Effects of methadone on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of methadone on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane (ISO_MAC) in dogs.Study designProspective, randomized cross-over experimental study.AnimalsSix adult mongrel dogs, four males and two females, weighing 22.8 ± 6.6 kg.MethodsAnimals were anesthetized with isoflurane and mechanically ventilated on three separate days, at least 1 week apart. Core temperature was maintained between 37.5 and 38.5 °C during ISO_MAC determinations. On each study day, ISO_MAC was determined using electrical stimulation of the antebrachium (50 V, 50 Hz, 10 mseconds) at 2.5 and 5 hours after intravenous injection of physiological saline (control) or one of two doses of methadone (0.5 or 1.0 mg kg^?1).ResultsMean (±SD) ISO_MAC in the control treatment was 1.19 ± 0.15% and 1.18 ± 0.15% at 2.5 and 5 hours, respectively. The 1.0 mg kg^?1 dose of methadone reduced ISO_MAC by 48% (2.5 hours) and by 30% (5 hours), whereas the 0.5 mg kg^?1 dose caused smaller reductions in ISO_MAC (35% and 15% reductions at 2.5 and 5 hours, respectively). Both doses of methadone decreased heart rate (HR), but the 1.0 mg kg^?1 dose was associated with greater negative chronotropic actions (HR 37% lower than control) and mild metabolic acidosis at 2.5 hours. Mean arterial pressure increased in the MET1.0 treatment (13% higher than control) at 2.5 hours.Conclusions and clinical relevanceMethadone reduces ISO_MAC in a dose-related fashion and this effect is lessened over time. Although the isoflurane sparing effect of the 0.5 mg kg^?1 dose of methadone was smaller in comparison to the 1.0 mg kg^?1 dose, the lower dose is recommended for clinical use because it results in less evidence of cardiovascular impairment.     

Managing faba bean residues to enhance the fruit quality of the melon (Cucumis melo L.) crop

Mulching and/or topsoil incorporation of plant residues from green manure legumes can increase cropping system sustainability, and can supply and retain nutrients. Two field experiments were conducted in Italy over the period of 2006–2007, to investigate the effect of faba bean grown in a temperate environment to fruit morphology, quality and chemical composition of the subsequent melon (Cucumis melo L.) crop. Flowering faba bean plants were managed as mulch on the melon plant rows and cut and incorporated into the soil, in comparison with cultivated soil (control) and black plastic mulch.     

Yield modelling in a Mediterranean species utilizing cause–effect relationships between temperature forcing and biological processes

Crop yield forecasting has progressed clearly in the past years, mainly due to the growing demand for modelling. In the present research, considering the Mediterranean vocation for the olive cultivation, olive yield forecasting modelling was analysed, to understand the principal relationships between olive tree production and climate features in a large southern Italy area. The simulation of olive yield has practical application in different price formation activities: in management of cropping systems, formation of stocks, commercialization, making of agricultural policies and zoning. Both meteorological and biological variables were considered, pollen indexes were constructed from daily pollen concentrations evaluated by use of aerobiological methodology. The monitored pollen quantities should be considered as a Proxy variable of the olive orchards located around the volumetric pollen traps, even if the final harvest could be highly dependent on local summer meteorological conditions. The model carried out by use of Panel data analysis has demonstrated a great interpretative capacity, considering contemporary meteorological and biological variables (pollen monitored with volumetric traps). The aggregation of historical data (1999–2008) with cross-section data (10 different pollen monitoring stations) permitted to investigate the variability information related to temporal and geographical dimensions. The entire volume of pollen grains emitted during flowering was redundant to investigate the future fruit formation while the specific and concentrated mass of pollen grains during the days before full flowering was related positively with the final production. The statistical technique utilized permitted to obtain interpretative results common to different geographical areas and not limited by local meteorological conditions.     

Effects of feeding frequency on growth,feed efficiency and body composition of juveniles Brazilian sardine,Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindacher 1879)

The Brazilian sardine is the most important fishery resource in Brazil. Their production has declined along the last 30 years due the overfishing, climatic and oceanographic phenomena. This study was carried out to determine the optimal feeding frequency for juvenile Brazilian sardine based on growth, feed efficiency, feed intake and body composition. Six feeding frequencies of one, two, three, four, five and six times a day were evaluated in triplicate tanks for 50 days. Fish with initial mean weight of 3.29 ± 0.56 g were fed daily to apparent satiation. The results showed that fish fed once daily had lower body weight gain, specific growth rate and condition factor (P < 0.05) compared with other treatments. The feed efficiency ratio in fish fed once daily was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those fed two or more times a day. No significant differences were observed in the coefficient of variation in body weight (P > 0.05) among the treatments. Feed intake was directly proportional to the feeding frequency. Fish fed once daily showed lower hepatosomatic and mesenteric fat indices (P < 0.05) than the other treatments. Neither protein nor ash content of fish were significantly (P > 0.05) affected by feeding frequency. However, the lipid content increased with feeding frequency. The results suggest that the optimal feeding frequency for juvenile Brazilian sardine is at least twice daily.     

