Effects of a low dose infusion of racemic and S-ketamine on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex in standing ponies

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of plasma concentrations obtained by a low dose constant rate infusion (CRI) of racemic ketamine or S-ketamine on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) in standing ponies.Study designProspective, blinded, cross-over study.AnimalsSix healthy 5-year-old Shetland ponies.MethodsPonies received either 0.6 mg kg⁻¹ racemic ketamine (group RS) or 0.3 mg kg⁻¹ S-ketamine (group S) intravenously (IV), followed by a CRI of 20 μg kg⁻¹minute⁻¹ racemic ketamine (group RS) or 10 μg kg⁻¹minute⁻¹ S-ketamine (group S) for 59 minutes. The NWR was evoked by transcutaneous electrical stimulation of a peripheral nerve before drug administration, 15 and 45 minutes after the start of the bolus injection and 15 minutes after the end of the CRI. Electromyographic responses were recorded and analysed. Arterial blood was collected before stimulation and plasma concentrations of ketamine and norketamine were measured enantioselectively using capillary electrophoresis. Ponies were video recorded and monitored to assess drug effects on behaviour, heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and respiratory rate.ResultsThe NWR was significantly depressed in group RS at plasma concentrations between 20 and 25 ng mL⁻¹ of each enantiomer. In group S, no significant NWR depression could be observed; plasma concentrations of S-ketamine (9–15 ng mL⁻¹) were lower, compared to S-ketamine concentrations in group RS, although this difference was not statistically significant. Minor changes in behaviour, HR and MAP only occurred within the first 5–10 minutes after bolus drug administration in both groups.ConclusionAntinociceptive activity in standing ponies, demonstrated as a depression of the NWR, could only be detected after treatment with racemic ketamine. S-ketamine may have lacked this effect as a result of lower plasma concentrations, a more rapid metabolism or a lower potency of S-ketamine in Equidae so further investigation is necessary.     

Cardiopulmonary arrest and resuscitation following an extradural injection in a normovolemic dog

Objective – To describe general anesthesia and successful resuscitation of a dog developing asystole and apnea during extradural injection of local anesthetic and an opioid. Case Summary – A Beagle with a ruptured cranial cruciate was premedicated with acepromazine and methadone. Anesthesia was induced with propofol and, after endotracheal intubation, maintained using isoflurane in oxygen. During extradural injection of a mixture of lidocaine, bupivacaine, and morphine the dog developed apnea and asystole. Cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation was started promptly and the dog was successfully resuscitated. New Information Provided – Asystole and apnea are possible serious side effects of extradural anesthesia in dogs. With adequate monitoring and early detection successful resuscitation is possible.     

Effect of amino acid deficiency on precaecal amino acid digestibility in broiler chickens

In this study, we determined whether deficient dietary amino acid (AA) concentrations influence the precaecal (pc) AA digestibility when determined using the regression approach. We mixed two basal diets. Basal diet 1 was deficient in essential AAs, whereas adequate AA concentrations were ensured in basal diet 2 by adding free AAs. Rapeseed cake and full‐fat soya beans as test ingredients were included in the basal diets at levels of 100 and 200, and 150 and 300 g/kg, respectively, at the expense of maize starch. Each diet was tested with six replicates of 10 broiler chickens each. The feed intake of the chickens that were fed diets based on basal diet 2 was similar, whereas the feed intake of the chickens that were fed diets based on basal diet 1 differed considerably. The numerical differences in pc AA digestibility determined with basal diet 1 or 2 ranged from 2.6 percentage points to 20.8 percentage points in rapeseed cake and from 0.5 percentage points to 15.2 percentage points in soya beans. Across all measured AAs, the average differences were 10.1 percentage points and 5.4 percentage points in rapeseed cake and soya beans, respectively. The differences in the estimated pc AA digestibility between the basal diets were probably caused by different basal endogenous AA losses in the digesta between treatments as a consequence of different feed intake. Adequate AA concentrations and test ingredient levels that are specifically adjusted to avoid a negative effect on feed intake are recommended for future studies.     

Diagnostic procedures and surgical treatment of craniodorsal coxofemoral luxation in calves

OBJECTIVE: To report use of ultrasonographic examination of the coxofemoral joint, a surgical technique for repair of craniodorsal coxofemoral dislocation, and outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical case reports. ANIMALS: Calves (n=4) with coxofemoral luxation. METHODS: Craniodorsal coxofemoral luxation was diagnosed by physical examination, radiographic, and ultrasonographic findings. Open surgical reduction of the femoral head was performed using a modified caudal approach. RESULTS: Craniodorsal luxation of the femoral head and the presence of an intact femoral neck were confirmed by ultrasonography. All luxations were successfully reduced and reluxation did not occur. At follow-up, 1 heifer had calved and 1 was 5 months pregnant. One calf died of bronchopneumonia 6 days after surgery. One calf had severe coxofemoral degenerative joint disease diagnosed (ultrasonography, radiography, and arthrocentesis) 3 months after surgery and confirmed by necropsy. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography proved to be a simple and effective non-invasive technique for diagnosis of coxofemoral luxation. Immediate surgical intervention in hip dislocation in calves is necessary to avoid unnecessary trauma to subchondral structures. In calves, open instead of closed surgical reduction appears preferable because it allows access to the acetabular cavity for removal of debris. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ultrasonography should be considered a supplementary but not an alternative to radiographic examination for diagnosis of coxofemoral luxation and for follow-up examinations after reduction.     

