PULMONARY VENOUS FLOW CHARACTERISTICS AS ASSESSED BY TRANSTHORACIC PULSED DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN NORMAL DOGS

Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography was used to evaluate the technique of measuring and normal patterns of pulmonary venous flow in fourteen normal dogs. Polyphasic pulmonary venous flow profiles were obtained in all dogs, consisting of one (S) or two (S_E and S_L) systolic forward flow waves, one early diastolic forward flow wave (D), one reverse flow wave (R) related to atrial contraction, and one reverse flow wave (R₂) observed after cessation of systolic flow. Pulmonary venous flow was laminar in 9 dogs (65%). Maximal flow velocity during systole (0.39 ± 0.14 m/sec) was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in early diastole (0.56 ± 0.14 m/sec). During late diastole peak flow velocity was 0.20 ± 0.08 m/sec and maximum R₂ velocity was 0.17 ± 0.05 m/sec. Duration of mitral A-wave was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than R-wave duration in all dogs (0.075 ± 0.10 vs 0.058 ± 0.012 sec). These results can be used for comparison with patterns found in disease states.     

Comparison of Intraoperative Behavioral and Hormonal Responses to Noxious Stimuli between Mares Sedated with Caudal Epidural Detomidine Hydrochloride or a Continuous Intravenous Infusion of Detomidine Hydrochloride for Standing Laparoscopic Ovariectomy

Objective: To compare the presence or absence of pain, pain‐related behavioral responses, and hormonal responses to noxious stimuli during standing laparoscopic ovariectomy in mares sedated with continuous intravenous (IV) detomidine infusion and caudal epidural detomidine. Study Design: A double blind prospective study. Animals: Mares (n=12) Methods: Mares were divided into 2 treatment groups; 6 were sedated using continuous IV detomidine infusion and 6 were sedated with caudal epidural detomidine. All mares received IV xylazine (0.33 mg/kg) and butorphanol tartrate (5 mg) premedication before detomidine administration. Venous blood samples were taken to assess serum cortisol levels in each mare at 4 time points: a baseline cortisol measurement after the mares' arrival to the clinic, 10 minutes before surgery, at the removal of the 2nd ovary, and 10 minutes postsurgery. Two surgeons performed bilateral ovariectomy and at 8 time points involving surgical manipulations, noted the presence or absence of pain (yes/no) and scored the patient's response on a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain assessment with 0 indicating no pain responses and 10 cm indicating pain so severe that the mare required additional sedation or analgesia to complete the procedure. Each mare was also assigned a VAS score by each surgeon for the overall satisfaction of analgesia during the entire procedure. Results: Serum cortisol levels between the 2 detomidine administration groups differed significantly at the baseline (precortisol) measurement but not at the 3 remaining time points. Seven of the procedures within the surgeries did not differ significantly in VAS scores between the 2 groups. The initial grasp of the left ovary (the 1st ovary) in the continuous infusion group had a significantly higher (P=.05) median VAS score compared with the caudal epidural group. Conclusions: Mares sedated with a continuous IV infusion of detomidine have similar hormonal and behavioral responses to painful stimuli during standing laparoscopic ovariectomy as mares sedated with caudal epidural detomidine. Clinical Relevance: Sedation using a continuous IV infusion of detomidine can be used for laparoscopic ovariectomy in mares.     

The record of postglacial environmental changes of the southern Baltic coastal zone in the sequence of fossil soils

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The studies aimed to reconstruct major phases of litho-morpho-pedogenic processes and past environmental changes in the Baltic coastal zone near Podd?bie...     

Combination of dexmedetomidine with buprenorphine enhances the antinociceptive effect to a thermal stimulus in the cat compared with either agent alone

ObjectiveTo evaluate the sedative and antinociceptive effects of combinations of dexmedetomidine and buprenorphine in cats.Study designExperimental randomized study.AnimalsTwelve purpose-bred neutered domestic short-hair cats (4 male and 8 female) weighing 4.6 kg (range 3.7–5.5 kg) aged from 2 to 5 years.MethodsSix cats per group were administered buprenorphine (B) at 10 (B10) or 20 μg kg^?1 (B20) or dexmedetomidine (D) at 20 (D20) or 40 μg kg^?1 (D40) or a combination of B10/D20. A feline thermal nociceptive threshold testing device was used to evaluate the antinociceptive effects of the drugs before and up to 24 hours after drug treatment. Sedation was scored using a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS).ResultsThermal thresholds increased significantly after administration of all but D20. Area under the curve (AUC, hours °C) for the first 6 hours (mean ± SD) for B20 (281 ± 17.8) was significantly greater than B10 (260 ± 11.4), D20 (250 ± 7.9) and D40 (255 ± 11.4). The AUC for B10/D20 (273 ± 12.2) was significantly greater than D20 but not the other treatments. No sedation was seen after administration of B10 or B20 and maximal sedation was seen for all animals in the D40 and B10/D20 groups and most animals in the D20 group.ConclusionsD20 alone had the smallest analgesic effect; B10 alone provided no sedation but their combination gave good sedation with analgesia comparable with B20.Clinical relevanceThis combination could be a useful multimodal sedative/analgesic regimen in cats.     

