Seizures in dogs and cats

When dogs or cats get seizures, epileptic seizures and epilepsy are usually thought of. However, it is important to take into account the existence of seizures that are similar to epileptic seizures but do not belong to epileptic seizures (non-epileptic seizures). Nonepileptic seizures occur suddenly, are short-term, disappear as quickly as they occur, recur and have no epileptic etiology and can be of non-neurological and neurological origin. Unlike non-epileptic seizures, epileptic seizures have a specific neural origin and represent excessive, synchronous, usually self-limiting epileptic activity of brain neurons. Epileptic seizures should be distinguished from reactive seizures because reactive seizures occur as a natural response of a healthy brain to transient disorders (metabolic or toxic in nature) and they disappear after the cause ceases to act. Absolute confirmation that it is an epileptic seizure can be difficult because it requires both visualization of the seizure and registration of changes on the EEG. In practice, the suspicion that epileptic seizures occurs is based on information from the medical history and videos. In making a differential diagnosis when an seizure occurs, it is necessary to take into account the age of infected animals, the presence of clinical signs other than the seizure, the presence or absence of disease progression, video recording, blood counts and blood biochemical parameters results, CST test results, and X-ray, MRI or CT findings. The first step in a diagnosis is to determine whether the lesion that leads to the onset of the seizure is localized extracranially or intracranially. If the lesion is localized extracranially, it should be determined whether the problem originates outside the body (poisoning with xylitol, organophosphates, chocolate) or from the body (hypothyroidism, hypocalcemia, kidney disease, etc.). If the process is localized intracranially, it should be determined whether the process is progressive (tumor, inflammation, hydrocephalus, etc.) or not

Terapija epilepsije pasa – ima li šta novo?

Epilepsija je najčešći hronični neurološki poremećaj koji se sreće u praksi malih životinja, a kod najvećeg broja obolelih pasa je dijagno- stikovana idiopatska epilepsija (IE). Antiepileptični lekovi predstavljaju osnovu terapije idiopatske epilepsije pasa, a lečenje je često doživot- no. Međutim, kod oko 30% pasa sa IE, nema adekvatnog odgovora na terapiju. Osim toga, može doći do neželjenih efekata terapije ko- ji su povezani sa lekovima što u krajnjem slučaju dovodi do pogorša- nja kvaliteta života obolelih jedinki. Iz navedenih razloga su sprove- dena brojna istraživanja sa ciljem iznalaženja alternativnih pristupa u terapiji IE pasa. Za sada se u kliničkoj praksi, u tom smislu, najviše primenjuje odgovarajući način ishrane u vidu ketogene dijete koja se pokazala efikasnom kod ljudi sa epilepsijom i dodavanje odgovara- jućih suplemenata u ishrani. Pored toga, kanabidiol ulje se pokazalo korisnim kako kod ljudi tako i kod pasa, a u literaturi postoje izvešta- ji koji potvrđuju i efikasnost akupunkture. Što se tiče homeopatskog pristupa terapiji idiopatske epilepsije pasa, u literaturi nema podataka o sprovedenim kontrolisanim istraživanjima, niti potvrde uspeha ova- kvim pristupom terapiji. Hirurški pristup u terapiji takozvanih rezisten- tnih epilepsija još uvek je u povoju u veterinarskoj medicini i za sada je na nivou kliničkih ispitivanja

Mass Media „Moments of Truth“ – from Political Communication and Political Marketing to the War Propaganda

