Analgesic effect and side effects of celecoxib and meloxicam in canine hip osteoarthritis

Objective. To evaluate the pharmacological, clinical and toxicological effects of celecoxib and meloxicam for analgesia for 30 days in dogs with hip osteoarthritis. Materials and methods. Twenty-four patients were evaluated, 75% were females with an average age of 7.16 ± 2.06 years and twenty five percent were males with an average age of 7.83 ± 2.22 years. All patients had hip osteoarthritis and they were randomized into two groups; one group received oral celecoxib 5 mg/kg every 12 hours during one month and the second group received oral meloxicam 0.2 mg/kg every 24 hours during 1 month. The patients were evaluated for analgesia, and hematological, renal, liver, and coagulation tests on days 0, 10th and 30th after treatment initiation, and a gastric endoscopy on day 30. Statistical analysis was performed using a HSD Tukey test and c2 with a 5% level of statistical significance. Results. Both drugs reduced articular pain according to the Melbourne scale during the 30 days of treatment (p≤0.05). Hematological, renal, hepatic and coagulation tests were normal in both treatment groups. All patients presented chronic gastritis on endoscopy on day 30th. Conclusions. Both drugs decreased pain at day 30th without causing alterations in hematological, renal, hepatic or coagulation tests after 30 days of treatment. However, both drugs induced chronic gastritis

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Mastitis among Dairy Buffaloes from the Departments of Antioquia and Córdoba, Colombia

Background: Mastitis is the most common disease among dairy buffaloes worldwide, and it significantly affects the economic profitability of buffalo farms as well as animal welfare and public health. Methods: This study was conducted between 2018 and 2019 at the Colombian departments of Antioquia and Córdoba, where 41% of the country’s total buffalo population is concentrated. Overall, 1,018 dairy buffaloes, including 603 in Antioquia and 415 in Córdoba, distributed among 11 farms, were assessed in the study. These animals were evaluated using the California mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC) to determine the presence of subclinical mastitis (SM). They were considered positive for SM when the results of CMT were higher than traces and SCC was >200,000 cells/mL. Results: The total prevalence of the disease was 7.9%, and microbiological culture was performed on the samples obtained from the SM-positive animals. The main isolated bacterium was coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Furthermore, risk factors affecting milking routine, hygiene, and farm facilities were determined. Manual milking, milking in the barn, non-disinfection of milkers' hands, etc., were identified as risk factors for the disease. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first large-scale study of mastitis among buffaloes in Colombia

Insight into the conformational space of n-benzyl-n-(furan-2-ylmethyl) acetamide by NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations

In this study, the conformational behavior of N-benzyl-N-(furan-2-ylmethyl) acetamide in chloroform was addressed by using a combined experimental/theoretical strategy using NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The 1H and 13C one-dimensional NMR spectra, as well as the two-dimensional HSQC-DEPT and HMBC-DEPT NMR spectra, evinced the presence of a hindered cis(E)-trans(Z) rotational equilibrium in solution. DFT calculations were performed at different theoretical levels using the polarizable continuum model (PCM) and predicted nine (four Z and five E structures) stable conformations. The interconversion dynamics among the different confirmations were established in terms of four different rotational equilibria in CDCl3. The chemical shifts in the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the compound are similar to the values calculated for the two most abundant conformational equilibria at room temperature, one caused by two Z rotamers and the other by two E rotamers. The compound was also characterized for the first time by FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and GC/MS spectrometry. Additionally, several acylation methodologies for synthesizing the title compound from N-benzyl-1-(furan-2-yl)methanamine were tested which resulted in high yields (> 90%) under very convenient conditions (10 min, at room temperature).Fil: Corredor Montaña, Jeisson D.. Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Loaiza, Alix. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana; ColombiaFil: Romanelli, Gustavo Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: de Waele, Isabelle. University Of Lille.; FranciaFil: Tobón Correa, Yeny Alexandra. University Of Lille.; FranciaFil: Gomez Castaño, Jovanny Arles. Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia; Colombi

