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ABSTRACT: Extreme precipitation events are widely thought to intensify in a warmer atmosphere through the Clausius‐Clapeyron equation. The temperature‐extreme precipitation scaling was proposed to analyse the temperature dependency of short‐duration extreme precipitation and since then, the concept has been widely used in climatology. Bao et al. (2017) suggest that the apparent scaling reflects not only how surface air properties affect extreme precipitation, but also reflects how synoptic conditions and localized cooling due to the storm itself affect the scaling – implying two‐way causality. We address here critical issues of this paper and provide evidence that dew point temperature drives extreme precipitation, with the direction of causality reversed only for the storm's peak intensity. This physical inference may serve as a basis to better quantify scaling rates and to help establish the relationship between extreme precipitation and environmental conditions in the current climate, and thereby provide insights into future changes to precipitation extremes due to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this randomised placebo-controlled, observer-blinded study was to evaluate the analgesic effects of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) as an adjunct for postoperative pain control in dogs. Sixteen dogs undergoing bilateral radical mastectomy for treatment of mammary tumours were enrolled. Twenty-four hours before surgery, the subjects were distributed into two groups of eight dogs each: 7 iu/kg BoNT-A (BoNT-A) or saline (Control) was administered subcutaneously in each mammary gland. Following sedation with intramuscular 0.03 mg/kg acepromazine and 0.3 mg/kg morphine, anaesthesia was induced intravenously with 4 mg/kg propofol and maintained with isoflurane/O2. Postoperative analgesia was evaluated for 72 hours after extubation using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and modified Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (modified-GCMPS). Rescue analgesia was provided with intramuscular morphine (0.5 mg/kg). Data were analysed using analysis of variance, Tukey's test, Mann-Whitney U test and Friedman test (P<0.05). The pain scores were significantly lower in the BoNT-A than in the Control from 8 hours to 60 hours and from 12 hours to 60 hours after extubation, based on the VAS and modified-GCMPS, respectively. Rescue analgesia was required by significantly more dogs in the Control (7/8) compared with the BoNT-A (2/8) (P=0.022). Pre-emptive BoNT-A appears to be effective as an adjuvant for postoperative pain management in dogs undergoing bilateral radical mastectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As canine mammary tumours ( CMT) and human breast cancer share clinical and prognostic features, the former have been proposed as a model to study carcinogenesis and improved therapeutic treatment in human breast cancer. In recent years, it has been shown that transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 ( TRPV1) is expressed in different neoplastic tissues and its activation has been associated with regulation of cancer growth and progression. The aim of the present research was to demonstrate the presence of TRPV1 in human and canine mammary cancer cells, MCF-7 and CF.41, respectively, and to study the role of TRPV1 in regulating cell proliferation. The images obtained by Western blot showed a signal at 100 kDa corresponding to the molecular weight of TRPV1 receptor. All tested TRPV1 agonists and antagonists caused a significant decrease ( P < 0.05) of cell growth rate in MCF-7 cells. By contrast, in CF.41 cells capsaicin and capsazepine induced a significant increase ( P < 0.05) in cell proliferation, whereas resiniferatoxin ( RTX) and 5-iodo-resiniferatoxin (5-I- RTX) had no influence on CF.41 cell proliferation. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism responsible for the different effects evoked by TRPV1 activation in MCF-7 and CF.41 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity of the anti-inflammatory agents Flunixin-meglumine ( FLU), RS (±) Carprofen ( CPF) and S (+) CPF on bovine cyclooxygenases ( COXs) has been characterized in feedlot calves using an in vitro whole blood model. The drugs showed equivalent efficacy in their inhibitory activity on COXs, and the rank order of potency for both COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition was FLU > S (+) CPF > RS (±) CPF. Our results indicated that FLU is a nonselective inhibitor of bovine COXs, whereas RS (±) CPF and S (+) CPF exhibited different degrees of preferential inhibition of COX-2 isoenzyme. The rank order of IC50 COX-1: IC50 COX-2 potency ratios was in fact S (+) CPF (51.882) > RS (±) CPF (13.964) > FLU (0.606), and the calculated percentage inhibition of COX-1 corresponding to COX-2 inhibition values comprised between 80% and 95% was comprised between 57.697 and 79.865 for FLU, 33.373 and 51.319 for RS (±) CPF, and 0.230 and 4.622 for S (+) CPF, respectively. These findings are discussed in relation to the prediction of the clinical relevance of COX inhibition by the test drugs in cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Donalisio, C., Barbero, R., Cuniberti, B., Vercelli, C., Casalone, M., Re, G. Effects of flunixin meglumine and ketoprofen on mediator production in ex vivo and in vitro models of inflammation in healthy dairy cows. