Evaluation of analgesic and physiologic effects of epidural morphine administered at a thoracic or lumbar level in dogs undergoing thoracotomy

ObjectiveTo evaluate the analgesic and physiological effects of epidural morphine administered at the sixth and seventh lumbar or the fifth and sixth thoracic vertebrae in dogs undergoing thoracotomy.Study designProspective, randomized, blinded trial.AnimalsFourteen mixed-breed dogs, weighing 8.6 ± 1.4 kg.MethodsThe animals received acepromazine (0.1 mg kg^?1) IM and anesthesia was induced with propofol (4 mg kg^?1) IV. The lumbosacral space was punctured and an epidural catheter was inserted up to the region between the sixth and seventh lumbar vertebrae (L, n = 6) or up to the fifth or sixth intercostal space (T, n = 8). The dogs were allowed to recover and after radiographic confirmation of correct catheter position, anesthesia was reinduced with propofol IV and maintained with 1.7% isoflurane. Following stabilization of monitored parameters, animals received morphine (0.1 mg kg^?1) diluted in 0.9% NaCl to a final volume of 0.25 mL kg^?1 via the epidural catheter, and after 40 minutes, thoracotomy was initiated. Heart rate and rhythm, systolic, mean and diastolic arterial pressures, respiratory rate, arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation, partial pressure of expired CO₂ and body temperature were measured immediately before the epidural administration of morphine (0 minute) and every 10 minutes during the anesthetic period. The Melbourne pain scale and the visual analog scale were used to assess post-operative pain. The evaluation began 3 hours after the epidural administration of morphine and occurred each hour until rescue analgesia.ResultsThere were no important variations in the physiological parameters during the anesthetic period. The post-operative analgesic period differed between the groups, being longer in T (9.9 ± 1.6 hours) compared with L (5.8 ± 0.8 hours).ConclusionsThe use of morphine, at a volume of 0.25 mL kg^?1, administered epidurally over the thoracic vertebrae provided longer lasting analgesia than when deposited over the lumbar vertebrae.Clinical relevanceThe deposition of epidural morphine provided longer lasting analgesia when administered near to the innervation of the injured tissue without increasing side effects.     

Studies on the feeding of Tilapia nilotica in floating cages

Five studies on the feeding of Tilapia nilotica in floating cages were conducted. Stocking densities of 100 to 200 fish per m³ were used. Only commercially available ingredients were used in the feed.Results of the studies showed that diets containing fish meal, fine rice bran and copra meal had significantly better feed conversion ratios than diets with ipil-ipil leaf meal. Diets with 25% fish meal and 10% copra meal were found to be efficient and economical for T. nilotica.Chicken grower mash enriched with fish meal did not significantly differ from a diet consisting of 25% fish meal and 75% fine rice bran. Fish given moist pellets had significantly higher production than fish fed with dry pellets.     

Interacting effects of diet and environmental temperature on biochemical parameters in the liver ofLeuciscus idus melanotus (Cyprinidae: Teleostei)

One year old golden ide (Leuciscus idus melanotus) were starved for 2 weeks at 20°C (time zero) and then they were fed either freeze-dried mosquito larvae (natural diet) or a commercial fish chow (artificial diet) at an ambient temperature of 14°C and 20°C, respectively. Growth parameters and biochemical data in the liver were measured at time zero and after 3 and 7 weeks of specific regimen. If compared to natural food, the artificial diet caused transient increase in anabolic activity of the liver, but prevented long-lasting hepatocyte proliferation (increase of total liver DNA). After 3 weeks on artificial diet, the body weight was significantly higher and the liver mass doubled compared to ide kept on the natural regimen; tissue DNA content indicated that the hepatocyte volume increased mainly by increased protein content and corresponding uptake of water; lipid and glycogen contents were increased by a factor of 3–6, and the RNADNA ratio was increased accordingly. The growth of the ide, as reflected by the condition factor and hepatosomatic index (HSI), was virtually stopped when the artificial regimen was maintained for 7 weeks, whereas on natural food the condition factor was increased and liver weight and DNA were doubled. Growth of the fish maintained at 14°C was significantly lower than that of fish maintained at 20°C, though the total liver DNA was still increased on the natural regimen during the experiment. Less lipid was stored by fish maintained at 14°C, whereas protein and glycogen deposits were enlarged, if compared to fish maintained at 20°C. The specific activity of cytochrome oxidase in liver mitochondria and of NADPH cytochrome c reductase in the microsomal fraction were found independent of diet and ambient temperature. Oxidative capacity of hepatocytes (mitochondrial protein/mg DNA) remained unchanged, and microsomal protein/cell appeared reduced in response to the artificial food. However, reduction of cell number on this diet resulted in less total mitochondrial and microsomal protein in the organ. Golden ide liver is found to be a sensitive experimental model to characterize the mutual influence of diet and temperature on fish; the results are discussed with regard to the usage of golden ide as test fish for water pollution.     

