in this study should be considered as a component of an integrated decay control strategy.     

The Influence of Ovarian Fluid pH of Stripped Unfertilized Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus,Eggs on the Hatching Success of Channel Catfish ♀ x Blue Catfish,Ictalurus furcatus♂, Hybrid Catfish Eggs

This study was designed to determine the effect of ovarian fluid pH of stripped unfertilized channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, eggs on fertilization and hatch rate of channel catfish ♀ x blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus♂, hybrid catfish eggs. A significant correlation was established between ovarian fluid pH of stripped channel catfish eggs and hybrid embryo hatch rate (R² = 0.75, P = 0.01), suggesting ovarian fluid pH of stripped catfish eggs prior to fertilization can be predictive of the hatching success of hybrid catfish embryos. These data were used to categorize pH of stripped eggs: pH <7.0 as “low pH eggs,” pH 7.0–7.4 as “medium pH eggs,” or pH >7.4 as “high pH eggs” quality eggs. The range in percent hatch rate for these pH categories was <15%, 15–30%, and >30%, respectively. Higher calcium concentrations during incubation do not appear to improve hatching success of “low pH eggs.” The predictive model presented herein describes a quick method for evaluating stripped catfish eggs for hybrid fry production in catfish hatcheries.     

QUANTITATIVE HEPATIC SCINTIGRAPHY IN THE DOG

Quantitative hepatic scintigraphy is a noninvasive test for measurement of relative arterial and portal blood flow to the liver. This technique has been used to evaluate human patients with known or suspected liver tumors or diffuse hepatocellular disease. A computer program to assess the hepatic perfusion index (HPI) in the normal dog is described. Factors affecting study quality and accuracy include injection technique, cardiac function, patient position, respiration, gross patient motion, and user intervention during data processing. HPI for a group of 12 normal dogs was 0.9±0.4 (X±SD). Quantitative scintigraphy could be used to evaluate dogs with primary or secondary liver tumors, portacaval shunts, or chronic liver disease     

Potential health implication of in vitro human low-density lipoprotein-vitamin E oxidation modulation by polyphenols derived from Côte d'Ivoire's oil palm species

Antioxidant activities of polyphenolic compounds extracted (PPEs) from ripe fruits of oil palms are investigated by studying their in vitro effects on human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Four oil palm species ( Elaeis guineensis ) are issued from the National Centre of Agronomic Research of Co?te d'Ivoire, of which two are parental varieties (HP1 and HP2), while the other two are crossing varieties (HP3 and HP4). The main identified compounds were rutin (HP3 and HP4) and caffeic and chlorogenic (5-caffeoyl quinic) acids (HP1, HP3, and HP4). The highest total phenolic content was found for HP4, while it was significantly lower for HP2. Antioxidative effects were monitored by Cu(2+)- or 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH)-induced generation of conjugated dienes (lag time and oxidation rate). The highest PPE specific antioxidant activity (SAA) values were obtained with crossing varieties (HP3 and HP4) in the copper-oxidation assay. In the AAPH-oxidation assay, SAA values were comparable for all four varieties. PPEs were effective at preventing LDL-vitamin E depletion in vitro. They could exert direct beneficial antioxidant effects on vitamin E and other antioxidants contained in food and beverages in vivo, within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These data could also be of particular importance for a healthier nutrition or the management of chronic diseases by a polyphenol-rich diet.