Tema ovog rada je upravo značaj masovnih medija i propagande u ratu, dijelom uz naglasak i na konkretne medijske sadržaje i naznake političke komunikacije, marketinga i propagande u razdoblju Domovinskog rata. Time se željelo i konkretnim slučajevima, pa i svojevrsnim „pionirskim“ istraživanjem tekstova iz dvaju nacionalnih tiskovina tog vremena, zaokružiti temu i istaknuti koliki je značaj medija i njihovog propagandnog i političkog djelovanja koje u ratnim zbivanjima višestruko naraste i „prekrije“ zapravo temeljnu informativnu i vjerodostojnu fuknciju medija, odnosno u ovom slučaju tiskovina. U prvom dijelu rada nastojat ćemo razmotriti najprije neke opće naznake u odnosu medija i potreba, te interesa javnog komuniciranja Zatim ćemo razmotriti kriterije za analizu i procjenu razine političke komunikacije i političkog marketinga kako bi istakli i posredne utjecaje koje ove dvije medijsko-političke sfere imaju na ratnu propagandu i medijske manipulacije u ratnim događanjima i vremenima, s naglaskom na razdoblje Domovinskog rata. Kako bih prikazali konkretan utjecaj medija na mišljenje javnosti, ali i utjecaj koji određene političke opcije vrše na sadržaj i način oblikovanja sadržaja od vijesti do reportaža i komantara analizirali smo dvije dnevne novine koje su izlazile i u vrijeme Domovinskog rata.In this paper, we try to show how much (mass) media are increasing their impact on the public in the war. Information or credibility as a basic tool in shaping the media in times of crisis and war events lose their importance and, unfortunately, influenced by different political goals, swap places with promotional activities and propaganda. Therefore, it is important to consider the line that connects the political communication, political marketing and pure propaganda, or premeditated and systematic use of the media and their influence in other new, mostly (war) goals. It is interesting to use results from some reduced research and content analysis of newspapers Večernji list and Slobodna Dalmacija, and emphasizes the absurdity of some extreme and unfounded propaganda messages of the media in times of war in the former Yugoslavia

Odgovor akutne faze kod Wistar pacova posle kontrolisanog krvarenja

After injury the acute-phase response of the organism activates mechanisms which imply the release of cytokines, stress hormones, and mediators of pain and inflammation. The main function of the acutephase response is to hinder further damage of the injured tissue by activating reparative processes. The increase in the concentration of acute phase proteins and the concurrent decrease in albumins and prealbumins indicate that there is a strong link between the liver and the traumatized site. Considering bleeding to be a major injury it can be supposed that it can result in changes in acute phase proteins concentrations despite the fact that it is not directly related to inflammatory reactions. In order to confirm this presumption the concentration changes in negative and positive acute phase proteins in Wistar rats' blood plasma were measured during a 10 day period after controlled bleeding. The result of the therapeutic effects of transfusion on acute phase proteins was estimated in a group of rats in the so called 'hospital stage' at which the blood loss was recovered by citrate blood transfusions. At the end of the 10th day the rats were monitored for an additional 10 day period. The obtained results confirm that bleeding is an impressive trauma and the acute phase response results in a significant change in acute phase proteins. These changes arise quickly, the highest concentrations were achieved within the first 24 to 72h and thereon they slowly declined.Odgovor akutne faze organizma na povredu tkiva aktivira mehanizme koji podrazumevaju oslobađanje citokina, hormona stresa, medijatora bola i zapaljenja. Njegova glavna funkcija je sprečavanje daljeg i većeg oštećenja povređenog tkiva uz aktivaciju reparatornih procesa. Porast koncentracije proteina akutne faze i smanjenje albumina i prealbumina ukazuje da postoji veza između mesta povrede i jetre. Smatrajući da je hemoragija teška povreda, pretpostavili smo da ona može izazvati promene u koncentraciji proteina akutne faze bez obzira što primarno nije povezana sa inflamatornom reakcijom. U cilju dokazivanja ove pretpostavke tokom 10 dana su praćene promene 'negativnih' proteina akutne faze; albumina i 'pozitivnih'; fibrinogena, α-2 makroglobulina i haptoglobina, kao i β-1 globulina i γ-globulina u plazmi Wistar pacova koji su bili podvrgnuti kontrolisanom iskrvarenju. Za potrebe ovog eksperimenta konstruisan je i novi model kontrolisanog krvarenja, koji je jedinkama omogućio preživljavanje tokom sledećih 10 dana, u toku kojih se merila promena relativnih koncentracija akutno-faznih proteina. Ispitan je i uticaj terapijskog efekta transfuzije na stanje proteina akutne faze na grupi pacova koji su u tzv. 'hospitalnoj fazi' kao nadoknadu izgubljene krvi, dobili infuziju citrirane krvi. Po završetku eksperimenta nadgledano je opšte stanje životinja i praćen je letalitet tokom 10 dana. Rezultati našeg istraživanja potvrđuju pretpostavku da je krvarenje teška trauma za organizam pri čemu se odgovor akutne faze manifestuje značajnom promenom koncentracije odgovarajućih proteina, čije se maksimalne koncentracije registruju u prvih 24-72 časa nakon traume

