Search

Introduction: The supratemporal retrobulbar block (RB) has not been comprehensively described in cats. Materials and methods: Cadaveric study : a modified supratemporal retrobulbar injection of 0.1 ml/kg of iomeprole and saline (1:3) was executed using a Tuohy needle in recently deceased cats. Cadavers underwent computed tomography before and following injections. Injectate distribution within the intraconal space was evaluated. Extraconal injections were considered a failure. Clinical study : cats undergoing corneal/intraocular surgery were included. After intramuscular premedication with methadone 0.3 mg/kg, dexmedetomidine 3 mcg/kg and alfaxalone 2 mg/kg and induction with intravenous (IV) alfaxalone to effect, isoflurane anesthesia was maintained with a target end-expired fraction of 1.1%. Cats were randomly allocated in the retrobulbar group [RG, receiving a modified supratemporal RB with 0.1 ml/kg of a mixture of 2% lidocaine (5.5 ml) and 0.75% ropivacaine (2 ml)] or control group (CG). When heart rate or mean arterial pressure increased above 20% of the pre-incisional values, fentanyl (1 mcg/kg IV) was administered. Alfaxalone (0.5 mg/kg IV) was injected when anesthesia was deemed too light. After a total of 3 interventions regardless the type of drugs (fentanyl/alfaxalone), a constant rate infusion of fentanyl (5 mcg/kg/h IV) was started. Anesthetist interventions, quality of recovery (blindly assessed using a descriptive score scale), postoperative eye rubbing, complications were studied. Results: In the cadaveric study 8 eyes were included (success rate = 87%). The contrast agent spread was scored "moderate-to-large" or "large" in 85.7% of cases and a median 360° (180–360) distribution around the optic nerve was reported. In the clinical study 12 cats were included (6 in RG, 6 in CG). The median time to perform the RB was 35 s (20–50). Only the controls required anesthetist interventions [total amount of 6 (p = 0.0276): fentanyl (3/6) and alfaxalone (2/6)]. The RG had a significantly better recovery score (p = 0.0012) than CG. Only controls showed eye rubbing (3/6). Conclusions: The modified supratemporal RB is an achievable and rapidly performed technique. In this study it reduced intraoperative drug administration and improved recovery quality in cats undergoing corneal or intraocular surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This randomized prospective clinical study aimed to compare the hemodynamic effects of propofol and alfaxalone for the induction of anesthesia in dogs. Thirty-one healthy dogs undergoing various procedures in a private referral center were premedicated with intramuscular acepromazine (0.015 mg/kg) and methadone (0.15 mg/kg). They then received 5 mg/kg of propofol over 30 s for induction, followed by a maintenance dose of 25 mg/kg/h (Group P), or 2 mg/kg of alfaxalone over 30 s for induction, followed by a continuous rate infusion of 10 mg/kg/h (Group A). Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and the velocity time integral (VTI) of the aortic blood flow using transthoracic echocardiography were measured before anesthetic induction and every 15 s for 180 s. Dogs not adequately anaesthetized for intubation were excluded from the hemodynamic evaluation. Events of hypotension (any MAP value lower than 60 mmHg) were also recorded. Statistical analyses utilized ANOVA for repeated measures, two-way repeated measures ANOVA, paired t-tests, or Wilcoxon signed rank-test as appropriate. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Two dogs in Group P (2/14) and 3 in Group A (3/17) were excluded from the study because the anesthesia plane was too light to allow intubation. Treatment P resulted in a significant decrease in MAP between 45 and 75 s during the induction period, with no significant variation in HR, VTI, and VTI*HR. In treatment A, HR increases between 60 and 105 s, VTI decreases at 150-180 s. Analysis between groups did not show any difference in MAP (p = 0.12), HR (p = 0.10), VTI (p = 0.22) and VTI*HR (p = 0.74). During induction, hypotension was detected in 3/12 (25%) dogs in Group P and 1/14 (8%) in Group A. In healthy premedicated dogs, propofol and alfaxalone induction produce similar hemodynamic variations. Propofol induction results in a short-term reduction in MAP, whereas alfaxalone induction preserves MAP and cardiac output by significantly increasing heart rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is defined as seizure activity that is minimally responsive to first- or second-line antiseizure medications. Constant rate infusion (CRI) intravenous propofol (PPF) is commonly used to treat RSE in dogs and cats. The antiseizure activity of alfaxalone (ALF) in RSE has been demonstrated in various experimental studies. This study compared the clinical efficacy and safety of intramuscular administration followed by CRI infusion of ALF with intravenous administration followed by CRI infusion of PPF to treat canine RSE. Materials and methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial of client-owned dogs referred for status epilepticus that did not respond to first- and second-line drugs. Animals with suspected or confirmed idiopathic or structural epilepsy were included. The dogs were randomly assigned to either the PPF or ALF treatment groups and each group received drug CRI infusions for 6 h. Drug dosages were progressively reduced by 25% every hour from the third hour until suspension after 6 h. Patients were classified as responders or nonresponders based on the relapse of epileptic