Evaluation of a local anesthetic delivery system for the postoperative analgesic management of canine total ear canal ablation--a randomized, controlled, double-blinded study

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a constant rate local anesthetic delivery system is more effective than continuous intravenous (IV) morphine infusion for postoperative analgesia. ANIMALS: Twenty client-owned dogs undergoing total ear canal ablation. METHODS: Dogs were randomly assigned to the lidocaine group (LID) or the morphine group (MOR). The LID group received a constant rate infusion of lidocaine locally and a continuous IV infusion of saline, while the MOR group received a constant rate infusion of saline locally and a continuous IV infusion of morphine. The primary investigator evaluated each patient and determined a hospital behavior score, anesthesia recovery score, preoperative pain score, and serial postoperative pain and sedation scores over 38 hours. Pain and sedation observations were videotaped and scored by three additional evaluators. Evaluators were blinded to treatment assignments. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, weight, hospital behavior scores or anesthesia recovery scores. The primary investigator's pain scores were not significantly different, but sedation scores were significantly lower for the LID group. Sedation and pain scores by the video evaluators were not significantly different between groups. Kappa agreement between observers was poor, but better agreement was noted between sedation scores than pain scores. Drug-related complications were significantly lower in the LID group (n = 0) compared with the MOR group (n = 5). Wound complications were not significantly different (LID = 4, MOR = 4). Intravenous delivery complications occurred in 12 (60%) patients. Local delivery complications occurred in five (25%) dogs. Delivery complications were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Continuous incisional lidocaine delivery was an equipotent and viable method of providing postoperative analgesia compared with IV morphine. Lidocaine delivery resulted in a trend toward lower pain scores, significantly lower sedation scores, and no dogs requiring analgesic rescue. Wound complications secondary to local infusion were minor and self-limiting. Drug-related complications occurred only in the MOR group.     

Processes affecting genetic structure and conservation: a case study of wild and cultivated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica rapa</Emphasis>

When planning optimal conservation strategies for wild and cultivated types of a plant species, a number of influencing biological and environmental factors should be considered from the outset. In the present study Brassica rapa was used to illustrate this: to develop Scandinavian conservation strategies for wild and cultivated B. rapa, DNA-marker analysis was performed on 15 cultivated and 17 wild accessions of B. rapa plus 8 accessions of the cross compatible B. napus. The B. rapa cultivars were bred in Sweden and Finland in 1944–1997 and the wild B. rapa material was collected from Denmark, Sweden and United Kingdom. The B. napus accessions were bred within the last 20 years in the Scandinavian countries. Results were based on scoring of 131 polymorphic ISSR markers in the total plant material. A Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach implemented in NewHybrids demonstrated a clear distinction of B. rapa and B. napus individuals except for three individuals that seemed to be backcrosses. The backcrossed hybrids descended from two Swedish populations, one wild and one escaped. The overall pattern of genetic variation and structure in B. rapa showed that cultivated and wild B. rapa accessions formed two almost separated clusters. Geographical origin and breeding history of cultivars were reflected in these genetic relationships. In addition, wild populations from Denmark and Sweden seemed to be closely related, except for a Swedish population, which seemingly was an escaped cultivar. The study point to that many processes, e.g. spontaneous introgression, naturalisation, breeding and agricultural practise affected the genetic structure of wild and cultivated B. rapa populations.     

Oxidative stress markers in canine atopic dermatitis

There are no data in the veterinary literature relating to oxidative stress in canine atopic dermatitis (CAD). The study aimed to determine levels of oxidative stress markers, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), in 15 CAD patients and 17 healthy dogs. A correlation between CADESI (Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index) score and MDA was also determined. Significantly higher plasma MDA levels were found in patients than in healthy dogs. The significant, highly positive correlation determined between CADESI score and MDA in the patient group indicates an association between the severity of CAD and the extent of oxidative damage to membrane lipids. There were no significant differences in TAC, GPX and SOD between patients and healthy dogs. Our findings suggest that oxidative stress with increased lipid peroxidation could be involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis in dogs.     

Formation and availability of methylmercury in mercury-contaminated sediment: effects of activated carbon and biochar amendments

Journal of Soils and Sediments - As the formation of toxic and bioaccumulative methylmercury (MeHg) in Hg-contaminated sediments is of great concern worldwide, suitable remediation options are...     

Interaction between Notch and Hif-alpha in development and survival of Drosophila blood cells

A blood cell type termed crystal cell in Drosophila functions in clotting and wound healing and requires Notch for specification and maintenance. We report that crystal cells express elevated levels of Sima protein orthologous to mammalian hypoxia-inducible factor-α (Hif-α) even under conditions of normal oxygen availability. In these platelet-like crystal cells, Sima activates full-length Notch receptor signaling via a noncanonical, ligand-independent mechanism that promotes hemocyte survival during both normal hematopoietic development and hypoxic stress. This interaction initiates in early endosomes, is independent of Hif-β (Τangο in Drosophila), and does not activate hypoxia response targets. Studies in vertebrate myeloid cells have shown a similar up-regulation of Hif-α protein in well-oxygenated environments. This study provides a mechanistic paradigm for Hif-α/Notch interaction that may be conserved in mammals.     

Haptens and monoclonal antibodies for immunoassay of imidazolinone herbicides

A set of haptens structurally resembling the herbicide imazethapyr (PURSUIT) was synthesized and used to derive monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and direct and indirect competition enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) which could detect imazethapyr, imazaquin (SCEPTER), imazapic (CADRE), and imazamox (RAPTOR) in the 3-30 ng/mL (parts per billion) range, and imazapyr (ARSENAL) and imazamethabenz-methyl (ASSERT) in the 300-500 ppb range. Two MAbs, 3A2 and 3A5, had affinities of 10-75 nM for imazethapyr. MAbs 1A5, 1D2, and 3A5 were specific for the S isomers of the herbicides. Some MAbs were stable in solutions containing up to 15% methanol and 5% acetonitrile in indirect EIAs. Plates coated with hapten conjugates for indirect EIA could be stored frozen. Selectivity for the imidazolinones by some MAbs varied with different coating conjugates. These MAbs and haptens should prove useful in immunochemical analysis and residue recovery methods for imazethapyr and other imidazolinone herbicides.