Intelligent estimation of spatially distributed soil physical properties

Spatial analysis of soil samples is often times not possible when measurements are limited in number or clustered. To obviate potential problems, we propose a new approach based on the self-organizing map (SOM) technique. This approach exploits underlying nonlinear relation of the steady-state geomorphic concave–convex nature of hillslopes (from hilltop to bottom of the valley) to spatially limited soil textural data. The topographic features are extracted from Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission elevation data; whereas soil textural (clay, silt, and sand) and hydraulic data were collected in 29 spatially random locations (50 to 75 cm depth). In contrast to traditional principal component analysis, the SOM identifies relations among relief features, such as, slope, horizontal curvature and vertical curvature. Stochastic cross-validation indicates that the SOM is unbiased and provides a way to measure the magnitude of prediction uncertainty for all variables. The SOM cross-component plots of the soil texture reveals higher clay proportions at concave areas with convergent hydrological flux and lower proportions for convex areas with divergent flux. The sand ratio has an opposite pattern with higher values near the ridge and lower values near the valley. Silt has a trend similar to sand, although less pronounced. The relation between soil texture and concave–convex hillslope features reveals that subsurface weathering and transport is an important process that changed from loss-to-gain at the rectilinear hillslope point. These results illustrate that the SOM can be used to capture and predict nonlinear hillslope relations among relief, soil texture, and hydraulic conductivity data.     

Characterization of the lentil landrace Santo Stefano di Sessanio from Abruzzo,Italy

In the world lentil is grown on more than 3 million hectares and is one of the most important, low-cost, food source of protein. In Italy lentil has been cultivated since ancient times, but in the last decades its cultivation has been confined to marginal areas, small islands and hilly, mountainous areas of central and southern Italy. Local varieties are still common and are often greatly appreciated for their taste and cooking qualities. Several accessions from the Santo Stefano di Sessanio area, Abruzzo Region, were collected and phenotypically and genotypically characterized in order to look for the existing variability within and between populations. Image analysis of seeds was also used. Populations grown in Santo Stefano di Sessanio and in the neighbouring area basically share most of their characteristics. However, some of the accessions anonymously gathered from the local market were shown to be different from those collected from farmers. The paper reports and discusses how this local product needs be characterized and promoted in order to avoid fraud that could negatively affect the local economy and put valuable, adapted, genetic resources at risk of erosion.     

Antimicrobial and Antimycobacterial Activity of Cyclostellettamine Alkaloids from Sponge Pachychalina sp.

Cyclostellettamines A – F (1 – 6) isolated from the sponge Pachychalina sp. and cyclostellettamines G - I, K and L (7 – 11) obtained by synthesis were evaluated in bioassays of antimicrobial activity against susceptible and antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and antibiotic-susceptible Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, as well as in antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv bioassays. The results obtained indicated that cyclostellettamines display different antimicrobial activity depending on the alkyl-chain size, suggesting that, if a mechanism-of action is implied, it is dependent on the distance between the two pyridinium moieties of cyclostellettamines.     

Malignant melanoma in a seagull (Larus fuscus): morphological and immunohistochemical approach

A common seagull (Larus fuscus) was found near the southern coast of Italy by the veterinarians of the local wild animal rescue center. Physical examination of the bird revealed an ulcerated mass involving a majority of the oral cavity; the mass did not allow for normal feeding. After the bird died necropsy was performed and the mass was histologically and immunohistochemically examined. The morphology and the immunoreactivity for Melan-A and S-100 antigens led to a diagnosis of malignant melanoma. This is the first case of malignant melanoma described in a seagull, and herein we compare the characteristics of the present case with malignant melanoma already described in domestic animals.     

Ovicidal activity of seven <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pochonia chlamydosporia</Emphasis> fungal isolates on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascaris suum</Emphasis> eggs

The ovicidal effect of the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia on eggs of Ascaris suum was tested under laboratory conditions. A. suum eggs were plated on 2% water–agar with seven fungal isolates (Isol. 5, Isol. 31, Isol. 1, VC1, Isol. 12, Isol. 22 and VC4) and control without fungus. After 5, 7, 10, 14, 15 and 21 days of incubation, approximately 100 eggs were removed from the plates and classified according to the following parameters: type 1, biochemical and physiological effect without morphological damage to the eggshell, type 2, lytic effect with morphological alteration of the eggshell and embryo and type 3, lytic effect with morphological alteration of eggshell and embryo showing hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization. The isolates effectively destroyed A. suum eggs and all types of effects were observed during the experiment. There was no variation in ovicidal capacity (type 3 effect) among the isolates (p > 0.05) throughout the experiment. After 21 days, isolate 5 showed the highest percentages of type 3 effect (58.33%). The results indicated that P. chlamydosporia (Isol. 5, Isol. 31, Isol. 1, VC1, Isol. 12, Isol. 22 and VC4) can destroy A. suum eggs and is, therefore, a potential biological control agent of nematodes.