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 36, 130-139. In this study, ex vivo assays were carried out in dairy cows to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: ketoprofen (KETO) and flunixin meglumine (FM). Twelve healthy Holstein dairy cattle were randomly allocated to two groups ( n=6): group 1 received FM and group 2 received KETO at recommended therapeutic dosages. The anti-inflammatory effects of both drugs were determined by measuring the production of coagulation-induced thromboxane B2 (TXB2), lipopolysaccharides (LPS) (10 μg/mL)-induced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and calcium ionophore (60 μ m)-induced leukotrien B4 (LTB4). Cytokine production was assessed by measuring tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-8 (CXCL8) concentrations after incubation in the presence of 10 μg/mL LPS. The IC50 of FM and KETO was determined in vitro by determining the concentration of TXB2 and PGE2 in the presence of scalar drug concentrations (10−9-10−3 m). Both FM and KETO inhibited the two COX isoforms in vitro, but showed a preference for COX-1. FM and KETO showed similar anti-inflammatory effects in the cow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mepartricin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic developed as a drug for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in human patients. In the present study, aged rats are used as an experimental model to evaluate the effects of mepartricin on circulating hormone concentrations and prostate receptor concentrations, to compare these possible effects with clinical findings observed in long-term treated dogs. Fifty-six aged male rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups treated orally with 0 (group 1), 2 mg (group 2), 5 mg (group 3) and 20 mg (group 4) mepartricin/kg of body weight. for 28 days respectively. Serum oestradiol and testosterone concentrations were measured by radio-immune-assays methods. Binding assays were used to measure the prostate concentrations of oestrogen receptors (ER), androgen receptors (AnR), α1-adrenergic receptor ( α1-AR), and β-adrenerergic receptor ( β-AR) subtypes. Mepartricin induced a significant reduction of prostate weight and serum oestradiol concentrations. Serum testosterone concentrations were unaffected. The treatment induced a significant down-regulation of ER concentrations ( P < 0.05) and a significant up-regulation of AnR ( P < 0.05) in rat prostate. Mepartricin induced a significant ( P < 0.05) dose-dependent up-regulation of α1-AR and β2-AR. In contrast, the concentration of β3-ARs was significantly decreased ( P < 0.05) in treated animals. The increase in prostate β2-AR concentrations observed in subjects treated with mepartricin may be a favourable element in the evolution of BPH, because of the role exerted by these receptors in the control of prostatic smooth muscle relaxation. Curiously, β3-AR concentrations were significantly reduced in treated animals. Data collected suggest that the prostatic β-AR expression might be strongly influenced by oestrogen deprivation (mepartricin treatment); therefore, the combination of oestrogen suppression (mepartricin) and adrenergic suppression ( α1-AR blockers) may be proposed as a possible nonhormonal therapeutic strategy for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to identify possible peripheral markers of illegal treatments with growth-promoting agents in veal calves, β-adrenergic receptor ( β-AR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) concentrations were measured in lymphocytes of 12 male Friesian crossbred calves (six controls and six treated). The animals received a cocktail of anabolic and re-partitioning agents [17 β-oestradiol: 3 × 10 mg intramuscular (i.m.) doses at 17-day intervals; dexamethasone sodium phosphate: 4 mg/day for 6 days and 5 mg/day for six further days dissolved in milk; and clenbuterol: 20 μg/kg/day dissolved in milk for the last 40 days before slaughter]. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture at different time points and lymphocytes were isolated by density gradient centrifugation. Lymphocyte β-AR and GR levels were measured by binding assays. Treatment with re-partitioning agents caused a significant down-regulation of lymphocyte β-ARs 19 days after the beginning of clenbuterol administration and at day 55 (after dexamethasone withdrawal, just before slaughter). This phenomenon was partially reversed at day 50, after dexamethasone administration, at which time a significant decrease in GR concentrations also occurred. For both types of receptors, no significant changes in the dissociation constant values were observed at any time point. Lymphocytes express measurable concentrations of β-ARs and GRs and the measurement of receptor levels highlights the fluctuation of receptor expression due to the dynamic interaction of the drugs used in combination. Lymphocyte receptor determination could therefore be included in a battery of biological assays to detect illegal treatments with anabolic agents in veal calves in the light of a multivariate approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study that investigates the effects of human-dog interaction in order to study its impact on dog behaviour and salivary cortisol levels. For the study 19 long-term sheltered dogs of both sexes recruited at the Public Animal Shelter of Turin were divided into two behaviorally homogeneous groups. The results from the study indicated that some environmental changes have a positive effect upon the behaviour and the welfare of sheltered dogs.