Parenteralna ishrana pasa i mačaka

Inadequate diet combined with disease, injury or stress increases the metaobolic activity of patients to above the normal activity at rest. Sick or injured patients that are incapable of the intake of food and use nutritive matter through the digestive tract are indicated for parenteral feeding. Prior to the application of parenteral nutrition itself, it is necessary to carry out a series of clinical and laboratory analyses in order to determine which patients should actually be treated in this way. In order to determine the parenteral nutritive requirements, the veterinarian must assess the nutritive requirements of the patient, and on these grounds determine the type of solution that will be applied. It is very difficult to determine the precise requirements, so that certain relations are used in practice between the individual nutritive components that are based on the average requirements of these animal species. For parenteral nutrition, solutions are applied that are based on dextrose or glucose, amino acids, lipids, vitamins, micro and macro elements. In the course of the application of parenteral feeding, constant monitoring of the patient is necessary in the form of clinical examinations and laboratory tests.Neadekvatna ishrana u kombinaciji sa bolešću, povredom ili stresom povećava metaboličku aktivnost pacijenta iznad normalne pri mirovanju. Bolesni ili povređeni pacijenti koji nisu u stanju da uzimaju hranu i koriste hranjive materije preko digestivnog trakta indikovani su za parenteralnu ishranu. Pre same primene parenteralne ishrane potrebno je izvršiti niz kliničkih i laboratorijskih analiza kako bismo odredili pacijente kod kojih je ona stvarno indikovana. Za određivanje parenteralnih nutritivnih potreba veterinar mora da proceni potrebe pacijenta za hranljivim materijama, na osnovu čega će se odrediti i vrsta rastvora koja će se primeniti. Egzaktne potrebe je veoma teško odrediti, te se u praksi koriste određene relacije između pojedinih hranjivih sastojaka koje počivaju na prosečnim potrebama ovih vrsta životinja. Za parenteralnu ishranu koriste se rastvori na bazi dekstroze ili glukoze, aminokiselina, lipida, vitamina mikro i makro elemenata. Tokom primene parenteralne ishrane neophodna je stalna kontrola pacijenta u vidu kliničkih pregleda i laboratorijskih analiza

