Effect of Oil Overlay on Inhibition Potential of Roscovitine in Sheep Cumulus‐Oocyte Complexes

Inhibitors of cyclin‐dependent kinases, as roscovitine, have been used to prevent the spontaneous resumption of meiosis in vitro and to improve the oocyte developmental competence. In this study, the interference of oil overlay on the reversible arrest capacity of roscovitine in sheep oocytes as well as its effects on cumulus expansion was evaluated. For this, cumulus‐oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured for 20 h in TCM 199 with 10% foetal bovine serum (Control) containing 75 μm roscovitine (Rosco). Subsequently, they were in vitro matured (IVM) for further 18 h in inhibitor‐free medium with LH and FSH. The culture was performed in Petri dishes under mineral oil (+) or in 96 well plates without oil overlay (?) at 38.5°C and 5% CO₂. At 20 and 38 h, the cumulus expansion and nuclear maturation were evaluated under stereomicroscope and by Hoechst 33342 staining, respectively. No group presented cumulus expansion at 20 h. After additional culture with gonadotrophins, a significant rate of COCs from both Control groups (+/?) exhibited total expansion while in both Rosco groups (+/?) the partial expansion prevailed. Among the oocytes treated with roscovitine, 65.2% were kept at GV in the absence of oil overlay while 40.6% of them reached MII under oil cover (p < 0.05). This meiotic arrest was reversible, and proper meiosis progression also occurred in the Control groups (+/?). So, the culture system without oil overlay improved the meiotic inhibition promoted by roscovitine without affecting the cumulus expansion rate or the subsequent meiosis progression.     

Epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine, bupivacaine and fentanyl, or bupivacaine and sufentanil during intravenous administration of propofol for ovariohysterectomy in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare cardiovascular and systemic effects and analgesia during the postoperative period of epidural anesthesia performed with bupivacaine alone or with fentanyl or sufentanil in bitches maintained at a light plane of anesthesia with continuous infusion of propofol. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized masked clinical trial. ANIMALS: 30 female dogs of various breeds. PROCEDURES: Dogs were allocated into 3 groups of 10 each. One group received fentanyl (2 microg/kg [0.91 microg/lb]) and bupivacaine (1 mg/kg [0.45 mg/lb]), 1 group received sufentanil (1 microg/kg) and bupivacaine (1 mg/kg), and 1 group received bupivacaine (1 mg/kg). All dogs received acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg [0.045 mg/lb]) and continuous infusion of propofol for sedation. The agents were administered into the lumbosacral space and diluted in saline (0.9% NaCl) solution to a total volume of 0.36 mL/kg (0.164 mL/lb). Cardiac and respiratory rates, arterial blood pressures, pH, and blood gases were evaluated. Analgesia, sedation level, serum cortisol concentrations, and plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured regularly for 6 hours. RESULTS: No important changes in cardiovascular, respiratory, or sedation variables were observed. Degree of analgesia in the postoperative period was higher in the sufentanil group, although use of fentanyl and bupivacaine also resulted in a sufficient level of analgesia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of the 3 anesthetic techniques permitted ovariohysterectomy with sufficient analgesia and acceptable neuroendocrine modulation of pain with minimal adverse effects.     

Validity of a health-related quality-of-life scale for dogs with signs of pain secondary to cancer

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a health-related quality-of-life scale for dogs with pain secondary to cancer. DESIGN: Questionnaire development. ANIMALS: 40 healthy dogs with no history or signs of pain, 20 dogs with dermatologic disease but no signs of pain other than mild pruritus, and 20 dogs with cancer. PROCEDURE: Owners of all dogs completed a questionnaire containing 12 questions with 4 options for each question, and a quality-of-life score ranging from 0 to 36 was calculated. Scores for dogs with cancer were compared with scores for healthy dogs and dogs with dermatologic disease. RESULTS: All owners indicated that the questionnaire was easy to complete. Scores for healthy dogs were significantly different from scores for dogs with cancer and scores for dogs with dermatologic disease. Scores for dogs with dermatologic disease were significantly different from scores for dogs with cancer. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that a simple questionnaire may be useful in assessing health-related quality of life in dogs with pain secondary to cancer, in that dogs with cancer had significantly lower scores than did healthy dogs and dogs with dermatologic disease.     

