Perineal analgesic actions of epidural clonidine in cattle

Objective To determine the analgesic, sedative, motor, cardiac and respiratory effects of epidural clonidine in cattle. Study design Prospective randomized study. Animal population Six healthy male cattle weighing between 236 and 365 kg. Methods To investigate the effect of epidural clonidine, the animals received 2 and 3 µg kg^?1 of clonidine diluted to 8 mL with 0.9% saline. Two treatments were utilized as controls. The animals from the first control treatment received 2% lidocaine (0.4 mg kg^?1) and those from the second received an equal volume of 0.9% saline. Each animal received each treatment in random order. Evaluations of analgesia, sedation, muscle relaxation, heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were obtained at 0 (basal), 2, 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes after epidural injection, and then at 30‐minute intervals until loss of analgesia occurred. All the animals received a standard noxious stimulus consisting of needle insertion into the skin and deep muscle; a 4‐point scale was used to score the response. A second scale was used to score sedation and a third for muscle relaxation. Results Both doses of clonidine were effective in producing analgesia of the tail, perineum, and upper hindlimb. Complete analgesia was present before (mean ± SE = 9 ± 4 vs. 19 ± 9 minutes) and lasted longer (311 ± 33 vs. 192 ± 27 minutes) for the 3 µg kg^?1versus the 2 µg kg^?1 dose, respectively. A dose‐dependent sedative effect of clonidine was also observed, with a peak effect between 60 and 180 minutes. No effects on heart or respiratory rates were observed with either dose of clonidine. Conclusions Epidural administration of 2 and 3 µg kg^?1 of clonidine in cattle in this study provided bilateral perineal analgesia/anesthesia with a dose‐dependent onset and duration of action. Clinical relevance Further studies are required to determine whether the analgesia is sufficient for surgery.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF BASIHYOID ECTOPIC THYROID CARCINOMA IN DOGS

Eight dogs with a firm, nonpainful swelling in the ventral laryngeal region and with a final diagnosis of ectopic thyroid carcinoma were investigated by Computed Tomography (CT) at six different institutions. Computed Tomography findings were reviewed, focusing on lesion volume, shape, margins, relationship with surrounding structures and adjacent vessels, attenuation characteristics, and presence of metastases. Ectopic thyroid carcinomas were seen as oval‐to‐bilobed masses centered on the basihyoid bone with associated bone lysis, highly vascularized capsules with central poorly contrast enhancing areas. In all cases there was laryngeal wall infiltration, in two dogs invasion of the laryngeal lumen and in one case invasion of the ventral muscular and subcutaneous plane. Metastases were found in retropharyngeal lymph nodes (three cases) and in the lung (two cases). Ectopic thyroid carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a mass in the basihyoid region is present. Described CT features may be typical for ectopic thyroid neoplasia and could be used to help decide the therapeutic plan.     

Effects of milk feeding, frequency and concentration on weaning and buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calf growth, health and behaviour

Growth, weight at birth and daily weight gain (DWG) on 12 water buffalo calves, starting from 6 days of age until completion of weaning, was investigated in this study. Different feeding regimens were given to two groups of animals with regard to daily milk replacer: (1) group 1 (G1) received a double concentration in single administration; whereas (2) group 2 (G2) received the same amount of milk replacer split twice daily. Blood samples were collected from each calf on days 6, 30, 60 and 90 to evaluate acute phase proteins (haptoglobin), bactericide activity, lysozime, total protein content and biochemical parameters. No differences were observed between the two groups in terms of dry matter intake, feed efficiency and live body weight at the end of the study. Interestingly, a significantly (P?<?0.05) reduced DWG was observed earlier in G1 (day 45) than in G2 (day 60). Gastrointestinal disorders were not recorded throughout the experimental period, and no significant differences were recorded between the two groups for all considered parameters. This study confirms the possibility of utilising one daily administration of milk replacer in water buffalo calf during weaning. This new approach facilitates calves management, without interfering with calves growing performances.     

Occurrence of ɛ-proteobacterial species in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) reared in intensive and rural farms

In order to investigate the occurrence of Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Arcobacter species in caecal contents of rabbits reared in intensive and rural farms, a total of 87 samples from animals belonging to 29 farms were analysed by both cultural and PCR analyses.     

Contingency nature of Helicobacter bizzozeronii oxygen-insensitive NAD(P)H-nitroreductase (HBZC1_00960) and its role in metronidazole resistance

Genomic analysis of a metronidazole resistant H. bizzozeronii strain revealed a frame length extension of the oxygen-insensitive NAD(P)H-nitroreductase HBZC1_00960 (RdxA), associated with the disruption of the C-terminal cysteine-containing conserved region (IACLXALGK). This was the result of the extension (from C₈ to C₉) of a simple sequence cytosine repeat (SSCR) located in the 3’ of the gene. A 3'' SSCR is also present in the rdxA homolog of H. heilmannii sensu stricto, but not in H. pylori. We showed that in the majority of in vitro spontaneous H. bizzozeronii metronidazole resistant mutants, the extension of the 3′ SSCR of rdxA was the only mutation observed. In addition, we observed that H. bizzozeronii ΔrdxA mutant strain showed the same MIC value of metronidazole observed in the spontaneous mutants. These data indicate that loss of function mutations in rdxA and in particular the disruption of the conserved region IACLXALGK is associated with reduced susceptibility to metronidazole in H. bizzozeronii. Slipped-strand mispairing of the SSCR located in the 3′ of the H. bizzozeronii rdxA appears to be the main mechanism. We also observed that H. bizzozeronii acquires resistance to metronidazole at high mutation rate, and that serial passages in vitro without selection induced an increased level of susceptibility. In conclusion, contrary to what was previously described in H. pylori, the H. bizzozeronii rdxA appears to be a contingency gene which undergoes phase variation. The contingency nature of rdxA should be carefully considered when metronidazole is used in the treatment of H. heilmannii-associated gastritis.     