seizures during the 24 h therapy infusion or within 24 h of drug suspension. Univariate statistical analyses were performed. Results: Twenty dogs were enrolled in the study. Ten (10/20) dogs were randomly allocated to the PPF group and 10 (10/20) to the ALF group. Successful outcomes were obtained in six (6/10) patients in the PPF group and five (5/10) patients in the ALF group. Adverse effects were recorded in six (6/10) and three (3/10) animals in the PPF and ALF groups, respectively. No statistically significant differences in outcomes or the presence of adverse effects were observed between the groups. Discussion: The results of this preliminary study suggest that ALF can be considered a valid and safe alternative to PPF for the treatment of RSE in dogs, with the additional advantage of intramuscular administration. However, caution should be exercised when using these drugs to provide airway and hemodynamic support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study was designed to prospectively evaluate the feasibility of an opioid-free anesthesia protocol and describe the quality of recovery and management of postoperative analgesia in dogs after a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Methods: In total, 20 dogs presented for TPLO were included. After premedication with intravenous (IV) medetomidine (0.005-0.007 mg/kg) and midazolam (0.2 mg/kg), the dogs were anesthetized using ketamine (2 mg/kg) and propofol and maintained with isoflurane and ketamine CRI (0.6 mg/kg/h). Sciatic and femoral nerve blocks were performed with bupivacaine 0.5% (0.087 +/- 0.01 and 0.09 +/- 0.02 mL/kg, respectively). Meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg IV) was administered intraoperatively, after osteotomy. Fentanyl (0.002 mg/kg IV) was administered intraoperatively, as rescue analgesia in the case of sustained increase in cardiorespiratory variables. Two pain scores (French 4A-VET and Glasgow short form) were performed at conscious sternal recumbency and 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 20 h after extubation and compared to baseline using a Friedman test followed by a Nemenyi post-hoc test. The time taken for the first food intake and urination was reported. Results: Intraoperative opioid-free anesthesia was feasible in 11 dogs, whereas 9 dogs received fentanyl once during arthrotomy. No opioid postoperative rescue analgesia was required. Food intake occurred within 6 h, and all dogs were discharged after 24 h without any complication. Conclusion: Total opioid-free postoperative analgesia was achieved in all dogs, with adequate recoveries. Although opioid-free anesthesia was feasible in 55% of the population, a single dose of fentanyl was necessary in 45% of the dogs during arthrotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: French bulldogs can be affected by several neurological diseases, with myelopathies representing the most frequent cause of neurological signs. Studies focusing on the epidemiology of cervical diseases in this breed are lacking. This study aims to describe the prevalence of neurological pathologies responsible for cervical pain and/or signs of cervical myelopathy, assuming that intervertebral disc herniation represents the most common disease; a second aim was to evaluate how often different pathologies coexist in this spinal region in French bulldogs. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records from the database of a single referral center (AniCura I Portoni Rossi Veterinary Hospital--Zola Predosa, Bologna, Italy) was performed, including French bulldogs presented for neck pain and/or neurological deficits consistent with cervical myelopathy. Clinical and imaging data were reviewed and used as inclusion criteria. Based on the number of MRI-diagnosed diseases, the eligible dogs were divided into three groups. Results: One hundred five French bulldogs met the inclusion criteria. The most commonly diagnosed condition was an intervertebral disc herniation (66.9%), followed by C2 idiopathic hypertrophic ganglioneuritis (15.1%), cervical syringomyelia (11.5%), congenital osseous malformations (1.4%), spinal arachnoid diverticula (1.4%), neoplasms (1.4%), steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (0.7%), traumatic vertebral fractures (0.7%), and other (0.7%). For the vast majority of dogs (75/105) a single pathology was diagnosed, with intervertebral disc herniations accounting for 86.7% of cases, involving C3-C4 IVD most commonly. In the remaining 30 dogs, two or three different and concurrent diseases were detected. Among these 30 dogs, intervertebral disc herniations still remained the most diagnosed condition, in combination with C2 idiopathic hypertrophic ganglioneuritis and syringomyelia in 19 and seven cases, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study highlight that different pathologies can affect the cervical spinal cord in French bulldogs, with intervertebral disc herniations representing the most frequent condition, as previously described in the veterinary literature. In almost a third of cases, different pathologies can coexist at the cervical level. However, for cases in which different pathologies are present at the same time, it is not always possible to clearly establish their clinical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac electrical activity is often altered by administration of anesthetic drugs. While the effects of propofol in this regard have previously been described in dogs, to date, there are no reports of the effect of