The article presents a study that aims to measure the concentration of lymphocyte muscarinic receptors (MR), platelet α2-adrenergic receptors and blood monoamine levels in ageing dogs. The study used 27 healthy dogs of both sexes divided into two groups: adults and old dogs. Blood samples were collected and the plasma catecholamines and serum serotonin was measured. The results suggest that both MR and serotonin levels represent appropriate marker of ageing in dogs.

The article focuses on a study that analyzes the effects of herbal extracts on blood prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxanes in the horse. For this study, seventeen horses, with an average age of 14.1 years and medium heart girth of 188 cm, were used. The results of the study indicates that there are no differences in the serum concentrations of blood prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxanes between horses with chronical inflammatory process and healthy horses.

The article focuses on a study that identifies whether the TRPV1 vanilloid receptor is expressed by MCF-7 cells since the receptor subtypes for the cannabinoids CB1 and CB2 have already been characterized in their plasma membranes. For this study, MCF-7 cells were plated and cultured to get the number of cells needed to perform binding assay and then re-suspended in binding buffer. The study identified the TRPV1 receptor expression and functionality in epithelial cells of companion animals.

The article presents a research related to the effects of short term transportation and housing on hormonal levels and on lymphocyte glucocorticoid and β-andrenergic receptor levels in beef calves. Thirty-two male calves were blood sampled at 6, 12 and 18 months before and after transportation to the slaughterhouse. Hormone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. The study confirms the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis system in short-term transported calves.

The article focuses on a study that analyzes the aliamide effect of Giupamid, an amide compound, in the well-established in vitro model of mast cell degranulation. The study showed that Glupamid is very active in reducing serotonin release in a concentration-dependent fashion. This characteristic of Glupamid demonstrates that the compound is active as an aliamide and strengthens its potential therapeutic use as a disease-oriented approach to osteoarthritis.

The article focuses on a study that analyzes the mechanism of action of aliamides in dogs and cats. In this study the aliamide parent molecule palmitoylethanolamide, and its topically-active congener adelmidrol, was tested on cutaneous mast cells of dogs and cats. Densitometric analysis performed on skin biopsies of allergic cats and canine skin wounds showed an increase in the staining intensity of cutaneous mast cells suggesting that aliamides are effective in decreasing degranulation.

Different studies have suggested that language and developmental disorders such as dyslexia are associated with a disturbance of auditory entrainment and of the functional hemispheric asymmetries during speech processing. These disorders typically result from an issue in the phonological component of language that causes problems to represent and manipulate the phonological structure of words at the syllable and/or phoneme level. We used Auditory Steady-State Responses (ASSRs) in EEG recordings to investigate the brain activation and hemisphere asymmetry of theta, alpha, beta and low-gamma range oscillations in typical readers and readers with dyslexia. The aim was to analyse whether the group differences found in previous electrode level studies were caused by a different source activation pattern or conversely was an effect that could be found on the active brain sources. We could not find differences in the brain locations of the main active brain sources. However, we observed differences in the extracted waveforms. The group average of the first DSS component of all signal-to-noise ratios of ASSR at source level was higher than the group averages at the electrode level. These analyses included a lower alpha synchronisation in adolescents with dyslexia and the possibility of compensatory mechanisms in theta, beta and low-gamma frequency bands. The main brain auditory sources were located in cortical regions around the auditory cortex. Thus, the differences observed in auditory EEG experiments would, according to our findings, have their origin in the intrinsic oscillatory mechanisms of the brain cortical sources related to speech perception., (© 2021 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Different approaches have been used to extract auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) from electroencephalography (EEG) recordings, including region-related electrode configurations (electrode level) and the manual placement of equivalent current dipoles (source level). Inherent limitations of these approaches are the assumption of the anatomical origin and the omission of activity generated by secondary sources. Data-driven methods such as independent component analysis (ICA) seem to avoid these limitations but only to face new others such as the presence of ASSRs with similar properties in different components and the manual selection protocol to select and classify the most relevant components carrying ASSRs. We propose the novel approach of applying a spatial filter to these components in order to extract the most relevant information. We aimed to develop a method based on the reproducibility across trials that performs reliably in low-signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) scenarios using denoising source separation (DSS). DSS combined with ICA successfully reduced the number of components and extracted the most relevant ASSR at 4, 10 and 20 Hz stimulation in group and individual level studies of EEG adolescent data. The anatomical brain location for these low stimulation frequencies showed results in cortical areas with relatively small dispersion. However, for 40 and 80 Hz, results with regard to the number of components and the anatomical origin were less clear. At all stimulation frequencies the outcome measures were consistent with literature, and the partial rejection of inter-subject variability led to more accurate results and higher SNRs. These findings are promising for future applications in group comparison involving pathologies., (© 2021 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)