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Objective To describe the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of meperidine after IM and subcutaneous administration in horses. Study design prospective, randomized, blinded, crossover trial. Animals Six adult horses weighing 494 ± 33 kg. Methods Treatments included meperidine 1 mg/kg IM with saline 6 mL subcutaneously, meperidine 1 mg/kg subcutaneously with saline 6 mL IM, and saline 6 mL subcutaneously and 6 mL IM, with a 7-day washout between treatments. Plasma meperidine concentrations and pharmacodynamic values (thermal and mechanical thresholds, physiological variables, fecal production) were collected at various time points for 24 hours. Accelerometry data were obtained for 8 hours to measure locomotor activity. Data were analyzed with a mixed effects model, and α was set at .05. Results Meperidine terminal half-life (T1/2 ), maximal plasma concentrations, and time to maximal concentration were 186 ± 59 and 164 ± 56 minutes, 265.7 ± 47.2 and 243.1 ± 80.1 ng/mL at 17 ± 6, and 24 ± 13 minutes for IM at subcutaneous administration, respectively. No effect of treatment or time was observed on thermal or mechanical thresholds, heart rate, respiratory rate, locomotor activity, frequency of defecations, or fecal weight (P > .2 for all). Conclusion Maximum meperidine concentrations were achieved quickly with a short T1/2 in both treatment groups. Neither IM nor subcutaneous meperidine influenced thermal or mechanical threshold or physiological variables. Clinical significance The short half-life and lack of detectable antinociceptive effect do not support IM or subcutaneous administration meperidine at 1 mg/kg for analgesia in horses.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the ability to assess laryngeal function and to diagnose unilateral laryngeal paralysis (uLP) via airway endoscopy and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) stimulation. STUDY DESIGN Experimental study. ANIMALS Six healthy, adult beagles. METHODS Dogs were anesthetized with sevoflurane and dexmedetomidine. Laryngeal activity was observed via endoscopy placed through a laryngeal mask airway (LMA). The absolute and normalized glottic gap areas (AGGA and NGGA, respectively) and the glottic length (GL) were measured at inspiration and before and after surgically induced uLP. Measurements were obtained at eupnea and during hypercapnic hyperpnea produced by the administration of CO2 . Values for each hemilarynx were also measured. Video recordings were observed by 2 surgeons who scored function as normal or uLP. RESULTS The AGGA and NGGA increased similarly during CO2 administration in intact dogs and in dogs with uLP; the GL increased in dogs with uLP but not in intact dogs. The AGGA and NGGA of the intact hemilarynx increased more than those of the affected hemilarynx in dogs with uLP. uLP was correctly identified more frequently by observers at hypercapnic hyperpnea than during eupnea. CONCLUSION The increase in AGGA and NGGA at peak inspiration during CO2 administration was not limited by uLP, but asymmetry in hemilarynx AGGA and NGGA was observed in dogs with uLP. CO2 administration facilitated the identification of uLP. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Laryngeal endoscopy through an LMA coupled with administration of CO2 in anesthetized dogs facilitates the observation of arytenoid function and may improve the diagnosis of naturally occurring mild laryngeal paralysis.

Objective To investigate whether the degree of change in cervical length during a uterine contraction is predictive of subsequent progression of labor. Methods The subjects were 73 uncomplicated parturient women at term. We observed the cervix before, during and after a uterine contraction by transvaginal ultrasound in the first stage of labor and determined the degree of cervical shortening during the contraction relative to the cervical length before contraction. We related the degree of cervical shortening to labor patterns at the time of the ultrasound examination, which were retrospectively determined by reviewing the partogram. Results The cervix was shortened in length by about 50% on average during a uterine contraction in the normal course of labor. The degree of cervical shortening was significantly greater in the normal latent and active phases than it was in the prolonged latent phase, protracted active phase and false labor, whereas there were no differences between the former two phases nor between the latter three phases. Nulliparous and parous women exhibited almost the same degree of shortening in the normal latent and active phases. Conclusions Real-time ultrasound observation of the cervix during uterine contraction could help differentiate inefficient uterine contractions from normal ones and thus predict the subsequent course of labor. Copyright © 2003 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Objective: To report the results of prenatal triple marker screening on a population of Japanese pregnant women. Methods: From April 1994 through March 1999, a total of 32,925 native Japanese women with singleton pregnancies requested a triple marker-screening test. Multiples of the median values for 3 markers and individual risks for each patient were calculated following adjustment for the Japanese weight correction factor. The risk cut-off values used for Down syndrome (T21), open spina bifida (OSB) and trisomy 18 (T18) were 1:295, 1:290, and 1:100, respectively. Follow-up information was collected postpartum and statistically analyzed. Results: Detection rates (DR) of T21 for women less than 35 years, over 35 years and overall were 58, 94, and 83%, respectively. DR of T18 for women less than 35 years, over 35 years and overall were 75, 79, and 79%, respectively. DR of open neural tube defects (ONTD) was 100%. Conclusions: The first cumulative data of an intervention program and prospective follow-up studies in Japan have proven to be similar to other published reports. Individual risk values were calculated for each pregnancy for T21, T18 and ONTD. This screening program is more effective than age-dependent screening for detecting T21, T18 and ONTD pregnancies.

