Effects of tramadol alone,in combination with meloxicam or dipyrone,on postoperative pain and the analgesic requirement in dogs undergoing unilateral mastectomy with or without ovariohysterectomy

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of tramadol alone, or in combination with dipyrone or meloxicam, on postoperative pain and analgesia requirement after unilateral mastectomy with or without ovariohysterectomy in dogs.Study designProspective, randomized, clinical study.AnimalsTwenty seven bitches undergoing unilateral mastectomy with or without ovariohysterectomy.MethodsAnesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with isoflurane and a constant rate infusion of morphine. Before the end of surgery, dogs were randomly assigned to receive intravenous tramadol alone (3 mg kg^?1, group T), combined with dipyrone (30 mg kg^?1, group TD) or meloxicam (0.2 mg kg^?1, group TM). Dogs received additional doses of tramadol (groups T and TM) or tramadol with dipyrone (group TD) at 8 and 16 hours after extubation. Postoperative pain was assessed by a blinded observer before anesthesia (baseline) and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 24 hours after extubation using a visual analog scale (VAS) and a modified Glasgow scale. Rescue analgesia (morphine, 0.5 mg kg^?1) was administered if the Glasgow pain score was >3.5.ResultsThere were no significant differences among groups in pain scores evaluated by the VAS or the Glasgow scale. In groups T, TD and TM, pain scores were significantly higher than at baseline for 6, 8 and 2 hours, respectively. Rescue analgesia was administered to 3/9, 2/9 and 1/9 dogs in groups T, TD and TM, respectively (p > 0.05) [Correction added on 15 August 2013, after first online publication: ‘T, TM and TD’ was changed to ‘T, TD and TM’.].Conclusions and clinical relevanceUnder the conditions of this study, tramadol alone or in combination with dypyrone or meloxicam provided effective analgesia for 24 hours in most dogs after unilateral mastectomy with or without ovariohysterectomy. Further evaluation of combination therapies is needed in larger groups of dogs.     

Effect of Albizia julibrissin water extracts on low-density lipoprotein oxidization

High-value phytochemicals could be extracted from biomass prior to the current cellulosic pretreatment technologies (i.e., lime, ammonia, dilute acid, or pressurized hot water treatments) provided that the extraction is performed with a solvent that is compatible with the pretreatment. This work reports on the extraction of flavonoids from Albizia julibrissin biomass. While extracting A. julibrissin foliage with 50 degrees C water, 2.227 mg/g of hyperoside and 8.134 mg/g quercitrin were obtained, which is in the realm of what was obtained with 60% methanol. A. julibrissin foliage, flower, and whole plant extracts were tested in terms of their potential to inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidization. The highest inhibition was obtained with foliage water extracts, which were standardized at 2.5 microM of flavonoids. Also, the 2.5 microM foliage water extract resulted in a reduction from 43% to only 1% of the observed monocyte adherence. To have commercial application, A. julibrissin water extracts should be devoid of toxicity. The A. julibrissin foliage, flower, and whole plant water extracts were not toxic to Vero 76 cells. In summary, A. julibrissin biomass can be extracted with 50 degrees C water to yield an antioxidant stream, showing that it may be possible to couple extraction of valuable phytochemicals to the cellulosic pretreatment step.     

Effect of Daily Food Supplementation with Essential Fatty Acids on Canine Semen Quality

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are important membrane components that influence membrane integrity and fluidity. In the present study, the effect of oral supplementation for 60 days with essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6 and 9) and vitamin E on canine semen quality was evaluated. Sixteen dogs were selected for the experiment; eight were used as the control group and eight received the fatty acid supplemented diet for 60 days. Semen samples were taken every 15 days during the entire experimental period and were analyzed for volume (ml), motility (%), vigour (0–5), concentration (×10⁶/ml), morphology of spermatozoa (%), plasma membrane integrity (%; using the hyposmotic swelling test) and thermoresistance (motility and vigour after 4 h at 38°C). We concluded that, daily supplementation with omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids, together with vitamin E, for a period of 60 days, significantly increased the semen volume of the treated group after 15 days of supplementation; the vigour and concentration of spermatozoa were superior after the first month of supplementation, while the percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa decreased and the cells were protected against thermal stress.     

Hypercalcemia and calcium oxalate urolithiasis in cats: a report of five cases.

Five cats that presented for signs of lower urinary tract disease (i.e., pollakiuria and hematuria) secondary to a calcium oxalate urolithiasis are presented. On evaluation, all five cats had elevations of both serum ionized as well as total serum calcium. The hypercalcemia resolved after discontinuation of urinary acidifying therapy or a dietary change, or both.     

Energy Metabolism and Leptin: Effects on Neuroendocrine Regulation of Reproduction in the Gilt and Sow

It is well established that reproductive function is metabolically gated. However, the mechanisms whereby energy stores and metabolic cues influence appetite, energy homeostasis and fertility are yet to be completely understood. Adipose tissue is no longer considered as only a depot to store excess energy. Recent findings have identified numerous genes, several neurotrophic factors, interleukins, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5, ciliary neurotrophic factor and neuropeptide Y (NPY) as being expressed by adipose tissue during pubertal development. These studies demonstrated for the first time the expression of several major adipokines or cytokines in pig adipose tissue which may influence local and central metabolism and growth. Leptin appears to be the primary metabolic signal and is part of the adipose tissue-hypothalamic regulatory loop in the control of appetite, energy homeostasis and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. Leptin's actions on appetite regulation are mediated by inhibition of hypothalamic NPY and stimulation of proopiomelanocortin. Its effects on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/LH secretion are mediated by NPY and kisspeptin. Thus, leptin appears to be an important link between metabolic status, the neuroendocrine axis and subsequent fertility in the gilt and sow.     

Spring phytoplankton production in the Western ross sea

Coastal zone color scanner (CZCS) imagery of the western Ross Sea revealed the Presence of an intense phytoplankton bloom covering >106,000 square kilometers in early December 1978. This bloom developed inside the Ross Sea polynya, within 2 weeks of initial polynya formation in late November. Primary productivity calculated from December imagery (3.9 grams of carbon per square meter per day) was up to four times the values measured during in situ studies in mid-January to February 1979. Inclusion of this early season production yields a spring-to-summer estimate of 141 to 171 grams of carbon per square meter, three to four times the values previously reported for the western Ross Sea.