Changes of Some Components of Precipitation in East Germany after the Unification

A network of 15 sites of precipitation monitoring was built-up to characterize the spatial and temporal changes of pollutants over East Germany. Rain water samples were analysed and characterized regarding their acidity, conductivity, main water soluble components (Cl^-, NO₃ ^-, SO₄ ^2-, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺), volume and the meteorological parameters. Dependent on the changes of emission of pollutants, resulting from the reformation of industry, the decrease of stock farming, and increase of traffic (by the factor of ≈1.5) in East Germany, a drop could be observed with the sulphate and calcium concentrations in the precipitation by 20 to 50 and 30 to 70%, respectively. An increase could not be ascertained with the nitrate concentration and the acidity.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in bulk soil and particle size separates of soils in a rural community

In a rural community (Stephanskirchen, Southern Germany) situated near a waste incineration plant six A horizons were sampled to determine 14 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in bulk soil and particle size separates (clay, silt, fine and coarse sand) and to test the suitability of alkaline saponification for PCB extraction. The PCB concentrations were higher in alkaline saponification extracts than in Soxhlet extracts. However, the extraction efficiency of up to fourfold chlorinated PCBs was lower and more than sevenfold chlorinated PCBs were destroyed. Nevertheless, alkaline saponification was suitable to determine the indicator congeners 28, 52, 101, 138, 152, and 180. The sum of the PCB concentrations ranged from 8.4 to 59.5 μg kg^?1 which was as high as in soils of big cities. However, the concentrations did not reach the threshold value for agricultural purposes of 200 μg kg^?1 as proposed in literature for the sum of the six indicator congeners. The hexachlorinated PCBs 138 and 153 were the most abundant (together > 50% in all samples) whereas PCB 1 could not be detected in any sample. On the average, PCB concentrations increased as particle size decreased. When normalized to C_org, however, the fine sand fraction had the highest PCB concentrations. A slight decrease of lower chlorinated PCBs as particle size decreased indicated an increasing state of degradation. The PCB compositions in the emissions of a comparable waste incineration plant (Bamberg, Bavaria) and in Stephanskirchen soils differed markedly. Therefore, we did not get any indications that waste incineration was a main source of PCBs in the examined soils. Instead, higher chlorinated technical PCB mixtures such as Clophen A 60 or Aroclor 1260 may be the most important sources.     

枯倒木更新：一种应用于中欧的新的森林更新方法

林内枯倒木和根桩经过长时间在动植物机体和物理化学过程作用下便开始分解。高海拔区的云杉林的种子在这样的枯倒木上容易发芽成苗。在中欧山地森林培育中人们把这种方法称为倒木更新。这种自然更新方法受到中欧林业同行的注意,并被应用于欧洲云杉林的更新。欧洲云杉被广泛栽培于中欧山地和丘陵地区,林分结构单一,林下草灌密集,森林更新困难。间伐疏开林冠后,丰富的草本及高灌木迅速发展而不利于更新。人工整地或通过牧畜践踏后虽能促进种子触土发芽及幼苗生长,但这样幼苗易受干旱危害或霜冻,或者因与草灌竞争不利,仅几年时间幼树消…     

牛舍空气微生物及向环境传播的研究

采用４ 台 Ａ Ｎ Ｄ Ｅ Ｒ Ｓ Ｅ Ｎ微生物空气样品收集器对一个犊牛舍内及环境空气细菌含量进行了测量, 需氧菌总数分别为８５３６ ～４６６９１ Ｃ Ｆ Ｕ／ｍ ３ 和２６４９ ～２４７７５ Ｃ Ｆ Ｕ／ｍ ３ , 厌氧菌浓度计３０１７ ～２４７７５ Ｃ Ｆ Ｕ／ｍ ３ 和６６１ ～４１２２ Ｃ Ｆ Ｕ／ ｍ３ 。根据 Ｈ Ｅ Ｓ Ｋ Ｅ Ｔ Ｈ （１９７４） 计算公式和 Ｋ Ｌ Ｕ Ｇ （１９６９） 气溶胶颗粒扩散模式, 得出犊牛舍菌源强度, 即向环境排放需氧菌为１１００００ ～１４００００ Ｃ Ｆ Ｕ／ｓ , 厌氧菌在２７０００ ～１７５０００ Ｃ Ｆ Ｕ／ｓ 之间。细菌浓度实际测量值与估算一致, 该公式和扩散模式适合于动物舍菌源强度和舍外环境不同距离空气微生物浓度的估算。距离犊牛舍１００ ｍ 下风处, 需氧菌高达６５０ ～８３９ Ｃ Ｆ Ｕ／ｍ ３ , 厌氧菌１６０ ～１０３４ 细菌／ｍ ３ , 各项均超过正常值１０ ～１５ 倍。