The effects of increasing doses of MK-467, a peripheral alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor antagonist, on the cardiopulmonary effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine in conscious dogs

Different doses of MK-467, a peripheral alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor antagonist, with or without dexmedetomidine were compared in conscious dogs. Eight animals received either dexmedetomidine (10 μg/kg [D]), MK-467 (250 μg/kg [M250] or dexmedetomidine (10 μg/kg) with increasing doses of MK-467 (250 μg/kg [DM250], 500 μg/kg [DM500] and 750 μg/kg [DM750], respectively). Treatments were given intravenously (i.v.) in a randomized, crossover design with a 14-day washout period. Systemic hemodynamics and arterial blood gas analyses were recorded at baseline and at intervals up to 90 min after drugs administration. Dexmedetomidine alone decreased heart rate, cardiac index and tissue oxygen delivery and increased mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance 5 min after administration. DM250 did not completely prevent these early effects, while DM750 induced a decrease in mean arterial pressure. With DM500, systemic hemodynamics remained stable throughout the observational period. MK-467 alone increased cardiac index and tissue oxygen delivery and had no deleterious adverse effects. No differences in arterial blood gases were observed between treatments that included dexmedetomidine. It was concluded that MK-467 attenuated or prevented dexmedetomidine's systemic hemodynamic effects in a dose-dependent manner when given simultaneously i.v. but had no effect on the pulmonary outcome in conscious dogs. A 50:1 dose ratio (MK-467:dexmedetomidine) induced the least alterations in cardiovascular function.     

Activation of complement system in kidney after ketoprofen-induced kidney injury in sheep

Background

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used to treat inflammatory pain in humans and animals. An overdose of an NSAID is nephrotoxic and can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI). Complement activation occurs in several types of renal disorders with proteinuria. The aim of this study was to investigate whether complement system becomes activated in kidneys after a high dose of NSAID. Kidney tissue and urine samples were collected from six sheep with ketoprofen-induced AKI and from six healthy control sheep. The localization of complement proteins in kidney tissue was carried out using immunohistochemical stainings, and excretion of C3 was tested by immunoblotting.

Results

The complement system was found to become activated in the kidney tissue as demonstrated by positive immunostaining for C1q, C3c, C4c, C5, C9 and factor H and by Western blotting analysis of C3 activation products in urine samples in sheep with AKI.

Conclusions

Our results thus suggest that the alternative complement pathway is activated, and it may contribute to the acute tubular injury seen in the kidneys of NSAID-induced AKI sheep. Inhibition of complement activation may serve as potential therapeutic target for intervention in drug-induced AKI.     

Thermographic imaging of superficial temperature in dogs sedated with medetomidine and butorphanol with and without MK‐467 (L‐659’066)

ObjectiveTo record, with a thermal camera, peripheral temperature changes during different sedation protocols and to relate the results to changes in the rectal temperature.Study designRandomized crossover part-blinded experimental study.AnimalsEight healthy purpose-bred neutered Beagles (two females and six males) weight 14.5 ± 1.6 kg (mean ± SD) and aged 3–4 years.MethodsEach dog was sedated four times. Treatments were medetomidine 20 μg kg^?1 and butorphanol 0.1 mg kg^?1 (MB) with or without MK-467 500 μg kg^?1 (MK). Both drug combinations were administered IV and IM as separate treatments. A thermal camera (T425, FLIR) with a resolution of 320 by 240 was used for imaging.The dogs were placed in lateral recumbency on an insulated mattress. Digital (DFT) and metatarsal footpad temperatures (MFT) were measured with thermography. Thermograms and rectal temperature (RT) were taken before and at 3, 10, 20, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after treatment.ResultsAt 60 minutes after drug administration, MFT was higher (p < 0.001) after MB+MK (34.5 ± 1.1 IV, 34.8 ± 0.5 IM) than MB (31.1 ± 2.9 IV, 30.5 ± 3.6 IM), DFT was higher (p < 0.001) after MB+MK (33.6 ± 1.4 IV, 34.0 ± 0.6 IM) than MB (26.7 ± 1.4 IV, 26.7 ± 2.5 IM), and RT was lower (p < 0.001) after MB+MK (36.7 ± 0.8 IV, 36.9 ± 0.3 IM) than MB (37.5 ± 0.3 IV, 37.4 ± 0.4 IM), with both routes. The change from baseline was greater with MB+MK than MB in all variables.ConclusionsSuperficial temperature changes can be seen and detected with thermography. MK-467 used with MB resulted in increased superficial temperatures and a decline in rectal temperature compared to MB alone.Clinical relevanceThe sedation protocol may influence core temperature loss, and may also have an effect on thermographic images.     

Oat malt as a baking ingredient – A comparative study of the impact of oat,barley and wheat malts on bread and dough properties

Oat malt is a nutritionally rich ingredient mainly used in a small number of speciality products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of oat malt in wheat baking. The effect of oat malt on bread and dough properties at levels ranging from 0.5% to 5% was studied and compared with barley and wheat malts. The addition of all malts increased loaf specific volumes. Barley and wheat malts at levels above 2.5% led to a sticky and coarse crumb, but the effect of oat malt on the crumb grain was negligible. Rheological characterisation could not explain the superior baking performance of oat malt, as it increased extensibility and decreased resistance extensively indicating weakening of the extensional properties of the gluten network. The high lipolytic activity may have compensated for the loss of dough strength by improving the surface properties of gas cells. The results show that oat malt can be used in wheat baking to improve the loaf volume and nutritional quality without the detrimental effects associated with the excess amylolytic activity of barley and wheat malts.     