Biohemijske promene u krvnom serumu pasa tretiranih fenobarbitonom

Despite being described as the safest antiepileptic drug of first choice the presented literature data are much varied as far as dog blood serum biochemical parameters are considered. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of phenobarbitone at different per os doses on the values of selected blood serum biochemical parameters in dogs during both short and long term application. The study was conducted on 30 dogs of different races, both sexes, ranging from 2 to 8 years of age. A total of 15 healthy and 15 dogs suffering from idiophatic epilepsy were observed. During the short term per os application of phenobarbitone (given at 3 week intervals) to the healthy population in varied doses a statistically significant increase in ALT and AP was recorded. Application of 16 mg/kg/day of phenobarbitone to the healthy population during 14 days resulted in a significant increase of ALT and AP. This increase was dependant on the duration of the treatment. During chronic application of phenobarbitone to dogs suffering from idiopathic epilepsy a significant increase in values of AP and ALT depending on the given dose was recorded. In two of the studied epileptic dogs treated with high therapeutic doses of phenobarbitone clinical signs of hepatotoxicity were recorded. Hepatotoxicity resulted in decreased albumin and total protein concentrations, as well as increased blood serum total bilirubin, AST, ALP and AP. The obtained results indicate that a long term application of phenobarbitone at high therapeutic doses can cause hepatotoxicity. However, there was no relationship between phenobarbitone dosage and duration of therapy and blood glucose, urea, creatinine, total proteins, albumins, total bilirubin, triglycerides and cholesterol.Iako označen kao antiepileptik prvog izbora i veoma bezbedan lek, u literaturi su prezentovani različiti podaci o uticaju fenobarbitona na vrednosti biohemijskih parametara krvnog seruma kod pasa. S obzirom na to, cilj ovog istraživanja bio je da se ispita uticaj fenobarbitona pri različitim per os dozama na vrednosti biohemijskih parametara krvnog seruma kod pasa, tokom kratkotrajne i dugotrajne aplikacije. Istraživanje je sprovedeno na 30 pasa različitih rasa, oba pola, starosne kategorije od dve do osam godina, od kojih su 15 bili zdravi psi a 15 psi oboleli od idiopatske epilepsije. Tokom kratkotrajne per os aplikacije fenobarbitona (intervali od po tri nedelje) zdravoj populaciji pasa pri različitim per os dozama, u krvnom serumu je registrovano značajno povećanje aktivnosti ALT i vrlo značajno povećanje aktivnosti AP u zavisnosti od doze leka. Aplikacija fenobarbitona u dozi od 16 mg/kg/dnevno tokom 14 nedelja zdravoj populaciji pasa ukazala je, na vrlo značajno povećanje aktivnosti ALT i AP u zavisnosti od dužine trajanja aplikacije. Tokom hronične aplikacije fenobarbitona psima obolelim od idiopatske epilepsije, ustanovljeno je statistički vrlo značajno povećanje aktivnosti AP i ALT u krvnom serumu u zavisnosti od doze leka. Kod dve jedinke u bolesnoj grupi pasa pri visokim terapeutskim dozama fenobarbitona registrovana je hepatotoksičnost, što je dovelo do statistički značajnog smanjenja koncentracije albumina i ukupnih proteina, statistički značajnog povećanja koncentracije ukupnog bilirubina, statistički značajnog povećanja aktivnosti AST i statistički vrlo značajnog povećanja aktivnosti ALT i AP u krvnom serumu Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da dugotrajna aplikacija fenobarbitona, pri visokim terapeutskim dozama može izazvati hepatotoksičnost. Nije ustanovljeno postojanje veze između koncentracije glukoze, uree, kreatinina, ukupnih proteina, albumina, ukupnog bilirubina, triglicerida i holesterola u krvnom serumu pasa sa per os dozom fenobarbitona, niti sa dužinom trajanja terapije

Radiographic assessment of lower third molar eruption in different anteroposterior skeletal patterns and age-related groups

Objective: To analyze radiographic predictors for lower third molar eruption among subjects with different anteroposterior skeletal relations and of different age groups. Materials and Methods: In total, 300 lower third molars were recorded on diagnostic digital orthopantomograms (DPTs) and lateral cephalograms (LCs). The radiographs were grouped according to sagittal intermaxillary angle (ANB), subject age, and level of lower third molar eruption. The DPT was used to analyze retromolar space, mesiodistal crown width, space/width ratio, third and second molar angulation (alpha, gamma), third molar inclination (beta), and gonion angle. The LC was used to determine ANB, angles of maxillar and mandibular prognathism (SNA, SNB), mandibular plane angle (SN/MP), and mandibular lengths. A logistic regression model was created using the statistically significant predictors. Results: The logistic regression analysis revealed a statistically significant impact of 6 angle and distance between gonion and gnathion (Go-On) on the level of lower third molar eruption (P lt .001 and P lt .015, respectively). The retromolar space was significantly increased in the adult subgroup for all skeletal classes. The lower third molar impaction rate was significantly higher in the adult subgroup with the Class II (62.3%) compared with Class III subjects (31.7%; P lt .013). Conclusion: The most favorable values of linear and angular predictors of mandibular third molar eruption were measured in Class III subjects. For valid estimation of mandibular third molar eruption, certain linear and angular measures (beta angle, Go-On), as well as the size of the retromolar space, need to be considered

Rezidualna efikasnost deltametrina u suzbijanju Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) i Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.) u tretiranoj pšenici