Development,prospects and problems of the tilapia cage culture industry in The Philippines

The Philippines has vast freshwater resources for cage culture of fish. Two tilapia species, Tilapia mossambica and Tilapia nilotica, are cultured commercially in cages in several lakes.Field testing for cage culture of Tilapia nilotica, the preferred species, is described. A pilot commerical cage farm has been established.The major problems affecting development are the short supply of quality fingerlings, the lack of a standard commercial feed, and the increasing costs of cage construction. Recommendations for resolving these problems are given.     

Intra-specific variation of wheat grain quality in response to elevated [CO2] at two sowing times under rain-fed and irrigation treatments

In order to investigate the intra-specific variation of wheat grain quality response to elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration (e[CO₂]), eight wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)cultivars were grown at two CO₂ concentrations ([CO₂]) (current atmospheric, 389 CO₂ μmol mol⁻¹vs. e[CO₂], FACE (Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment), 550  ±  10% CO₂ μmol mol⁻¹), at two water levels (rain-fed vs. irrigated) and at two times of sowing (TOS₁, vs. TOS₂). The TOS treatment was mainly imposed to understand whether e[CO₂] could modify the effects of timing of higher grain filling temperatures on grain quality. When plants were grown at TOS₁, TKW (thousand kernel weight), grain test weight, hardness index, P, Ca, Na and phytate were not significantly changed under e[CO₂]. On the other hand, e[CO₂] increased TKW (16%), hardness index (9%), kernel diameter (6%), test weight (2%) but decreased grain protein (10%) and grain phytate (11%) at TOS₂. In regard to grain Zn, Mn and Cu concentrations and some flour rheological properties, cultivar specific responses to e[CO₂] were observed at both sowing times. Observed genetic variability in response to e[CO₂] in terms of grain minerals and flour rheological properties could be easily incorporated into future wheat breeding programs to enable adaptation to climate change.     

White pine (Pinus strobus L.) regeneration dynamics at the species’ northern limit of continuous distribution

The abundance of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) has been significantly reduced across its distribution range over the past few centuries. The species’ regeneration dynamics is well documented in the centre of its range, but is poorly understood at the northern limit of continuous distribution. To address this knowledge gap, we quantified natural white pine regeneration in unmanaged mature stands, identified the most important variables influencing it, and evaluated the impact of damaging agents, namely white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch.), white pine weevil (Pissodes strobi Peck), and herbivory. We also quantified the influence of remnant stands and residual trees on the spatial distribution of regeneration in logged sites. The results reveal continuous but low recruitment in mature stands. The basal area of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Miller) had a strong negative effect on white pine regeneration. Regeneration was more abundant than expected on moister substrates, including moss, decaying wood and organic matter. White pine regeneration was noted in recently logged areas, where distance from remnant stands had a significant effect on the abundance of white pine regeneration. The northern limit of continuous distribution holds potential for white pine restoration, for example by preserving remnant white pine stands that can provide seed sources for natural regeneration in a shelterwood cut system, or in adjacent clearcut areas. This study illustrates that different management strategies should be used near northern range limits, where effects of site conditions and disturbance agents are different than in the center of a species’ range.     

Species distribution models applied to plant species selection in forest restoration: are model predictions comparable to expert opinion?

An expert on local flora usually is the best option for plant species selection in most ecological restoration projects; although species selection often needs to be dealt with swiftly as well as on a limited budget, and obtaining the opinion of a local expert may not always be an economically viable alternative. In such cases, species distribution models (SDM) may offer a faster and more cost effective alternative. We asked six experts to rank native tree species according to their suitability at 24 forest sites. The predictive performance of the suitability rankings was evaluated by assessing their ability to discriminate present from absent species in the observed tree assemblages at each evaluation site. We used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve to calculate the probability that the estimated suitability for a species present at a particular evaluation site is greater than the estimate for an absent species (both picked at random). Suitability rankings were also obtained from the predictions of SDM and the same procedure was used to estimate the predictive performance of the set of models at each site. The experts offered concordant suitability rankings at almost every evaluation site. There were no significant differences in the predictive performance of the SDM and four of the experts, although the SDM performed slightly better than the other two experts. Our results point to the suitability of the proposed species distribution modeling approach to obtain fast and cost effective recommendations for species selection in forest restoration projects.