Tractography of the Spider Monkey (\u3cem\u3eAteles geoffroyi\u3c/em\u3e) Corpus Callosum Using Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The objective of this research was to describe the organization, connectivity and microstructure of the corpus callosum of the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi). Non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-tensor imaging were obtained from three subjects using a 3T Philips scanner. We hypothesized that the arrangement of fibers in spider monkeys would be similar to that observed in other non-human primates. A repeated measure (n = 3) of fractional anisotropy values was obtained of each subject and for each callosal subdivision. Measurements of the diffusion properties of corpus callosum fibers exhibited a similar pattern to those reported in the literature for humans and chimpanzees. No statistical difference was reached when comparing this parameter between the different CC regions (p = 0.066). The highest fractional anisotropy values corresponded to regions projecting from the corpus callosum to the posterior cortical association areas, premotor and supplementary motor cortices. The lowest fractional anisotropy corresponded to projections to motor and sensory cortical areas. Analyses indicated that approximately 57% of the fibers projects to the frontal cortex and 43% to the post-central cortex. While this study had a small sample size, the results provided important information concerning the organization of the corpus callosum in spider monkeys

The synaptic ribbon is critical for sound encoding at high rates and with temporal precision.

We studied the role of the synaptic ribbon for sound encoding at the synapses between inner hair cells (IHCs) and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in mice lacking RIBEYE (RBEKO/KO). Electron and immunofluorescence microscopy revealed a lack of synaptic ribbons and an assembly of several small active zones (AZs) at each synaptic contact. Spontaneous and sound-evoked firing rates of SGNs and their compound action potential were reduced, indicating impaired transmission at ribbonless IHC-SGN synapses. The temporal precision of sound encoding was impaired and the recovery of SGN-firing from adaptation indicated slowed synaptic vesicle (SV) replenishment. Activation of Ca2+-channels was shifted to more depolarized potentials and exocytosis was reduced for weak depolarizations. Presynaptic Ca2+-signals showed a broader spread, compatible with the altered Ca2+-channel clustering observed by super-resolution immunofluorescence microscopy. We postulate that RIBEYE disruption is partially compensated by multi-AZ organization. The remaining synaptic deficit indicates ribbon function in SV-replenishment and Ca2+-channel regulation

Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of bovine leukemia virus in Colombian cattle

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is one of the five agents considered most significant for cattle. It is important to determine the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of BLV throughout the country in order to gain a more thorough understanding of the current situation of BLV and to reveal the possibility of masked genotypes that the primers used by OIE are unable to identify. Blood samples were collected at random from 289 cows distributed in 75 farms across the country. PCR amplification of env, gag and tax gene segments was performed. The obtained amplicons were sequenced and then subjected to phylogenetic analyses. A total of 62% of the cows present at 92% of the farms were BLV-positive for gag fragment. Genotype 1 was exclusively detected by env gene segment when analyzed using previously reported primers. However, tax gene analysis revealed circulation of genotype 6 variants, which were also detected based on env gene analysis with newly designed primers. These results indicate that current genotyping approaches based on partial env sequencing may bias BLV genetic variability approaches and underestimate the diversity of the detected BLV genotypes. This report is one of the first molecular and epidemiological studies of BLV conducted in Colombia, which contributes to the global epidemiology of the virus; it also highlights the substantial impact of BLV on the country's livestock and thus is a useful resource for farmers and government entities

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with bovine herpesvirus 1 in dairy herds of Colombia

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) is an infectious disease widely distributed globally and is considered the main cause of various reproductive and respiratory tract diseases in cattle and buffaloes. This study aimed to estimate seroprevalence and determine risk factors associated with the presentation of IBR in the municipality of Sotaquirá, Boyacá (Colombia). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study with simple random sampling was performed, and the sample size was 1,000 cattle. Blood samples were obtained by coccygeal venipuncture and processed through indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the Synbiotics(®) kit (Zoetis, New Jersey, USA) with a sensitivity and specificity of 96% and 98%, respectively. Data were processed using the statistical program EpiInfo(®) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta, Georgia). RESULTS: A high seroprevalence of 57.5% was established. Seroprevalence was the highest in cattle >4 years of age (65.0% apparent seroprevalence [AS]; 67% true seroprevalence [TS]) and in the Holstein breed (65.5% AS; 67.8% TS). The breed and age of the animals were significantly associated with each other. The Holstein breed, age group >4 years, uncertified semen, and fetal death were established as risk factors for IBR. In comparison, the age groups of <1 and 1–2 years and the Normande breed were established as protective factors against the bovine herpesvirus-1 virus. CONCLUSION: Management factors, such as livestock from other owners and animal purchases, which affect disease presentation, are evident. The implementation and development of novel prevention and control measures for IBR at the national level are necessary