Alternative classification and screening protocol for transitional lumbosacral vertebra in German shepherd dogs

Background

Lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV) is a common congenital and hereditary anomaly in many dog breeds. It predisposes to premature degeneration of the lumbosacral junction, and is a frequent cause of cauda equina syndrome, especially in German shepherd dogs. Ventrodorsal hip radiographs are most often used in diagnosis of LTV in screening programs. In this study, value of laterolateral lumbar spine radiographs as additions to ventrodorsal radiographs in diagnosis of LTV, and characteristics of LTV and the eighth lumbar vertebra (L8) in laterolateral radiographs were studied. Additionally, computed tomography (CT) features of different types of LTV were elucidated.

Methods

The ventrodorsal pelvic and laterolateral lumbar spine radiographs of 228 German shepherd dogs were evaluated for existence and type of LTV. Morphology of transverse processes was used in classification of LTV in ventrodorsal radiographs. The relative length of sixth (L6) and seventh (L7) vertebrae (L6/L7) was used in characterization of these vertebrae in laterolateral radiographs. CT studies were available for 16 dogs, and they were used for more detailed characterization of different types of LTV. Non-parametric χ² statistics, generalized logit model for multinomial data, and one-way analysis of variance was used for statistical analyses.

Results

In all, 92 (40%) dogs had a LTV, the most common type being separation of first spinous process from the median crest of the sacrum in 62 dogs (67% of LTV). Eight dogs had eight lumbar vertebrae. Those dogs with LTV had longer L7 in relation to L6 than dogs with normal lumbosacral junctions. When L6/L7 decreased by 0.1 units, the proportion of dogs belonging to the group with L8 was 14-fold higher than in the group with normal lumbosacral junctions. L8 resembled first sacral vertebra (S1) in length and position and was therefore classified as one type of LTV. With CT it was shown that categorizing LTV, based on shape and visibility of transverse processes seen in ventrodorsal radiographs, could be misleading.

Conclusions

We suggest that L8 be included as a part of the LTV complex, and the laterolateral radiographs of the lumbar spine be considered as an addition to ventrodorsal projections in the screening protocols for LTV.     

Customer-driven questioning in Finnish forestry advisory conversations

This paper deepens our understanding of the customer’s role in institutional face-to-face encounters. It includes an in-depth analysis of authentic Finnish forestry advisory conversations to illuminate the specifics of the pursued customer perspective and collaboration. From a total 9:02:09 hours of video recordings the data yielded 89 qualified customer-initiated questions for comprehensive analysis. Results indicated that family forest owners (FFOs) can initiate if they so wish. Most of the posed questions (92.1%) were requests for information or for confirmation, which re-established the institutional positioning of the encounter. The forestry advisory professional presented topics that complied with the meeting’s standard procedure. The actual impact the customer had on the agenda appeared quite limited and genuine collaboration was not quite balanced. Cautious tactics of asking emerged specifically when related to more personal questions. In the shift to a new forestry advisory service era, where publicly funded services are now open to various market-based agents and new tailored advisory traditions are being developed, FFOs are even more important customers. Good advisory services and relationships will be key assets to service providers. Understanding the interactional mechanisms of an institutional encounter is crucial to promote the customer perspective, the initiative and learning of the FFOs.     

Genetic diversity,population structure and linkage disequilibrium in Nordic spring barley (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hordeum vulgare</Emphasis> L. subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">vulgare</Emphasis>)

Genetic diversity, population structure and genome-wide linkage disequilibrium (LD) was estimated in Nordic spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L. subsp. vulgare) by genotyping 180 breeding lines with 48 SSR markers and 7842 high-confidence SNPs using the Illumina Infinium 9K assay. In total 6208 SNPs were polymorphic and selected for further statistical analysis. A Mantel test revealed a strong positive correlation with a Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) of 0.86, between the estimates of genetic distances based on SSR and SNP data. Population structure analysis identified two groups with a clear ancestry and one group with an admixed ancestry. The groups were primarily separated based on row-type and geographical origin. Average LD for the whole population decayed below a critical level of r² = 0.20 within a range of 0–4 cM. To avoid confounding effects of the strong population structure, LD decay for the different groups was analysed separately and ranged from 0 to 12 cM. A slower LD decay was found within the two-rowed lines compared to the six-rowed lines and the two-rowed lines originating from the northern part, which could be the result of strong selection for malting quality and yield in the southern part. No large difference in genetic diversity was observed between population sub-groups, but differences at certain chromosomal regions were evident.     

Detomidine in pregnant cows

Evidence that the course of gestation in dairy cattle is not influenced by the administration of detomidine, a novel sedative and analgesic agent.     

Postoperative signs in 96 dogs undergoing soft tissue surgery

The signs shown by 96 dogs recovering at home after day-case soft tissue operations were assessed by their owners for three days. On the day of the operation there were behavioural changes in all the animals, but by two days after the operation changes in behaviour were detected in only 85 per cent of them. The most common changes were in the dogs' demeanour and their way of moving; there were decreases in overall activity and playfulness, and increases in contact seeking. The dogs also showed signs of pain: the highest ratings were observed on the day of the operation, when the median value on a visual analogue scale from 0 to 100 mm was 43 mm, with a range from 0 to 95 mm. The type of operation significantly affected the signs observed.