The humanitarian emergency in Burundi: evaluation of the operational strategy for management of nutritional crisis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact and appropriateness of programmes for the management and treatment of severe malnutrition in emergency situations. DESIGN: A central unified database was set up with all data and statistics provided by nutritional centres (NC) active in Burundi. SETTING: The paper describes the case of Burundi as an example of the response of the humanitarian community to nutritional crisis. SUBJECTS: Since 1999, more than one million (1,054,210) severely malnourished patients were treated in NC established in Burundi. RESULTS: Peaks of beneficiaries were registered in 2000 and 2001; the admission rate started to decrease in 2002. In 2004, twenty therapeutic feeding centres (TFC) and 224 supplementary feeding centres (SFC) were active for the treatment of 127,420 beneficiaries. Nutritional programmes were present in every province with a coverage rate of 55%. The most convincing impact of the nutritional programme in Burundi was the reduction of mortality rate in children under 5 years of age; an impact on the prevalence of acute malnutrition could not be demonstrated. Children under 5 years old accounted for 62% of beneficiaries in TFC and 76% in SFC. TFC performance indicators fulfilled the minimum standards in disaster response; the performance of SFC was not so optimal with a low recovery rate (69% v. >80%) and a high non-respondent rate (16% v. <5%). With the combination of coverage and cure rate, the programme met 44% of the assessed needs in 2004. CONCLUSIONS: In Burundi the stabilisation of security conditions permitted a combination of humanitarian responses ranging from emergency activities to strengthening of community-based initiatives that could correct the coverage and impact limitations.     

Arsenic Concentration in Tobacco Leaves: A Study on Three Commercially Important Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) Types

In recent years, arsenic (As) has received increased attention as humans may be exposed to it through occupational and environmental exposure. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) like other crops can uptake this element from the soil, which may lead to human exposure. Here, we report on a survey on arsenic in cured or processed tobacco leaves obtained from Africa, Asia, Europe, South and North America. A total of 1,431 leaf samples of flue-cured, burley, and Oriental tobaccos were obtained from various sampling locations during 2002 to 2004. Arsenic concentration in the samples averaged 0.4?±?0.6 μg g^?1 as determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Recorded values from most samples showed that concentrations of arsenic were usually found at the lower end of the distribution. Significant differences were found among tobacco types, sampling locations, and crop years. Arsenic concentrations were rather low in the majority of regions investigated, which is compatible with data from the literature. However, sample size was small and sampling geographically restricted. Our results would need to be validated with a larger dataset.     

Comparative analysis of Andiodrilus pachoensis casts in forests and pastures of South-Eastern Amazon (Brazil)

Soil ecosystem engineers produce biogenic structures (casts, mounds, galleries) that strongly affect soil processes. A comparative analysis of the physical characteristics of the casts produced by the earthworm Andiodrilus pachoensis was carried out in four pastures sowed with Brachiaria brizantha and four primary forests on the deforestation front of the Amazonian forest. In both systems, we recorded surface cast density and spatial patterns as well as surface cast physical properties. Cast and vegetation distributions were mapped within plots of sizes ranging from 25 to 50 m², and cast production was monitored during 2 months. Cast spatial distribution varied greatly among plots and across spatial scales ranging from regular at small spatial scales (0–20 cm) to clumped for larger distance ranges (>80 cm). Cast density was not significantly correlated with grass tuft density and their production was independent from the presence of grass tufts in pastures or litter quantity in forests. Although bulk soil properties (pH, C content, structural stability, etc) differed between pastures and forests, cast physical properties did not differ significantly among the studied ecosystem.     

Cell therapy for tendinitis,experimental and clinical report

To compare cultured bone marrow mesenchymal cells (cBMSC), bone marrow mononucleated cells (BMMNCs), and placebo to repair collagenase-induced tissue damage in an equine model of experimental tendonitis, 6 Standardbred horses with no signs of previous SDF tendon injury have been recruited. Three weeks after collagenase treatment an average of either 5.5 × 10⁶ cBMSCs or 122.3 × 10⁶ BMMNCs, saline solution (placebo) or fibrin glue were injected intralesionally in random order. Horses were stall rested for 21 weeks, and tendon ultrasound scans performed before and during this period. Horses were euthanized and tendons harvested for histology and immunohistochemistry. Data observed in this study showed effectiveness of cBMSC and BMMNC in regenerating tendon tissue after collagenase -induced tendonitis. Both cBMSC and BMMNC transplantation resulted in qualitatively similar regeneration of tendon extracellular matrix in terms of type I/III collagen ratio, fiber orientation, and COMP expression. After this favourable results, 20 horses were recruited referred for spontaneous lesions of the flexor tendons or the suspensory ligament. Horses were treated with autologous graft of BMMNCs.After treatment the. the exercise program allowed was 8 weeks stall rest, 4 weeks hand walking, 4 weeks trotting, 4 weeks of gradually raising of exercise level then horses were gone back to race. US characteristics of lesions started to improve at T3. CSA-l, FPS and TLS were better in all patients, with an appreciable filling of lesions indicated by a decreasing of CSA-l and increasing of TLS. When horses started the exercise program T8 tendon architecture improved, demonstrated by their longitudinal alignment and length. At T6, and persistently in later follorw-up, no lameness was evident by clinical examination. At time of writing 12 patients (60%) were go back to races, while other 8 (40%) are under controlled exercise program. Re-injury rate was assessed at 25%. All the owners judged good to excellent the outcome in term of athletic success.