X-ray diffraction, cements and environment, three worlds in one

This keynote lecture will be focused on the strategies for reducing CO2 emissions in the cement production. Concretely, the production of ecocements with optimised formulations that yield reductions in CO2 emissions of up to 25%, when compared to OPC production. Phase assemblage has to be carefully optimised to be competitive and these new ecocements should develop compressive strengths of at least 50 MPa at 28 days of hydration. Optimised compositions of several ecocements will be discussed, but all of them are ye'elimite or calcium sulphoaluminate containing ones: belite-ye'elimite-ferrite (BYF), belite-alite-ye'elimite (BAY) and ye'elimite rich ones (CSA). The clinkering temperature of BYF and BAY has to be established to obtain the targeted phase assemblages. Moreover, the stabilisation of alpha-forms of belite is needed to develop high mechanical strengths at early ages. The benefits of the use of waste materials (such as fly ash or slag) as additions to ecocements are three-fold: lower CO2 emissions due to clinker replacement; valorisation of “useless” products that need a lot of landscape and the consequent efficient consumption of raw materials; and to enhance mechanical properties of the corresponding mortars. The design of appropriate CSA, BYF and BAY mortars, with the final aim of knowing and controlling the hydration mechanisms, will be presented. Particularly, the role of i) type and amount of set regulator (gypsum, anhydrite, etc.), ii) water/cement ratio (w/c); iii) superplasticiser; and iv) pozzolanic additions will be discussed. The role of these parameters in the microstructure and hydraulic behaviour has been investigated through traditional techniques as well as advanced synchrotron characterisation. The formers include laboratory/synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction combined with Rietveld methodology (to obtain phase assemblage), electron microscopy techniques for paste microstructure determination, rheological studies (to control the effect of the different additives, w/c ratio and setting time retarders) and mechanical tests (setting times, compressive strengths and dimensional stability). The latters comprise a group of techniques available at synchrotrons such as: i) high temperature x-ray diffraction for clinkering studies and ii) total scattering data to be analysed by pair distribution function, PDF.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. PhD D. Londono-Zuluaga thanks Colciencias and Enlaza Mundos program PhD grant. Spanish MINECO (BIA2014-57658-C2-2-R, which is co-funded by FEDER, BIA2014-57658-C2-1-R and I3 (IEDI-2016-0079) grants) are acknowledged

Insight into the conformational space of n-benzyl-n-(furan-2-ylmethyl)acetamide by NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations

In this study, the conformational behavior of N-benzyl-N-(furan-2-ylmethyl) acetamide in chloroform was addressed by using a combined experimental/theoretical strategy using NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The 1H and 13C one‑dimensional NMR spectra, as well as the two-dimensional HSQC-DEPT and HMBC-DEPT NMR spectra, evinced the presence of a hindered cis(E)-trans(Z) rotational equilibrium in solution. DFT calculations were performed at different theoretical levels using the polarizable continuum model (PCM) and predicted nine (four Z and five E structures) stable conformations. The interconversion dynamics among the different confirmations were established in terms of four different rotational equilibria in CDCl3. The chemical shifts in the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the compound are similar to the values calculated for the two most abundant conformational equilibria at room temperature, one caused by two Z rotamers and the other by two E rotamers. The compound was also characterized for the first time by FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and GC/MS spectrometry. Additionally, several acylation methodologies for synthesizing the title compound from N-benzyl-1-(furan-2-yl)methanamine were tested which resulted in high yields (> 90%) under very convenient conditions (10 min, at room temperature).Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicada