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Avian anesthesia is a controversial area of study due to the differences between birds and mammals morpho physiology. This makes necessary to develop reliable protocols for birds in captivity, which contributes to their welfare under human care. Bird anesthesiology today represents a veterinary clinical activity that demands special care for patients requiring surgical procedures. This study describes the parameters of SpO2, cardiac activity, heart and respiratory rate during anesthesia with isoflurane for Melopsittacus undulatus. 12 males and 7 females were monitored during the anesthetic stages. Anesthetic induction lasted 1:30 ± 0:31 min in males and 2:19 ± 0:16 min in females, with an average maintenance time of 7:00 ± 1:39 min. No significant differences were found in anesthetic times between females and males (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant variation (p<0.05) of SpO2 in the recovery period, females had higher oxygen saturation (71±4%) compared to males (89±2%). In the assessment of cardiac function during anesthesia, no significant differences were detected between males and females (p>0.05). It is concluded as a safe anesthetic protocol for clinical procedures of short duration for small birds such as M. undulates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper determines the kinetic parameters of plasmins from eight species of mammals and their N-terminals. They were purified by the same methods (affinity chromatography and ion exchange) and activated with urokinase, starting from a common concentration and its kinetics judged according to Lineweaver-Burk coordinates. For such purpose, Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics, which is widely used in the study of enzymes, was implemented. When compared with the molecular weight standard used, all plasminogen showed a purity exceeding 95% and a 92 kDa band on electrophoresis. Equine and canine plasmins showed the same KM due to the chromogenic substrate (0.438 mM), this being the one with the highest affinity in this study, and the human being the one with the lower affinity (5.3 mM). The catalytic constant and the conversion rate of the chromogenic substrate to product were also determined. The N-terminals of the plasminogens of the eight species were determined, and differences were found between humans and animals, as well as between some animals. Only pigs and sheep showed no differences in their N-terminal (DPPDDY). The unification of the method for purification of plasminogens for any species was demonstrated, as well as the kinetic differences of the eight plasmins studied and the similarities and differences in the sequence the N-terminals of the eight species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ghrelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, was first isolated from the stomach of rats using "reverse pharmacology". Subsequently, it was isolated from chicken proventriculus, and the preproghrelin gene was characterized in turkeys. In mammals, ghrelin is a 28-amino acid peptide predominantly produced in the stomach that induces increases in feed intake in all species studied to date, including pigs. In contrast to mammals, significantly less is known about the effect of ghrelin on feed intake in turkeys and other avian species. In general, infusion of ghrelin in chickens and Japanese quail inhibits feed intake, while passive immunization against ghrelin increases feed intake. Taken together, the effect of ghrelin on feed intake in mammalian species is the opposite of that in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Great numbers of experimental studies have argued about the relevant role of the oxidative stress to the organ failure occurring in sepsis and endotoxic shock. However , there are no reports about the classification of oxidative stress grade of the affected organs. This elucidation is very important for the knowledge of involved mechanisms in the sequence of multi-organ failure. The present study compares results from conventional evaluation of redox biomarkers with those obtained from utilization of a computer system for diagnosis to classify the grade of oxidative stress present in liver and lung. Liver and lung were the organs studied from rats with peritoneal sepsis induced by faecal material. Organs were extracted 12 h after induction of sepsis. Conventional analysis showed that only thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and catalase were significantly increased in the hepatic tissue of septic animals. No significant changes in conjugated dienes, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were found. In the lung of these animals were found no significant difference in all biomarkers. Values from such biomarkers were introduced in the computer system. Evaluation by the system showed oxidative stress with significant differences from statistical and biological point of view in the liver and lung of septic animals. A classification of grade 3 (severe oxidative stress) in the liver and grade 2 (moderated oxidative stress) in the lung was obtained from the system. These results suggest that hepatic tissue is before affected than the lung in the sequence of organic failure propagation, and demonstrate the utility in using the computer system for oxidative stress evaluation in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]