alfaxalone. This study investigated the impact of both propofol and alfaxalone on the ECG of 60 dogs, after premedication with acepromazine and methadone. Heart rate increased significantly in both groups. The PR andQRS intervals were significantly increased following propofol while with alfaxalone the QRS duration was significantly increased and ST segment depression was observed. The QT and JT interval were significantly shorter following induction with alfaxalone, but, when corrected (c) for heart rate, QTc and JTc in both groups were significantly greater following induction. When comparing the magnitude of change between groups, the change in RR interval was greater in the alfaxalone group. The change in both QT and JT intervals were significantly greater following alfaxalone, but whenQTc and JTc intervals were compared, there were no significant differences between the two drugs. The similarly increased QTc produced by both drugs may suggest comparable proarrhythmic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tanshinone (TAN), a class of bioactive components in traditional Chinese medicinal plant Salvia miltiorrhiza, has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, can enhance blood circulation, remove blood stasis, and promote wound healing. For these reasons it has been developed as a drug to treat acne. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of TAN in rats with oleic acid-induced acne and to explore its possible mechanisms of action through the identification of potential lipid biomarkers. In this study, a rat model of acne was established by applying 0.5 ml of 80% oleic acid to rats' back skin. The potential metabolites and targets involved in the anti-acne effects of TAN were predicted using lipidomics. The results indicate that TAN has therapeutic efficacy for acne, as supported by the results of the histological analyses and biochemical index assays for interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, IL-β and tumor necrosis factor alpha. The orthogonal projection of latent structure discriminant analysis score was used to analyze the lipidomic profiles between control and acne rats. Ninety-six potential biomarkers were identified in the skin samples of the acne rats. These biomarkers were mainly related to glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism, and the regulation of their dysfunction is thought to be a possible therapeutic mechanism of action of TAN on acne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effect of acute and chronic sprint interval training (SIT), with or without prior caffeine intake, on levels of exercise-induced inflammatory plasma cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a]. Twenty physically-active men ingested either a placebo (n = 10) or caffeine (n = 10) 1 h before each SIT session (13-s x 30-s sprint/15 s of rest) during six training sessions (2 weeks). The early (before, immediately after, and 45 min after the exercise) and late (24 and 48 h after the exercise) cytokine and creatine kinase (CK) responses were analyzed for the first and last training sessions. Plasma IL-6 and IL-10 peaked 45 min after the exercise, and then returned to basal values within 24 h (p < 0.05) in both groups on both occasions (p > 0.05). On both occasions, and for both groups, plasma TNF-a increased from rest to immediately after the exercise and then decreased at 45 min before reaching values at or below basal levels 48 h after the exercise (p < 0.05). Serum CK increased from rest to 24 and 48 h post-exercise in the first training session (p < 0.05), but did not alter in the last training session for the PLA group (p > 0.05). Serum CK was unchanged in both the first and last training sessions for the CAF group (p > 0.05). Two weeks of SIT induced a late decrease in the IL-6/IL-10 ratio (p < 0.05) regardless of caffeine intake, suggesting an improved overall inflammatory status after training. In conclusion, a single session of SIT induces muscle damage that seems to be mitigated by caffeine intake. Two weeks of SIT improves the late SIT-induced muscle damage and inflammatory status, which seems to be independent of caffeine intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new working hypothesis of Parkinson's disease proposes to focus on the central role of entropy increase in the basal ganglia in movement disorders. The conditions necessary for entropy increase in vivo are, however, still not fully described. We recorded the activity of single globus pallidus pars interna (GPi) neurons during the transition from deep anesthesia to full alertness in relaxed, head restrained, control and parkinsonian (6OHDA-lesioned) rats. We found that during awakening from anesthesia, the variation of neuronal entropy was significantly higher in the parkinsonian than in the control group. This implies in our view that in Parkinson's disease the entropy of the output neurons of the basal ganglia varies dynamically with the input to the network, which is determined by the level of alertness. Therefore, entropy needs to be interpreted as a dynamic, emergent property that characterizes the global state of the basal ganglia neuronal network, rather than a static property of parkinsonian neurons themselves. Within the framework of the "entropy hypothesis", this implies the presence of a pathological feedback loop in the parkinsonian basal ganglia, where increasing the network input results in a further increase of neuronal entropy and a worsening of akinesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]