Use of the scrotum as a transposition flap for closure of surgical wounds in three dogs

OBJECTIVE: To describe use of the scrotum as a pedicle flap to cover defects created by tumor excision in the perineum or caudal and medial aspect of the thigh. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical study. ANIMALS: Three dogs. METHODS: After tumor excision and prescrotal castration, an incision was made around the base of the scrotum, leaving a pedicle on the side opposite the skin defect. After removal of the tunica dartos and abdominal fascia, the scrotal skin was stretched and shaped to the defect, then sutured in position with a simple interrupted pattern. Bandages that were changed every 48 hours compressed the flaps, and healing was observed until sutures were removed. RESULTS: Two dogs had first intention healing in 15 days, whereas 1 dog developed necrosis of 10% of the flap, and this area healed by second intention. CONCLUSION: In male dogs, the scrotal skin can be used as a pedicle flap for reconstructive surgery of wounds in the perineum and the proximomedial and caudal aspect of the thigh. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The perineal region remains a surgical challenge because of the lack of the available skin for reconstruction of surgical wounds. The scrotal skin should be considered for use as a transposition flap to cover skin defects in this region.     

Effects of 12 and 17 cmH2O positive end-expiratory pressure applied after alveolar recruitment maneuver on pulmonary gas exchange and compliance in isoflurane-anesthetized horses

Objective

To compare static compliance (C_st) and alveolar–arterial oxygen tension difference [P(a–a)O₂] between positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEP) of 7, 12 and 17 cmH₂O applied after an alveolar recruitment maneuver (RM) in isoflurane-anesthetized horses.

An approximately 15,000-year record of El Nino-driven alluviation in southwestern ecuador

Debris flows have deposited inorganic laminae in an alpine lake that is 75 kilometers east of the Pacific Ocean, in Ecuador. These storm-induced events were dated by radiocarbon, and the age of laminae that are less than 200 years old matches the historic record of El Nino events. From about 15,000 to about 7000 calendar years before the present, the periodicity of clastic deposition is greater than or equal to 15 years; thereafter, there is a progressive increase in frequency to periodicities of 2 to 8.5 years. This is the modern El Nino periodicity, which was established about 5000 calendar years before the present. This may reflect the onset of a steeper zonal sea surface temperature gradient, which was driven by enhanced trade winds.     

Pulse pressure variation as a guide for volume expansion in dogs undergoing orthopedic surgery

Objective

To investigate whether pulse pressure variation (PPV) can predict fluid responsiveness in healthy dogs during clinical surgery.

Antioxidant profile of cataractous English Cocker Spaniels

Cataracts have been attributed to oxidative injury in proteins and lipids. Primary defenses that directly protect the lens against oxidative damage include small molecule antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione and carotenoids) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and the glutathione enzyme systems – glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). In humans, low plasmatic levels of vitamin C, vitamin E and carotenoids have been associated with a high risk of senile cataracts. Dogs are more prone to develop cataracts. A decrease in antioxidant defenses could be responsible for increased lens oxidation and cataract development. In this study we report the levels of erythrocytic enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and plasma vitamin C as well as malondialdehyde, in normal and cataractous English Cocker Spaniel dogs. Plasma vitamin C levels were consistently lower in cataractous dogs (20.17 μ m  ± 8.2 μ m ) when compared with normal dogs (24.1 μ m  ± 9.4 μ m ). These results indicate a possibly decreased synthesis in vitamin C, leading to lower aqueous humor levels of this vitamin. Considering that vitamin C levels in the aqueous humor may be responsible for lens antioxidant maintenance, and that these levels are obtained from plasma secretion through the ciliary epithelium, decreased plasma levels may indicate a decrease in the antioxidant capacity of the aqueous humor.