Characterization of Cell Wall Polysaccharides of Cherry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus cerasus</Emphasis> var. Schattenmorelle) Fruit and Pomace

The polysaccharide composition of cell wall of sour cherry (Prunus cerasus var. Schattenmorelle) fruit and pomace was investigated. Furthermore, the alcohol insoluble solids composition of ‘Kelleriis’ and ‘Dobreczyn Botermo’ varieties were studied too. Yield of alcohol insoluble solids for fruits was lower than 10%, and for pomaces circa 50%. Uronic acid was the main pectin component of alcohol insoluble solids. Enzymes used as juice processing aids decreased the content of uronic acid. Araban and galactan side chains bonded tightly to cellulose presence was suggested by high content of arabinose and galactose in hemicellulose fraction. The process of drying at below 70 °C did not influence polysaccharide composition of sour cherry pomaces. Alcohol insoluble solids of fruits expressed higher hydration properties than of pomaces.     

Preparations of plant origin enhance carbohydrate content in plant tissues of rooted cuttings of rambler roses: Rosa beggeriana ‘Polstjärnan’ and Rosa helenae ‘Semiplena’

During rhizogenesis, carbohydrates are an important source of energy for the plant tissues. It has been hypothesised that phenological phase of the shoot plays a major role in plant's response to rooting stimulants and affects the cuttings’ carbohydrate content. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of phenological phase of the shoots and the use of rooting stimulants of plant origin on the relationship between rooting abilities and the carbohydrate content in leaves and stems of cuttings. Single-node stem cuttings of Rosa beggeriana ‘Polstjärnan’ and Rosa helenae ‘Semiplena’ were harvested from shoots in four phenological stages: flower buds closed (P1), flowers open (P2), immediately after petal shedding (P3), and 7–14 days after petal fall (P4). The following rooting enhancers were used: 0.4% indole butyric acid (IBA) (Ukorzeniacz Aaqua); 0.2% naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (Ukorzeniacz Baqua); Bio Rhizotonic; and Root Juice?; Bio Roots. Controls included untreated cuttings. The contents of reducing and total soluble carbohydrates in leaves and shoots were estimated before and after rooting. The rooting percentage and rooting degree were determined. A relatively high or moderate natural rooting ability without any treatment were shown by R. beggeriana ‘Polstjärnan’ in 63.8%–87.5% and by R. helenae ‘Semiplena’ in 41.3%–72.5% cuttings. IBA and NAA decreased the mean rooting percentage in ‘Polstjärnan’, but increased it for P4 cuttings in ‘Semiplena’. None of the preparations had any impact on the degree of rooting. The mean level of total soluble and reducing sugars in leaves and stems of cuttings before rooting was lower than that of after root formation. The preparations of plant origin positively affected rhizogenesis and sugar contents in plant tissues, but their effect depended on shoot's phenological phase and cultivar. Plant origin preparations may successfully replace those containing IBA or NAA.     

Intravenous 15% isoflurane lipid nanoemulsion for general anesthesia in dogs

Objective

To investigate the efficacy of a new intravenous (IV) nanoemulsified isoflurane formulation for maintenance of general anesthesia in dogs.

Dexamethasone-induced changes in sympathetic innervation of porcine ovaries and in their steroidogenic activity

The aim of the present study was to determine changes in the density of sympathetic nerves in porcine ovaries with dexamethasone (DXM)-induced cysts and the alterations in steroidogenic activity and amounts of catecholamines in the affected gonads. Cystic ovaries were supplied by numerous sympathetic nerve fibers. The amount of noradrenaline in the cysts (fluid, wall) was significantly higher than in the large follicles of the control group. After DXM injections, the amounts of noradrenaline and adrenaline significantly increased in the walls of small and medium-sized follicles. In the cysts (fluid, wall) the levels of androgens and estrogens were significantly lower, whereas progesterone was higher in the cystic wall. DXM administration led to a significant increase in the estrone content in the fluid of small follicles. Moreover, a decrease in the amounts of progesterone and androgens was found in the follicular fluid and walls of medium-sized follicles. DXM injections resulted in a significant increase in the immunoexpression of P450(scc) and 3beta-HSD in the cysts, a significant increase of P450(scc) in the follicles, and a decrease of 3beta-HSD and P450(arom). The present study shows that the DXM treatment leads to an increase in the density of intraovarian sympathetic nerves, paralleled by the amount of catecholamines, and that it is capable of changing the steroidogenic activity of porcine ovary bearing cysts. Thus, it appears possible that these events may be, at least partly, involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder.