Evaluation of cardiorespiratory and biochemical effects of ketamine‐propofol and guaifenesin‐ketamine‐xylazine anesthesia in donkeys (Equus asinus)

ObjectivesTo evaluate the cardiorespiratory and biochemical effects of ketamine-propofol (KP) or guaifenesin-ketamine-xylazine (GKX) anesthesia in donkeys.Study designProspective crossover trial.AnimalsEight healthy, standard donkeys, aged 10 ± 5 years and weighing 153 ± 23 kg.MethodsDonkeys were premedicated with 1.0 mg kg^?1 of xylazine (IV) in both treatments. Eight donkeys were administered ketamine (1.5 mg kg^?1) and propofol (0.5 mg kg^?1) for induction, and anesthesia was maintained by constant rate infusion (CRI) of ketamine (0.05 mg kg^?1 minute^?1) and propofol (0.15 mg kg^?1 minute^?1) in the KP treatment. After 10 days, diazepam (0.05 mg kg^?1) and ketamine (2.2 mg kg^?1) were administered for induction, and anesthesia was maintained by a CRI (2.0 mL kg^?1 hour^?1) of ketamine (2.0 mg mL^?1), xylazine (0.5 mg mL^?1) and guaifenesin (50 mg mL^?1) solution. Quality of anesthesia was assessed along with cardiorespiratory and biochemical measurements.ResultsAnesthetic induction took longer in GKX than in KP. The induction was considered good in 7/8 with KP and in 6/8 in GKX. Anesthetic recovery was classified as good in 7/8 animals in both treatments. Xylazine administration decreased heart rate (HR) in both treatments, but in KP the HR increased and was higher than GKX throughout the anesthetic period. Respiratory rate was higher in GKX than in KP. PaO₂ decreased significantly in both groups during the anesthetic period. Glucose concentrations [GLU] increased and rectal temperature and PCV decreased in both treatments. Arterial lactate [LAC] increased at recovery compared with all time points in KP. [GLU] and calcium were higher in GKX than in KP at recovery.Conclusion and clinical relevanceThese protocols induced significant hypoxemia but no other cardiorespiratory or metabolic changes. These protocols could be used to maintain anesthesia in donkeys, however, they were not tested in animals undergoing surgery.     

Cucurbita-5,23-diene-3beta,25-diol from Sicana odorifera

The spectral data of a new triterpene, cucurbita-5,23-diene-3beta,25-diol, isolated from the seeds of Sicana odorifera, are reported.     

Continuous infusion of ketamine in hypovolemic dogs anesthetized with desflurane

Objective: To evaluate the cardiorespiratory effects of continuous infusion of ketamine in hypovolemic dogs anesthetized with desflurane. Design: A prospective experimental study. Animals: Twelve mixed breed dogs allocated into 2 groups: saline (n=6) and ketamine (n=6). Interventions: After obtaining baseline measurements (time [T] 0) in awake dogs, hypovolemia was induced by the removal of 40 mL of blood/kg over 30 minutes. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with desflurane (1.5 minimal alveolar concentration) and 30 minutes later (T75) a continuous intravenous (IV) infusion of saline or ketamine (100 μg/kg/min) was initiated. Cardiorespiratory evaluations were obtained 15 minutes after hemorrhage (T45), 30 minutes after desflurane anesthesia, and immediately before initiating the infusion (T75), and 5 (T80), 15 (T90), 30 (T105) and 45 (T120) minutes after beginning the infusion. Measurements and main results: Hypovolemia (T45) reduced the arterial blood pressures (systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure [DAP] and mean arterial pressure [MAP]), cardiac (CI) and systolic (SI) indexes, and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) in both groups. After 30 minutes of desflurane anesthesia (T75), an additional decrease of MAP in both groups was observed, heart rate was higher than T0 at T75, T80, T90 and T105 in saline‐treated dogs only, and the CI was higher in the ketamine group than in the saline group at T75. Five minutes after starting the infusion (T80), respiratory rate (RR) was lower and the end‐tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂) was higher compared with values at T45 in ketamine‐treated dogs. Mean values of ETCO₂ were higher in ketamine than in saline dogs between T75 and T120. The systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) was decreased between T80 and T120 in ketamine when compared with T45. Conclusions: Continuous IV infusion of ketamine in hypovolemic dogs anesthetized with desflurane induced an increase in ETCO₂, but other cardiorespiratory alterations did not differ from those observed when the same concentration of desflurane was used as the sole anesthetic agent. However, this study did not evaluate the effectiveness of ketamine infusion in reducing desflurane dose requirements in hypovolemic dogs or the cardiorespiratory effects of ketamine–desflurane balanced anesthesia.     