Two Japanese-Brazilian siblings with type 2C limb girdle muscular dystrophy showed a maternal 521-T deletion in exon 6 and a larger paternal deletion of exon 6 in the gamma-sarcoglycan gene. One sib was ambulant at 29 years of age, whereas the other sib was confined to a wheelchair at the age of 12. Sarcoglycan staining of the muscle was reduced in both siblings but it did not correlate with the observed variability of the clinical severity.

The presence of hollows in cooked rice grains found before in the cultivar Koshihikari was confirmed for 4 more cultivars with various amylose contents. The size, shape, and total volume of hollows differed between cultivars. Hollow volumes increased with grain volume and length before 100 °C was reached, but subsequently decreased during prolonged boiling. The previously proposed mechanism, describing sealing by gelatinized starch of cracks formed during soaking, seemed accurate for all 5 cultivars. Based on the hypothetical model of their formation, a relationship between amylose content and hollow formation was assumed. However, no correlation existed between final hollow volume and shape on 1 side and individual parameters such as flour gelatinization and amylose content on the other side.

Background: We sometimes encounter impairment of learning and memory after general anesthesia in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to examine age-related modifications of the effects of ketamine and propofol on rat hippocampal acetylcholine (ACh) release because hippocampal cholinergic neurons are supposed to be involved in learning and memory. Methods: The experiments were performed on male Wistar young rats (2 months old) and old rats (18 months old), using in vivo brain microdialysis technique under freely moving condition. After initial sampling of three collections, test drugs were administered. The ACh release was determined by the HPLC-ECD method. Results: In old rats, the hippocampal basal ACh release was significantly lower than in young rats. Ketamine (25 and 50 mg kg−1 i.p.) increased and propofol (25 and 50 mg kg−1 i.p.) decreased the hippocampal ACh release in both young and old rats. Furthermore, ketamine 50 mg kg−1 i.p. (anesthetic dose) produced facilitatory effects on the hippocampal ACh release in young rats (193% of the basal release), while in old rats the same dose of ketamine i.p. produced more pronounced facilitatory effects on the hippocampal ACh release (317% of the basal release). On the other hand, propofol 50 mg kg−1 i.p. (anesthetic dose) produced inhibitory effects on the hippocampal ACh release in young rats (56% of control) and in old rats (77% of control). Although the maximal inhibitory peak effects of propofol 50 mg kg−1 i.p. did not differ significantly between young rats and old rats, decrease of the hippocampal ACh release in old rats persisted longer than in young rats. Conclusion: Ketamine produced more pronounced facilitatory effects on the hippocampal ACh release in old rats, as compared with young rats. On the other hand, propofol has inhibitory effects on the hippocampal ACh release in young and old rats. The aging process may suppress the ability to recover from the inhibitory anesthetic state induced by propofol.

The role of the cell capsule in the virulence of β-hemolytic Streptococcus spp. isolated from rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss was investigated. Capsulated bacterial cells had a more hydrophilic surface than noncapsulated bacteria and showed higher virulence to rainbow trout when given intraperitoneally. Capsulated cells were more resistant to opsonophagocytosis and the chemiluminescent response of trout macrophages.