Residual efficacy of the insecticide deltamethrin, an EC formulation containing 25 g/L AI + 225 g/L PBO (piperonyl butoxide synergist), against lab populations of Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum and Sitotroga cerealella was investigated in the laboratory by applying product water solutions (0.25 mg AI/kg) to wheat grain (at 25±1°C and 60±5% r.h.). Adult mortality on 0, 7, 14 and 30 days old deposits was estimated after 2, 7 and 14 days of exposure to treated wheat grain and additional 7 days of recovery. Progeny reduction (PR, %) was also assessed. After 2 days of exposure to deposits of all ages, deltamethrin caused only 0-10% mortality of coleopterans (up to 37% after the recovery period) and 23-30% of S. cerealella, while mortality before and after recovery from 14 days of exposure was 95-50% for S. oryzae, 97-100% for R. dominica, 99-100% for T. castaneum and 100% for S. cerealella. Progeny production of S. oryzae was highest after parents contacted with 14 days old deposit of deltamethrin (PR, 76%), and lowest after contact with fresh deposit (PR, 95%), while R. dominica and T. castaneum had no progeny on any deltamethrin deposit age in wheat (PR, 100%), and S. cerealella had only a very low progeny (PR, 99%). The results showed that the synergised deltamethrin, applied at 0.25 mg/kg in wheat grain, is a highly effective insecticide for stored-product insect control, while a higher dose is required for successful residual control of S. oryzae.Ispitivana je rezidualna efikasnost deltametrina, EC formulacije sa 25 g/L a.s. + 225 g/L PBO (piperonil butoksid) u suzbijanju laboratorijskih populacija Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum i Sitotroga cerealella nanošenjem vodenog rastvora insekticida (0.25 mg a.s./kg) na pšenicu u zrnu u laboratorijskim uslovima (25±1°C i 60±5 % r.v.v). Smrtnost adulta na depozitima starosti 0, 7, 14 i 30 dana je utvrđivana posle 2, 7 i 14 dana izlaganja u tretiranoj pšenici i 7 dana oporavka adulta (izuzev S. cerealella) u netretiraoj pšenici. Takođe je utvrđivana i produkcija potomstva izlaganih roditelja (PR, %). Posle 2 dana izlaganja bez obzira na starost depozita, deltametrin je prouzrokovao 0-10% smrtnosti tvrdokrilaca (posle oporavka do 37%) i 23-30% smrtnosti S. cerealella, dok je posle 14 dana izlaganja smrtnost S. oryzae pre i posle perioda oporavka bila 95-50%, R. dominica 97-100%, T. castaneum 99-100% i S. cerealella 100%. Najveći broj potomaka S. oryzae je utvrđen posle kontakta roditelja sa 14 dana starim depozitom deltametrina (PR, 76%), a najmanji posle kontakta sa svežim depozitom (PR, 95%), dok u tretiranoj pšenici, bez obzira na starost depozita, nije bilo potomaka R. dominica i T. castaneum (PR, 100%), dok je kod S. cerealella zabeležen mali broj potomaka (PR, 99%). Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata može se zaključiti da je sinergizovani deltametrin primenjen u količini 0,25 mg/kg pšenice visoko efektivan u suzbijanju skladišnih insekata, dok je za dužu zaštitu pšenice od S. oryzae potrebno primeniti veću dozu ovog insekticida

Selected hematology ratios in cats with non-septic effusions highly suspected of feline infectious peritonitis

In veterinary medicine, knowledge about hematologic ratios (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and mean platelet volume-to-platelet ratio (MPV/PLT)) is limited, particularly in cats. While the roles of these ratios have been proven in oncology, systemic inflammation with or without systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and sepsis, information is lacking about their alterations in non-septic effusions, like feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This study aimed to describe whether NLR, PLR, and MPV/PLT were changed and whether they correlated with routine hematologic and biochemical parameters in 16 cats with non-septic effusions, highly suspected to be the effusive form of FIP without SIRS, compared to nine clinically healthy cats. The NLR was calculated as the absolute count of neutrophils divided by the absolute count of lymphocytes, PLR by calculating the absolute platelet divided by the absolute lymphocyte count, and MPV/PLT by dividing mean platelet volume by absolute platelet count. The NLR, MPV, and MPV/PLT ratios were higher in cats with non-septic effusions suspected to be FIP, but PLR did not differ, when compared to healthy cats. Correlation analysis did not show any association between the selected ratios and hematological and biochemical parameters. In the absence of leukocytosis, increased NLR could help us to confirm the presence of systemic inflammation in cats with non-septic effusions indicative of FIP. However, a high MPV/PLT ratio should be interpreted with caution, especially in cats