Nanoemulsion formulation of florfenicol improves bioavailability in pigs

Nanotechnology applications in medicine have seen a tremendous growth in the past decade and are being employed to enhance the stability and bioavailability of lipophilic substances, such as florfenicol. This study aimed to examine the pharmacokinetic properties of the formulated oil‐in‐water florfenicol‐loaded nanoemulsion (FF‐NE). FF‐NE and florfenicol control (Nuflor^®) were administered to the pigs at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Nanoemulsion formulation of florfenicol was highly influenced in vivo plasma profile. The in vivo absorption study in pigs indicated that C_max (14.54 μg/mL) was significantly higher in FF‐NE, 3.42 times higher than the marketed formulation. In comparison with the control group, the relative bioavailability of formulated nanoemulsion was up to 134.5%. Assessment of bioequivalence using log‐transformed data showed that the 90% confidence intervals (90% CI) of C_max and AUC_0–∞ were 2.48–4.60 and 1.21–1.72, respectively.     

Canine fetal echocardiography: correlations for the analysis of cardiac dimensions

The aim of this study was to develop regression models for correlation of canine fetal heart development with body size to characterize normal development or suggest cardiac anomalies. Twenty clinically healthy pregnant bitches, either brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic, were examined ultrasonographically. Transabdominal fetal echocardiography was conducted every 4 days from the beginning of cardiac chambers differentiation until parturition. Ten cardiac parameters were measured: length, width and diameter of the heart; heart area; left and right ventricular dimensions; left and right atrial dimensions; and aortic and pulmonary artery diameter. Femoral length, biparietal diameter and abdominal cross-sectional area were also recorded. Regression equations were developed for each parameter of fetal body size, and linear and logarithmic models were compared. The model with the highest correlation coefficient was chosen to produce equations to calculate relative dimensions based on the correlations. Only the left-ventricular chamber differed between the two racial groups. Biparietal diameter was the independent parameter that produced the highest correlation coefficient for the most fetal cardiac dimensions, although good correlations were also observed using femoral length and abdominal cross-sectional area. Heart width and heart diameter were used as surrogates of cardiac development, as these measurements showed the best statistical correlation. Quantitative evaluation of fetal cardiac structures can be used to monitor normal and abnormal cardiac development.     

Anatomical Variations of the Blood Vascular System in Veterinary Medicine. The Internal Iliac Artery of the Dog. Part Two

The aim of this study was to investigate the variability of the internal pudendal artery. Two hundred and thirty‐two pelvic halves from 116 adult dogs were examined. Twenty‐six anatomical variations were found, thirteen occurring in more than 5% of the dogs. Anatomical variations were grouped in relation to the origin of the prostatic/vaginal arteries, middle rectal artery, urethral artery, ventral perineal and caudal rectal arteries. The chi‐squared test was used to analyse differences in sex, side of the body, profile and size, and the results were considered statistically significant when P ≤ 0.05. An identical vascular pattern in both hemipelvises was found for most of the anatomical variations described.     

Anatomical Variations of the Blood Vascular System in Veterinary Medicine: The Internal Iliac Artery of the Dog — Part Three

The aim of this study was to analyse and describe the variability of the umbilical artery. Two hundred and thirty‐two pelvic halves from 116 adult dogs were examined. To study the permeability of the umbilical artery, ten adult dogs, nine newborns and thirteen foetuses between 35 and 50 days of gestation were also used. In relation to the origin of the umbilical artery, six anatomical variations were found. From which five involved a cranial (n = 4) or caudal (n = 1) relocation of its origin, and in one case (n = 1), the umbilical artery arose from the median sacral artery. In eight cases, the umbilical artery gave off the prostatic (n = 1) or vaginal (n = 7) arteries. The permeability of the umbilical artery was the most significant anatomical variation: permeability was detected in 45% (106 of 232 pelvic halves) of all cases, from which 36 were males and 70 females. Interestingly, an equal vascular permeability in both hemipelvises was found for 82% of the dogs, thus additional data related to such feature of the umbilical artery was also recorded. In accordance with the statistical study, the main anatomical variations described showed significant values for gender, side of the body, size and profile variables.     

Anatomical Atlas of the Quail's Ear (Coturnix coturnix)

This study aims to enhance the anatomical knowledge of the ear of the adult quail (Coturnix coturnix) through the creation of a scaled 3D model utilizing data from micro‐CT images. In addition, 17 annotated histological sections of the quail's ear are aligned to their 3D position in the model. The resulting anatomical atlas provides an intuitive insight into the 3D anatomy and can be used for medical education. The model also allows measuring anatomical structures and can thus serve as reference for the quail's auricular anatomy and as a basis to evaluate clinical diagnostic imaging results.