Anaesthesia with ketamine/medetomidine in the rabbit: influence of route of administration and the effect of combination with butorphanol

Objective To compare the characteristics of anaesthesia induced with ketamine/medetomidine administered by the subcutaneous and intramuscular routes and to assess the effects of the addition of butorphanol to this combination. Study design Prospective randomised study. Animals Six female New Zealand White rabbits. Methods Rabbits were given one of four combinations of ketamine and medetomidine (K/M) either subcutaneously (SC) or intramuscularly (IM) on four successive occasions with a 7‐day interval between treatments. The dose combinations were; 15/0.25 mg kg^?1 SC; 15/0.25 mg kg^?1 IM; 15/0.5 mg kg^?1 SC, and 15/0.25 mg kg^?1 together with 0.4 mg kg^?1 butorphanol (K/M/B) SC. The effects of anaesthesia on arterial blood gas values and cardiovascular variables were recorded at predetermined time points. Toe and ear pinch reflexes were judged to determine the duration of surgical anaesthesia. Loss of the righting reflex was used to measure the duration of sleep time. Analyses used repeated measures analysis of variance. Results All groups lost the righting reflex and ear pinch response. Three animals in the groups that received K/M alone lost their toe pinch reflex, whereas four lost this reflex when given K/M/B. Time of onset of loss of the righting, toe and ear pinch reflexes did not differ significantly among the groups. The higher dose combination of medetomidine with ketamine and the combination of K/M/B produced a greater duration of loss of the ear pinch response than the lower dose of K/M administered by either route. No significant differences were found among the groups in the duration of loss of the toe pinch reflex. All animals developed a moderate bradycardia (mean heart rate <166 beats minute^?1) and moderate hypoxaemia (mean P_aO₂ < 6.0 kPa). Animals given butorphanol showed the greatest reduction in respiratory rate (31 ± 13 breaths minute^?1, p < 0.05) but this was not reflected in any significant differences in arterial PCO₂, PO₂ or pH among the groups. Conclusions Administration of K/M by the SC route produced equivalent effects in comparison to intramuscular administration. The addition of butorphanol increased the duration of anaesthesia, but produced a slight increase in the degree of respiratory depression. All dose rates resulted in hypoxaemia so oxygen should be administered when these combinations are used in rabbits. Clinical relevance Subcutaneous administration is both technically simpler and may cause less discomfort to the animal than IM injection, and so is preferred. The combination of K/M with butorphanol has relatively minor effects on the depth and duration of anaesthesia, so offers little advantage to the use of K/M alone.     

论高校图书馆流通服务中的＂关键时刻＂管理

分析了高校图书馆流通服务和赢利性企业的共性,论述了高校图书馆流通服务管理应用“关键时刻”管理理论的可行性和必要性。提出了通过对高校图书馆流通服务中的一系列“关键时刻”的强化管理．提高流通服务质量,最大限度地满足读者需求的策略。     

Post-vaccinal distemper encephalitis in two Border Collie cross littermates

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: One 4.5-month-old male Border Collie cross presented with aggression and seizures in October 2006. A 16-month-old, female, spayed Border Collie cross presented with hypersalivation and a dropped jaw and rapidly became stuporous in September 2007. The dogs were littermates and developed acute neurological signs 5 and 27 days, respectively, after vaccination with different modified live vaccines containing canine distemper virus.

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Sections of brain in both dogs showed evidence of encephalitis mainly centred on the grey matter of brainstem nuclei, where there was extensive and intense parenchymal and perivascular infiltration of histiocytes and lymphocytes. Intra-nuclear and intra-cytoplasmic inclusions typical of distemper were plentiful and there was abundant labelling for canine distemper virus using immunohistochemistry.

DIAGNOSIS: Post-vaccinal canine distemper.

CLINCIAL RELEVANCE: Post-vaccinal canine distemper has mainly been attributed to virulent vaccine virus, but it may also occur in dogs whose immunologic nature makes them susceptible to disease induced by a modified-live vaccine virus that is safe and protective for most dogs.     

