Tramadol plus metamizole combined or not with anti‐inflammatory drugs is clinically effective for moderate to severe chronic pain treatment in cancer patients

ObjectiveTo test the effectiveness and safety of tramadol plus metamizole combined or not with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for treating moderate to severe chronic neoplastic pain in dogs, and its impact on quality of life (QL).Study designProspective, uncontrolled, open-label, clinical study.AnimalsSixty nine client-owned dogs with multiple forms of cancer and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score ≥40 after receiving NSAIDs for at least 7 days.MethodsThe MN group received metamizole + NSAID, MNT group received metamizole + NSAID + tramadol and MT group received metamizole + tramadol. Pain was scored by the 0 to 100 mm VAS (0 = no pain, 100 = worst pain) and analgesic therapy was considered effective if 25 mm differences in VAS scores were observed between day 0 and the follow ups. The QL was evaluated according to a 0 to 36 scoring method for dogs (0 = worst, 36 = best) and side effects were recorded. Data were registered at day 0 (baseline) and at the first and second follow ups (7 and 14 days after day 0, respectively).ResultsThe MN group had less analgesia at day 7 (25%) and day 14 (42%) than MNT (59%, p = 0.0274; 76%, p = 0.0251, respectively) and MT groups (69%, p = 0.0151; 81%, p = 0.0341, respectively). The QL scores were lower in the MN group at the first (score 23) and second follow up (score 26) than in MNT (27, p = 0.0847; 30, p = 0.0002) and MT (28, p = 0.0384; 31, p = 0.0001) groups. Side effects were more commonly observed in the MN group (87%) than in MNT (24%, p < 0.0001) and MT groups (25%, p = 0.0003) at the first follow up.Conclusions and clinical relevanceTramadol plus metamizole combined or not with NSAID were well tolerated and clinically effective to treat moderate to severe pain in dogs with cancer and improved QL.     

Soil quality index for cacao cropping systems

The soil quality index (SQI) for cacao cropping systems was developed to meet the nutritional criteria of the crop, the environmental safety of the cropping sites and the increasing demand for the production and quality of cocoa. Available water function (AWF), root growth function (RGF), mineral nutrition of plants function (MNF) and environmental safety function (ESF) for potentially toxic elements were included in the additive model of SQI for cacao cropping systems. In this study, over 66% of the cacao fields cropping sites were classified as regular SQI with a range of scores between 0.42 and 0.61. The field cropping site with the highest score (0.73) characterized as typic Alitic Red-Yellow Argisol was rated with high SQI. In contrast, the field cropping sites characterized as abrupt Cohesive Dystrophic Red-Yellow Argisol (0.29), typic Dystrophic Haplic Cambisol (0.39), and latosolic Dystrophic Yellow Argisol (0.40) were rated with low SQI. MNF and AWF were the functions that most contributed to the increase or decrease of SQI scores. The SQI adapted expressed the agro-environmental reality of cacao cropping systems of Bahia, Brazil, and this could be a versatile tool to subsidize the adequate soil management of cacao plantations around the world.     

Effects of dietary microencapsulated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cymbopogon flexuosus</Emphasis> essential oil on reproductive-related parameters in male <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhamdia quelen</Emphasis>

In aquaculture, nutrition and supplemented diets have been shown to affect broodstock reproductive performance. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oil (CFEO) microcapsules on reproductive-related parameters in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) male broodfish. Adult male broodstocks were separated into three groups according to the concentrations of supplemented CFEO (0.0?=?control; 1.0 or 3.0 mL per kg of diet). After 20 days under experimental conditions, the animals were euthanized and the gonads were harvested for gonadosomatic index, sperm analysis, oxidative stress, and histopathology; testosterone levels were measured in the plasma; gene expression of prl, smtl, pomca, and pomcb was assessed in the pituitary gland by real-time PCR. The results showed no alterations on reproductive parameters in R. quelen males treated with Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oil compared to the control-diet animals. In conclusion, CFEO microcapsules supplied for 20 days in the concentrations of 1.00 or 3.00 mL per kilogram of diet did not affect the reproduction criteria evaluated in this study in male silver catfish.     

Validation of the Italian version of the UNESP–Botucatu unidimensional composite pain scale for the assessment of postoperative pain in cattle

Objective

The aim of this study was to validate the Italian version of the UNESP–Botucatu Unidimensional Composite Pain Scale (UCPS-IV) for assessing postoperative pain in cattle.

Distribution and frequency of resistance to four herbicide modes of action in Lolium rigidum Gaud. accessions randomly collected in winter cereal fields in Spain

Lolium rigidum is the most prevalent and damaging grass weed of winter cereals in Spain. L. rigidum infestations are frequently treated with herbicides and, consequently, populations have evolved resistance. The objective of this study was to determine the extent and frequency of herbicide resistance in L. rigidum populations in Spain to the selective herbicides chlortoluron, diclofop-methyl and chlorsulfuron, commonly used for its control in-crop, and to glyphosate. The response to these herbicides was evaluated on 123 accessions surveyed randomly across cereal cropping areas of the regions of Castile and León, Catalonia and Andalusia. The fresh weight and the frequency of undamaged plants were calculated for each accession and herbicide. At the regional level, higher frequencies of accessions displaying resistance occurred in Catalonia, an intensively cropped region with a greater herbicide selection pressure. Of concern is that in this region the 60% of the accessions displayed some level of resistance to the ALS-inhibiting herbicide chlorsulfuron. The 6.9% of the accessions found in Castile and León with some resistance to glyphosate could also indicate an incipient problem of resistance to this herbicide. For the other herbicides and regions the majority of the accessions remained susceptible. The possible mechanisms of herbicide resistance development in L. rigidum accessions (target-site versus non-target-site resistance) and their variation among regions was discussed. This study can be used to generate herbicide resistance-management schemes for farmers, based upon the herbicide the site and the potential for resistance development.     