経皮的心肺補助装置(PCPS)の適応は現在各施設でまちまちで,明確な適応指針は示されていない。われわれは経験した33例の症例をもとに本法の適応,限界,問題点をPCPS使用別に,(1)急性循環不全群,(2)急性呼吸循環不全群,(3) DOA群,(4)開心術後心不全群,(5) PTCA中の補助循環として用いる場合の,いわゆるsopported PTCA群に分類し,比較検討することでPCPSの適応指針とすることを試みた。急性循環不全群は10例あり急性心筋梗塞後心破裂,難治性不整脈など心筋梗塞例での使用が多くみられた。PCPS離脱率は80%,救命率は40%であった。急性呼吸循環不全群は7例で,急性肺塞栓症での使用が4例みられた。離脱率は71.4%,救命率は57.1%であった。DOA (CPA)症例では5例に用いた。1例のみ離脱可能であったが,救命例はなかった。開心術後使用群は10例で離脱率は70%,救命率は60%であった。PCPSに伴う合併症,トラブルは大腿動脈送血に起因する下肢阻血が6例(18.1%)と最も多かった。PCPSは急性心筋梗塞に起因する心破裂や難治性不整脈などの急性循環不全例や,急性肺塞栓症,喘息重責発作などの急性呼吸不全に対しては心,肺,脳蘇生の補助循環装置として有用で,開心術後の急性心不全には心補助として効果がみられた。

The homo-coupling of 1-alkenyl halides was examined in the presence of NiBr2(PPh3)2, PPh3, and excess zinc. The reactions proceed under very mild conditions to give high yields of conjugated dienes. The addition of KI or thiourea was unnecessary for a successful reaction, in contrast with systems without an external phosphine ligand.

Studies on adults have suggested that a deterioration in performance (within session vigilance decrement) on a continuous performance task may be related to individual differences in baseline levels of electrodermal activity (electrodermal lability). This study investigated this relationship in 153 children, aged 9-16 years. A significant vigilance decrement was observed, as indicated by average decreases in perceptual sensitivity (d') over an 11.5-min time period. Although electrodermal labiles were overall more perceptually sensitive than electrodermal stabiles, results did not support the premise that the performance of stabiles decreases over time more than that of labiles. Performance on other cognitive tasks, involving tests of perceptual speed ability, did not appear to be highly related to vigilance performance. However labiles were not only better able to sustain their attention, but also performed better and faster on these cognitive tasks.

Purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair on the gamma loop of the bilateral quadriceps femoris (QF). Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of knee extension and integrated electromyogram (I-EMG) of vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF) were examined in uninjured and injured limbs of 18 patients and 10 normal subjects, before and after 20-min vibration applied to the QF. Mean percentage changes were calculated as: (pre-vibration value-post-vibration value)/pre-vibration value x 100. Patients were divided into two groups: short-term-group (tested/=12 months after ACL repair, n=8), long-term-group (tested/=18 months after ACL repair, n=10). Mean percentage changes of the four groups were compared with those of controls. Results indicated that changes of MVC and I-EMG on the uninjured and injured sides in short-term-group in response to vibration were significantly different from those of controls. There were no significant differences between uninjured sides in long-term and control groups. MVC and I-EMG of VM and RF of injured side in patients in the long-term-group in response to vibration were not different from those of controls. From these results, we concluded that this abnormality of the gamma loop in both injured and uninjured sides did not recover despite ACL reconstruction. However, the abnormality in uninjured side might recover/=18 months after repair.

Various diagnostic methods used to detect Renibacterum salmoninarum, the causative agent of bacterial kidney disease (BKD), were compared. The most sensitive method was the enzyme immunoassay (the indirect dot blot assay), which could detect 102 bacterial cells per gram of kidney tissue. The minimum bacteria concentrations showing positive reactions to the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and the coagglutination test were 103 and 104 cells/g kidney, respectively. The sensitivities of the Gram stain, immunodiffusion procedure, and latex agglutination test were low, and these methods could only be applied to fish with overt BKD symptoms. Altogether, 656 coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch were examined for R. salmoninarum antigen with the direct and indirect dot blot assays (DDBA and IDBA) and the IFAT. Among the fish sampled, positive reactions were obtained in 11.8% by the DDBA, 28.2% by the IDBA, and 12.9% by the IFAT.

Horizontal cells of the vertebrate retina are known to contribute to the formation of the receptive field surrounds of photoreceptor and bipolar cells. However, few synapses have been described anatomically that might mediate these interactions. We have observed in the catfish retina that cone horizontal cell perikarya and dendrites make conventional chemical synapses onto photoreceptor terminal telodendria and onto bipolar cell dendrites, while horizontal cell axon terminals make chemical synapses onto the perikarya and processes of amacrine cells. The synapses are characterized by clusters of round vesicles aggregated close to the site of contact, as well as by electron-dense material associated with both pre- and postsynaptic membranes. The three kinds of synapses observed anatomically correspond to the synaptic pathways involving cone horizontal cells that have been suggested by the physiology of these cells.