The immunophenotype of blood and cerebrospinal fluid mononuclear cells in dogs

Inflammatory neurologic diseases are common in dogs, but establishing a definitive diagnosis often is difficult. Nucleated cell number and type in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rarely are suggestive of an etiologic agent. We speculated that CSF leukocyte immunophenotyping would be a useful adjunct in the investigation of canine inflammatory neurologic diseases by yielding more specific etiologic information. The goals of this study were to establish the feasibility of flow cytometric evaluation of individual canine CSF samples and to identify the cell distribution in healthy dogs. The mononuclear cell populations of paired blood and CSF samples from 23 healthy dogs were characterized by labeling of cells with antibodies against CD4, CD8alpha, CD21, and CD14 molecules and by flow cytometric analysis of their expression. The mean proportion of CD4+ and CD21+ cells was significantly higher in blood than in the CSF (P < .002 and P < .001, respectively). In contrast, the mean proportion of CD14+ and CD8a+ cells was not significantly different between blood and CSF (P = .5 and p = .9, respectively). These findings demonstrate differences in the distribution and function of mononuclear cells in the circulating venous and subarachnoid compartments in the dog.     

Sum rules and interlayer conductivity of high-Tc cuprates

Analysis of the interlayer infrared conductivity of cuprate high-transition temperature superconductors reveals an anomalously large energy scale extending up to midinfrared frequencies that can be attributed to formation of the superconducting condensate. This unusual effect is observed in a va- riety of materials, including Tl2Ba2CuO6+x, La2-xSrxCuO4, and YBa2Cu3O6.6, which show an incoherent interlayer response in the normal state. Midinfrared range condensation was examined in the context of sum rules that can be formulated for the complex conductivity. One possible interpretation of these experiments is in terms of a kinetic energy change associated with the superconducting transition.     

Clinical and Pathological Findings in Testis, Epididymis, Deferens Duct and Prostate following Vasectomy in a Dog

We report the case of a bilateral and multilocular spermatocele and sperm granuloma in a dog that was vasectomized 5 years before. Clinical examination revealed scrotal dermatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Orchiectomy was performed, and gross and histological examination showed testicular degeneration associated with epididymal sperm granuloma. In relation to this case, the literature about long-term effects of vasectomy in dogs has been reviewed. On the basis of these results, a preventive sonogram and physical assessment in prostate and other reproductive structures before vasectomy is recommended.     

Oestrus Expression and Ovarian Function in Repeat Breeder Cows, Monitored by Ultrasonography and Progesterone Assay

Ovarian ultrasonography and plasma progesterone levels were monitored in 37 lactating Holstein cows with a history of repeat breeding; the data obtained were analysed in conjunction with clinical and behavioural signs, to identify the aetiology of the syndrome. Differences were detected between RBCs displaying apparently normal cycles and others with irregular cycles. There were also differences in heat expression; a large number of repeat breeder cows (RBCs, 50%) displayed delayed or silent oestrus. Ovarian disorders were common in RBCs, and included ovarian cysts, mistimed AI, subluteal progesterone levels, luteal dysfunction or ovulation defects. Both ultrasonography and plasma progesterone assays are useful tools for ascertaining the aetiology of the repeat breeder syndrome.     

Free and bound volatile composition and characterization of some glucoconjugates as aroma precursors in melón de olor fruit pulp (Sicana odorifera)

Free and glycosidically bound volatiles obtained from the fruit pulp of Sicana odorifera by liquid-liquid extraction and by chromatography, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis with Rohapect D5L, respectively, were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography (HRGC), HRGC-mass spectrometry (HRGC-MS), and HRGC-Olfatometry (HRGC-O) analyses. A total of 37 free volatiles was detected, with the major components being 3-methyl-2-butanol, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, ethyl 3-hydroxybutanoate, and (Z)-3-hexenol. Among the 22 detected glycosidically bound compounds, 4-hydroxybenzyl methyl ether, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, and 2-phenylethanol were found to be the major constituents. Additionally, two glucoconjugates were isolated in pure form by multilayer coil countercurrent chromatography (MLCCC) of the glycosidic extrac and further purification. Their structures were elucidated by MS and NMR analyses to be the novel [4-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)benzyl] 2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutanoate 2, and the known 4-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)benzyl alcohol 1. Compounds 1 and 2 are precursors of 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, one of the major volatiles generated by enzymatic hydrolysis of the glycosidic fraction.