Transform-limited, narrow-linewidth lasing action in organic semiconductor microcavities

Lasing action in organic vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (OVCSEL) structures is demonstrated. Optically pumped OVCSELs with an active layer composed of a thin-film organic semiconductor tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) doped with DCM laser dye produced very narrow linewidth (0.2 +/- 0.1 angstrom), high-power (3 watts) emission that could be varied in different devices from orange to red. The efficient energy transfer from Alq3 to DCM results in a threshold input energy of 300 microjoules per square centimeter. An operational lifetime >10(6) laser pulses was achieved for a device operated well above threshold in atmosphere. The linewidths above threshold are Fourier transform-limited and could potentially be narrowed further.     

Effects of Dietary Fibre Concentrates on growth performance and digestive enzyme activities of jundiá (Rhamdia quelen)

This study was conducted to investigate the prebiotic effect of different Dietary Fibre Concentrates (DFC) (Mucilage =MG; Pectin = PN or β‐glucan + mannan = βg + M) on growth and somatic parameters, body composition and digestive enzyme activities of jundiá (Rhamdia quelen). After acclimation, fish (7.16 ± 0.06 g) were allocated into 24 tanks (30 fish per tank) and triplicate groups were fed with Control diet (0 g kg^?1 of DFC); diet supplemented with 5 g kg^?1 commercial prebiotic (CP) or diets supplemented with 5 or 10 g kg^?1 diet of MG; PN or βg + M. At the end of the trial (8 weeks), growth was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in fish fed diets supplemented with DFCs and did not differ from animals supplemented with CP. The animals that were fed Control diet presented a body protein content higher compared to those supplemented with diets containing pectin or β‐glucan + mannan (P < 0.05). However, fish fed diets added with β‐glucan + mannan yielded a higher level of protein deposited in the whole body. The activity of digestive enzymes was lower in the group supplemented with Pectin. Results indicate that supplementation with DFCs in the diet had positive effects on the performance of jundiá and are prebiotic potential candidate.     

Profiles of sex steroids, fecundity and spawning of a migratory characiform fish from the Paraguay–Paraná basin: a comparative study in a three-river system

This study investigated for the first time the reproductive biology of Prochilodus lineatus in a system of rivers in southeastern Brasil, relating it to the role of tributary rivers in the reproductive success of this important commercial fish in the Upper Paraná River basin, where a cascade of hydroelectric dams were deployed. Specimens were caught bimonthly in three river sites: (S1) Grande River, downstream from the Porto Colômbia dam; (S2) Pardo River; and (S3) Mogi Guaçu River. Sex steroid plasma levels, fecundity, follicular atresia, oocyte diameter and gonadosomatic index (GSI) were compared among sites. In S1, fish exhibited changes in the reproductive parameters: lower GSI, oocyte diameter and fecundity and higher follicular atresia index, when compared to S2 and S3. Frequency of maturing fish was higher in S3 and spawning was only registered in S3. In sites S2 and S3, plasma concentrations of testosterone and 17β-estradiol in females and testosterone in males showed wide variations following gonadal maturation. Fish from S1 showed few significant variations in sex steroid concentrations throughout the gonadal cycle. These results indicate that P. lineatus does not reproduce in Grande River (S1), but probably uses the Pardo River (S2) as a migratory route towards the Mogi Guaçu River (S3) where they complete gonadal maturation and spawning. Our findings contribute for understanding the reproductive biology of P. lineatus and to highlight the importance of tributaries in impounded rivers as a favourable environment for migration and spawning of fish.     

Rates of piscivory predict pharyngeal jaw morphology in a piscivorous lineage of cichlid fishes

The pharyngeal jaw apparatus is a key innovation hypothesised to increase foraging efficiency and facilitate utilisation of novel resources among teleost fishes. Here, we tested whether dietary characteristics could predict pharyngeal jaw morphology among eight species of Neotropical Crenicichla. Additionally, we tested the hypothesis that pharyngeal jaws may impose a functional constraint on piscivory via pharyngeal gape. We quantified the shape of the lower pharyngeal jaw (LPJ) using linear and geometric morphometrics and quantified diet using the relative volumetric proportions of prey items. We used principal component analysis to describe major axes of variation in LPJ shape and dietary patterns. The major axis of dietary variation significantly predicted LPJ morphology, which was driven by a significant relationship between LPJ shape and rates of piscivory. We also found that rates of piscivory predicted size‐corrected LPJ depth. Size‐corrected pharyngeal gape also significantly predicted rates of piscivory such that pharyngeal jaws may constrain piscivory by limiting pharyngeal gape. Strong form‐to‐function linkage between pharyngeal morphology and trophic patterns suggests an adaptive quality of the pharyngeal apparatus but may also impose functional constraints when consumers must switch prey or when prey availability is temporally or spatially unpredictable.