A novel automated method for the adjustment of ionic metal concentrations in soil extracts

A novel method is proposed for correcting metal fraction concentrations remaining within the sediment containing the solid residue of the sequentially extracted fraction. An easy‐to‐use Excel spreadsheet was prepared to assist adjustment of concentration in each fraction and demonstrate the difference between adjusted and non‐adjusted metal concentration of the fraction. The demonstration of a calculation of the modified BCR protocol data showed that this difference may reach 10–15% of the result value. The spreadsheet is available to download at: http://departments.agri.huji.ac.il/zabam/Rosen_Chen_Fraction_Adjustment_Formulae.xls     

Healthy whole-grain choices for children and parents: a multi-component school-based pilot intervention

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to pilot-test a school-based intervention designed to increase consumption of whole grains by 4th and 5th grade children. DESIGN: This multi-component school-based pilot intervention utilised a quasi-experimental study design (intervention and comparison schools) that consisted of a five-lesson classroom curriculum based on Social Cognitive Theory, school cafeteria menu modifications to increase the availability of whole-grain foods and family-oriented activities. Meal observations of children estimated intake of whole grains at lunch. Children and parents completed questionnaires to assess changes in knowledge, availability, self-efficacy, usual food choice and role modelling. SETTING/SAMPLE: Parent/child pairs from two schools in the Minneapolis metropolitan area; 67 in the intervention and 83 in the comparison school. RESULTS: Whole-grain consumption at the lunch meal increased by 1 serving (P < 0.0001) and refined-grain consumption decreased by 1 serving for children in the intervention school compared with the comparison school post-intervention (P < 0.001). Whole-grain foods were more available in the lunches served to children in the intervention school compared with the comparison school post-intervention (P < 0.0001). The ability to identify whole-grain foods by children in both schools increased, with a trend towards a greater increase in the intervention school (P = 0.06). Parenting scores for scales for role modelling (P < 0.001) and enabling behaviours (P < 0.05) were significantly greater for parents in the intervention school compared with the comparison school post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The multi-component school-based programme implemented in the current study successfully increased the intake of whole-grain foods by children.     

Analysis of vinyl chloride by mass fragmentography.

Vinyl chloride is analyzed by mass fragmentography by simultaneously recording its m/e 62 and 64 ions. The minimum quantity necessary for detection is 8.7 X 10(-12) g/10 ml injection. At this level the coefficient of variation is 8.51%.     

Improved microbiological assay for penicillin residues in tissues and stability of residues under cooking procedures

The microbiological assay for penicillin residues was improved by using centrifugation to remove physical barriers to diffusion, a small buffer/meat extraction ratio, and a more sensitive 2-layer assay system. Recoveries from muscle, kidney, and liver tissues ranged between 70.1 and 86.7% with measurable levels of 0.03--0.05 unit/g. By comparison, the Food and Drug-suggested methodology yielded recoveries of 45.9--54.0% and levels of detectability of 0.08--0.10 unit/g. Cooking of hamburger, steaks, and port chops indicated that procaine penicillin withstood cooking conditions, and significant levels of the original activity remained.     

Vetch toxicosis in cattle grazing Vicia villosa ssp dasycarpa and V benghalensis

SUMMARY The epidemiological, clinical and pathological features of a disease syndrome in adult cattle grazing woolly-pod vetch (Vicia villosa ssp dasycarpa) or popany vetch (V benghalensis) are reported. Outbreaks of toxlcosis occurred between midwinter and midsummer in 3 dairy and 6 beef herds on the north coast of New South Wales, between 1982 and 1992. Friesian, Angus, Murray Grey, Guernsey and Hereford breeds were affected. Mean morbidity and case fatality rates in affected herds were 7% (65 of 889) and 69%, respectively. Signs of pruritic dermatitis, illthrift and death were associated with an eosinophilic granulomatous inflammation of many organs, particularly involving the renal cortex, dermis, myocardium, adrenal glands, lymph nodes and hepatic portal triads.     

Giardia infection in budgerigars

Budgerigars ( Melopsittacus undulatus ) from two different breeding colonies were found to have Giardia infection. Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and in-vitro and in-vivo studies confirmed the species was G psittaci . Chicks were clinically affected and showed signs of retarded growth, dehydration and diarrhoea. The faeces of adult birds treated with metronidazole in drinking water were negative for Giardia 5 days after treatment. Megabacteria were also found in adult birds but were not treated. This study extends the known host range for Giardia in Australia to include budgerigars.